Once, I wanted to be a good person

Chapter 73: 64. Is Shan Hui really a traitor?



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An Awakener who had lost his powers.

And very likely, a Fuser.

Completely stripped of resistance capabilities, and even his Awakening Ability and physical strength were disabled.

Isn't this just the perfect, natural investigation target?

Previously, a high-level Awakener had brought himself a tremendous gain named "One Two Three."

How much would a Fuser bring to himself?

Thinking of this, Fang Ze's heart couldn't help but thump wildly.

Moreover, Cui Xuemin had planted a tracker on him. To remove the tracker, he needed to have a "confrontation" with him as well. Two birds with one stone.

As for how Fang Ze, being so far away from Cui Xuemin, would make contact with and investigate him.

This... wasn't really a problem.

Because on the day that Fang Ze gained access to the Late-Night Investigation Room, not knowing his own identity, he made the silly decision to make contact with everyone. Cui Xuemin was among them. (Chapter 4)

Theoretically, as long as Fang Ze wishes it, he could summon Cui Xuemin at any time.

The only problem was that, having already investigated a ranger tonight, the number of investigations available in the Investigation Room had been used up, so he must patiently wait another day, until tomorrow night to investigate Cui Xuemin.

While Fang Ze was pondering this, Bai Ling roughly recounted the entire incident once more.

Fang Ze listened to the entire account with seeming indifference.

Feeling that everything was progressing according to his own plans.

This world's criminal investigations rely too much on Awakening Abilities and Extraordinary Items, completely failing to develop the earlier theories of criminal psychology and game theory.

So, faced with these tactically experimental methods for manipulating people's hearts, they inevitably cannot resist.

All this was quite normal.

So he nonchalantly asked, "By the way, I remember you saying just now that after Cui Xuemin escaped, his accomplice also tried to flee but eventually self-destructed, is that correct?"

Bai Ling nodded and replied, "That's right!"

Fang Ze inquired, "Who was that person?"

Bai Ling answered, "Shan Hui."

"Shan Hui?"

Upon hearing this name, Fang Ze was momentarily surprised.

Cui Xuemin, he had made contact with, did indeed feel a bit odd. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes always narrowed, giving off the impression of a cultured beast.

Thus, the idea that he was an insider, Fang Ze thought, was imaginable.

But... Shan Hui.

To be honest, Fang Ze hadn't had much contact with Shan Hui. This old man wasn't enthusiastic about solving cases or about his colleagues either. Enjoy new stories from empire

Always holding a vacuum flask, with drooping eyelids, he silently searched for clues.

Even during meetings, he would only speak up about his findings deliberately and sparingly when asked by the chief.

At other times, he showed an indifferent attitude.

Before the escape, Fang Ze had one contact with him. (Chapter 43)

Even though Shan Hui was dismissive towards him, Fang Ze, who suffered from social anxiety, just wouldn't stop chattering.

Annoyed by Fang Ze's pestering, Shan Hui would still respond with a word after Fang Ze went on for ten.

Hence, gradually, Fang Ze came to understand that it wasn't on purpose that Shan Hui was so Zen-like.

Lower-grade cities are on the very edge of the entire Federation, lacking the affection of both maternal and paternal figures, where officials did not exert control and gang powers were strong, with murder and arson being common occurrences.

Therefore, being an Investigator was a high-risk profession.

Having worked in Qingshan City for half his life, Shan Hui had seen too many departures. His survival up to this point relied entirely on his carefulness and caution.

Now, he had only a few months left until retirement.

Of course, he became even more careful in his work, not wanting to stir up any trouble.

In chatting with other Investigators, Fang Ze also heard about Shan Hui having a daughter at home, famously beautiful and successful. She went to the higher-grade city Emerald City for work in an official position, married, and had a child.

In recent years, it was said she also had a lovely daughter.

So Shan Hui planned that after retiring, he would go live in Emerald City, spending his days with his daughter and granddaughter.

This kind of person... an insider?

Honestly, Fang Ze found it hard to believe.

Was Shan Hui too cunning and calculating? Or was there... some other unknown factor?

Fang Ze always felt there was something odd...

But according to Shan Hui's reactions, the results of Lie Detection, and deductions, Shan Hui was indeed undeniably an insider.

So Fang Ze didn't know where the problem lay.

Might it be because Fang Ze had been silent a bit too long, Bai Ling from across the Windbreeze Flower started to grow impatient.

She tapped on the small table in front of her and said, "Fang Ze, Fang Ze, are you listening to me?"

"Ah?" Fang Ze came back to his senses and gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. I zoned out."

"What's up? What happened?"

Bai Ling took out a map, pointing to it while explaining, "Listen, here's the thing."

"Director Bai said, first thing tomorrow morning, she'll order the withdrawal of your warrant and the entire blockade to be lifted."

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"We'll meet here at noon tomorrow,"

"At that time, Bai would like to have a good talk with you and give you the promised item,"

She paused before continuing, "As for the bonus, it might be a bit late, but Bai mentioned it should be around 300,000 based on your contribution."

"If it's not enough, she'll top it up for you."

"And as for the defensive charm, she carries it with her, so she can give it to you then as well."

Hearing Bai Ling's words, Fang Ze smiled and said, "Alright. Thank her for me, Director Bai. Then I shall see you tomorrow at noon."

After hanging up, Fang Ze checked the time: 2 a.m.

He still had about five to six hours until his identity was restored.

By then, he would shift from a criminal to a free man!

This thought made the half month of struggle he had been through since his arrival all worthwhile!

The mere thought filled him with joy!

As for... meeting Bai Zhi?

Forget it, he wasn't foolish.

She clearly had her sights set on his body; if he went, he'd definitely be forced to stay, and then how could he rescue Miaomiao?

Moreover, Fang Ze had yet to interrogate Cui Xuemin and wasn't sure whether his "Late-Night Investigation Room" was what the organization was looking for.

If he went back to the Special Case Team too soon and they discovered that the Late-Night Investigation Room was the very thing the organization sought, what would he do if the Security Bureau wanted him to hand over the evidence? To hand it over or not?

Therefore, he decided it was best to finish investigating Cui Xuemin and make sure he was completely clear of any issues before doing anything else.

And besides... he wasn't sure if it was just a premonition,

but Fang Ze always felt that the Special Case Team's business was not yet finished. If he went back now, he, a small fry, would be in great danger...

With these thoughts in mind, Fang Ze stopped concerning himself with the idea of meeting Bai Zhi.

He lay down on the vine bed One Two Three had made for him, gestured to One Two Three to keep watch in case enemies came, and then fell into a deep sleep...

......

Perhaps because of the last couple of days fleeing, he was utterly exhausted.

Fang Ze slept until the sun was high in the sky.

He checked his watch, which showed it was well past 10 a.m.

He then looked down at the traps and at One Two Three beneath the tree.

The traps were undisturbed, indicating no enemies had come.

One Two Three was lying on the ground, staring blankly at a little red flower on the ground.

After spacing out for a while, as if "having grasped some secret," it extended its wooden hand.

Moments later, a small flower sprouted from its palm as well.

Seeing it had actually grown a flower, One Two Three danced with joy, looking quite foolish.

Up on the vine bed, Fang Ze couldn't help but smile.

Then he leaped down from the tree, patted One Two Three's arm, and said, "Alright, stop playing. It's time to go. We've got someone to save."

Back at the cave where they stored items, Fang Ze didn't take everything with him.

He only secured more than 30,000 Lini and the remaining 20 crystals close to his body, hung three daggers around his waist, slung 20 feather arrows on his back, picked up his iron spear, and set off with One Two Three on the home stretch.

As for all the other items, he hid them in their current location, just in case he had to return and continue to struggle for survival.

Sitting on One Two Three's shoulder, the return journey was very fast.

One Two Three's arms transformed into two long vines, swinging from tree to tree like a monkey, swaying through the jungle.

At first, Fang Ze was so scared his legs shook,

Fearing they would fall and die.

But gradually, he relaxed and began to enjoy this primitive thrill of freedom.

In this way, after running for a solid three to four hours, observing the increasingly unfamiliar terrain, Fang Ze got the feeling something was amiss: Hold on, this place looks strange? Could One Two Three have taken the wrong direction?

.......

Meanwhile,

In Qingshan City, the slums.

A fierce conflict was underway.

Ever since the gang sealed off several streets in the slums, the atmosphere had been extremely tense.

Even though Investigator from the Investigation Bureau had come to understand the situation, due to the overall neglect and their lack of strength, they departed without accomplishing much.

The people of the slums had contemplated resistance, but the gang's power was too overwhelming.

There were more than two hundred strong men, about forty Martial Artists, and three Awakeners in charge.

They simply could not resist...

So although there was some public outrage over the past few days, it was to no avail.

This morning, just like the previous days, gang members carried machetes and iron basins, incessantly banging them while walking the streets.

Comparatively, they were much more irritable than before, not only banging their items but also smashing them against the doors and windows of the residents' homes, threatening them with violence.

When some slum dwellers, unable to stand by, came out to protest, they were dragged by several gang members to the middle of the street, hacked to death, and their bodies were left to rot in public, as a warning to others.

This only caused more fear and anger among the residents of these streets,

So they began to organize spontaneously, gathering together, seeking to survive...


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