Chapter 130: Got Scammed Big Time (2 in 1)

Chapter 130: Totally Tricked (Two Chapters Combined)

Jian Ruochen caught a glimpse of his expression from the corner of his eye, then glanced down at himself, instantly flustered. With quick reflexes, he grabbed the back of his collar and tugged it down sharply with a swift "swish."

The collar instantly tightened around his neck, pressing against his collarbone and covering everything securely, leaving nothing visible.

The faint flush on Guan Yingjun's ears subsided slightly as he walked to the elevator, pressed the up button, and murmured, "After everything we've done, what haven't I seen—"

Jian Ruochen raised his hand and clapped it over Guan Yingjun's mouth, his own ears burning red.

What did he mean by "after everything we've done"?!

The elevator door chimed. He quickly withdrew his hand, and only when the door opened to an empty car did he finally relax.

They stepped inside, pressed the button for the Major Crimes Unit's floor, and the doors slowly closed.

Guan Yingjun reached out, carefully straightened Jian Ruochen's collar where it was digging into his neck, then folded it neatly and smoothed out the wrinkles. "How did it get messed up? The collar was bent up."

"Where was it bent up?" Jian Ruochen asked, puzzled.

Guan Yingjun drove more recklessly than anyone, and his usual personality wasn't particularly refined—if anything, he could be a bit rough. Yet he was always observant, keeping his home spotless and his clothes impeccably neat.

"It's fine if it's a little crooked," Jian Ruochen said casually.

Guan Yingjun grunted in acknowledgment.

In the few moments it took to exchange these words, the elevator arrived. The Major Crimes Unit was loud and lively, as if they were holding an office party.

Several younger officers were gathered together, one of them mimicking Noranda Weir's panicked stride and pale face as he fled the station.

The officer staggered around, making faces and twitching his facial muscles, nailing the bewildered and frantic demeanor perfectly.

The others were cracking up.

Ding Gao, with his long, reedy legs, stepped forward and threw an arm over Jian Ruochen's shoulder. "I never knew you could scare someone away like that, haha! He'll definitely never dare to come back."

Zhang Xingzong, spotting Detective Guan's gaze like daggers lingering on Ding Gao's hand resting on Jian Ruochen's shoulder, shuddered.

He hurried over and, bravely, slung his arm around Jian Ruochen's shoulder from the other side, laughing loudly, "Haha! With this move, that old fool will be running for his life. Heh, let's annoy him to death."

Sandwiched between the two deceptively strong Major Crimes Unit officers, Jian Ruochen felt uncomfortably warm. He slipped out from under their arms. "Hey, I just got back from outside. I'm soaked with sweat."

Ding Gao said, "Hey, we're all guys, what's the big deal?"

Zhang Xingzong let out a silent scream inwardly.

Was it Jian Ruochen who had a problem?

No, it was you who had a problem!

It seemed Ding Gao was the most oblivious person in Major Case Team A!

He glanced at Detective Guan's expression, grabbed Ding Gao, and said, "Come on, let's go bring Oliver Keith up!"

Zhang Xingzong jammed the elevator button repeatedly as he spoke. Once the doors opened, he dragged Ding Gao inside and hammered the close button repeatedly.

Jian Ruochen stood by the door, watching in confusion for a moment before suddenly letting out a knowing laugh. "What should we do? Zhang Xingzong seems to know about our relationship."

"He knew and still deliberately came over to put his arm around you?" Guan Yingjun entered the office and picked up the interrogation files.

"Maybe he only knows you're interested in me but isn't sure how I feel," Jian Ruochen said, grabbing a large cup and making some mint lemonade, preparing for a long battle with Oliver Keith.

The people in Team A were really interesting and charming.

Half an hour later, Oliver Keith was securely seated in the interrogation room.

Jian Ruochen followed Guan Yingjun and the others inside. Seeing Oliver Keith slouched in the interrogation chair, he tilted his head in thought for a moment before stepping forward personally to unlock the shackles on Oliver Keith's ankles and wrists.

Oliver Keith shuddered violently.

After yesterday's interrogation, every time he closed his eyes, he saw the horrifying faces of the nine dead students. It was as if, just as Jian Ruochen had said, they had truly memorized his appearance and were waiting for revenge.

Oliver Keith opened his mouth, his teeth knocking together as he trembled, "What are you doing?"

Jian Ruochen pointed toward the square interrogation table. "Given your good behavior yesterday, we can use the standard interrogation table today. Go sit over there."

Guan Yingjun cooperated by pulling out a hidden slot in the table and extracting a chain, which he fastened around Oliver Keith's left wrist.

Oliver Keith couldn't quite grasp Jian Ruochen's intentions, his heart left hanging. He wished he could put as much distance between them as possible.

"Alright," Jian Ruochen twisted off the cap of his teacup. "I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

Just as Oliver Keith was about to speak, the person in front of him said, "You want to hear the good news first, right?"

The lights in the interrogation room weren't fully on, casting a dim, disorienting glow. Oliver Keith mumbled vaguely in agreement, then suddenly realized he hadn't actually spoken.

A spine-chilling dread, like pins and needles, instantly crawled up his back.

Jian Ruochen smiled. "The good news is that Secretary for Security Noranda Weir wants to personally secure your release and extradite you back to your home country."

Oliver Keith was overjoyed.

Going back home?

He actually had a chance to return home!

As expected, as long as he hadn't lost the inheritance rights to Connaught, Britain wouldn't abandon him! Once he returned home and stayed under the radar until the storm passed, he could plan his future later.

This was fantastic!

No wonder Jian Ruochen's attitude was so different today!

It was the Secretary for Security, after all.

Everyone would show him some respect.

Surely even Jian Ruochen was powerless against him!

Oliver Keith's cheeks slightly filled out, on the verge of breaking into a smile.

Jian Ruochen cut him off with a laugh. "The bad news is that you've already lost the inheritance rights to Connaught. I've already made out a will. If I die, all assets under Connaught will be left to Luo Binwen."

The half-formed smile instantly froze on Oliver Keith's face.

His expression twisted, and he jumped up, trembling as he pointed at Jian Ruochen, the chain on his wrist rattling noisily. "How can you hand over the family assets to an outsider!"

Jian Ruochen raised a hand, motioning for him to settle down, then said calmly, "Upon hearing this news, Noranda Weir immediately abandoned plans to extradite you and headed back."

He didn't give up right then.

But he will eventually.

Not only will he give up, but he will also lose his job, and wind up hating Oliver Keith.

Capitalist society revolves around money and industry; even Congress, representatives, the President, or the Queen are ultimately nothing more than puppets for wealthy interests.

The forces behind the UK, enticed by the potential piece of Connaught's empire, will inevitably abandon two useless pawns and come swarming.

Jian Ruochen leaned back in his chair, watching Oliver Keith's face twist through emotional whiplash, and let out a low laugh. "You don’t need to be too heartbroken. After all, Noranda Weir is now in deep trouble for attempting to shield a criminal. If he has other crimes to his name, you might even end up together in prison."

Oliver Keith snapped. "You’re toying with me!"

Good news and bad news?

Wasn’t it all bad news?

Bi Wanwan cut him a look and sneered, "There’s no place for personal vendettas in the interrogation room."

Toying with him?

This was about breaking down his last psychological defense.

Jian Ruochen flipped through the files. "Since you don’t want to talk about this, let’s discuss Preludin."

Oliver Keith gritted his teeth. "I want to see the $400 million bail first."

He had already fallen this far—what else was there to fear?

Guan Yingjun’s eyes turned cold.

It was also the Secretary for Security’s fault for taking so long that Oliver Keith had time to get his bearings.

Though his title of tenured professor was unearned, he was still a murderer who had killed nine people.

"I want the bail…" Oliver Keith muttered, staring holes through Jian Ruochen.

This person looked so much like Christelle Gwendoline Connaught.

The eyes, the hair, the personality—almost identical.

Jian Ruochen might be lying to him; perhaps there was no bail money at all.

Oliver Keith’s sanity was hanging by a thread.

He gripped the edge of the interrogation table tightly. "I won’t tell you anything about Preludin until I see the bail money!"

The interrogation room fell into silence.

Jian Ruochen narrowed his eyes, stood up, reached into his pants pocket, and dug out a stack of folded Hong Kong dollars. He rifled through them and fished out a small pile of blank check slips.

He hadn’t stored them properly. After grabbing them from a small metal box on top of the entryway shoe rack, he had casually stuffed them into his pocket, causing the remaining bills and blank checks to tangle together, the paper money crumpled.

Guan Yingjun’s lips twitched, and he forcefully suppressed a laugh rising in his throat.

Jian Ruochen filled out a check for $100 million and placed it within Oliver Keith’s reach but just out of his grasp. "This is a $100 million check. You can cash it yourself once you’re out."

His face lit up with excitement.

It was real!

A real check!

Jian Ruochen watched coldly, expressionless. "Months ago, Jiang Hanyu hid an MI6 file and a bank safe key near the abandoned riverbank by the Yau Tsim Mong Flagson Private International Secondary School. The MI6 file contained a coded message. Once decrypted, it mentioned that he would organize some anti-reunification democracy clubs at HKU and targeted businessmen with close ties to the mainland."

"Such clubs require approval from school administration. Was it you who approved this and assisted Jiang Hanyu?"

Jian Ruochen slammed his hand down on the table, pressing it firmly on the check with the amount written on it.

Oliver Keith jumped out of his skin.

"Was it you?" Guan Yingjun demanded sharply.

"Yes…" Oliver Keith reached for the check, his fingertips grazing the edge but unable to grab it.

Fear and desperation twisted together, making him tremble: "You said you’d give it to me…"

Jian Ruochen didn’t let go. "You’ll get it after answering questions about Preludin. This is $100 million. There will be a second $100 million, and a third."

Zhang Xingzong’s eyes went wide.

He’s actually paying?

He can’t be, right?

Jian Ruochen pressed down on the check and pressed further. "First, state the exact name of the illegal organization. Then tell me, why did Lu Rong have a large quantity of Preludin?"

Oliver Keith stared greedily at the lifeline right there. "The People's Harmony Club… it’s called the People's Harmony Club."

Guan Yingjun: "Has it been disbanded now?"

Oliver Keith babbled, "Once it was approved, it wasn’t under my control anymore. It should be disbanded by now. After all, even the person who applied for the club is in prison."

"And I don’t know why Lu Rong had so much Preludin either!"

Guan Yingjun slapped down a photo of the safe in front of Oliver Keith. "Look at the photo and think carefully!"

The authority he'd built in combat hit him like a physical blow.

Oliver Keith couldn’t help but shudder, his excitement vanishing, his face pale.

Jian Ruochen watched coldly, seeing the fear of Guan Yingjun in his expression.

Oliver Keith glanced down and suddenly paused, gasping, "I remember now, this is—"

He shut his eyes tight, refusing to say another word.

Jian Ruochen signed another check for $200 million, tore it off, and tossed both checks at Oliver Keith. "Here’s the money you wanted. Keep going. If what you say is true, I’ll give you the last part."

Oliver Keith clutched the two checks, feeling equal parts bitter and thrilled.

These were two checks that could save his life!

Unfortunately, as bail money, these funds would only be in his hands temporarily—they would never truly be his.

After weighing it all for a moment, Oliver Keith slumped, all his bluster gone. "This Preludin… was probably left over from when I paid Lu Jingchen to kill Christelle Gwendoline Connaught."

Jian Ruochen’s expression remained calm, but his fingers under the table dug into his knees.

It turns out the truth really is connected to Lu Jingchen.

What a shame Lu Jingchen is already dead!

Oliver Keith rambled on, “Back then, before Christelle first came to Hong Kong, I contacted the local gang leaders and asked them to find a way to control that woman.” He said.

“The underworld is the fastest channel for information flow in Hong Kong. My intentions were quickly discovered by the people behind those gang leaders.”

“Lu Jingchen took an interest in Christelle’s vast assets and wanted to collaborate with me. He was responsible for finding someone to drug and control Christelle, while I focused on fighting for the inheritance and dealing with the remaining secondary heirs.”

“After ten consecutive days of Christelle being drugged, she encountered Jiang Mingshan. Following Lu Jingchen’s instructions, Jiang Mingshan took advantage of Luo Binwen’s absence and slept with Christelle.”

Oliver Keith glanced at Jian Ruochen, a genuine hint of regret in his expression: “What a shame you weren’t conceived from that encounter under the influence of the drugs… If you had been, how could you be as clever as you are now?”

Guan Yingjun remained seated, but under the table, he lifted his leg and kicked the chair opposite him.

Oliver Keith jerked backward, falling straight to the ground with a loud *thump* as the back of his head hit the floor.

Dizzy and disoriented, his legs still hooked on the chair, he lay there stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend why he had suddenly fallen.

Outside the interrogation room.

Sizheng Liu’s hand rested on the main power switch of the interrogation room, his thoughts drifting for a moment… Oliver Keith’s head really made an exceptionally loud sound when it hit the ground.

Fortunately, Detective Guan’s movements were blocked by the interrogation table, and he had pulled his punch. Even if he hadn’t pulled the plug, it wouldn’t have been a big deal.

Sizheng Liu focused his gaze inside and saw Guan Yingjun calmly warning, “Get up and speak properly.”

Jian Ruochen’s eyes wandered.

Detective Guan’s way of hitting people had actually improved. In the past, he would either slap someone with the interrogation record book or throw two solid punches.

Now, compared to Sir Ji from CIB, who smashed thieves’ heads against the ground, Detective Guan’s way of hitting people seemed quite refined.

Oliver Keith clutched the chair and staggered to his feet.

Dazed, he immediately spread his fingers to check if the check in his palm had been damaged. If the check was wrinkled or torn, the bank would refuse to cash it.

This was his lifeline.

Oliver Keith carefully smoothed the check, straightened the chair, and sat back down: “Not long after Christelle and Jiang Mingshan had relations, Luo Binwen found out. He forcibly took Christelle back to the UK and informed her father about the incident.”

“They were forbidden from communicating or meeting. We thought the plan had failed, but I spent a fortune to pay off a servant at the UK Connaught estate to frequently use Preludin in Christelle’s food and water. Her health quickly declined.”

“Around that time, another servant I had recommended to the estate seized the opportunity to appear by her side and mention Jiang Mingshan. She quickly couldn’t bear the torment of longing and hallucinations. I brought Jiang Mingshan over, let them meet, and that very night, they packed their bags, took 200g of gold, and left the Connaught estate on their own. They eloped.”

“Old Connaught, unable to find his daughter, grew despondent and soon died of illness.”

Oliver Keith spoke, a smug expression on his face as he took a deep breath.

If Feng Ye hadn’t messed things up, his criminal methods would have been so covert and perfect.

What a shame.

Unfortunately, Christelle’s womb was so fertile, actually giving birth to such an exceptionally clever son!

Oliver Keith said emotionlessly, “Anyway, I can’t inherit the Connaught estate now, so I might as well tell you everything. Once I’m done, I can leave this hellhole!”

He still had some assets left, enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

Zhang Xingzong frowned in disgust.

He wished he could rush over and tear up those two checks.

Jian Ruochen said dismissively, “Please refrain from discussing irrelevant future plans or content unrelated to the case.”

He glanced down at the documents, “After they left the UK, things got away from you, didn’t they?”

Oliver Keith gritted his teeth but had no choice, “Yes.”

Jian Ruochen pressed, “The Preludin wasn’t entirely used up, yet you were unaware. Does that mean Lu Jingchen and Jiang Mingshan stopped administering the drug without your knowledge?”

“Probably.” Oliver Keith sneered coldly, “Maybe Christelle figured everything out. Or maybe the greedy director at the mission hospital revealed the truth during an examination, trying to extort money. Who knows?”

“In any case, by the time I found out that Christelle hadn’t died as planned, it was too late. When I rushed to the mission hospital, she had already been taken into the delivery room.”

Oliver Keith’s gaze swept over Jian Ruochen’s face, and he let out a malicious laugh, “The extended withdrawal period and cessation of the drug restored Christelle’s rationality and clarity of mind. Before entering the delivery room, she made a deal with a nun nurse to switch the babies, intending to take you back to the UK.”

“By the time I arrived, the baby in the incubator had become Jiang Hanyu, and you had vanished. I thought… it was just a baby. Luo Binwen couldn’t possibly find you with no clues. Besides… I later started a fire.”

What a pity that little Jian Ruochen didn’t die in that fire!

Oliver Keith whispered, “I paid off the supervisor to disconnect Christelle’s oxygen and fake massive hemorrhaging. Meanwhile, I went to pull the fire alarm and, incidentally, started a fire.”

He let out two high-pitched laughs: “Haha!”

19 years!

Because of what he did, Luo Binwen spent a full 19 years looking for the Young Master of the Connaught family. He refused to believe that Miss Connaught’s child had perished in the fire, preferring to search year after year.

Jian Ruochen stared coldly at Oliver Keith, repeatedly glancing up to confirm the video recorder was working properly.

This needed to be recorded thoroughly.

With this footage, even if the judge wanted to go easy on him, it would be impossible.

And fortunately, he hadn’t yet passed his 20th birthday. The statute of limitations for the case of Christelle’s death hadn’t expired yet!

He was going to make sure this scum got convicted!

“Were you the one selling Preludin at the University of Hong Kong?” Jian Ruochen surreptitiously steered Oliver Keith’s attention from the past events to the present.

As he spoke, he signed the final check, “If you tell the whole truth, this one will be yours too.”

Oliver Keith’s heart raced with excitement.

So what if Jian Ruochen knew the truth? With this money, the court would still have to let him go!

Haha!

Indeed, demanding bail money was the right decision!

Bi Wanwan stared at Oliver Keith’s gleeful face, completely confused.

So these 400 million dollars were really going to be given to a murderer like this?

But even if the truth is revealed to the world, what’s the use if we can’t catch the criminal?

Just to make yourself look good?

Bi Wanwan was skeptical, but after some reflection, she realized Consultant Jian wasn't the type to care only about appearances.

Jian Ruochen urged, "Speak! Don't waste our time!"

"No," Oliver Keith said smugly, sneering. "Buying the drugs was Lu Rong's idea. He wanted the remaining drugs to enter the market so I could sell them to you again and gain control over you."

Guan Yingjun reached behind and touched his service weapon.

He wanted to shoot him right then and there.

Fearing Guan Yingjun might actually lose control, Jian Ruochen nudged his leg with his knee and kept it pressed close.

Hidden beneath the interrogation table, no one noticed that the two men who appeared detached and impartial were secretly pressing their legs tightly together.

The rage surging in Guan Yingjun’s chest cooled slightly. He crossed his arms and asked, "So three years ago, after Jiang Mingshan took Jian Ruochen in, were you the one who drugged him?"

Jian Ruochen carefully observed Oliver Keith's expression.

Someone like Lu Qian—no person with a sane mind could possibly like him.

The original host had been top of his class in medical school; by all accounts, he wasn’t a fool who would throw everything away for love.

Oliver Keith nodded, admitting it. "But you didn't die, so it doesn't count as a crime."

Bi Wanwan slammed her hand on the table. "You attempted murder and still dare to talk back?!"

Killing relatives, murdering nine astrophysics students, attempting to kill Jian Ruochen to seize the inheritance!

How could someone like this deserve to live?

Seeing that Jian Ruochen had truly kept his promise and given him four billion, Oliver Keith grew bold and fearlessly confessed to every evil deed he had committed over the years.

Like an artist showcasing his work, he boasted and laid everything out clearly.

The stack of confession records before Zhang Xingzong grew thick.

His hand cramped from writing, and his handwriting became increasingly messy.

By the time the confession was complete, Oliver Keith had signed, fingerprinted, and the recording stored—eight hours had passed.

Sizheng Liu entered to take Oliver Keith back into custody.

Unexpectedly, the man waved the four-billion-dollar check and laughed loudly, "Your Consultant Jian personally gave me four billion in bail. Haha, I'm free!"

Jian Ruochen tilted his head. "Detective Guan, nothing more to ask, right?"

"Nothing," Guan Yingjun replied, completely unbothered.

Given Jian Ruochen’s tendency to act on impulse when angry, the fact that he hadn’t emptied a clip into Oliver Keith was due entirely to his strong self-control.

Bi Wanwan pressed her lips together and asked, "Are we really going through with the bail procedure? The West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit has never done this before."

Jian Ruochen feigned surprise. "How is that possible?"

The members of Team A exchanged glances, unsure whether he meant how such a precedent could not exist or how they could proceed with bail.

Oliver Keith was ecstatic.

"Don't worry," Jian Ruochen said quickly, walking over to Guan Yingjun’s desk in Team A’s office.

The desk was nearly his now, cluttered with stacks of study materials and documents.

He rummaged through and pulled out a dog-eared copy of Hong Kong’s legal code, flipped to a section marked by a bookmark, and pointed at the entry. "According to the law, bail money isn’t actually tied to whether someone will be sentenced or imprisoned."

Everyone: ...

No connection?

The police academy never taught that.

Jian Ruochen explained, "Actually, bail is a guarantee paid by a suspect to the court when there is insufficient evidence. It means: I am not guilty, and I request not to be detained."

He paused and added, "The West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit handles serious criminals. Everyone solves cases so quickly and decisively that we’ve never encountered such insistence on paying bail."

Zhang Xingzong choked.

That was well said.

Jian Ruochen continued, "Oliver Keith’s guilt is already established. In fact, the moment he confessed to the remains of the nine victims, the bail became meaningless."

"Besides, bail conditions are generally strict. Only those with minor offenses and no threat to society can use money to leave custody. Serial killers don’t walk free no matter how high the bail."

Bi Wanwan: ...

So this was a complete scam?

Consultant Jian had not only tricked Oliver Keith, but nearly fooled all of them too!

Jian Ruochen dug through the pile and pulled out his personal notes taken while studying the legal code, handing them over. "If the police academy didn’t teach this, let’s all take a look together. It’s quite useful."

Zhang Xingzong was speechless, feeling ashamed of his earlier doubts during the interrogation.

He hadn’t understood the specifics of bail and had doubted the Little God of Wealth. That was wrong of him.

The Little God of Wealth tricked the suspect yet still shared his notes. The Little God of Wealth was amazing!

Bi Wanwan asked, "What about the money? Didn’t we already give it to him?"

Oliver Keith stared blankly, barely breathing. He felt a roaring in his ears and was utterly dazed.

Jian Ruochen raised two fingers, snatched the check from his hand, and smiled, "Sorry, since this is bail, by the book... this amount is seized by the West Kowloon Regional Police Station the moment your guilt is confirmed."

If the check isn’t cashed, it doesn’t count as spent.

Not a single cent of that four billion needs to be paid out.

Team A members: ... Haha.

Oliver Keith, you really fell for a massive scam.