Chapter Summaries

Zhou Quan took command of the North Point Police Station operation as Zhuo Wenwei tried to expose the conspiracy against him. After hearing Zhou Quan identify himself, Zhuo Wenwei quieted down, and Zhou ordered the original personnel to secure their weapons and submit to National Security Department officers.

• Tse Ka-chun failed to reach Zhuo Wenwei by phone, while news footage showed Zhuo climbing out a tenth-floor window with a megaphone.
• Zhou Quan ordered Ling Jing to bring the Flying Tigers helicopter close and drown out Zhuo’s shouting.
• Lee Chi-pan warned Zhou that Zhuo’s appearance in the window could further damage the Police Force’s reputation, and Zhou rebuked him.
• The temporary command center reached Zhuo by phone and heard him accuse the hostage of helping frame him and trying to kill him.
• Zhou identified himself over the radio, prompting Zhuo to calm down and wait for him to speak.
• Zhou ordered all original operational personnel to put their weapons on safe and submit to National Security Department officers.

Zhou Quan secured the scene by having the original officers make their weapons safe while his trusted teams kept watch, then offered Zhuo Wenwei a chance to surrender. Zhuo Wenwei agreed and implicated Lee Chun-kit in the Police Force Welfare Fund fraud, prompting Zhou Quan to order an immediate investigation.

• Zhou Quan had the original officers engage their weapons' safeties and await instructions while his Criminal Operations Division and Flying Tigers elites guarded the scene.
• The officers noticed that Zhou Quan's forces were watching them, and senior Police Force officials in the command center suspected he had uncovered a serious problem among their ranks.
• Zhou Quan asked Zhuo Wenwei whether he would come out with Chow Sing Sing and T Squad, signaling that he wanted to resolve the standoff without an assault.
• Zhuo Wenwei agreed to surrender and told Zhou Quan that Superintendent Lee Chun-kit might be involved in defrauding the Police Force Welfare Fund.
• Zhou Quan told Ah Nin to take officers upstairs and begin an on-site investigation.

Chow Sing Sing and Luo Danian’s team uncovered the officers behind Inspector Cheung Wing-ka’s murder, Zhuo Wenwei’s framing, and the Welfare Fund fraud. Zhou Quan ordered the suspects arrested and taken to Tai Kwun while Ah Zhan’s team went to retrieve a crucial recording.

• Chow Sing Sing and Luo Danian led armed officers into North Point Police Station and brought out Zhuo Wenwei, four hostages, Lee Chun-kit, and Law On-bong.
• Lee Chun-kit confessed and revealed that recordings on his computer implicated Law On-bong and his accomplices.
• Lee Chun-kit’s testimony identified Law On-bong, Gao He, Hong Weilun, and Jin Haokai as the masterminds behind Cheung Wing-ka’s murder and the other crimes.
• Chow Sing Sing told Zhou Quan that Lee Chun-kit had kept a crucial recording at his gym, and Ah Zhan took Guan Zu and the others to retrieve it.
• Zhou Quan ordered Lee Chun-kit and Law On-bong arrested and taken to Tai Kwun.

Zhou Quan, Lam Ka-cheung, and Tsang Heung-wing agreed to present the North Point Police Station hostage incident as a police exercise to contain the scandal. Zhou Quan warned Tsang that the National Security Department was investigating corruption within Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters, leaving Tsang to prepare a cooperative internal purge.

• Chow Sing Sing’s Operations Branch officers disarmed and took the three corrupt officers into custody while avoiding attention from the news media.
• Zhou Quan met with Lam Ka-cheung and Tsang Heung-wing and proposed describing the night’s operation as an exercise.
• Lam Ka-cheung agreed to contact the other commissioners, while Tsang Heung-wing agreed to issue a gag order to Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters personnel.
• Zhou Quan told Tsang that the National Security Department’s Internal Investigations Branch had begun investigating Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters.
• Tsang thanked Zhou Quan and resolved to cooperate with the investigation and have his own headquarters investigate its personnel.

Zhou Quan escorted Zhuo Wenwei and the corrupt officers away from North Point Police Station while reporters demanded answers about the incident. After giving them a brief cover story, he arranged meetings with Madam Leung and Mok Kam-chuen, intending to coordinate the press response and discuss Zhuo Wenwei’s fate.

• Zhou Quan and his team escorted Zhuo Wenwei and the corrupt officers back to the National Security Department while Lam Ka-cheung and Tsang Heung-wing stayed to oversee the cleanup.
• Reporters crowded Zhou Quan’s vehicle, and he claimed the incident had been an internal Police Force exercise before telling them to clear the road.
• The reporters let the convoy pass, and Zhou Quan considered how to limit the damage before the Police Force’s press conference the next day.
• Zhou Quan told Chow Sing Sing to summon Madam Leung and Mok Kam-chuen to his office, planning to brief Leung on the press conference and discuss how to handle Zhuo Wenwei with Mok.

Zhou Quan arranged to protect Zhuo Wenwei from prosecution while coordinating disciplinary action with Mok Kam-chuen’s Monitoring Department. The chapter left Mok aligned with Zhou Quan and ready to help investigate Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters.

• Zhou Quan planned to seek a Pardon Order for Zhuo Wenwei, while consulting the Monitoring Department about disciplinary action.
• Luo Danian escorted the corrupt officers to detention, and Zhuo Wenwei was held separately with few restrictions.
• Zhou Quan asked Mok Kam-chuen and Leung Tsz Mei what they knew about the North Point Police Station incident, and they supported presenting it as an exercise.
• Zhou Quan sent Leung Tsz Mei with Chow Sing Sing to review the operation’s details for the press response.
• Zhou Quan invited Mok Kam-chuen to join the investigation into Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters, and Mok readily agreed.
• Zhou Quan proposed demoting Zhuo Wenwei two ranks and transferring him to West Kowloon District, and Mok raised no objection.

Zhou Quan arranged for Zhuo Wenwei to avoid dismissal and prosecution after his actions during the incident, while testing whether he still trusted the Police Force. Zhuo Wenwei accepted his demotion and transfer to Yau Ma Tei Police Station with gratitude, leaving ready to report for duty the next morning.

• Mok Kam-chuen pledged his allegiance to Zhou Quan, who welcomed his support and discussed confidential matters with him over tea.
• Zhou Quan summoned Zhuo Wenwei to assess his attitude before using his connections to help him.
• Zhou Quan told Zhuo Wenwei that he would face a two-rank demotion and transfer to West Kowloon District, while Zhou Quan would seek a Pardon Order to prevent prosecution.
• Zhuo Wenwei accepted the punishment without resentment and promised to work hard at Yau Ma Tei Police Station.
• Zhou Quan told Zhuo Wenwei to go home, reassure his family, and report to the station the next morning.

After Zhuo Wenwei’s case was contained and the Police Force’s year-end holiday ended, Number One announced a sweeping leadership reshuffle at the annual management meeting. The changes elevated Wong Bing Yiu, Tsang Yuk-ming, Lee Man-bun, and Lau Kit-fai, leaving Zhou Quan to consider how the promotions strengthened his old acquaintances’ prospects.

• With Mok Kam-chuen’s cooperation and Zhou Quan’s help with the Department of Justice, Zhuo Wenwei’s case was closed, and the Police Force presented the incident to the media as a successful exercise.
• After the New Year holiday, Number One gathered senior officers at Tai Kwun for the Police Force’s annual full Management Meeting.
• Number One announced that Deputy Commissioner Lam and Deputy Commissioner Wong had requested early retirement, and he approved their requests.
• Number One promoted Wong Bing Yiu to Deputy Commissioner overseeing operations and Tsang Yuk-ming to Deputy Commissioner overseeing management, while announcing a broad reshuffle of department heads.
• Number One promoted Lee Man-bun to Director of Operations and Lau Kit-fai to head of the Finance Department, among other appointments.
• Zhou Quan recognized that Lee Man-bun’s promotion improved his chances of becoming DCP Operations, while Lau Kit-fai’s new post gave him a path toward Management Deputy Commissioner.

Zhou Quan considered how the latest appointments had reshaped the Police Force and why the National Security Department remained unchanged. After the management meeting ended, he returned to his department to begin planning its work.

• Zhou Quan assessed Lau Kit-fai's and Hon Hau-chung's new roles and considered how his arrival had altered the Police Force's factions and future promotions.
• Number One announced that the appointments and transfers would be reported to the Chief Executive and published in the Hong Kong Government Gazette the following week, then ended the meeting.
• Zhou Quan inferred that Number One regretted being unable to adjust the National Security Department's staffing structure, but he accepted that promotions could wait.
• Zhou Quan returned to his office area and told Ah Sing to assemble the management personnel in the Conference Room.

Zhou Quan briefed the National Security Department on changes to the Police Force’s senior management and focused the meeting on security for an international jewelry exhibition. He left Luo Danian and Chan Wing Yan responsible for protecting the Star of the Pharaoh gems, with their teams preparing for the assignment.

• Zhou Quan told the National Security Department’s managers that major changes to the Police Force’s core management had been made and warned them to ensure their staff behaved appropriately.
• The department heads reported their current operations and plans for the coming week.
• Zhou Quan ordered Luo Danian and Chan Wing Yan to ensure nothing went wrong at the Jewelry Exhibition in three days.
• Luo Danian said he had put T Group on standby, tasked the Intelligence Group with monitoring Hong Kong Island, and contacted major triad leaders.
• Chan Wing Yan said G4 had assigned three elite squads and would seek support from the Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters to protect the gems.
• Zhou Quan approved their preparations and promised to treat the officers after the operation.

Zhou Quan was woken before dawn by reports of Superintendent Cheung Kwok-leung’s death and an arson attack on a police records repository. Suspecting the arsonist had targeted the National Security Department, he ordered an urgent investigation at Tai Kwun.

• Chow Sing Sing told Zhou Quan that a body found by the shore was identified as O Division supervisor Superintendent Cheung Kwok-leung.
• Chow Sing Sing reported that a fire had destroyed an archive room at the Central Police Station’s records repository, including files concerning National Security Department personnel.
• Chow Sing Sing told Zhou Quan that a Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters Major Crimes Unit superintendent had been arrested for setting the fire and was being questioned.
• Zhou Quan ordered the arson suspect brought to Tai Kwun, called management personnel in early, and directed the Action Group to assemble in the Conference Room.
• Zhou Quan ordered intelligence on the death and the fire compiled and said he would arrive in fifteen minutes.

Yeung Kam Wing led National Security Department officers to Central Police Station to take Superintendent Lau Cheung-ching in for questioning over the records-room arson. He found Lau handcuffed and unresponsive, absorbed in a drawing, and went to speak privately with Lee Man-kin.

• Chow Sing Sing arranged the National Security Department operation before Zhou Quan reached headquarters.
• Yeung Kam Wing and T Group officers arrived at Central Police Station and met Superintendent Lee Chi-pan.
• Lee Chi-pan led Yeung Kam Wing to the interrogation room, where Lee Man-kin was questioning Lau Cheung-ching.
• Yeung Kam Wing told Lee Man-kin that the department suspected the arson was part of a plot against National Security and said they would take Lau.
• Yeung Kam Wing noticed Lau staring blankly at a drawing of an adult holding a little girl's hand, and Lee Man-kin suggested they talk privately next door.

Yeung Kam Wing took Lau Cheung-ching into T Group custody after Lee Man-kin reported that Lau kept drawing a picture of an adult and a little girl, which might be linked to his strange behavior. Back at Tai Kwun, Zhou Quan arrived and noticed something unusual about Lau’s appearance.

• Lee Man-kin told Yeung Kam Wing that Lau Cheung-ching claimed to know nothing about the previous night but repeatedly said he was guilty, and showed him Lau’s drawing.
• Yeung Kam Wing thanked Lee Man-kin and completed the handover of Lau Cheung-ching to T Group.
• Yeung Kam Wing escorted Lau Cheung-ching back to Tai Kwun in a Stealth Armoured Vehicle.
• Zhou Quan arrived as Yeung Kam Wing and his officers returned, asked what they had found, and noticed something unusual about Lau Cheung-ching.

Zhou Quan recognized that Lau Cheung-ching had been hypnotized into setting a fire and ordered Yeung Kam Wing to guard him and investigate the secret behind his guilt. Zhou then joined an operational meeting, where Chow Sing Sing briefed the team on Superintendent Cheung Kwok-leung’s murder and the escaped criminal Ouyang Hai.

• Yeung Kam Wing reported that Lau Cheung-ching had faxed files about the VIP Protection Group before setting the fire, and Zhou Quan concluded that he had been hypnotized.
• Zhou Quan ordered Yeung Kam Wing to place Lau Cheung-ching under strict guard because lingering suggestions and guilt could lead him to kill himself.
• Zhou Quan told Yeung Kam Wing to investigate Lau Cheung-ching’s personal history and identify the people depicted in a drawing from the interview record.
• Zhou Quan went to the operational meeting, where Chow Sing Sing reported that Superintendent Cheung Kwok-leung had been shot dead and his family was missing.
• Chow Sing Sing linked the murder to Ouyang Hai, a robbery offender who escaped while in America a year earlier and was now on Interpol’s Red Notice list.

Zhou Quan and Chow Sing Sing connected several crimes to the escaped jewel thief Ouyang Hai and suspected he was targeting the Stars of the Pharaoh at the Jewelry Exhibition. Zhou Quan put Chow Sing Sing in charge of the operation, while he stayed at the command center to oversee it.

• Zhou Quan reviewed the murder of Superintendent Cheung Kwok-leung, the archive arson, and the upcoming Jewelry Exhibition, then asked whether Lai Sheung-ching was involved.
• Chow Sing Sing reported that Lai Sheung-ching was imprisoned for homicide, that Ouyang Hai had likely visited him in disguise, and that Lai’s wife, Cheuk Man, was missing.
• Chow Sing Sing linked Ouyang Hai to Cheung Kwok-leung’s murder and the disappearances, and reasoned that Ouyang Hai was likely targeting the Stars of the Pharaoh.
• Zhou Quan praised Chow Sing Sing’s investigation and placed him in full charge of the ensuing operations.
• Chow Sing Sing accepted command as Zhou Quan remained at the command center, ready to monitor the operation.

Chow Sing Sing organized security and intelligence operations for the Jewelry Exhibition while preparing to question hypnosis expert Lai Sheung-ching. He and Zhou Quan waited in the Observation Room for Guan Zu to bring Lai back from Stanley Prison.

• Chow Sing Sing assigned Sir Luo, Ah Wah, Ah Zhan, and Gei Siu-kwan teams to support security at the Jewelry Exhibition and investigate Ouyang Hai.
• Chan Wing Yan went to the exhibition venue to oversee security after learning that information about G4 officers might have leaked.
• Chow Sing Sing told Zhou Quan that he had sent Guan Zu to bring Lai Sheung-ching from Stanley Prison for questioning.
• Zhou Quan agreed to join Chow Sing Sing in the Observation Room, and the other officers left to carry out their assignments.
• Chow Sing Sing and Zhou Quan calmly waited for Guan Zu and Lai Sheung-ching to return to Tai Kwun.

Chow Sing Sing questioned Lai Sheung-ching about Ouyang Hai, Cheung Kwok-leung, Lau Cheung-ching, the G4 files, and the Star of the Pharaoh. The chapter revealed that Lai had killed a police officer two years earlier after the officer threatened his wife, and that Cheung Kwok-leung had quietly handled the case.

• Guan Zu escorted Lai Sheung-ching into the interrogation room while Zhou Quan monitored from next door.
• Chow Sing Sing ordered Guan Zu to remove Lai's handcuffs and began questioning him.
• Chow Sing Sing listed several names and clues, including Cheung Kwok-leung and the G4 files, as he pressed Lai to cooperate.
• Chow Sing Sing recalled that Lai had turned himself in after killing a police officer two years earlier, and that Cheung Kwok-leung had kept the case quiet because the victim had threatened Lai's wife.

During his interrogation, Lai Sheung-ching gave Chow Sing Sing an address for Ouyang Hai and asked to join the arrest, while subtly steering the conversation away from his wife. Sir Kwan recognized the tactic and warned Chow Sing Sing that Lai was leading him in circles.

• Chow Sing Sing questioned Lai Sheung-ching about Ouyang Hai, and Sir Kwan noticed a mix of emotions in Lai’s microexpressions when he heard the name.
• Lai told Chow that Ouyang Hai had been his friend and mentor in America, then gave an address where Ouyang might be hiding and asked to accompany the arrest.
• Chow warned Lai not to use hypnosis or interfere during the operation, and offered to ask for a reduction in his sentence afterward.
• Lai jokingly asked what would happen if he suddenly disappeared, then answered that they should look where he disappeared.
• Sir Kwan told Chow that Lai had been guiding his thinking and pointed out that Chow had overlooked Cheuk Man, whose situation was central to Lai’s past and the case.

Zhou Quan recognized Lai Sheung-ching’s plan and directed Chow Sing Sing to reveal that Cheuk Man was missing, disrupting Lai’s attempt to manipulate the interrogation. As Chow pressed him for the truth, Zhou received a call from Xiao Jiang.

• Zhou Quan recalled how Lai Sheung-ching had secretly aided the Police Force against Ouyang Hai and decided not to let the case unfold on the criminals’ terms.
• Zhou told Chow Sing Sing to tell Lai that Cheuk Man was missing, exposing Lai’s concern for his wife and breaking his composure.
• Lai realized that Zhou had seen through his plan and suspected that Sir Kwan was observing from the room next door.
• Chow stayed alert and used the evidence to pressure Lai into cooperating with the Police Force to save Cheuk Man.
• Zhou received a call from Xiao Jiang, who greeted him as Sir Kwan.

Chiang Tin-yeung told Zhou Quan that Dahai and his armed men planned to flee Hong Kong that night, and Zhou invited him to tea. Lam Wai Lok called immediately afterward to report his own efforts, keeping pace with Chiang Tin-yeung in their competition to earn Zhou’s favor.

• Chiang Tin-yeung called Zhou Quan and reported that Dahai had entered Hong Kong illegally from Vietnam with several armed underlings.
• Chiang Tin-yeung told Zhou that Dahai’s group planned to escape from an abandoned pier in Hong Kong Island Tsai that night.
• Zhou Quan thanked Chiang Tin-yeung and invited him to tea that weekend.
• Lam Wai Lok called Zhou Quan as soon as Chiang Tin-yeung’s call ended, and Zhou teased him about coordinating with Chiang.
• Lam Wai Lok said he and Chiang Tin-yeung had each acted on their own goodwill and that there was no need to coordinate.