Chapter 264: Wings Clipped

Chapter 264: Trapped Without Escape

“Boss, they’ve got him to confess!”

An hour later, two National Security personnel exited the interrogation room and approached Xiao Yu.

“Mm,” Xiao Yu nodded.

He was confident in the second team’s work.

“Ma Biao admitted that the man behind these orders goes by Old Ghost. He met him years ago during an out-of-town assignment.”

“A month ago, Old Ghost came to Capital City S and sought out Ma Biao… handing over five million in cash and instructing him to investigate the Stash Room.”

“After Ma Biao handed over what he found, both sides lost contact.”

“This Old Ghost is the middleman in the terrorist cell case that National Security is now investigating…”

“Wang Gui, nicknamed Old Ghost, whose age and identity remain unknown—National Security only discovered that in the terror cell case he used a false identity to move around the country… International authorities and our agents are now on his trail!”

The second team briefed them on the interrogation and the latest from National Security.

“Good work!” Xiao Yu smiled and nodded.

“Not a problem,” one team member replied with a laugh.

Xiao Yu shook hands with the two members. “You’re free to go.”

“Boss, they’re one of our own!”

The two team members departed…

……

Serious Cases Department.

Every member of the Special Investigation Team wore a somber expression.

They knew the trail had completely gone cold.

Because all the clues were tied to this ‘Old Ghost’…

“We can still track him,”

Leaning back in his chair, Xiao Yu blew a perfect smoke ring. “Let’s trace the culprit directly!”

The culprit?

The murderer who stole the Fake Currency Circuit Board?

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

The surveillance footage from the crime scene.

They watched the commercial van, two men unfolding a tent, and entering it — only for it to reappear later that afternoon. It was the most direct lead yet!

Why wasn’t this pursued from the start?

Because it doesn’t work that way.

Every element connected to the case needed to be thoroughly investigated.

No innocent man would be wronged.

No villain would be let go.

……

From the Tianyan Surveillance Camera footage,

it was clear that both suspects wore masks and hats.

Their vehicle had no license plate either.

The investigators could only imagine the difficulty of the case.

Difficult doesn’t mean impossible.

The entire police force of the Provincial Department was mobilized—it was formidable.

Three days later.

The vehicle from the crime scene was located!

Investigations confirmed that the owner had never lent the car to anyone.

The vehicle had remained stationary in an underground parking lot, untouched…

Parking lot surveillance.

(acab) Two of the suspects reappeared on camera.

They were first seen walking inside the parking lot.

Until they stole the vehicle.

Were they not worried the owner would notice it missing?

Judging by the dust on the car, around the tires, and underneath, investigators could determine how recently it had been in use.

This allowed them to estimate how long the vehicle had been parked.

A car that hadn’t been moved for ages—even if stolen, the owner wouldn’t notice right away…

“Excellent reconnaissance and counter-surveillance skills,”

Xiao Yu remarked coldly as he watched the video.

Other members of the Special Investigation Team nodded in agreement.

They were veteran criminal investigators, the elite of the police.

Their expressions grew increasingly grave as they connected the dots.

Sure, some might excel in surveillance and evasion,

but considering the two fallen officers and the murder weapon,

who could be the culprit?

“Halt!” Xiao Yu suddenly commanded.

A Criminal Police officer at the computer quickly pressed the space bar, pausing the video.

“Rewind one second.”

Xiao Yu continued, “Zoom in… further… Focus on the mask at the corner of the eyes; magnify it twice.”

Everyone fixed their eyes on the screen, honing in on the suspect’s eye corner.

They saw a sizable dark spot—about half the size of a fingernail.

Not just a dark spot, but a reddish-black birthmark!

Everyone’s pupils constricted in surprise.

Faces can sometimes resemble one another, but a birthmark like that is almost unique.

Even with masks and hats hiding their faces,

this birthmark was all they needed to pin the suspect down!

“Investigate the surveillance at airports, long-distance bus stations, and train depots,”

Xiao Yu ordered. “Especially focus on long-distance buses in the days surrounding the crime!”

“Yes!” came the resounding reply.

How do you track someone in such crowded places?

It’s simple.

No matter how busy a place is, airports and train stations have security checkpoints.

These checkpoints log every individual; if someone uses public transport to leave,

they can eventually be found—the one with that distinctive birthmark!

The suspect wouldn’t own a personal vehicle,

which is nearly impossible.

Even here in Capital City S, the vehicle used in the crime was stolen.

It’s highly unlikely they’d have their own car.

Thus, they can’t be locals.

That fact even further narrows the suspect pool.

If they were locals, they wouldn’t have used Old Ghost and dumped a hefty sum on investigating the Stash Room.

Since they aren’t from around here, they’d eventually leave.

So why did Xiao Yu emphasize long-distance buses?

There’s one clear reason: the Fake Currency Circuit Board!

How would you get something like that past security?

You couldn’t take it on a plane,

nor on a high-speed train.

Only on a long-distance bus, where security is more lax, could someone possibly board with a Fake Currency Circuit Board!

As for checking flights or high-speed trains, it was merely to prevent the two suspects from splitting up.

It was uncertain who held the circuit board.

What if the person with the birthmark left alone on a flight?

Every possibility had to be considered—nothing could be ignored just because it was too troublesome!

But… the workload was enormous.

The nine-member team scrutinized surveillance footage for four days.

From airports to high-speed trains to bus stations…

They ordered takeout when hungry and napped in their chairs when tired.

For four whole days, none of them left the office.

Until on the fifth day…

“We found him!”

One team member shouted excitedly.

In an instant, everyone gathered around him.

Bloodshot eyes were fixed on the computer screen.

The surveillance footage rewound five minutes and played again.

A man carrying a Suitcase walked into the long-distance bus station.

Soon after, another man, empty-handed, entered.

At the security checkpoint,

one man went through first while the other reached out, as if to grab a piece of clothing.

The man at the back passed him his jacket from outside the checkpoint.

Why bypass the security checkpoint?

Ha!

The surveillance froze.

Zoom in, focusing on the man’s face.

At the corner of his left eye, a birthmark no larger than half a fingernail was clearly visible.

A reddish-black birthmark!

“Ha ha!” Cheers erupted.

A smile spread across Xiao Yu’s face.

Nowadays, long-distance bus services require real-name registration.

Even if personal information is fabricated,

it’s still possible to follow the trail and catch them!

.