Chapter 161: Game Theory

Chapter 161: Game Theory

Jian Ruochen entered the interrogation room with two cups of water, placing one before Zhang Qingzhe, principal of Ming Ren Primary School. "Please."

"Thank you," Zhang Qingzhe said, taking the cup and instinctively glancing up.

He had thought on his way here that as long as it wasn't Jian Ruochen conducting the interrogation, he would be fine.

As long as it wasn't Jian Ruochen, he was confident he could hold his ground and bluff his way through.

But before his eyes had even risen half a meter, he first spotted a silver-white ponytail, tied loosely and casually, resting on a shoulder—who else could it be but Jian Ruochen!

Zhang Qingzhe's lips drooped, nearly losing the composure he was struggling to maintain. "Consultant Jian."

"Hmm." Jian Ruochen pulled out the chair opposite Zhang Qingzhe and sat down, her gaze sweeping over him.

Zhang Qingzhe, 63, originally registered in Hong Kong's New Territories, had transferred his household registration to the school upon taking over Ming Ren Primary School.

Today, he wore a smoke-gray suit with a carelessly tied indigo striped tie. The glasses perched on his nose were yellowed and worn, looking quite old. In the brief moment of observation, Zhang Qingzhe had already squinted three or four times.

Jian Ruochen withdrew her gaze and asked casually, "Since those glasses don't seem to fit, why aren't you wearing the pair you usually wear?"

Zhang Qingzhe instinctively started to reply but then, with a sudden realization, felt a chill run down his spine.

He had deliberately swapped his gold-rimmed glasses for a cheap, old pair to distance himself from any association with bribery or illicit funds. He never expected Consultant Jian to notice at a glance!

Thankfully, he hadn't answered rashly.

This was a test, not a casual question!

Zhang Qingzhe took a sip of water, suppressing the unease in his heart.

Jian Ruochen watched his exposed wrist as he raised his hand, then smiled again. "Were you in such a hurry to leave? How could you forget your watch? While the summons from the West Kowloon Regional Police Station is urgent, it's not so urgent that you couldn't spare a moment to put on your watch. Such a prominent white mark on your wrist suggests you must have been wearing a beloved timepiece that you never took off."

Zhang Qingzhe instinctively pulled down his sleeve to cover his wrist.

He had deliberately changed his glasses and left his watch behind because he knew the ICAC was investigating corruption. This time, the investigation was particularly stringent. Wearing a luxury watch that didn't match his income into West Kowloon would be almost an act of provocation.

Zhang Qingzhe's mind raced, and he laughed heartily. "These are just my old glasses. As I've gotten older, my eyesight has worsened. The new pair I had made recently fell on the floor while I was bathing and broke. Since the Police Headquarters needed our cooperation, I didn't have time to get them fixed. I just grabbed these old glasses and put them on in a hurry."

As he spoke, he lowered his head to adjust his tie. "Ah, I didn't even tie my tie properly and forgot my watch. How unprofessional."

Jian Ruochen was well aware of the real reasons behind his change of glasses and decision not to wear a watch.

This old principal was quite the actor, on par with Jiang Hanyu's performance years ago when he waited for her at the school gate in the cold wind with his collar open.

She tapped her fingers on the table, silently watching Zhang Qingzhe.

Zhang Qingzhe smiled faintly and met Jian Ruochen's gaze. For the first minute, he remained as steady as Mount Tai, but by the fifth minute, he began to feel uneasy inside.

What did this consultant mean by just watching without asking anything?

What was she thinking?

After ten minutes, Zhang Qingzhe grew anxious and unconsciously finished the water in the paper cup. He cleared his throat and adjusted his lapel. "This investigation... how should I cooperate?"

Jian Ruochen suddenly let out an "oh," as if snapping back to reality. "I was just thinking about why you believed West Kowloon called you here to cooperate with an investigation. You were summoned as a criminal suspect. Do you understand now?"

Zhang Qingzhe’s face stiffened.

"And," Jian Ruochen added, pursing her lips, "along with you, Moer Kelin and De Cheng Primary School Principal Chou Jiawen were also summoned. Please take this more seriously."

Zhang Qingzhe turned pale. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I need a lawyer."

Zhang Xingzong, while taking notes, said, "You have the right to hire a lawyer only after the first interrogation by the Major Crimes Unit concludes or once you’re detained. This is our first inquiry, so you cannot hire one."

He had long followed Consultant Jian’s teachings and thoroughly studied Hong Kong’s legal code, committing the laws to memory. He could even switch to being a defense lawyer on the spot without any issues.

Don’t underestimate support staff!

Zhang Xingzong thought proudly, puffing out his chest.

So awesome—such a cool line finally came his turn! Too bad his tone didn’t carry the same authority as when Consultant Jian used criminal law to pressure others. He still had more to learn.

Zhang Xingzong lowered his eyes, reflecting inwardly.

Zhang Qingzhe felt the pressure mounting. The last bit of hope he had when entering the room vanished completely under their coordinated tactics.

Jian Ruochen, seeing his trembling cheeks and half-lost composure, added, "The Major Crimes Unit has limited time, so we have to question three people at once. Anyway, the mistakes you’ve made are quite similar. Whoever confesses first will be considered to have a good attitude toward reform, and they may receive a reduced sentence or even avoid punishment by cooperating for leniency."

As the words fell, Zhang Qingzhe held his breath and swallowed, his mouth dry, his tongue scraping against his palate like sandpaper, making it hard to breathe.

Zhang Qingzhe spoke futilely, "I don’t know the two people you mentioned."

Jian Ruochen placed a blood-stained transaction slip on the table. "You don’t know? Then why did Moer Kelin transfer so much money to an account under your name?"

The blood was from when he was shot and had since turned brown. The dried blood had wrinkled the thin, tissue-thin bank transfer slip.

Tiny gray numbers covered the slip, making Zhang Qingzhe’s vision darken.

Such crucial evidence had actually fallen into Jian Ruochen’s hands!

What was Moer Kelin doing!

Zhang Qingzhe couldn’t understand but instinctively repeated the story the three of them had agreed upon. "Ming Ren Primary School is an English-funded private school. Mr. Moer Kelin is very charitable and often donates."

Jian Ruochen laughed at this. "Donations?"

"If it’s a donation, then tell me where this money was used? According to the ICAC investigation, Ming Ren Primary School hasn’t built any major facilities in the past ten years. Even the playground turf was replaced only once. So, where exactly were these donations used?"

Jian Ruochen raised her hand and loudly smacked the ICAC investigation report brought by Liu Qishang onto the table in front of Zhang Qingzhe.

She said coldly, "Point it out to me!"

Zhang Qingzhe opened the report and glanced at it. The first page was a floor plan of Ming Ren Primary School, drawn clearly from top to bottom, inside and out, not even missing the underground parking lot.

Cold sweat covered his back, and he hesitated to point anything out.

Jian Ruochen provoked him, "Moer Kelin and Chou Jiawen are right next door. If you don’t talk, do you think others won’t?"

Zhang Qingzhe knew full well that the three of them had already coordinated their stories. As long as they stuck to the same account, the police couldn’t do anything to them.

But under Jian Ruochen’s tactics, he began to doubt.

Regardless of Moer Kelin’s thoughts, what about Chou Jiawen?

Would he betray them at the last moment?

As the principal of an elementary school, he naturally knew this interrogation tactic was called game theory, or more specifically, the prisoner's dilemma.

It was a blatant divide-and-conquer tactic.

Zhang Qingzhe sat rigidly, his mind preoccupied with the other two interrogation rooms, his lips quivering with fear.

Next door.

Guan Yingjun crossed his arms, looking down at the old man before him. "...Zhang Qingzhe next door is being interrogated by Jian Ruochen. Think carefully—the first to talk gets the chance for a reduced sentence."

Chou Jiawen's Adam's apple bobbed beneath the skin of his neck.

Song Xuyi said, "Everyone in Hong Kong knows Consultant Jian is known for breaking suspects. You can certainly drag this out with us, but how long can Zhang Qingzhe hold out against Jian Ruochen?"

Chou Jiawen's mouth hung slightly open, sweat beading on his upper lip. He was deeply worried, but he held firm and said nothing.

It was just the prisoner's dilemma. As long as the three of them stuck together and held to their rehearsed stories, the police couldn't do a thing!

Chou Jiawen said hoarsely, "However you phrase the question, my answer remains the same. Since I'm not guilty, there's no need for a reduced sentence."

"Is that so?" Guan Yingjun said, tilting his head toward Song Xuyi. "Go get Chou Jiawen some water. We'll wait with him."

An hour.

Long enough for Zhang Qingzhe to drink four glasses of water.

By the fifth glass, he finally couldn't hold it in. "I need to use the restroom."

"Sure," Jian Ruochen stood up. "We'll take you."

As the two escorted Zhang Qingzhe out, they ran into Song Xuyi, who was stepping out for a smoke.

Zhang Xingzong greeted him, "Detective Song."

Song Xuyi lit a cigarette but hadn't taken a puff yet when Jian Ruochen said, "Detective Zhang, take Zhang Qingzhe to the restroom. I need to find Detective Guan."

Zhang Xingzong immediately complied.

Halfway there, Zhang Qingzhe glanced back and saw Jian Ruochen and Guan Yingjun huddled together. Guan Yingjun seemed to be saying something, and Jian Ruochen nodded repeatedly, the tension easing from her face.

His heart skipped a beat. He couldn't help but wonder why they looked like that. Had Chou Jiawen already talked?

It had only been an hour!

He'd have to test the waters later. If Jian Ruochen evaded the question...

Then he'd have to reconsider this shaky alliance.

·

Jian Ruochen leaned against the wall, positioning herself so that Chou Jiawen inside could see her.

She smiled and whispered to Guan Yingjun, "How about roast goose for dinner?"

Guan Yingjun instinctively wanted to shake his head but forced himself to hold back, only refusing verbally. "No."

They were talking here precisely to make the two suspects think the one the other was interrogating had already confessed.

Naturally, he couldn't frown or shake his head—he could only nod.

Jian Ruochen said, "It's been over two months. I'm so sick of bland food. We could share one serving."

At home, it was either this porridge or that porridge every day. Even the most skilled chef had little room to show off.

Guan Yingjun was about to say no when he saw Zhang Xingzong returning with the suspect. He could only nod and agree, "Fine, one serving."

He was both amused and exasperated.

Jian Ruochen was actually using suspects in the interrogation room to angle for dinner!

They exchanged a glance. Jian Ruochen gritted her teeth and whispered, "Bring up the spies."

Guan Yingjun nodded. They stepped past each other and pushed the door open to return to the interrogation room.

Thinking of Jian Ruochen scheming for roast goose, Guan Yingjun's eyes softened with amusement. "Mr. Chou, Zhang Qingzhe said the money was used to fund British spies. Is that true?"

Chou Jiawen felt a chill run down his spine.

That bastard Zhang Qingzhe couldn't hold up under Consultant Jian's questioning after all—he'd ratted them out!

Next door.

Almost simultaneously.

Jian Ruochen said to Zhang Qingzhe, who had just sat down, "Chou Jiawen said the money was used to fund spies. Is that true?"

Zhang Qingzhe swallowed the probe he was about to make, forcing it back down his throat.

He didn't think West Kowloon could possibly have uncovered everything. If they had that kind of capability, they would have rooted out all the spies in Hong Kong long ago. Why wait until now?

It must be that Chou Jiawen couldn't hold up under interrogation!

He was the first to break!

In that case, don't blame him for looking out for himself.

Zhang Qingzhe said, "It's true."

Jian Ruochen raised an eyebrow. "Where is the spy organization? How did you funnel the funds to them?"

Zhang Qingzhe closed his eyes. He didn't have time to think carefully or hesitate. The realization that Chou Jiawen had broken first pushed him, making him rush his answers—he had to be faster than Chou Jiawen.

"It wasn't complicated. The people Moer Kelin sent over almost all became foreign teachers. When they needed money, the funds were deposited into their accounts as teacher salaries or bonuses to support their activities in Hong Kong."

As he spoke, Zhang Qingzhe's eyes reddened, and he stared intently at Jian Ruochen, emphasizing, "I talked first!"

Jian Ruochen acknowledged with a sound and asked further, "Where do these people usually live? Where do they share intelligence? MI6's intelligence organization in Hong Kong must have a fixed headquarters. Is it near the elementary school?"

"Yes," Zhang Qingzhe said, feeling heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

He gripped the edge of the table tightly. "The underground parking lots of Mingren Elementary and Decheng Elementary are actually connected. The hidden section in between is their headquarters."

An intelligence organization set up in an elementary school—the thought of what they might do if discovered was terrifying.

Jian Ruochen stood up abruptly. "Zhang Xingzong, tell Detective Guan to send the tactical unit to protect the children immediately!"