CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 69: INTERLUDE, BUSINESSMAN (5K)

The meal finished.

"President Zhang, Captain Wang, we’re leaving first."

The others exited the restaurant and went their separate ways.

Only Zhang Feng and Captain Wang squatted by the roadside smoking, talking as if whispering.

"Old Zhang, let’s talk."

Halfway through the cigarette.

Captain Wang rubbed his nose and then looked at Zhang Feng, who was deep in thought, "Where should we start with the next phase of the investigation?"

Captain Wang said as he scanned the streets around,

"Should we start by filtering surveillance? Or what do you suggest?

If we’re checking the footage, I can call the other two cities right now.

As you know, when we were investigating the businessman, we pulled a lot of video material from the city where the incident occurred.

Those materials are still preserved, stored in their respective bureaus.

Request them, and they’ll be retrieved shortly."

Captain Wang said this, taking out his phone,

"Once they’re retrieved, I’ll contact our liaison to request some manpower so we can quickly sift through them."

Initially, with the businessman’s portrait, the department collected and preserved surveillance from the entire city’s streets and merchant establishments.

It was like searching for a needle in a haystack to see if we could find the businessman’s movement path.

But all filters were in vain; no trace of the businessman could be found.

However, this time, we have the portrait of the guest.

So, Captain Wang’s idea was simply practical, to work overtime and re-filter the footage.

"Let’s not filter first." Zhang Feng had a different opinion, "We’ve been investigating for so long and haven’t found the businessman.

As for the guest, I reckon he’ll hide even more deeply.

If we proceed with a normal search, it’s too labor-consuming."

"Can’t be helped." Captain Wang shook his head but paused his dialing, "Or do you have a better method?"

"Not necessarily better." Zhang Feng, with a cigarette in his mouth, took out the guest’s portrait from his pocket, "What I’m thinking is this: let’s first focus our manpower, check out all the Daoist temples in the three cities.

Also, the ruinous temple the old scholar mentioned, although there’s no longer a temple there now as it’s been converted into a mall, we should check it out on-site first."

Zhang Feng said, picking up a stone and marking on the ground,

"The three cities, plus the city where the ruinous temple is located, don’t have many temples, the workload is small, it’s just to warm up first.

Once the temples are checked, after everyone has slipped into this work state, we can then re-filter the surveillance."

"Mm..." Captain Wang murmured, not replying immediately, but after pondering for a while, said, "I was just considering maybe running two lines parallel.

One side surveillance, the other side temples.

Or allocate some manpower, canvas the entire city.

But thinking about it, better complete one small task first."

"Since you agree, let’s go with this first." Zhang Feng stood up, extinguishing his cigarette, accurately tossed it into the nearby trash can,

"Also, when Captain Li and the folks from Eastern Province come for the meeting tomorrow, we’ll draft the plan as discussed tonight.

Start with the temple canvassing process."

"Alright." Captain Wang patted his back, trying to stand up, but his leg cramped, failing to rise at once.

"Getting old; you should squat less on cold roads." Zhang Feng supported him, "The restaurant has chairs, tables, wouldn’t it be better to talk there.

We’re just chatting for a few minutes, the restaurant wouldn’t forcibly kick us out with a broom.

You insisted on going outside to talk, really no clue what you’re after."

"The restaurant’s too warm." Captain Wang said with a laugh, "Too comfortable, so I think it’s better outside; the cold wind clears my head."

"Spouting your nonsense all day." Zhang Feng shook his head, "Then you go and relay our discussion to Big Liu and the others.

Spare us from opposing ourselves when Captain Li arrives at the meeting tomorrow."

...

The next day, at 7:30 AM.

Outside an emptied small factory.

Vroom—

Police cars led the way, followed by several large vehicles.

When Zhang Feng, Captain Wang, and others got off the cars, they didn’t say much and started unloading a heap of things from the vehicles.

Around 9:30.

The factory was lit up; files, wires, office furniture were set up in place.

There was even a banner hanging on the wall.

An old detective with some calligraphy skill wrote the words ’Work Together’.

"Take a break." Zhang Feng, after working non-stop for two hours, was not tired,

But after two hours of climbing and lifting, Captain Wang and others were bending over with aching backs.

Yet they didn’t rest long.

Beep beep, another police car led the way outside, followed by two business vehicles and various other cars pulling up.

The doors had barely opened when these straightforward detectives from Eastern Province shouted:

"Old Zhang! What are you up to staying inside? Not going to greet your brothers? Didn’t we treat you to drinks in Eastern Province?"

"Right, right; hey? Spring here is actually warm, wearing a single jacket without feeling cold?"

"This place is warm; wearing like this at our place will freeze your kneecaps."

These detectives and policewomen were chatting while heading toward the factory.

Upon hearing these loud people’s approach, Zhang Feng also led Captain Wang and others over to greet them.

Soon after, it didn’t take long.

Captain Li and his team also arrived.

Now, it’s past eleven o’clock.

Sixty-seven original task force members gathered, along with more than forty supplementary personnel.

Everyone sat in the small factory, the tables, chairs, benches, and facilities made it seem a bit crowded.

But it was fine, after the meeting when everyone dispersed, it was no longer cramped, saving expenses from leasing a larger venue.

Afterwards.