Chapter Summaries

After the arrests of Zhang Peng and Wong Hoi-wo, Lau Bo-keung cleared Luk Chi-lim’s name and arranged for Yeung Ching-fuk to become a state witness. During Su Kin-chiu’s interrogation, Wong Hoi-wo confessed to his crimes but panicked when asked about the DOA Foundation.

• Tsui Yau-choi, Ho Tai-shing, Di Weijie, and other members of the Disciplined Services were arrested or transferred into custody as the operation entered its final sweep.
• Lau Bo-keung sent Yeung Ching-fuk’s evidence to the ICAC’s L Group and applied to make Yeung Ching-fuk a state witness.
• Su Kin-chiu questioned Wong Hoi-wo, who confessed after realizing the police had strong evidence and that Yeung Ching-fuk had betrayed him.
• Su Kin-chiu focused on Wong Hoi-wo’s activities in the Netherlands and the deeper presence that might have brought him to Hong Kong Island.
• When Su Kin-chiu asked about the DOA Foundation, Wong Hoi-wo panicked and slumped in his chair.

Su Kin-chiu interrogated Wong Hoi-wo about his ties to the DOA Foundation, and Wong admitted that the foundation handled much of his money laundering. He revealed what little he knew about its operations and its leader, Mr. Gao, then asked the police to consider his cooperation in court.

• Su Kin-chiu connected Wong Hoi-wo’s Dutch activities and money laundering to the DOA Foundation.
• Wong Hoi-wo admitted that more than half of Zhang Peng’s ten billion would be laundered through the DOA Foundation.
• Wong explained that the foundation accepted clients from criminal groups and charged money-laundering commissions, but he lacked access to its inner workings.
• Wong identified the foundation’s leader as an ethnic Chinese man called Mr. Gao, whose given name was supposedly Xiansheng.
• Wong told Su Kin-chiu he had revealed everything he knew and asked the police to speak in his favor in court.

Su Kin-chiu questioned Wong Hoi-wo, who cooperated and requested favorable treatment, then reported his confession about the DOA Foundation to Lau Bo-keung. Lau Bo-keung brought Su Kin-chiu to brief Zhou Quan, who was surprised that the foundation’s money laundering was linked to Wong Hoi-wo.

• Su Kin-chiu repeatedly questioned Wong Hoi-wo and found his answers consistent and free of flaws.
• Wong Hoi-wo requested favorable treatment, and Su Kin-chiu said the Police Force would consider documenting his cooperation.
• Su Kin-chiu reported Wong Hoi-wo’s confession about the DOA Foundation’s money laundering to Lau Bo-keung.
• Lau Bo-keung and Su Kin-chiu visited Luo Danian before going to brief Zhou Quan.
• Lau Bo-keung told Zhou Quan that Wong Hoi-wo had close ties to the DOA Foundation and that it laundered money for criminal leaders in Europe and America.

After Su Kin-chiu’s statement linked Wong Hoi-wo’s money laundering to the DOA Foundation, Zhou Quan considered how to investigate the organization and put Lau Bo-keung in charge. He decided to activate TUI’s long-dormant asset beside Lam Wai Lok as the Foundation prepared to enter Hong Kong Island.

• Zhou Quan praised Su Kin-chiu for uncovering Wong Hoi-wo’s connection to the DOA Foundation and recognized the case could lead to Su’s promotion.
• Lau Bo-keung told Zhou Quan that the Foundation’s internal operations were difficult to penetrate and proposed using TUI officers to infiltrate it.
• Zhou Quan agreed the approach was feasible but noted that TUI operated only on Hong Kong Island and that the Foundation’s leader, Mr. Gao, was cautious.
• Zhou Quan realized TUI could use an existing asset near Lam Wai Lok instead of trying to place an officer directly inside the Foundation.
• Zhou Quan called Lam Wai Lok, who addressed him as Master Kwan, and prepared to activate the dormant trump card.

Zhou Quan planned to activate Tan Huanxi, a deeply embedded Crouching Tiger operative in Wo Sing Wo, to help investigate the DOA Foundation. Lam Wai Lok discussed his impending retirement and asked Zhou Quan to advise him on whether Tan Huanxi or Little Jimmy should lead New Wo Hing.

• Zhou Quan identified Tan Huanxi, New Wo Hing's vice president, as the most effective candidate to become a major DOA Foundation client and assist the Police Force.
• Zhou Quan called Lam Wai Lok and asked how he was feeling as retirement approached.
• Lam Wai Lok explained that he intended to retire while keeping New Wo Hing under his family's control, and said Tan Huanxi and Lee Family Jiayuan handled much of its operations.
• Lam Wai Lok asked Zhou Quan whether Tan Huanxi or Little Jimmy should succeed him and promised New Wo Hing would continue cooperating with Zhou Quan and the Police Force.

Zhou Quan approved Lam Wai Lok’s plans for New Wo Hing’s succession, then tasked him with sending two trusted successors to approach Mr. Gao of the DOA Foundation. The chapter ended with Lau Bo-keung set to provide the operational plan for striking at the Foundation’s leadership.

• Zhou Quan told Lam Wai Lok that New Wo Hing could choose its next Leader, provided the organization continued to obey his will and the Police Force’s authority.
• Lam Wai Lok reaffirmed that he would bring New Wo Hing’s next Leader to visit Zhou Quan after retiring.
• Zhou Quan invited Lam Wai Lok to play golf after he stepped down and then asked him to help with an operation involving the DOA Foundation.
• Zhou Quan instructed Lam Wai Lok to send two trusted successors to approach Mr. Gao, leaving Lau Bo-keung to contact him with the operational plan.

Zhou Quan arranged to use New Wo Hing Group funds and contacts to help a covert operative approach Mr. Gao of the DOA Foundation. Lam Wai Lok agreed to support the operation, and Zhou Quan assigned Lau Bo-keung and Su Kin-chiu to bring Tan Huanxi and Lee Family Jiayuan into the investigation without leaving a record at Police Force Headquarters.

• Zhou Quan decided to use New Wo Hing Group accounts and channels to show Mr. Gao that his operative could offer substantial profits.
• Zhou Quan trusted Lam Wai Lok not to betray him, and Lam agreed to send Tan Huanxi and Little Jimmy to meet Sir Lau Kit-fai.
• Zhou Quan told Lau Bo-keung to retrieve Tan Huanxi’s TUI contact code and arrange for Tan Huanxi and Lee Family Jiayuan to approach Mr. Gao.
• Zhou Quan ordered Su Kin-chiu to escort Tan Huanxi and Lee Family Jiayuan from the parking lot to his department without recording their entry at Police Force Headquarters.
• Lau Bo-keung and Su Kin-chiu saluted Zhou Quan and left to begin the investigation into the DOA Foundation.

The Hong Kong Island Police Force set a coordinated undercover operation in motion against the DOA Foundation as its Central headquarters opened. Meanwhile, Yang Jianhua returned to Hong Kong Island to ask Chan Kwok-wah for help investigating an international money-laundering organization, and confirmed that the target was the DOA Foundation.

• Lau Bo-keung arranged for Tan Huanxi and Lee Family Jiayuan to infiltrate the DOA Foundation and embezzle funds from the New Wo Hing Group, while Lam Wai Lok provided the account key after receiving Zhou Quan’s investment guarantee.
• Lau Bo-keung enlisted He Wenzhan’s support, and TUI and the Intelligence Group prepared undercover operatives for the Foundation’s headquarters.
• The Police Force’s Political Investigation Department, Commercial Crime Bureau, and Operations Security Department launched their joint operation when the DOA Building put up its sign in Central.
• Yang Jianhua visited Chan Kwok-wah and explained that Mainland China’s Central Bureau was investigating an international money-laundering organization entering Hong Kong Island.
• Chan Kwok-wah asked whether the investigation concerned the DOA Foundation, and Yang Jianhua confirmed it did.

Yang Jianhua brought Luo Xin to Hong Kong Island to coordinate with the Police Force and secure protection for National Central Bureau operatives investigating the DOA Foundation. Chan Kwok-wah introduced them to Lau Bo-keung, who recognized Yang Jianhua and welcomed her mission.

• Yang Jianhua introduced Luo Xin to Chan Kwok-wah and explained that Luo and another National Central Bureau operative were undercover against the DOA Foundation.
• Luo Xin presented her credentials as a First-Class Superintendent, and Chan Kwok-wah agreed to connect them with the operation's commander.
• Chan Kwok-wah led Yang Jianhua and Luo Xin to Lau Bo-keung's office in the Political Investigation Department.
• Lau Bo-keung recognized Yang Jianhua and asked whether she needed help with a mission.

Yang Jianhua and Luo Xin sought the Hong Kong Island Police Force’s help investigating the DOA Foundation, which planned to move its headquarters to Hong Kong Island. Lau Bo-keung agreed to coordinate a joint operation under Hong Kong Island Police command, and the group prepared to share intelligence.

• Chan Kwok-wah introduced Luo Xin and explained that Yang Jianhua and Luo had come to investigate the DOA Foundation for Mainland China's Interpol National Central Bureau.
• Yang Jianhua told Lau Bo-keung that Luo Xin had infiltrated the foundation and that her superiors had sent her to seek help from her former organization.
• Lau Bo-keung described the Hong Kong Island Police Force’s money-laundering investigation and its Joint Action Group, while making clear that his force would lead any joint operation.
• Yang Jianhua accepted Hong Kong Island Police command and promised that she and Luo Xin would cooperate unconditionally.
• Lau Bo-keung arranged a joint operations meeting, and Chan Kwok-wah escorted Yang Jianhua and Luo Xin to Conference Room Three.

Lau Bo-keung chaired a joint meeting between Hong Kong Island police and mainland officers to exchange information and coordinate their investigation of the DOA Foundation. After the Hong Kong teams reported their leads, Yang Jianhua asked Luo Xin to share the mainland team's findings, including her own and A Long's situations.

• Lau Bo-keung introduced Wong Fuk-wing, Yang Jianhua, and Luo Xin at the joint operations meeting.
• Lau Bo-keung asserted that the Hong Kong Island Police Force would lead the operation, and Yang Jianhua agreed to defer to its views.
• He Wenzhan reported that National Security officers were infiltrating the DOA Foundation and had learned of an upcoming conference attended by major clients and overseas Triad figures.
• Wong Fuk-wing reported that the Commercial Crime Bureau had obtained the foundation's corporate account information and some transaction records for analysis.
• Yang Jianhua asked Luo Xin to brief the Hong Kong officers on their leads and to disclose both her situation and A Long's.

Luo Xin reported on her three-year undercover operation in the DOA Foundation and its planned Underworld Conference. The Hong Kong Island Police Force offered to incorporate her and Xu Long into its intelligence framework and provide protection as the joint operation advanced.

• Luo Xin told the assembled officers that she served in the DOA Foundation president Mr. Gao’s secretarial team, while Xu Long, an accountant, had gained access to some internal information.
• Luo Xin said the DOA Foundation would soon hold a Major Client Exchange Meeting that doubled as an Underworld Conference for criminal figures.
• Senior Superintendent Liu identified the conference as the best opportunity to gather evidence, and Lau Bo-keung asked whether Happy Tiger could attend.
• He Wenzhan reported that Tan Huanxi had received an invitation to the client meeting but might not reach the more secret Underworld Conference.
• Lau Bo-keung asked Yang Jianhua to place Luo Xin and Xu Long within the NS intelligence framework, offering advanced equipment and elite teams to protect them.

The joint operation against the DOA Foundation suffered a setback when Mr. Gao kept Tan Huanxi and Lee Family Jiayuan out of the foundation’s secret underworld conference. The Police Force established a long-term action group to continue the investigation, and Zhou Quan’s attention shifted to two trusted subordinates arriving at his office.

• Yang Jianhua and Luo Xin joined the joint operation, with Luo Xin and Xu Long entering TUI’s operational framework under Pang Yik-hang.
• The Police Force placed undercover officers inside the DOA Foundation, but Mr. Gao excluded Tan Huanxi and Lee Family Jiayuan from its confidential underworld conference.
• Lau Bo-keung, He Wenzhan, and Wong Fuk-wing formed a dedicated Action Group led by Pang Yik-hang to investigate the foundation until the undercover operatives gathered conclusive evidence.
• Zhou Quan received the report of the setback and made no changes to his subordinates’ plan.
• Lok Kai-cheung and Kung Ka-pui arrived at Zhou Quan’s office, drawing his attention.

Lok Kai-cheung and Kung Ka-pui reported that Yee Fung was working with a transnational criminal group to smuggle a tonne of high-purity heroin into Hong Kong Island. Zhou Quan suspected the group might be the Aether Society and asked whether Leung Siu-tong had any leads.

• Lok Kai-cheung told Zhou Quan that Yee Fung might be colluding with a transnational criminal group, whose members wore similar rings.
• Zhou Quan suspected the group was the Aether Society, but Lok Kai-cheung said the rings did not match the Police Force's records.
• Lok Kai-cheung reported that Yee Fung and the group planned to use Customs to bring a tonne of Number Four heroin across the border, and requested Customs and TUI support.
• Zhou Quan asked whether Laughing, also known as Leung Siu-tong, had any leads.

Kung Ka-pui briefed Zhou Quan on the suspected Aether Society network, its drug operation, and the CIB’s investigation. He asked Zhou to enlist the National Security Department’s Intelligence Group to break the suspects’ encrypted communications.

• Lok Kai-cheung deferred to Kung Ka-pui to report the investigation into the suspected Aether Society.
• Kung Ka-pui identified six suspects linked by rings suspected to serve as Aether Society credentials, including Yee Fung’s boss, So Sing-pak.
• Kung Ka-pui reported that investigators had found Number Four heroin at Ho Tsz-leung’s cosmetics company and suspected So Sing-pak planned to ship a tonne of the drug into Hong Kong Island.
• Kung Ka-pui outlined the suspected roles of the other suspects, including supplying drug materials, making connections, laundering money, and assessing risks.
• Kung Ka-pui told Zhou Quan that the suspects held encrypted video conferences and requested help from the Intelligence Group to crack their communications.

Zhou Quan learned that the suspected transnational criminal organization was likely the Aether Society and mobilized police communications officers and Customs support for the Criminal Intelligence Bureau’s operation. He warned Lok Kai-cheung and Kung Ka-pui to keep the arrests secret and prepare for hidden communications devices, leaving them to begin work.

• After hearing Kung Ka-pui’s report, Zhou Quan suspected the Aether Society was behind the case and saw a chance to strike at the organization.
• Zhou Quan ordered Luo Danian to send A Long’s best communications officers to support Kung Ka-pui’s operation.
• Zhou Quan called Customs Commissioner Chan Wing-kan, who agreed to coordinate assistance with Lok Kai-cheung.
• Zhou Quan warned Lok Kai-cheung and Kung Ka-pui that the suspected Aether Society members might have rings with tracking or emergency communication features.
• Zhou Quan ordered the officers to maintain secrecy, use trusted personnel, and make arrests swiftly when the time came.
• Lok Kai-cheung and Kung Ka-pui saluted and went to carry out Zhou Quan’s orders.

Zhou Quan ordered a comprehensive internal review of the entire Police Force to protect its reputation and investigate Cheuk King-chuen. He left Luo Danian, Kong Chi Lap, Hon Hau-chung, and Kwan Man Chin in charge of carrying out and cross-checking the review, with Cheuk’s future promotion depending on its findings.

• Zhou Quan considered the risks surrounding Cheuk King-chuen and summoned the Director-level officers of the National Security Department and Regulatory Department.
• Luo Danian, Kong Chi Lap, Hon Hau-chung, and Kwan Man Chin arrived at Zhou Quan’s office and listened as he announced a review covering every officer, including himself.
• Zhou Quan instructed the two departments to take turns conducting the review and to investigate each other.
• Zhou Quan included Cheuk King-chuen in the review and planned to reassign him if he passed the character assessment.

Zhou Quan ordered an internal review of the entire Police Force and remained willing to entrust Cheuk King-chuen with important responsibilities if he passed. After leaving Zhou Quan’s office, Luo Danian and Hon Hau-chung agreed that their departments would review each other first.

• Zhou Quan weighed his impressions of Cheuk King-chuen against Mok Kam-chuen’s past loyalty issues and decided he would not change his plans if Cheuk passed the review.
• Luo Danian, Kong Chi Lap, Hon Hau-chung, and Kwan Man Chin accepted Zhou Quan’s assignment to investigate the Police Force.
• Zhou Quan hosted the four officers for tea and discussed Police Force and Hong Kong Island affairs with them.
• Outside Zhou Quan’s office, Luo Danian proposed that the National Security Department and Regulatory Department review each other, and Hon Hau-chung agreed.
• Luo Danian and Hon Hau-chung shook hands, then took separate elevators to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Kung Ka-pui returned to the National Security Department’s Operations Command Centre to request support for the Criminal Intelligence Bureau’s undercover operation against Yee Fung. He introduced Senior Inspector Zhou Wangqing, who was providing support and was Leung Siu-tong’s partner, as He Wenzhan deployed teams to assist.

• Lau Bo-keung and Yu Suqiu continued the Police Force’s internal review while the Criminal Intelligence Bureau prepared to close its undercover operation.
• Kung Ka-pui arrived at the Operations Command Centre with Zhou Wangqing to seek the National Security Department’s operational support.
• He Wenzhan welcomed Kung Ka-pui and said he had assigned T Group and the Intelligence Group to help.
• Kung Ka-pui introduced Zhou Wangqing as the officer supporting Leung Siu-tong’s undercover operation and as Leung’s partner.
• Zhou Wangqing saluted He Wenzhan, Pang Yik-hang, and Yeung Chi-lung, showing her respect for the National Security Department officers.

Zhou Quan’s trusted subordinates Lau Bo-keung and Yu Suqiu launched a Police Force-wide internal review, stirring up a storm that made officers curb misconduct and improve efficiency. The investigation continued under strict orders to punish serious abuses while allowing no one to evade accountability.

• Lau Bo-keung and Yu Suqiu formed internal review teams and began cross-investigating their own departments.
• Yu Suqiu directed the district Complaints Departments to investigate officers across the ranks, while Lau Bo-keung’s team scrutinized Police Force Management.
• The investigation spread through the Police Force with the approval of Number One, Sir Kwan, and senior officers cooperated without raising the matter at management meetings.
• Grassroots commanders restrained their methods and worked to comply with regulations, leading to a thirty-percent drop in complaints and improved efficiency.
• Zhou Quan’s red line required conclusive evidence against criminals and consequences for serious abuses, while Lau Bo-keung and Yu Suqiu avoided pursuing past misconduct indiscriminately.