Chapter Summaries

Fang Keming testified that he had not seen Ye Tao reach for the grenade’s firing-pin ring, contradicting Ling Jing’s reason for shooting him and raising suspicion that Fang was trying to undermine his rival. The hearing officers were left uncertain about the testimony, while Zhou Quan appeared to recognize Fang’s true intentions.

• Chung Kam-ming questioned Fang Keming about his view of Ye Tao during the BNC Bank robbery, and Fang said he had seen every movement clearly.
• Mok Kam-chuen asked whether Fang had seen Ye Tao lift the grenade’s firing-pin ring, and Fang said he had not.
• Kwan Man Chin warned Fang that his answer accused Ling Jing of lying about why he fired, while the officers considered the career consequences for both Fang and Ling Jing.
• Fang insisted that he had answered truthfully, and the hearing officers grew grave at his testimony.
• Zhou Quan watched from the observation room with a cold smile, apparently seeing through Fang Keming.

The Hearing Working Group questioned Fang Keming, whose testimony left Ling Jing facing possible manslaughter evidence, while Zhou Quan waited for Chow Sing Sing to find another lead. Chow Sing Sing returned with a confession from a Big Circle Boys member, leaving the investigation with a promising breakthrough.

• Kwan Man Chin questioned Fang Keming, who gave testimony that challenged Ling Jing's account, then ordered Fang's spotter Iron Man to be summoned as a possible witness.
• Zhou Quan concluded that the other personnel at the operation were unlikely to verify Ling Jing's reason for firing and left the hearing to wait for Chow Sing Sing's investigation.
• Kwan Man Chin reported that none of the personnel at the scene could confirm Ling Jing's reason for firing, making Fang Keming's testimony potential evidence in a manslaughter charge.
• Chow Sing Sing burst into the Conference Room and told Zhou Quan that a Big Circle Boys member had confessed.

Chow Sing Sing brought Ye Tao’s interrogation records to Zhou Quan, whose ruling cleared Ling Jing of responsibility for the hostage’s death while disciplining him and Fang Keming. Zhou Quan ordered Fang transferred and placed under discreet surveillance in case he became a threat.

• Chow Sing Sing presented Zhou Quan with Ye Tao’s interrogation records, which showed Ye Tao had lifted a grenade’s firing-pin ring during the bank robbery.
• Zhou Quan concluded that Ye Tao’s statement proved Ling Jing had lawfully fired and that the hostage’s death had been accidental.
• Zhou Quan ordered Ling Jing to receive one demerit and arranged for the Police Force to compensate the hostage’s family.
• Zhou Quan ordered Fang Keming transferred to clerical work, citing his attempt to frame Ling Jing.
• Zhou Quan instructed Mok Kam-chuen to have the Internal Investigations Branch monitor Fang Keming and intervene if he threatened the Police Force or Hong Kong Island.

The Hearing Working Group cleared Ling Jing of responsibility beyond the demerit for accidentally killing a hostage, and the Police Force returned to routine work. Zhou Quan attended the Wong Chuk Hang Police Academy graduation ceremony as the Force’s highest-ranking representative, where academy principal Jiang Ping greeted him.

• The Hearing Working Group ruled that Ling Jing’s shooting during the BNC Bank robbery was a proper response and relied on Ye Tao’s lawful testimony and interview record.
• Zhou Quan left Fang Keming’s disciplinary outcome to Mok Kam-chuen and stopped following the matter closely.
• The Police Force resumed its normal operations, and Zhou Quan settled into routine work.
• Zhou Quan traveled with Ying Cheung-sam and G4 officers to inspect the Wong Chuk Hang Police Academy graduation ceremony.
• Au Ho-lun accompanied Zhou Quan as the newly promoted head of the Personnel Department.
• Jiang Ping and the academy management greeted Zhou Quan outside the academy.

Zhou Quan returned to the Wong Chuk Hang Police Academy as a senior Police Force leader to inspect its graduation ceremony. After reviewing the outstanding cadets, he saw that Lee Family Ka-chun had received a Silver Cock, the decisive reason for his visit.

• Zhou Quan greeted Principal Jiang Ping and his former instructor Xu Hongsheng as the Police Academy welcomed him.
• Au Ho-lun joined Zhou Quan and followed him into the Police Academy, while the G4 men withdrew to the parking area.
• Zhou Quan took the central seat on the reviewing stand, where Jiang Ping presented him with the files on the outstanding cadets.
• Zhou Quan reviewed the Silver Cock recipients and noticed Lee Family Ka-chun among them.

Zhou Quan attended the Wong Chuk Hang Police Academy graduation ceremony to watch Lee Family Ka-chun graduate as a recruit constable. As the cadets marched past, Zhou Quan approved of their spirit but resolved to replace the Academy’s foreign-style drill with a Chinese-style one when he became Police Force Number One.

• Zhou Quan arrived at the ceremony in place of Lee Man-bun, who was occupied inspecting Police Districts, and told Commandant Jiang Ping to begin.
• The flag guard, bands, Inspector Classes, and recruit constable classes entered the parade ground as Zhou Quan reviewed the graduating cadets.
• Lee Family Ka-chun graduated after failing to enter the Inspector Class, with the option to apply for it again while serving in the Police Force.
• Zhou Quan ordered everyone to stand, and the national, regional, and police flags were raised as the ceremony reached its climax.
• The cadets marched past the reviewing stand, and Zhou Quan decided he would replace their foreign-style marching drill with a Chinese-style one when he became Police Force Number One.

At the Police Academy graduation ceremony, Zhou Quan watched the outstanding cadets receive their awards and noticed several names connected to his former subordinates. He suspected their gathering was no coincidence, though his changes to the Police Force had made the future uncertain.

• Zhou Quan gave a brief speech to the graduating cadets, emphasizing the Police Force’s responsibilities and its motto, “Loyal and courageous! With Hong Kong Island at heart!”
• Jiang Ping presided over the awards as Au Ho-lun presented Honorary Batons and Silver Cocks to the outstanding cadets, including Lee Family Ka-chun.
• Sir Kwan presented the Shirley Shield to Yuen Ka-bo, and Zhou Quan congratulated him on his achievement.
• Zhou Quan noticed that Yuen Ka-bo, Cheung Chung-bong, and Situ Jie were connected to Cheung Tak Biu and his former command, and recalled that they would be involved in future major cases and a Police Force scandal.

At the Police Academy graduation ceremony, Yuen Ka-bo and Lee Family Ka-chun received top honors and encouragement from senior officer Zhou Quan. Lee Family Ka-chun left with the Sir Fu Cup but was urged to keep striving for admission to the Inspector Class.

• Zhou Quan presented Yuen Ka-bo with the Shirley Shield and the Commissioner's Commendation for Academic Excellence, and Yuen Ka-bo saluted him.
• Zhou Quan approached Lee Family Ka-chun and welcomed him to the Police Force as the Sir Fu Cup winner.
• Zhou Quan urged Lee Family Ka-chun not to become complacent or discouraged and to prepare for the Inspector Class open recruitment process.
• The chapter explained that Lee Family Ka-chun's bachelor's degree had hurt his chances of entering the Inspector Class, and that further education could improve his prospects.
• Lee Family Ka-chun accepted the Sir Fu Cup and the Commissioner's Commendation for Academic Excellence, then saluted Zhou Quan.

After the Police Academy graduation ceremony, Zhou Quan returned to Tai Kwun and resumed work in his National Security Department office. Lam Wai Lok called with information about an emerging situation in Hong Kong Island’s underworld.

• Zhou Quan and Au Ho-lun left the graduation ceremony and returned to Tai Kwun, where the graduates’ assignments and training arrangements were already in place.
• Au Ho-lun left for the Personnel Division, and Ying Cheung-sam and the G4 brothers parted from Zhou Quan at the National Security Department floor.
• Zhou Quan changed out of his ceremonial uniform, made tea, and received a call from Lam Wai Lok.
• Lam Wai Lok spoke respectfully to Zhou Quan, whose former ties to him made him a potential source of underworld intelligence.

Lam Wai Lok warned Zhou Quan that the wanted bomber Hung Jipang had secretly entered Hong Kong Island and was linked to a cache of a thousand kilograms of C4. Zhou ordered the informant brought to his office and moved to stop Hung Jipang before he could threaten the island’s security.

• Lam Wai Lok told Zhou Quan that Hung Jipang, a wanted bomber with a five-million-Hong-Kong-dollar bounty, had slipped into Hong Kong Island.
• Lam Wai Lok said Chan Yiu Hung had gone to give He Wenzhan the details in person.
• Zhou Quan called Chow Sing Sing and ordered him to bring the informant to Zhou’s office as soon as he reached Tai Kwun.
• Zhou Quan recognized that Hung Jipang’s thousand kilograms of C4 could trigger a major security crisis and expose the National Security Department to scrutiny.

Zhou Quan reviewed Hung Jipang’s history and the plot behind his return to Hong Kong Island, then prepared to stop him before he seized the Hung Hom Tunnel. Dongguan Chai arrived with a report from his godfather, but Zhou Quan’s call with Chiang Tin-yeung interrupted it.

• Zhou Quan studied the files on Hung Jipang and recalled that the bomber had escaped after a bank robbery seven years earlier.
• Zhou Quan learned from his foreknowledge that Yan Guorong had hired Hung Jipang, who planned to seize the Hung Hom Tunnel partly to free Hung Jibiu and partly for his own gain.
• Chow Sing Sing and He Wenzhan brought Dongguan Chai to Zhou Quan’s office, where Zhou Quan asked him to explain why Lok Chiu had sent him.
• Dongguan Chai began reporting information about New Wo Hing employees in Sai Kung, but Zhou Quan’s phone rang.
• Zhou Quan answered Chiang Tin-yeung’s call, suspecting that the Hung Hing Group chairman might have heard about Hung Jipang.

Zhou Quan gathered intelligence about Hung Jipang’s suspected arrival in Hong Kong and learned that both Chiang Tin-yeung and Dongguan Chai had received leads. He rewarded Dongguan Chai for the information and continued coordinating the investigation.

• Zhou Quan called Chiang Tin-yeung, who reported that Snakehead had brought Hothead’s trusted underling ashore in Tuen Mun and suggested Hothead might follow.
• Chiang Tin-yeung realized Lam Wai Lok had likely alerted Zhou Quan first and ended the call respectfully.
• Chow Sing Sing and He Wenzhan recognized that Zhou Quan was taking Hung Jipang’s case seriously and straightened their posture.
• Dongguan Chai told Zhou Quan that New Wo Hing employees had spotted someone resembling Hothead in Sai Kung but lost him in Wong Tai Sin.
• Zhou Quan thanked Dongguan Chai, asked He Wenzhan to approve an informant’s fee, and let Dongguan Chai leave.

Zhou Quan asked Chow Sing Sing what the National Security Department knew about Hung Jipang, who had secretly returned to Hong Kong Island. Chow revealed that Hung was likely accompanied by his mercenary squad and had been hired by an unidentified Hong Kong Island financier, leaving the department to investigate the threat.

• Zhou Quan met with Chow Sing Sing and He Wenzhan and asked what the department knew about Hung Jipang.
• Chow Sing Sing reported that Hung had secretly entered Hong Kong Island after becoming active in the Golden Triangle and recruiting mercenaries.
• Chow explained that Zhou Quan had placed Fang Xinwu undercover in the Eight-Faced Buddha group and assigned Ching Tung's Action Group to support and protect him.
• Chow revealed that Fang Xinwu's intelligence pointed to a Hong Kong Island financier contacting Hung near the Thai-Myanmar Border over twenty days earlier.
• Chow said Hung had likely returned to work for the financier, but the department could not yet identify the person.

Zhou Quan reviewed the investigation into Hung Jipang and tested Chow Sing Sing and He Wenzhan on their progress. He classified Hung Jipang as a terrorist threat and ordered the National Security Department to coordinate with other Police Force departments to capture him quickly.

• Zhou Quan recognized that Yan Guorong had financed Hung Jipang, but ruled that Fang Xinwu must not investigate the connection further and risk compromising his cover.
• He Wenzhan reported that officers had identified seventeen suspects and placed Hung Jipang somewhere between Kowloon City and Wong Tai Sin, though they had not found his exact location.
• Chow Sing Sing outlined plans to protect colleagues Hung Jipang might target, investigate possible financial backers, check travel records, and coordinate with Southeast Asian immigration departments.
• Zhou Quan warned that Hung Jipang's history and mercenary gang made him capable of threatening Hong Kong Island's stability, and ordered the National Security Department to work with other departments to bring him to justice.

At a Police Force reception celebrating Cheung Choi Shan’s record-setting service medal, Zhou Quan joined senior officers Lee Man-bun and Sir Kwan. The celebration left Cheung’s future tied to the safe resolution of the Hung Jipang incident.

• The Operations Department held a reception for Cheung Choi Shan, the first superintendent-rank officer to receive the Disciplined Services Distinguished Service Medal.
• Lee Man-bun asked his nephew Zhou Quan why he had attended, and Zhou joked that he had nothing else to do.
• Zhou Quan recalled how Cheung Choi Shan had assisted him with explosives operations in West Kowloon before rising to lead at EOD Headquarters.
• Zhou Quan congratulated Yin Xiaofeng on Cheung’s honor, and Yin modestly praised Cheung while crediting the Police Force’s duties and principles.
• Zhou Quan said the reception belonged to the Operations Department and Cheung Choi Shan, while Cheung’s future promotion depended on resolving the Hung Jipang incident safely.

At Cheung Choi Shan’s celebratory reception, he introduced Li Jiawen to Zhou Quan and invited him to their future wedding. Zhou Quan received urgent reports that a wanted accomplice of Hung Jipang was approaching the Club with suspected explosives, and the National Security Department’s operation moved into action.

• Cheung Choi Shan approached Zhou Quan, Lee Man-bun, and Yin Xiaofeng with Li Jiawen and introduced her as the woman he was courting.
• Zhou Quan congratulated the couple, accepted Cheung Choi Shan’s wedding invitation, and toasted them with the others.
• Zhou Quan’s expression turned serious as concealed radio transmissions reported a suspicious person nearing the Club car park.
• Iron Wall Group reported that the suspect had taken a phone-sized square object, suspected to be plastic explosive, from his backpack.
• Command directed the teams to watch for other suspicious targets and told Iron Wall Group to check its equipment and choose when to open fire.
• The National Security Department’s contingency operation targeted a wanted criminal who had escaped justice with Hung Jipang seven years earlier.

The National Security Department tracked Hung Jipang’s confidant as he planted a suspected C4 bomb by Zhou Yat Wah’s car, then launched an operation to arrest him safely. The wounded bomber was in custody as officers secured the scene, while Zhou Quan watched his lieutenants take control.

• Hung Jipang’s trusted confidant planted suspected C4 explosives beside Zhou Yat Wah’s car while Paparazzi and G4 watched him.
• Chan Wing Yan waited until Jing Jinxian confirmed the target was beyond the blast radius, then ordered officers to shoot both his hands.
• Ying Cheung-sam’s Iron Wall Team One shot the bomber, and he collapsed outside the bomb’s danger zone.
• Chan Wing Yan ordered Paparazzi to watch for other suspects and called in PTU E Company, medical, and fire-service support.
• G4 officers secured the officers’ club and moved to arrest the wounded bomber while intelligence officers searched the area for other threats.
• Zhou Quan watched the operation unfold and relaxed as his lieutenants maintained control.

After gunfire sounded outside the Police Officers’ Club, Zhou Quan calmly guided the guests back into the reception hall and reassured them that the shots involved only petty criminals. He revealed to Cheung Choi Shan that Hung Jipang had returned to Hong Kong Island, leaving Cheung shaken by how close he and his friends may have come to danger.

• Two shots from an HK-G36K caused alarm among the reception guests, but Zhou Quan ordered everyone back into the hall and restored calm.
• Zhou Quan remained unconcerned, reasoning that the National Security Department’s officers and surveillance teams had Hung Jipang under control.
• Lee Man-bun asked whether an operation was taking place, and Zhou Quan dismissed the gunfire as trouble caused by petty crooks.
• Zhou Quan told Cheung Choi Shan that Hung Jipang had recently returned to Hong Kong Island.
• Cheung Choi Shan realized that Hung Jipang’s presence near the Club may have put him and his friends in danger, then praised Zhou Quan for anticipating the threat.

Zhou Quan, acting commissioner of the Hong Kong Island Police Force, convened a Special National Security Meeting to coordinate a force-wide response to Hung Jipang’s criminal group. The meeting began with a briefing on a failed attempt to plant a bomb under Zhou Yat Wah’s car, while Hung Jipang’s whereabouts and ultimate plans remained unknown.

• Chow Sing Sing reported that police had not located Hothead but had obtained useful information from the arrested terrorist’s interview.
• Zhou Quan ordered senior police managers and department commanders to attend a Special National Security Meeting and told Chow Sing Sing to prepare Hung Jipang’s files.
• Zhou Quan arrived at the conference room on time and took charge as acting commissioner while Commissioner Wong was away in the Mainland.
• Zhou Quan told the assembled officers that Hung Jipang’s trusted man had planned to plant a C4 explosive under Zhou Yat Wah’s car in revenge for the West Kowloon Bank Vault Bombing.
• Zhou Quan explained that the National Security Department had anticipated the threat and arrested the man at the scene.

Zhou Quan learned that Hung Jipang's organization had infiltrated Hong Kong Island with dozens of armed mercenaries and over one thousand kilograms of C4, then established an Emergency Response Team and launched Operation Sharp Sword. The Police Force moved to level-two alert as Zhou Quan assigned departments to lead the operation and monitor Yan Guorong.

• Zhou Quan briefed the assembled officers that Hung Jipang had entered Hong Kong Island with thirty-six combat-experienced criminals and well over one thousand kilograms of C4 explosives.
• Zhou Quan declared the Emergency Response Team established at 0921, named the operation Sharp Sword, and took charge as team leader.
• Zhou Quan raised the Hong Kong Island Police Force from level-three to level-two alert, canceled frontline leave, and ordered specialist units to raise their readiness.
• Zhou Quan assigned the National Security Department to lead Operation Sharp Sword, with Chow Sing Sing as direct commander.
• Zhou Quan ordered the Commercial Crime Bureau and Criminal Intelligence Bureau to track and monitor Yan Guorong.