In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 68 Taking Over the Task Force

Cartilage?
Lu Zhao sat opposite Lü Bowen, observing his expression and sensing his fear and unease.

He was flustered, but his heartbeat was steady, and he still had some confidence.

It seems they're planning to step forward and take the blame, believing that relying on powerful connections can minimize serious crimes and eliminate minor ones. At most, they'll serve a few years in jail, then try to reduce their sentence through various means, eventually getting medical parole.

"Let me handle the questioning."

Lin Zhiyan sat next to Lu Zhao, who nodded and slightly moved aside.

She took the ledger Xu Fang handed her, and while looking at it, asked without looking up, "Attacking a high-ranking federal official and causing his death is a heinous crime, punishable by death. Are you going to admit to this?"

Lu Bowen's expression stiffened. After hesitating for a long time, he finally forced himself to say, "It was indeed done by my men, but I am not the main culprit, so I don't deserve the death penalty."

"Indeed it is."

Lin Zhiyan did not deny it, and flipped through the ledger in his hand very quickly, with the reading speed unique to mental superhumans.

“Operating an illegal venue or leading or participating in an organized crime syndicate are both punishable by more than seven years in prison. These combined could lead to a life sentence.”

Lu Bowen remained silent, looking down at his shoes.

He can't deny any of this; there are witnesses and physical evidence to prove it.

This is why the task force has been prevented from launching an investigation.

Immediately afterwards, the task force delivered more evidence of the crime.

Compared to the border guards, they were indeed more skilled at investigating cases and quickly brought back a large number of contraband items.

Lin Zhiyan placed a small packet of white powder on the table, a smile spreading across his delicate features, making him appear exceptionally wicked.

"You have to admit to these things too, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself."

"..."

Lu Bowen was already covered in sweat. After hesitating for a long time, he asked, "If I confess, how much of my sentence will be reduced?"

"Based on the information you provided, if it's insignificant, you won't need the death penalty. But if it's substantial enough, we can commute your death sentence to life imprisonment, and then to a fixed term."

Lin Zhiyan kindly offered advice, saying, "A major consideration in the death penalty is subjective will. As long as you are not the ringleader and actively cooperate with the investigation, you can have your sentence reduced."

Lu Bowen nodded without hesitation: "My brother! It was all my older brother who told me to do it."

"Who?"

"Lü Jinshan".

Lu Bowen confessed almost everything about his older brother in one go.

For example, how much money he receives as dividends each year, what he does, and even how many mistresses Lü Jinshan keeps.

No secrets stay hidden forever; maintaining secrecy is indeed a matter that requires a very high level of secrecy.

In just forty minutes, Lin Zhiyan had collected all the evidence against Lü Jinshan.

She handed the transcript to Lu Zhao and said, "As long as these things are sent to the Supreme Court of Dao, even if Lü Jinshan has a powerful background, he will have to go in."

Suddenly, Lin Zhiyan's phone rang.

"I'm going out to take a call."

She got up and left the room. Lu Zhao looked at the statement and asked, "Where did you get those contraband items?"

The statement only contained charges against the West Street Bar, which is to say, against Lü Jinshan, but made no mention of the large number of contraband items of unknown origin.

Lin Zhiyan definitely knew, but she didn't ask.

Lu Bowen paused for a moment before replying, "These were all brought in from overseas."

"How was it brought in?"

"I don't know, I'm only in charge of acquisitions."

"Who are you going to acquire it from?"

"..."
-
Outside the room, at the end of the corridor.

Lin Zhiyan answered the phone, and a somewhat hoarse but steady voice came through.

"Xiao Yan, I heard you were quite frightened."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyan looked embarrassed and retorted, "Master Liu, I was just using this as an excuse; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to send troops into the city."

"Haha, you're calm in the face of danger. Our Xiaoyan has a bright future ahead of us." Chief Liu of Nanhaidao slightly suppressed his laughter, and his tone changed: "This time, the leadership of Fangshi City has been too outrageous, allowing local criminal gangs to run rampant. They really need to be dealt with."

"Vice Chairman Chen just came to discuss with me that we should clean up the outer district of Fangshi. What do you think?"

Lin Zhiyan understood.

This is an attempt to limit the scope of the crackdown to foreign regions; it's all the fault of foreign regions and the inferior citizens.

There are no problems in Fangcheng District, and no officials will be brought down.

However, leaders usually don't consult their subordinates when setting the tone, so Liu Hanwen's statement carried a hint of testing.

She said, "Master Liu, why not take further action against the Chen family? I've captured Zhao De's son."

"Are you sure?"

"You can try it."

What if it doesn't work?

Lin Zhiyan thought it over and over, considering the consequences of failure. It seemed that Zhao De couldn't do anything to him.

If he doesn't succeed, he continues to hold the market, but he doesn't stay in the market indefinitely.

She said, "Investigative officials are also within the scope of the task force's responsibilities."

"That's a good answer. The most important thing is to be upfront about the rules."

Liu Hanwen said, "But let's leave it at that this time. You can't just uproot the entire leadership team of Fangshi. If you have leverage over them, Zhao De will cooperate with your work from now on."

"Also, delegate this task to others. Don't always be the one rushing to the front. It was the same with the previous operation. If anything happened to you, how could I explain it to your grandfather?"

The conversation gradually turned into one-sided criticism from the elder.

Liu Hanwen actually didn't want Lin Zhiyan to enter officialdom; he preferred to send him to the education and research system so he could live a peaceful life as a scholar and professor.

"The rest of the work will be handed over to others. Also, remember not to leave the city. The entire border of the South China Sea West Province has been quite unstable recently."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyan knew he was about to be laid off. He reluctantly pouted and said, "Master Liu, can I choose someone myself?"

"Who?"

"Lu Zhao".

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

This was the second time Liu Hanwen had heard this name from her. He hadn't paid much attention to it at first, but now he remembered it.

"As you wish."
-
Cangwu City, East South China Sea Province, Chief Office of the South China Sea Provincial Government.

Inside the antique-style room, Chief Liu Hanwen, who was over seventy years old, hung up the phone.

"Sir, the matter of that Ming Dynasty prince's tomb has been thoroughly investigated."

The secretary bowed slightly and said, "This tomb has been confirmed as the tomb of Zhu Bangzhu, the Prince of Jingjiang, who officially inherited the title of prince in the sixth year of the Jiajing reign."

"The life bones unearthed from his tomb were confirmed to be those of the rain-praying spirit, one of the seventy-two earthly fiends, possessing supernatural powers related to the five elements."

Liu Hanwen frowned and said, "Five Elements supernatural powers? How could he have reappeared after being dead for hundreds of years?"

Two months ago, an archaeological team in Yulin County was bribed by foreign forces and unearthed a 'demon corpse' from an ancient tomb.

The demon corpse's whereabouts are unpredictable; it sometimes appears and sometimes transforms into rain.

Although it did not cause large-scale casualties, it has been wandering around Nankaido like a time bomb.

Liu Hanwen personally went five times but still couldn't catch the other party.

The secretary said, "A Grand Scholar from the Federal Academy of Divine Powers explained that this demonic corpse might be transformed from a great life bone, or it might contain the remnants of Emperor Jiajing's power."

"Back then, Emperor Jiajing did not become an ancient god, nor did he create an ecosystem. His remaining power may have been found in the tombs of the imperial relatives from the Ming Dynasty."

Liu Hanwen rubbed his temples, feeling somewhat tired.

The issue with the surrender faction hasn't been resolved yet, and now forces left over from the Jiajing Emperor are emerging.

A sense of powerlessness welled up inside him. He was already seventy-eight years old, and the fact that the Federation was still around before he died was a consolation.

"Lu Zhao, the temporary staff officer of the task force, has been promoted to deputy leader. Go and handle it."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)