Chapter 1527 — An Jianwen's Plan

Wang Hekan had a real talent for cracking cases, but when it came to directing police work he was something of an amateur.

"More patrols are a certainty, but Songshan City has so many districts and counties that our men are nowhere near enough, and where this suspect strikes is pure fancy, here today, there tomorrow, back again the day after, or lying quiet for a spell, with no pattern at all..." Qiu Lingshan smiled bitterly. "What matters most now is locking down his identity, and running his height and build through the database for a match..."

"We have run matches many times over. Among those with records in the database, all who resembled this suspect have been checked and essentially ruled out, and among those without records, there are simply too many men of that height and build. Since the suspect wears a mask, we cannot yet judge his features... Though there were times he struck with a stocking pulled over his head, such chances were few, and the victims were so badly frightened at the time that none could recall the outline of his face! At all other times his face was hidden behind a heavy mask, so no one could make out its shape!" Liu Wangli explained.

"That is outside my province. My work is only to read the suspect's mind and find a lead, and with this kind of random striking, it is no job for a sleuth to hunt for clues." Wang Hekan said.

"Captain Qiu, a report just came in. The suspect has struck in Jiawuzi Town!" The office door was pushed open, and one of Qiu Lingshan's men spoke to her in haste.

Qiu Lingshan had given orders before that the moment any case tied to this affair appeared, it was to be reported at once, whether she was in meeting or at rest, and she was to be told first of all.

"What! He has struck again? This time all the way in Jiawuzi Town?" Qiu Lingshan started.

Jiawuzi Town was a small town under a county belonging to Songshan City, a full two hundred kilometers from the city proper. This suspect was ruthless indeed, to run so far to strike? It would take two hours by car alone.

"Yes, I just received word from the Jiawuzi Town police and came straight to report to you, Captain Qiu!" The officer said.

"Can it be confirmed as the work of the same suspect?" Qiu Lingshan asked.

"It can essentially be judged so." The officer nodded. "His method matches the last several cases to the letter. This time his mark was an old man selling roasted sweet potatoes. After robbing the old man of more than four hundred yuan, the suspect was about to leave when the old man's son, who was not far off, rushed over to snatch it back. The suspect punched a great hole in the big roasting oven with one fist and stuffed the son's head inside it. Luckily the oven had been out for some time, so the son suffered only light burns. Otherwise the consequences would not bear imagining..."

"It must be our suspect. Only he has such boundless strength, to punch a hole in a steel oven with one blow. No other robber could do that, nor would the methods be so brutal!" Wang Hekan nodded after hearing it.

"Everyone to the scene at once for investigation!" Though she knew the suspect would surely be long gone, she still had to hasten to the scene and look it over.

The members of the task force nodded silently, rose, and made ready to rush to Jiawuzi Town.

Inside An Jianwen's villa.

"How goes it? Is the plan running smoothly?" An Jianwen asked Big Mule, leisurely sipping his coffee.

"Young Master Wen, all goes as planned. Zero-One strikes every few days, and by now Qiu Lingshan must be run off her feet! Ha ha!" Big Mule said. "I hear they are now analyzing Zero-One's motive, but however they puzzle over it, they will never guess at your plan, Young Master Wen!"

"Of course! This time it is one stone for two birds. Even if we cannot finish off Wei Zhao, we can disgust him well enough. Best of all would be for Gu Mengyao to dismiss him at sight. Without that wretched thing beside her, winning Mengyao will be far easier!" An Jianwen said.

"Young Master Wen, with your standing now, what woman could you not have? I hear even an elder of the Fire Wolf Gang means to marry his granddaughter to you. You are practically the Gang's god of wealth!" Big Mule was somewhat puzzled as to why An Jianwen was so devoted to Gu Mengyao alone, sparing nothing to frame the bodyguard named Wei Zhao at her side.

"You would not understand! I have played with no few women myself, but Gu Mengyao is a childhood dream. After so many years it has become an obsession in my heart. If I do not have her, I will writhe with bitterness all my life!" An Jianwen said. "Though my worth rises ever higher, I still mean to make her my woman!"

"So that is how it is..." Big Mule nodded half comprehending. Having never known such a thing, he could hardly grasp An Jianwen's feelings, and only nodded.

"What stage has the plan reached now?" An Jianwen asked in turn.

"Under the plan you laid down, Young Master Wen, it is time to let the plate show. So on this run to Jiawuzi Town, I had Zero-One hang that 'tt000' plate at the Songshan City expressway exit. There should be cameras nearby, and if Qiu Lingshan is careful enough, she ought to catch that clue!" Big Mule explained.

"Good, that pace is very good!" An Jianwen nodded with satisfaction. "Keep to this pace, and flash that plate a few more times! Then we move to the next step, and have Zero-One let a victim tear off his mask and bare his face for an instant!"

"Understood. I will have the hypnotist feed him his orders step by step." Big Mule nodded. "Rest easy, Young Master Wen. Leave this matter to me, and I will see that Wei Zhao ruined and disgraced!"

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