A Few Little Measures

The Anti-Triad Unit's convoy returned to Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station without a hitch. Zhou Quan instructed He Wenzhan and Lau Bo-keung to take Wong Po to the Detention Room first.

"Sergeant Zhou, can I have a word?"

Just as Zhou Quan was heading toward the station building, Chan Kwok-chung hurried after him.

"Are you asking what we're going to do with Wong Po next, Inspector Chan?"

His steps slowing slightly, Zhou Quan gave Chan Kwok-chung a thoughtful look.

He knew full well that Chan Kwok-chung and Wong Po had a deep-seated history of grievances.

Now that he had forcefully brought Wong Po into the station, Chan Kwok-chung might be planning to use some measures against him.

"Mm. Wong Po's on our turf now, Sergeant Zhou. What do you think..."

Although Chan Kwok-chung had not said it outright, Zhou Quan could guess what he had in mind. He was thinking of beating a confession out of Wong Po, nothing more.

The old Chan Kwok-chung might still have been wary of the law and Police Force regulations.

But today, after being injured in the car accident and examined at the hospital, he had learned that there was a tumor in his head.

Chan Kwok-chung did not know how much longer he had to live. All he wanted was to eliminate Wong Po.

Otherwise, he would have no way to face the husband and wife who had been wrongfully killed today.

"Inspector Chan, you should know that without solid evidence..."

Zhou Quan frowned. Looking gravely at Chan Kwok-chung, he slowly shook his head and said, "Even if Wong Po slips up during questioning, when he gets to court, he can still retract his statement."

Hong Kong Island was a place governed by human rights and the law. Even while in custody, Wong Po had the right to have his lawyer present.

Until he saw his lawyer, he would respond to everything with silence.

Even if they could force Wong Po to confess by beating him, the court would not accept his testimony.

After all, times had changed. It was no longer twenty years ago.

Back then, Zhou Quan would have had plenty of ways to deal with Wong Po.

From beating the soles of his feet and using a phone book as a cushion to offering him Judicial Milk Tea, there were enough tricks to make Wong Po tremble with fear.

But these days, those methods were no longer an option.

For one thing, the court would not accept evidence obtained that way.

For another, with Hong Kong Island's return approaching, Zhou Quan did not want to leave a stain on his own record.

"But Sergeant Zhou, are we really just going to watch Wong Po walk out of here unharmed after forty-eight hours?"

Chan Kwok-chung clenched his fists, speaking with clear reluctance.

"Let's go to the Detention Room first."

Zhou Quan offered no further explanation. With a faint smile, he headed straight for the station's Detention Room.

Seeing this, Chan Kwok-chung lowered his eyes.

He said nothing and could only follow close behind Zhou Quan.

Soon, the two of them reached the Detention Room.

At that moment, He Wenzhan and Lau Bo-keung, who worked under Zhou Quan, as well as the three key men under Chan Kwok-chung, were all crammed into the small Detention Room.

They glared at Wong Po, who was handcuffed to a chair, quietly waiting for their respective assistant superintendents to arrive.

"I want to see my lawyer!"

When Zhou Quan and Chan Kwok-chung entered together, Wong Po stared straight at Zhou Quan and spoke each word distinctly.

From beginning to end, Wong Po had never taken Chan Kwok-chung seriously.

But facing Zhou Quan, he could not help feeling less confident.

This damn cop was devious. He had let his guard down for just a moment and got played.

Even now, he could still feel a dull ache under his ribs.

"Don't worry. You'll get to see your lawyer!"

With a half-smile, Zhou Quan looked Wong Po up and down, folded his arms, and said, "I know that bottle just now won't get you into much trouble."

Though Zhou Quan had used the charge of assaulting a police officer to forcefully bring Wong Po back to Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station, he knew full well that the grounds were rather flimsy.

Even setting aside the lawyers in Hong Kong Island who were always going to court, Zhou Quan himself-

With his Master of Laws, he could come up with countless reasons to get Wong Po acquitted.

If they absolutely had to charge Wong Po with something, the most they could do was fine him fifteen hundred for littering in a public place.

Even so, Zhou Quan had been unyielding in bringing Wong Po back to the station.

Besides wanting to rein in Wong Po's arrogance, he had his own plans.

"But under the law, I can detain you for forty-eight hours without giving a reason."

Looking at Wong Po, who was sitting comfortably in the chair, Zhou Quan's smile grew more pronounced.

"During that time, you can stay right here and behave yourself!"

As he finished speaking, Zhou Quan walked up to Wong Po and personally unlocked one of the handcuffs around his wrist.

Wong Po stared at Zhou Quan in confusion. He could not understand what Zhou Quan was doing.

He had just said he would detain him for forty-eight hours. Why was he taking the handcuffs off now?

Of course, despite his confusion, Wong Po did not dare make a single rash move.

Wong Po had long heard of Zhou Quan's reputation. This cop was crazy, and if he had a gun, he would really use it!

If Wong Po did something that the cop misunderstood, or gave him an opening, he might actually draw his gun and shoot him dead.

Even if the chance was slim, Wong Po absolutely did not dare take that gamble.

"Fatso, that's a lot of weight you're carrying around!"

Under Wong Po's suspicious, sullen gaze, Zhou Quan grabbed him by the collar and hauled him straight out of the chair.

"Look, you've crushed the chair in here."

As he spoke, Zhou Quan lifted his leg and kicked, sending the only chair in the Detention Room clattering apart.

"Ah Zhan, remember to put in a request for a new chair when you come to work tomorrow."

While everyone present was still baffled, Zhou Quan turned to He Wenzhan and said, "You file the report, and I'll sign off on it!"

He Wenzhan was also a little stunned, but he quickly came to his senses.

"Yes, sir!"

He stood at attention and saluted, responding solemnly to his assistant superintendent.

"Hey, you damn cop, what trick are you trying to pull?"

The confusion on Wong Po's face deepened as he stared hard at Zhou Quan.

"Nothing much. Since the chair's broken, you'll just have to stand for the whole forty-eight hours."

Zhou Quan smiled as if nothing were wrong. He raised a hand and gave Wong Po a forceful push, driving him toward the window.

"Fatso, you'd better be sensible. Don't make things difficult for me!"

Zhou Quan patted Wong Po's face and gave him a cool glance.

Then he twisted both of Wong Po's arms behind his back.

Wong Po instinctively tried to fight back, but when he saw Zhou Quan's half-smiling expression, he forced himself to endure it.

And so, Wong Po half cooperated and half was forced as Zhou Quan hung his handcuffed wrists from the iron bars over the window.