429: Chapter 426 I've got you.

Shen Mingyuan took the pipe from his mouth and twirled it in his hand.

"The next goal is to find out exactly where he came from," he said, his gaze falling on the smiling figure on the surveillance screen. "If we keep tracing this path... just checking the Detention Center won't be enough. We have to look in the direction he came from outside."

Ye Ouyang nodded, a coin flipping between his fingertips.

"Then let's keep searching ahead."

Just as Shen Mingyuan was about to speak, the phone in his pocket vibrated.

He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen; his expression remained unchanged.

"You keep searching," he said, nodding to Ye Ouyang before turning toward a deserted corner at the end of the hallway. "I need to reply to a message."

Ye Ouyang gave a word of acknowledgement and continued to stare at the surveillance footage.

—

Shen Mingyuan leaned against the wall and opened the familiar chat window.

The other party had sent a new message:

[The mission has changed. Temporarily suspend your previous mission to find the Evolution Cat.]

Shen Mingyuan raised an eyebrow and typed:

[What happened?]

The other party replied quickly:

[Our organization just carried out an operation—the New World Resident Action. But now, one of our Cadres is being investigated in the Detention Center, and it's very dangerous. My intel says you need to pay attention and stop them from continuing the investigation.]

Shen Mingyuan stared at the screen, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Oh, talk about perfect timing.

He continued typing, his tone conveying just the right amount of confusion:

[What Detention Center? New World Residents?]

[That's something you'll experience after you join us later,] the other party replied. [Anyway, it's a very good thing; you don't need to worry about it too much. But what you need to stop now is the Detention Center at this location.]

The other party sent a location—exactly where Shen Mingyuan was standing right now.

[Two Detective-like people have already gone inside to investigate. I'm worried; after all, they were sent by the The Authorities. Judging by their appearance, they probably have some skill. Move fast.]

Shen Mingyuan read the message twice, confirming that the other party was talking about him and Ye Ouyang. He felt a bit like laughing.

But he remained outwardly calm and continued typing:

[Where exactly is the Cadre? I need to know the specific location to be of help.]

The other side was silent for a few seconds.

[Why are you asking this?]

Shen Mingyuan had already prepared his excuse:

[I have to protect him. If I run into him before those two Detectives, I can't afford to mistake him for someone else, can I?]

The other side went silent for another few seconds.

Then a message popped up:

[Fine, you're right. I'll tell you his location. But be careful not to expose yourself.]

[Good, that's great,] Shen Mingyuan replied. [With someone as smart as you in our organization, our future will surely be bright.]

After sending this, he tucked his phone into his pocket. A smile flashed across his face before he returned to his deep, pipe-smoking persona and walked out from the corner.

Ye Ouyang was still standing in front of the surveillance screen. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

"How is it?"

Shen Mingyuan walked over to him, his pipe pausing at his lips.

"Interesting," he said. "A new clue has arrived."

Shen Mingyuan put his phone in his pocket and turned toward Ye Ouyang.

"Let's go."

Ye Ouyang was staring at the surveillance screen and looked up at the words: "Where to?"

"Let's get out of here first." Shen Mingyuan walked toward the door with his pipe in his mouth, pulling out his phone and tapping quickly on the screen as he went.

He sent the information he had just received, along with the Cadre's location, to the group chat.

[Shen Mingyuan: New clue. This person is in the Detention Center; I've sent the location to the group. The other party wants me to stop the investigation, saying two "Detective-like people" have entered—that's me and Ye Ouyang.]

The group was silent for two seconds.

[Ye Ouyang: ???]

[Ye Ouyang: No, after searching for so long, he just exposed himself?]

[Wei Ziqing: ...Are you serious?]

[Lu Jianchuan: If I'd known, I would have just waited. Forget it, we're going to this location, right? I'm heading out now.]

Shen Mingyuan stared at the screen, and before he could type, Wei Ziqing sent another message.

[Wei Ziqing: I'm going too.]

[Ye Ouyang: You should just stay in bed. Didn't we say you need to rest for a few days?]

[Wei Ziqing: ...Fine.]

Shen Mingyuan put his phone away and pushed open the Detention Center's main door. The night wind blew against them, carrying a hint of chill. Ye Ouyang followed behind him, a coin spinning on his fingers.

"Are we heading straight there now?" Ye Ouyang asked.

Shen Mingyuan stood at the door, pipe in mouth, his gaze fixed on a certain direction in the distance.

"Let's go. We're going to catch this person."

He paused and turned to look at Ye Ouyang.

"However, we need to put on an act. At the very least, we can't let the other party realize something is wrong right after they sent the message, or my undercover role will be a failure."

Ye Ouyang was stunned for a moment: "How do we act?"

Shen Mingyuan didn't answer but took out his phone and sent another message to the group.

[Shen Mingyuan: @Lu Jianchuan Weren't you a police officer before? Can you ask your former colleagues for a favor?]

[Lu Jianchuan: What do you have in mind?]

Shen Mingyuan held his pipe, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. He typed very quickly:

[I need them to cooperate and put on a show—make it look like I tried my best but couldn't stop the The Authorities's large-scale search.]

[Lu Jianchuan: ...Be more specific.]

[Shen Mingyuan: Something like a 'Sweep Away Black and Evil' campaign. Have more people on your side, make a big scene, and surround that location. I'll pretend to rush there after getting the news, but I'll be stopped by you guys, or you'll get there first. In the end, it should look like 'I did my best, but the The Authorities moved too fast.']

The group was silent for a few seconds.

[Lu Jianchuan: Got it. A modern-day anti-gang campaign.]

[Lu Jianchuan: I'll go make the contacts. Wait for my word.]

Shen Mingyuan put his phone away and turned to Ye Ouyang.

"Let's go. We'll wait near that location first. Once Lu Jianchuan has everything arranged, we'll start the act."

By the time Shen Mingyuan and Ye Ouyang reached the location, the sky had begun to darken, though it wasn't completely night yet. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the streets orange-red, and the streetlights hadn't come on yet—it was that moment between day and night.

They stood in front of a closed shop and waited for about twenty minutes. The phone vibrated.

Lu Jianchuan: Almost ready. My people are in position.

Shen Mingyuan took a look, put his phone away, and turned to Ye Ouyang.

"Wait for my signal."

He took off his brown trench coat and handed it to Ye Ouyang. Underneath the coat was an ordinary dark jacket—he had prepared this long ago.

"Go find Lu Jianchuan and meet up with them," Shen Mingyuan said while also putting away his pipe. "I'm going to do some acting now."

Ye Ouyang took the trench coat and nodded.

Shen Mingyuan turned and walked toward the target building.

—

He climbed to the third floor and stopped in front of an ordinary security door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

The door opened a crack, revealing an unfamiliar face. A man in his forties with a thin, long face and wary eyes.

"Who are you?"

Shen Mingyuan lowered his voice and said quickly, "One of us."

The man frowned, showing no intention of opening the door.

Shen Mingyuan pulled out his phone, opened the chat history, and passed it through the crack in the door. The man's gaze fell on the screen, and after a few glances, his expression visibly relaxed.

The door opened.

"Quick, come in." The man looked behind him and stepped aside. "How did you find this place?"

"The higher-ups sent me to get you." Shen Mingyuan stepped inside, speaking rapidly. "The The Authorities has already traced things here. We have to leave now."

The man's expression changed, but he didn't ask further and turned to grab his things.

Shen Mingyuan stood by the door. While the man's back was turned, he pulled out his phone and quickly sent two messages.

The first was to his undercover contact:

[I've picked him up.]

The second was to Lu Jianchuan:

[Start the act.]

After sending them, he put his phone away and followed the man out as if nothing had happened.

—

Just as the two of them reached the first floor and before they could even step out of the stairwell, a sudden commotion erupted outside.

Footsteps. The static of walkie-talkies. Someone shouting, "This way, this way!"

The man's footsteps came to a sudden halt, his face turning pale.

"What's going on?"

Shen Mingyuan peeked out from behind him—on the street, several black-painted cars were driving toward them, police lights flashing on their roofs. People in uniform jumped out of the cars and quickly fanned out.

"I don't know," Shen Mingyuan said, his voice carrying a perfectly timed hint of panic. "How did they find this place?"

The man didn't have time to ask more; he turned and bolted. Shen Mingyuan followed behind him as they rushed out the back door of the stairwell and ducked into an alley.

A shout came from behind: "Freeze!"

Footsteps were in pursuit.

The two of them sprinted through the alleys, twisting and turning. But at every intersection, they saw people in uniform blocking the way. The perimeter was tightening.

"Dammit! How on earth did they find me?!" The man's voice was filled with panic and rage.

Shen Mingyuan panted and didn't answer.

Just as they rounded another corner, a figure rushed out from the side, holding something—

Zap!

A small electrode stuck into the man's neck. A flash of blue electricity followed, and the man's whole body shuddered, his steps faltering.

A Stun Gun.

Shen Mingyuan's footsteps paused. He glanced at the man, then at the alley entrance not far ahead—two people in uniform were blocking it, rushing toward them.

He hesitated for less than a second.

Then he grabbed the man's arm and dragged him along as he ran.

The man was half-numb from the shock, his steps unsteady, but he managed a few more steps while being dragged. Shen Mingyuan practically carried him, bursting through the gap between the two uniformed officers and disappearing into another alley.

Behind them, the shouting continued, but it was growing more distant.