Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 320 The Night Before Dawn
It must be said that Yang Da Yang and his group were quite cautious.

After deciding to leave the next day, everyone was forcibly left in the villa.

Even though everyone except Zhao Zhigao was from their hometown, the three leaders were still extremely vigilant at this crucial moment. Little Yang strictly forbade anyone from leaving; apart from himself, Big Yang, and Simba, no one else was allowed to step outside the villa. Leaving their sight would result in a reprimand, and all their cell phones were confiscated, not to mention Zhao Zhigao's attempt to pass messages.

Although he was extremely anxious, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure it if he didn't want to fail at the last minute.

And this endurance lasted for twenty-four hours.

The next day, a snow fell silently. Snowflakes drifted through the air, covering the roads that had just begun to melt. The rooftops and treetops were once again draped in white, making this quiet villa area even more silent.

As darkness fell, the villa became like an isolated island, with no one else in sight.

In the darkness, something seemed to be hidden in the reflective ice surface, making it difficult to see clearly.

By this time, all the preparations were complete, and both Yang and Da Yang had some free time.

Bored, Brother Yang was kicking and playing in the snow in the yard, drawing random patterns with his footprints. His henchmen, Brother Ma and Jackie Chan, were blocking the gate, leisurely trimming their nails with daggers. Brother Ma, in particular, looked younger and more naive after his jingling metal buckles were removed. But he seemed very uncomfortable without his accessories; his eyes were gloomy, and he seemed to dislike everyone.

Bored, the green-haired monkey went to the yard to curry favor with Brother Yang, but Brother Ma, being unreasonable, slammed him against the wall with an elbow, making his eyes bulge out of pain.

This guy's fierce appearance made the others dare not act recklessly anymore. They could only huddle together to chat, joke, play cards, or stare blankly at the TV.

"Come on! Come on! Let's have a big hot pot stew, with beef, mutton, venison, and all sorts of meats. Plus my special dish, everyone have something to warm up, and we'll set off when it gets dark."

Simba, accompanied by two chefs, carried a huge copper pot out of the kitchen. The pot was steaming hot and reddish-brown, emitting an incredibly enticing aroma. Several oval-shaped plant balls floating on the surface of the broth particularly caught the eye of his underlings.

Poppies!
This is a rare sight these days.

Although everyone had tried all sorts of drugs, this was the first time they had ever tried hot pot with poppies as a seasoning.

Eating hot pot on a cold day is naturally a treat, especially when it's something made by the boss himself. Everyone, including the two Yangs, enthusiastically gathered around the hot pot, picking out large chunks of venison and stuffing them into their mouths, while also putting beef rolls and other delicacies into the pot.

Everyone ate and chatted, in high spirits. Only Zhao Zhigao seemed a little restless, and after taking a small bite, he put down his bowl.

"Brother Yang, I'll go check the car again."

Zhao Zhigao put down his bowl.

"What? Didn't you hide the things well? Don't be nervous. I understand you're a little uneasy the first time you do this. You'll get used to it."

Like everyone else, Brother Yang stood in a circle around the hot pot, bowl in hand. Taking a sip from his wine glass, he raised a toast to Zhao Zhigao across the table, saying, "Ah Gao, you have to stay calm when doing big things. The more crucial the moment, the less you can afford to panic. We've worked so hard preparing for this day, considering everything we could think of, what problems could possibly arise? Big things are 30% luck and 70% destiny! As long as God doesn't want to take me, Brother Yang, nothing will happen! Hiccup… To be honest, I panicked around this time last year too, but I still didn't come. The highway toll gates were opened without any obstruction, and even the police went home for the New Year. Who would have thought we'd take advantage of this opportunity?"

"Yes! Brother Yang is right, I was ignorant."

Zhao Zhigao could only lower his head, quickly raise his glass to toast Brother Yang, and then tilt his head back to drink it all in one gulp.

"Hehe... I like this about Da Yang. His calm and composed demeanor shows he's capable of great things. To be honest, back then, everyone from our hometown was out trying to make a living, so why did I pick Da Yang at first glance? Because his calm and collected attitude in the face of big events is something no one else can imitate!"

Simba didn't drink alcohol, but slowly sipped a can of handmade tea. Now that the atmosphere was lively, a smile appeared on his wrinkled face as he said, "Look, of all those people who came out to make their way in the world back then, only we're still doing well. Where are Dajun and the others, Wei Zi and the others? And where's Da Liang? Dajun and his gang all got shot, and Wei Zi and the others are practically dead overseas! Da Liang goes without saying! It's us who are still living carefree lives. What's the secret? Is it some small thing I did? Or Brother Yang's bravery and ruthlessness? Neither! It's all thanks to Brother Yang's leadership! Remaining calm in the face of danger, that's the mark of a great man!"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly offered their compliments, making Brother Yang laugh heartily.

Zhao Zhigao also made a few amusing, flattering remarks to persuade Brother Yang to drop his attention. He could only pin his hopes on Mimi now, or perhaps find a way to contact the police after arriving at his destination.

"Hey, everyone's eating!"

The sound of a car stopping came from outside, and soon a person who surprised Zhao Zhigao pushed open the door and walked in. Behind him was a silver shaded dog that shook its fur as it walked, its eyes wide and its brows furrowed, looking quite fierce.

Behind Lingo was the equally arrogant money tree. This leopard cat was clearly a size larger than Lingo, but judging from the way it walked respectfully behind Lingo, it was hard to guess the difference in status between the two cats.

"You actually..."

Upon seeing the person who arrived, Zhao Zhigao broke out in a cold sweat.

He never imagined that the middle-aged man who had been so kind to him at the repair shop, and who was even the first to take him in, would end up in a place like this.

In other words, is this guy also in cahoots with Da Yang and Xiao Yang?
He is a pest hiding among ordinary workers!
Did I say or reveal anything to him? It seems not.
"Hehe, why are you so late?"

Da Yang, Xiao Yang, and Simba weren't surprised by the man's appearance. Da Yang even waved and said with a smile, "Come over here, have something to eat. By the way, you seem to get along well with this cat. You didn't even use the cage I gave you."

"Ha ha……"

The middle-aged man named Zhao Xin chuckled twice, not daring to mention that when he tried to put the cat in its cage at the auto repair shop, he was severely beaten by the cat in front of him.

"..."

Listening to their laughter and conversation, Zhao Zhigao kept his head down and remained silent.

He considered Mimi his last chance, planning to pass on the message while picking up the cat. But now, even the cat had been brought along; the caution and cunning of Yang and his gang exceeded his expectations.

"Ow?"

Lin Ge ignored the smoky and foul smell in the house and wandered around the villa. He was very curious about this secret base of Brother Yang, and the decoration of the villa did indeed look very expensive.

It seems that Brother Yang has made a lot of money from drugs recently.

The leopard cat, Money Tree, seemed quite familiar with the place, and simply curled up lazily on the sofa.

"This cat is quite bold!"

The atmosphere was pleasant, so Simba chuckled and pointed at Ringo for his comments. Although he still maintained a skeptical attitude towards everything, things had come to a head, and there was no need to create any further disagreements.

"So this is what God gave me, the wealth and luxury I was destined to enjoy!"

Brother Yang was equally smug, feeling that a bright future lay ahead. As long as this cat could bring him even greater surprises, what else was there to worry about? More importantly, this cat had fallen from the sky, requiring absolutely no extra effort.

What do you call this? This is fate! This is something that comes effortlessly!
Brother Yang was in a very good mood.

"Ow?"

After Lin Ge finished his stroll, he came up to Zhao Zhigao and looked up at him.

This guy is radiating a strange, dejected aura. What happened? And the smell of poison on him is even stronger now! Zhao Zhigao, you really need to stay calm after this case is over!
Lin Ge felt a pang of sadness, unwilling to contemplate what Zhao Zhigao's difficult drug rehabilitation would be like.

This guy has made far too many sacrifices to completely dismantle this drug trafficking gang. Not only did he risk his life by infiltrating their ranks, but he will also undoubtedly have to endure physical torment alone in the future.

This guy has put in so much effort, hoping for a good result.

"I don't need your cat to worry about me!"

Zhao Zhigao sighed inwardly, his mood easing considerably. Having this cat for company was certainly more reassuring than being alone and helpless. Besides, this cat was special; who knew what unexpected joy it might bring?

After putting down his chopsticks, Zhao Zhigao smiled sheepishly at everyone: "I'm done eating. Big Brother and the rest of you can continue eating. By the way, Brother Yang, when exactly are we leaving? I'll see if I can squeeze in a nap."

"Just take a nap on the sofa for a while, and don't leave until at least 11 or 12. Oh, everything's in the drawer, feel free to take it if you want."

Brother Yang casually pointed to the sofa, but his tone left no room for argument.

"Okay, Brother Yang."

Zhao Zhigao smiled and didn't refuse. He knew there was no need to alert the other party at this point. The more crucial the moment, the more important it was to remain calm—a principle he had long understood. Wu Chengrong and his team valued this very quality in Zhao Zhigao for standing out from their colleagues to take on this undercover mission. Even if Zhao Zhigao was a policeman and not a professional undercover agent, Wu Chengrong and his team believed that Zhao Zhigao would bring them victory.

"call……"

Zhao Zhigao lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes. He felt the sofa suddenly bounce, as if something had jumped onto it, but he completely ignored it.

Be bold when the time comes!
So what if we can't communicate with the outside world? Anyway, we haven't investigated the full situation of this group yet. At worst, we can just continue to risk our lives by going undercover! When we return from out of town, there will be even more opportunities to send them all to hell.

"You idiot Zhao Zhigao, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Lin Ge stared speechlessly at Zhao Zhigao, thinking that this guy had deliberately come here alone because he had something to tell him.

Be careful, and make sure you protect yourself.

Zhao Zhigao didn't open his eyes, only saying calmly, "Mimi, although I don't know what's going on over there, I can tell from that cat fight that it won't be a good scene. I don't know what else is there, or even if it's just a simple cat fight. In short, you must not be careless. No matter what trouble you encounter, you must admit defeat when necessary. At worst, you can surrender first. Your safety is more important."

"Hehe... You can't say that, Gao! If you want to reap the rewards, you have to work hard! It's understandable that you feel sorry for this cat, but if you delay Da Yang's business, I won't be lenient with you then."

Simba had sharp ears, or rather, Zhao Zhigao never intended to whisper behind their backs. So when he heard Zhao Zhigao's reminder to Lin Ge, Simba laughed and pointed at Zhao Zhigao with his chopsticks, saying, "You don't need to worry so much. Honestly, it's not as exaggerated as you think. To put it bluntly, their status is nothing compared to our small group. What we want, including the cat-fighting game, is just a tiny fraction of what they have. You think our cat is important, but who cares besides ourselves? Besides, it's at least a three-day drive to our destination. It's a bit too early to be scared now."

"Three days?"

Zhao Zhigao opened his eyes.

"Hehe... They even have to smuggle themselves across the border! Oh, of course, that's between Simba and me. You guys can just go through customs normally."

Brother Yang chuckled.

"So it really is abroad?"

"It's actually overseas?"

Lin Ge and Zhao Zhigao exchanged a glance, their suspicions finally confirmed. They should have expected it; how could such a terrifying, ruthless criminal exist in China, one who had developed criminal activities to that extent?

But when the truth came out, Zhao Zhigao's eyes became serious.

Abroad!
Whether they can successfully pass through customs, given their police status, is still uncertain. Leaving aside the question of whether these people should be allowed to leave the country, the mere thought of potential problems at the border if things don't go smoothly...

Zhao Zhigao became increasingly eager to contact the organization.

"Once this is over, you'll each get a bonus of 200,000! You'll have three days to enjoy yourself, whether you want to go shopping or have a good time. Hehe... Some things are much less regulated abroad, and these are rare treats that you can't get in China."

Brother Yang also took this opportunity to boost morale and even deliberately arouse everyone's anticipation. After all, it's hard to endure a three-day bus ride, and with so many people having to be split into four vehicles, it would be easy for the surveillance system to have gaps.

"Brother Yang, what's fun to do?"

The green-haired monkey excitedly joined in the fun.

"Over there, women come in all ages. As long as you have money, nothing else matters."

Big Brother Yang's hint made the green-haired monkey's eyes light up completely.

Zhao Zhigao looked at the rubbing guy with disgust, never knowing for the first time that the green-haired monkey had such a terrible fetish. Although he had noticed signs of this before at the K store, such blatant shamelessness still made him frown.

Listening to the green-haired monkey and the other person next to him talking about looking for someone who was a few years old, Zhao Zhigao even had an urge to grab a gun and shoot them all.

"You better calm down!"

Seeing that Zhao Zhigao seemed to be in a bad mood, Lin Ge quickly scratched him.

"hiss……"

Zhao Zhigao gasped in pain.

But as the pain intensified, he quickly realized what was happening; something was wrong with him. Even the frivolous words spoken by the others seemed excessive and inappropriate for the occasion.

"Is it the effect of that stuff in the hot pot? It's not just poppies, it seems there's something else involved?"

Zhao Zhigao was startled.

Looking at Simba, who was sullenly drinking tea and barely touching his chopsticks, he became even more wary.

The cooperation between these three leaders was indeed remarkable. Even at this crucial moment before their departure, Simba did not give up observing and probing the group.

He couldn't help but feel a little relieved. Luckily, the cat arrived in time, and luckily, he knew to interrupt himself and bring himself back to his senses. Otherwise, if he had said something inappropriate in a moment of confusion, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Sniff, sniff."

Lin Ge sniffed Zhao Zhigao and suddenly detected the scent of a lame leg and a small hawksbill turtle amidst the unpleasant smell of smoke and poison.

"Damn, this guy's carrying intelligence with him? Isn't he afraid of being discovered? Wait, why didn't you give me the stuff? Are you planning to take it with you and smuggle it out of the country? That's impossible, how would he get through the border checkpoint?"

Lin Ge stared wide-eyed in surprise.

"Stop messing around, I haven't showered for days, I stink to death."

Zhao Zhigao pushed away Lin Ge, who was clinging to him, worried that the silly cat would pull out something it shouldn't be showing.

"Hey! I thought you had some intelligence you urgently needed to send out, and I even spent a lot of time and effort preparing. But at this point, you're still dawdling with me?"

Lin Ge glared at Zhao Zhigao with displeasure.

"Ok?"

Zhao Zhigao was also taken aback for a moment, then he realized what was going on. This cat wasn't trying to play with him, but rather asking him for information?

But how can it send the intelligence out?
Although he had doubts, Zhao Zhigao knew that this was indeed the last and most important thing he needed to do.

So Zhao Zhigao patted Ling Ge's head, and something disappeared unnoticed into Ling Ge's long fur. He turned to Brother Yang and said, "Brother Yang, this guy needs to poop! The cat poop smells terrible, I'll take him upstairs!"

"Hold!"

Brother Yang, who was eating, frowned upon hearing this, and couldn't even put the meat on his chopsticks into his mouth.

But should we get Zhao Zhigao out of sight?
Although after several assessments, he believed Zhao Zhigao was perfectly fine. But Simba remained suspicious and even now was resorting to tricks, trying to get Zhao Zhigao out of sight, and the old man started rambling on and on.

It's okay for cats to poop near the cafeteria...

"Hehe... I'll go with you! I also need to use the restroom, Gao, can you give me directions?"

Zhao Xin, who had been relatively quiet until now, suddenly spoke up and smiled, relieving Brother Yang's predicament.

Surprisingly, Zhao Zhigao shook his head and said nonchalantly, "Forget it, if you go, I won't! You can have the cat! Big Yang and Little Yang, shall I have a drink with you? To be honest, venison is quite interesting to savor."

Seeing Lin Ge climb up to the second floor on his own, with that bastard following silently behind, Zhao Zhigao smiled and returned to Brother Yang's side.

(End of this chapter)