Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

In Howard's office at the Central Special Branch, three figures sat around the coffee table, coldly watching the breaking news broadcast on the television in front of them.

The screen was playing Li Shutang's resounding pledge: "The police force will find the main culprit in this incident within thirty-six hours and bring all the escaped refugees to justice... If I fail to do so, I will personally submit my resignation to the Governor's Office the day after tomorrow morning."

Li Shutang then turned and left, his figure disappearing at the end of the corridor. The scene then cuts back to the studio, where the host is commenting on the previous remarks in a hurried tone.

Nightingale leaned against the wall by the window, arms crossed, a cold smile playing on her lips: "Seeking her own death."

"Don't underestimate them." Howard, sitting on the opposite armchair, spoke slowly, his tone much more somber than Nightingale's. "That old fox, Li Shutang, has been in the Hong Kong Police Force for thirty years. He never fights a battle he's not confident in. He dared to say thirty-six hours at the press conference; he must have some basis for his confidence."

Nightingale's smile faded slightly, but her tone remained dismissive: "Sir, you overestimate him. Capturing hundreds of escaped refugees and finding the mastermind in thirty-six hours—even God couldn't do that."

Howard didn't reply. He slowly took a puff of his cigar, the smoke rising slowly into the air and being dispersed by the airflow from the air conditioner vent, like a crumpled ball of doubt.

Just then, a voice rang out from the sofa in the corner of the office, with a slow, indifferent tone: "That's easy, isn't it?"

Howard and Nightingale turned their heads at the same time.

Sitting on the sofa was a man—Zhou Yi, the police chief of Sha Tin Police Station.

He was wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit, and his face still had that same smiling look: "Since Li Shutang is going to publicly swear to arrest people, then let's make sure he never finishes arresting them."

Nightingale looked at him: "Director Zhou, what are your thoughts?"

Zhou Yi leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "Aren't there still dozens of those who escaped and haven't been brought to justice? Your political department only needs to find a way to hide two or three of them, and then quietly release them after the 36-hour deadline."

Nightingale's eyes lit up: "You mean...?"

"That's right. Just give them some weapons and let them cause some trouble in the city—whether it's robbing a convenience store or kidnapping a passerby, make sure the whole city is in an uproar."

Zhou Yi's smile gradually turned ferocious and terrifying: "Then all the newspapers in Hong Kong will publish: 'The main culprit of the Pak Shek Camp riot is on the run and is still committing crimes.' And Li Shutang's promise of thirty-six hours will become his own death knell."

Hearing this, Howard paused slightly in his smoking. He looked at Zhou Yi, a meaningful expression slowly appearing on his face: "Zhou sir, you've really gone to great lengths for this operation."

Indeed, Zhou Yi was secretly involved in the Pak Shek Camp riot that shocked Hong Kong from the very beginning.

The reason why the PTU mobile force's support arrived nearly twenty minutes late last night when the White Stone Camp riot broke out was certainly not a coincidence—it was entirely because Zhou Yi used the director's privilege over regional dispatch to secretly sabotage the PTU's departure order.

His original plan was to let the refugees rush out and cause even more chaos, completely humiliating the Hong Kong Island Police Force. However, he never expected that the madman Chan Ka-kui would actually dare to lead the dozen or so members of the Serious Crimes Unit to hold back the crowd and prevent the situation from escalating further.

Zhou Yi's tone carried a hint of resentment: "If it weren't for Chen Jiaju causing trouble, the situation that night would have been much more chaotic than it is now."

"Chen Jiaju is just a pawn charging into battle; there will be plenty of opportunities to deal with him later," Howard said, flicking his cigarette ash. "The focus now is on Li Shutang."

Howard then raised his glass and began assigning tasks: "You arrange for those guys to be hidden. Chief Zhou, you oversee the search progress within the police force. Notify us in advance if they get any leads that lead to them."

"No problem." Nightingale nodded.

Zhou Yi also picked up his cup, raised it slightly in Howard's direction, and then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

"Once this is over," Howard looked at Zhou Yi, a rare, warm smile on his face, "Director Zhou, I will recommend you to the higher-ups for the position of Assistant Director."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi's lips curled into a greedy smile. He didn't refuse or offer any polite thanks; he simply picked up the bottle and refilled the already empty glass in front of him.

Outside the window, the twilight of Central was slowly settling between the buildings, turning the glass curtain walls into a dark orange, cooling light.

……

At the same time, in the top-floor office of the Jiahe Building headquarters.

Lu Chen sat in the leather chair, holding his personal encrypted phone in his hand.

"...Lu Sheng, this time...I'll have to trouble you with your cooperation again."

Hearing Li Shutang's slightly husky voice, Lu Chen leaned back slightly, a smile curving his lips.

"Li Sheng, go ahead and act with peace of mind," Lu Chen's voice was calm and composed, carrying an air of domineering control. "I've already put this 36-hour noose around the neck of the Political Department and Zhou Yi's gang...