The Hidden Piece Takes Its Place

In the days after the third interrogation ended on a sour note, a subtle tension hung over cell 107. Scar and the others didn't know exactly what had happened, but Lin Feng was quieter than usual, and the guards occasionally shot him complicated looks. From that, they could feel the oppressive calm before a storm.

Lin Feng appeared calm, but inside he was calculating the timing. Zhang Qian's fierce reaction had been within his expectations; in fact, he had deliberately provoked it. The greater the pressure, the stronger the backlash, and the more openings it might expose. What he needed more urgently now was information: eyes and ears that could pierce these high walls and iron curtains.

During exercise time, he leaned against a corner of the wall, his gaze sweeping seemingly at random over the patrolling guards. These people in matching uniforms were usually nothing more than symbols of order, but now, in his eyes, each was a potential point he could exploit. He needed a chess piece, one that could be fitted inside this cold machine.

Late that night, once snores rose all around the cell, Lin Feng sank his consciousness into the system.

"Today's summon."

A cold mechanical voice rang out: "Ding! Summoning successful! Deathsworn obtained: Wang Lei (prison guard)."

A screen of light appeared:

Name: Wang Lei

Identity: ordinary guard at the City First Detention Center

Post: patrol duty, Cell Block Three

Abilities: basic security, interpersonal observation, advantages of the post

Loyalty: 100%

A prison guard!

A ripple finally stirred the tranquil lake of Lin Feng's heart. At last, he had summoned someone with a key identity that could directly affect his current circumstances! Although Wang Lei was only an ordinary guard, the possibilities he brought represented a qualitative change!

He immediately issued an order. "Report your specific circumstances and what you know about the detention center's management, with a focus on the deputy supervisors."

Soon, a stream of information poured into Lin Feng's mind through their mental link.

Wang Lei, badge number 1077, had been on the job for three years. He wasn't particularly outgoing and was somewhat timid and afraid of trouble, making him one of the most inconspicuous guards. He was currently responsible for night patrols and daytime standby duty in Cell Block Three, which happened to include the area where cell 107 was located.

Among the management information he passed on, one name was singled out: Zhao Jianguo, deputy supervisor.

According to Wang Lei's description and the information guards exchanged in private conversations at the detention center, Deputy Supervisor Zhao was in his forties and oversaw logistics and some supervisory work, making him effectively the third-ranking person at the detention center. He was said to be fairly upright, even a little too committed to principles and not very flexible. As a result, the person in charge didn't particularly like him, though he hadn't made any major mistakes. Recently, he seemed to have run into some trouble at home and was always frowning. Once, Wang Lei had even heard him speaking sharply to his wife on the phone in his office. They seemed to be arguing about their daughter.

A daughter? Trouble at home? Strong principles?

Lin Feng's mind began to race. A frustrated middle manager with family troubles and strong principles... He might be a better point of entry than Lin Feng had imagined. Strong principles meant he wasn't easily swayed by personal feelings like Zhang Qian, but they also meant that, once Lin Feng found something that could move him, his support would carry more weight. His family troubles were the best way in.

"Keep a close eye on everything Deputy Supervisor Zhao Jianguo does, including his work schedule, changes in his mood, and any information about his family. And be absolutely discreet." Lin Feng issued a new order.

"Yes, master." Wang Lei's response was respectful and firm.

With Wang Lei as his hidden piece, Lin Feng immediately gained a much more direct sense of the outside world.

During the next day shift, Wang Lei's figure occasionally appeared near cell 107. He still looked a little meek, and he kept his eyes straight ahead during inspections, but he always managed to linger near Lin Feng for a moment at just the right time.

During exercise, Lin Feng leaned against the wall while Wang Lei pretended to straighten the security line not far away. His voice came through clearly in Lin Feng's mind:

[Master, Deputy Supervisor Zhao inspected the cafeteria this morning and got angry about how fresh the vegetables were. He took two hours off this afternoon. It seems his daughter's school called again.]

[Officer Zhang Qian came by again this morning. She went straight to the director's office and talked with him for about half an hour. She looked awful when she came out.]

[The detention center has been undergoing a standards compliance inspection lately. Deputy Supervisor Zhao is the main person in charge, and he's under a lot of pressure.]

As Lin Feng pieced these fragments together, they gradually sketched a subtle picture of the power structure within the high walls and the target's movements.

Even some tangible "conveniences" began to appear.

Although Lin Feng had strictly forbidden Wang Lei from being too obvious, his treatment still improved quietly in a few insignificant ways.

For example, during night patrols, Wang Lei would deliberately avoid shining his flashlight in Lin Feng's face.

Sometimes, when hot water was delivered, Lin Feng's kettle was always a little hotter.

Once, Scar secretly hid half a cigarette, and another stickler of a guard discovered it and was about to make an issue of it. Wang Lei "happened" to pass by, laughed it off, and said, "Forget it, Old Li. It's just a little thing." Somehow, he managed to smooth it over. Afterward, Scar thanked Lin Feng profusely and became even more convinced that "Brother Feng" had hands and eyes reaching to the heavens.

The changes were so slight that almost no one noticed except those involved. But Lin Feng could feel an invisible "privilege," founded on fear and speculation, slowly taking shape around him. That certainly carried risks, but it also gave him more room to maneuver.

Lin Feng did not place all his hopes on Wang Lei alone. At the same time, he used his consciousness to issue orders to Zhou Wenyuan and the deathsworn responsible for gathering intelligence outside.

To Zhou Wenyuan: [Zhao Jianguo, deputy supervisor of the detention center. Focus on investigating his family background, especially the details of his daughter's circumstances and the problems she's facing. Find a way to approach his family naturally, without arousing suspicion.]

To the deathsworn outside: [Broaden the investigation into Zhao Jianguo's social connections: his wife, parents, relatives and friends, the areas he frequents, the places where he shops and spends money, and so on. I want every detail.]

Inside and outside the walls, two intelligence networks were cast over the same target at once.

The information Wang Lei sent back also became more and more specific:

[Master, I found out. Deputy Supervisor Zhao's daughter is called Zhao Xiaoyu. She's in her second year at Municipal No. 1 High School. Recently, her grades seem to have dropped badly, and... she's suspected of dating young. Her relationship with her parents has become very strained, and she's even stayed out all night several times. Deputy Supervisor Zhao is at his wits' end. He's hit her and scolded her, but nothing works. His wife seems to blame him for knowing how to manage prisoners but not their daughter. They argue every day.]

[Also, I heard that because of this trouble with his daughter, Deputy Supervisor Zhao recently turned down a "gesture" from a businessman outside. The man probably wanted him to look after a certain prisoner. Zhao's mood has gotten even worse.]

Second year of high school, rebellion, young love, falling grades, family conflict...

Lin Feng silently chewed over those key words. It really was a thorny problem, especially for a middle-aged man who stood on principle and cared about saving face, yet lacked the methods to guide his child.

He realized that forcing an approach or offering money and gifts would very likely backfire, making Zhao Jianguo extremely wary and hostile. He had to find a more subtle, natural way to intervene.

A few days later, the information from Zhou Wenyuan and the deathsworn outside also came in, corroborating what Wang Lei had reported. They had thoroughly investigated Zhao Jianguo's family circumstances, his daughter's character, and even the restaurants and supermarkets they frequented.

A clear picture formed in Lin Feng's mind.

He needed an opportunity, one that would make Zhao Jianguo lower his guard and seek help of his own accord.

Lin Feng told Wang Lei to keep watching, paying particular attention to Zhao Xiaoyu's movements and the moments when Zhao Jianguo's mood changed. At the same time, he had the deathsworn outside look for a suitable candidate-preferably a woman who looked gentle and harmless, with a background in psychological counseling or educational guidance, and who could "happen" to appear somewhere Zhao Jianguo's wife often went.

The hidden piece was in place, and the intelligence had come together.

Now all that remained was to wait for just the right moment to lay this invisible thread gently against the strained nerves of that anxious father.

Within the high walls, Lin Feng still sat quietly every day, watching the clouds gather and disperse beyond the window.

But a silent campaign against the detention center's third-ranking figure had quietly begun.