The Apprehension Operation

The Disposal Bureau's assignment for Chen Chuan was merely an evaluation; they had not pinned the entire matter on him alone. To ensure Xiong Jianyi was captured, they simultaneously dispatched a squad—the team originally slated for the arrest. Ever since receiving word that Xiong Jianyi was returning to Great Shun, this squad had kept close tabs on him. However, the team members were not pleased that higher-ups had assigned a newcomer to carry out the arrest. Though such arrangements were customary within the Disposal Bureau, no one actually wanted to deal with them. A newcomer meant a lack of experience, unreliability, and far too many uncertainties. Furthermore, over the years, practically none of the students sponsored by the bureau had performed well right out of the gate. It was not that they lacked ability, but rather that many were overly protective of their own lives; faced with danger, they refused to charge headlong into it. While that was certainly a clever choice, it also meant their evaluations would never be particularly high. So when the news came down, many team members grumbled about having to play babysitter again, though Captain Li Fusheng skillfully placated them. "Captain Li!" A squad member hurried over and handed Li Fusheng a telegram. "We just received word. Xiong Jianyi will be arriving at Jiyang Port aboard the Gong family's cruise liner, the *Zhenbao*." "The Gong family?" Captain Li's brow furrowed in surprise. "How did Xiong Jianyi end up on a Gong family ship?" He glanced at the telegram. According to the report, the *Zaiyuan* ferry Xiong Jianyi had been aboard broke down midway. Left drifting at sea, the passengers had sent out distress telegrams. The nearest vessel happened to be the Gong family's *Zhenbao*, which was passing through at the time. It took everyone aboard and set course for the port. Moreover, the Gong family seemed to have altered their original itinerary to Weinan Circuit, sending an advance telegram stating they intended to negotiate a business deal with the Yuangan Company. Judging by the timeline, they would arrive tomorrow morning. After reading through it, Captain Li immediately instructed, "Pull up the Gong family's nautical charts." Shortly after, a route map was transmitted to his boundary credential. Viewed on the display, the Gong family's cruise liner had indeed been passing through that area at that exact time. On the surface, it appeared to be pure coincidence. He could not help recalling the Gong family's background. In the old era, they were a royal family jointly acclaimed across the maritime islands, having even received an imperial investiture during the Great Shun Empire. After the Republic of Great Shun was founded, they were granted an honorary title because they proactively aligned themselves with the republic. To this day, they still commanded immense prestige across the outer ocean islands. Furthermore, the Gong family held shares in numerous major corporations, having woven an immense web of connections that wielded tremendous influence. However, the master of this cruise liner, Gong Zhanyi, was not this generation's heir. He was merely an important member of the Gong family who frequently represented the clan in foreign visits and corporate negotiations. The Gong family also possessed considerable influence in Center City's Yinglu District. With them coming to Jibei Circuit's Center City, their arrest target, Xiong Jianyi, would very likely use the Gong family's clout to cover for himself. If so, matters would become complicated—especially given that the Gong family was here to talk business with the Yuangan Company. A subordinate asked, "Captain Li, what should we do?" Captain Li pondered for a moment before saying, "For now, the operation proceeds as planned." The team members immediately cheered, high-fiving one another. Their logic was simple: Why overthink it? They were just a prominent clan from some island nation; did Great Shun really need to save face for them? We're capturing a criminal, so what business is it of yours? We apprehend whoever we need to. Oh, hurt your pride? Who told you to bring a criminal along in the first place? Captain Li considered far more. He sensed that this matter was not as simple as it seemed. Yet until he had concrete, verifiable facts before him, he would not throw his own ranks into disarray. Inside his dormitory at the Xuan Palace Building, Chen Chuan was systematically making his preparations. At ten in the evening on February 2, Ni Xixi contacted him and informed him: "We received word that the passengers from the *Zaiyuan* ferry were transferred onto the Gong family's cruise liner. Things might get complicated." "The Gong family?" Ni Xixi briefed him on the Gong family's background, then added, "Judging by Xiong Jianyi's past, he's both brutal and cunning. Now that he's aboard their ship, he'll likely blend into the Gong family's entourage to shield himself." Chen Chuan asked, "I have a question. Since he is a wanted criminal in Great Shun and the Gong family is royalty of the island nations, the two sides shouldn't have any ties. Why not notify the Gong family in advance and tell them to stay out of it?" "Well, how should I put it..." Ni Xixi thought for a moment before saying, "Apprehending criminal fighters is the business of our Disposal Bureau, but dealing with the Gong family falls under the Foreign Affairs Bureau. "If we want to deal with the Gong family, we have to go through Foreign Affairs, and things might not go our way. In the eyes of our Disposal Bureau, Xiong Jianyi is a vicious, atrocious fugitive. But to Foreign Affairs, he might just be an inconsequential trifle. They might even blame us for stirring up trouble and demand we halt the operation. "Still... is this really just a minor matter?" Chen Chuan said quietly, "Hardly." He had reviewed the case file. When Xiong Jianyi first committed his crimes, some had suspected he was suffering from Dysfunctional Disorder Syndrome. Later investigations revealed that wasn't the case. In his room, they had discovered more than a dozen skeletons dismantled and arranged in specific geometric patterns. Religious symbols were carved into the bones, leading investigators to deduce it was likely an ancient, bloody ritual popular among the outer islands—an unmistakable cult practice. And that was merely what they knew. Given the sheer scale and reality of Center City, there were likely far more horrors that had gone undetected. "Exactly. It isn't. Brother Chen, whether this man can be brought to justice tomorrow depends on your actions. The bureau's stance is field execution—no live capture required. Otherwise, there's still a chance he might wriggle out alive." Chen Chuan understood. If a man like this were put through standard judicial proceedings, he really might survive—or even get off scot-free. He said calmly, "I will do my utmost." On February 3, a luxury cruise liner arrived at Jiyang Port. It carried an entourage of one hundred and twenty people: thirty-nine belonging to the Gong family's party, while the rest were drivers and security personnel. After passing through inspection, the party boarded the vehicles sent ahead to receive them and drove toward the Ferris Wheel Company compound in Yinglu District. Gong Zhanyi was under thirty, with healthy, wheat-toned skin. While not a pure martial artist, members of prominent clans like his all underwent fighting training, giving him a vigorous and spirited demeanor. At this moment, he asked, "Is the man still there?" The steward beside him answered respectfully, "Right behind in the seventh car. Our people are with him. The news probably won't stay hidden from Great Shun, but we already gave prior notice to the Foreign Affairs Bureau." Gong Zhanyi asked, "Has his behavior been normal leading up to this?" "Normal. However, when leaving the port, a member of the Tianshu Gang approached and made contact with him. We checked—the man is his senior fellow disciple, Wei Wusheng." Gong Zhanyi grunted in acknowledgment. After a pause, he instructed curtly, "See that it's handled properly. Make no mistakes." The steward bowed respectfully. "Understood." Meanwhile, along a stretch of road connecting Jiyang District to Yinglu District, Chen Chuan had arrived ahead of time at a three-story roadside house—an observation point arranged by the Disposal Bureau. The Disposal Bureau had already confirmed that Xiong Jianyi would depart the port with the Gong family convoy, so they had set up barricades and checkpoints at other intersections, forcing the motorcade down this route. There were several sharp curves along this stretch, which would inevitably force the convoy to slow down—and that would be the moment to strike. Chen Chuan checked his surroundings, then contacted Ni Xixi. "I've reached the designated position." Ni Xixi said, "Their convoy is less than ten kilometers away. You'll see them in twenty minutes at most. Our technicians checked: the target should be in the seventh car back. There are also two security guards and an entourage member in there with him. How do you plan to handle it?" Chen Chuan thought about it, then asked, "Will I be billed for property damage to the vehicle?" Ni Xixi giggled. One could easily picture her leaning back and laughing hysterically behind her boundary credential—her humor threshold was truly low. Still, she quickly reined it in and said, "They should count themselves lucky we aren't prosecuting them for harboring a wanted fugitive! Expecting us to pay for their car? In their dreams! As long as you eliminate the target, the rest is just bickering with Foreign Affairs. That's not for us to worry about." Chen Chuan said, "Then I have no other questions." "Good. Student Chen, it's all up to you." Chen Chuan ended the call, then immediately contacted Wu Bei. "Brother Wu, how are things on your end?" Wu Bei replied, "Having a public boundary point to work with really makes all the difference. I have a crystal-clear view on my end. The convoy is heading your way. Another... sixteen minutes before it reaches you. "Though there might be some technical experts in their group, so there could be some interference later. But tapping into this boundary point won't be that easy for them. For once, I'm playing on home turf—I'm not scared of them." Chen Chuan could hear the excitement in his voice; it was a good state of mind. He checked the gear on his person once more. After waiting about ten more minutes, a long motorcade finally came into view up ahead. Meanwhile, inside the Disposal Bureau's nearest staging post, Captain Li watched the convoy advance through his boundary credential. From the moment the party stepped off the cruise liner until now, every step had been monitored by technical personnel. Originally, technical support for their team was equally limited. But because the matter suddenly involved the Gong family, the bureau had temporarily bolstered their technical support—though strictly for surveillance, without intervening further. Seeing that the target was about to reach the designated road segment, he contacted every squad member: "Is everyone ready?" All members responded promptly in booming voices. Captain Li nodded, his expression solemn. The situation was more complex this time. If Chen Chuan ran into trouble during the apprehension, his squad would move in to take over immediately. He stared at the convoy on the light screen. But just as it drew close to the ambush site, their boundary credentials suddenly went pitch-black, triggering a chorus of curses from the squad members around him. "What happened?" Captain Li immediately exited the boundary credential interface. "Captain Li," a technician immediately reported, "we're experiencing field interference." Captain Li's expression hardened. This was not an official diplomatic summit; how could the Gong family deploy field interference within Center City limits? This was a flagrant violation of regulations. "Something is wrong. Tell Student Chen to—" He suddenly realized messages couldn't be transmitted over the boundary credential and barked hastily, "Shao Heng, take a team forward immediately to support Student Chen. Move fast!" "Yes, sir!" A burly team member acknowledged the command and rushed out with his men. Captain Li gazed toward the intersection, unease gnawing at him. *I hope nothing goes wrong...* At that exact moment, Chen Chuan's boundary credential darkened. His connection with Wu Bei abruptly severed—and not just with Wu Bei, but all communications with the outside world had cut out. He immediately realized it was field interference. If there was interference, it meant the other side might already know about the operation. Even if they didn't, deliberately deploying interference showed they were prepared. Should he still proceed with the mission? He looked toward the approaching motorcade. According to the Disposal Bureau's field mission emergency protocols... He raised the Xuejun Saber in his grip. The first car drove past before his eyes, followed swiftly by the second, the third... He slowly drew a fraction of the blade from its sheath. In the absence of countermanding orders or emergency notices, law enforcement officers... The fourth, fifth, and sixth cars sped past. Then... execute according to plan! With a sharp flick, he cast the scabbard aside. As the blade cleared the sheath, he sprang forward, leaping from the balcony with both hands hoisting the long blade high, slashing straight down toward the car below!