Desperate people, accept the seed of my soul!

The next morning.

The Chenxi City Police Department issued a brief statement:

"Wei Ziang, a major criminal suspect in custody, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the detention center early this morning and died despite being rushed to the hospital. A preliminary forensic examination has determined that the death is consistent with sudden cardiac death and ruled out the possibility of death by external force."

The news flashed by in a corner of the morning news and did not cause much of a stir.

For ordinary citizens, this is simply a fitting end for that notorious gangster, and some even applauded it online.

But in some hidden corners, this announcement was like a bucket of ice water.

On the outskirts of the city, a safe house under tight police control.

Zhang Jingyi was staring intently at the television screen.

His hand jerked violently as the message scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

"Dead... He's actually dead..."

Zhang Jingyi's face turned deathly pale. "Sudden cardiac death..."

As the chief legal counsel of the Wei Group, he understood all too well the meaning behind those words.

This was the method he had used countless times to help the Wei family deal with "trouble," but now it had become a persistent shadow hanging over his head.

He thought that by betraying Wei Ziang and handing over those USB drives, he could gain police protection and a peaceful life for the rest of his days.

But at that moment, a deep-seated fear gripped his throat.

In an attempt to prevent Wei Zi'ang from saying anything more, they actually killed him in the detention center.

What about him?

Can someone who knows most of the Wei family's secrets and has even witnessed a glimpse of the extraordinary... really survive?

Witness protection program?

Zhang Jingyi looked around the seemingly airtight safe house in fear, watching the light seeping in through the gaps in the curtains.

In every shadow, it seemed as if a pair of indifferent eyes were hiding, silently watching him.

He curled up on the sofa, his hands tightly wrapped around his head.

------

One week after the Nanshan Ci'an Nursing Home incident.

Inside the office of the Chief of the Chenxi City Police Department.

"The punishment has been handed down," Zheng Guofeng said, puffing on his cigarette. "Mayor Wen wasn't dismissed, but his promotion... is completely out of the question."

Zhao Jianguo sat on the sofa, silently taking notes.

"The provincial government determined that he 'misjudged and mishandled a major crisis,'" Zheng Guofeng continued. "His nomination to be promoted to the Provincial Government's Political Affairs Committee next month has been withdrawn. He will have to make a public apology at an expanded meeting of the Political Affairs Committee and will be criticized throughout the province."

This amounts to a major setback in his political career, Zhao Jianguo thought to himself.

Mayor Wen is only in his early forties and was a promising young man. After this incident, he probably has no chance of getting those positions.

"Where is Zhou Wenyuan?" Zhao Jianguo asked.

"Zhang Jingyi provided a very complete chain of evidence. The bribery and interference with the judiciary involved amounts that exceeded the maximum sentencing standard under the Public Officials Integrity Law. If the normal procedures were followed, the sentence would be at least fifteen years."

Zheng Guofeng sneered: "But he won't go to jail."

Zhao Jianguo raised his head.

"He has a protector in the provincial government, a senior committee member." Zheng Guofeng lit another cigarette. "The final outcome was—a lateral transfer to the 'Provincial Policy Advisory Committee' as a sinecure deputy director, with his benefits retained."

"Is that all? How many people have been harmed by the Wei family that he supported!" Zhao Jianguo's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

"His political life is over, and he has been completely removed from the ranks of those in power." Zheng Guofeng exhaled a puff of smoke. "The internal report characterized it as 'a serious violation of professional ethics, causing a negative social impact.' His protector's reputation has also been significantly damaged because of this. This is the most severe punishment we can get under the existing rules."

Zhao Jianguo remained silent. He knew Zheng Guofeng was telling the truth.

At that level, many things are no longer black and white.

"The new deputy mayor sent by the province will take office next week," Zheng Guofeng changed the subject. "He'll be in charge of public security and the judiciary. Guess who it is?"

Zhao Jianguo shook his head.

"Former Director," Zheng Guofeng said with a rare, complex smile, "our old leader."

Zhao Jianguo was stunned.

Former Director Lin Zhenshan, the former director of the Chenxi City Garrison Bureau twelve years ago, was known for his iron-fisted and pragmatic approach.

Back then, Zheng Guofeng was the deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Section, and Zhao Jianguo was the captain of the Major Crimes Unit. It was with the strong support of Director Lin, who overcame all opposition, that they were able to crack those major cases that shocked the entire province.

Later, Lin Zhenshan was transferred to the Lieyang Provincial Garrison Department, where he rose through the ranks to become the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation.

"He requested to come down," Zheng Guofeng said in a low voice. "The province was greatly shaken by the Nanshan incident. The old director was parachuted in this time with a clear mission: to thoroughly eradicate the remaining influence of the Wei family, and at the same time to take the lead in establishing an official assessment and response system for 'abnormal phenomena'."

Zhao Jianguo felt somewhat relieved.

If it's a former bureau chief, at least communication won't be too difficult.

"As for us..." Zheng Guofeng looked at Zhao Jianguo, "I have accumulated major demerits. One at Jinmao Tower, one at Nanshan. Promotion is hopeless in the short term, but I can still hold onto my position as director—the province believes that no one understands the 'abnormality' better than me."

"And you," Zheng Guofeng paused, "an internal warning. But you retain your position as director of the Special Investigation Office, and your authority will be expanded. The old director privately told me: prove your worth through follow-up work, and figuring out the 'abnormality' is your greatest achievement."

Zhao Jianguo nodded. This result was better than he had expected.

"But what we're going to face next isn't just solving the case." Zheng Guofeng walked to his desk, opened a folder marked "Top Secret," and said, "That pit in Nanshan... it scared a lot of people in the province."

Zheng Guofeng pulled out a few photos and spread them out on the table.

That's an aerial view of the Nanshan site; the smooth, hemispherical depression reflects an eerie, cold light in the morning light.

"When the initial on-site report was submitted, the provincial expert team thought it was a technical misjudgment—soil vitrification, instantaneous superheat? Are you kidding me?" Zheng Guofeng tapped the photo with his finger. "But after their on-site investigation, their conclusion was just one sentence: 'The phenomenon cannot be explained by existing scientific knowledge and conventional methods.'"

"The key turning point is here." Zheng Guofeng pulled out a copy of an official document. "The Provincial Strategic Risk Assessment Center led a secret simulation—releasing the same amount of energy into the city center would lead to catastrophic consequences, paralyzing the city's functions. After this conclusion was reported, the leadership reached a consensus: it could no longer be simply defined as an 'ordinary criminal case'."

Zhao Jianguo listened carefully. He knew this meant the rules of the game had changed.

"The province's attitude towards 'abnormalities' is now divided into several factions," Zheng Guofeng said gravely. "You need to be aware of that."

"The first faction: control plus justice. Represented by the former bureau chief."

"The core concept is that supernatural phenomena are a real threat and a potential strategic resource, and their research and control must be led by public authorities. The primary goal is to prevent a recurrence of a Nanshan-level disaster, while exploring its potential controllable applications. Combating supernatural crimes and researching the 'supernatural' are equally important."

Zhao Jianguo nodded. This best aligns with his professional philosophy.