Gao Wu: My setting is above yours.

Chapter 20 Drunken Cloud Tower

Xia Ming's question was not based on yin and yang, but on the facts and the current situation.

"Afraid?"

Xiao Chi took another drag of his cigarette. "Xia Ming, do you know why our criminal investigation team prepares the information in such detail?"

"If you're not going to deal with it, why bother collecting evidence at all? Why end up with someone holding a handle against you?"

Xia Ming had already guessed this and replied, "It's submitted to the Martial Arts Enforcement Bureau, right?"

Xiao Chi was somewhat surprised. "Yes, it seems Director Xia has told you quite a bit."

"Things that the criminal investigation team dares not do are all handed over to the armed police. Doesn't that sound like shirking responsibility?"

Xia Ming didn't answer, so Xiao Chi continued, "Actually, me, and the other two, were all from our batch of criminal police officers who applied to be transferred to the armed police force, but were rejected."

"Because we're...too bad, haha."

"The Armed Police Force has its own assessment standards. The first one is that the martial arts level must be at least that of a seventh-level martial artist, which means the level of internal energy projection."

"But among the three of us, the highest is me, only at level five, while the other two are only at level three, which is only slightly stronger than an ordinary fighter."

Then, with a serious expression, he turned to look at Xia Ming.

"You're different from us. At first, I didn't understand why you said you were dropping out of school, but after thinking about it for a while now."

"In the entire city of Yunjin, there is indeed no one more suitable than you."

"Director Xia and his wife usually travel in armored vehicles and are accompanied by armed police when entering and leaving places. And you are the city's top genius."

"With strong personal capabilities, there's no need to worry about retaliation against family members."

"But even so, we must be careful in everything we do, after all, no matter how strong a martial artist is, he is still just a physical being."

After hearing this, Xia Ming looked at Xiao Chi and said, "Thanks, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

This is the truth. Strictly speaking, all humans are "high-attack, low-defense" creatures. Ye Wen's "thick skin" is not something that can grow, so it is impossible for it to defend against all attacks.

Furthermore, his Taiyin Ice Armor is not always active, and it could be fatal if he is ambushed.

"Yes, I trust you to do things. You just asked us if we were scared."

"What I want to say is that not all of us in the criminal investigation team are content with the status quo. Some of us want to take down those lawbreakers and restore peace and justice to the world."

"However, having a lot of enthusiasm but no real ability is useless. Well, that's all I can say as your older brother. Our first checkpoint is just ahead."

"Tianhai Manor".

After the group got out of the car, Xiao Chi said to the two detectives, "Put on your masks, only one of us needs to show our face."

After hearing this, the two did not insist on continuing the argument. They took out masks from the car and covered their faces.

Xiao Chi looked at Xia Ming and handed him a mask as well. "Put this on. You'll have to wear a mask when you go to the armed police station in the future. If you make a move today, they'll recognize you at a glance."

"Since you don't have an official position yet, it's better for you not to show your face. I'm different. When our group goes out to investigate a case, someone has to show their identity."

After hearing this, Xia Ming stopped refusing, put on the mask, closed the door, and walked towards Tianhai Manor.

The gatekeeper of Tianhai Manor was also quite surprised, as the last inspection was three months ago during the pre-Lunar New Year routine check.

And we gave them advance notice.

Why the surprise attack this time?

However, he naturally dared not stop them, so he raised the barrier and let the four people pass.

Then, after the others had walked away, he quietly pressed the orange button on the desktop.

……

Thirty minutes later, the group returned to the car.

"It's alright, it wasn't a wasted trip. Although we didn't catch the perpetrator in the Shao Feng case, we also solved three other cases along the way, so it was a worthwhile trip."

Xia Ming knew that Xiao Chi was just trying to comfort himself by saying that the case had been solved.

Actually, it was just a few wanted criminals who hadn't managed to escape in time inside the manor.

And a man who was committing crimes against multiple women in a suite.

In the end, Xiao Chi contacted the criminal investigation team, called a vehicle, and took the criminals and the female victims to the public security bureau.

However, none of them felt a sense of accomplishment.

This casual investigation led to the cracking of three cases and one ongoing crime.

Besides, by the time they went up there, quite a few people had already slipped away.

What would this be like under normal circumstances?

However, Xia Ming had already noticed this and probed out with his mental energy.

Of those who escaped, very few were martial artists.

Even if he were a martial artist, he would only be at the third or fourth level, and could not possibly be the murderer in the Shao Feng case.

The group then went to check several other locations.

They didn't find any suspects, but they did solve quite a few minor cases.

The group quickly finished their business and headed to the next location.

Evening came quickly.

Xiao Chi pointed to the documents in his hand.

"The next few companies to be investigated are the tough nuts to crack."

Xia Ming looked in the direction he was pointing.

Zuixiao Tower.

This is the next location.

The name has a classical Chinese feel, and it is indeed so in reality.

Xiao Chi continued, "The main businesses of Zuixiaolou include casinos, fighting gyms, and some brothels."

He spoke calmly, seemingly forgetting that according to the original laws of Qian Kingdom, gambling and prostitution were illegal.

Now everyone's tacitly agreeing.

He continued, "Although this Drunken Cloud Pavilion is just one building, it covers a considerable area, a full four square kilometers."

"The surrounding hotels, restaurants, and hospitals are all part of their supporting facilities."

Xia Ming took the information and got a general understanding of it.

He also knew that the places he needed to check that night were the real dens of dragons and tigers.

There's a real possibility of a bloody battle.

He naturally dared not be careless.

The group drove to Zuixiaolou in the north of the city.

The street outside was renamed "Street of Longing".

Furthermore, the signboard was extremely irregular.

Ordinary road signs are simply green with white lettering.

The street sign on this street that haunts my dreams is not only pink, which is against regulations, but the images on it are also of naked people.

It's practically a lawless zone, completely unregulated.

Upon arriving here, the group became more cautious.

He had already put on his bulletproof vest, and although Xiao Chi didn't wear a mask, he was wearing a helmet.

just in case.

Although the Drunken Cloud Tower occupies a large area, its entrance and exit are only about ten meters wide.

It is just enough for four vehicles to enter and exit at the same time.

As soon as Xia Ming and Xiao Chi got out of the car, a young man in a suit and glasses walked up to them.

"Thank you for your hard work, officers. You're still on duty so late at night."

He wore an eager smile, but his hands never stopped moving.

Xiao Chi had just reached out to shake hands when he noticed an envelope in his hand.

I estimate it's over eight thousand yuan.

He quickly handed it over: "Stop with all this nonsense, open the door. We're here today to conduct an inspection of Zuixiaolou. Don't worry, it won't take too long."

Upon hearing this, the bespectacled man, though still smiling, froze.

He picked up the walkie-talkie, "Brother Chen, Brother Chen, there's something coming up at the door, come over right away."

"Yes, it's urgent!"