S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 2 Chapter 33

Murderer vs Murderer 06 – Negotiation

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Bai Yutang gathered everyone in the office and told them about the shootout that killed six members of Interpol. They were all left a little speechless after listening.

“It doesn’t make any sense.” Ma Han said after listening. “I have never heard of a killer organization blatantly opposing Interpol. There is no obvious reason for it and they left a clear mark. This is a death wish, isn’t it?”

“It is.” Bai Chi nodded, “It makes sense.”

“Now, Interpol will have to deal with ZJ to save their reputation.” Gongsun said indifferently. “Then TVA will monopolize the market again.”

Everyone felt that the term "monopoly market" brings some joy to those in the killer industry. To put it bluntly, it really is like that.

"Captain..." Zhao Hu suddenly leaned over and asked, "Would someone be targeting ZJ?"

Bai Yutang frowned slightly and nodded.

"Karula suddenly appeared here..." Luo Tian looked at Bai Yutang, "That’s also very suspicious."

Bai Yutang nodded. He looked at Zhan Zhao and then the rest of the team, “Everything will be discussed more once Ouyang and his team arrive.”

At hat moment, Lu Fang entered the office and said, “Xiao Bai, there was a call from the airport. The flight that Ouyang Chun and his team were supposed to take was cancelled due to the weather. They will arrive tomorrow by noon at the earliest.”

Bai Yutang frowned, "What?"

"That means that we have to wait until tomorrow to go to the scene?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"It's a hot day today. Corpses stink on hot days." Gongsun looked disgusted, "The smell of blondi is really strong. Dogs stink easily.”

Everyone looked at him helplessly, Gongsun really hates blondies. (Angel: I explained this in the last chapter; he is referring to the foreigners as blondies, or golden retrievers)

"Don't worry." Lu Fang said, "Ouyang has issued a written statement saying that he trusts SCI’s ability to handle these affairs. And with that, we can start to investigate the case first.”

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao looked at each other — ‘Ouyang, this kid is on his way.’

"Let's go then." Bai Yutang stood up, "All the members will go to the scene. Gongsun will stay back and conduct the autopsy."

After he spoke, everyone acted separately and talked no nonsense.

......

At about ten in the morning, all the SCI members drove to the scene where the shootout took place last night. The incident had already become a big deal; a large number of reporters and news vehicles were stationed around the entrance of the hotel. The police had set up a barrier to protect the scene.

Seeing the SCI members approaching, the reporters began to rush over. Bai Yutang grabbed Zhan Zhao, drawing the attention of the media as they crossed over the yellow police tape to enter the scene.

The rest of the team entered on the side and listened to the reporters as they exclaimed, “So that is SCI’s comprehensive literary and military appearance? It’s even more handsome than I imagined!”

The members of SCI looked at each other — Whether it’s literary or military talents, their reputation is good.

The hotel that Benjamin and his team were staying at has an international style and was not too tall.

The shootout had taken place on the sixth floor and Benjamin was staying on the seventh floor. By the time Benjamin got downstairs, the shootout had already ended and so he got out with only minor injuries.

“Hmm…” Zhan Zhao stood at the top of the stairs and looked at the bullet holes in the floor.

“What’s the matter Cat?” Bai Yutang asked.

“It’s strange.” Zhan Zhao squatted down to take a closer look at the bullet holes in the floor. “It’s very realistic.”

“Huh?” Bai Yutang was puzzled. “What is realistic?”

“It’s too much like a real gunfight.” Zhan Zhao said with a slightly disappointed tone. “It’s as if it truly was a two-sided fight. The Interpol members are not at an ordinary skill level, how could their whole team be taken out?”

Bai Yutang nodded, “Six Interpol members died but none of the attackers died. That means that they were caught off guard and Interpol didn’t have a chance to fight back. If they didn’t fight back, how could the scene be so realistic?”

“Let’s talk about it. There is something fishy with the scene.” Zhan Zhao narrowed his eyes.

“Cat.” Bai Yutang suddenly said half-jokingly and half seriously. “I say, how do you become so energetic when talking about cats? Is it because they are like family?” (Angel: Bai Yutang mentions cats as in the sentence that Zhan Zhao says, he uses as word that has the character for cat in it.)

Zhan Zhao squinted his eyes. He looked left and right to make sure no one was looking before he raised his hand and scratched Bai Yutang.

"Captain." Zhao Hu called from the other side, "There are security cameras."

Bai Yutang waved to Zhan Zhao, "Let’s go and watch the security footage.” After speaking, he hurried over towards Zhao Hu.

Zhan Zhao wanted to follow, but he suddenly spotted something slightly shining in the stairwell. He walked down the stairs and saw a piece of coloured glass on the ground. Zhan Zhao wondered ‘Was this here when we passed earlier?’

Suddenly a hand emerged from the side and pulled him over.

......

The security footage was copied to a disk. Bai Yutang walked to the other end of the hallway and saw that Jiang Ping was in one of the rooms, analyzing the security footage on his laptop.

"The technique is very professional." Luo Tian murmured, "It’s very similar to a professional killer."

"Cat, take a look..." Bai Yutang turned around and noticed that Zhan Zhao didn't follow him.

"Cat?" Bai Yutang walked out of the room and looked down the hallway. There were a few police officers walking around, but Zhan Zhao was not there.

"Cat!" Bai Yutang walked down the hallway and searched. He walked straight to the end of the hallway and to the dark stairwell. His heart stopped for a second.

"Have you seen Zhan Zhao?" Bai Yutang grabbed a police officer near him who was collecting evidence.

The officer was taken aback and shook his head, "No..."

"Cat!" Bai Yutang rushed down the stairs and took out his cell phone to call Zhan Zhao. Zhan Zhao's cell phone was on, but no one answered it.

Bai Yutang called Jiang Ping while running, "Track the location of Cat's phone!"

Jiang Ping was taken aback for a moment, and then immediately began to search, "Captain, Dr. Zhan's position is moving, and it’s moving quickly. It’s as if he’s in a car."

"Where is he heading?"

"He’s moving south"

Bai Yutang rushed to the parking lot and asked the old man at the door, "Did a car leave just now?”

The old man was taken aback by him and nodded, "Well, a black car..."

"What about the license plate?" Bai Yutang asked.

"No… I didn't see it clearly..." The old man stammered.

"What kind of car was it?" Bai Yutang asked.

“Uh… It was a very expensive kind of car. What’s the name again… Ben… Bentley.” Before he could finish speaking, he saw Bai Yutang rushing out of the parking lot and getting in his car.

Bai Yutang started his car and drove south as quick as he could. Putting his cell phone on speakerphone, he called Jiang Ping, “Jiang Ping, send me the location of the car!”

Jiang Ping quickly told him the name of the street that the car was currently traveling on.

“Ask the officers back at the station to help me locate a black Bentley!” Bai Yutang said. “Cat was kidnapped!”

“Black Bentley?” Bai Chi and Luo Tian looked at each other, both of their faces were a little pale.

......

Zhan Zhao looked at Eugene, who he hadn’t seen for a long time, and was a little speechless.

"Little Cat, we meet again." Eugene was still smiling happily, as he always does.

"What's the matter with you?" Zhan Zhao asked him coldly.

"Why are you so cold?" Eugene grinned, "I missed you so much."

Zhan Zhao didn't speak, and he turned to look out the window.

"Anyway.” Eugene leaned forward to stare at Zhan Zhao's face, "Your skin is really nice." After speaking, he stretched his finger out to touch Zhan Zhao’s face. Before he made contact, he saw Zhan Zhao turn his face to look at him coldly.

Scoffing, Zhan Zhao said “Be prepared to lose which ever hand you use to touch me.”

Eugene quickly retracted his hand and said with a smile, "I believe it, I believe it. You don't have to be angry."

Zhan Zhao turned his face and continued ignoring him. In a somewhat nonchalant manner, Eugene continued, “My eldest brother wants to talk to you. However, it’s best not to alarm the police for this matter.”

Zhan Zhao said nothing. His phone rang but he didn’t answer it. Bai Yutang must have noticed that he was missing. The black Bentley is so obvious, and using the location from his phone, he knew that Bai Yutang could find him in less than ten minutes.

The car drove for a while before stopping at a warehouse. Eugene got out of the car first and walked around to the other side, opening the door for Zhan Zhao, “Please, Little Cat.”

Zhan Zhao got off the car and looked at the warehouse. He saw that there were many people dressed in black around the front of the warehouse; they looked like thugs.

Eugene invited Zhan Zhao into the warehouse, opening the door for him. The inside of the warehouse was large and empty. In the middle, there were two sofas, one on either side of a small coffee table.

There was a man sitting on one of the sofas with his legs up. It was Leonard, the mafia leader Zhan Zhao had seen last time.

Eugene stopped around twenty meters away from the sofas and motioned for Zhan Zhao to continue alone.

Zhan Zhao walked over to the sofa. Leonard, who had his head lowered like he was deep in though, lifted his head. He looked Zhan Zhao up and down and said with a smile, “Please take a seat.”

Zhan Zhao sat down.

Leonard poured a cup of tea for Zhan Zhao and asked, “Would you like to be called Dr. Zhan or just Zhan Zhao?”

Zhan Zhao looked at his watch and said, “If you have something to say, you’d better say it quickly. You don’t have much time.”

“Haha…” Leonard smiled slightly. “I prepared more than twenty thugs to hold him off. It should give us at least half an hour.”

Zhan Zhao didn’t have anything to say to him, so he simply asked, “What do you want to say?”

“Drink some tea.” Leonard handed over the cup of tea he had poured for Zhan Zhao. “Pu’er tea is the most popular and the most expensive tea in your country.”

Zhan Zhao shook his head, “I have a bad stomach, so I don’t drink tea.”

Leonard raised his eyebrows, “Don’t be angry. I had no other option, so I invited you to come and chat.”

As soon as he spoke, they heard the sound of brakes coming from outside.

“So fast?” Leonard looked at his watch in surprise.

“If you have something you want to take about,” Zhan Zhao said “it won’t take him more than ten minutes.”

“Dealing with twenty thugs in only ten minutes. Isn’t that too exaggerated?” Leonard smiled. “It’s good that you have confidence in him, love.”

Zhan Zhao glanced at Leonard, “Who said twenty? It’s twenty-one, isn’t it?”

Leonard was taken aback.

Zhan Zhao look back at Eugene, “If he doesn’t go out, it will only take him five minutes at most.”

Leonard hesitated before nodding to Eugene.

Eugene walked out reluctantly, helplessly muttering “This is a work injury. You have to pay for my medical expenses boss!”

The door opened and closed, and the sound of heavy objects falling followed.

“Why don’t we hear gunshots?” Leonard asked with a strange expression.

“Are you sure you have time to waste asking this?” Zhan Zhao said impatiently.

“Okay, I’ll talk.” Leonard said. “Actually, I only have a few things to say.”

Zhan Zhao nodded. He didn’t answer and waited for Leonard to speak.

“First,” Leonard put his hands together under his chin, “ZJ is my organization.”

Zhan Zhao glanced at Leonard but still said nothing.

“Second, we didn’t kill those members of Interpol.” Leonard continued.

Zhan Zhao didn’t seem surprised at all. He continued to stay silent, waiting for Leonard to continue.

“Third,” Leonard thought for a second. He approached Zhan Zhao and whispered in his ear, “That Karula…”

Zhan Zhao frowned slightly after hearing what Leonard told him.

After Leonard finished speaking, he sat back down on his sofa and laughed, “That’s all I have to say.”

Zhan Zhao nodded. He raised his head and said “I have something to ask you.”

“You can ask.” Leonard laughed. “I don’t have a lover yet.”

Zhan Zhao gave him a cold look, “Is that right? I have one.”

“Haha” Leonard nodded with a smile. “You are too cute. What do you want to ask?”

Zhan Zhao paused before asking “Is Zhao Jue with you?”

Leonard was taken aback. He smiled slightly before he raised his hand and pressed his index finger to his lips, making a ‘hush’ motion to Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao nodded. He leaned over and spoke “By the way, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?” Leonard also leaned over with a curious look on his face.

“It’s…” Zhan Zhao spoke earnestly “You are so ugly when you do that action.”

Leonard was stunned. At that moment, they heard a ‘boom’ and the door was thrown open. Eugene flew in and landed on the ground, clutching his ribs and gnawing his teeth “Hiss… Didn’t you miss me at all?”

Looking back at the door, they saw Bai Yutang standing there. Behind him, all of the thugs dressed in black were scattered across the ground, unable to get up.

Leonard shook his head and clapped his hands. Looking at his watch, he said “It took less than ten minutes. That’s amazing.”

Bai Yutang walked in.

Eugene moved out of the way. Leonard looked at him helplessly and asked “Why are you so useless? What did I need you to do?”

Eugene glared at Leonard with dissatisfaction “You do it if you have the ability to.”

Bai Yutang’s face was unprecedentedly ugly. He walked over to Leonard, raised his hand, and pointed the gun at his head.

“Xiao Bai.” Zhan Zhao stood up and was pulled over by Bai Yutang.

Leonard smiled slightly, staring straight down the muzzle of the gun. “It’s not good for you to be like this. No one in this world can point a gun at me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Yutang raised his hand and fired a shot towards the top of the warehouse.

“Hmm…” There was a muffled grunt and a sniper riffle fell to the ground, smashing into pieces.

Leonard turned pale. He looked at Zhan Zhao and said “Dr. Zhan, please beg for me. Although my method was wrong, at least my intentions were good, right? My information can help.”

Zhan Zhao saw that Bai Yutang’s face showed indifference. He really couldn’t do this to Leonard, so he grabbed Bai Yutang’s hand and said “Let’s go.”

Bai Yutang stared at Leonard for a bit before putting away his gun and pulling Zhan Zhao out of the warehouse.

Walking out the door, Bai Yutang asked Zhan Zhao to get in the car first. He then walked over to the driver’s seat and opened the door. Before getting in, he suddenly raised his hand that was holding the gun and fired a shot at the fuel tank of the black Bentley.

With a ‘BOOM’, the 15-million-dollar Bentley suddenly ignited into a raging inferno.

Leonard’s men who were on the ground were all shocked. Bai Yutang put the gun away before he got into the car and drove Zhan Zhao away.

In the warehouse, Leonard rubbed his chin and looked at the burning car outside. He turned to Eugene and asked “Do you think Bai Jintang would reimburse me if I sent him an invoice?”

Eugene rubbed his wounds, “I told you not to use these tricks. You know what? You could have written a letter, send him a message, or called him. But what did you choose? You chose to use these dangerous tricks… Whatever, I don’t care. Remember to reimburse me for my medical expenses, Ah, it hurts…”

Leonard stared at the flames for a long time, before he spoke. “I seem to understand why he likes these two kids so much.”

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

I took a peek at the next chapter and ooooohhh it's steamy (⺣◡⺣) I want to make sure it is the best it can be so I will be spending extra time on it. Look forward to it tomorrow.

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: March 24, 2021