Chapter 126: Mutual Probing

Chapter 126: Mutual Probing

Is it really so hard to monitor an entire city?

It’s not about difficulty.

It’s simply impossible.

To put it plainly…

Even if you could gather an army and station them to watch every corner 24 hours a day.

Seriously, do you think criminals are dumb?

In that scenario, would they even dare commit a crime?

If a criminal stops, with no clues left behind, how do you catch them?

It’s an unsolvable problem!

“So, we just wait?”

Wang Dong looked at Xiao Yu with a conflicted expression. “Wait for them to commit another crime?”

Xiao Yu’s eyes flickered with a brief spark before dimming again. “Unless… no way!”

“What do you mean?” Wang Dong pressed.

“Air Traffic Control radar,” Xiao Yu replied with a dismissive wave.

“…” Wang Dong fell silent.

What exactly is Air Traffic Control radar?

It’s the radar used by aviation controllers, typically installed around airports.

“153” units, like in Capital City, are mounted on buildings or other structures at intervals.

Once anything enters the ATC radar zone, every aircraft—big or small—is detected.

Imagine a third- or fourth-tier city fitting every corner with these radars. What a massive project!

It’s unrealistic!

“Actually, there’s another option.”

Xiao Yu sneered, “Chinese New Year’s Eve!”

Wang Dong: ???

Can you speak in plain language?

“New Year’s Eve means the New Year.”

Xiao Yu eyed Wang Dong and explained, “Legend has it that Nian—a ferocious beast—roams on New Year’s Eve, but it’s terrified of loud noises. That’s why people set off firecrackers to scare it away, which is why we celebrate the New Year.”

Wang Dong: ???

Is it really so hard to say it plainly?

Damn it… you’d think I’d know about New Year’s traditions!

“Use your brain!”

Xiao Yu pointed to his head. “How else do you scare Nian away?”

“Obviously, by frightening it off,” Wang Dong responded, confused.

“Exactly, scare it off.”

Xiao Yu nodded. “It flees at the sound.”

“…”

Wang Dong finally comprehended, astonished: “So we intend to scare the criminal into inaction?”

“No. We’ll create deterrents so he won’t dare commit crimes in certain areas.”

Xiao Yu explained, “For instance, we have a few officers move in and out of neighborhoods, pretending to set up surveillance. We deploy every available person to these areas to scare him, making it clear that every corner is watched. Once he hears the buzz, dare he step in?”

“But there’s a catch.”

Wang Dong looked at Xiao Yu oddly. “If he’s too scared to act and we still don’t know who he is, how do we catch him?”

“There’s another version of the New Year’s tale,”

Xiao Yu grinned wickedly, “Some folks, trying to save a buck, skip buying firecrackers on New Year’s Eve. And then Nian shows up at their place, bites them to death, and even eats them!”

Wang Dong: “Holy crap!” His eyes widened in understanding.

So the kid actually plans to confine the criminal’s actions

to areas of his own choosing?

Setting traps to catch him red-handed?

Is that even feasible?

“That method practically won’t catch anyone!”

A strange smile crept onto Xiao Yu’s face.

Wang Dong almost wanted to curse.

If the plan is doomed, why even talk about it?

Is he just mocking me?

“I just want to see what kind of man he really is,” Xiao Yu stated.

He grinned, “If he’s full of himself, he’s as good as dead!”

Gazing at Xiao Yu’s smile, Wang Dong felt a sudden chill crawl up his spine…

……

The entire city’s police were mobilized, even deploying an Armed Police unit.

They flooded into neighborhoods, loudly announcing plans to install surveillance cameras everywhere.

Every district was declared to soon be under full surveillance!

Even so, there weren’t enough personnel—each team consisted of just two officers and one Armed Police agent.

They had to cover several neighborhoods in one day, all while doing it with fanfare.

Over two days, thousands were deployed. And what was the result?

Xiao Yu didn’t care about the outcome.

Because the plan was just too stupid.

Anyone with half a brain would see right through it.

Criminals smart enough to act aren’t idiots.

Investigations show that criminals generally have a higher IQ than the average person.

Hard to swallow that truth, isn’t it?

Reality is cruel!

Now, if you were a smart criminal,

would you fall for such an obvious trap?

Of course not.

You’d even enjoy outsmarting fools.

Especially if you’re proud enough to see right through their ruse.

The more they trumpet areas covered by cameras, the more you’d be tempted to test them out.

Yet, in Xiao Yu’s eyes, that’s nothing more than petty cleverness…

The truly smart ones would recognize the trap instantly.

Not only would they avoid it, they’d turn the tables.

It’s the classic case of pride before the fall.

Even knowing it’s a trap, they’d still be eager to try it out.

So, what would a truly smart criminal do?

At midnight,

Xiao Yu sat in a police car, glanced at his phone, and murmured, “It’s been a week. If you’re as clever as I imagine, you’d have acted by now. Aren’t you curious about our next move?”

Another week passed.

Yet there were still eleven days left before our mission deadline.

Xiao Yu had been in this city for a full nine days!

“Report, we have a situation!” a walkie-talkie crackled.

“Location,” Wang Dong ordered coldly into the device.

“XX Road, XX Neighborhood…” came the rapid report.

A National Security officer in a vehicle slammed the gas pedal, sending a plume of blue smoke as the car shot off.

“Aren’t you even a bit nervous?”

Wang Dong, a little excited, glanced at Xiao Yu, who sat quietly with his eyes closed as if deep in thought.

“Nervous?”

Xiao Yu opened his eyes. “He’s playing games and testing us. Even if we show up, we’ll only find…”

“Uh!” Wang Dong blurted in surprise.

What did he see?

Could it be that there’s something other than the criminal?

……

Ten minutes later, the vehicle pulled up outside a neighborhood.

The team rushed in.

Outside a residential building,

Xiao Yu lifted his head, a half-smile on his face as he stared at a dark silhouette in the sky.

The dark figure resembled a giant bird of prey,

or even a humanoid creature with wings, hovering near the building’s sixth floor.

A low humming filled the air.

Wang Dong quickly pulled out a bizarre… gun.

It was huge and clunky.

It even had a very long name:

“Low Altitude Aircraft RF Jammer…” Wang Dong pulled the trigger.

A grating, piercing noise erupted from the weapon.

In an instant, the dark silhouette in the sky seemed to lose its lift.

It plummeted down…

Shaking his head, Xiao Yu’s eyes flashed with a chilling fierceness.

Indeed, you’re skilled in criminal investigation and counter-surveillance.

But alas, you still left a trace!