Chapter Five: You’ve Been Deceived!

Taking advantage of everyone’s stunned silence, Lu Zhongxin pulled Yu Dazhang aside.

“Are you crazy? Is that how you apologize?”

“I thought you wanted me to confront him.”

“Nonsense! Go lower your head quickly, and this will blow over.”

This time, Yu Dazhang fully understood. He stepped forward once more before the entire second squad.

“Sorry, please cut the part I just said…”

Apologies require tact. Yu Dazhang emphasized that he was overly eager in handling the case, acting impulsively without thinking things through.

The main point: it wasn’t intentional.

This way, he bowed his head but didn’t give anyone a handle to seize upon.

If he admitted he wanted to ride Zhang Sen’s coattails to catch the suspect, that would be a matter of character.

Fortunately, Zhang Sen and the second squad didn’t want to delve deeply; they were only here to save face.

After apologizing, Yu Dazhang was about to approach Zhang Sen for a handshake when the phones of Captain Liu Zhe of the second squad and Captain Zhang Dong of the third squad rang simultaneously.

They answered almost in unison.

“Okay, got it. We’re leaving immediately!”

“Understood, got it, got it.”

They hung up at the same time as well.

Liu Zhe waved to the second squad members.

“The first squad needs backup. Everyone with me!”

Captain Zhang Dong of the third squad called out to his team in the same breath.

“Same here, let’s move out!”

Yu Dazhang silently complained, *If you just said ‘same as above,’ we’d get it too...*

This was a big operation!

Joint actions between squads were normal; Yu Dazhang had already been accustomed to this way of working in his past life.

The first squad was the major crimes unit, handling eight types of cases: intentional homicide, robbery, arson, explosions, poisoning...

Major criminal cases were always first taken up by the first squad.

The second squad specialized in anti-fraud, the third in anti-pickpocketing.

If a squad faced an emergency with insufficient manpower, others would come to assist.

Once on the vehicle, Yu Dazhang patted Lu Zhongxin’s arm.

“Master, what kind of case is this?”

“I heard it’s a kidnapping, but no specifics yet,” Lu Zhongxin said irritably, brushing Yu Dazhang’s hand off.

“Whatever they tell you to do, just do it. Don’t cause any more trouble. If anything else happens, I won’t be responsible.”

Yu Dazhang knew his master was just venting and didn’t mind, smiling and agreeing.

Now, just a trainee officer with little say, and in an emergency, even if there was a briefing, it wouldn’t reach him.

Besides, at the scene, he would only perform auxiliary tasks; they wouldn’t send a rookie like him to lead.

Arriving at the scene, Yu Dazhang looked around. It was an abandoned factory on the outskirts.

The first squad was arrayed in full readiness about twenty meters from the factory entrance.

When the reinforcements arrived, the first squad’s captain immediately approached and spoke rapidly with Liu Zhe and Zhang Dong.

Soon after, Liu and Zhang nodded and called over veteran detectives like Lu Zhongxin for specific deployment.

In less than half a minute, Lu Zhongxin returned to the vehicle.

“Xiao Zhao, you three go behind the factory. A colleague from the first squad is guarding there. Assist him and follow all his orders.”

“Understood, master. Don’t worry.”

Xiao Zhao quickly confirmed the route to the back of the factory, casting a half-mocking glance at Yu Dazhang before leaving with two other rookies.

The mockery was clear.

“What’s that about?” Yu Dazhang retorted without flinching.

Xiao Zhao’s face immediately darkened but he said nothing, turning to jog away with the others.

“Dazhang,” Lu Zhongxin came forward and patted Yu Dazhang’s shoulder.

“Your task won’t be easy.”

“I’ll complete it!” Yu Dazhang stood straight, eyes resolute, trying to suck in his belly.

Lu Zhongxin nodded approvingly; his apprentice still showed respect.

“You just observe here. Don’t let strangers get close.”

“Observe?” Yu Dazhang was puzzled.

This place was desolate, nothing but an abandoned factory and some unfinished buildings. What was there to observe?

Moreover, no one lived nearby; no strangers would approach.

This arrangement clearly meant they didn’t want him involved.

Seeing Yu Dazhang about to protest, Lu Zhongxin glared.

“Remember what I told you on the way here!”

Got it. He’s afraid I’ll cause trouble… Yu Dazhang thought silently but complied with a smile.

“I’ll listen, but master, at least tell me a bit about the case.”

Having participated in many cases in his past life, Yu Dazhang couldn’t recall every detail, especially temporary support cases like this.

“No time for that now. Just do what you’ve been told,” Lu Zhongxin said, turning toward the factory.

“Sigh, you…” Yu Dazhang raised his hand toward Lu Zhongxin’s retreating back.

He was quick on his feet.

Looks like I’m being left here alone... Yu Dazhang suddenly felt like a car-watcher.

Well, I’ll observe as ordered. All actions obey orders.

With that thought, Yu Dazhang began scanning the surroundings.

The more he looked, the more something felt off.

The first squad must have found this place through tech like phone tracking.

But why would kidnappers choose such a place?

It was open and deserted; if surrounded, escape would be impossible.

Two possibilities...

One, the kidnappers were foolish, picked the wrong hideout, and got tracked by the police.

Two, the kidnappers did it on purpose.

The more Yu Dazhang pondered, the more likely the second seemed.

He looked over the buildings, thinking:

“If I were the kidnappers...”

“Choosing this desolate spot has one goal: to trap any undercover police with no place to hide.”

“The factory itself wouldn’t be my hideout.”

“I’d deliberately have the victim’s family call from inside the factory. If they’ve called the police, the location gets locked here.”

“Then, I just leave the tracked phone inside and move to a vantage point to observe.”

“To have a good vantage point, it must be high up and have multiple escape routes, not just one exit.”

Looking around, Yu Dazhang’s gaze finally settled on the nearest unfinished building.

This is it!

“If it were me, this unfinished building would be the perfect hideout.”

“I could watch the factory and escape at any time.”

“Because the unfinished building has no walls built yet, it’s all open inside. Unlike occupied residential buildings, where doors block you, making you trapped like a fish in a barrel.”

Hope they’re just dumb thieves… Yu Dazhang exhaled.

Having been a veteran detective in his past life, he knew not to act just on guesses.

Just as he was about to look away, a wisp of smoke suddenly drifted from a window in that unfinished building.

Yu Dazhang’s pupils contracted sharply.

Someone was there!