"He did come to me again."
Zhou Yanqing's voice came through the car's Bluetooth, mixed with electronic static.
"He insisted on helping us set a trap. I refused at first, but he kept pleading and pestering me. In the end, he said that if we wouldn't let him go this time, he'd go after those people himself."
"Have you lost your fucking mind?!" Jiang Huaixiao slammed a fist into the steering wheel, and the Bentley's horn blared shrilly down the empty street.
"He's a kid who only just turned eighteen! He barely crawled out of those kidnappers' den last month, covered in injuries, and spent half a month in the hospital. Now you're letting him be bait? Zhou Yanqing, did you get your head caught in a door, or has this case driven you insane?"
Zhou Yanqing didn't argue.
Only after a long silence did he speak again. "He's carrying five trackers. The plainclothes unit is on standby around the clock. The moment those people show themselves, our officers will have the scene under control within three minutes."
"Three minutes?" Jiang Huaixiao gritted his teeth. "Do you know how many times those desperate criminals could stab him in three minutes?"
Zhou Yanqing fell silent for a moment.
"I know you're worried, but Jiang Xun was adamant. He said that if the police wouldn't cooperate, he'd act alone. That would mean greater risks and more factors beyond our control. Rather than let him go off to his death alone, it's better for us to deploy our officers. At least that way, we can minimize the risk."
Jiang Huaixiao stopped outside the Municipal Bureau, the front of his car almost touching the barrier arm. He ripped off his Bluetooth earpiece, flung it onto the passenger seat, pushed open the door, and strode