Chapter 53: Trespassing

Zhou Mei called her friend.

Her friend spoke lightly, saying the fine amount was usually negotiable. Talk to the leadership, explain your actual situation—young people starting a business, that's not easy. When the time comes, they'll reduce the fine; as long as you can get by, that's enough.

But when Zhou Mei told him the fine was one million three hundred thousand, and their small shop couldn't even bear a hundred thousand, silence fell on the other end.

That was the usual rule with fines.

The amount could be reduced, but there was a limit. If it came down to half, that would already be fortunate; expecting it to drop to a tenth was merely wishful thinking.

After the call, Zhou Mei lost her initial ease.

"Should I ask Captain Zhang to call their director?" she suggested.

Miao Ruolan, whose heart had sunk into despair, was suddenly hopeful again.

Yet as Zhou Mei took out her phone, she stopped. "It still won't work. Even if Captain Zhang makes the call, at most they'd bring it down to thirty percent. You still couldn't afford it. This is truly troublesome..."

"Xiao Su once said, according to the law... Sister Zhou, what exactly does the law say?"

"I mainly study criminal law. I haven't really looked into market regulations," Zhou Mei replied. "Those enforcement officers must have legal grounds. Finding loopholes is unlikely."

That, too, was the general rule.

Enforcement officers wouldn't knowingly break the law; it's their profession.

So, when ordinary people face such situations, they only think about how to minimize losses as much as possible within the bounds of the law, not about solving the issue fundamentally through legal means.

Because that's their specialty.

"But..." Miao Ruolan said, "He said that these criminals gave us this deadly blow to drive our detective agency out of Phoenix City! If that's true, then they might knowingly break the law."

Zhou Mei was startled. "To drive you out of Phoenix City... What about him? Have him come over, let's discuss!"

Miao Ruolan immediately called Lin Xiaosu.

The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

Zhou Mei tried calling with her own phone, but still received no answer.

"What's going on?" Zhou Mei frowned.

"He said when he left, he was going to deal with Captain Zhou! He said it right in front of Captain Zhou..." Miao Ruolan replied.

"Damn!" Zhou Mei exclaimed. "We just talked about breaking the law knowingly; I hope he doesn't do something reckless at this critical moment..."

Miao Ruolan grew anxious.

She knew what Lin Xiaosu was capable of.

He practiced ancient martial arts!

He could kill with a single stone.

That skill was comforting on a battlefield full of danger, but in peacetime, within the rule of law, when his rage was overwhelming, it was the most unsettling element.

Please, don't do anything foolish...

But now, the arrow had left the string; the kite's string was cut.

Lin Xiaosu had left the detective agency and melted into the unknown corners of Phoenix City, a city of two hundred thousand people. He wouldn't answer his phone, making negotiation impossible.

They could only send a message.

The message was delivered, but whether he read it remained unknown!

Lin Xiaosu rode his electric scooter, crossed four blocks, occasionally stopped to look around, his gaze hollow and detached...

A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.

Around ten o'clock, he rode to a residential complex at the West Gate.

Ahead, a courier entered the neighborhood on a motorcycle; Lin Xiaosu followed.

Courier went into Building Twelve.

Lin Xiaosu entered Building Ten.

He took the elevator straight to the seventh floor. 701, he pressed the doorbell.

The door opened. A graceful woman, probably in her forties, looked at Lin Xiaosu in surprise. "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm here for Deputy Director Liu."

"He's at work, not back yet."

"No problem, I'll wait for him!" Lin Xiaosu raised his hand, caught the door, and pushed his way in.

The woman's expression changed. "What's wrong with you? I didn't invite you in!"

"Does it matter whether you allow me or not?" Lin Xiaosu walked to the coffee table and sat down grandly. "No one can stop me from entering where I want!"

"Get up! Or I'll call the police!" The woman pointed at Lin Xiaosu sitting on the sofa, her voice rising sharply.

"The phone's over there," Lin Xiaosu gestured to the partition by the media wall.

It was made of ebony, quite luxurious.

Her phone was tucked on the inside, barely visible, but Lin Xiaosu pointed it out directly.

The woman grabbed her phone but hesitated...

Lin Xiaosu glanced around. "Nice décor! All paid for with bribes, I suppose?"

"What... what do you mean?" Now the woman truly didn't dare to call the police, unable to figure out who this man was.

"The meaning is quite clear, isn't it?" Lin Xiaosu reclined on the sofa, crossing his legs.

"Who... who are you? What do you want with our Old Liu?"

"I'm Lin Xiaosu, detective from Phoenix City Detective Agency!" Lin Xiaosu said. "Deputy Director Liu sent people to my agency early this morning and slapped a sky-high fine on us—one we can't afford."

The woman's heart, suspended in midair, finally settled.

So, it was just someone pleading about a fine.

She'd seen such things countless times.

And usually, people knocked cautiously, arms laden with gifts, all seeking favor. How could anyone be so rude as today?

Those who were polite were treated politely—at least with a smile and tea. But for someone as rude as Lin Xiaosu, clearly not.

The woman said coldly, "Work matters, see him at his office! Get out!"

"You haven't heard me out!" Lin Xiaosu said. "What I'm telling you is... I can't afford his fine, so I plan to let him go in first!"

"What do you mean?"

"Still don't get it! Seems our Deputy Director Liu is only good at bribery, not so much at wooing women!" Lin Xiaosu continued. "Let me be clear: I intend to see Deputy Director Liu spend a few years in prison. I came by today to let you know, so you can prepare some winter clothes for him in advance."

The woman stared at him intently...

Lin Xiaosu looked at her from the sofa and smiled lightly. "Your eyes reveal a lot. It seems you already know about his crimes!"

His words were calm, but the woman's back began to sweat coldly.

"I know you'll call your husband next. I'll give you some privacy—go to your room..."

"You... you just wait! I'll call the police!" She turned and walked into the room, and as the door opened, Lin Xiaosu's gaze was detached...

The door closed briefly, but everything inside was imprinted in his mind—not just what he saw, but what happened last night...

The City Security Bureau, also on the seventh floor.

Deputy Director Liu's office was spacious and tidy.

Deputy Director Liu's full name was Liu Dong, forty-six years old, at the peak of his career.

Rumors had circulated recently in the bureau: the director was about to retire, and Liu Dong, the senior deputy director, would soon be promoted. His closest subordinates had even congratulated him in private.

So, he had been feeling quite proud these days.

Yet now, his face was dark.

Because his trusted subordinate Zhou Luping had reported someone's outrageous behavior today!

"My trouble has come..." Liu Dong said coldly. "Let me see how much power he really has!"

"He seems to have a good relationship with Captain Zhang Haokong from the criminal investigation team. Maybe he thinks with the captain backing him, no one in Phoenix City can touch him," Zhou Luping said.

"Heh, that's just a matter of perspective! From his standpoint, a criminal investigation captain seems like a local king, but he doesn't know that the captain is just a position, equal to mine! If he dares act recklessly, he won't be captain for much longer!"

"Exactly. Right now you're equals, but in a few days, you'll be meeting with his superior! Lin Xiaosu trusts him blindly as if he's a king, but really he's just a country bumpkin," Zhou Luping laughed.

Just then, the phone on Liu Dong's desk rang.

"Is the captain calling you now?" Zhou Luping joked.

"No, it's my wife..." Liu Dong answered. "Honey!"

"Come home right now!" came a voice from the phone.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone's here—Lin Xiaosu from the Phoenix City Detective Agency..."

"Heh, so he's found his way to my house! Tell him to leave immediately," Liu Dong said indifferently.

The voice on the other end dropped and spoke at length...

Liu Dong's brows gradually furrowed...

At last he said, "I'm coming home now!"

He hung up, his expression grim.

"Director Liu, Lin Xiaosu really went to your home?" Zhou Luping's smile vanished.

"Yes," Liu Dong nodded.

"He's really lawless! Call the police! I'll tell the West City station to arrest him immediately—charge him with unlawful entry!"

"No need for now. I'll go see for myself," Liu Dong gathered up the things on his desk and stood.

"Director Liu, let me go with you."

"No need," Liu Dong left the office and went downstairs...

Under normal circumstances, he really should have chosen one of Zhou Luping's two options: either call the police or bring a couple of subordinates. A detective breaking into his home should definitely be dealt with decisively.

But he rejected both options.

Because Lin Xiaosu had made it clear he was not here in peace.

He had mentioned bribery several times.

And Liu Dong had no idea how much Lin Xiaosu knew. If he brought others, who knew what Lin might say in their presence?

That was the common flaw of those who had done too many bad things.

When Liu Dong arrived home, Lin Xiaosu was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, not even bothering to stand, while his wife, Deng Lan—renowned among the ladies of Phoenix City—stood by the window, arms folded.

It was a posture ready for battle.