Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

The video call was unilaterally cut off, and the screen fell into a deathly darkness.

The study was eerily quiet, with only the ticking of the clock on the wall, each tick like a hammer blow to Gao Yuliang's heart.

He slumped back into the large leather swivel chair, his hands twisting together uncontrollably, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force.

My mind is a complete mess.

Zhao Ruilong is a madman; he really dares to kill.

The tear-streaked, despair-filled face of Gao Xiaofeng in the video, and the child's terrified eyes, were branded into his mind like a hot iron.

The rough hemp rope cut deep into her fair and delicate skin, leaving glaring red marks that made it difficult for him to breathe.

And there was also that half-section of a dark, miniature submachine gun barrel.

A cold, emotionless killing tool.

He had spent his entire life dealing with legal texts, considering himself a rule-maker and defender. But now, reality was telling him in the most brutal way that in the face of absolute violence, all rules are just empty words.

Should we agree to Zhao Ruilong's request?

Using the power of the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, a net was cast to help a criminal escape.

This isn't called drinking poison to quench thirst; it's called deliberately putting a noose around one's own neck. If the investigation turns to Shen Zhong, that madman who dares to mobilize fighter jets, Gao Yuliang's political career will instantly be wiped out.

You won't agree?

Gao Yuliang closed his eyes.

He could almost hear gunshots from abandoned dock warehouses in Hong Kong and see gasoline drums filled with cement sinking into the bottomless, icy waters of Victoria Harbour.

By then, what will Gao Yuliang be?

A good-for-nothing who can't even protect his own woman and child.

Moreover, with Gao Xiaofeng dead, all the secrets of the Shanshui Group, its Hong Kong assets, and everything else that can't be brought to light will be exposed, and he will face the same fate.

One is to die immediately, the other is to gamble on a bleak future.

Ultimately, the fear of the complete end of his political career, and a sliver of reluctance to part with the child because of their blood ties, overwhelmed everything else.

He decided to take a gamble.

Gao Yuliang suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze now devoid of any hesitation, only filled with the madness and ruthlessness of someone driven to the brink of despair.

He walked to his desk, but instead of touching the ordinary office phone, he picked up his personal cell phone, found a number, and dialed it.

The call connected, and a strong male voice came through the receiver.

"Secretary Gao!"

"Geng Sen".

Gao Yuliang's voice was low and carried an unquestionable authority.

"It's me. Are you free now?"

Geng Sen, on the other end of the phone, is the commander of a detachment under the Handong Provincial Border Defense Corps, and holds actual control over a section of the Jingzhou coastline.

He was also among the last batch of students Gao Yuliang taught in the Department of Political Science and Law at Handong University. He was a poor boy from a remote mountain village who was able to graduate and enter the political and legal system thanks to Gao Yuliang's financial support.

Geng Sen's respect and obedience to his mentor were ingrained in his very being.

"Sure! Please let me know, teacher!"

Geng Sen's voice was filled with absolute respect.

Gao Yuliang didn't beat around the bush and gave the order directly.

"The Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission has a batch of important physical evidence that needs to be urgently transferred to Hong Kong. Due to the special confidentiality of the case, it cannot be handled through normal air and customs channels."

He spoke slowly, but every word carried immense pressure.

"Tonight, a speedboat will be sailing out of your jurisdiction through an unauthorized channel. You need to coordinate with a large ship that is about to depart to reserve a spot for them and ensure they can board smoothly."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line.

Geng Sen was filled with doubt. Why didn't the Political and Legal Affairs Commission follow the proper procedures for transferring physical evidence? This was completely against the rules.

But he didn't ask.

All he knows is that without Teacher Gao, he wouldn't be where he is today.

This was the only time Gao Yuliang asked him for help, and he couldn't refuse.

"Yes, Teacher Gao!" Geng Sen replied without any hesitation, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it personally and make sure it's done!"

Gao Yuliang hummed in agreement.

"Remember, this is a secret known only to heaven, earth, you, and me. The people on the speedboat will contact you in my name."

"clear!"

Click.

Gao Yuliang hung up the phone and locked the red machine back in the drawer.

With this phone call, a massive hole was torn open by the highest-ranking administrator of a vast network woven from countless human and material resources to intercept smuggling and illegal immigration.

He felt all his strength drained away, and he leaned back in his chair, panting heavily.

A moment later, he took out another black cell phone that he had never used before from the drawer, inserted a new SIM card, turned it on, and skillfully edited a text message and sent it out.

Contact Captain Geng Sen at Pier No. 3 in the eastern suburbs.

After sending the message, he immediately turned off his phone and removed the SIM card.

……

On the outskirts of Jingzhou, there was an abandoned dock warehouse that reeked of fish and diesel fuel.

Zhao Ruilong paced back and forth anxiously, his cigar chewed to pieces.

My phone vibrated briefly in my pocket.

He suddenly pulled out his phone, saw the short message on the screen, and was overjoyed.

The old fox finally gave in!

"Walk!"

He growled at a few henchmen in the corner who were wiping their weapons.

The group quickly rushed out of the warehouse and boarded a high-powered speedboat that had been prepared in advance.

With a deep roar from the engine, the speedboat shot off like a black arrow, piercing the night and hurtling towards the dark sea.

A dozen minutes later, under Geng Sen's personal "escort," the speedboat successfully approached a 10,000-ton cargo ship that was about to sail to Shanghai.

Zhao Ruilong, accompanied by two trusted aides and carrying an empty briefcase, climbed up the rope ladder onto the cargo ship's deck.

Standing on the deck, he looked back at the coastline towards Jingzhou, where the city lights stretched into a blurry halo in the distance.

A look of grimace, as if he had survived a catastrophe, crossed his face.

Gao Yuliang, Li Dakang, and Shen Zhong!

You just wait!

Once I've calmed down outside, we'll settle this score slowly!

……

Inside the study of the Provincial Party Committee's residential compound.

Gao Yuliang stood by the window, quietly watching the dark night outside.

He knew that from the moment he made that call, there was no turning back.

This deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, who usually spoke of law and principles, was forced to tear off his last mask of hypocrisy at this moment, his hands stained with an indelible stain.