I was like the wicked witch from a fairy tale, holding a sweet, red apple, **tempting the innocent little children. Gao Jianning suspected nothing of my intentions—perhaps he was even playing along—for he followed me obediently out of the office.

"Where are we going?" Gao Jianning asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Don't rush; you'll know when we get there."

I led him to the temporary interrogation room and told him, "First, I want you to look at someone; after seeing them, you'll understand what I need to say."

Gao Jianning, who adored games of wit, easily fell right into my trap.

The agency's temporary interrogation room was specifically designed for detainees and brief questioning. It was fully equipped with advanced surveillance and recording systems, constantly monitored by dedicated personnel, and subject to strict entry and exit protocols. Yet, I could move in and out with complete ease. There was only one reason: I was the Section Chief of the Special Operations Office. This was my small privilege, the one thing setting the office apart from other departments. But until this moment, I had never truly grasped the significance of this privilege; I had certainly never used it once.

Now, however, I finally had an opportunity. I flashed my identification and instructed the duty officer, "Open Room Number 4. Keep the equipment off for now."

The officer glanced at me, hesitated, then seemed to recall something and conceded, "Alright, you may enter." I leaned in and whispered a few more words to the officer before stepping inside.

The moment I entered the corridor, I felt a palpable pressure overhead and all around me. Most people brought here for questioning were already classified as semi-suspects, which dictated the unique architecture of the space. Every time I walked here, the walls on either side and the ceiling seemed to squeeze inward, threatening to crush anyone who moved too slowly.

In this environment that exerted pressure from every direction, the normally garrulous Gao Jianning—who usually chattered like running water—fell silent. Perhaps he sensed what was coming, or perhaps the setting itself was stirring the ghost within him.

Entering Interrogation Room Number 4, Gao Jianning finally broke the silence: "Who exactly am I seeing?"

I led him to the glass partition and pointed to a shadow above it: "See him!"

Gao Jianning reacted instantly, flinging his arm out. "Are you insane? This isn't funny." With that, he strode toward the door.

But he couldn't open it, no matter how hard he tried. I said coldly, "Stop trying. The door won't open without my authorization."

Gao Jianning suddenly shouted, "What are you doing?"

I watched him with a tranquility that was so profound it seemed to press down on him—the same controlled composure I used on the most cunning and slippery suspects.

Gao Jianning pointed directly at my nose. "You've lost it. You must be crazy."

"Hmph. If I am indeed mad, I would certainly examine you first before losing my mind," my voice was terrifyingly frigid.

"What about me? Tell me, what is wrong with me?" Gao Jianning jumped up again, highly agitated. If I hadn't been physically stronger than him, I suspected he would have already lunged.

I brought him here for two reasons. First: I needed to isolate him from computers and phones (cell signals couldn't penetrate here). For a computer expert like him, even a slight movement could activate pre-set defense measures, instantly erasing every trace of activity. I couldn't allow him that opportunity. Second: He was, after all, my cousin. Even if only for the sake of family connection, I didn't want his affairs widely known until the situation was clarified.

That's why I chose this location—to have a face-to-face discussion first. If he confessed, I would proceed according to the law while still acknowledging our relationship. If he refused, I would implement necessary measures for a full examination.

The suddenly anxious Gao Jianning calmed down. He sat in a chair, crossed his legs, and addressed me: "Alright, ask what you need to ask. But let me warn you beforehand: if you can't find anything, you owe me an explanation."

He had taken the interrogator's seat. I didn't want to waste time arguing over that point, so I simply took the seat meant for the interrogated and began questioning him.

"This morning, after we received Zhang Jiewei's call, Xiaoxuan went to Jiada, and Xiao Cuo and I went to the modeling agency. What were you doing during that time?"

"Nothing much. I stayed in the office, just as you told me to, ready to provide support, right?" Though Gao Jianning's memory wasn't as sharp as Xiao Cuo's, he recalled everything from that morning perfectly.

"Who can verify that?"

"How many people are usually in the Special Operations Office?" Gao Jianning countered abruptly.

The Special Operations Office rarely saw outsiders. Besides the four of us who were out, there were only Gao Jianning and Elder Jiang. And the elusive Elder Jiang could only prove he wasn't in the office, which proved nothing about his whereabouts. My question was clearly pointless.

Noticing my pause, Gao Jianning shook his head and added, "I get it. You're unhappy about me checking that email last time, so this is revenge."

Last time, Gao Jianning had used technical means to trace the sender of a mysterious email back to me. I was only saved from an investigation thanks to Elder Jiang's strong support. Now, bringing that up was a significant challenge to the legitimacy of my current inquiry.

I suppressed the turbulence inside me. Honestly, I hadn't cared about that previous incident at all. The fact that Gao Jianning had technically traced the email sender to me was true; he had merely announced it to everyone. I didn't blame him.

"Fine, let's assume that's true. But we need to resolve your current issue first. I hope you're innocent, and we can settle scores later."

"Don't worry, I'm clean as a whistle. Bring it on." Gao Jianning regained his arrogant posture.

"Your phone. Hand it over."

Since he wouldn't admit anything, I had no choice but to resort to technical investigation.

In truth, this matter was simple to verify. First, pull up the police station surveillance to see if he left the premises or visited other departments during that time. If he hadn't, then his phone and computer were his only conduits to the outside world.

It was that simple. Once I brought him here, everything would be under my control. I allowed a confident smile to spread across my face, flexing my fingers slightly, feeling a touch of the Tathagata's palm, with Gao Jianning undoubtedly cast as the mischievous Monkey King.

Unexpectedly, Gao Jianning started to resist. He yelled, "You don't have the authority! I demand to see Elder Jiang."

This guy definitely had something to hide. Demanding to see Elder Jiang was just a diversionary tactic. Once he stepped outside this door, a single tap on his phone or a subtle manipulation of some hidden electronic device would trigger the defense protocols, and everything would vanish into thin air.

Therefore, he had to stay here!

"Can Elder Jiang save you?" I stood up, looking down at him.

"Hmph. I just don't trust you," Gao Jianning's mouth was tougher than a clam's shell.

"Very well, you stay here. I'll go fetch Elder Jiang." This small maneuver was child's play for me.

"On what grounds are you detaining me? I'm not a criminal; I'm an active police officer! You are committing a crime!" Gao Jianning’s voice became especially sharp in the enclosed space, like the final howl of a trapped animal.

I let out a cold chuckle. "To stop crime, I have the right to fight violence with violence. Besides, I am merely temporarily restricting your personal freedom. Don't be so tense."

Gao Jianning slumped back into the chair, utterly defeated. The scene was so familiar that it solidified the suspicion in my heart.

Just as my confidence swelled rapidly, Gao Jianning suddenly said weakly, "Y-you go get Elder Jiang. I'll wait here. Oh, and I'm a bit hungry. Get me something good to eat!"

I was momentarily stunned. What was this kid up to, having an appetite now? The situation was slipping in a direction I couldn't control. It seemed everything would have to wait until Elder Jiang arrived to become clear.

I walked to a metal panel near the door, revealed the keypad lock, and quickly punched in a few numbers. I shot a wary glance back at Gao Jianning. He was still slumped in his seat, calling out to me, "Don't worry. For the sake of that good meal, I absolutely won't escape. Remember, you're paying; this one’s on the house."

The thought of the expense stung, but I replied gruffly, "The monitors are on. Every move you make is under surveillance. If you plan any tricks, I suggest you abandon the idea." With that, I walked out amidst Gao Jianning's curses.

In the duty room, I immediately used the landline to call Elder Jiang, relaying the situation in the briefest possible terms. Elder Jiang responded from the other end, "Understood. I'll be right there."

It was rare for this formidable figure to agree so readily; otherwise, I didn't know how long I could keep this monkey occupied. Thinking about his demand for food made my heart ache again. I only had a few tens of Yuan left. If I got him something good, I'd be begging for scraps. But he was my cousin after all; even if I had to execute him, I'd let him eat his fill one last time. I decided to treat him generously one last time.

With a touch of mercy, I ran outside and bought two chicken legs and four duck wings. Suddenly, a hollow feeling washed over me. Recalling all our shared experiences growing up with Gao Jianning, I felt I had lost something. Even though I knew what I was losing was a toxic growth, the sorrow was profound. I mused that perhaps this feeling was akin to what Xiaoxuan experienced after being hypnotized that day.

Xiaoxuan was still at Jiada, investigating Huang Yang with Zhang Jiewei. The results might be imminent. I wondered what reaction that woman, who seemed to wither in the light, would have upon learning that Gu Hengming was dead.

Just as I was thinking this, my phone rang. It was Xiaoxuan. I answered instantly. Her voice came through, "We are bringing Huang Yang back to the station now. She says she needs protection before she'll tell us the truth."

My heart instantly cleared to a boundless blue sky. It seemed today was a good day; a long-stalled case was finally showing progress. Even though Gu Hengming was dead, Huang Yang surely knew as much, if not more. Once she spoke, even the iron tree would bloom.

Carrying the chicken legs and humming a little tune, I entered Interrogation Room Number 4. Gao Jianning looked at my unexpected excitement and quipped, "Did someone just wire you more money? You look thrilled!"

My heart twinged again as I looked at the drumsticks. I tossed them onto the table. "Choke on them."

I had to admit I was impressed that the man still had the energy for jokes at a time like this, though I suspected it was merely a screen, a distraction.

Just as Gao Jianning was devouring the food, Elder Jiang arrived.

Upon his entry, Gao Jianning immediately stopped eating and furtively leaned in to whisper a few words into Elder Jiang’s ear. The situation suddenly veered sharply away from everything I had anticipated.

Elder Jiang said coldly, "Enough. You can leave now. I will handle the rest with Wang Lei."

"No, you can't let him go!" I shouted.

Elder Jiang ignored my protest. Gao Jianning slipped away right before my eyes, not forgetting to snatch up a chicken leg as he left, turning back to flash me a smile: "Thanks, these are delicious!"

I sat there like a wounded hunter, cradling my wound and breathing shallowly. What had just happened? For the first time, I felt like a blind man who couldn't see anything, wandering alone in boundless darkness throughout this entire affair.

Elder Jiang sat there, utterly silent, still as a lion crouched in the tall grass. I, the wounded hunter, clearly stood on the crumbling wall opposite him. The silence in the air was so thick it was suffocating.

Suddenly, Elder Jiang waved a hand. "Wang Lei, come sit over here."

I glanced over; he had taken the interrogator's seat, just as Gao Jianning had done earlier. So, I once again settled into the position of the accused. The feeling was deeply unsettling; I couldn't shake the sense that this was no coincidence.

"Well, how can you say that?" Elder Jiang displayed a flicker of hesitation in front of me for the first time. This convinced me that the matter was indeed beyond my previous understanding, and Gao Jianning had clearly been aware of it.

This was baffling. As the Section Chief of the Special Operations Office, my rank was second only to Elder Jiang. Logically, the extent of my authority and knowledge should be only slightly less than his. But clearly, that wasn't the case now; even Gao Jianning, that big mountain monkey, seemed to know more than I did. Were there others?

I didn't dare follow that line of thought too far, but my inherent suspicion urged me deeper: Everything about the Special Operations Office, from its inception, was shrouded in mystery. My appointment as chief was seemingly a casual gesture from Elder Jiang, with no explicit reason or consequence—but now it seemed that casual gesture held profound meaning.

The confusion in my eyes deepened, like two corrosive substances capable of dissolving a person. Elder Jiang chuckled twice and waved his hand. "Stop overthinking."

"But I need an explanation."

My extreme suspicion made me forget my deference to authority, so my tone was unapologetically blunt—something unimaginable in ordinary circumstances. Nor did Elder Jiang seem offended, as the fault for this ambiguity clearly lay with him; now that things were exposed, he needed to find a remedy. Yet, I felt no sense of triumph, only a heavy burden, as if carrying a lead figure on my shoulders.

"Sigh," Elder Jiang exhaled, "I'll tell you the truth then. Here is the situation: Gao Jianning doesn't technically belong to our Special Operations Office. That's not entirely accurate either; he didn't originally, but now he does. However, he was completely dispatched here by higher command specifically to aid in the establishment of our office, so his political ideology is sound."

I listened with growing confusion. I had watched this kid grow up practically in diapers; how could he suddenly be a special envoy from a higher organization? Judging by Elder Jiang's tone, this fellow held an exceptionally superior position, which made me extremely uncomfortable. Perhaps it stemmed from our lifelong bickering where I usually held the upper hand, causing me to maintain an ingrained sense of dominance over him.

But I was not the type to bow to arbitrary power; my specialty was standing tall and asserting myself even in the face of authority. So, I spoke without reservation: "The past is only relevant to the present; there is no absolute causality. Therefore, what you just said does not prove his innocence. I have ample evidence suggesting he is highly suspect. If he cannot account for his actions during that period, he must be investigated. But now that he has escaped effective containment, I presume he has destroyed all evidence. You must take full responsibility for this."

Elder Jiang laughed heartily. "My, Wang Lei, you’re even holding me accountable now. But I can tell you this: Gao Jianning was executing another secret mission at the time, one completely unrelated to the Special Operations Office."

I was momentarily stunned. So the kid did have some background after all. But I didn't back down verbally: "I speak only of facts; this is not directed at anyone personally."

"Yes, good, excellent, very good." Elder Jiang leaned back, closing his eyes comfortably, then added, "With someone like you handling things up front, I can finally get some proper rest."

Watching this elder statesman adopt such a carefree attitude, I nearly exploded with frustration. If he hadn't been my direct superior and possessed the potent aura of a wild lion, I might have wished him stuck in that chair for a year or two.

Elder Jiang suddenly opened one eye, fixing me with a sharp, piercing gaze, like a lion just awakened, filled with eagerness: "What? Feeling restless? How about we spar a bit down at the training grounds right now?"

From the first time I saw Elder Jiang, I sensed that arrogant, imposing presence—an air only acquired through true life-or-death conflict. Even though he usually kept quiet and concealed it well, my hunter-like instincts had still captured it.

In that moment, a sudden thought struck me: Among all the personnel files in the Special Operations Office, I was the only one without a specialized skill. Perhaps he valued exactly that hunter's potential in me?

But clearly, at this moment, I was not the hunter. Elder Jiang was.