BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 92 A Worthy Opponent (Part 1)

It would still take some time for Shen La and Tu An to arrive. In the meantime, Sun Desheng divided three more display screens and pulled up footage from all the major airport corridors over the past week.

Without blinking, Fatty Sun stared at the fast-forwarded recordings, as though trying to find something hidden within them.

Standing behind him, Che Qianzi could vaguely see what he was doing.

“You’re looking for traces of that ‘fat man,’ aren’t you? Someone who could avoid so many cameras in the airport must have surveyed the place beforehand. But with so much footage, can you really check all of it?”

“As long as he came here beforehand, your big brother can find him.”

Sun Desheng kept his eyes fixed on the screen.

“I’m telling you, from the days when I first became a cop until now, I’ve never met an opponent like this. The fact that he can stay one step ahead of me, Sun Desheng, makes me want to praise him.”

As he spoke, Fatty Sun increased the playback speed once more.

“This man calculated almost every possible scenario in advance, and his cultivation isn’t weak either. Forget the Great Scholar’s mediocre abilities—even so, the fact that someone could silently take him down without anyone noticing means his skills are probably above those of the Two Yangs.”

Che Qianzi looked unconvinced.

“You’re praising that ‘fat man’ to the heavens. If he were really that capable, able to foresee everything, then Li Guangquan’s incident wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

Seeing Che Qianzi’s reflection in the monitor, Sun Desheng finally smiled.

“Brother, nobody could have predicted a ghost that lustful.”

“But after the incident, his response was incredibly fast. He cut off every lead we could follow. If it weren’t for the airport being a hurdle he absolutely couldn’t avoid, I wouldn’t even dare guarantee that we’d ever find him.”

Still unconvinced, Che Qianzi snorted.

“You make him sound so incredible. Then how confident are you that you can catch him? What gives you the right to?”

“Brother, I’ve never done anything with one hundred percent certainty.”

Sun Desheng paused the video and rubbed his aching eyes.

“That man only relies on his little tricks and his cultivation. Your brother here is different.”

“I can mobilize the power of the state.”

At that moment, the airport loudspeakers echoed throughout the terminal:

“Dear passengers, we regret to inform you that due to communication equipment issues at the airport, all flights have been temporarily suspended. Departure times will be announced separately. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

After hearing the announcement, Sun Desheng grinned and made a face at Che Qianzi.

“Heard that? Push me far enough, and I’ll shut down the entire airport. Every single person will be inspected.”

“As long as the comb is fine enough, sooner or later you’ll comb out the lice.”

With that, Fatty Sun resumed the playback and continued checking the surveillance footage at several times normal speed.

Another half hour later, Shen La finally arrived, looking travel-worn.

Before coming, he had already exchanged information with Secretary Yang. As soon as he entered the control room, he said:

“Great Sage, imposing air traffic control twice in one day has already alarmed the Ministry. Secretary Yang’s been called in for questioning. For all the times he opposes you, when it matters, the two of you are still tied to the same rope.”

“Of course.”

Sun Desheng chuckled.

“Otherwise, why do you think I pushed him to the front?”

Then he asked:

“Where’s Tu An? Why didn’t he come with you? Don’t tell me Secretary Yang changed his mind again.”

Shen La smiled.

“Secretary Yang is afraid of dying. He’s worried there might be accomplices who’ll attack him while everyone’s away from the Bureau, so he kept Tu An there.”

“Let’s get back to business. What’s the situation? What do you need me to do?”

“So Tu An can’t come…”

Sun Desheng lowered his head and thought for a moment.

“Secretary Yang has disrupted my plans again.”

After a brief silence, he said:

“La Zi, change your hair back to its original color. Then walk around the airport once. Come back afterward, and we’ll discuss our next move.”

Shen La had never questioned Sun Desheng’s decisions.

Two rounds of air traffic control in a single day meant that something major had happened.

Without asking what the danger was or whether he himself would be at risk, he simply turned and left the control room.

Watching his departing figure, Che Qianzi couldn’t help feeling envious.

“Fatty, your brother is really something. No wonder you’d entrust your wife and children to him.”

“He’s your second brother too. The three of us are all the same.”

Sun Desheng smiled.

“If one day you ask me to do something, I’ll go without hesitation too.”

As he spoke, Sun Desheng finally found the image he had been searching for.

On the screen appeared an elderly man, smiling as he deliberately looked up toward the surveillance camera.

“See? You couldn’t escape after all.”

“In the end, your brother found you.”

Fatty Sun immediately extracted the image and sent it to the Bureau personnel left behind, ordering them to investigate the man’s background.

Che Qianzi didn’t understand.

“Fatty, there are dozens of old men like that entering the airport every day. What’s strange about looking around a few times? Earlier I even saw an old granny doing the same thing. I don’t see anything suspicious.”

“Nothing suspicious?”

Sun Desheng chuckled.

He brought up footage from other locations throughout the same day.

To Che Qianzi’s astonishment, the old man appeared at every surveillance point.

He even deliberately lingered in each area for a while.

It was obvious he was testing the cameras and mapping out their blind spots.

Only then did Che Qianzi suddenly understand.

Not long afterward, the Bureau sent back their investigation results.

Sun Desheng turned on the speakerphone so that his little brother could hear.

“Bureau Chief Sun, we’ve identified him.”

“His name is Ma Ruhai, Hui ethnicity, native of Beijing. He currently lives at Building 5, Apartment 2-1, East District One, Niujie. His ID number is…”

“Three days ago, he purchased a ticket to Shanghai. Airport records show that he completed check-in, but for some reason he never boarded.”

“However, at the same time, surveillance footage from a convenience store in Niujie shows him there.”

“It should have been someone else using his identity to purchase the ticket.”

“Right now, Ma Ruhai is still at the senior activity center in Niujie.”

“We have live footage of him. Shall we send it to you?”

“No need.”

Hearing that the identity had once again been stolen, Sun Desheng sighed helplessly.

After hanging up, he smiled bitterly at Che Qianzi.

“This guy is too cautious.”

“I thought he’d use his real appearance while scouting the airport.”

“Who would’ve thought that was fake too?”

“Looks like we’ll have to do this the hard way.”

“Brother, come here. I need your help.”

Che Qianzi walked over.

Although only Old Mo and a few Bureau personnel were present, Fatty Sun still leaned close and whispered several words into his ear.

The moment Che Qianzi heard them, his eyes widened.

He stared at Sun Desheng.

“Fatty, are you sure you want me to do this? You should let Yang Jun handle it. He’s more suitable.”

“That man isn’t stupid.”

Sun Desheng smiled.

“Big Yang is probably already under his surveillance.”

“I’m telling you, brother…”

“There’s no one more suitable than you.”

At that moment, Shen La returned after making his rounds around the airport.

Sun Desheng winked at him and said:

“La Zi, we’ve been waiting for you.”

“Come over. I’ve got a job for you…”