What on earth was going on?

Outside the Zhonghai City Public Security Bureau, a large contingent of police cars and officers stood ready, as though something extremely important was being handled inside.

A middle-aged man in police uniform emerged from the main entrance, followed by a group of senior bureau officials with decorated epaulets.

The middle-aged man leading them was Sun Long, Director Sun, the current head of the Zhonghai City Public Security Bureau.

The moment he got into his police car, the four or five cars waiting outside started their engines and escorted him away.

Inside the car, a composed-looking middle-aged man sat beside Sun Long. As soon as he got in, he asked curiously, "Director Sun, what's all this mobilization for?"

His name was Zou Jian. He had followed Sun Long ever since joining the force and could be considered his right-hand man. Otherwise, he would never have been entitled to ride in the same car.

Sun Long drew a light breath and replied in a slightly hoarse voice, "You've probably heard recently that Commander Chu of the China Central Military Region has come to Zhonghai City."

Zou Jian nodded. "I have. Are we going to meet Commander Chu?"

Commander Chu was a legendary figure in both the military and the entire police establishment. Not only was he a founding general who had helped establish the nation, but he was also the only person in China's entire political and legal system who dared refuse to defer to anyone.

But Commander Chu was said to keep an extremely low profile and rarely appeared within China's political and legal circles. Never mind Sun Long, the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau—even the mayor of Zhonghai City might not be granted an audience.

So when Zou Jian guessed they were going to meet him, irrepressible delight immediately appeared on his face.

Sun Long, however, shook his head. "Commander Chu isn't someone we can meet just because we want to. Do you remember the notice I asked you to send throughout Zhonghai City's police system this morning, asking everyone to locate someone?"

"Of course. What about it?"

"That's the person Commander Chu wants to find," Sun Long said.

After a moment's thought, Zou Jian asked doubtfully, "I did a quick check on him. No criminal record, nothing particularly special. How is he connected to Commander Chu?"

Sun Long's brow furrowed as well. "That's why we need to go there ourselves."

Inside the Erdaokou Police Station, Zhang Guojun had slicked his hair until it gleamed. He kept going downstairs to inspect the place, making sure the officers cleaned it up beautifully to welcome the senior city officials.

"Chief Zhang." Suddenly, Captain Zhao's voice came from the lobby.

Zhang Guojun looked back. "How's it going?"

Captain Zhao shook his head, his brow tightly furrowed. "The kid's tight-lipped. He won't say a thing."

The corners of Zhang Guojun's eyes tightened. He checked his watch and decided there was still plenty of time. "Come on. I'll question him myself."

In the interrogation room, Chen Hao was still handcuffed. An officer continued bellowing furiously at him, apparently hoping to force a confession out of him that way.

But Chen Hao had a clear conscience, so he simply turned a deaf ear to their demands.

Zhang Guojun opened the door and entered. After sending all the officers away, he sneered, "Listen, Chen Hao. You need to know where you stand. The city bureau's leaders are on their way here right now. I suggest you confess now and earn some leniency. Once you're transferred to the city bureau for questioning, they won't be as accommodating as we are."

Chen Hao was utterly disappointed in Chief Zhang. As the head of a police station, he had detained someone without bothering to establish the facts and was even trying to pin fabricated charges on him. Who knew how many innocent people he had harmed in the past?

So Chen Hao treated his words as so much hot air and kept his mouth shut.

Seeing that Chen Hao remained completely unfazed, Zhang Guojun's gaze turned cold. He pointed at Chen Hao and was about to threaten him when his phone suddenly rang.

His eyes lit up when he saw the number. He hurriedly answered, adopting a fawning, deferential manner. "Hello, is this Director Sun?"

"Yes. We'll be there in five minutes."

"Yes, yes, of course. I'll be right there." With that, he left Chen Hao behind and hurried downstairs.

As soon as he reached the ground floor, Zhang Guojun saw four or five police cars sweeping into the station. He led a group of officers over to greet them.

The instant he saw Sun Long, Zhang Guojun's face bloomed with delight. He stepped forward and began flattering him. "Oh, Director Sun! For you to honor our Erdaokou Police Station with your presence is truly our—"

But Sun Long did not even bother looking him in the face. He cut him off. "Enough. Let's skip the pleasantries. Where's the person I'm looking for?"

Although Zhang Guojun felt a little disgruntled, he did not dare show it. Still smiling, he said, "Don't worry. He's in the interrogation room right now. I was going to—"

"What? The interrogation room!" Sun Long's previously amiable expression changed instantly, and he stared at Zhang Guojun in disbelief.

Startled by Sun Long's glare, Zhang Guojun hurried to explain. "Yes. After detaining him, I assigned officers to question him. But the kid's stubborn. We've been questioning him for ages—"

"I told you to treat him well, and you put him in an interrogation room? You..." Sun Long interrupted Zhang Guojun for the third time, beside himself with anger. He turned and led his people inside.

Seeing Sun Long's reaction, both Zhang Guojun and Captain Zhao, who was following behind, were completely baffled. They had followed normal procedure to the letter. Why did Sun Long seem so displeased?

But they had no time to discuss it. They could only follow with their hearts in their mouths.

With Zhang Guojun leading the way, the group soon reached the interrogation room. "Director Sun, he's inside."

Sun Long looked at the interrogation room door, then shot Zhang Guojun another vicious glare. Zhang Guojun shuddered all over and did not dare utter another word.

The door opened, and Chen Hao looked toward the sound. Seeing a large crowd of police officers clustered in the doorway, staring at him, even Chen Hao, who had felt entirely innocent a second earlier, suddenly grew uneasy.

Could I really have committed some heinous crime? Why else would so many cops show up?

Sun Long paused in the doorway before entering first. What happened next stunned every officer present and frightened Zhang Guojun almost out of his wits.

Sun Long, the director of the Zhonghai City Public Security Bureau himself, actually adopted an exceedingly polite smile and manner toward an ordinary man in an interrogation room. He stepped forward and smiled at Chen Hao. "Your name is Chen Hao, correct?"

Chen Hao was perceptive enough to recognize Sun Long's high standing. "That's me. And you are?"

Still smiling, Sun Long said, "Mr. Chen, I'm Sun Long, director of the Zhonghai City Public Security Bureau."

"Mr. Chen!"

Hearing that form of address, Zhang Guojun and Captain Zhao nearly lost their footing in the doorway.

What the hell was going on? What made Chen Hao so special that even Sun Long addressed him as Mr. Chen?

The two instinctively exchanged a glance as the same ominous feeling rose in their hearts.

"Sun Long?" Chen Hao thought for a moment. "I don't think I know you."

Sun Long quickly smiled to ease the awkwardness. "You don't know me, but surely you know Commander Chu?"

"What!"

Although Zhang Guojun had no idea who Commander Chu was, anyone worthy of being called a commander could hardly be a nobody. And Chen Hao, whom he had personally forced into an interrogation room, actually knew such a man.

At that moment, Zhang Guojun's mind went completely blank. Cold sweat soaked the back of his shirt.

"Commander Chu?" Chen Hao was even more confused. He certainly did not know any Commander Chu. If he did, how could he possibly have ended up locked in here?

Seeing that Chen Hao did not seem to remember, Sun Long said directly, "It's all right if you can't remember. I'll take you to see him now."

Chen Hao had been worrying about how to get out of there. Now that someone was offering to take him away, he certainly would not refuse. "Sure."

But just as Chen Hao was about to stand, he suddenly remembered something and dropped back into his seat. "There's just one problem. I can't go with you right now, Director Sun."

As he spoke, Chen Hao raised his hands, deliberately showing Sun Long the handcuffs.

The smile instantly froze on Sun Long's face. He turned and roared at Zhang Guojun outside, "Who gave you the authority to handcuff Mr. Chen?"

That roar made Zhang Guojun shudder all over. His legs shook so badly that he staggered as he walked. Trembling, he entered with his back bent to unlock Chen Hao's handcuffs. "Director Sun, I'll remove Mr. Chen's cuffs right away."

But just as Zhang Guojun brought the key toward the lock, Chen Hao moved his handcuffs aside. "Chief Zhang, I told you from the start. You could cuff me, but getting these cuffs off wouldn't be so easy."

With Director Sun backing him, Chen Hao had no intention of letting Zhang Guojun off so easily. He deliberately began putting on airs.

The hand holding Zhang Guojun's key was shaking. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he forced a smile and pleaded humbly, "I was wrong, Mr. Chen. I failed to recognize someone of your stature. I deserve to be punished. Please stop joking with me."

Seeing Zhang Guojun's groveling manner, the anger Chen Hao had been suppressing flared up instantly. "Do I look like I'm fucking joking?"

That shout frightened Zhang Guojun so badly that he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chen. I really didn't know you knew Director Sun. If I'd known, I wouldn't have dared handcuff you even with a hundred times the courage," Zhang Guojun pleaded, his voice on the verge of tears.

Standing beside them, Sun Long still did not know exactly how Chen Hao was connected to Commander Chu. But given Commander Chu's status, even if Chen Hao had only met him once, Sun Long would never dare offend him lightly.

Still, Zhang Guojun was part of the police system. Although they were not close, it would hardly be appropriate not to put in a few good words for him. So Sun Long smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, Zhang Guojun certainly went too far, but he didn't know any better. I hope you won't hold it against him."

"Hmph. If this were simply a matter of him not knowing any better, I wouldn't make things difficult for Chief Zhang." Chen Hao had no intention of letting Zhang Guojun off and deliberately hinted that there was more to it.

At those words, Zhang Guojun's face turned deathly pale. Kneeling on the floor, he did not even dare raise his head.