Chapter 667: Interrogation
Xu Wuyi remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Director Li, in Wang Haidong’s case, the evidence indeed only points to Zhang Yuhuai. However, that doesn’t mean Wang Haidong is innocent.
"According to the rules, we will detain Wang Haidong for a maximum of fifteen days. If there is no evidence to confirm his guilt by then, we will naturally let him go."
Li Mingyuan’s smile faded slightly. "Captain Meng, are you refusing to do me this favor?"
Xu Wuyi looked at him, his tone as calm as ever. "Director Li, this isn’t a matter of doing favors. A case is a case, and evidence is evidence."
Li Mingyuan stared at him for a few seconds, the smile completely vanishing from his face. He set down his teacup and leaned forward slightly, an invisible sense of oppression radiating from him. It was a Quasi-Master Level aura. Ordinary people would find it difficult even to breathe under such pressure.
Yet Xu Wuyi sat there motionless, as if that oppressive aura didn’t exist at all.
Li Mingyuan’s gaze sharpened. He was a Level 49 Quasi-Grandmaster, just one step away from becoming a Grandmaster. In the entire Celestial Swallow Province, the number of people who could maintain their composure in front of him could be counted on one hand. This masked Meng Zhishou was not only composed, but excessively so.
He suddenly remembered something. Most personnel in the military’s special operations department carried out the most dangerous missions. None of those who managed to survive in that department were simple characters. Since Meng Zhishou was able to transfer from special ops to the Inspection Department, it meant his strength might not be as simple as his apparent Level 47 suggested.
Li Mingyuan remained silent for a few seconds before leaning back in his chair. The oppressive aura dissipated with his movement. He smiled, but there was no warmth left in it.
The atmosphere in the reception room froze.
Zhou Bin and the others stood at the door, their palms sweating. As they watched Xu Wuyi and Li Mingyuan lock eyes, the very air seemed to grow heavy.
Li Mingyuan stared at Xu Wuyi for a long time. Then, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and said indifferently, "Captain Meng, you have backbone. I hope you can always keep it."
With that, he strode out of the reception room without looking back. The door closed behind him with a dull THUD.
Dead silence fell over the reception room.
Fang Xiaoxiao let out a long breath, feeling as though she had forgotten to breathe just now. She looked at Xu Wuyi, her voice trembling slightly. "Captain Meng, you... you really pushed back against him?"
Xu Wuyi stood up and nodded. "Let’s continue with the case."
Sun Jing walked over, looking at Xu Wuyi with a complex expression. He was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Captain Meng, I’ve been in the Inspection Department for eight years and seen many tough guys. But this is truly the first time I’ve seen someone as unyielding as you.
"Li Mingyuan is the type to seek revenge for the slightest grievance. You bruised his ego today, so he definitely won’t let this go."
Xu Wuyi looked at him, his tone calm. "I know."
"You know, and yet you still..."
"I said that until the case is closed, we don’t release anyone," Xu Wuyi interrupted. "As for what kind of person Li Mingyuan is, that has nothing to do with me. I did all this just to confirm whether he’s involved in this case.
"Now... I can confirm it.
"Let’s go. I will personally interrogate Wang Haidong."
***
When the door to the interrogation room was pushed open, Wang Haidong was leaning back in the interrogation chair, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing the commotion, he opened his eyes and saw the man wearing the black-and-white mask walk in, followed by Fang Xiaoxiao and Zhou Bin.
𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
A perfectly measured smile immediately appeared on Wang Haidong’s face. It carried a hint of innocence, a touch of helplessness, and an air of cooperative sincerity.
"Captain Meng, you’re here," Wang Haidong said, his tone extremely polite, as if he were receiving an honored guest. "I’ve thought a lot these past two days and decided I should actively cooperate with your work. If you have anything to ask, please go right ahead. I will absolutely tell you everything I know."
Xu Wuyi sat down across from him, looking at the fifty-something-year-old man from across the interrogation table. Wang Haidong’s expression was sincere, his eyes clear, and his posture relaxed. If one didn’t know about the things this man had done, judging solely by this appearance, they would truly believe he was an honest and proper businessman.
Fang Xiaoxiao and Zhou Bin took their seats on either side of Xu Wuyi, turning on the recording equipment in preparation for the interrogation.
Xu Wuyi spoke up. "Wang Haidong, when did the Tianhai Group’s Star Realm smuggling operations begin?"
Wang Haidong blinked, a perfectly feigned look of confusion appearing on his face. "Captain Meng, I really don’t know about that. I told your female agent earlier that I hand most of the company’s affairs over to my subordinates. I’m not very clear on how specific operations are handled."
"Then where did the funding for Zhang Yuhuai’s smuggling channels come from?"
"I don’t know that either. Zhang Yuhuai is the logistics director. The funds he handles all have dedicated accounts, and I don’t pay much attention to such details."
"Who are the buyers for those military-grade materials?"
"I don’t know."
"Where are the High-Energy Weapons sold?"
"I don’t know."
"What is your relationship with Li Mingyuan of the Celestial Swallow Battle Group?"
"Distant relatives, but we don’t really interact."
Wang Haidong answered quickly. His tone was steady, and his attitude was excellent. Yet, he answered every single question impeccably, wiping his own hands completely clean of the matter.
Listening to these answers, Fang Xiaoxiao clenched her jaw, itching to go up and punch him twice. But she knew it was useless. A person like this had prepared all his excuses long ago. Even if she beat him up, he wouldn’t change his tune.
Zhou Bin’s expression was equally awful. They knew perfectly well that this man was the mastermind and that he had orchestrated all those smuggling deals single-handedly, but having no evidence meant exactly that—no evidence.
Xu Wuyi, however, showed no change in expression. That mask obscured his face, making it impossible for anyone to tell what he was thinking. He waited for Wang Haidong to finish answering the last question, remained silent for a few seconds, and then suddenly spoke.
"Wang Haidong, do you know that the Inspection Department has a method to make people tell the truth?"
Wang Haidong froze for a moment.
Xu Wuyi continued, "With the Federation’s current level of technology, things like Truth Serum have long been fully mature products.
"You are not a High-Tier Martial Artist; your Spiritual Strength is insufficient. One shot of Truth Serum, and you’ll answer whatever I ask. When that happens, will you still be able to say ’I don’t know’ so readily?"
Wang Haidong’s expression changed for a fleeting moment, but it soon returned to normal.
He smiled, the expression carrying a trace of fearless composure. "Captain Meng, of course I know what you’re talking about. But I also know that the Inspection Department has its rules.
"Without sufficient evidence, you cannot use Truth Serum on a suspect. Otherwise, it constitutes a procedural violation. Even if I were to confess, that testimony would be completely invalid in court."
He looked at Xu Wuyi, a glint of smugness in his eyes. "Wouldn’t you say that’s how it works?"