CHAPTER 12: CHAPTER 9: SOMEONE IN HIGH PLACES

"Save my dad?

"Do you know where Xiong Taiguang is?"

Wang Lu Feng’s eyes sparkled instantly, like hot oil splashed on black coal, crystal clear.

"Xiong Taiguang is already dead."

Su Yue said despondently.

The body was likely taken by that General named Pan Yizheng. If there’s a chance, we must pay respects.

"Hehe, is this funny?

"Even at a time like this, you’re teasing me?

"I understand now; this is the fate of a fallen scion, a tiger in flatland, witness to the world’s indifference."

"Su Yue, as a classmate, you kick me when I’m down, doesn’t your conscience hurt?"

The hope that Wang Lu Feng had just raised was extinguished by a bucket of water.

Blame myself for being stupid.

Can Su Yue’s words be trusted?

If Xiong Taiguang was so easily caught, how could dad have gotten involved?

Several cities’ Investigation Bureaus had personnel pulled over, so many martial artists—how could they not be better than a high school student?

Xiong Taiguang is dead?

A vicious pirate like him, how could he just die like that?

Teasing me!

Even classmates are starting to mess with me.

Su Yue, this little bastard, so malicious.

"Get away from me, I’m afraid I might kill you."

Wang Lu Feng glanced at Su Yue and said lazily.

Feeling down, no energy even to hit someone.

...

"Your lips go pouty, pout pout pout pout pout, with a pout the flowers bloom~~"

Wang Lu Feng’s phone rang again.

"Mom, I know, don’t be too sad, even if Dad’s caught, I’m still here for the family..."

"What... Mom, what did you say? Uncle said Xiong Taiguang is dead?"

"Just died?"

"If Xiong Taiguang is dead, why are they still holding Dad... What, there’s an involved item that hasn’t been found? Find it and we can save Dad?"

"Like finding a needle in a haystack, where do we look."

"Alright, I know, I’ll go to Uncle’s after school."

Wang Lu Feng hung up the phone, distraught.

Uncle also works at the Investigation and Arrest Bureau. Mom just called, telling him not to return to the Bureau compound. Now that Dad’s caught, that place is no longer home.

Uncle also told Mom, Xiong Taiguang is dead.

But dead or not, it’s useless.

Item, what kind of involved item, Cengyan City is so big, where to find it.

No, that’s not right!

Su Yue, that guy, just said he wanted to save my dad.

And how did he know Xiong Taiguang is dead?

Wang Lu Feng broke into a cold sweat.

"Su Yue, how do you know Xiong Taiguang is dead?"

Wang Lu Feng hurriedly asked.

Xiong Taiguang had been dead for less than an hour; his uncle had just received the news, so how could Su Yue know? It’s too coincidental.

"I have someone higher up. Are you going to save your dad or not? If not, I’m going to class... Damn, broke my arm... Can you not pull my hand? I hate when a man holds my hand, gross."

Before Su Yue finished speaking, Wang Lu Feng tightly held his hand and rushed towards the school gate.

The oily feeling in his palm made Su Yue want to vomit.

In the few seconds Su Yue attempted to shake off the wet hand, the two had already run out of the school gate, leaving the security guard bewildered in the wind.

Is skipping class this hardcore now?

Two kids holding hands, are they eloping?

But this gender...

"Su Yue, do you know the whereabouts of that thing."

Su Yue finally managed to shake off his hand, and Wang Lu Feng grabbed his sleeve again.

"Bullshit!"

Su Yue replied irritably, about to rip his sleeve.

No idea which unlucky girl would hold hands with Wang Lu Feng in the future; it would be torture.

Those palms were way too greasy.

"Mysterious, I knew you were mysterious. My detector was not given to you for nothing."

Wang Lu Feng sighed a deep breath.

Someone higher up.

This guy, certainly not simple, worthy of being the son of the former general.

"Oh crap, we didn’t ask for leave, we’ve run out like this, it’s skipping class."

Su Yue was suddenly stunned.

"Don’t worry, as long as we can save my dad, it’s no big deal, can handle it."

Wang Lu Feng ran directly to the bus stop.

The Investigation and Arrest Bureau was some distance from the school.

Su Yue nodded.

Indeed, if they found the black key, Wang Lu Feng’s dad might get a promotion, after all, military orders come with risks and high rewards.

The grand Deputy Governor must be able to handle the small issue of skipping class.

Su Yue was just a little worried; if Teacher Ding gets scolded again by the administration, he’d truly feel guilty.

But the situation was urgent, couldn’t care too much.

"Why hasn’t the bus arrived yet!"

Wang Lu Feng anxiously jumped around.

No matter which one they waited for, it just wouldn’t come; this was simply paranormal.

"Let’s run!"

Su Yue frowned.

"Run? Over 30 kilometers."

"No time, the bus stops at every station, and it’s the morning rush; it won’t be fast."

"Alright, let’s run. Su Yue, keep up, don’t get lost, my Qi Blood is high, I run fast... Su Yue, why are you in a hurry, wrong direction."

"Follow me, take the shortcuts!"

Su Yue was known as Cengyan City’s living GPS, there was no shortcut he couldn’t find.

Ten minutes later.

"Su Yue, wait for me, I’m exhausted. How are you running so fast, that’s unscientific, clearly my Qi Blood is high."

"Stop rambling, hurry up and run."

"Su Yue, do you really only have 6 cards of Qi Blood? It’s not scientific."

"Everyone is learning martial arts, and you talk about science? Run faster, slowpoke."

...

"General, there are no clues about the black key nearby.

"The hiding place chosen by Xiong Taiguang was exactly in the camera’s blind spot, and it’s the most concealed location. Even the upstairs neighbors, mostly elderly, wouldn’t notice anything with his disguise."

After Pan Yizheng secured Xiong Taiguang’s body, the three began to survey Xiong Taiguang’s residence.

Unfortunately, they found nothing.

Pan Yizheng nodded. As a legendary figure of the Miracle Corps, if Xiong Taiguang wanted to hide, he certainly wouldn’t leave a trace.

Looking at the entire military, there aren’t even ten investigators who can disguise themselves.

Disguise skills are extremely difficult to pass on and require talent. Without talent, even a Grandmaster can’t accomplish it.

"General, could Xiong Taiguang have taken the black key abroad?"

"Impossible. Xiong Taiguang’s crimes are only due to his grievances; he couldn’t possibly commit treason."

Pan Yizheng shook his head.

There’s no longer any value in investigating here.

"Let’s wait. Maybe the black key will show up soon. I believe he won’t delay the important matters of the Research Institute."

Seeing the two getting anxious, Pan Yizheng smiled.

"General, the Wet Ghost Tower at the Ninth Battlefield is starting to move. We can’t waste our time here."

"I know, but since we’ve come, it’s a military order. Let’s investigate once more and then prepare to return to the Investigation and Arrest Bureau. Finding things isn’t like killing people; more hands make light work."

Pan Yizheng sighed.

He also didn’t want to waste time at Cengyan City, but the black key is of great importance.

...

Investigation and Arrest Bureau conference room.

In front of everyone’s eyes, Wang Nanguo’s shoulder insignia had already been removed.

Governor Jiang Fuyan, always swift and decisive, had Wang Nanguo handcuffed in the meeting hall.

He was stripped of his position and arrested.

The atmosphere of the meeting hall was deathly silent. Everyone in the Investigation and Arrest Bureau was dry-mouthed and breathless.

"Wang Nanguo, I gave you a year.

"Had you found the black key, I would have let you serve as Deputy Governor of the neighboring Hongyuan City. Do you have anything more to say for yourself?"

Jiang Fuyan’s face was stern.

He knew Wang Nanguo hadn’t committed any major offense, but he had no choice; sometimes sacrifices had to be made to set an example.

"I am incompetent, I have no complaints."

Wang Nanguo was expressionless.

"Look on the bright side, at most you’ll be in prison for three to five years. The Governor didn’t send you to the Fourth Battlefield; that’s already merciful."

Li Xingpei patted Wang Nanguo on the shoulder, offering a word of comfort.

Upon hearing this, Wang Nanguo gave a bitter smile.

The Fourth Battlefield?

I’m just guilty of dereliction, not sentenced to death.

The Wet Ghost Tower at the Fourth Battlefield is the hardest to defend. There, lives are mere shields, and bodies pile up like mountains; only death row inmates are sent there.

Wang Nanguo didn’t know if there was a hell on earth, but if there was, it must be the Fourth Battlefield.

"Meeting adjourned."

The Governor waved his hand.

...

"Move aside, I want to find my dad, where’s my dad?"

"What meeting? I want to find my dad!"

...

The meeting room door had just opened, and there was a commotion outside.

"Who’s making a ruckus?"

The Governor’s face was dark.

The Investigation and Arrest Bureau was losing its discipline.

"Dad, why are they putting handcuffs on you? Let go of my dad."

At this point, two high school students burst in, followed by several people from the Investigation and Arrest Bureau.

They had no choice.

Wang Lu Feng is Wang Nanguo’s son. The guards didn’t know Wang Nanguo had been arrested, so they couldn’t forcefully stop Wang Lu Feng.

"Wang Lu Feng, what are you doing here? Go back to school!"

Seeing his son, Wang Nanguo instinctively hid his hands in his sleeves.

Being seen by his son in handcuffs was akin to torture.

"Dad, you haven’t been home for a year. It’s not like you haven’t made an effort; your hair has turned gray. How can they arrest you just like that?"

Wang Lu Feng was flushed with anger.

Looking at the handcuffs, his throat was hoarse with rage.

A dignified Director of the Investigation and Arrest Bureau, how could he be in handcuffs?

"Governor, this is Wang Nanguo’s son. The situation came too suddenly; let them catch up."

Li Xingpei felt a bit sympathetic.

"Hmph, bursting into the Investigation Bureau’s conference room without permission—what happened to discipline?

"Li Xingpei, your abilities are also concerning."

Jiang Fuyan, with his military background, despised anyone who broke the rules.

"Sorry, I’ll make corrections.

"I’ll have his son leave immediately."

Li Xingpei bowed his head and said hastily.

"Never mind, just let the father and son have a chat."

Jiang Fuyan shook his head. Since they were here, a conversation wouldn’t hurt.

"By the way, make time to go on a few dates. Don’t end up like me, single all your life with no children."

Suddenly, the Governor earnestly reminded Li Xingpei.

"I aim to learn from you, devoting my life to the country."

Li Xingpei felt his head ache; how did he, a Governor, end up being urged to go on blind dates?

"No excuses. I’m single because of my stubborn nature; it’s my own fault. Don’t follow me. If you’re truly devoted, then have children for the country."

The Governor spoke sincerely.

What?

Have children for the country?

Someone has to want me first!

Li Xingpei chose silence, unwilling to respond.

...

"Dad, they can’t arrest you. The military order’s one-year term isn’t up yet.

"I know where the thing you’re looking for is."

At this moment, Wang Lu Feng suddenly shouted.

"Don’t talk nonsense.

"Son, you’re not a kid anymore. Some things shouldn’t be said carelessly.

"Go to school immediately and take good care of your mom. I’ll be back in three to five years."

Wang Nanguo sternly reprimanded.

It’s all because of his busy work that he’s neglected discipline; who would dare speak so recklessly?

Jiang Fuyan and Li Xingpei exchanged glances. Was Wang Nanguo’s son a dullard?

Talking nonsense.

"I’m not talking nonsense. My classmate knows where that thing is."

Wang Lu Feng clutched Wang Nanguo’s arm and turned to look at Su Yue.

It was only then that people noticed Wang Lu Feng didn’t come alone.

"This arrest warrant offers a one-million reward. Someone told me to bring this key to claim the million in prize money."

Finally, it was his turn to speak. Su Yue cleared his throat.

Then, he took out a crumpled warrant from his pocket, torn from a utility pole.

In his other hand, he held a black key.