After earning the trust of Inspector Huang and the other two through his "abilities," Arden, along with the three of them, boarded a police vehicle and headed for the Throne Quarter Public Security Station to rendezvous with the local personnel.
Because there was a mole for the Axe Gang inside the Throne Quarter Public Security Station, this operation was led primarily by the Janus Quarter Public Security Station. Still, personnel from the Throne Quarter were arranged to provide assistance.
After all, Inspector Huang and his team had long been active in the Janus Quarter and were not very familiar with the Throne Quarter's situation or terrain, so support from local officers was necessary.
"Welcome, everyone!"
The assisting officer from the Throne Quarter was a very capable-looking female Public Security officer. "I'm Liu Mingyue, serving as an Inspector. I'll be responsible for assisting all of you this time."
"Hello, Inspector Liu."
After that came the customary handshakes and introductions.
"Inspector Liu, please try to assign personnel you trust to assist us as much as possible."
After Inspector Huang made this perfectly reasonable—but not particularly easy—request, the group entered the conference room to discuss the next steps of the operation.
Not long ago, the Throne Quarter Public Security Station had arrested one of Brother Kun's subordinates. Inspector Liu had used some small tricks to pry information out of him, obtaining the location and timing of the Axe Gang's next transaction.
Thus, everyone decided to use this transaction as an opportunity to catch them red-handed and completely resolve the Axe Gang problem.
In truth, with the power of the Public Security Bureau, dealing with the Axe Gang was not difficult. The problem was the lack of evidence—after all, in a civilized society, people cannot simply be arrested and convicted at will.
"Sorry about this, Consultant Xu. It looks like you might have come here for nothing."
Inspector Liu said this to Arden.
On the surface, she sounded apologetic, but her sense of pride was far more obvious.
After all, she was the one who obtained the intelligence. If this operation resulted in a successful arrest with evidence, her contribution would be the greatest—and there would be no need for Consultant Xu to help identify any internal mole.
"Heh, it's no problem. I'm happy to take it easy. In any case, the consulting fee won't be a cent less."
The price paid to invite Arden out was not low. And as he said, compared to running around New Eridu, he would much rather stay at Yunkui Summit and spend time with Ju Fufu, Yixuan Shifu, and the other people close to him.
Still, deep down, he had a vague premonition that the Axe Gang matter would not end so simply.
…
After Inspector Liu arranged the operational personnel, Inspector Huang's group of four did not disperse, but continued their discussion.
"Inspector Liu's intelligence is worth trusting, but I think it still needs verification."
Inspector Huang wasn't doubting Inspector Liu herself—it was just that the Throne Quarter Public Security Station likely had an internal mole. It was possible that the information being used as the basis for the operation was deliberate misdirection by the Axe Gang, meant to draw the task force away while the real transaction was completed elsewhere.
Therefore, he had to be cautious—extremely cautious.
"You mean…?" Qingyi guessed.
"That's right. Before the operation, I want to make contact with the undercover agent and confirm the authenticity of the intelligence."
Inspector Huang's arrangement was indeed very reasonable. But when the three factors—"Inspector Huang," "undercover agent," and "pre-operation meeting"—came together, Arden instinctively sensed a certain uncertainty… or rather, danger.
"Inspector Huang, leave the contact with the undercover agent to me."
Thus, Arden volunteered, taking the initiative to handle the meeting with the undercover agent.
...
At dusk, the streets were lined with shops glowing in red and green neon lights. Scantily clad women stood about, energetically soliciting business.
This was the red-light district of the Throne Quarter—a perfect place for a rendezvous.
Arden took off his Daoist robes and changed into a white-collar office suit. Like an ordinary customer, he walked down the street, occasionally glancing at the women standing along the roadside, as if choosing tonight's companion.
"Hey, handsome, come have some fun!"
"….."
He wasn't actually here for that. Arden ignored the enthusiastic women.
With so many beautiful companions at home, he had no interest whatsoever in dirty, low-quality temptations.
He arrived at the designated meeting point.
This was a relatively secluded side road, much quieter than the main street. Arden looked around, but did not see the expected figure.
Did I arrive too early?
He took out his phone, about to check the time—
Hmm!!
Suddenly, a small but chilling blade was pressed against Arden's neck.
"Don't move!"
At the same time, a woman's voice came from behind him.
There was no killing intent. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to escape Arden's perception. Even in this situation, he had plenty of ways to counterattack—but he didn't.
The female voice matched the one in his memory. Combined with the time and location, Arden could be certain that the person behind him was Jane Doe.
"Don't misunderstand."
Arden raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. "It's Inspector Huang—"
"The code phrase!"
Jane Doe didn't trust him just because of a single sentence and demanded the passphrase.
"A harem of three thousand beauties!"
Arden spoke the code phrase he knew.
"Even an iron rod can be ground into a needle!" Jane immediately replied.
"….."
The code matched, but Arden's mouth still twitched.
He had no idea who came up with this passphrase—it felt like it was specifically mocking him.
With divine techniques backing me up, I'm not grinding anything into a needle!
Arden had absolute confidence in his own abilities. No matter how many "winds" might come in the future, this dragon would still be able to hold on and remain vigorous.
...
After the passphrase was confirmed, Arden felt the blade withdraw from his neck. He turned around and looked directly at the rat Thiren standing very close to him.
"Hello. I'm Arden Xu, from Yunkui Summit. I'm serving as a consultant for this special operation."
Arden extended his hand in a friendly manner, but Jane Doe had no intention of shaking it.
She wrapped her blade-tipped tail around her thigh—the very thing that had just been pressed against Arden's neck.
"Daoist Xu, huh? I know you. Yunkui Summit's famously outstanding disciple."
From the emotion in her tone, Jane Doe seemed to harbor some prejudice against Arden.
Yet Arden was certain this was their first meeting.
Perhaps being undercover for too long, living in the shadows—no matter how open-minded someone was, prolonged pressure would inevitably cause some emotional suppression?
In any case, Arden didn't mind such a small matter.
"This is something Inspector Huang asked me to give you."
After checking his surroundings and confirming there were no suspicious individuals, Arden slipped a storage device into Jane Doe's hand.
"Give this to Inspector Huang!"
Jane Doe also handed him a storage device. "I've found that Brother Kun and the Axe Gang are planning a major operation soon, but I haven't figured out the specifics yet… You know the situation—I was originally undercover in another gang and was only absorbed into the Axe Gang three months ago. I haven't fully earned Brother Kun's trust."
"Any news about the internal mole?" Arden asked.
"…"
Jane Doe didn't answer. She simply shook her head.
===BREAK===
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