CHAPTER 8: CHAPTER 5: THE EXHAUSTED INVESTIGATION AND ARREST BUREAU

Cengyan City, Investigation and Arrest Bureau courtyard!

Although it’s the weekend, the people at the Investigation and Arrest Bureau are not resting.

It’s not just that this weekend they’re not resting—strictly speaking, they’ve gone several months without a break.

The last time they rested was during the New Year’s holiday.

Six county divisions of Cengyan City have all sent elite squads.

These squads are all personally led by the highest leaders.

The Governor of Cengyan City has issued a strict order: this S-level wanted criminal must be captured.

The Director of the Investigation and Arrest Bureau has written a military pledge: if the criminal is not caught, it will be considered dereliction of duty... directly resulting in imprisonment.

The rest of the personnel will also be held accountable to varying degrees.

Although the orders are severe, there’s no choice, as the Investigation and Arrest Bureau spends taxpayers’ money, and its duty is to catch criminals.

If they can’t even complete their essential work, how could they justify any complaints of being wronged?

It’s not just Cengyan City; Renqing Province’s other affiliated cities have also dispatched numerous personnel.

Regarding this S-level wanted criminal, it’s not just the Governor of Cengyan City who’s anxious.

Even the Governor of Renqing Province personally oversees the efforts, visiting about once a month.

There are also elites from other provinces in the northern district of the Seven Provinces who have come to assist.

The Investigation and Arrest Bureau dormitories have long been full.

The surrounding hotels have also been booked by the Investigation and Arrest Bureau.

There are so many people coming to support that all seven hotels are fully booked.

Under the strict orders of the Governors of the Seven Provinces and various governors and leaders, the Investigation and Arrest Bureau is exhausted.

From the director to regular investigators, it’s been a long time since any of them have gone home.

Today, everyone continues to study how to capture Xiong Taiguang.

The huge conference room is almost filled with the most competent investigation personnel from Renqing Province.

Yet, they are at their wits’ end.

Xiong Taiguang’s personal history has long been scrutinized thoroughly.

...

Former scout of the Miracle Corps.

Studied at a Class A academy, Hewu University, in his third year of college, he was recruited by the Military Department and assigned to the Miracle Corps.

He later earned numerous merits and held the rank of major.

Ten years ago, he was on a squad mission where the entire team was lost, and only he returned seriously wounded.

Eventually, Xiong Taiguang retired.

After retirement, he was assigned to the Shendu Research Institute as the Deputy Chief of the Security Section.

That was already a position comparable to the Director of the Investigation and Arrest Bureau.

For the past ten years, Xiong Taiguang had been diligent, even detecting crises several times and earning four merit badges.

A year ago, just the day before his promotion appointment arrived, he stole a secret outcome from the Research Institute and fled.

In fact, Xiong Taiguang himself is only a B-level wanted criminal.

But the research outcome in his possession, the black key, is the real S-level item.

And the last place Xiong Taiguang appeared was Cengyan City.

Since then, there has been no trace of him.

This appearance has also been the nightmare of the Investigation and Arrest Bureau of Cengyan City.

At that time, the Governor of Cengyan City was excited, thinking this was an opportunity.

She had just replaced the former Governor, Su Qingfeng, and was in need of political achievements.

Xiong Taiguang gave her the opportunity.

So she advocated for the Investigation and Arrest Bureau to make a military pledge before the Governor.

However, everyone underestimated the capabilities of the Miracle Corps scouts.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Not only haven’t they caught Xiong Taiguang, but they haven’t even found a clue.

But the Investigation and Arrest Bureau can confirm that Xiong Taiguang is definitely hiding somewhere in Cengyan City.

...

"If it really doesn’t work, I suggest we hand it over to the Military Department. The Investigation and Arrest Bureau really can’t catch the Miracle Corps people. We’ve done our best!

"Let Wang Nanguo go to prison, we get fired, and that’s that.

"I’m fed up with this kind of life."

The deputy director of the Investigation and Arrest Bureau slammed the table.

The stuffy conference room felt as if the air had frozen.

All those present were elite investigators from various provinces and cities, having captured numerous law-breaking martial artists.

But one Xiong Taiguang has left hundreds of martial artists looking weary.

The deputy director was furious, but everyone remained expressionless.

They were already used to it.

Everyone has a family, and this deputy director hasn’t been home to sleep in nearly a year; his wife is probably about to leave him.

"Where is Wang Nanguo? We’re all waiting for him to lead the meeting!"

Another person asked.

"He didn’t come, maybe he’s preparing for prison."

A neighboring city’s investigator sighed.

Being entangled with Cengyan City, they’re also living too burdened.

But under the orders from the Governor, no one dares to defy.

"Everyone buck up, there’s one week left; maybe a miracle will happen.

"In three days, the Governor and governors from various cities will come to Cengyan City.

"This is everyone’s last chance!"

At this moment, a sharply dressed middle-aged woman briskly walked in.

Li Xingpei.

The Governor of Cengyan City.

Though she is a female governor, she works tirelessly.

"Director, I think we should just let it go, hand it over to the military, and spare everyone."

The Deputy Director still had a bellyful of resentment, but upon seeing the Director, he restrained his temper.

"I also want to give up, but have you asked the Governor, asked the Governor of Seven Provinces, see if they agree?"

Li Xingpei sat down, her gaze sharp as a sword, staring coldly at the Deputy Director.

"It’s all Wang Nanguo’s fault, blinded by greed. What right does he have to make a military pledge, did the brothers under him agree?"

"For the sake of his official position, the brothers beneath him work themselves to death."

The Deputy Director voiced another complaint.

At this point, he couldn’t even be bothered to address the Director respectfully.

"By the way, where is Wang Nanguo?"

Li Xingpei’s expression was also unpleasant, changing the subject.

Investigators from other cities were still present, and as the Director, it was somewhat embarrassing.

But there was no way; at the time of making the military pledge, she had also indirectly encouraged Wang Nanguo.

"With his capture imminent, I imagine he ran for his life."

The Deputy Director sneered.

"It’s good that the Governor is here too, let the officials see for themselves. Because of the squabble between the Governor’s Office and the military, look what kind of mess we have become.

"We’re just cannon fodder!"

After a moment of silence, the Deputy Director sneered again.

Those without power are unafraid of those with power.

Anyway, once the military pledge expires, neither he nor Wang Nanguo will have a good ending, so he wasn’t afraid of offending the Director.

"Sigh!"

The others didn’t know what to say except for a sigh.

To capture a fierce criminal like Xiong Taiguang, it should have involved the military long ago.

But the Governor of Seven Provinces, for the sake of the Governor’s Mansion’s face, simply wouldn’t allow military intervention.

Ultimately, it led to this awkward situation.

The delay lasted an entire year; if they were to let the military intervene now, the face of the Governor of Seven Provinces in the North District would be completely lost.

Bear in mind, the Governor of Seven Provinces is on par with the generals in rank.

...

At the Wang Lu Feng household.

This weekend, Wang Lu Feng was supposed to go to school for special training.

But today he didn’t go for the first time.

His dad surprisingly didn’t go to the Investigation and Arrest Bureau today.

His mom was crying her eyes out; she had already packed her bags a few days earlier and sent them to her family home.

In just one short year, Wang Nanguo’s hair had turned more than half white.

The family maid had already been dismissed; anything that could be sold was sold, even Wang Lu Feng’s beloved golden retriever was sent to the grandma’s house.

The once lively home now stood in desolation.

No one would have thought this was the home of the Director of the Investigation and Arrest Bureau.

"Wang Lu Feng, why didn’t you go to training today?"

Wang Nanguo sank into the sofa, suddenly raised his head and asked.

"I didn’t want to go."

Wang Lu Feng’s eyes were also red and swollen.

He wanted to spend more time with his father.

"Get to school."

Wang Nanguo’s face was cold.

"Dad, can’t we think of another way, I think..."

"Go!"

Before Wang Lu Feng could finish, Wang Nanguo shouted at him.

"You’re a student, your task is to study, to train.

"You only have 10 Qi Blood, and at most you could qualify for a B-level at Wuda, what right do you have to slack off."

Wang Nanguo reprimanded with a stern face.

"What’s the use of getting into Wuda?

"To end up in jail?

"Tell me, why must I be admitted to Wuda?

"If I’m just an ordinary person, at least I wouldn’t randomly end up in jail."

Wang Lu Feng shouted back, his rebellious phase making him hot-headed.

"Son, remember, Martial Artists are valuable, the responsibility of Martial Artists is to protect the country.

"I’m sorry, maybe I was impulsive.

"Go back to school."

After a moment of daze, Wang Nanguo’s face turned bitter, and for the first time, he took the initiative to apologize.

He suddenly realized that his son had grown up so much.

All along, busy with the affairs of the Investigation and Arrest Bureau, it seemed like it had been a long time since he paid attention to his son.

"Dad... you..."

Wang Lu Feng ran out of the house with red eyes.

He felt his father had changed.

Even a slap would be better than this.

Just now, in that instant, his father’s hair had turned even whiter.

"Yes, to protect the country, this is the mission of Martial Artists... at least, it’s the mission of Martial Artists in this era."

Wang Lu Feng slammed the door, still able to hear his father’s voice from the living room.

He was even more furious.

Protecting the country, but who will protect my father!

...

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