Desperate people, accept the seed of my soul!

Iron Hand is dead.

He died at an extended scene of the Lin Zhenghua case, and he himself was the one who had illegally released them just hours earlier.

Now, the person he himself released has become a corpse.

"It's over...it's all over..."

Sun Qiming picked up the teacup with trembling hands, but because he was shaking so badly, the scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand.

He seemed to have lost the ability to feel pain, and just stared blankly as the brown tea stains spread across the table.

The mess at the convention center hasn't been cleaned up yet, and now there's murder in the street, gunfights, and corpses lying in the street.

No matter how tightly he tries to cover it up, the stench of decay will eventually reach the Municipal Bureau and the ears of the Regional Supervisory Office.

When the time comes, he'll be accused of abusing his power, protecting criminals, or even colluding with organized crime. Whether he can keep his police uniform is a minor issue; he might end up spending the rest of his life in prison.

Fear and panic, like a cold, venomous snake, tightly coiled around his heart.

He suddenly pulled a cell phone from the drawer; it was a "black phone" that had not been registered with any online real-name system.

He frantically dialed a number without a name in his contacts.

"Beep—beep—"

Each waiting tone felt like a heavy hammer blow to his taut nerves.

Finally, the call was connected.

"Director Sun."

Wei Donghai's calm voice came through the receiver, carrying a reassuring composure.

"Associate Wei, I apologize for disturbing you." Sun Qiming tried his best to control the trembling of his voice. "The situation... is very bad."

"explain."

"Iron Hand is dead," Sun Qiming said through gritted teeth. "Just now, at the illegal vehicle dismantling yard, Xu Suyuan was rescued by a gray-clad man who suddenly appeared. That man... was very dangerous; he not only killed Iron Hand on the spot but also crippled four other people."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, with only heavy breathing coming through.

Sun Qiming swallowed hard and continued, "Moreover, Zhou Ming was also at the scene. He saw the body and the gun. Although I managed to suppress it for the time being, you know his temper. If I don't shut him up or transfer him, this matter simply can't be covered up."

He paused, then emphasized, his words carrying a hint of desperate threat: "Councilor Wei, the convention center case isn't over yet, and now this has happened. I'm under immense pressure. If the higher-ups really send an inspection team down to thoroughly investigate the illegal release of people and the on-site handling of these matters, I... I'm afraid I'll find it very difficult to clear myself of any wrongdoing."

"And if I don't pick them clean..." Sun Qiming didn't spell it out, but the meaning was clear.

Once he falls, the scourge will be unearthed, and the shady dealings of the Wei Group will be exposed.

Sun Qiming hoped to use this to coerce Wei Donghai into using his influence to help him keep his position or at least land safely.

On the other end of the line, Wei Donghai let out a soft chuckle, a short, indistinct sound that revealed neither joy nor anger.

"Director Sun, please calm down," Wei Donghai said slowly. "You've been in this position for so many years, what storms haven't you weathered? It's just the death of a security captain and the escape of a suspect. There's no need to panic. The higher-ups understand the complexities of grassroots work."

"Chairman Wei, this is no ordinary complicated matter!" Sun Qiming exclaimed anxiously. "This involves seven lives and illegal possession of a firearm! If we don't provide a satisfactory explanation, my position as deputy director will be in jeopardy..."

"Director Sun."

Wei Donghai suddenly interrupted him, his voice becoming somewhat low, carrying a seemingly concerned gentleness, "I remember your wife hasn't been feeling well lately and has been recuperating at a sanatorium, right? That sanatorium has a nice environment, but it's not cheap. And your son is pursuing a master's degree in finance, which is a crucial time in his studies."

Sun Qiming froze, swallowing back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through the shirt on my back.

This is a threat.

A naked threat.

Wei Donghai was reminding him where his weakness lay.

If he dares to bite indiscriminately, or dares to quit, he will be the one who suffers.

"At times like these, your personal stability is the most important thing to them," Wei Donghai continued slowly and deliberately. "Only if you remain stable will Madam's medication continue, and your son's tuition be secured. Don't you agree?"

Sun Qiming seemed to have lost his spine, slumping back in his chair: "...Yes, Councilor Wei is right."

"So, the most urgent thing isn't worrying about your position, but handling the case well and writing a good report." Wei Donghai changed the subject. "Once the case is resolved and public opinion calms down, many things will have room for maneuver. As for your personal future..."

Wei Donghai paused deliberately, as if showing a bone to a hungry dog.

"Don't worry, I, Wei Donghai, am not someone who forgets old friendships. We're in the same boat, and you've helped me stabilize the situation, which is the greatest contribution you've made. Even if the winds change in the future, or there are any personnel changes... I will never let you suffer any loss in terms of the contributions you've made to the city over the years and the treatment and arrangements you deserve."

Sun Qiming closed his eyes, his last glimmer of hope extinguished.

He understood Wei Donghai's subtext.

Wei Donghai will not protect his official position, and may even be prepared to sacrifice him at any time to save the king.

However, he promised that he "would not suffer any losses" and that he would "make arrangements." This meant that as long as Sun Qiming cooperated obediently and performed this last act well, even if he was dismissed or made a scapegoat, the Wei family would give him enough hush money to live comfortably for the rest of his life and even make arrangements for his family's future.

This was a deal that bought out his political life and conscience.

He had no right to refuse.

"...I understand." Sun Qiming's voice was somewhat hollow.

"Very good." Wei Donghai seemed satisfied with his tact. "Now, you need a perfect case report. Why was Iron Hand there with a gun? Hmm... In my opinion, he was a dedicated security guard and a long-term 'informant' cultivated by the police. He received a tip and led his men to ambush the vicious serial killer Xu Suyuan, but unfortunately, he was ambushed by his powerful accomplices and heroically sacrificed his life."

"As for Xu Suyuan and that man in gray..." Wei Donghai's voice turned icy coldly, "They are extremely dangerous terrorists, possessing weapons of mass destruction. To maintain the city's stability, this is why, as the on-site commander, you had to take decisive measures and suppress the news. You were protecting the citizens, not covering up the truth."

"Director Sun, you're a veteran police officer. You don't need me to teach you how to play word games or how to create logical loops, do you?"

"...I know what to do," Sun Qiming said in a low voice.

"Then I'll have to trouble Director Sun. We'll have tea again once things have calmed down."

The phone hangs up.

The busy signal echoed in the deathly silent office, sounding particularly jarring.

Sun Qiming slowly put down his phone, looking at his aged and dejected face reflected in the dark screen.

He knew that from this moment on, he had completely become a lackey of the Wei family, and there was no turning back.

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