Chapter 731 - 646: The Best Actor Is in the Room (Part 2)

"However, it’s too early to draw any conclusions right now. The urgent task is to find the people! Find Li Shang, or find the special commissioner!

The truth must be based on solid evidence, not on some people’s baseless rumors and reckless comments.

If Zhang Deming dares to attack me with such unfounded things, he’d better watch out or he might end up with his last tooth broken and unable to eat again.

President Lu, what do you think?"

Wang Xinfa stared intently at Lu Chenjia. Although he was talking about Zhang Deming, his gaze was locked on Lu Chenjia.

Lu Chenjia tactfully lowered his head, avoiding Wang Xinfa’s intense gaze.

After all, Lu Chenjia had already subtly hinted his thoughts, but outwardly, he still had to give some face to the high-ranking Member of Parliament.

An official’s power often correlates with the firmness of their words. To them, admitting weakness or mistakes is akin to eroding their own foundation, so they always stand firm to the end.

But Lu Chenjia was just a businessman, the opposite of officials.

The profit a businessman can leverage depends on how much humility their backbone can bend.

Bowing, lowering the head, or even prostrating – as long as it’s about their interests, they’d gladly kneel to death if needed.

Thus, Lu Chenjia inwardly sneered:

"Wang Xinfa is still the same as always, no wonder he’s known as the toughest guy in the Executive Government. The only one who can compete with him is Zhang Deming—the narrowest-minded man in the Executive Government."

On the surface, though, he seemed to humbly accept the lesson and said:

"Yes, yes, the Member of Parliament is right. It’s my lack of understanding in investigations, just talking nonsense."

Lu Chenjia extinguished his cigar, picked up his tea, and took a sip.

Wang Xinfa’s face slightly relaxed, though he kept sneering internally:

"Businessmen are all like that, needing a little reminder now and then. Otherwise, they get too full of themselves thinking they can dine at the same table with me, actually believing they’re on the same level. It’s utterly laughable."

Li Hanyu sat quietly the whole time, like a delicate backdrop, nervously intertwining her fingers on her knees.

She keenly sensed the invisible tensions between the two men, but couldn’t intervene, so she cautiously observed their words and actions.

Internally, she muttered to herself:

"Heh—men, such insatiable creatures. Clearly, they have enough to choke on already, yet they’re fighting over a bone in the pot."

On the surface, she displayed a gentle smile, pouring the amber tea into the blue-and-white porcelain cups in front of them and soothingly interjecting:

"Xinfa, calm down. President Lu is just worried.

We are all in this together. When stormy seas arise, we must think and act in unison. Unity is the most important thing."

Wang Xinfa, Lu Chenjia, and Li Hanyu all picked up their teacups and took a sip, briefly exchanging glances and smiling at each other.

—Officials, businessmen, whores!

The three best actors in the world were sitting in a room, showcasing their performances, enacting a... Masked Feast.

Wang Xinfa, with a face full of smiles, accepted Lu Chenjia’s acknowledgment of error and turned his gaze back to Hou Wendong, who had been standing respectfully nearby, asking:

"Now, who is managing the on-site investigation and search outside? Who’s in charge over at the Patrol Office?"

Hou Wendong was prepared, immediately bowing and reporting clearly and steadily:

"To the honorable Member of Parliament, the incident was sudden. Both captains of the Patrol Office are currently unreachable.

Therefore, the preliminary search and investigation are temporarily being handled by Commissioner Zheng Geng from the Executive Government’s Mechanical Department."

Hou Wendong paused briefly before continuing to add:

"However, the subsequent ownership of the case, which captain or commissioner will be fully responsible... will likely be decided at tomorrow’s regular Executive Government meeting, where all Members of Parliament will review and finalize the candidate."

The information about "Zheng Geng" surfaced in Wang Xinfa’s mind—a commissioner from the Mechanical Department of the Executive Government, whose reputation... was complicated.

In short, he was like a "rock in a toilet pit," stubborn and difficult.

The Jade Garden was clearly a hot potato, evident to anyone with insight, a pit to be avoided by anyone with connections who knew the ways of officialdom.

Zheng Geng, being unpopular, was consequently pushed out temporarily to handle the mess, which seemed reasonable.

However, the ensuing bad news was troubling:

Zheng Geng was not part of his faction. While he could instruct him based on his position, making him act as directed was almost impossible.

The relatively good news was:

Zheng Geng also didn’t belong to Zhang Deming’s faction. Zhang Deming’s tactics of coercion and temptation also didn’t work on this "stubborn rock."

Within the faction-filled Executive Government, Zheng Geng was an extremely rare anomaly, a truly non-factional official, the type who just buries themselves in work.

This kind of person simply doesn’t know how to be an official.

Wang Xinfa, possessing a strong desire for control, quickly formulated a plan in his mind. Perhaps trivial matters could be handed over to Zheng Geng, but not this event.

This was a major affair. Letting Zheng Geng handle it was too dangerous. In a way, entrusting such a person to lead the investigation was even riskier than letting someone from Zhang Deming’s side take over.

Ultimately, Zhang Deming was bad, but not stupid.

In the worst-case scenario, there could still be room for negotiation in the shadows—compromise, exchanges, dialogue, always some room for maneuver.

Whereas someone like Zheng Geng, who doesn’t understand the "bigger picture," can sometimes cause indiscriminate and limitless damage.

After pondering for a moment, Wang Xinfa made up his mind to replace Zheng Geng at tomorrow’s meeting, ensuring that someone from his side was in charge.

Originally, his most preferred candidate was naturally Li Shang. Using the status of a Patrol Office captain, coupled with the title of "Detective," taking charge of this case would be rightful and meet the least resistance.

Unfortunately... now Li Shang’s life and whereabouts were unknown.

Even if he could miraculously appear right now, his involvement in suspicion had already rendered his possibility of leading this case almost nonexistent.

But no matter what, Wang Xinfa was determined to get the lead investigator into his hands.

Only in this way could he best prevent others from splattering mud on himself and manipulate the case to splatter mud on others.

Of course, this wouldn’t be easy, certainly requiring another round of confrontation with Zhang Deming.

Indeed, the position of Chief of Patrol Office was quite important, and after this affair, a trusted person must be promoted.

As Wang Xinfa’s thoughts raced, he suddenly caught a detail in Hou Wendong’s words and inquired suspiciously:

"Wait a minute! You just said both captains are unreachable? Besides Li Shang, who else is it?"

Hou Wendong immediately replied:

"It’s Feng Ju. Originally just a minor constable in the Patrol Office, recently promoted to captain by the special commissioner’s favor, highly valued by him."

He paused slightly, as if recalling more information, then added::

"His phone has also been unavailable, with continuous unanswered calls. Additionally, Feng Ju is Feng Mu’s father."

As Hou Wendong reported, Wang Xinfa didn’t pay much attention to the last bit of information. To him, both Feng Ju and Feng Mu were insignificant.

Whether they were father and son or not, why would it matter to him, nothing of concern.

However, Lu Chenjia nearby narrowed his slit-like eyes slightly, casting a playful gaze at Li Hanyu.

Li Hanyu exhibited the right amount of surprise on her face, as if this was the first time she heard of it, but that surprise rippled away like waves, disappearing quickly.

She swiftly adjusted her expression to one of indifference, mirroring Wang Xinfa’s own.

Wang Xinfa frowned and said:

"Another one unreachable, two captains disappeared simultaneously?"

Hou Wendong understood what the Member of Parliament wanted to ask, so he replied:

"Honorable Member, clear sight. However, according to the initial survey on site, Captain Feng Ju’s personal vehicle was not found within the Jade Garden.

This indeed is different from Captain Li Shang’s situation, so Captain Feng Ju being unreachable might just be due to a temporary communication issue."