Chapter 266: There’s Definitely Something Wrong

Xiao Yu, with countless system skills activated, rushed toward the bedroom.

The bedroom door burst open.

Even in the pitch black, Xiao Yu could clearly “see” a figure springing up from the bed thanks to his Python’s Sense. At the same time, a faint glint of something dark flashed in the figure’s hand.

Xiao Yu lept high into the air like a ferocious tiger and instantly closed the distance.

Before the person could even raise their arm, Xiao Yu’s knee slammed into their chest with ruthless force.

The figure flew backward, crashing into the wall.

“Ahhh—!”

A sharp scream, unmistakably a woman’s voice, pierced the air.

Without missing a beat, Xiao Yu spun and delivered a brutal kick to the chin of a second figure who was scrambling to sit up in panic.

The scream cut off abruptly.

The bedroom light flickered on as the criminal police team entered.

Xiao Yu squinted, letting his eyes adjust to the sudden brightness, then scanned the room. His gaze first landed on the bed—where a naked woman was sprawled out. Next, his eyes moved to the floor beside the bed. A man lay there, also naked, his chest caved in, unconscious.

But that wasn’t the most important thing.

The real focus was the weapon lying next to the man’s hand—a three-edged spike. Not just any spike, but one with spiral grooves.

The moment Xiao Yu saw it, his eyes flared with murderous intent.

He found it.

***

County Police Station, Interrogation Room.

Shen Li slowly opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused as he looked around in confusion. Suddenly, his body jerked, and he tried to sit up.

“Ugh!”

A wave of searing pain shot through his chest, leaving him weak and gasping for air, almost unable to breathe.

Xiao Yu had held back during the attack. He’d only cracked two of Shen Li’s ribs. Otherwise, Shen Li wouldn’t even be breathing right now.

It was only now that Shen Li realized where he was. His face filled with fear as his eyes landed on Xiao Yu, sitting not far away.

“You’re awake?” Xiao Yu asked coldly, locking eyes with Shen Li. “Where’s Hua Xiangyang?”

“…”

Shen Li dropped his head and stayed silent.

“It’s pointless.” Xiao Yu let out a mocking laugh. “The fact that we found you should already tell you that the police know everything about what you’ve done. Keeping quiet won’t save you.”

Still, Shen Li kept his head down. He refused to speak.

Xiao Yu shook his head with a smirk, though his eyes were icy cold.

And so, the two sat there for three and a half hours in silence. Finally, the interrogation room door opened, and two national security agents stepped inside.

“Boss, the big boss says we’re to stick with you for now,” one of the second-team agents said with a wry smile. “Please stop sending us back and forth like this.”

“Ha!” Xiao Yu chuckled, nodded, and pointed at Shen Li. Then, without another word, he stood and left the room.

***

Half an hour later. Outside the interrogation room.

“The case was his doing, along with someone named Hua Xiangyang. Hua Xiangyang took the counterfeit printing plates and handed them off to their boss. And that boss is foreign.”

Three simple sentences from the second-team agent sent shockwaves through Xiao Yu’s mind.

So it was a foreign connection.

It all added up. In the past, the provincial department had cracked a major counterfeit case, capturing nearly all the main suspects. Regular people wouldn’t even know about the counterfeit printing plates, let alone how to access them.

The only ones who would know were those foreigners buying counterfeit money.

With the counterfeiters arrested, some people’s money-making pipeline was cut off.

What could they do? Find the counterfeit printing plates and start making their own.

So…

“Who is this boss?” Xiao Yu asked coldly.

“No idea. Shen Li doesn’t know either,” replied the second-team member, shaking his head. “According to his statement, he and Hua Xiangyang have been friends for over a decade. Only Hua Xiangyang knows who the boss is. Shen Li was just his accomplice. However, Shen Li did reveal that Hua Xiangyang is highly skilled. He received professional training at a security company and worked as a bodyguard for a long time. He’s likely proficient in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance techniques.”

That tracks. Xiao Yu nodded.

This matched what the task force had uncovered so far.

“Did Shen Li say where Hua Xiangyang went?” Xiao Yu pressed.

“No.” The team member shook his head again. “He only said that before leaving, Hua Xiangyang left him some money and told him to lay low for a while.”

“Great. Just great.”

Xiao Yu rubbed his temples, frustration creeping in.

No trail, no location—finding someone like this was a pain, especially if they wanted results fast.

But, the system mission’s deadline was approaching. Only eleven days left. Xiao Yu couldn’t afford to wait.

“Boss, actually, there’s one more thing…” The second team member hesitated. “We’ve captured Old Ghost, but the big boss told me not to mention it to you.”

Xiao Yu, “…”

‘Why the hell didn’t you say so earlier?’

Xiao Yu pulled out his phone, shooting the team member an annoyed look as he dialed Wang Dong’s number.

“What’s up?” Wang Dong answered with a chuckle.

“Brother, have you lost it?” Xiao Yu snapped. “You caught Old Ghost and didn’t think to tell me?”

“I was just in the middle of interrogating him,” Wang Dong’s awkward laugh came through the phone. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you yet.”

Xiao Yu suppressed the urge to curse. 

“And?”

“According to Old Ghost’s confession,” Wang Dong, sensing Xiao Yu’s growing irritation, quickly got serious. “He said he’s just a go-between, a middleman for hire. He only connected the dots for those involved in the terrorist activities. That’s it.”

“And this other party he worked with, where are they?” Xiao Yu pressed.

“In the country. And you won’t believe where,” Wang Dong replied, his tone suddenly turning strange. “Bencheng.”

Xiao Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

“Because of his criminal background, this so-called boss—the foreigner with the alias—is already wanted internationally. He specializes in the counterfeit money trade,” Wang Dong explained. “A few years ago, the counterfeit ring your provincial police cracked? Those suspects were his suppliers. With that supply chain cut off and no other sources, he turned his sights on the two counterfeit printing plates still in the country. This time, he entered through illegal channels, by water, smuggling himself in.”

“Got it.” Xiao Yu exhaled sharply, piecing the situation together. “So now that he has the plates, he plans to leave the same way?”

“Most likely,” Wang Dong confirmed.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Xiao Yu snapped. “I’ll meet you in Bencheng. Hurry up.”

“I’d advise against that,” Wang Dong said, his tone suddenly serious.

Something wasn’t right.

Xiao Yu frowned, his eyes narrowing as he picked up on the tension. It felt like Wang Dong was deliberately holding something back—just like the second-team agent mentioned earlier when Wang Dong didn’t want him to know Old Ghost had been captured.

And now, he didn’t want him involved at all?

There was definitely something wrong.