Chapter 1274 - 1273: Calamity Star
"Thank you, Brother Lu and Sister Wan, for saving me!"
Zhao Xiaodao was out of the hospital in less than half a day, handled the police, reporters, and crew members, and then returned to the hotel room where Lu Zheng and Lin Wan were already waiting.
Zhao Xiaodao wasn’t surprised at all and immediately went to Lin Wan, eagerly expressing her gratitude.
"No worries." Lin Wan smiled and asked, "You really had bad luck this time. Why didn’t you hire any security? Even a warning or delay by a guard would have given you time to escape."
Zhao Xiaodao couldn’t help but sigh, "We did hire security, but they were only good for dealing with local thugs. When the shots were fired, they ran faster than we did."
Lin Wan nodded, "Things will be better from now on. After this incident, film crews from Hua Country will definitely enjoy top-notch security when they come over."
Lu Zheng chimed in, "We got here just in time, otherwise sacrificing one of you would have brought happiness to countless families."
Zhao Xiaodao: (ノ°ο°)ノ
"Sister Wan, who were these guys anyway? Will we face retaliation?" Zhao Xiaodao couldn’t help but ask, "I took down their second-in-command!"
"Second-in-command, my foot," Lu Zheng couldn’t help but mock, "just a low-level lackey."
"They are the lowest tier of a certain international organ trafficking syndicate," Lin Wan explained. "These cross-national crime organizations have gangs from impoverished areas like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, or Latin America collecting organs, and then international medical institutions in the Lighthouse Country, Japan, or Western Europe perform surgeries for profit. Do you think they’ll retaliate against you?"
Zhao Xiaodao’s face turned pale.
She’s just a minor celebrity; how could she compete against such a criminal syndicate? Heaven knows if they have someone powerful backing them, especially in organ trafficking where the most critical part is the channels!
"So..."
Facing Zhao Xiaodao’s dumbfounded expression, Lin Wan shook her head and said, "Of course not!"
"Huh?" Zhao Xiaodao looked bewildered.
Lin Wan smiled, "You’re at least a major star, while such crime organizations can never be exposed under sunlight. Trust me, many have already cut ties with these people. As long as you haven’t deliberately harmed their interests, they’re the ones most eager for the matter to settle down."
Zhao Xiaodao let out a sigh of relief, followed by a mix of anger and disbelief.
Watching crime stories unfold on TV or online is nothing compared to experiencing their actions firsthand.
"Mianbei Kidney Snatchers" is a legend and a running joke domestically, but in many places, it is a grim reality.
Zhao Xiaodao glanced at Lu Zheng and Lin Wan.
She’s not a little girl anymore and knows well the world isn’t black and white, justice can’t always triumph over evil. It’s commendable that Hua Country can manage its affairs well, while people in these countries must fend for themselves.
In the past, she could only suppress her goodness and sense of justice, comfort herself, and let go of the urge to help, respecting others’ fate.
But now, these two before her clearly possess the strength to break rules. The question is, will they care?
"Of course not," Lu Zheng, understanding Zhao Xiaodao’s look, responded, "If I cared about everything, I’d wear myself out and have no time for strolling, dining, and cinema."
Zhao Xiaodao couldn’t help but shrink her neck, "I didn’t say anything..."
"Pfft!" Lu Zheng sneered, "If you can bring out that look in a movie, you’d surely snatch a top actress award."
Zhao Xiaodao was speechless, and Lin Wan laughed, "Actually we’ve already cleaned up the Golden Triangle twice."
Zhao Xiaodao’s eyes lit up, just before Lin Wan continued, "But now it’s blooming again, larger than before."
"Uh..."
Lin Wan’s point was clear, some issues can’t be resolved simply by rampaging.
Zhao Xiaodao nodded in understanding, then heard Lu Zheng say, "Of course, we can’t solve everything, but if we run into a case, dealing with it is just something extra we do."
"Uh..."
Mood swings are truly stimulating.
Lin Wan nodded, "Though the police have raided the gang’s crime den, many have slipped through the cracks. Heaven knows if any will come after you since you took down some of their guys."
Zhao Xiaodao nodded repeatedly.
"So, go ahead and shoot your films. Since they provoked you, whether or not they intend to retaliate, they’re doomed," Lin Wan said calmly.
"Sister Wan, fierce! Brother Lu, mighty!" Zhao Xiaodao cheered.
...
Lin Wan didn’t need to act; Lu Zheng, being a top hacker, easily breached all the related servers and obtained all their information.
The next day, every fugitive from the gang, from the leader down to the lackey, was dead without exception.
Moreover, the gang’s ledger, trade partners, even confidential files and proof related to the crime syndicate, appeared on the public forum of the darknet by noon. Anyone could see them.
"Anyone" certainly included intelligence organizations from various countries and Interpol, as well as competitors of this crime group.
"Do we really not need to do anything?" Lu Zheng asked.
"No need," Lin Wan shook her head, then raised her other encrypted phone for Lu Zheng to see, "Interpol has already begun taking action, linking with police from various countries to tighten the nets."
This is official activity. Bear in mind, the crime group has connections with other similar groups and holds potential information and proof. If caught and spilled, it could implicate many.
So their competitors certainly won’t delay. They’re probably hastening to silence witnesses."
Lu Zheng clicked his tongue, "The underworld is really a dark jungle, everyone pushing down the wall, and not a hand reaching to pull someone up? What happened to the legendary loyalty?"
"You’ve watched too many Hong Kong films," Lin Wan shook her head, couldn’t help but chuckle at the darknet forum.
"Some speculate the crime group’s competitors released the info when Zhao Xiaodao’s incident attracted attention, to make authorities wary of them and frustrated with the group, aiming to fish them out in one sweep."
"Didn’t expect the darknet to be so conspiracy-theory heavy?" Lu Zheng asked.
"This place is where conspiracies thrive," Lin Wan nodded and then laughed, "Many are now calling Zhao Xiaodao a harbinger and warning others to stay clear of her in the future."
Lu Zheng, "..."