dmims Chapter 186: We must strike hard!
Chapter 186: We must strike hard!
Upon receiving the urgent report from Qingniao in Osaka, Lu Mingfei was leaning back on the sofa in his Peninsula Hotel room, his fingers unconsciously tapping the coffee table.
Outside the window was Tokyo's dazzling, sleepless night view, but his eyes remained icy cold.
The report contained information about an abandoned genetic laboratory, traces of victims from multiple ethnic groups, a unique snake-man Deadpool, and a hasty but orderly evacuation.
Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, they gradually pieced together a disgusting picture in his mind.
"It seems the Snake Clan... isn't clean either."
This was his first reaction after hearing the report, tinged with cold sarcasm.
Chu Zihang and his two companions secretly traveled to Osaka. Although their itinerary was made public, theoretically only Lu Mingfei knew the specific location and purpose, apart from themselves.
Although it was unpleasant that Yuan Zhisheng and his men were following them, it was understandable, since they were investigating a case on someone else's turf.
But ironically, right under Genji's nose, the people in that laboratory managed to get wind of it in advance and escape completely, leaving only a pile of wreckage behind.
what does this mean?
This means that there is likely a mole within the Sheqi Bajia's action team, and that the mole is of a high rank and has access to core tracking information.
The organization hidden in the shadows has infiltrated the Snake Clan to the point of being all-pervasive and even monitoring their key actions in real time.
Genjiro, the so-called emperor and young master of the Snake Clan, couldn't even keep his subordinates' most basic operations secret, and he was always one step behind when investigating clues...
"A complete waste."
Lu Mingfei gave the Snake Clan a bad review in his mind without any hesitation.
But despite the criticism, the matter still needs to be resolved.
The Snake Clan is unreliable, and is even a sieve in itself, so the focus of the investigation must be adjusted.
Lu Mingfei picked up the encrypted communicator and gave new instructions to Chu Zihang's team in Osaka.
"I received Bluebird's report. The situation is more complicated than expected."
"First, there is a high probability that there are problems within the Snake Clan. Their actions cannot be fully trusted, and we must be especially wary of the intelligence they provide and their so-called assistance. We must maintain independent judgment."
"Second, although the lab was abandoned, the evacuation was hasty, and it's impossible to erase all traces. Focus on tracing their evacuation route, the means of transportation they used, and their possible new locations. Start with the waste at the scene, the equipment models, and even the records of water, electricity, and internet access. Don't overlook any small clues. Fingel, use your expertise to try data recovery and network tracing."
"Third, the remains of those Deadpools and experimental samples are also clues. Try to analyze their genetic characteristics and cultivation methods to see if we can deduce part of the purpose and source of the experiments. In this regard... we can cooperate with the technical departments of the Snake Clan to a limited extent, but the core data and findings must be in our own hands, especially the part involving samples from Chinese victims."
He paused and added:
"I will communicate with Genjiro. But don't have too high expectations for how much effective help he can provide. Your core task is to investigate that mysterious organization itself, not to help the Snake Clan clean house."
"If there are any problems, communicate at any time. In case of emergencies or discovery of key clues, make decisions on the spot, and take coercive measures if necessary. Safety first."
After issuing the instructions, Lu Mingfei cut off the communication and turned his gaze back to the window.
The internal corruption of the Snake-Headed Eight Families, the cruel experiments of a mysterious organization, the bounty on Erii and the sound of clappers, and the last Shadow Emperor Uesugi Koshi who suddenly "resurrected" and became active again...
The various forces are deeply intertwined, and undercurrents are surging.
He originally came to investigate a transnational human trafficking case, but now he feels like he's being drawn into a bottomless vortex, the center of which seems to hold the deepest secrets of the Japanese-mixed-race world.
"This is really... a constant stream of trouble."
Lu Mingfei rubbed his temples, feeling a slight throbbing.
But he didn't have much time for reflection.
He needed to sort through all the clues at hand, assess the movements of all parties, and especially ensure that Erii's runaway trip would not become a new target, while also keeping an eye on Minamoto no Chinobu's condition in the Qin Dynasty.
Fighting on multiple fronts, it's hard to distinguish friend from foe.
It seems I need to find some time to have a good chat with Uesugi Koshi, who's been quite active lately.
This last Shadow Emperor seems to know a lot about the old stories of the Snake Clan, and he has an unusual concern for Erii.
Over the next few days, the investigation by Osaka proceeded in a delicate atmosphere of tension.
Chu Zihang, Finger, and Qingniao maintained a high degree of independence.
Like the most discerning hounds, they radiated outwards from the abandoned gene laboratory, leaving no trace of anything unusual.
Yuan Zhisheng's face grew more and more gloomy each day, but he was ultimately no mediocre talent.
After initial mistakes and passivity, the young emperor demonstrated decisiveness and action commensurate with his status.
He temporarily set aside the endless internal suspicions and infighting, and personally led a small group of his most trusted elites.
Mainly his close retainers, such as Crow and Yaksha.
They maintained a somewhat distant, parallel investigative relationship with Chu Zihang's team.
Both sides share some non-core intelligence, but each has its own independent investigation line and freedom of action, verifying each other's information while also being wary of each other.
Genjiro utilized the vast network of connections and underground intelligence systems that the Snake-Headed Eight Families had cultivated for countless years in Osaka and even the Kansai region.
These capabilities may lag behind in dealing with highly covert, high-tech crimes, but they still have an irreplaceable advantage in tracking people, especially domestically.
Over the course of a few days, they actually managed to uncover some clues together.
They identified several vans that frequently appeared before and after the lab evacuation, all using fake license plates.
The trucks' routes eventually led to a closed-off dock area in Osaka Port, a chaotic mix of privately leased small warehouses and berths that has become a breeding ground for smuggling and illegal activities.
"They likely want to move personnel and key samples out of Japan, or at least out of Honshu, by sea."
At an impromptu intelligence meeting, Genjiro pointed to the Osaka Port area on a map, his voice cold and stern.
Chu Zihang nodded silently and added, "They are highly organized, their retreat plan is meticulous, and they have external funding and logistical support. This is definitely not a small group that acted on a whim."
Fingel, munching on some local food he'd bought from who-knows-where, mumbled something:
"And their methods are really wild, even using modified monsters as scavengers and transportation? These people are playing pretty big games. I have a feeling... the purpose of this experiment is not just to create thugs or sell organs."
"We'll move in tonight. They should be in that dock area. With our senses, they can't escape!"
Genjiro planted the knife he always carried into the red dot marked on the map, his gaze fierce.
The Kansai branch is no longer trustworthy, and he doesn't plan to call them anymore. Judging from that experimental institution, they've been here for much longer than just a day or two!