In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 19 Mission
Feeling a lump in his throat, Lu Zhao reached for his cigarette case and found he was out of cigarettes.

Zhang Like handed over a pack of cigarettes: "Try my Yellow Crane Tower cigarettes, even a dog wouldn't smoke your 'Best Under Heaven'."

"My dad likes to smoke, and I got used to the smell when I was a kid."

Lu Zhao lit a cigarette, took a few deep drags, and after exhaling smoke for a while, said, "We're not even that close. If we tell them, we'll at most get a reprimand or punishment. What's the point?"

His brother Lu Kang was the same. Even though his father enlisted and he didn't have to go to the front lines, he still secretly enlisted without telling his family and eventually died in the beast tide.

My sister-in-law became a widow, and my niece lost her father at a young age.

In the South China Sea, there are many single-parent families. In each family, a man once squatted at his doorstep, smoked a cigarette, and then called a few brothers and friends to go into the armed forces department. He never came back.

"Because we are soldiers, and they are all border guards."

Zhang Like answered matter-of-factly, then quipped, "You can't just demand that you be a hero while assuming everyone else is a coward."

Lu Zhao did not refute.

He wouldn't have revealed a single word to the bandits either; counter-terrorism is their duty as border guards.

Killing the Green Bandits themselves and dying because of them were both fulfilling their duties and the missions they had sworn to.

Zhang Like revealed, "Next, we will conduct a second round of raids with the task force."

Lu Zhao grabbed Zhang Like's arm and said firmly, "I want to participate."

“I’m here to recruit you.” Zhang Like naturally wouldn’t refuse. “This is also an opportunity. Assisting in cracking down on a terrorist organization is a major achievement. I also need your assistance. If the mission is completed well, it will also be credited to me.”

Without Lu Zhao, Zhang Like was somewhat at a loss when faced with such a large case. This was not a simple criminal case; it involved two extraordinary individuals.

They cannot shake the Federation, but Zhang Like's personal safety as an individual cannot be guaranteed.

He further revealed: "This case is not isolated, but a nationwide case of stolen remains, which is being investigated and handled under the unified command of the Wude Hall."

"Could the treasure vault for the life bones have been robbed?"

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat.

The major cases investigated nationwide are probably not as simple as just one or two.

Not all life bones have suitable successors. These unsuccessful life bones are sealed away and reserved as rewards for meritorious service.

They are generally stored in local treasuries and the national treasury.

If these two places are robbed, it will be more serious than if an armory is looted.

Zhang Like shook his head and said, "I don't know about that, but this is an opportunity for you. If you make a contribution here and attract the attention of the higher-ups, the Chen family won't be able to suppress it."

So far, any suppression of Lu Zhao has been done through formal procedures.

It defies common sense, but it is certainly not against the rules.

The two hit it off immediately, and Zhang Like, seeing that it was getting late, got up and was about to leave.

Lu Zhao suddenly said, "I went to the back mountain today and found a smuggling route there. Judging from the traces, people have been using it for the past six months."

In an instant, the atmosphere fell silent.

"The back mountain? A smuggling route? Six months?"

Zhang Like confirmed the information, and Lu Zhao nodded slightly.

He took a deep breath, sat back down on the sofa, and rubbed his temples to suppress his turbulent emotions.

"It's standard practice not to check the back mountain; it happened before I did..."

"Standards are not your get-out-of-jail-free card," Lu Zhao interrupted, his voice carrying a chilling clarity.

This also calmed Zhang Like's flustered mind. "When the higher-ups investigate, your excuse that you didn't check the back mountain is irrefutable evidence of your dereliction of duty."

He knew that Zhang Like was completely panicked and might turn himself in to seek leniency.

Zhang Like quickly asked, "Then what should I do?"

“Send it to Lü Jinshan.”

Lu Zhao had already devised a plan and said methodically, "Prepare the duty roster for the past years to prove that the patrol of the back mountain has not been included in the plan for a long time. Then find Lü Jinshan's meeting records to prove that the superiors have failed to point out the loopholes in the back mountain during multiple inspections."

"When writing reports, make bold guesses and exaggerate a bit."

How daring?

Lu Zhao said coldly, "It would be best to make him suffer eternal damnation, saying that the border station chief colluded with smugglers."

He didn't have the opportunity or ability to deal with Lü Jinshan before, but now that the other party has shown a weakness, even if Lü Jinshan is really unaware, Lu Zhao will still kick him to death.

Zhang Like felt a chill run down his spine, and his mind gradually calmed down. He hesitated and said, "Even if I submit the report, I'm afraid I won't get away with it. I can't escape punishment."

“Without direct evidence that Lü Jinshan intentionally arranged this, we cannot bring him down. He has connections at higher levels, so it's easy for him to shirk responsibility.”

If there are problems with the patrol route planning, the person directly responsible is oneself.

Zhang Like was afraid that his attempt to steal a chicken would backfire and he would lose the rice instead.

Lu Zhao frowned, thinking to himself that it would be difficult to bring down Lü Jinshan in one fell swoop.

He asked, "So what do you plan to do? At least reporting it won't land you in jail."

Zhang Like was also hesitant for a moment. He took out cigarettes from his pocket and smoked one after another. Under the influence of nicotine, his expression finally calmed down.

Nicotine cannot relieve stress; what truly works is the ritualistic feeling of lighting a cigarette, taking a deep breath, and exhaling.

Before entering society, Lu Zhao neither smoked nor drank, but after less than a year at the border station, he was a chain smoker.

He also needs a sense of ritual; after all, people can't always be crying.

After a long pause, Zhang Like stubbed out his cigarette and said, "Give me a few months. If you can't find out, report it to the organization. At worst, I'll quit. Remember to introduce me to a job then."

Lu Zhao laughed and said, "I could even get you a physical education teacher at a top elementary school in the capital, Nanjing."

He has no connections in the People's Armed Police system, but he does have connections in the education system.

For example, Tang Fen, Lu Zhao's guardian in the orphanage, was already the director of the Cangwu City Education Bureau when Lu Zhao was still in high school.

If Lu Zhao hadn't already retired, he wouldn't be in such a desperate situation.
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A sewer system somewhere in the city.

Two figures, one tall and one short, hid in the shadows. The tall, thin one held a handleless iron blade, while the short one had a pointed, monkey-like face.

Both men were injured, with the taller, thinner man being particularly badly burned, his right arm lacerated and torn open.

"What bad luck! How come these cops reacted so quickly? They found us in less than half a day. After all this time, we haven't even figured out anything, and we're being chased by the cops. We've had the worst luck imaginable!"

The short man grumbled and cursed.

His name is Shan Yong, a member of the Green Forest gang in the South China Sea West region (an intelligence agent). The tall, thin man is called Lao Gao, a member of the same gang (a combatant).

The two men smuggled themselves in from the Miye Sanjiang region outside the South China Sea, and were ordered to meet up with Po Jiaoqi. Originally, they did not plan to go deep into the Federation, firstly because they thought it would not be difficult for Po Jiaoqi to break through on his own, and secondly because they were afraid of being entrapped.

Unexpectedly, Po Jiaoqi died just as he reached the border, before he could even send a signal.

It's unclear where he died, who killed him, and his belongings are missing.

They had no choice but to take the risk and arrested two policemen for questioning.

(End of this chapter)