Chapter 114 - 114 112 The Trap

114: Chapter 112: The Trap 114: Chapter 112: The Trap Rustle, rustle, rustle. Jiang Yuan walked along the hotel corridor, his feet sinking into the soft, blue-patterned, plush carpet, with nearly floor-to-ceiling glass windows at his side. There were curio shelves in the corridor as well, holding authentic, original ‘Guiguzi Descends the Mountain’ blue and white porcelain pieces. A series of Western oil paintings hung on the walls, featuring exposed flesh, halos, and inscriptions. Outside the window, the scenery was mesmerizingly beautiful. The trees were lush and green, with the imposing Mount Wulong in the distance, its peaks extending endlessly, while the nearby gardens were intricately carved, with layers of rolling hills. The best part was the hotel’s periphery—a constantly flowing rapid stream that brought in a light sound of water, creating a comfortable ambiance. Jiang Yuan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing into the distance, his mind occupied with thoughts while admiring the beautiful view. He had come with the squad leader, Huang Qiangmin, to inspect the Xinhong Grand Hotel’s layout. His heart was both excited and uneasy. Although he did not know what their opponent would be like, having seen the mutilated corpses and bones, he could already imagine it. Deep down, he was a bit afraid that the murderer might come here, yet he also hoped that they would. ... Because of its proximity to Mount Wulong, Jingye Town served as an important passage for those journeying to the mountain; furthermore, many herbal medicine processing factories were scattered throughout the area, branding it as the herbal medicine hub of the Mount Wulong region. However, after getting to know the surrounding cities near Mount Wulong, one would find that each township, county, and city claimed the title of herbal medicine distribution center for themselves. There probably weren’t as many herb collectors in Mount Wulong as claimed. However, some hikers specifically rested in Jingye Town, making their last preparations for upcoming hikes or explorations. Xinhong Grand Hotel was not the best in Jingye Town, but because they hosted a dragon, visitors could sing karaoke, play cards, get foot massages, full-body massages, soak in baths, and dine... The hotel was perfect for staying a few days, blurring day into night without ever needing to leave. This was what Chen Fan had told them, as it was the hotel most frequently visited by their group of five. As Jiang Yuan stood there, an image surfaced in his mind: two drunken men staggering across the hallway, supporting each other as they approached him, their faces darkened and necks reddened from the sun, followed by three others, two side by side, with one trailing slowly behind... In the hunting party, Guo and Liu liked to gamble, visit brothels, smoke, and drink strong alcohol. Chen Fan’s uncle, Chen Deling, was a penny-pincher who liked to save money and rarely paid for outings and entertainment. The group’s leader, surnamed Hu, had simple pleasures—just hunting. He would only eat and rest upon arrival here, refraining from superfluous activities, always the one pushing them to head into the mountains. Then there was one surnamed Wang, who gambled, visited brothels, smoked, drank, was stingy, and also loved hunting. All of them were excellent shots. The special case team was divided over this hotel. Some speculated that the group of five likely had multiple residences and only dealt with Chen Fan here. However, the local chief, Huang Qiangmin, who was responsible for Jingye Town, did not agree. He generally disapproved of the practice of overestimating their opponents. Overestimating meant higher input; one or two times was manageable, but frequent overestimates would revolt the police department’s budget. Though indeed, these five hunters were formidable, with murder methods described in case reports that could shock anyone, Huang Qiangmin still considered them to be mere common felons. Their brutality in the mountains didn’t imply they could be as cautious as spies when making contacts. The fact that they occasionally switched accommodations was already diligent enough; thinking of changing hotels in such a small town as Jingye to entertain different guests was excessive to the point of breakdown. After arriving at Xinhong Grand Hotel, Jiang Yuan found himself agreeing with Huang Qiangmin’s opinion. Staking out a hotel and a whole town were two fundamentally different concepts. The latter required much more work and posed a greater risk. If the group of five had not actually stayed at the Xinhong Grand Hotel, it would be necessary to readjust the defensive arrangements—after all, their second hideout was still unknown. As for the Xinhong Grand Hotel, Jiang Yuan had thoroughly scoped out the place several times. His scouting wasn’t simply just scoping; utilizing the skills passed on from Sun Jingyi, with his Level 2 sketching ability, Jiang Yuan replicated each of his scouted points on paper through sketches. Combined with the hotel’s own floor plans, the criminal police team could more conveniently discuss and strategize tactics on paper. And they seriously discussed tactics. For the criminal police team, this was a supremely serious issue. Although planning and strategizing were typical for arrests, the discussions usually revolved around the likelihood of success. For most apprehensions, except drug enforcement, deploying three or four times the number of suspects was already an excessive safety measure. In reality, at the scene, if we didn’t say 80% of suspects simply surrendered, the occasional ones that ran or attempted to escape were primarily pursued. Those who actively resisted were rare encounters for the criminal police team, maybe once in a year and a half. But guns changed everything. A double-barreled shotgun, for instance, could fire through a door and turn the person on the other side into a sieve with the simple pull of a trigger. Additionally, not many had experience dealing with firearms. Even for someone like Huang Qiangmin’s generation, when they became police, guns had already become quite rare in the market. This, in fact, was the critical issue. The greatest advantage the police have over criminals is experience. A police officer encounters more criminals from recruitment to maturity than the national soccer team scores goals, whereas suspects—especially those who have not been “educated” in prison—often appear inexperienced. The most typical example is in murder cases, where countless individuals arrogantly design what they believe to be the perfect murder—those who plot murder after sleepless nights, especially in cases intending to kill someone close to them, do so after much contemplation. Yet the vast majority of these cases are solved within 72 hours. The reason is simple: experienced officers, after just a few words with the suspect, can make them extremely nervous. How then could their meticulously planned murders be flawlessly executed? If someone becomes nervous during a company’s annual meeting speech or can’t relax during a class activity, then expecting to perform well during their first murder or to be unrestrained when facing the police for the first time is too naive. They might as well consider attending some sort of class first. The Ningtai County Criminal Police Team’s group of officers is now in need of a training plan similar to CS. Fortunately, a squad of armed police arrived quickly. The squad’s captain, Zhou Gang, who was under 30, was younger than most of the criminal police present. He wasn’t tall, but he was very strong, and his exposed arms were firm and hard. Seeing him and his team members carrying a variety of long and short rifles, everyone, for a moment, had the urge to call out “Daddy.” “Don’t enter the scene yet; you can go to the hotel in batches to check out the layout,” Huang Qiangmin, who was acquainted with Zhou Gang, discussed the situation before talking work. Zhou Gang replied with a “Okay.” Huang Qiangmin then said, “The criminal suspects don’t have strong social ties as they live in the mountains year-round. However, they spend a lot at the hotel each year, and I’m worried that the hotel staff might be tempted to tip them off.” As the captain of the criminal police, he had dealt with many people in society and was naturally more suspicious. “Control everyone and replace them with our men, if possible?” Zhou Gang stood straight, resembling a robust pine tree, and gave his suggestion straightforwardly and forcefully. Forensic Expert Jiang Yuan, a newcomer, was experiencing close contact with armed police for the first time and felt quite envious. What young man doesn’t dream of carrying a gun! Huang Qiangmin pondered and said, “We have already taken the owner into custody, but they should have familiar waiters. I don’t want to make arrests as soon as we enter; it could easily spook them...” “Let the owner choose the people,” Zhou Gang said. “Explain to him properly that he’s dealing with a four-life case. Does he dare to take on that baggage? If there’s a problem with the people he chooses, then he can weigh the consequences himself.” Zhou Gang’s second suggestion after arriving was just as uncompromising, but Huang Qiangmin thought about it and couldn’t help but nod, “That could work...” The Xinhong Grand Hotel boasts four-star status, but in reality, it’s just a local hotel, with its boss Luo Xin Hong’s influence only extending locally. In the local area, he is considered capable. A chunky local boss. Having investigated the daily routine of the boss, they could determine that he had no special relationship with the suspected wild men of Mount Wulong beyond that of a customer who spends a lot of money. Luo Xin Hong had also paid attention to these individuals and had some idea about them; he knew for sure they were not decent folks. After all, who spends like that if they are living a normal life? But he was a hotel owner and naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to report his own customers. Customers spending money made him happy. As long as they didn’t cause trouble in his hotel, whatever they did outside was none of his business. Luo Xin Hong was utterly baffled when he was apprehended. Though a humble local boss, in doing business, he especially knew what could be touched and what couldn’t. He worriedly calculated his own situation, wondering if he would go to prison. If he had to serve a year or two in jail, he could reluctantly accept it; his sworn enemy Da Hai had done time and came out all the more impressive. But serving twenty years was game over. If it was a two-year sentence, good behavior could mean getting out in just over a year, with money still coming in, and the business could barely keep running. However, a twenty-year sentence meant the hotel would definitely be carved up by others, and he would face having little money to spend in prison, not to mention not knowing who would take care of his wife and child. Everyone knows that prison is a place where money flows like water, with the commissary alone costing tens of thousands. Without Captain Huang saying much, Luo Xin Hong was already scared wet. Whatever Captain Huang said, he nodded along. Look, even the armed police were deployed. Zhou Gang, with his gun, watched as Captain Huang negotiated. Jiang Yuan quietly took out Huaxia cigarettes and distributed them to everyone. After “comforting” the boss, Captain Huang came over to confirm the arrest plan with Zhou Gang. He took a Huaxia cigarette as well. “Regarding the arrest, my idea is this. Let’s put men in the hotel first, so we can ensure basic area control...” “Next, for the specific arrest timing, the first opportunity I suggest is one hour after they enter the hotel, the second during their mealtime, and the third when they’re asleep.” “I still want to capture the five people alive as much as possible...” Zhou Gang listened to him speak, glanced at the suspect sketches Jiang Yuan had drawn on-site, looked back at Jiang Yuan with a somewhat strange expression, and then tapped on the sketches with his finger. “They have guns; I can’t guarantee we’ll take them alive,” Zhou Gang said. “Of course, we must prioritize everyone’s safety,” Huang Qiangmin nodded in agreement. ... What followed was the stakeout. One day, two days, three days... On the fifth day. “Target spotted.” “Target spotted.” “Target spotted.”