Thunderous Sweep

At 3:20 a. m., when the night is deepest and the city's pulse seems to beat the slowest.

The city's Public Security Bureau building was brightly lit on several floors, but the atmosphere was solemn. The smoke detectors in the main conference room were temporarily turned off, and the air was filled with the strong smell of tobacco and instant coffee.

On the huge electronic screen, several real-time monitoring images were displayed in segments, showing the "Treasure-Gathering Pawnshop" and several key locations around it—the temporary rental houses of gang members, the night snack stalls they frequented, and a hideout of Zhou Yongli, a minor leader of the "Yongli Gang," in the suburbs.

Wei Guanglin sat in the main seat, dressed in a crisp uniform, the epaulets gleaming coldly under the light. Before him lay a printed copy of the shockingly detailed compilation of evidence provided by K, and beside him, the ashtray was piled high with four or five cigarette butts. His face was calm, but the slight redness in his eyes and his tightly pursed lips revealed a focused seriousness and determination.

Old Wang, the head of the Criminal Investigation Detachment, a man in his forties with a face as dark as iron, was holding a laser pointer, giving final confirmation of the operation plan to the screen. His voice was hoarse but powerful. "... Team A, focus on the pawnshop, simultaneously breach the front and back doors, control all personnel present, and prioritize the capture of Fei Qiang (Da Fei), Hou Wei (Monkey), and Zhang Tie (Iron Tower). Team B, divided into three squads, will arrest the remaining registered members according to the addresses on the list. Team C, will monitor the area surrounding Zhou Yongli's hideout. Once Team B have succeeded, act immediately and ensure he is contained inside. The Special Police Detachment's assault team is in position as the assault force. All actions are subject to my final instructions and must be launched simultaneously, leaving no time for reaction!"

The attendees were key personnel from criminal investigation, special police, technical investigation, and cyber security departments. They were all tense and had sharp eyes. Director Wei personally convened the meeting late at night and directly named and supervised the case. The evidence was so detailed, the target was so clear, and local criminal gangs might be involved behind the scenes. Everyone knew that this was a tough battle that had to be fought well and thoroughly.

"Is everything clear?" Wei Guanglin stubbed out his cigarette, looked around at everyone, and said in a low but heavy voice, "The evidence is conclusive, the target is clear, and the social impact is extremely negative. Tonight's operation has one word: speed! We need to make a big splash and create a deterrent! Every step must be legal and compliant, but the actions must not be lenient! Any questions?"

"No!" the crowd roared in response.

Wei Guanglin glanced at his watch; the hands pointed to 3:25. "Time's right. 3:30, move out on time. Old Wang, you're in charge. I'll be in command center."

"Yes!"

The order was given, and the conference room emptied almost completely, leaving only the necessary commanders and communications personnel. Wei Guanglin sat back down, his eyes fixed on the large screen. He knew that Lin Feng's demands for an "ironclad case," speed, and the phrase "dig them all out together" had to be achieved tonight. This was not only a reckoning with the group of fraudsters, but also, to some extent, another test of his Wei Guanglin and execution capabilities.

At the same time, on the edge of the rooftop of a commercial and residential building diagonally opposite Fuxing Road.

Lü Yi lay prone in a pre-selected, well-lit but extremely concealed corner, covered with a dark camouflage cloth. He held a high-powered military binoculars in his hand, adjusting the focus, the lens firmly fixed on the tightly closed iron gate of the "Treasure-Gathering Pawnshop" on the opposite street corner.

A cool night breeze swept across the rooftop, but he paid it no mind. A faint static hum came through his earphones, connecting him to an encrypted channel where he could simultaneously hear selected internal police communications (a "live broadcast" tacitly approved by Wei Guanglin, to facilitate Lin Feng's monitoring of the situation).

"Each team conducts a final equipment check and reports on the status."

"Team A, in position."

"B1, B2, B3, in position."

"Team C in position. Lights off in target room. No abnormalities."

"Commandos in position."

The concise, cold reports came one after another. Lü Yi licked his slightly dry lips, his adrenaline beginning to rise subtly. This feeling was somewhat like the waiting before following his boss on certain "special missions" in the past, but this time, he was a pure, safe bystander, watching how the state machinery crushed these dregs.

Three points, twenty-nine minutes and fifty-five seconds.

The world seemed to have been muted. The streets were deserted, save for the dim streetlights and the occasional stray cat. A faint television light flickered from a window on the second floor of the pawnshop.

3:30 sharp.

"Action!"

Old Wang's low, decisive command came through the earpiece.

Almost at the same moment--

"Bang!!!"

"Splash--!!"

The pawnshop's two thickened glass doors and iron railings were violently breached like paper by professional hammers and hydraulic shears! Fully armed SWAT officers, dressed in black combat uniforms and wearing masks, surged into the shop like a black torrent in standard tactical formation! There were no shouts, no warnings, only the sound of wind from their movements and the screeching of boots stomping on the shattering glass.

"Police! Don't move!"

"Hands behind your head! Crouch down!"

"By the wall! Quickly!"

A short, authoritative command, along with faint screams and curses of panic, drifted over. Through his binoculars, Lü Yi saw several sleepy, disheveled figures rush out from the back room, only to be pinned down by several gun barrels and powerful flashlights, forced to lie prone on the ground as instructed. He saw the bald "Da Fei," wearing only his underwear, his face showing the bewilderment and terror of a hangover; he saw the skinny "Monkey," trying to crawl under the counter, but being dragged out like a chick by a SWAT officer; and he saw the burly "Iron Tower," who seemed to resist, but was instantly pinned to the ground by two SWAT officers with standard grappling techniques, his face pressed firmly against the cold floor tiles.

Clean and efficient. From scoring to taking control of the game, it took no more than twenty seconds.

Almost simultaneously with the pawnshop operation, brief but powerful reports came through the police internal channel from other teams:

"B1, target captured, in bed."

"B2, target in the restroom, under control."

"B3, the two are playing cards, both are under control."

Finally, a calm voice from Team C reported, "Team C reports that they have entered Zhou Yongli's residence. The target was in the bedroom, attempting to destroy a mobile phone, but this has been stopped. Control complete."

"Beautiful!" came a low murmur of approval from an unknown commander through the headset.

A smug smile crept onto Lü Yi's lips. They'd wiped them all out; not a single one had escaped. Even Zhou Yongli, the low-level leader of the "Yongli Gang" behind it all, hadn't escaped.

He adjusted his binoculars and saw the suspects in the pawnshop being handcuffed, hooded, and escorted out, crammed into several police Iveco vans that had been quietly parked on the street. The scene was quickly cordoned off, and forensic investigators began to enter to investigate and collect evidence. The whole process was efficient and orderly, carrying an unquestionable authority and power.

"Boss," Lü Yi said casually, pressing the communicator, "It's resolved, clean and efficient. Old Wei's handling is always reliable."

Soon, Lin Feng's calm voice came through. "Okay. I understand."

"There will probably be more to the investigation, and Zhou Yongli will likely be able to pull some strings," Lü Yi added.

"Tell Old Wei," Lin Feng's instructions were concise and clear, "To handle this strictly according to the law. Public disclosure is acceptable, as a warning to others."

"Understood!" Lü Yi replied, ending the communication. He took one last look at the police cars and flashing lights that were finishing up downstairs, put away his binoculars, and silently retreated from the edge of the rooftop, disappearing into the shadows of the rooftop just as he had come.

For him, watching this "show" was satisfying. For the boss, Lin Feng, it was nothing more than a buzzing fly that he could easily swat away; once it was gone, it was gone, and there was no need to waste a single word on it.

His attention may have already shifted away from this now-settled street corner.

Meanwhile, in the city bureau's command center, Wei Guanglin watched the screens displaying messages like "Target under control," "Scene sealed off," and "Evidence being secured," and his tense nerves relaxed slightly. He picked up the internal phone and dialed the department in charge of publicity.

"Regarding the case on Fuxing Road, we can prepare the press release. The focus should be on combating fraud crimes targeting the elderly and protecting the public's property. The wording should be precise, but it must be deterrent. Send it to me for review before dawn."

After hanging up the phone, he looked out at the deep night and let out a long sigh. He had completed the first step of Mr. Lin's instructions. Next, he needed to investigate thoroughly, make the case airtight, and dig out all the people who needed to be investigated.

As for Mr. Lin himself... Wei Guanglin recalled the terrifyingly detailed intelligence and Lin Feng's calm yet unquestionable tone. He knew that his "superior" or "ally" had long since surpassed the vision and power of these street thieves, reaching into more distant and complex places.

He shook his head, dispelling those thoughts, and refocused his attention on the interrogation files that had just begun and were destined to be anything but simple.

As night faded, a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon.

After a brief period of commotion, the city returned to tranquility. But the grime in some corners had been thoroughly cleansed.