Chapter 44: Military Pledge (Subscriptions Requested)

Deep in the night, the moonlight resembled flowing water!

The office of the county public security bureau was once again packed with people, but just as before, the atmosphere remained heavy and tense.

Not only were the head and deputy captains of the criminal investigation team present, but the chief and deputy chiefs of the county bureau, along with heads of the armed police and militia units, were all in attendance. Everyone was consumed with anxiety over the major "June 15" case.

"Comrade Anguo, brief us on the progress of your criminal investigation team," Director Zhang said in a deep voice from the primary seat.

Wang Anguo immediately stood up and reported, "Director, over the past few days, our criminal investigation team, together with comrades from the various township police stations, has verified and tallied every single village across all communes in the county. We have finally confirmed that the number of missing children has reached nineteen, including eleven boys and eight girls!"

"Furthermore, we have verified that June 15 was not actually the date of the first incident. In fact, a child from a family in Commune No. 6 went missing as early as June 11, only their family failed to report it in a timely manner!"

"Over the past few days, through sorting out the case details, we can basically confirm that this is a gang operation. The number of suspects is likely around ten. They should have a well-established channel for trafficking children, with a considerable portion of the gang being outsiders, supplemented by local accomplices, or perhaps locals directly involved in the case..."

At this point, Director Zhang directly interrupted Wang Anguo and asked again, "I don't want to hear about how you plan to crack the case; I just want to know if you have found those suspects!"

"No!"

"And what about the children? Have they been found?"

"No!"

"If you haven't found the people, fine, what about clues? Do you have any?" Director Zhang asked again.

"None either," Wang Anguo replied with a hint of frustration.

Director Zhang slumped somewhat dejectedly against his chair, sighed, and said, "Comrades, the county and municipal authorities want us to solve the case within a week, but we don't have a single clue right now. Do you know the consequences?"

Having served as police officers for so many years, how could everyone present not know the consequences of this matter?

The situation had blown up to such an extent that it had triggered panic throughout the entire region. If the turmoil could not be quelled in time, someone would inevitably have to take the fall and be held responsible.

At this moment, Deputy Director Ye also spoke up, "This afternoon, Director Zhou of the municipal bureau called the county bureau. If we don't have a breakthrough by tomorrow nightfall, he will personally lead a team to Qingshan County to oversee the operation. When that happens, those who should be dismissed will be dismissed, and those who should be investigated will be investigated!"

"Comrades, all of us are now grasshoppers on the same rope. If we fail to crack this case, every single person present will face disciplinary action!"

Director Zhang said in a deep voice, "Disciplinary action is secondary. What I simply cannot stomach is that we have deployed so many people—not just top graduates from police academies, but also combat heroes demobilized from the military. How is it that we can't find those children? Could it be that they can make themselves invisible?"

"Moreover, the uniforms we wear carry the responsibility of protecting the common people. If we fail to solve this case, we not only fail the state for investing in our training, but we also fail the people for the trust they place in us!"

Wang Anguo suddenly stood up and declared, "Director Zhang, Deputy Director Ye, I, Wang Anguo, will definitely capture those human traffickers. If this case cannot be solved, I will tender my resignation to take the blame!"

"Good, that's some backbone!"

Then Director Zhang was heard saying again, "However, that doesn't solve the problem. The most important thing for us right now is to catch the traffickers and rescue the children. Does your criminal investigation team have any suggestions?"

"Director Zhang, right now our military, police, and militia have searched every place where people could possibly hide, yet we still have nothing to show for it. Clearly, the place where the other party is hiding people is simply too secretive. Instead of searching like this looking for a needle in a haystack, why don't we mobilize the common people to help us look together?" Wang Anguo proposed.

Director Zhang frowned and said, "Mobilizing the common people to search together is tantamount to telling them that we, the public security organs, are out of options. This will inevitably cause panic on an even greater scale!"

Wang Anguo immediately retorted, "This is already our only option now. Only by mobilizing the common people can we possibly find more useful clues..."

"Alright, let me think about this further!"

Director Zhang cut Wang Anguo off, and the meeting room fell silent once again!

.......

Returning from the meeting room, Wang Anguo walked back to his office with a weary expression.

He hadn't closed his eyes for three days. Not only were his eyes dry and watery, but his head was also throbbing fiercely.

He knew this was caused by extreme exhaustion, and if it became severe enough, it could even lead to sudden death.

Yet he couldn't fall asleep. The moment he closed his eyes, he was haunted by the arrogant laughter of the human traffickers and the terrified, weeping cries of the children, making it impossible for him to rest in peace.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

"Come in!"

The office door was pushed open, and his good brother Li Gang walked in carrying a large porcelain bowl.

"Where did you get dumplings?" Wang Anguo asked in surprise.

"Your wife sent them!"

"My wife is here? When did this happen?"

"While you were in meetings! Sister-in-law knew you definitely haven't been eating or sleeping well these past few days, so she wrapped up some dumplings and brought them over. I'm so envious I could die!" Li Gang said with a smile.

"If you're envious, why don't you get married? Instead, you get chased all over the streets by your old man with a leather belt over this. Aren't you embarrassed?" Wang Anguo couldn't help but complain.

This brother of his was good at everything, except for some reason he disliked interacting with women. He was already twenty-four; children of other people his age were already old enough to run errands, yet he didn't even have a girlfriend.

"Women are too much trouble, too lazy to look!"

"You..."

Before Wang Anguo could scold him, Li Gang cut him off and said, "I heard you made a statement at the meeting—that if you can't solve the case, you'll resign to take the blame. Are you serious?"

"I've already issued a military pledge, serious or not, what does it matter now?" Wang Anguo said as he wolfed down the dumplings in large mouthfuls.

"What are you thinking? This case is extremely difficult to begin with; how could it possibly be solved in just a few days? Do you really want to strip off this uniform?" Li Gang asked in a deep voice.

"It might not necessarily remain unsolved."

"You have a lead?" Li Gang asked hurriedly.

"No!"

"If you have no clues, where does your confidence come from?"

"I plan to go see that person tomorrow," Wang Anguo suddenly blurted out with an inexplicable statement.

Li Gang was stunned at first, then blurted out, "You... you don't actually believe that charlatan can help you solve the case, do you?"

Wang Anguo smiled and said, "That's not necessarily true. He was even able to divine my life and death, so he might just be able to help me crack this case. Besides, he already warned me when this matter first began; going to see him won't hurt."

"Then... then I'll go with you tomorrow!" Li Gang said.

"Fine! And by the way, let him tell your fortune too. Who knows, that kid might hit you with a line about facing a bloody disaster as well!" Wang Anguo said with a laugh.

"If he really dares to say that, I'll slap him right across the face on the spot!"

"Alright, even if he says that, you can't lay a hand on him. That's my savior!"

"Understood..."