MWC – Chapter 156 The End of the Road

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

In Room 429, Zahavi, two prosecutors, and two police officers were all tied up in a corner. Their uniforms had been stripped off, leaving them in their underwear. Some who were only in briefs were forcibly made to wear big, colorful boxer shorts.

They all had their mouths gagged. Zahavi’s eyes were filled with fury, and he was biting down on the gag in his mouth so hard it was about to shred.

Originally, Lu Ming had agreed to go with them, but after calling his lawyer and discussing something with Wen Liangyu, as they were just leaving Wen’s office, a group of people suddenly rushed out from a nearby room, held them down, and tied them up, even stripping them of their clothes.

Zahavi was furious, but looking at Lu Ming, who was sitting calmly by the phone, his heart suddenly sank.

Was the informant’s accusation completely true? Was this guy really behind the assassination of the border commissioners?

Now that it was about to be exposed, was he starting to act desperately, taking everyone down with him?

The Renault couple, who were said to be kidnapped, were also here. Were they really kidnapped?

Thinking of this, Zahavi felt a chill in his heart, but also a sense of confusion. Why hadn’t he thought before that if this guy was the mastermind behind the assassination, he would be very dangerous? Why had he kept coming to his lair repeatedly? Why?

Was it because he had always been very attentive to him, and after taking this case, he studied him even more deeply, so deep down, subconsciously, he didn’t really believe he was the mastermind behind the case?

Because it wasn’t his style? He was indeed ruthless, but it was always in an open and straightforward manner, bringing people down under broad daylight, leaving them with nothing to say.

That’s why he had never thought that being too close to him, especially when he was about to be exposed, would be very dangerous for him?

Zahavi sat there, dazed and confused.

The Renault couple, who were also initially held here, now had much better treatment.

Catherine had forgotten her mission to kill Lu Ming with her gaze. She was now shocked, seeing these newly tied-up people.

She probably thought this guy had gone crazy, tying up everyone he saw. What was he planning to do?

From the phone conversations she overheard, the case of the border commissioners didn’t seem to be related to him. So what was he doing now? Was he planning a rebellion?

It had been about an hour since Zahavi and the others were tied up and brought in.

Lu Ming just sat there quietly.

Suddenly, the phone rang urgently.

Lu Ming picked it up, and his face immediately turned ugly after listening to the conversation.

Suddenly, he took a couple of steps and slapped Zahavi.

Zahavi’s face stung, and he looked up at Lu Ming in shock, forgetting to be angry for a moment.

Everyone else was also stunned, watching this scene.

Lu Ming pointed at Zahavi, gritted his teeth, and then turned and walked out.

…

In the study, Lu Ming silently smoked a cigarette.

Opposite him sat Zahavi, now fully dressed, wanting to say something. Lu Ming waved his hand, “Forget it. The hospital said his life can be saved.”

Zahavi stood up, “Then, Commissioner Lu, I’ll take my leave. There are still many matters to attend to.” He paused, “If he ends up disabled, I’ll take care of that young man for life.”

Looking at Zahavi’s gaze, Lu Ming was suddenly dazed. This guy, with his graying beard, was already quite old, but in this moment, his eyes had a strange look, like a child who had done something wrong being scolded by his father.

A few hours ago, that slap had been an overreaction out of anger.

Lu Ming had said he was calling a lawyer, but in fact, he had contacted an informant at the police station. The informant had just found out the situation and was about to secretly relay the information to him. It turned out that the person who reported him this morning was Justice Party member Yang Guiren.

Yang Guiren was the one who originally came to Wind Bao with young Renault. He was a former district three councilman who had announced he would no longer run for the district three seat.

He had reported that Lu Ming conspired with the Gao Wang family, did many bad things, and even caused the death of Gao Debei’s youngest son, forcing Gao Debei to retire.

The border committee had received his report and held a hearing for Lu Ming, which led to the assassination attempt.

Yang Guiren had initially reported Lu Ming anonymously to the border committee. He had been struggling with his conscience for days and had finally overcome his fear of exposure, stepping forward to report this demon.

He said that the original report materials he had collected were sent to the border committee and should have been destroyed by the gunman sent by Lu Ming, but he could confront Lu Ming and would no longer be afraid of him.

These details from the informant surprised Lu Ming. Was Yang Guiren the last piece Renault had hidden, ready to testify against him at a critical moment?

But given their understanding of him, they should know that he was never afraid of witnesses giving false testimony.

In court, false testimony always had flaws as long as the witness was alive.

So, Yang Guiren was probably doomed too.

However, according to the original plan, there was no need for concrete evidence to prove that he was behind the assassination of the border commissioners. All that was needed was to make it look like he did it.

In that case, he would never be able to clear his name.

So, Yang Guiren’s accusations were somewhat redundant.

Then there was another possibility: this move was not directed by old Renault.

Because from the intercepted calls between old Renault and Shelfer, it seemed he hadn’t realized the danger was coming.

So, what about the Bucklow family, which had been lurking in the shadows?

The Bucklows had access to far more information than old Renault. Had they sensed some dangerous signal?

And he was now caught in the rumors of kidnapping old Renault’s eldest son.

As he had told Zahavi at the beginning, if he showed his face on the street now and was shot dead, it would seem reasonable.

Was Yang Guiren acting on the Bucklows’ orders, just to lure him out? To have him taken to the police station for questioning?

Because the Bucklows, sensing a crisis through various channels, had decided to go all out and eliminate him, ending all the chaos.

After all, he was still the prime suspect in the assassination of the border commissioners in the eyes of the high authorities. If he died, no one would really want to overturn the case for an outsider like him. This would likely end a case that might never be solved, making everyone happy.

And the subsequent developments of the situation were not too far off from his expectations.

The reality was that the two cars returning to the police station with Zahavi and his companions were filled with plastic mannequins dressed in prosecutor uniforms and Lu Ming’s usual clothes. Since the car windows had curtains, people outside could only get a general idea of who was inside.

Sure enough, the two cars were ambushed near Fengshun Bridge, not far from the police station. The two drivers, chosen by Wen Liangyu as death-defying loyalists, were wearing bulletproof vests, but one of them was severely injured and was reported to be in critical condition.

This was why Lu Ming had slapped Zahavi. 

In fact, an ambush on police vehicles in a busy city would inevitably lead to the gang’s downfall, and it was impossible to cover up the incident. The armed group, equipped with sophisticated weapons, was exposed even more quickly because one of them was shot and couldn’t escape.

It turned out to be a core member of the Iron Mountain Gang, Joseph’s brotherhood. The man was straightforward, admitting that the ambush was aimed at Lu Qianxing because he had kidnapped and killed the eldest son of their benefactor, Mr. Old Renault.

“The law can’t punish him, so we will.”

The Iron Mountain Gang was somewhat similar to the Mafia in Donghai, with loosely organized internal factions, unlike the more traditional Eastern-style gangs managed by Wen Liangyu.

Now, Zahavi was urging the police to arrest and pursue Joseph and his gang. He had returned here from the police station to check on the severely injured driver’s condition.

“Yang Guiren committed suicide, right? Poisoned?” Lu Ming suddenly asked.

Zahavi, looking somewhat dejected, nodded.

Lu Ming smiled, “This matter can be interpreted from two angles. You, having experienced it firsthand, should understand that Yang Guiren was meant to draw me out. Whether I died or not, he would likely have died regardless; but now that I’m alive, people will think he died because he reported me by name.”

Pondering for a moment, Lu Ming said, “Even if we catch Joseph’s brothers, they probably don’t know the truth and are genuinely seeking revenge for the Renault couple. Their actions aren’t directly related to Yang Guiren’s report or death.”

“Commissioner Lu, rest assured, I will uncover everything!” Zahavi swore with determination. “I won’t let you suffer an unjust accusation!” He paused, looking earnestly at Lu Ming, “Commissioner Lu, if I make a mistake in the future, please scold me. I won’t complain!”

Lu Ming froze, seeing a strange, almost longing light in Zahavi’s deep eyes, making him shiver. Ever since he slapped Zahavi, it seemed like the man wanted to treat him like a father.

After hearing Han Annie’s story, Lu Ming had thoroughly investigated Zahavi. He had grown up in a servant’s family, with a weak and lazy father who had a habit of stealing money.

In the end, it was Zahavi who prosecuted his father and sent him to the gallows.

Perhaps his father had always been a source of shame for him.

Zahavi had grown up wild, with an extreme personality and no parental guidance. His rise to his current position showed his considerable talent, determination, and effort.

He had never married and was known for being a strict enforcer, indicating significant psychological issues given his background.

Now, it seemed that Lu Ming’s slap made Zahavi feel a paternal discipline he had longed for but never received?

This was terrifying!

“Old Zahavi, go handle your work!” Lu Ming coughed.

“Okay, okay!” Zahavi responded.

Lu Ming thought for a moment and said, “Actually, you don’t need to worry about me. The case is almost solved. The other side is just a cornered beast. Think about it, they had to sacrifice their last MP, pushing him to suicide. It shows they have no more tricks left. Even though Yang Guiren had announced he wouldn’t run for MP again, he hadn’t resigned yet and was still an MP. Yet, he ended up dead because he was involved in this case.”

“So, think about it. They have no more cards to play. Who would dare get involved in this case knowing it leads to a bad end, even for an outgoing MP?”

Zahavi listened intently, nodding silently.

Lu Ming continued, “I can almost guess who orchestrated this thing with Yang Guiren and the Joseph brothers. It was their last strike, whether it hit or missed. They were trying to clear themselves.”

“Maybe it’s some kind of signal.”

“Old Zahavi, by now, you should have some suspects in this case. Who do you think is behind all this?”

“Old Renault, perhaps.” Zahavi smiled. “Of course, I’m analyzing from your perspective. You’ve been entangled with the Renault family recently. Even Joseph’s brothers ambushed you for revenge on the Renault couple.”

He glanced at Lu Ming, “Commissioner Lu, besides Old Renault, who else do you suspect? Give me some clues. I’m still the head of the special task force but feel like an outsider!” He said, smiling bitterly, “Commissioner Lu, please give me some inside information, will you?”

There was a hint of a child pleading with an elder, making Lu Ming shiver, his scalp tingling. He waved his hand, “Old Zahavi, go handle your work!” This wasn’t a case of a man-child but a terrifyingly twisted individual.

At this moment, someone brought in the Renault couple. Zahavi glanced at them but said nothing, placing his hand on his chest in an ancient gesture of his people before leaving.

“You two can do as you please.” Lu Ming waved dismissively at Shaquille Renault and his wife.

Shaquille was startled, “Commissioner, we’ll stay here to see if we can assist you.”

He was joking; the outside world was chaotic, with prosecutors’ vehicles ambushed. The couple feared they’d be gunned down if they stepped out of Wind Bao’s door.

Surprisingly, staying with this demon felt safest now. If the demon didn’t want you dead, being around him felt oddly secure.

Lu Ming waved, “I don’t need your help anymore. I think your father would most want to see you now. Give him my message: you two haven’t committed any major crimes and haven’t been involved in anything serious. I won’t hold it against you!” He added, “I’ll arrange for someone to escort you home.”

Shaquille Renault’s heart skipped a beat. The message sounded terrifying, but he dared not say more and could only nod dejectedly, “Okay, thank you, Commissioner Lu.”

…

In a luxurious study, Old Renault stared at his son and daughter-in-law.

After the initial immense joy, he now sat silently, contemplating Lu Ming’s message. His expression was extremely complicated.

“Father, about that call mentioning a gunman…”

Old Renault shook his head, “I understand.” He sighed deeply, “We thought we were outsmarting him, but from the beginning, we were in his trap!”

“And now, with Yang Guiren dead, everything is over…” Old Renault muttered in despair, “It’s all over…”

Shaquille Renault looked at his father, puzzled. “Father, was Yang Guiren also…” It seemed like Yang Guiren’s death was a signal of some sort.

Old Renault, tired, waved his hand, “You don’t need to understand or ask…”

Shaquille fell silent.

“Shaquille, you know the company’s situation. It’s already difficult. Recently, I’ve used a large amount of funds, and various negative news and audits will follow, from officials, business partners, and even those hungry wolves who seem to be our relatives. They’ll come out to bite us…” Old Renault looked lovingly at his son, gently stroking his hand. “Shaquille, you must be strong, understand?”

“Father, don’t say that. Nothing will happen to you!” Shaquille felt a lump in his throat, his heart aching.

Old Renault smiled, gazing out the window with a distant look. “I don’t regret it. I did my best, but I failed. Everyone has successes and failures. I regret not teaching your brother better…” He paused, stopping Shaquille from speaking, staring intently into his eyes. “Son, remember my words. If I die, it has nothing to do with Lu Qianxing. Don’t seek revenge. Do you understand?” His tone was solemn.

“Father, you won’t die, you won’t…” Shaquille choked, shaking his head.

Old Renault looked at Catherine, “You must help him. He’s never faced setbacks. I’m really worried…”

Catherine’s eyes were red as she wiped away tears.

“Shaff, you’re here. Good, you’re always punctual.” Old Renault looked up and suddenly smiled.

A graceful middle-aged man entered the study, Old Renault’s will lawyer.

“Come, everyone is here. I want to amend my will now! Shaff, come, I haven’t drunk alcohol, haven’t used drugs, and no one is forcing me. I know exactly what I’m doing, and my mind is clear, right?! So, this will modification will be legally binding, won’t it?” Old Renault smiled.

Shaff looked at him silently, nodding gently, “Yes, Mr. Renault. If you modify your will now, it will take effect immediately upon your death.”

“Good, good… Let’s start with the epitaph. I’ve always wanted to write it myself.” Old Renault smiled, slowly sitting back on the sofa. “Let me think, where to start… Oh, from the summer I first met their mother. It was a bright day…”

Shaquille Renault looked at his father, tears blurring his vision.