Chapter 27: What Have I Done?

The night breeze felt like water.

Inside a room of an office building somewhere in the Magic City, Ning Shuangshuang tossed her phone onto the desk, leaned against the chair back, and wore an expression of exhaustion.

After all, “Big Stick” Park Yonghwan had arrived in Magic City and had been following the master accountant of a certain shipyard, Qin Yun, appearing multiple times outside the shipyard.

Ning Shuangshuang, at the team meeting the day before yesterday, insisted on continuing the task. Although she had personal reasons, she also truly felt that there was something bizarre about the case.

That crystal cube had successfully piqued Ning Shuangshuang’s curiosity.

But after getting a photo of the crystal cube from Du Qiu, she had tried to look it up in various ways but to no avail.

Du Qiu had told her that his father, Du Guozhong, had found that item as an alternative remedy for treating his headaches – over the years, his father had sought many such things for him.

Strangely, they had received the wrong intelligence, believing that the crystal cube had fallen into Zhang Shangqing’s hands; had this not been the case, they would not have inadvertently alarmed the security department.

The day before yesterday, Xiao Zhou was sent to South America to investigate around the area where Tang Country’s peacekeeping police were stationed. The information fed back was also fruitless.

Xiao Zhou had also followed Ning Shuangshuang’s instructions to look into any special incidents involving Du Guozhong during his mission.

Apart from the fact that Du Guozhong had saved the lives of locals thrice, there was nothing noteworthy.

At this moment, Ruan Dan finally confessed.

As Ning Shuangshuang predicted, the masterminds behind “Wolf’s Kiss,” upon hearing Ruan Dan’s report that Park Yonghwan might have met with trouble, initially asked Ruan Dan to continue the mission and even expanded the search scope.

This was why Ruan Dan had thought to sneak into Du Qiu’s residence during the day when Du Qiu would be at work the next day, but unexpectedly, he got discovered and was captured by Du Qiu.

Initially, Ruan Dan went to Du Guozhong’s residence, but seeing police uniformed personnel all around the Tianhai neighborhood, he immediately abandoned the idea.

What he didn’t know was that the Tianhai neighborhood was actually a family building constructed by Magic City’s police department in the past, and its residents were all police officers who, even in retirement, liked to wear civilian clothes with no rank insignia.

At this point, the situation of the case seemed to have all cleared up.

Upon learning of this, the higher-ups immediately requested Ning Shuangshuang to end the sweep operation.

After all, the security of the new type of aircraft carrier being constructed was of the utmost importance, and there could be no waste of valuable security personnel resources.

Leadership believed that the crystal cube, which had never been heard of before, would not pose a threat to national security and decided to transfer the case to the Magic City Criminal Police Brigade for follow-up closure proceedings.

This was the reason why Ning Shuangshuang called Du Qiu tonight, but she still felt somewhat uneasy.

Ning Shuangshuang opened her office desk drawer and took out a photo. It was a photo of a little girl and a police officer.

In the photo, the little girl held a silk banner and her face showed an innocent smile.

“Xiao Ning, haven’t you finished work yet?” Suddenly, a knocking and a voice came from the door.

Ning Shuangshuang hastily closed the drawer and looked up to see a middle-aged police officer standing at the door.

Ning Shuangshuang stood up and said, “Director Mo, I was just about to leave…”

Director Mo walked into the office and looked at Ning Shuangshuang. “What’s the matter, are you upset about stopping your team’s sweep operation?” he asked.

“Director Mo, obeying orders is my duty. I’m not upset,” Ning Shuangshuang replied firmly and loudly.

Director Mo shook his head and pointed at Ning Shuangshuang, saying, “Just because you spoke so loudly, your feelings can’t be small. I know you, talk about what’s on your mind.”

“Director Mo, I really am not upset. The security of the shipyard is currently the focus of the station. I understand your orders. It’s just that I’m a bit worried about the families of those martyrs…” Ning Shuangshuang’s voice trailed off quietly.

Director Mo looked at her and said, “I heard that catching those two mercenaries was all thanks to Dr. Du Qiu who is also the son of that peacekeeping police martyr, Du Guozhong. Apparently, Du Guozhong trained him from a young age; otherwise, he wouldn’t have the ability to capture Ruan Dan barehanded.”

“Yes, he’s quite familiar with him. Are you worried about his safety then?” Director Mo suddenly revealed a slight smile.

“Ah? No!” Ning Shuangshuang was caught off guard and quickly denied, “I just think ‘Wolf’s Kiss’ or some mastermind behind the scenes would send someone over again.”

Director Mo said cheerfully, “When I transferred the case to the Criminal Police Brigade today, Tang Wenhai and I spoke about Du Qiu’s situation. I think this kid is really good.

At your age, you should also consider personal matters; a big scholar like him should be a good match for you. Think about it, if it works out, I can explain to your father too.”

Ning Shuangshuang never expected Director Mo to suddenly play matchmaker, even her usually cold face blushed slightly.

“Director Mo, what are you talking about? I’m not interested in dating right now.”

But Director Mo had already turned and walked away, stopping at the office door, he turned and said with a smile, “If you’re conducting a protective investigation on your future boyfriend, I won’t oppose it. However, it can only be done outside the shipyard security task time.”

The voice of Director Mo echoed in Ning Shuangshuang’s ears as he walked away.

Ning Shuangshuang was stunned and after a moment, she said, “What have I done? You all think that I would fall for him?”

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This night, on the other side of Blue Star in the United States, it was afternoon tea time.

In an inward seat of a certain cafe, a white-haired Caucasian elder was looking at a Chinese man sitting opposite him.

On the table between them lay an extremely blurry black and white photo and a USB flash drive.

The Chinese man looked very handsome and was examining another black and white photo in his hands. In the photo was a Native American elder.

But the Chinese man’s attention was not on the elderly man; his gaze was fixed on a cubic object on a high platform behind the elder.

“Mr. Walkerson, both of these photos are black and white and seem to be from a long time ago. I can’t make out the real appearance of the cube in the photos,” said the Chinese man.

The white-haired elder Walkerson calmly said, “Mr. Frank, these two photos are rephotographed from hundred-year-old photographs and just provide a rough idea of the cube’s shape.

The USB contains other relevant information about the cube, including computer-simulated images.

In the data, if any of the families of those five Tang Country peacekeepers have such a crystal product, it is likely the item we are looking for.

You just need to bring it back to me, and the task will be completed. I believe this will be the easiest task you’ve ever done in your past experiences.”

The Chinese man, Frank, showed his teeth and smiled, saying, “Mr. Walkerson, I’m a bit curious. Haven’t you always focused on the Japanese whaling vessels? Why are you suddenly interested in this crystal cube?”