Chapter 84: Just Don’t Leave

Chapter 84: Stay Put

Jian Ruochen checked his pocket, quickly put on gloves, reached out to lift the black waterproof bag pressed under the cement slab, and handed it over. "Detective Guan."

"What is it?" Guan Yingjun took it.

"Not sure." Jian Ruochen shot a glance over.

Putting aside his relationship with Guan Yingjun, it was standard for the senior detective to examine evidence first.

If he opened it recklessly, whether Guan Yingjun would be angry was one thing, but damaging potential clues would be an even greater loss.

Guan Yingjun called Forensics to photograph the waterproof bag in its unopened state, then opened the seal and took out the contents.

A stack of papers and a key.

Jiang Hanyu stood in the shadows, staring fixedly at the scene, his body swaying slightly. He gripped the old, unpainted red brick wall beside him tightly.

Nervousness, fear, and dread made him nauseous.

He had anticipated that the police might target the Jiang family again, so he hadn’t hidden the items at Jiang Ting Gong Guan. He had also expected the police might find evidence on the riverbank, so he hid the most critical items under the tiles.

He had avoided so many potential mistakes, so why had Jian Ruochen still found it?

Why did it turn out like this?

Jiang Hanyu’s lips trembled, and tears streamed down his face. He wiped his face with his sleeve, gritted his teeth, and disappeared into the alley, leaning against the wall.

Run. He had to run immediately!

Kowloon was no longer safe. Lu Rong was unreliable, and British Hong Kong would no longer protect him once he lost his usefulness.

He had to get out of Kowloon, flee Hong Kong, and then make plans.

Jiang Hanyu pulled his hat down low and flagged down a taxi. "Sir, to Jiang Ling Grand Hotel."

·

At the abandoned riverbank.

Guan Yingjun stared at the documents, his expression darkening. He lowered his hand slightly, bringing the papers within Jian Ruochen’s line of sight.

Jian Ruochen focused his gaze and saw the small gray text printed on the document: "MI6 secret files."

Looking further at the project details, aside from a few items targeting him, there were also methods for organizing anti-handover protests and clubs within Hong Kong University.

The intent was glaringly obvious.

Jian Ruochen flipped through the pages with a grim expression and saw Jiang Hanyu’s fingerprint on the confirmation section, along with his signature.

He let out a slow breath, uncertain if Jiang Hanyu was guilty of endangering national security, espionage, secession, or inciting secession.

It's too complicated, sounds like all of them could apply.

Feels like I need to get a Hong Kong law degree to understand it properly.

Seeing that he had finished reading, Guan Yingjun placed the documents and key from the waterproof bag into separate transparent evidence bags, then turned quickly and said, "Alright, Bi Wanwan, call the higher-ups immediately and report the situation. Say that Jiang Hanyu is compromising national security... no. Say he's mixed up in espionage."

"Chen Jincai!" he called out loudly.

On the riverbank, Chen Jincai leaned over the railing and poked his head out, "What is it, Detective Guan?"

Guan Yingjun: "Put out an APB to restrict his departure from the port and the country, with Jiang Hanyu's photo! Leave the riverbank to your team members!"

After speaking, he immediately took out his phone and dialed Gong Yingjie, "Sir Gong, Jiang Hanyu is suspected of involvement in espionage and is currently on the run. Get a team together to look for him, but be careful not to reveal the reason—say we're arresting him for financial crimes."

Gong Yingjie was mid-bite, with Chaoyi Gang's documents in front of him and a whiteboard full of writing beside him. He had dark circles under his eyes as he mumbled, "Jiang Hanyu? Espionage?"

No way... this guy's...

So bizarre?

"He got hold of MI6 classified files and even signed them."

As Guan Yingjun spoke, he glanced to the side and mimed making a phone call with his other hand by holding it to his ear and shaking it slightly.

Jian Ruochen immediately understood.

He walked aside, picked up his phone, and called Li Maoming, the liaison from Interpol China National Central Bureau.

Li Maoming answered quickly, "Hello? Mr. Jian? What's going on?"

Jian Ruochen said, "Mr. Li, we have reason to believe Jiang Hanyu is engaging in espionage."

Finally, with Li Maoming, he didn't have to worry about his wording or legal red tape.

Following mainland legal thinking, he laid it out plainly: "Jiang Hanyu has likely committed the crime of endangering national security. He may have organized an anti-reunification group at Hong Kong University. British Hong Kong gave him secret files and told him to follow them. They even include methods for organizing protests. Officer Li, you'd better get down to West Kowloon with a team."

Li Maoming took a sharp breath, "I'll call my superiors first to get instructions, then I'll come right away."

Jiang Hanyu's involvement in espionage meant this wasn't just about arresting one person.

They had to consider the forces behind him and see if they could use him to get to the bigger players.

Jian Ruochen acknowledged and hung up.

On the other end, Guan Yingjun had also finished explaining the situation to Gong Yingjie. Not far away, Zhang Xingzong and Sizheng Liu, who had been screening bystanders, ran over panting, their neck badges swinging behind them.

Sizheng Liu gasped for breath, "What's going on? Why the chaos?"

Guan Yingjun shook his head, "Nothing?"

Zhang Xingzong said, "Everyone was too busy watching inside the cordoned area to notice who was around."

Guan Yingjun said, "We'll debrief back at the station. Zhang Xingzong, Ding Gao, and Jian Ruochen, come back with me. The rest stay with Bi Wanwan to make sure we get all the evidence from the scene."

"Yes, sir!"

The team dispersed.

The group quickly walked out of the cordoned area.

Jian Ruochen had just stepped past the police tape when a reporter’s microphone was shoved in his face. "Consultant Jian! What evidence have you found? Can you give us a hint?"

"Consultant Jian, I heard you speak Mandarin. Could you say something in Mandarin for us?"

"Consultant Jian, I noticed you aren’t carrying a gun today but have a stun baton instead. Is it legal and appropriate for a consultant to be equipped with a stun baton?"

"Consul—"

"Enough." Guan Yingjun reached out, his arm brushing past Jian Ruochen’s shoulder as he swatted the microphone away that was nearly poking into his chest. The gesture had a subtly protective, almost sheltering quality—authoritative and brooking no argument.

The reporters fell silent for a moment, but before they could react, Guan Yingjun stepped forward. "The case is still under investigation. All details will come from the Public Relations Section in due time. Whatever can be shared, will be."

Reporters: ...

Officer, do you not understand that news is time-sensitive? Getting it out before the police do is the whole point!

Sigh, STN will probably get the first dibs again, right?

Their boss is a police consultant—they never have to worry about missing a big story!

So envious.

Jian Ruochen leaned forward and smiled at the reporters, who were now hesitant. "Any other questions?"

"No, no."

The reporters shook their heads and stepped back.

Consultant Jian is quite amiable—the kind of person you’d want to sit down and chat with—but Guan Yingjun in front of him is pretty scary.

Better not, better not.

"Then we’ll get back to work." Jian Ruochen gave a slight bow with his hands clasped to the reporters with a smile. "Thanks for your patience."

Guan Yingjun took the lead, followed closely by Jian Ruochen, Zhang Xingzong, and Ding Gao.

The reporters watched their backs as they walked away, utterly puzzled.

"Tell me... why does Consultant Jian’s bow seem so friendly and natural, almost like a Lunar New Year greeting? When Ding Gao did it, I thought he was about to punch me."

A photographer tskéd. "You think he’s genuinely gentle? Have you forgotten how he grilled reporters just a few months ago?"

As he packed his camera, the photographer added, "He’s just softening the blow because Detective Guan was too stern. He didn’t want A Team to piss off the media too much. What a smart guy..."

The reporters laughed together. "As long as he makes people comfortable, it’s fine. If there’s no story, then none of us get one. Let’s see how STN reports it. If even STN has nothing, then I’ll really admire Consultant Jian. He means what he says—by the book."

"Let’s go, call it a day. Time for some beef satay noodles!"

As the reporters dispersed, the West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit was just getting into gear.

Top-floor comprehensive meeting room.

Gong Yingjie scratched his buzz cut, sounding exhausted and frustrated as he directed his subordinates over the phone. "If you don’t know his whereabouts, pull the surveillance footage from the banks! Check all banks near Hong Kong University, Jiangting Mansion, and the Yau Tsim Mong Flagson Private Secondary School. Get the footage facing the streets."

"Get copies of all of it. Sigh... one day, I’ll make sure every street in Hong Kong is covered with surveillance!"

Jian Ruochen hesitated before saying, "...It will."

Gong Yingjie paused.

If anyone else said that, he’d take it as just empty reassurance.

But if Jian Ruochen said it, he’d believe it.

After all, the Little God of Wealth owns an electronics company capable of producing portable computers.

Chen Jincai sighed. "I consulted a lawyer and finally understand why Jiang Hanyu chose to become a spy. The penalties for espionage aren’t that severe here—Hong Kong’s judicial system typically deports spies instead of sentencing them..."

"No problem." Jian Ruochen spread his hands. "A liaison officer from the China National Central Bureau stationed in Hong Kong is on his way. We can deport him, and the mainland can arrest him."

"They impose heavier sentences there."

"This way, we look compliant by deporting him, while the mainland ensures he faces justice. Since we’ve already gotten on the wrong side of the British Hong Kong authorities, we might as well work with the mainland. Simple."

Chen Jincai and Gong Yingjie’s minds echoed: Deport first, then let the mainland arrest him.

They impose heavier sentences there, they impose heavier sentences there...

Huh?

Strange, yet so logical.

With a case like this and several Senior Inspectors gathered, sensitive topics were inevitable.

Gong Yingjie leaned closer to Guan Yingjun. "Detective Guan, what does Director Le think about that matter? They say the mainland will station troops after taking over."

Guan Yingjun glanced at him coolly. "What does that have to do with us?"

He flipped through the files on the table. "Politicians do their job; we do ours. Murderers, drug traffickers, and gangs are criminals under any political system. Why bother with all that? Worried you'll be out of a job?"

Gong Yingjie scratched his neck awkwardly.

Chen Jincai smiled. "Sir Gong. It’s good to focus solely on cases. Don't sweat it."

As they spoke, Li Maoming was led into the top-floor comprehensive meeting room by Lin Yazhi.

Lin Yazhi said briskly. "Officer Li, let me introduce you. This is Gong Yingjie from the organized crime unit. This is Senior Inspector Chen Jincai from Crime Team C—his role is comprehensive, similar to Guan Yingjun’s."

"You know the other two."

Li Maoming said, "Hello, everyone. Please take a seat. Let’s begin the meeting."

Jian Ruochen glanced at Li Maoming.

He seemed a bit young among this group, a bit green. Was he really qualified to attend this meeting?

Maybe he should...

He shifted his foot slightly, preparing to leave.

Li Maoming noticed immediately and grabbed Jian Ruochen’s shoulder, pressing him into the seat beside him.

Their 5.9 billion!

The last Hong Kong businessman who took 50 million to open a big hotel in the capital even got to meet the Chief.

What's the big deal about the righteous 5.9 billion cash cow attending a meeting? Let's get started!

The six of them sat around a rectangular desk.

Guan Yingjun handed the papers, each in an evidence bag, to Li Maoming and briefed him on the case, "Right now, we have evidence of Jiang Hanyu's financial crimes. We haven't publicly disclosed the espionage charges yet. The arrest warrant and border controls are based on financial offenses."

Li Maoming said, "Sharp. Indeed, we can't directly use espionage charges for the warrant—it might invite intervention from the British Hong Kong authorities. Headquarters wants to catch Jiang Hanyu first and interrogate him directly."

Gong Yingjie was taken aback, "Didn't we used to play the long game to catch the bigger fish? There must be someone behind Jiang Hanyu. Are we sure we want to go all out to catch him now instead of waiting?"

"Wait for what? If we wait any longer, even the small fish will slip away," Li Maoming said, perplexed. "Don't you have Consultant Jian and Li Zhangyu now? Catch him, interrogate him, and once you identify the mastermind, process his deportation according to protocol. Our people will be waiting outside to arrest him."

He remarked with significance, "The landscape has changed. Break free from outdated thinking."

Chen Jincai: "..."

Li Maoming's approach sounds a lot like Consultant Jian's.

He leaned close to Guan Yingjun and whispered, "Don't you think Sir Li and Consultant Jian seem like they're working in sync?"

Guan Yingjun lowered his gaze and said lightly, "Can't be sure."

Chen Jincai found it amusing, "Really? You're actually playing along with my joke now?"

Guan Yingjun glanced at him casually.

Anyway, he's cleared background checks from both divisions. At this point, it doesn't matter where Consultant Jian is from—as long as he doesn't leave.

He steered the conversation back to the case: "Sir Li, the biggest issue right now is Jiang Hanyu's whereabouts."

Guan Yingjun tapped his index finger lightly on the table, "He didn't withdraw money, no banking transactions, didn't go home."

"Where did he go?"

Consultant Jian added, "And also... this key placed with the secret files—which institution's key is this, and what is it for?"

Sir Chen pondered, "When I was undercover breaking financial crime cases, I think I've seen something like this. This should be a safe deposit box key."