Ma Bin!

The name on the caller ID was flashing.

Li Shang's expression shifted, and he took a deep breath. Perhaps the key to breaking this deadlock lay with Ma Bin. From recent interactions, this second-in-command was a rare intelligent figure in the gang.

Having a brain means he's less likely to go crazy, able to assess the situation, and possibly be swayed or controlled.

The only problem is, he's got a tad bit of blind loyalty to Boss Zheng.

In any case,

The current situation is dire, and I must find a way, whether through threats or incentives, to turn Ma Bin against the Cyan Wolf Gang and use him for my purposes.

Only then can the chaos likely be quickly quelled and my wife and son saved.

"Don't panic now, I absolutely cannot panic. I must calm down and think about what exactly to say."

Li Shang's mind was racing, recalling all sorts of interrogation skills and experiences.

Five seconds later, Li Shang answered the phone and, without waiting for the other side to speak, harshly said, "The Cyan Wolf Gang really is audacious. Ma Bin, you go back and tell Boss Zheng he picked the wrong target."

"I, Li Shang, have held my position as the vice-captain of the Patrol Office because I am detached, impervious to threats."

"If my wife dies, it's just as well—I can let my mistress in. If my son is lost, I can just have another. Trying to threaten me with my wife and son? The Cyan Wolf Gang made a bad calculation."

"You can't threaten me, but I guarantee that everyone in the Cyan Wolf Gang will go down along with Boss Zheng..."

Ma Bin interrupted Li Shang's threat at the right moment, his hoarse voice filled with fatigue: "Captain Li, you've misunderstood. I'm not here to threaten you for Boss Zheng."

Li Shang's heart skipped a beat, and he inhaled sharply: "Huh?"

He had just lied; losing his wife would allow remarriage, but losing his son meant a permanent loss, as he'd previously suffered a gunshot wound and couldn't have more children.

Ma Bin said gravely, "Boss Zheng has completely lost it. Although I'm sorry for Boss Zheng, I can't just watch the brothers in the gang ignorantly follow him to the grave. I'm the second-in-command of the Cyan Wolf Gang; I must save them, and myself."

Li Shang's grip on the phone turned his knuckles pale. He coughed to mask the tremor in his voice: "And you think as a mere second-in-command you can save the Cyan Wolf Gang?"

Ma Bin said, "What if I become the top dog, with Captain Li's help?"

Before Li Shang could speak, Ma Bin added, "Also, I just rescued your wife and son partway through."

Li Shang was stunned: "What did you say?"

Ma Bin: "New wives and kids can be found, but if you can keep the old ones, isn't that better, Captain Li?"

During the conversation, a woman's voice came through the phone, still tinged with sobs: "Husband, just now a group broke into the house to kidnap me and our son. This man came and saved us. He's a good person; please help him if you can~"

Li Shang was silent for three seconds, then gritted his teeth and said, "Got it, give him back the phone."

Ma Bin: "Captain Li?"

Li Shang: "Where are the people who kidnapped my wife and son?"

Ma Bin: "They're all dead."

Li Shang: "What exactly do you plan to do?"

Ma Bin: "It's not convenient to discuss over the phone. I need to meet with you, Captain Li."

Li Shang's brow furrowed tightly, and he said in a low voice: "How do I know you're not lying and trying to lure me into a trap?"

Ma Bin, prepared for this, showed a kind of all-or-nothing sincerity: "I can first have your wife and son sent to the Patrol Office. Once you're sure they're safe, then you can decide to meet me."

Half of Li Shang's doubts were dispelled, and he cautiously said, "I'll decide the time and place."

Ma Bin readily agreed: "Okay, but I probably don't have much time left."

Li Shang felt a sense of a new beginning despite the apparent dead end. Perhaps there was still room to salvage the situation with the Cyan Wolf Gang, if Ma Bin could be trusted.

Li Shang: "Get them here as soon as possible. I'll get back to you; come alone when I do."

...

One hour later.

Across the street from the Patrol Office, inside a nondescript small restaurant.

After a quick glance around, Ma Bin lowered his cap and walked inside alone.

Inside the restaurant, several undercover officers watched him enter and confirmed no one followed him, then quietly reported through their earpieces.

Inside, Li Shang, donning full tactical gear, sat at a table with only a glass of water on it. Under the table, his hand was on a pistol, aimed at the seat opposite him.

Ma Bin walked in and sat down across from him.

No small talk; there was nothing to discuss.

Li Shang's anger towards the Cyan Wolf Gang had reached its peak, but since Ma Bin had saved his wife and son, he refrained from harsh words and asked coldly: "Is there someone named Xiaowu in the Cyan Wolf Gang?"

Ma Bin hesitated, then answered: "Yes, he's one of Boss Zheng's close lieutenants. Did he do something?"

Li Shang sneered: "Before he died, he asked me to tell Boss Zheng that he repaid his debt with his life. What do you think he did?"

Ma Bin fell silent, pulled out his phone, sifted through his album; his eyes dimmed, and he thought to himself: "So this is Xiaowu's last message to me, just as I expected; how predictable, even to the very end~"

"Is this him?" Ma Bin showed Li Shang a photo.

Li Shang glanced at it. The photo showed a half-opened room door at an angle, with Zheng Si in it, half-naked, and a woman's corpse on the floor.

Two people stood guard at the door, one of whom was Xiaowu, the other was unfamiliar, named Ma Wei.

Ma Bin tapped the photo, explaining: "I wasn't aware of the job Boss Zheng assigned to Xiaowu. Boss Zheng was dissatisfied with my performance, and today's operation completely bypassed me."

Li Shang watched Ma Bin intently, evaluating the credibility of Ma Bin's story.

In reality, he already believed ninety percent of it, as Ma Bin's account matched what he'd seen today. Still, out of professional instinct, he harbored a final trace of doubt.

Isn't this man supposed to be quite loyal to Boss Zheng?

Now he's turned against him; is it just for self-preservation, or is there some deeper reason?

Ma Bin seemed aware of Li Shang's doubts. He removed his cap to reveal a shaven head, covered in scabs and extending to his forehead, looking gruesome.

Ma Bin gave Li Shang a mirthless smile: "Captain Li, your words still ring in my ears—'A gang is a quagmire; those loyal will sink first.'"

Li Shang frowned.

Ma Bin pointed at the photo of the dead woman: "Xiaoyou, I brought her into the gang back then. Boss Zheng knew she was close to me, yet he toyed with her until she died."

He then gestured to his scab-covered head: "Boss Zheng is utterly mad. This is what I got for trying to persuade him, but I couldn't, so..."

Ma Bin looked utterly drained, and he pulled a recorder out of his pocket, sighing: "Explaining it is too complicated. Captain Li, listen for yourself."

Li Shang took the recorder and pressed play.

[Zheng Si: For the last three days, bring everyone in front of me. Xiaohang's dead; I must avenge my son.]

[Ma Bin: There are nearly 50 people on that list. If we bring them all in, the Patrol Office will lose it. What about Li Shang...]

[Zheng Si: Do you think I'm afraid of the Patrol Office, afraid of a mere vice-captain?]

[Ma Bin: Boss, Li Shang has warned me several times. This isn't like before; things have escalated beyond control.]

[Zheng Si: For years I've gone against the grain to secure your position as second-in-command because you're smart, but you're never ruthless enough.]

[Ma Bin silent, breathing heavily.]

[Zheng Si: You let me down terribly.]

[Zheng Si: You're not ruthless enough; let me teach you. If Li Shang blocks us, eliminate him. If you can't eliminate Li Shang, eliminate those around him.]

[Ma Bin blurted out: But he's a vice-captain, not a blank civilian.]

[Zheng Si sneered: You don't understand. You have to be ruthless, keep your hand steady on the knife. What do I fear? It's him I fear.]

[Zheng Si lowered his voice, with a frenzied brutality: Li Shang has a son, a wife, or a mistress, right? Kidnap his whole family, force him to shut up and obey. If he doesn't, I'll tear them apart before his very eyes.]

[Zheng Si flung his hand, and Ma Bin fell heavily to the ground, glass shattering everywhere.]

[Zheng Si stepped on the glass, his manic voice chilling: Second-in-command, you don't need to rack your brains this time. Just watch how I handle people. In three days, I'll avenge Xiaohang...]

[The subsequent audio is unclear; the recording ends here.]

[Note: The original content of the edited recording is in Chapter 47, book enthusiasts can refer to it for comparison.]

...

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