Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

Qi Tongwei walked into the command room, and everyone stood up.

"Comrades, you've worked hard. Please sit down." Qi Tongwei waved his hand and walked to the control panel. "Director Chen has already reported the situation to me. Fifty kilograms of drugs—if they were to enter Jingzhou, who knows how many families would be ruined. We bear the responsibility for the safety of the people and the stability of society. This operation must succeed; failure is not an option!"

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

Chen Jianwen began making arrangements: "Technical Investigation Detachment, continue to monitor the target's communications 24 hours a day, and report any abnormalities immediately. Plainclothes team, divide into four groups, take turns keeping watch, and be careful to remain concealed. The Special Police Detachment's standby group is in position and can be deployed at any time."

A young detective reported, "Chief Chen, the target has just made another move. One of Bald Eagle's men left the hideout and took a taxi towards the city center. Team Two is following them."

"Keep a close eye on them, but don't give yourself away," Chen Jianwen ordered. "They might be scouting the location or contacting buyers."

Looking at the large screen, Qi Tongwei asked, "Can the transaction time be confirmed?"

"Based on the fragmented information we've intercepted, it's most likely the night after tomorrow," the head of technical investigation replied. "But the exact time and location are still being deciphered. The other party is using highly encrypted communication, and deciphering it will take time."

"I need definite information by noon tomorrow at the latest," Qi Tongwei gave a firm order. "Also, do you have any leads on the buyer's side?"

Chen Jianwen shook his head. "It's very secretive. We suspect it's a long-established local drug trafficking network. The leader is nicknamed 'Old Ghost,' but he's extremely cunning and never shows his face in person. All transactions are conducted through a single-line contact. We've been watching him for three years, but we haven't been able to find any substantial evidence."

"Old Ghost..." Qi Tongwei mused, "Dealing with a major international drug lord like Bald Eagle, it seems this Old Ghost is no ordinary person. This is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone."

"Governor, there's another situation," Hu Yang, the head of the anti-drug squad, interjected. "We saw that the lights were on in Executive Deputy Director Chen Hai's office very late tonight, and his secretary was also working overtime. Although anti-drug work isn't under his jurisdiction, it's a bit unusual that he's still in the department so late."

Qi Tongwei and Chen Jianwen exchanged a glance.

"What is he investigating?" Qi Tongwei asked.

"I don't know. But our people saw his secretary retrieve some old case files from the archives, including several unsolved drug cases from a few years ago," Hu Yang replied.

Qi Tongwei's eyes sharpened. "Old case files... He's only been here a short time, why would he need to check these?"

Chen Jianwen whispered, "Governor, could it be that Secretary Sha asked him to..."

"Whatever it is, we'll proceed according to plan." Qi Tongwei interrupted him. "Maintain secrecy. From now on, no one in the command center is allowed to contact the outside world. All mobile phones are to be kept in custody. No one is allowed to leave before the operation is over."

"yes!"

At the same time, on the seventh floor of the Public Security Bureau building, in the office of the Executive Deputy Director.

Chen Hai was indeed working overtime. Several yellowed files were spread out in front of him, his brows furrowed.

Secretary Liu brought in a cup of tea. "Director Chen, you've been working all night. Take a rest."

"Xiao Liu, look at these cases," Chen Hai said, pointing to the case files. "They are all major drug cases that have gone unsolved in recent years. The methods are similar, the source of the drugs is unknown, and the key witnesses are either missing or have died in accidents. It's too much of a coincidence."

Xiao Liu took a closer look. "It is indeed suspicious. But these are all cases handled by the Narcotics Control Division and the Criminal Investigation Division. If there were any problems, they should have discovered them long ago."

"Chen Jianwen..." Chen Hai pondered, "He was my senior's old subordinate, he's been with me for over ten years. These cases all happened during his tenure."

Xiao Liu understood the implied meaning and lowered his voice, "Director Chen, you suspect..."

"I have no evidence, I just think it's too clean." Chen Hai closed the file. "Such a large drug network, operating in Jingzhou for so many years, and never being completely dismantled even once, is abnormal. Either our people aren't capable enough, or..."

Chen Hai didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already quite clear.

"So how do you plan to investigate?" Xiao Liu asked.

"Let's start from the outside." Chen Hai stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Public Security Bureau compound in the night. "I've noticed that the Narcotics Enforcement Team seems particularly busy lately. Chen Jianwen frequently goes to Governor Qi's office. But there's no corresponding record in the department's duty logs or operation filings."

"You mean they're operating in secret?"

"Possibly." Chen Hai turned around. "Xiao Liu, try to find out tomorrow if the Narcotics Enforcement Team has recently reassigned any personnel or how their vehicles are being used. Be careful to keep a low profile and don't let anyone notice."

"clear."

Chen Hai looked at the group photo of himself, Hou Liangping, Qi Tongwei, and Gao Yuliang on the table, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He knew that his transfer to the Public Security Bureau was a move by Secretary Sha Ruijin, aimed at undermining his mentor Gao Yuliang's foundation in the political and legal system. But the public security system was a treacherous place, and as an outsider, he had to be extremely cautious with every step he took.

The phone on the table suddenly rang; it was an internal line.

Chen Hai answered, "Hello, this is Chen Hai."

"Chen Hai, are you still at get off work?" It was Qi Tongwei's voice on the other end of the phone, sounding relaxed and natural.

"Senior, are you in the hall now?" Chen Hai asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, I've been busy coordinating a cross-provincial case until now," Qi Tongwei said with a smile. "I saw your office light was still on, so I gave you a call. You're working so hard right after you arrived; you should take care of yourself."

"Thank you for your concern, senior. I'm just familiarizing myself with the situation and looking through old case files," Chen Hai tentatively asked. "By the way, I heard the Narcotics Enforcement Team seems quite busy lately?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by Qi Tongwei's nonchalant voice, "Really? I'm not too sure. Chen Jianwen probably has routine investigation duties. What, are you interested in drug enforcement?"

"It was just a casual question. After all, such a large public security bureau should know a thing or two about the work of each department." Chen Hai said, not revealing a single detail.

"Haha, it's good that you have such a sense of responsibility. However, drug enforcement is a highly specialized field, so you should familiarize yourself with your assigned area first. If there's anything you need to know, feel free to contact me or Lao Chen." Qi Tongwei's tone was friendly. "It's getting late, get some rest."

"Okay, senior, you should get some rest too."

The smile on Chen Hai's face vanished after he hung up the phone.

Qi Tongwei's answer was too diplomatic and too official. Moreover, when an executive deputy director inquires about drug enforcement work, the normal response should be to provide an overview, not to have him familiarize himself with his area of ​​responsibility first.

This only made Chen Hai more certain that the anti-drug squad was indeed carrying out a secret operation, and that Qi Tongwei didn't want him to know.

"Xiao Liu," Chen Hai said in a deep voice, "I'm going to the Narcotics Enforcement Team for a research trip early tomorrow morning. Under the guise of familiarizing myself with their work, I'll conduct a surprise inspection."

"So urgent? Should we send out a notification first?"

"No, we're going to launch a surprise attack." Chen Hai's eyes were firm. "I want to see what they're up to."