This sense of danger was different from the sharp killing intent of the sniper in the parking lot before, and also different from the crazy brutality of the assassins in the elevator.
This was a calmer, more seasoned, and… more elusive threat.
It was as if an experienced venomous snake had silently infiltrated the hunting ground, calmly observing in the darkness, searching for the best moment to deliver a fatal strike.
Who was it?
The police?
Their attention should have been firmly drawn by the fake Ding Qing.
Lee Joong-ku?
He had just received the DNA report and was in a chaotic state of rage and suspicion; his subordinates shouldn't have such a master capable of causing him such intense vigilance.
Then who could it be?
Johnny's gaze sharply swept across the calm sea outside the window, the distant highway, and the blurred city skyline even further away.
Everything looked normal.
But he trusted his intuition.
This was a survival pre-warning, more precise than any radar, formed after countless times crawling out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, though it was sometimes effective and sometimes not.
"A-Jin,"
Johnny's voice was still calm, but his pace was slightly faster, "Raise the outer perimeter alert level, and activate the second monitoring protocol. Pay special attention to all unfamiliar faces approaching this area recently, especially those who… look particularly ordinary or particularly inconspicuous."
"Yes, Mr. Zhang!" A-Jin, though not understanding why, immediately took the order and left.
Ding Qing also noticed the subtle change in Johnny's tone and put away his smile: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Johnny turned around, his eyes deep, "It might just be a misconception. But it's always good to be careful."
This dangerous premonition of being targeted by a top-tier peer, however, became increasingly clear.
The storm had not subsided with the confirmation of Ding Qing; instead, beneath the seemingly calm surface, a more deadly, more unknown undercurrent was brewing.
Johnny knew he had to be more vigilant than ever before. Because this time, the opponent might no longer be the obvious tigers and leopards, but a predator of his same caliber, hidden deeper.
In Lishui City, in a secluded traditional tea house.
Sandalwood incense wafted, but it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere of calculation in the air.
After urgent assessment and internal maneuvering, the police finally adopted Chief Jiang's suggestion: rather than letting the crazy and uncontrollable Lee Joong-ku take power amidst the chaos, it would be better to support a relatively weaker, more easily manipulated puppet to temporarily fill the power vacuum of the Goldmoon Group's chairman, in order to achieve the goal of checks and balances and division.
They chose Zhang Shouji.
Zhang Shouji, a veteran director of the Goldmoon Group, had deep qualifications but always lacked sufficiently powerful direct influence and daring. He had been suppressed by Ding Qing and Lee Joong-ku for many years and was a typical fence-sitter.
He had no small ambition, but had endured for many years, and now was the best candidate for the police to utilize.
At this moment, Zhang Shouji sat upright, with an undisguised excitement and a hint of deliberately feigned composure on his face, looking at the two people opposite him: Chief Jiang Chenghao of the Police Agency, and Li Zicheng, a director of the Goldmoon Group.
Chief Jiang slowly poured the tea, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority: "Director Zhang, you are well aware of the current situation. Ding Qing is critically wounded and near death, Lee Joong-ku has just been released from prison and is acting increasingly erratically. The group's internal morale is shaken, and there is an urgent need for a respected elder to stabilize the overall situation and lead the Goldmoon Group onto the right track."
Zhang Shouji bowed slightly, his tone humble yet unable to hide his eagerness: "Chief Jiang overstates it. Shouji is of limited talent and knowledge, and I fear I cannot bear such a heavy responsibility. Now the group faces both internal and external troubles..."
Although he spoke these words, his flickering eyes betrayed his true thoughts.
Chief Jiang waved his hand, interrupting his polite remarks: "After comprehensive evaluation, the police believe you are the most suitable candidate at present. We will use our resources to ensure you receive sufficient votes of support in the upcoming interim board meeting."
He changed the subject, his gaze turning to Li Zicheng, who had remained silent and looked extremely displeased: "Of course, this requires strong internal support. Director Li Zicheng, deeply trusted by... former Chairman Ding Qing, holds considerable real power and connections. His public support is crucial to you."
Swish!
All eyes instantly focused on Li Zicheng.
Li Zicheng's face instantly turned ashen, his fists clenched under the table until his knuckles turned white, and his body trembled slightly.
Support Zhang Shouji?!
What a joke!
To gain Ding Qing's trust, his hands were stained with blood, including that of his own colleague, Xin Yu!
He had just been forced to completely sever his path back to the police force during Ding Qing's "dying moments," and now his body and mind were enduring immense torment and a sense of tearing apart!
And now, Chief Jiang, the person who pushed him into the abyss of hell, casually asked him to immediately turn around and support another person, Zhang Shouji, who would reap the benefits?
What did he take him for?
A dog that could be summoned and dismissed at will, without dignity or stance?!
A servant to three masters?!
An uncontrollable surge of anger and humiliation instantly overwhelmed Li Zicheng's rationality!
"Bastard!!"
He suddenly erupted, fiercely grabbing Chief Jiang's collar and lifting him entirely out of his seat!
The teacup was knocked over, and scalding tea splashed onto both of them!
Li Zicheng's eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, as he let out an extremely suppressed growl at Chief Jiang's face: "What do you take me for?! A dog?! To be called and dismissed at will! You want me to support whoever you say?! Do you know what I..."
"Li Zicheng!"
Although Chief Jiang was being held by his collar and found it a bit difficult to breathe, his eyes were calm. He gently patted Li Zicheng's hand, "Mind your place!"
He stared intensely into Li Zicheng's almost fiery eyes, lowering his voice, but his words were like a poisoned dagger: "Don't forget who you are! You are a police officer! You are an undercover agent infiltrated into the gang! Obeying orders is your duty! Right now, stabilizing the Goldmoon Group and preventing Lee Joong-ku from completely losing control is the highest order! This is what you should be doing! Do your part, and don't think too much about anything else!"
"Police... undercover..."
When Li Zicheng heard these two words, it was as if he had been struck by an electric current. The strength in his arms instantly loosened, and his eyes filled with immense pain and a sense of absurdity.
Police? Undercover?
Which police officer has to personally execute his own colleague? Which undercover agent has to completely integrate into the darkness and can never turn back?
Chief Jiang tidied his disheveled collar and sat back down, as if the conflict had never happened, "Li Zicheng, I know you're under a lot of pressure. But this is for the greater good. Helping Director Zhang stabilize the situation is the greatest help to us. After this is done, you will not be forgotten."
Zhang Shouji, standing by, watched the intense conflict with a seemingly gentle but actually hypocritical smile, observing coldly.
Seeing Li Zicheng so easily "persuaded" by Chief Jiang, the smile on his face deepened.
He picked up a newly poured cup of tea and offered it to Li Zicheng, who was still gasping heavily and whose eyes were confused. His tone carried a hint of a victor's superiority and undisguised utilization: "Director Li, don't be so hot-headed. Chief Jiang is right, everything is for the future of the group. So... I'll be relying on your support from now on. Together, we will surely stabilize the situation."
He emphasized the words "relying on your support" with particular weight, full of sarcasm.
Li Zicheng looked at Zhang Shouji's hypocritical face, listened to his condescending tone, and then saw Chief Jiang's cold expression of "everything is for the mission." He felt a chilling coldness and disgust to his core.
He slowly sat down, as if all his strength had been drained, his eyes staring blankly ahead.
He knew he had no choice.
From the moment he was chosen by Chief Jiang to be an undercover agent, from the moment he shot and killed Xin Yu, he had already embarked on a one-way road from which there was no turning back.
He was just a chess piece, a piece that could be sacrificed and manipulated at any time. His so-called police identity had long become a curse that imprisoned his soul and caused him to constantly fall.
"...I understand."
Li Zicheng's voice was hoarse and dry, almost inaudible, "I will... support Director Zhang."
When he said these words, he felt a part of himself completely die.
Chief Jiang nodded with satisfaction.
Zhang Shouji's smile became even brighter.
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