Chapter 12 - 5: Mist

"Hello, Helen. What do you need me for?" Zhou Qingfeng pushed open the door to the history teacher's office, the faint aroma of coffee filling the air. The female teacher was seated behind her desk, and seeing the young man enter, she gestured with her chin for him to sit down. "Victor, how did you provoke Raul? He called all the teachers this morning, insisting on docking your points to get you expelled from school as soon as possible." The teacher's voice wasn't very harsh. She set down her coffee cup, crossed her hands on the table, and waited calmly for an explanation. Zhou Qingfeng spread his hands and began recounting the incident that occurred last night at the seaside restaurant. "Maybe I dirtied his clothes, or maybe there was something else that upset him." The teacher wasn't surprised by this poor excuse. "Raul is just that kind of person. You never know how you might get on his bad side. But don't worry, focus on your classes. And please, stop skipping class randomly. Even Jennifer the school nurse's sick notes won't help." The teacher clearly knew Zhou Qingfeng wasn't sick but chose not to delve into it. "Thank you!" "My job is to care about my students." Hearing Raul's name, Zhou Qingfeng asked in a seemingly casual manner, "Helen, what's Raul's deal? How can he be so brazen in school?" The teacher sighed, leaned forward slightly, and lowered her voice. "I'll let you in on a little secret. Raul has some gang connections; his brother is a local gang leader with considerable influence. He's indeed annoying, but without committing major offenses, there's nothing we can pin on him. The school can't just expel him for being overbearing, so everyone bears with it." As Zhou Qingfeng contemplated this, the teacher suddenly smiled. "But, there's good news. Raul's brother was shot dead by the police in a shootout last night. Without his backer, he should be more restrained." "Gang connections?" Zhou Qingfeng remarked offhandedly, "That is good news." The teacher waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, go back to class. No more skipping, there shouldn't be a next time." Zhou Qingfeng stood up, ready to leave the office, his gaze unintentionally sweeping over the trash bin under the desk, spotting some torn-up lottery tickets. His steps paused slightly, and he casually asked, "You joined the lottery frenzy last night as well?" "Hahaha..." The teacher laughed heartily, enviously saying, "Over twenty-two billion US Dollars, who wouldn't be tempted? I bought it casually at the gas station, but unfortunately, I won nothing. They say the jackpot was right here in White Beach Town. I really want to know who that lucky devil is. If the news spreads, they'd definitely move away quickly, or they'd face endless jealousy, even violent retaliation and robbery." For the speaker, it was an idle remark, but for the listener, it had a serious implication. A bolt of lightning seemed to flash across Zhou Qingfeng's mind, instantly capturing something. He remained outwardly calm, indifferently leaving the office, while several brilliant images churned in his mind, a massive puzzle gradually forming. Just outside the office, two bruised boys walked past him, still harboring anger, glaring at each other. The school police escorting them cursed as they walked. "You two idiots fighting over a lousy basketball. If last night's super jackpot were in front of you, wouldn't you kill each other for it?" These words hit Zhou Qingfeng like a bell, finally connecting all the dots. Lottery? Gang? Last night's inexplicable shootout? Raul is the sibling of a gang leader? There's definitely a connection. A seemingly illogical fact emerged—while gangs in the United States are ruthless, the police are even harsher. Gangs exist as small groups banding together due to shared interests. They aren't formed solely for fighting but for controlling territory and business. Simply put, it's all for money. In contrast, the police truly aim to maintain law and order. In terms of training, organization, logistics, and equipment, the police hold overwhelming superiority. Especially United States police, who are exceptionally fierce. "What gang leader would be foolish enough to confront the police head-on? None, it's impossible. This isn't a movie." This was why Chief Constable Conges was furious early this morning—the chaos in White Beach Town hadn't reached the point where anyone dared defy the law openly. United States police aren't just armed with sidearms; their patrol cars often have rifles. Zhou Qingfeng had seen Chief Constable Conges' rifle by the driver's seat and a shotgun in the trunk. Yet, three died, seven injured, even an officer shot in the gunfight, definitely abnormal. Unless there's an irresistible lure for the gangs, their first reaction to sirens would be to flee, not to fight. "A lottery, it must be that lottery ticket." Zhou Qingfeng's thoughts grew increasingly clear. Chief Constable Conges said two gangs fought over a transaction, but he might be wrong—there was no transaction, just a lottery ticket. The timing matched, the draw happened after 11 PM, and the shootout occurred late at night. Raul likely won the jackpot due to his gang leader brother's identity. He could've gotten the information before others and used his teacher status at school to act swiftly. So, where is Raul now? Has he realized the existence of that lottery ticket?