120: Chapter 120 The Shadow of Cowardice

Director Zhao Ming confirmed, "We asked our comrades at the Public Security Bureau to compare his physique and habitual movements, and it is confirmed beyond doubt."

Xiao Bei frowned deeply.

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu had once said that her husband was a weak, small section chief who dared not speak out against her "work arrangements."

But now it seemed that this man had been observing and recording in secret all along.

Xiao Bei exchanged a look with Director Zhao Ming.

This seemingly weak husband might be far more complex than they had imagined.

"I have already sent men to 'invite' Dai Lumao to assist with the investigation."

Two hours later, Dai Lumao was brought into the interrogation room.

He looked like a completely different person from the one in the photo—no sunglasses, no gloomy expression, just an ordinary middle-aged man, slightly overweight, with thinning hair, wearing a simple shirt and trousers.

His eyes darted around, and his hands were uneasily clasped on the table.

"Section Chief Dai,"

Xiao Bei sat opposite him, speaking in a calm tone, "Do you know why we invited you here?"

Dai Lumao shook his head, his voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, "I... I don't know. About my wife... I am very sorry, but I really don't know anything..."

"Really?"

Xiao Bei pushed a photo across the table, "Is this you?"

Dai Lumao glanced at it, his body stiffened noticeably for a moment, then immediately returned to that weak appearance, "This... is this me? I don't really remember..."

"Dai Lumao!"

Director Zhao Ming suddenly slammed the table, "Stop pretending! We have already gathered enough evidence to prove that you have been tracking and secretly filming your wife's illegal transactions with various levels of leadership for a long time!"

Dai Lumao's shoulders trembled, but unexpectedly, he did not break down. Instead, he slowly raised his head, his eyes gradually becoming clear.

"Evidence?"

He asked softly, his voice suddenly becoming unusually calm, "Isn't that the evidence I collected?"

Xiao Bei keenly noticed this change and signaled for Director Zhao Ming to calm down, "Then tell me, who took these photos?"

Dai Lumao's mouth curled into a strange smile, "A shadow. A shadow that everyone ignored."

He slowly straightened his back, and his entire demeanor underwent a subtle change, "Ten years... For ten years, I watched her go out time and time again, and each time she returned with the scent of a different man on her... For ten years, I listened to the whispers of neighbors, the ridicule of colleagues, and even my in-laws refused to acknowledge me... For ten years, I lived like an invisible person..."

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, the rhythm gradually quickening, "But shadows also have eyes, shadows also have ears... A shadow... can also be angry!"

Xiao Bei felt a chill crawl up his spine.

The man in front of him was no longer that weak little section chief, but an avenger who had been meticulously planning for years.

"So, this not only contains the evidence prepared by County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu herself, but also what you secretly planted..."

Xiao Bei asked calmly, "Why did you collect this evidence?"

Dai Lumao suddenly laughed, his laughter filled with a chilling pleasure:

"For today, County Magistrate Xiao. To see those high-and-mighty people fall one by one... To see my dear wife... finally taste the bitterness of being betrayed herself."

He leaned closer to Xiao Bei, lowering his voice, "Do you know? The last person Secretary Wang Chunlin saw before he died... was me."

The interrogation room was deathly silent.

Director Zhao Ming's hand was already resting on his service weapon.

"What did you do to him?" Xiao Bei asked in a deep voice.

Dai Lumao leaned back into his chair, his expression returning to that strange calmness, "I just... gave him what he deserved. He liked to take medicine when doing his business, so I helped him prepare a little more... The effect was quite good, wasn't it?"

Xiao Bei's brain was racing.

Dai Lumao not only knew the cause of Secretary Wang Chunlin's death but could also accurately describe the effects of the drugs—these details had never been released to the public.

"Dai Lumao,"

Xiao Bei changed his strategy, "You hate your wife, you hate Secretary Wang Chunlin, you hate those who have hurt you. But what about Chen Zhihao? That innocent child? Does that have anything to do with you?"

A crack appeared in Dai Lumao's expression for the first time.

He lowered his head, silent for a few seconds, "That was... an accident. I didn't expect that kid, Li Dong, to find other classmates to bully him together... I just wanted to make the matter louder, to attract more people to pay attention to these corrupt sinners..."

"You instigated Li Dong?" Director Zhao Ming asked in shock.

"Not entirely."

Dai Lumao shook his head, "I just... gave that child some 'suggestions' at the right time. Insecure children are the easiest to manipulate, aren't they? Tell him Chen Zhihao looks down on him, mocks him... The rest, he will fill in himself. It's just... I didn't expect County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu to also find someone to approach him, only our goals were different..."

Xiao Bei felt a wave of nausea.

This seemingly weak, harmless man had not only planned revenge against the powerful, but had also indirectly caused the death of an innocent student.

"Dai Lumao, do you know what awaits you?" Xiao Bei looked directly into his eyes.

Unexpectedly, Dai Lumao laughed again, this time even more pleasantly, "County Magistrate Xiao, do you think this is the end? Do you think it's only Secretary Wang Chunlin and County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu?"

He took a folded slip of paper from his pocket and pushed it in front of Xiao Bei, "Take a look at this. This is what Secretary Wang Chunlin gave me before he died... He said this was his 'insurance'."

Xiao Bei unfolded the paper, which listed several names and positions, with amounts marked next to some of the names.

Dai Lumao enjoyed their expressions, "Darkness is everywhere, isn't it? Secretary Wang Chunlin said that some of these people were his protective umbrellas, some were his 'clients'... and some were his 'collectibles'."

He looked at Xiao Bei meaningfully, "For example, your beloved Mayor Qin... Secretary Wang Chunlin said she was the most special one because she 'never yields'."

Xiao Bei's hand gripped the paper tightly.

He remembered when Qin Ruoxi first arrived in the city to take office, she had been schemed against, and he had been a pawn in it, which was why he had spent the night with Mayor Qin.

"You are lying."

Xiao Bei said coldly, "If Secretary Wang Chunlin really had this leverage, why bring it out only now?"

Dai Lumao shrugged, "Because he was greedy. The power and money these people gave him, he couldn't bear to use up all at once. And..."

His eyes turned cold, "Some 'collectibles' are too precious and must be saved for last to enjoy."

The lights in the Special Investigation Team's command center did not go out all night.

Xiao Bei stood in front of the electronic screen, and unfolded before him was an intricate web of power relationships, with names, positions, and amounts involved marked at every node.

Director Zhao Ming handed him a cup of strong tea; the tea leaves floating on the water were like the tangled clues in this case.

"The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection has already approved it."

Director Zhao Ming lowered his voice, "Mayor Qin Ruoxi also called, demanding that we take action immediately."