Chapter Summaries

Zhou Quan and Fang Xinwu infiltrated Eight-Faced Buddha’s hideout and killed him before he could bargain with them. They carried his body out through the front door to meet the operation’s tight deadline.

• Fang Xinwu and Zhou Quan silently entered the wooden house and crept toward Eight-Faced Buddha’s bedroom.
• Eight-Faced Buddha woke to find the two armed men aiming at him and tried to negotiate, offering money and asking who had sent them.
• Zhou Quan shot Eight-Faced Buddha twice in the chest, killing him.
• Zhou Quan ordered Fang Xinwu to carry Eight-Faced Buddha’s corpse, and they left through the front door.

Zhou Quan’s team withdrew after killing Eight-Faced Buddha and his sons, then fired twelve rockets at the drug den’s key areas. The village fell into chaos as Zhou Quan led his men toward the helicopter landing site.

• Zhou Quan and Fang Xinwu joined Chan Wing Yan and the other T Group members with Eight-Faced Buddha’s body after Chow Sing Sing and He Wenzhan killed Wei Shaman and Wei Shama.
• Zhou Quan ordered the three Action Groups to withdraw and directed Ling Jing to relocate, Fang Xinwu to take the bodies to the helicopter, and the rocket teams to prepare.
• Zhou Quan moved his men beyond the village’s effective direct-fire range and positioned the four Type 40 rocket launchers.
• Zhou Quan ordered three volleys at the residences and militia quarters, and the rockets set the village ablaze while many traffickers were asleep.
• Zhou Quan led his men toward the helicopter landing site as the leaderless village descended into chaos.

Zhou Quan and his men returned to Hong Kong Island after the joint operation dismantled Eight-Faced Buddha’s drug trafficking group. He left the public credit to Phongsaphat and kept silent to protect their remaining secrets, including Wei Mianna’s escape.

• Zhou Quan and his team landed at Hong Kong Island International Airport, where Wong Bing Yiu and two other officials welcomed them.
• Zhou Quan had handed Eight-Faced Buddha and his sons’ bodies, Wei Shali’s corpse, and the captured traffickers Chai Kwok-yung and Bobby to the Thai authorities.
• Phongsaphat used the recovered bodies to publicize the joint operation and gain media attention and a promotion.
• Zhou Quan returned to Hong Kong Island without attending Phongsaphat’s press conference, avoiding scrutiny that might expose flaws in the operation.
• Zhou Quan’s silence helped Phongsaphat suppress questions about Wei Mianna’s escape and preserve the operation’s appearance of complete success.

Zhou Quan returned to Hong Kong Island after the joint anti-drug operation, where senior officials publicly welcomed him and praised his achievements. His success strengthened support for creating a Police Force Deputy Commissioner post for him, leaving his promotion close to inevitable.

• Phongsaphat concluded a press conference that earned him public honors and helped his Hong Kong Island fruit business gain Sir Kwan's attention.
• Lok Ming-wah, Wong Bing Yiu, and Leung Tsz Mei arrived with reporters to welcome Zhou Quan and his team at the airport.
• Lok Ming-wah publicly addressed Zhou Quan as Sir Kwan, signaling respect and backing for his growing influence.
• Lok Ming-wah recognized that Zhou Quan's successful operation had weakened resistance to adding a National Management DCP post to the Police Force.
• Zhou Quan thanked Lok Ming-wah and declared that loyalty, courage, and perseverance were every police officer's duty.
• Wong Bing Yiu stepped forward and saluted Zhou Quan, welcoming him home.

Wong Bing Yiu reflected on Zhou Quan’s authority and the risks he had taken while leading the Cross-Border Anti-Drug Operations. After the team returned safely, Wong Bing Yiu welcomed them and saluted them as representatives of the Police Force, then showed concern for Zhou Quan as his uncle.

• Wong Bing Yiu learned that Zhou Quan had personally led the Cross-Border Anti-Drug Operations, despite his and Lee Man-bun’s concerns.
• Wong Bing Yiu recognized that Zhou Quan’s National Security Department and growing Zhou Faction gave him exceptional influence within the Police Force.
• Wong Bing Yiu realized the operation had gone far beyond setting a trap, as Zhou Quan and T Squad had penetrated the Golden Triangle and dismantled Eight-Faced Buddha’s cartel.
• All the operatives returned safely to Hong Kong Island, and Wong Bing Yiu ordered them to attention and saluted them.
• Wong Bing Yiu told Zhou Quan that he was glad he had returned safely, and Zhou Quan acknowledged his elders’ worry without explaining further.

Zhou Quan arranged for reporters to leave before secretly bringing Su Kin-chiu back, protecting Fang Xinwu’s operation against Eight-Faced Buddha’s forces in the Golden Triangle. Lok Ming-wah hinted that Number One might be preparing a surprise for Zhou Quan amid a government meeting about a new Police Force Deputy Commissioner post for national security.

• Zhou Quan asked Leung Tsz Mei to send the publicity staff and reporters away ahead of the returning motorcade.
• After the outsiders left, Zhou Quan ordered Chow Sing Sing to secure the area and bring Su Kin-chiu back.
• Zhou Quan told Lok Ming-wah and Wong Bing Yiu that Su Kin-chiu had not appeared publicly because his identity needed protection.
• Wong Bing Yiu said Number One had sent his regards and told the returning team to rest before resuming work.
• Lok Ming-wah hinted that Number One was preparing a welcome-home surprise for Zhou Quan and revealed that a government meeting was considering a new national security Deputy Commissioner post.

After returning to Tai Kwun from the successful cross-border anti-drug operation, Zhou Quan weighed a possible promotion while preparing to resume Police Force business. He arranged leave and a management meeting to recognize the operation’s participants, making sure Su Kin-chiu was included.

• The reception convoy returned to Tai Kwun, where Lok Ming-wah told Zhou Quan that Number One had arranged extra leave for the heroes.
• Lok Ming-wah left for Government Headquarters, and Wong Bing Yiu urged Zhou Quan to go home to his wife and children.
• Zhou Quan postponed going home until that evening and said he would first review Police Force business amid speculation that he might become National Security DCP.
• Zhou Quan ordered Chow Sing Sing to arrange leave for the men and convene a Management Meeting to recognize the operation’s participants.
• Zhou Quan told Chow Sing Sing to bring Su Kin-chiu to the meeting because of his important role in the operation.

After returning from the Golden Triangle operation, Zhou Quan arranged for the weapons to be stored and his men to begin leave, then went with the National Security Department’s management to a meeting. His staff greeted him with an embarrassing show of support, while Wong Bing Yiu watched with amusement and pride.

• Chow Sing Sing had the operational personnel sort and store their equipment at Tai Kwun before they began leave.
• Wong Bing Yiu urged Zhou Quan to go home to his family, but Zhou Quan explained that he wanted to arrange rewards for the men who had served with him.
• Wong Bing Yiu and Zhou Quan rode the lift with the National Security Department’s management, then Wong Bing Yiu continued toward the top floor.
• Luo Danian, Kwan Man Chin, Lok Kai-cheung, and the other management staff loudly welcomed Zhou Quan back at the department offices.
• Zhou Quan hurried toward the conference room while pretending to remain composed, and Wong Bing Yiu smiled at his nephew’s embarrassment and the loyalty of his men.

Zhou Quan returned to the National Security Department and addressed the newly promoted group deputy commanders at a management meeting. He arranged Su Kin-chiu’s return to the Police Force and planned for him to join the Political Investigation Department after training.

• Zhou Quan saw that Pang Yik-hang’s nameplate had been changed to reflect his promotion to superintendent.
• Luo Danian told Zhou Quan that the deputy commanders’ appointment warrants had been issued, and Zhou congratulated them and reminded them of their responsibilities.
• Zhou Quan invited the nervous Su Kin-chiu to take a seat and announced that he would return to the Police Force as a station sergeant.
• Zhou Quan told Kwan Man Chin to arrange Su Kin-chiu’s training at Wong Chuk Hang and said Su would transfer to the Political Investigation Department after graduating.

Zhou Quan arranged for Su Kin-chiu to join the National Security Department’s Political Investigation Division after his training, both to protect his cover and to prepare him for future service under Zhou. He then rewarded the officers who had risked their lives in the cross-border operation with pay increases and priority for promotion when openings arose.

• Zhou Quan decided that Su Kin-chiu should join the Political Investigation Division to reduce the risk of exposing Fang Xinwu and the operation against Wei Mianna.
• Kwan Man Chin agreed to request Su Kin-chiu for Lau Bo-keung’s Internal Investigation Group One after Su graduated.
• Su Kin-chiu thanked Zhou Quan, then left to prepare for his assessment and spend time with Yuan Ke’er and their daughter.
• Zhou Quan announced one-rank promotions for personnel below Chief Inspector and pay-grade increases for officers from Senior Superintendent to Chief Inspector.
• Zhou Quan told Ah Sing to write the report and promised to sign it, while pledging priority promotion for the officers when vacancies arose.

After the successful Hong Kong-Thailand anti-drug operation, Zhou Quan weighed how to reward his men while keeping them within the National Security Department. The Hong Kong Government created a new Deputy Commissioner post for national security, and Number One announced the decision at Police Headquarters, leaving the senior officers stunned.

• Zhou Quan recognized that the operation’s success would bring commendations and promotions, but he lacked authority to advance all his men while they remained in the National Security Department.
• The officers chose to stay with Zhou Quan, while he refrained from bringing outsiders into the department as he awaited a possible promotion to Deputy Commissioner.
• Three days after the operation team returned, Number One summoned Senior Superintendents and above to the Police Headquarters conference room.
• Number One announced that the Hong Kong Government had approved an additional Deputy Commissioner post responsible for national security.
• The announcement surprised the Police Force’s senior officers, who realized the new post could wield influence across the entire force.

Zhou Quan was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in charge of national security, positioning him as the likely successor to Number One. Number One then announced his early retirement and appointed Wong Bing Yiu as Acting Commissioner to lead the Police Force during the handover.

• Number One announced that Zhou Quan had been promoted to National Security Deputy Commissioner after approval by the Hong Kong Government and Chief Executive.
• Zhou Quan saluted as the Police Officers applauded his appointment and recognized his emerging position as Number One’s successor.
• Number One announced that he had applied for early retirement for health reasons.
• Number One appointed Deputy Commissioner Wong Bing Yiu as Acting Commissioner to preside over the Police Force during the handover.
• The Tai Kwun management understood that Wong Bing Yiu’s appointment would support Zhou Quan’s eventual succession.

Number One arranged the Police Force succession by recommending Wong Bing Yiu as his successor, with Zhou Quan positioned to become the next Commissioner afterward. In his final order, he promoted Chow Sing Sing and Luo Danian to senior National Security Department posts, protecting Zhou Quan’s control of the department.

• Number One judged that his age and health made it risky to remain Commissioner and recommended Wong Bing Yiu for promotion to Commissioner of Police.
• Senior officers understood that Wong Bing Yiu’s appointment and Zhou Quan’s later succession had effectively been approved, though some resented their limited prospects for promotion.
• The officers applauded as Number One announced Wong Bing Yiu as Acting Commissioner of Police.
• Number One promoted Chow Sing Sing to Senior Assistant Commissioner and National Security Department Director, and Luo Danian to Assistant Commissioner and National Security Department Deputy Commissioner.

After Number One retired and Wong Bing Yiu formally became Commissioner of Police, Wong began reshaping the Police Force’s core management. At his first management meeting as Number One, he announced that Tsang Yuk-ming would become DCP Operations.

• Number One’s final order settled the National Security Department’s position and brought the Tai Kwun Management Meeting to a close.
• Number One moved out of his office, and Wong Bing Yiu took over the Commissioner’s duties before receiving his formal appointment as the second Number One since the handover.
• Wong Bing Yiu reported to Mr. Dong after delivering his inaugural speech and then convened his first Police Force Management Meeting.
• Wong Bing Yiu announced that former Management DCP Tsang Yuk-ming would transfer to DCP Operations.

Wong Bing Yiu reshuffled the Police Force’s leadership, promoting Choi Yuen-kei to Deputy Commissioner for management and filling the resulting vacancies. Zhou Quan accepted Choi’s promotion without concern, confident that his authority and the National Security Department could keep him in check.

• Wong Bing Yiu promoted Choi Yuen-kei to Deputy Commissioner of the Police Force, responsible for management.
• Zhou Quan considered Choi Yuen-kei’s past and future risks but concluded that he remained trustworthy and could not challenge Zhou’s authority.
• Wong Bing Yiu promoted Tsang Heung-wing to Senior Assistant Commissioner and appointed him head of the Regulatory Department.
• Wong Bing Yiu promoted Guan Zhibang to Assistant Commissioner and appointed him commander of Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters.
• Handsome Guy Ah Zu was left with a long road ahead before his father, Guan Zhibang, would salute him.

Zhou Quan spent his day off with Au Wing-yan and their children before Guan Youbo arrived with gifts and was summoned to discuss telecommunications. Guan Youbo offered to learn whatever Zhou Quan needed, but Zhou Quan had not yet revealed his plans.

• Zhou Quan played horsey with little Changle and little Chang'an at home while Au Wing-yan watched.
• Guan Youbo arrived with presents for the children, who thanked him politely.
• Zhou Quan took Guan Youbo to the study and asked how much he knew about telecommunications.
• Guan Youbo said communications were important and offered to learn if Zhou Quan needed him to.

After receiving the Communications Magnate achievement reward, Zhou Quan planned to expand the Zhou Foundation’s position in communications technology and hardware to prevent Choi Yuen-kei from controlling the Police Force’s future communications system. He tasked Guan Youbo with establishing an offshore company and proposed recruiting Chief Engineer Ni to lead its research institute.

• Zhou Quan told Guan Youbo to secretly establish an offshore company and use cross-shareholdings to invest more deeply in high-tech hardware.
• Zhou Quan received the Communications Magnate achievement reward, which gave him expertise in communications technology, networks, software, and hardware.
• Zhou Quan planned to prepare for the Police Force’s future communications upgrade and prevent Choi Yuen-kei from exploiting control of the new system.
• Guan Youbo said he could run the company but was not qualified to lead its research institute.
• Zhou Quan proposed Chief Engineer Ni as the research institute’s head, and Guan Youbo said Ni might be recruitable from Ark Technology Company.

Zhou Quan and Guan Youbo met Wong Bing Yiu and Fang Pingliang while playing golf, and the four began a social round together. Partway through, Lin Yixiang arrived late to meet Fang and recognized Zhou Quan, immediately standing at attention to salute him.

• Zhou Quan and Guan Youbo went to the Deep Water Bay Golf Club to play golf and ran into Wong Bing Yiu and Fang Pingliang.
• Wong Bing Yiu explained that his wife had sent him out to exercise because his health readings were high, and he proposed that the four play together.
• Zhou Quan and Guan Youbo held back during the round so the older men could keep pace.
• Lin Yixiang arrived late to meet Fang Pingliang, then noticed Zhou Quan and quickly saluted him as Sir Kwan.

At the golf course, Zhou Quan met Lin Yixiang, a young CIB constable and admirer who was set to marry Fang Pingliang’s daughter. Zhou Quan encouraged Lin Yixiang and told him to put his upcoming police operation ahead of leisure, leaving him with a chance to impress the Police Force’s leadership.

• Lin Yixiang saluted Zhou Quan, who recognized his inexperience and learned that he was a CIB constable.
• Fang Pingliang introduced Lin Yixiang as his future son-in-law, who was marrying his daughter the following month.
• Zhou Quan asked about Lin Yixiang’s tired appearance and learned that his team had been conducting overnight surveillance for a joint CIB and CCB operation.
• Zhou Quan praised Lin Yixiang for being selected for the joint Action Group and encouraged him to keep up the good work.
• Zhou Quan told Fang Pingliang to let Lin Yixiang play golf with Number One, but reminded them that work had to come first after tomorrow and that leisure must wait until the operation ended.

Fang Pingliang pressured Lin Yixiang to use the joint police operation to advance his career, while Lin returned to work investigating Fenghua International. As Lin recorded evidence of stock manipulation, his partner suggested deleting part of the wiretap, leaving Lin facing a serious choice.

• Commissioner Wong and Guan Youbo left the golf course, and Fang Pingliang urged Lin Yixiang to impress senior officers or quit the Police Force after marrying Jenny.
• Three days later, Lin Yixiang joined a joint Criminal Intelligence Bureau and Commercial Crime Bureau operation investigating Fenghua International.
• Lin Yixiang recorded a director discussing plans to raise a company stock from twenty cents to a dollar twenty.
• Lin Yixiang's partner asked whether he had recorded the latest wiretap, then suggested they delete that part.