bookbashuk Chapter 17 Reactions from All Sides, Cai Yuanqi's Questioning
Chapter 17 Reactions from All Sides, Cai Yuanqi's Questioning
The sound of sirens grew closer.
More than a dozen police cars and armored vehicles, flashing red and blue lights, surrounded the cargo plane area.
Dozens of airport security personnel and EU police officers were on guard with guns.
The West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit and its uniformed officers, who arrived later, quickly set up a cordon.
Lee Man-bun stood up from his hiding place, raised his warrant card, and shouted, "I am Lee Man-bun, Chief Superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau! One of our own!"
After the airport security guards saw the warrant card and the face, they all put down their guns.
An EU commander with a dark complexion and a sheriff's rank on his shoulder strode forward, and upon seeing Li Wenbin and Shen Shaofeng and others behind him, stood at attention and saluted.
"Li Sir, this is Zhu Huabiao, the tank commander of EU Second Squad. What's going on here?"
Upon hearing this name, Shen Shaofeng remembered that this person should be the male lead in "The Storm Riders," who was fiery, straightforward, and unconventional.
Li Wenbin said solemnly, "We received intelligence that we suspected some bandits were using freight channels for illegal activities. We followed them here and exchanged fire with them."
"The other side has heavy firepower, automatic weapons, and their identity is unknown. They have already fled the scene."
"The scene needs to be sealed off immediately to protect the evidence. Call the forensic department, the criminal investigation unit, and have an ambulance on standby!"
He never mentioned sensitive words such as Huang Jiahui or the Political Department.
"Yes, Sir!"
Zhu Huabiao immediately turned around and reported to his superiors.
Soon, more police officers arrived.
The forensic personnel carefully sorted, labeled, and photographed the shell casings scattered on the ground.
Chen Zhikun and the others surrounded the tattered wooden box, temporarily preventing their colleagues from approaching.
As the highest-ranking commander on site, Li Wenbin urgently met with Chief Inspector Huang Qifa of the West Kowloon Regional Crime Unit and the head of the Airport Security Department, among others, who had rushed to the scene.
Even the PPRB (Public Relations Department) sent a supervisor over.
Shen Shaofeng, Li Wenbin's deputy, stood to the side.
"Damn, what's going on? The enemy's firepower is so strong?" Huang Qifa asked in a low voice.
This person was slightly overweight, with balding hair, wore glasses, and had a cunning glint in his small eyes.
"The exact identity of the other party is currently unknown, but it is very likely an international criminal organization. The target is suspected to be that wooden crate."
Li Wenbin glanced at the wooden crate in the distance and winked at Huang Qifa: "I'd like to take this evidence back to the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau for further investigation. What do you think?"
This was a consensus he and Shen Shaofeng quickly reached before their colleagues arrived.
Huang Qifa was incredibly shrewd; he immediately understood Li Wenbin's subtext—this case belongs to our O-Division, and other departments should not interfere.
Isn't this a coincidence? The suspects have all escaped, and failing to solve the case would leave him with a scapegoat, which he doesn't want to take the blame for.
He coughed twice and said, "I have no objection. If you need any help, feel free to contact our West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit. I'll take my men to get things done."
The airport security supervisor wiped his sweat: "Damn, the other side used guns at the airport, and on such a large scale. The media will definitely be in an uproar tomorrow."
The PPRB superintendent, surnamed Leung, was a sharp-looking middle-aged man. He looked at Lee Man-bun and said, "Lee Sir, the public and the media need an explanation. We must unify our statements and issue a press release as soon as possible."
Li Wenbin looked at Shen Shaofeng, who nodded slightly and stepped forward, saying:
"Ladies and gentlemen, a group of unidentified armed bandits, suspected of having triad connections, attempted to rob a shipment of high-value goods transiting through the airport. They engaged in a firefight with O-Division officers who arrived to investigate after receiving a tip, as well as airport security personnel who rushed to the scene."
"The criminals were outmaneuvered and destroyed the target cargo before the main police force arrived, then fled. Police recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition at the scene. No officers or civilians were injured. The case has been handed over to the OCTB for further investigation..."
After Shen Shaofeng finished speaking, he smiled and looked at Superintendent Liang.
Superintendent Leung's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he added, "The police acted decisively, successfully preventing the crime and protecting airport security and cargo order. As for what was inside the wooden crate, we will not disclose it at this time, citing that the case is still under investigation."
He stepped forward and shook hands with Li Wenbin and Shen Shaofeng: "Gentlemen, I will report to my superiors as soon as possible and arrange a press conference. It's been a pleasure working with you."
……
Just as dawn was breaking, the police held a brief press conference at the airport police station.
Superintendent Leung briefed dozens of media outlets that had been waiting for a long time, following the agreed-upon line of communication.
"Officer Leung, how many gangsters were there exactly? What weapons were they using?"
"Some citizens are questioning what valuable items were involved that would warrant the robbers targeting the airport?"
"Inspector Leung, the fact that the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) is handling the gun-related case indicates that triad order in Hong Kong Island is out of control?"
When questioned by the media, Superintendent Leung consistently declined to comment, stating that "the case is under investigation and further details cannot be disclosed at this time to avoid affecting the investigation."
He repeatedly emphasized that the police had the situation under control, appealed to the public to provide clues, and specifically praised the bravery of the frontline officers.
Of course, given the nature of Hong Kong media professionals, this level of official statement cannot easily appease them.
But just as they were trying to use their own methods to dig deeper, various higher-ups, whether openly or covertly, indicated: This is a very complicated situation, don't bother, just follow the police's statement.
Most journalists only care about fame and fortune. As for the truth, so be it. At worst, they'll just run around digging up more celebrity gossip to boost sales.
A major airport shootout that shook Hong Kong and Kowloon has been framed as an "attempted robbery by ruthless criminals" due to official characterization, media silence, and public suspicion.
……
Discovery Bay Yacht Club, Lantau Island.
Shen Shaofeng hung up the phone call from Le Huizhen, who was trying to get information, and boarded the deck of a medium-sized yacht.
Several bodyguards searched him, temporarily confiscating his service weapon and mobile phone before letting him into the cabin.
Inside the cabin, cigar smoke filled the air as Cai Yuanqi swirled his wine glass and pointed to the sofa.
"Shaofeng, sit down and have a taste."
Shen Shaofeng sat down, took the cigar the other man tossed him, and smelled it: "Padron, the king of dark chocolate and caramel, thank you, Cai Sir."
As he picked up the cigar cutter, he asked, "You called me here in such a hurry because of the airport?"
Cai Yuanqi put down his wine glass, his eyes shining: "Shaofeng, I've always thought you're a promising talent."
"Explain to me why Li Wenbin's men happened to be there and got involved?"
Shen Shaofeng lit his cigar with a match, took a light puff, leaned back in his sofa chair, and crossed his legs.
He swirled the smoke in his mouth before exhaling a smoke ring: "Officer Cai, I also want to ask you, why didn't you inform me about such a big thing as smuggling people out of the country?"
Upon hearing this, Cai Yuanqi frowned but did not reply.
"I'm your spy planted next to Li Wenbin. But I knew nothing about your plans beforehand!"
"If I had known earlier, I would have had a hundred ways to stall him or distract him!"
He held a cigar between two fingers of his right hand and pointed at Choi Yuen-kei: "Choi Sir, you don't trust me, fine. But if something goes wrong, don't pin the blame on me! Lee Man-bun is the Chief Superintendent; he has his own informants. How can I protect myself if you don't give me information?"
Faced with Shen Shaofeng's barrage of questions, Cai Yuanqi was speechless.
You've only just joined, and it's my fault for not informing you of such an important operation?