Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

"Director Xia, where do you think Liu Shiyuan will escape to?"

Xiao Zhan looked at his phone screen and asked.

While mobilizing satellites and the Skynet system to track the flight path of Liu Shiyuan and his group of six, Xia Keke said, "It's hard to say right now. After all, Liu Shiyuan has been involved in the military and government for many years and has promoted too many military generals and government protégés. These people could all be potential pawns."

Looking at the 3D satellite imagery on the screen, Xiao Zhan frowned and said, "I think there are two places where Liu Shiyuan is hiding that deserve our special attention."

Xia Keke looked up curiously and asked, "Oh, tell me which two places."

Xiao Zhan looked up at the cold night sky outside the window and said, "First, there are the military camps around the capital. These places are special; ordinary people can't get in, and they're not under the jurisdiction of the local government, making them easy to hide in. Second, there are the temples near the capital. Monks don't compete with the secular world, so they're the easiest places to overlook, but also the easiest places to harbor filth."

Xia Keke thought for a moment and said, "The military camp is a possibility. After all, Liu Shiyuan has served in the military for many years and has supported many of Tie Gan's subordinates. Soldiers value loyalty the most, and the light sniper rifle you captured is the best proof of that."

Xiao Zhan nodded…

Xia Keke pondered for a moment and said, "The temple you're talking about?"

"I don't think so. Tell me your reasons."

Xiao Zhan pondered for a moment and said, "You forgot that Abbot Jueyuan of Tanzhe Temple is a piece on the chessboard, and he is even in the position of the chariot. I said that this kind of place is the least noticeable and the easiest to hide in."

Xia Keke: "What you said seems to make some sense."

At this moment, both the reconnaissance satellite and the Skynet system went offline.

Xia Keke exclaimed in surprise, "What the heck? What's going on? A reconnaissance satellite can go offline? Are you kidding me?"

"Beep beep beep".

Suddenly, Xia Keke's satellite phone rang...

Upon seeing the caller ID, Xia Keke was taken aback and looked at Xiao Zhan, saying, "It's Minister Bai calling."

Xiao Zhan forced a smile and said, "Hurry up and answer it."

Xia Keke answered the phone and said, "Hello, Minister Bai!"

Bai Zexiang said on the other end of the phone, "Xia Keke, you're on a capture mission right now, right?"

Xia Keke's body trembled as she replied, "Yes, Chief."

Bai Zexiang: "There was a woman named Jinshan Lingzi who died at the scene, right?"

Xia Keke: "Yes, this person attacked the police with an offensive weapon and was shot dead on the spot. Moreover, Liu Shiyuan and that little spy named Miki Hongfu were hiding in this woman's house. In addition, a large amount of explosives were found in the elevator shaft on the top floor."

Bai Zexiang: "Xia Keke, stop explaining now. Immediately cease all operations. Also, suspend the use of the reconnaissance satellites and Skynet system that you just activated."

Xia Keke was a little confused after hearing this and asked, "Commander, why can't we take action? I'm about to pinpoint Liu Shiyuan's hiding place. If we can't use the reconnaissance satellites and the Skynet system now, all my previous efforts will be wasted and all my hard work will be for naught."

Bai Zexiang said sternly, "Xia Keke, carry out the order immediately. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Xia Keke's body stiffened: "Yes! Execute the order."

Bai Zexiang then asked, "Is Xiao Zhan next to you?"

Xia Keke looked at Xiao Zhan and said, "Xiao Zhan is here!"

Bai Zexiang: "Let Xiao Zhan answer the phone. You guys should block the network at the scene. I can't get through to him."

Xia Keke pouted and handed the phone to Xiao Zhan, saying, "Minister Bai wants to speak with you."

Xiao Zhan answered the phone and said, "Hello, Minister Bai, what are your instructions?"

Bai Zexiang: "Xiao Zhan, the father of the deceased named Jinshan Lingzi is Jinshan Kenji, the ambassador of the Little Country to the Dragon Country."

"He has lodged a strong protest with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and demanded an explanation, so your actions should be put on hold for now. It's almost Chinese New Year, so you can take a few days off and rest well."

Xiao Zhan replied decisively, "Okay."

Bai Zexiang asked curiously, "Aren't you going to ask me why?"

Xiao Zhan pretended to be confused, saying, "Didn't the commander give us a holiday for the New Year? We should rest for a few days at the end of the year, right?"

On the other end of the phone, Bai Zexiang cursed, "Xiao Zhan, I finally know you're no better than me. You know there's a reason behind this, but you just won't ask and wait for me to tell you."

Xiao Zhan grinned and said, "Hehe, if you don't want to tell me, it's pointless for me to ask. If you do want to tell me, you'll tell me even if I don't ask. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Bai Zexiang laughed and said, "Hahaha, you think you've got me cornered?"

Xiao Zhan grinned and said, "Commander, you can't say things like that carelessly, or I'll be punished."

Suddenly, Bai Zexiang lowered his voice and said, "Liu Shiyuan fled into Yonghe Temple half an hour ago. According to intelligence, the abbot of Yonghe Temple, Sanmu Dan, is the chariot in Liu Shiyuan's other half of the chessboard."

Xiao Zhan was overjoyed, realizing his reasoning was entirely correct, and hurriedly asked, "What does the commander mean?"

"Should I go arrest them right now?"

Bai Zexiang quickly stopped him, saying, "If I wanted to arrest someone, would I need to call you?"

"Idiot, where did all your cleverness go?"

Xiao Zhan's face immediately darkened...

Is this a "slap and then treat" approach to leadership, a method of managing people?

Bai Zexiang continued, "We're playing the long game. After all, Liu Shiyuan's other pieces haven't been fully exposed yet. This gives Liu Shiyuan some time to awaken these pieces, which aligns with our plan. In addition, I've discovered that someone inside is secretly colluding with Liu Shiyuan."

Xiao Zhan asked worriedly, "What if Liu Shiyuan gets away?"

Bai Zexiang: "That's why I'm calling you. You and Xia Keke can discuss how to assign someone to keep an eye on things. After all, you and Xia Keke have been in charge of this case, and it wouldn't be appropriate to switch to someone else temporarily. Also, the Liu Shiyuan case is part of the Dragon Shield Project, and I feel more at ease having you in charge of it."

Xiao Zhan: "Understood."

Bai Zexiang: "Xiao Zhan, you've worked hard. Oh, by the way, why did you let Su Zixing stay in a hotel?"

Xiao Zhan was stunned for a moment and said, "Commander, what do you mean I made Su Zixing stay in a hotel? She wanted to stay in a hotel herself, okay? It's her own hotel, she can stay however she wants."

Bai Zexiang laughed on the other end of the phone: "You brat, you're not telling me the truth, are you? Someone confessed to you, and you rejected them so coldly that they hurt their pride, so they're staying at a hotel."

Xiao Zhan was immediately shocked, as no one else knew about this except Xia Keke.

Xiao Zhan: "Holy crap, Brother Xiang, you sent someone to spy on me?"

Bai Zexiang: "Why would I be so bored as to spy on you?"

"The person monitoring Su Zixing reported to me that she was contacting CIA agents privately. Were you aware of this?"

Xiao Zhan had to admire the National Security Bureau's intelligence network; it was truly all-pervasive, allowing Bai Zexiang to find out everything so quickly.

Xiao Zhan spoke frankly: "Su Zixing did tell me that she bought intelligence from the CIA, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Besides, it's her private matter and has nothing to do with us."

Bai Zexiang: "But she was tricked by the CIA. The CIA took a million dollars from her, and then took a sum of money from Liu Shiyuan, and betrayed Su Zixing."

Xiao Zhan: "Damn it, the CIA is a bunch of bastards."

"That son of a bitch pockets money from both sides and sells intelligence to both."

Bai Zexiang: "This is called 'when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.'"

"And I just received news that after Su Zixing returned to the hotel, he is gathering people to prepare to take revenge on the CIA."