83: Chapter 83 Blackhead Caught in the Net

"Execute the arrest!"

Xiao Bei gave the order decisively, his voice exceptionally clear in the cold wind of the early morning.

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang took a deep breath, turned, and signaled to the SWAT team leader:

"Proceed according to the original plan. Team A will breach from the front, Team B will block the fire escape, and Team C will secure the surveillance room."

The SWAT team members dispersed rapidly, their black tactical gear blending into the night.

Xiao Bei and Police Chief Zhao Zhigang followed the main assault team into the elevator, the numbers climbing—25, 26, 27...

"Xiang Jinlong is in the top-floor suite. According to intelligence, he brought a woman up there tonight."

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang said in a low voice, his fingers tapping unconsciously against his sidearm.

The moment the elevator doors opened, six SWAT officers shot toward the double doors at the end of the corridor like arrows released from a bow.

The team leader signaled, and the demolition specialist had already attached a breaching device to the lock.

"Three, two, one—"

"Bang!"

Amidst the deafening explosion, the mahogany doors swung open.

The suite was dimly lit, the air thick with the mixed scent of alcohol and perfume. On the master bed, a heavily tattooed, burly man bolted upright, while the woman beside him let out a piercing scream.

"Police! Don't move!"

The SWAT team's high-intensity flashlights shone in unison toward the large bed.

Xiang Jinlong squinted to adjust to the bright light, then reached out unhurriedly to touch the cigar on the nightstand:

"Director Zhao, what kind of display is this? In the middle of the night..."

"Xiang Jinlong, you are suspected of organizing and leading a mafia-style criminal organization. We are now executing your arrest in accordance with the law."

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang produced the arrest warrant, his voice slightly strained.

Xiang Jinlong scoffed and lit his cigar slowly and deliberately, completely disregarding his disheveled appearance in just his underwear:

"Police Chief Zhao Zhigang, have you lost your mind? Do you know whose territory this is?"

He exhaled a ring of smoke, his eyes sinister:

"Do you believe I can have you stripped of that uniform by tomorrow?"

Xiao Bei stepped out from behind the officers, his cold expression flickering in the light of the police sirens:

"Xiang Jinlong, threatening law enforcement officers adds to your crimes."

Xiang Jinlong's expression froze instantly. The cigar fell from his fingers, burning a charred hole in the silk bedsheets and releasing a smell like scorched hair.

"Standing... Standing Committee Member Xiao?"

His voice trembled for the first time, and his eyes darted frantically toward the phone on the nightstand.

A SWAT officer, quick-witted and agile, seized the phone first. Cold sweat beaded on Xiang Jinlong's forehead, but he forced himself to remain calm:

"Standing Committee Member Xiao, there must be a misunderstanding here. You don't know, but Director Mou and I often..."

"Cuff him."

Xiao Bei interrupted him coldly and gave Police Chief Zhao Zhigang a look, his tone as calm as if he were crushing an ant.

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang gritted his teeth, as if making a resolution, but quickly stepped forward himself:

"Xiang Jinlong! Turn around! Hands behind your back!"

"How dare you!"

Xiang Jinlong suddenly lashed out, his muscular arm swinging toward Police Chief Zhao Zhigang's face. It looked like Police Chief Zhao Zhigang was about to be struck...

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, and the crystal chandelier on the ceiling shattered. The SWAT team leader raised his smoking sidearm and shouted sternly:

"Try moving again!"

Glass shards fell like rain. Xiang Jinlong's mistress curled up at the head of the bed, shivering, with only her eyes and a few strands of hair visible.

Xiang Jinlong finally realized the situation was no longer under his control. His face ashen, he stopped resisting and allowed the police to step forward and subdue him.

The moment the steel handcuffs clicked shut, rapid footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the suite.

A middle-aged man in a suit burst in, wearing a Municipal Party Committee badge on his chest.

"Stop! Who gave you the authority..."

The man saw Xiao Bei in the crowd, and his voice cut off abruptly.

"Secretary Zhou?"

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang said in surprise, "Why are you..."

Zhou Kunjie, secretary to the director of the Municipal Party Committee Office, looked livid:

"Police Chief Zhao Zhigang, do you know what you are doing? The enterprises in Mr. Xiang's hands are key protected assets of the city..."

Xiao Bei stepped forward, blocking the space between Zhou Kunjie and Xiang Jinlong:

"Director Zhou, Xiang Jinlong is suspected of organizing a mafia-style organization, high-interest lending, violent debt collection, and many other criminal offenses. This arrest operation was approved by the County Party Committee."

Zhou Kunjie narrowed his eyes:

"Standing Committee Member Xiao, handling cases requires evidence. Mr. Xiang is a Municipal People's Congress representative, and relevant procedures must be followed..."

"The evidence is conclusive."

Xiao Bei produced a briefcase from somewhere and pulled out a stack of documents. "These are the police reports from victims over the last three months, along with photos from tonight's violent debt collection. As for his status as a People's Congress representative..."

He turned to Police Chief Zhao Zhigang, "Handle it according to regulations."

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang understood and said loudly:

"It has already been reported to the Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee! Secretary Zhou, please do not obstruct official business."

Zhou Kunjie's face flushed red and turned pale. In desperation, he suddenly pulled out his phone:

"I am going to call Director Mou..."

"There is no need."

Xiao Bei said calmly, "Mayor Qin is already informed."

This sentence was like a bucket of ice water poured over Zhou Kunjie, chilling him to the bone. He stood frozen with his phone in hand, watching helplessly as the SWAT team escorted the half-naked Xiang Jinlong out of the suite.

In the corridor, Xiang Jinlong suddenly struggled and turned his head back, his face ferocious:

"Xiao Bei! Do you think you can turn the world upside down just by catching me? The waters in Beijiang County are deeper than you imagine! The day I get out will be the day you..."

"Take him away!"

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang shouted sternly. Two SWAT officers immediately pressed Xiang Jinlong's head down and pushed him into the elevator.

Once the elevator doors closed, Police Chief Zhao Zhigang let out a long sigh of relief, his police uniform soaked with sweat on his back. He looked at Xiao Bei, wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Director Zhao, you performed very professionally during this operation."

Xiao Bei patted Police Chief Zhao Zhigang's shoulder, clearly knowing what he was thinking, "The follow-up interrogation must be expedited, and we must prevent anyone from tampering with the process."

Police Chief Zhao Zhigang smiled bitterly:

"Standing Committee Member Xiao, what Xiang Jinlong said just now... was not just bluffing. He has been operating in Beijiang County for over a decade, and his network of connections is deeply rooted..."

"That is exactly why we must root him out completely."

Xiao Bei looked out the window. The eastern sky was already showing the first light of dawn. "The day is about to break."

Meanwhile, inside the Municipal Party Committee residential compound, Mou Zhengping stood before his study window, the phone gripped tightly in his hand emitting a busy signal.

With a gloomy face, he dialed another number:

"Activate Plan B immediately. Find out everything about Xiao Bei, especially... that matter."

Outside the window, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on his sinister face. The weak but dazzling halo did not hide the dark circles under Director Mou's eyes.

Inside the Detention Center, Police Chief Zhao Zhigang, still in his underwear, sat with his head bowed in silence, perhaps still praying that his superiors could get him out soon.

Not giving Xiang Jinlong a single moment to rest or catch his breath, it was a game of psychological warfare. Regardless of Xiang Jinlong's exhausted and somewhat panicked appearance, they immediately began the interrogation...