Gao Wu: I inherited the evil organization in the game

Chapter 646 The best actors are in one room
Hou Wendong felt a chill run down his spine, as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Indeed, at the dinner table of power, there are no friends, only interests.

Seeing the dark cloud hanging over Wang Xinfa's face, almost dripping with ink, Hou Wendong hurriedly stepped forward and spoke:
"President Lu's idea is quite ingenious. However, I personally believe that since Captain Li's car is parked at the entrance of Emerald Garden, which is some distance from the special envoy's villa, there may not be any necessary connection between the two."

Perhaps... it's just an unfortunate coincidence?

Upon hearing this, Lu Chenjia slowly took a puff of his cigar and exhaled a perfectly round smoke ring.

He neither refuted nor agreed, but simply maintained a chilling silence.

This reserved attitude is far more unpredictable and unsettling than a heated debate.

Wang Xinfa put his glasses back on, the lenses concealing the cold glint in his eyes. He smiled faintly:

"Mr. Lu, what do you mean? Are you doubting Li Xiang, or are you doubting me, Wang Xinfa?"

The last sentence was uttered with a sudden drop in tone, like a draft blowing through the room in the dead of winter, instantly making the room temperature drop several degrees.

Li Hanyu visibly flinched, and Hou Wendong's heart also leaped into his throat.

Lu Chenjia put down his cigar, his smile instantly vanishing.

"Congressman, you've misunderstood. How could I possibly doubt you?"
I, Lu Chenjia, have absolute trust in you. We've worked together for so many years, and we know each other very well.

The special envoy from the city is just a mascot; he has absolutely nothing to do with us, let alone any conflict of interest.

Therefore, even if something were to happen to the special envoy, I am absolutely certain that it has nothing to do with you.

However, the gloom on Wang Xinfa's face did not improve at all because of Lu Chenjia's "make-up"; on the contrary, the color became even darker, almost freezing into ice.

Sure enough, the next second he heard Lu Chenjia's tone become more sincere, as if every word was meant to "share Wang Xinfa's burdens":
“Councilor Wang, you are very busy. How many important matters of the Executive Yuan are waiting for your approval, and how many departments are waiting for your coordination?”
Even if you had three heads and six arms, you couldn't possibly know what every single person under your command was thinking, right?

He sighed and tentatively asked:
"What if... I mean, what if Li Xiang does something behind your back... um, something rather dangerous?"
Or, is there some unknown grudge between him and the special envoy in the past? You can't entirely blame yourself for not noticing these minor details.

Wang Xinfa pondered for a moment, then let out a cold laugh:
"Ha! President Lu is really giving Li Xiang too much credit. He's just a small constable. Even if he can handle some cases, what can he do to the special envoy even if he had ten thousand times the courage?"
He simply doesn't possess that ability.

Lu Chenjia made a face as if she had just realized something:

"The congressman is right, I was overthinking it."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice low.

"I'm just worried... We know Captain Li doesn't have the ability or the motive, but we can't stop others from not believing us, and we can't stop some people from trying to make a fuss about it."

He paused, then lowered his voice and uttered a name:
"For example...you know best about Councilor Zhang Deming's methods."

His specialty is making a mountain out of a molehill and spreading rumors to attack his opponents. I'm worried he'll use this opportunity.”

The words were not finished, but the meaning was already clear.

Wang Xinfa was enraged by Lu Chenjia's words, his temples throbbing, but he couldn't vent his anger.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip. The scalding tea made his tongue numb, but it was nothing compared to the anger in his heart.

What's even more infuriating is that Lu Chenjia's implication wasn't entirely unfounded.

He knew Zhang Deming, that political shark, very well. As Lu Chenjia said, once that old man sensed even the slightest possible connection between the "disappearance of the special envoy" and "Li Xiang's disappearance," he would be in serious trouble.

Even if the connection is as fragile as a spider's web, the latter will do everything in its power to weave it into a noose strong enough to snap its own neck.

The latter will use the mouthpieces they control to spread all sorts of true and false, confusing rumors, and then launch tricky questions at government meetings.
He would also magnify and distort any unsubstantiated clues, ultimately constructing heinous charges of "negligence," "connivance," or even "mastermind."

Although deep down Wang Xinfa did not believe that he could be brought down by slander and mudslinging.

Although his influence in the government was not as deep as Zhang Deming's, the power he had cultivated over many years was not as fragile as a broken egg.

However, he understood a principle even more clearly: striking an opponent often does not necessarily require ultimately killing them; the process of striking itself is a huge drain and a victory.

Constant dripping wears away a stone!
Every time a rumor arises, every time public opinion ferments, every time a difficult question is raised, it sends a clear signal to the entire power ecosystem that "the east wind prevails over the west wind."

The officials, big and small, in the government are best at waiting for the wind to come and following the trend.

Wang Xinfa sneered inwardly. He gave Lu Chenjia a deep look, then put on a fake smile and said:
"President Lu's reminder is not without reason. Zhang Deming is a man who is used to stirring up trouble, so we really have to be careful. I will pay attention."

He nodded slightly, as if genuinely accepting his dining companion's reminder, but the shift in his words carried an undeniable firmness:
"However, it is too early to draw any conclusions now. The most urgent task is to find the person! Find Li Xiang, or find the special envoy!"

The truth must be based on irrefutable evidence, not on the words of a few individuals who make baseless accusations and fabricate stories.

If Zhang Deming dares to attack me with such baseless accusations, he'd better watch out for his old teeth breaking and him never being able to eat again.

Mr. Lu, what do you think?

Wang Xinfa stared intently at Lu Chenjia. He was talking about Zhang Deming, but his gaze was fixed on Lu Chenjia.

Lu Chenjia wisely lowered her head, avoiding Wang Xinfa's intense gaze.

In any case, Lu Chenjia had already hinted at his meaning, so naturally, they still had to give the high-ranking councilor some leeway.

An official's power is often directly proportional to the degree of his stubbornness. For him, admitting defeat and making mistakes is tantamount to destroying his own foundation, so he always sticks up his guns and refuses to back down.

Ke Luchenjia is a businessman, the exact opposite of an official.

The profit margin a businessman can leverage depends precisely on how many humble curves he can bend.

Bending over, bowing one's head, or even crawling on one's stomach—as long as there is profit to be made, one would kneel until death with relish.

Therefore, Lu Chenjia sneered inwardly:
"Wang Xinfa is still as tough as ever. He truly deserves to be called the most stubborn man in the government. The only one who can rival him is Zhang Deming—the man with the smallest mind in the government."

On the surface, he feigned fear and humility, accepting the instruction with deference:
"Yes, yes, the councilor is right. I don't know how to investigate cases and I was just talking nonsense."

Lu Chenjia stubbed out his cigar and took a sip of his tea.

Wang Xinfa's expression softened slightly, but inwardly he couldn't stop sneering:

"Businessmen are all shameless. They need to be given a nudge from time to time, otherwise they'll get cocky and think that just because they can sit at the same table with me, they're on the same level as me. It's utterly ridiculous."

Li Hanyu remained a poised backdrop throughout, sitting obediently to the side with her hands nervously clasped on her knees. She keenly sensed the unspoken tension between the two men, yet she couldn't get a word in edgewise, only able to cautiously observe their expressions.

He thought to himself:

"Ha—men, they're all insatiable. Even when they're stuffed with enough meat in their bowls, they'll fight tooth and nail for a bone in the pot."

On the surface, however, she smiled a perfectly timed, gentle smile, lifting the teapot and precisely pouring the amber-colored tea into the blue-and-white porcelain cups in front of them, while smoothing things over in a soft voice:

"Xinfa, calm down. Mr. Lu, you're just worried."

We're all on the same side, in the same boat. When storms come, we must think and act as one; unity is the only way forward.

Wang Xinfa, Lu Chenjia, and Li Hanyu simultaneously picked up their teacups, took a sip, their eyes briefly met in the air, and smiles appeared on their faces.

—Officials, businessmen, and prostitutes!
The three most skilled actors in the world are currently sitting in a room, putting on a show of acting prowess, staging a... masquerade feast.

Wang Xinfa accepted Lu Chenjia's apology with a smile, then turned his gaze back to Hou Wendong, who had been standing respectfully to his side, and asked:

"Who is currently in charge of the on-site investigation and search operations outside? And who is in charge at the police station?"

Hou Wendong was prepared and immediately bowed, reporting in a clear and steady voice:
"Reporting to the councilor, the situation is sudden. Both captains of the police station are currently out of contact and cannot be reached."

Therefore, the on-site search and preliminary investigation are temporarily being handled by Commissioner Zheng Geng of the Secretariat of the Executive Yuan.

Hou Wendong paused briefly, then continued:

"However, the question of who will be in charge of the case afterward... will probably have to wait until tomorrow's regular government meeting for all members to deliberate and decide before a final decision can be made."

Information about "Zheng Geng" surfaced in Wang Xinfa's mind—a specialist in the General Affairs Department of the Executive Government, whose official reputation... was hard to describe.

In short, he's like a "stone in a latrine," stubborn and unyielding.

Emerald Garden is currently a hot potato, a huge pitfall that anyone with eyes can see. Anyone with a bit of background and who understands the ways of officialdom will definitely try to avoid it if they can.

Zheng Geng was unpopular, so it was reasonable for him to be pushed out as a temporary scapegoat.

However, the bad news that followed was even more troublesome:
Zheng Geng did not belong to his faction. Although he could use his status to order him around, it was impossible for him to be completely at his beck and call.

The good news, on the other hand, is:

Zheng Geng did not belong to Zhang Deming's faction, and Zhang Deming's methods of coercion and inducement were equally ineffective against this "stinky rock".

In the faction-ridden government, Zheng Geng was an extremely rare anomaly, a true "faction-free" official who only focused on his work.

This kind of person has no chance of becoming an official.

Wang Xinfa was a very controlling person. He quickly made up his mind. He could probably leave other trivial matters to Zheng Geng, but not this one.

This is a matter of great importance and cannot be handled by Zheng Geng. It would be too dangerous. In fact, to some extent, letting someone like Zheng Geng lead the investigation would be even more dangerous than letting Zhang Deming's people take over.

After all, Zhang Deming was bad, but not stupid.

At the very least, the two sides can still make deals behind the scenes—compromise, exchange, dialogue—there is always room for negotiation.

Officials like Zheng Geng completely lack the understanding of "putting the overall situation first," and sometimes the damage they cause is indiscriminate and limitless.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Xinfa made up his mind that he must replace Zheng Geng with one of his own at tomorrow's meeting.

Originally, his favorite person was naturally Li Xiang. As the captain of the police station, and with the title of "detective," it would be legitimate for him to take charge of the case, with the least resistance.

Unfortunately... Li Xiang's fate is now unknown, and there is no trace of him.

Even if he were to miraculously appear now, his chances of taking charge of the case are extremely slim due to his own involvement in the case.

But no matter what, Wang Xinfa is determined to get his hands on the person in charge of the investigation.

Only in this way can he protect himself from being smeared by others and from being manipulated to smear others.

Of course, this will definitely not be easy, and there will inevitably be another battle with Zhang Deming.

Sure enough, the position of police chief is still very important; after this incident, a trusted confidant must be promoted to the position.

As Wang Xinfa's mind raced, he suddenly noticed a detail in Hou Wendong's words and asked suspiciously:
"Wait! You just said you couldn't contact either of the captains? Besides Li Xiang, who's the other one?"

Hou Wendong immediately replied:

"It's Feng Ju. He was originally just an insignificant constable in the police station, but he was promoted to captain recently because of the special commissioner's appreciation. He is highly regarded by the special commissioner."

He paused briefly, as if recalling more information, and then added:
"His phone was also constantly unreachable and went unanswered. In addition, Feng Ju is Feng Mu's father."

Wang Xinfa listened to Hou Wendong's report but didn't pay much attention to the last supplementary sentence. In his eyes, Feng Ju and Feng Mu were both insignificant figures.

Are they father and son? What is their relationship? Why should he care?

Lu Chenjia, standing to the side, narrowed his long, narrow eyes slightly, his gaze filled with amusement as he looked at Li Hanyu.

Li Hanyu's face showed just the right amount of surprise, as if it were the first time she had heard of this, but this surprise was like a ripple on the water, fleeting in an instant.

She quickly composed herself, adopting an indifferent expression identical to Wang Xinfa's.

Wang Xinfa frowned and said:

"Another one has gone missing. Both team leaders have gone missing at the same time?"

Hou Wendong knew what the councilor wanted to ask, so he replied:

"The councilor is wise. However, according to the initial on-site investigation, Captain Feng Ju's private vehicle was not found within the Emerald Garden area."

This is indeed different from Captain Li Xiang's situation; therefore, Captain Feng's disappearance may simply be due to a temporary communication breakdown.

(End of this chapter)