Song's office.
Song Qing and Yang Ming were flipping through the case files, sorting out the recent events. Yang Ming, seated there, kept glancing up at the empty spot from time to time.
He hadn't expected Brother Lin to be late on his very first day. It was nearly noon already. Even if something had held him up, he could've at least sent word.
He sneaked a glance at the squad chief.
The squad chief might have looked calm, but Yang Ming knew he was disappointed. He'd had high hopes for Brother Lin, believing that his arrival at the Security Bureau would bring about a major change.
But now, gang members were still gang members.
Suddenly, a commotion stirred outside.
The two put down what they were doing and exchanged puzzled looks.
Yang Ming got up to investigate. A moment later, he returned, looking utterly stunned. "Master, come out and see! Brother Lin—Brother Lin has brought in a whole bunch of people."
Song Qing hurried to his feet and rushed outside.
"Ah... this."
He was dumbstruck.
Lin Fan walked up to him. "Squad chief, I didn't report for duty this morning. I went to the market instead and arrested all these hooligans who extort, blackmail, and steal from the people. We can't let them run wild. What would the people think of us otherwise?"
Song Qing's mouth hung slightly open.
Honestly, he was completely floored.
It wasn't that he didn't want to arrest them. It was that these hooligans were all part of an organization, and their leader had been greasing the palms of the Security Bureau for a long time. How many of the bureau's constables had never taken silver from them?
He couldn't say for sure, but he could find some who hadn't.
He'd swear on his life that neither he nor Yang Ming had taken any—and now there was one more: Lin Fan.
"Squad chief, I'll take them to the jail first. I'll be back in a bit."
Seeing that the squad chief was still stunned, Lin Fan figured he could use some time to process things.
Yang Ming followed along with a wide grin. This was thrilling—absolutely thrilling.
He'd never seen anything like this since joining the bureau.
Jail.
The conditions here were harsh, and the air reeked of damp and rot. This was the Security Bureau's jail. When someone was arrested, this was their first stop for questioning. Once evidence of their crimes had been extracted, their case would be submitted to the county yamen, and they would be locked away in its dungeon.
Jin Biao finally understood.
Even Chen Xingzhi's influence had been useless. Lin Fan was dead set on taking him down.
The moment he entered the jail, Jin Biao's legs gave way. It was as if every bone in his body had been pulled out. He sank to his knees, pleading.
"Master Lin, there were so many people outside just now. I didn't react in time. I'm on my knees now, so please let me off."
Jin Biao knew that Lin Fan, a man who'd even ignored Chen Xingzhi's face, was a ruthless one.
If he fell into Lin Fan's hands, there'd be no easy way out.
He had to kneel.
Only by kneeling could he have a chance at survival.
"What are you doing? Do you know where you are?"
"The Security Bureau jail."
"Exactly. The Security Bureau is all about upholding the law. Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. If you haven't done anything, do you think I'd frame you?"
Lin Fan helped Jin Biao to his feet, trying to calm him down, then turned to Yang Ming.
"What interrogation methods do we have at the bureau?"
Yang Ming was just about to answer when Lin Fan waved a hand. "Never mind. Let's go through all of them first, then make them recall everything they've done."
"Understood."
Yang Ming nodded decisively, almost looking forward to it. He hadn't tortured anyone in ages—he could hardly wait.
Jin Biao, who'd just gotten back to his feet, heard this and went limp again.
"Master Lin, Master Lin, please spare me! I'm Fourth Master's man!"
Lin Fan couldn't be bothered with him. He kicked them straight into the cells. They'd get to work in the afternoon; the first case had to be handled beautifully.
When he and Yang Ming came outside—
"Sis, what brings you here?"
Madam Wang had arrived with a maid, who was carrying a stack of food containers.
"Your sister came to see you."
"Sis, let's talk inside."
Back in the office, Song Qing looked even more stunned, if that was possible.
Song Qing didn't want to stay stunned forever, either.
But he'd just heard what Lin Fan had done at the entrance: he'd given Chen Xingzhi no face at all. Chen had gone back to the office cursing up a storm.
It had left Song Qing dumbfounded.
Madam Wang took the dishes out of the food containers one by one.
"Your sister knows you're the sort to throw yourself into your work. I was afraid you'd forget to eat, so I had someone cook these and bring them over. You can be busy, but don't go hungry," Madam Wang reminded him.
"Got it, Sis."
He looked at the dishes. They were a feast for the eyes and the nose; he could tell they tasted good without even trying them. Besides, he'd been busy all morning and was indeed hungry.
"Go on with your work. Your sister will head back now. I'll have someone come collect the food containers this evening."
Madam Wang left, knowing this was a place of investigation and that it wouldn't be proper for a woman like her to linger.
Lin Fan got up and walked her to the door.
When he returned to the room—
"Making an enemy of Chen Xingzhi wasn't a wise move. He'll probably target you at every turn from now on," Song Qing said worriedly.
Lin Fan didn't care. "What's there to fear? Chen Xingzhi was already at odds with our side. Since things have come to this, why bother giving him face?"
"That's true, but things are getting troublesome now."
He laid out his concerns one by one.
Jin Biao was one of Qin Si's men.
Although Qin Si wasn't part of a gang, more than half the hooligans in the sprawling Yong'an City made their living under him. He had a great deal of influence, bribed officials, and had connections everywhere.
He'd had no shortage of dirty tricks, from ambushes with clubs to stabbing people in the back.
Song Qing was afraid Lin Fan might be in danger.
Trouble?
Danger?
A club to the back?
A knife in the dark?
Lin Fan didn't care about any of it.
Let them try.
Teahouse.
The second floor had been booked out.
The place was empty except for one table, where a man sat drinking tea at his leisure. From time to time, one of his underlings would approach the second floor with utmost deference, place silver and copper coins on the table, then back away.
Qin Si—the head of Yong'an City's hooligans.
His daily routine consisted of drinking tea, collecting money, listening to music, and fondling women.
Just then, a scrawny scholar with a somewhat bookish air hurried over and said deferentially, "Fourth Master, something's happened."
"Hmm?"
Qin Si turned his head, a puzzled look on his face.
Something had happened? What could possibly have happened?
"Jin Biao and a bunch of his men were arrested by the Security Bureau constables."
"Didn't they send money?"
"They did. They sent it the day before yesterday."
"Not enough."
"Not a single coin was missing. They paid the usual amount."
"Then what happened?"
"It was one of the constables who'd just joined the Security Bureau. The money wasn't sent to him."
"Heh. So it's just some pipsqueak. He's unhappy, so he's taking it out on Fourth Master's men. Go take care of it. Send him third-rate silver and tell him to release them. Then find some men to ambush him tonight. Don't kill him—just teach him who he can arrest and who he can't."
Qin Si didn't take the matter to heart at all.
His business kept him busy with deals worth dozens or even hundreds of taels every day. He had no time to waste on a pipsqueak.
"But, Fourth Master, this constable isn't an ordinary man. He used to be the head of Jili Pier for Loyalty Hall, and he's a real fighter. I'm afraid his appetite's huge, and third-rate silver won't satisfy him."
Qin Si had just lifted his teacup for a sip. He frowned slightly. He'd heard about those incidents. The man really was ruthless.
"Here's what we'll do. This afternoon, send him an invitation. Tell him Qin Si is inviting him to Xianwei Tower tonight. Just the two of us will talk it over," Qin Si said.
"Fourth Master, should we hide some men nearby? That fellow's a real fighter."
At that, Qin Si laughed.
He set down his teacup and looked at the man. Remembering that his own underlings were all around him, he couldn't help sneering with disdain.
"He can fight? Did you not know I, Fourth Master, can fight too?"
At those words—
The underlings around them straightened up, awe rising in their eyes.
What guts!
He saw their expressions.
He was quite satisfied.
Before you continue