Dark Light Chaser.

Chapter 123 Hired Companions
Ai Liang led Jin Ping'an to a nearby bank and randomly entered a general ATM booth.

"You want me to help you investigate the case, right?" Ai Liang asked, leaning against the glass panel.

Jin Ping'an nodded solemnly: "Yes."

Ai Liang asked the same question she had yesterday: "You knew there would be danger to your life, yet you still dragged me into this?"

“I know that getting involved in this is life-threatening, so I won’t force you to help me. I don’t have that right, and you have no obligation to do so. If you’re not willing, I’ll leave now.”

Jin Ping'an lowered his head, his voice hoarse and muffled. Compared to last night, he was much calmer now.

“I’ve said before that my purpose in coming to Qianhua City is to go to school, not to be a champion of justice, so I won’t get involved in these things.”

Ai Liang coldly rejected Jin Ping'an's request, and the latter, apart from being somewhat disappointed, did not show any resentment.

After all, the two were just strangers who met by chance.

Since discovering the serial disappearances, Jin Ping'an has faced setbacks and suffered greatly over the past month.

First, the reported clues disappeared without a trace, then there was exclusion and alienation within the criminal investigation team, and then a threatening letter with a razor blade was received.

These warnings did not deter Jin Ping'an; instead, they fueled his anger.

He ignored these warnings and, despite being isolated and helpless, insisted on continuing his investigation into the series of disappearances.

As the investigation deepened, the group's methods became increasingly outrageous.

One day, Jin Ping'an went out to investigate. When he returned home in the middle of the night, all the furniture in his house had been smashed to pieces, and paint had been splashed everywhere, including the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living room.

When the police tried to retrieve the community's surveillance footage, they were told that the cameras were malfunctioning.

After the police officers who arrived filed a report, they disappeared without a trace.

In the end, he had no choice but to stay in a hotel temporarily.

This is just the beginning.

In the days that followed, Jin Ping'an would be beaten up by unreasonable thugs every few days when he walked the streets, or inexplicably get caught up in the brawls of the underworld. He would also encounter small fry like pickpockets every day.

Not long ago, he was almost killed by robbers.

It was as if all the crimes in the city revolved around him.

Jin Ping silently endured all of this, mentally prepared to fight alone.

He was like a stubborn mule; no matter what torment or blows he suffered, he was determined to find out the truth behind the disappearance and bring justice to the victims.

Until last night, a group of drunk thugs surrounded him and, right in front of him, tore up all the materials he had collected and organized over the past two weeks at great personal risk and threw them down the drain.

What was washed away was not only the shredded paper, but also Jin Ping'an's passionate heart and his shattered soul.

This was the first time since he came of age that he had faced the malice of society directly. Under the shadow of a massive criminal gang, his efforts seemed worthless, so insignificant and negligible.

Jin Ping'an, who had been forcing a smile to numb himself, finally broke down.

He was on the verge of a breakdown and wanted to confide in someone, but he didn't even have a single close friend to talk to.

Distraught and lost, Jin Ping'an, in a daze, sought out Ai Liang, a hostage friend he had just met.

While reviewing files at the criminal investigation team, he accidentally came across Ai Liang's past.

After seeing that Ai Liang had helped the police solve a murder case, the idea of ​​asking for help came to mind.

In fact, Jin Ping'an didn't have much hope of getting Ai Liang to help him.

Having fought alone for so long, he desperately needed a like-minded companion, even if it was just spiritual support.

But now, Ai Liang has also rejected him.

"I understand. I'm sorry you had to hear a lot of unpleasant things."

Jin Ping'an bowed solemnly to Ai Liang, then hunched over and placed his hand on the doorknob.

He has already rested for one night and should go back to reorganize the data.

"Transfer 100,000 to this card, and I'll have someone investigate the truth for you."

Ai Liang didn't stop Jin Ping'an, but instead handed him a note with a bank card number written on it.

Upon hearing this, Jin Ping'an's eyes slowly brightened. He gently took the note and asked, "You mean..."

"I won't help you personally, but I can introduce you to people who can, it just depends on whether you can afford the cost."

Ai Liang crossed her arms and said calmly.

For Jin Ping'an.

You can mock him as an overconfident and useless piece of trash.

They mocked him as a hypocrite who only cared about satisfying his own sense of justice.

They mocked him as a naive idiot who couldn't see reality and was all talk and no action.

But society needs this kind of trash, this kind of idiot.

It is precisely those in society who turn a blind eye, a deaf ear, and a silent voice to acts of violence that give criminal gangs the confidence to abuse violence, act with impunity, and conceal the truth.

Those who remain silent simply want to protect themselves and their families, and that's not wrong.

But when violence befalls them, they will understand just how important a fearless and outspoken young man is.

The importance of such a headstrong young man to society far exceeds that of those white-collar financial elites.

They are the bottom line of society and the bottom line of humanity. If all such people disappear, then modern society will not be far from collapse.

Jin Pingan walked silently to the ATM, took out his bank card from his bag, and transferred the money.

Ai Liang looked at Jin Ping'an, who was unwavering in his decision, and asked, "Aren't you worried that I'm lying to you?"

Jin Ping'an did not answer, nor did his hands stop moving in any way because of Ai Liang's words.

Until he entered all of his 230,000 yuan savings into the transfer amount field, he left a small amount for living expenses.

Ai Liang stopped him.

"...Is that person really willing to take such a big risk for 100,000 yuan?"

Jin Ping'an murmured.

He was worried that the amount was too small and that it wasn't worth the other party taking such a big risk, so he secretly increased the stakes.

"Ten thousand is enough. You don't need to show off your kindness in a place like this."

Ai Liang said in an unfriendly tone.

I helped you find someone and you're complaining that they're charging too little?

Ai Liang was speechless. This guy was good for nothing except kindness, and he never thought before he spoke.

Even if you have doubts, you shouldn't express them so bluntly.

If it were Ye Qing, she would definitely say, "I can earn more money, but this is too risky. I feel bad giving them only 100,000."

The difference in emotional intelligence is obvious.

After confirming the transfer was complete, Ai Liang said, "This afternoon, that person will meet you in the city center. I will inform you of the specific time and place at noon."

After saying that, Ai Liang pushed open the door and went out first.

"Wait a moment!"

Jin Pingan called out to Ai Liang just like he had done the night before.

"Can you tell me what kind of person you've found? It's not that I don't trust him, but what I'm about to do is too dangerous, and I want to get to know him better first..."

"he?"

Ai Liang's mind flashed back to that person's face: "I can only tell you that he was a good person. He was once just like you, risking everything to investigate the truth behind a missing person case."

Ai Liang paused here, then continued in a reminiscent tone, "However, his reasons for stepping forward are slightly different from yours."

"One of the victims was his sister."

(End of this chapter)