Chapter 663: Come Catch Me

Chen Shi immediately sensed that the manager was lying. He said, “Your project has restarted recently, hasn’t it?”

“No, no…” the manager stammered nervously, “I told you the funding chain is broken, and with Mr. Dong missing, how could it restart?”

“As long as someone is willing to pay, the project can restart. Is that person named Lü?” Chen Shi pressed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“How much does a satellite weigh?” Lin Dongxue asked.

Back to a professional question, the manager regained his composure. “They vary in size. Early satellites were only tens of kilograms, sometimes even just a few. Nowadays, they carry more equipment and can weigh up to a ton.”

“Which is harder to build, a rocket or a satellite?” she continued.

“Definitely the satellite. Building a rocket isn’t that technically challenging. Anyone with a basic understanding of engineering can make one. It just won’t go as high as one powered by hydrogen fuel.”

Lin Qiupu pulled them aside. The three of them had already deduced what was happening. “Lü Qi plans to complete the rocket and send Dong Xiao’s body into space!”

Even though they had guessed it, the shock was indescribable. If true, this would be an unprecedented act in the history of crime.

“Could we be mistaken? Who would do something so insane?” Lin Qiupu struggled to believe it, wondering if he was dreaming.

“Money makes the world go round. With Lü Qi’s resources, it’s doable… By the way, is his account frozen?” Chen Shi asked.

“Of course, but it only had a little over a million in it.”

“Lü Qi’s house alone is worth more than a million. He must have moved his assets to other accounts that the police can’t trace.”

Lin Qiupu immediately called the information department to investigate further. Just then, a tall, thin man entered, handing the manager some documents. Chen Shi recognized him from the supermarket surveillance video as the “shopper.”

Lin Dongxue realized it too. She quickly moved, handcuffed him, and said, “This is Zhang from our company. He’s not a criminal. What are you doing?” the manager protested.

Lin Qiupu was momentarily stunned. “What’s going on?” he asked Chen Shi in a low voice, who explained the situation. Lin Qiupu then said, “Bring him in for questioning.”

“No, we don’t have time. Let’s question him here,” Chen Shi insisted.

They took the man to an office and locked the door. He looked very nervous. Chen Shi asked, “Do you know why you’re here?”

Zhang shook his head vigorously.

Chen Shi played the supermarket footage on the computer. “Is this you?”

“Officer, is it a crime to buy groceries?” Zhang replied.

“The place where you bought groceries is where we found Lü Qi’s hideout. He’s basically a fugitive now. Why did you buy so much instant food every day? Were there many people in that workshop? What were you making?” Chen Shi pressed.

Zhang remained silent.

Lin Qiupu slammed the table. “Did you see Dong Xiao’s body?”

Zhang was visibly scared, shaking his head furiously, sweat beading on his forehead.

“You’re building a rocket to send that body into space, aren’t you?”

Zhang grew even more nervous but still said nothing.

Despite their questioning, Zhang stayed silent. Chen Shi realized that they had been paid well by Lü Qi and wouldn’t betray him, fearing they would lose the money.

People are willing to risk their lives for money.

Lin Qiupu scolded, “You’re aiding a criminal, violating the law!”

“I don’t know about any bodies. We’re just getting paid to build a rocket,” Zhang tried to deflect.

The manager entered, carrying cups of coffee. “Officers, calm down. You’re being too dramatic. Rockets to launch bodies? A rocket costs millions. Why would anyone waste it on that?”

“Who let you in?” Lin Qiupu snapped.

The manager sheepishly set down the coffee and left, casting a threatening glance at Zhang, which Chen Shi noticed. It seemed the manager was involved too, but the company was united in keeping secrets.

Chen Shi had a feeling that the rocket had either already been launched or was about to be.

Seeing they couldn’t get any information, Lin Dongxue suggested, “Brother, we need another plan.”

“Why did he come back?” Chen Shi mused. “His work here must be done. Let’s check where he’s been.”

They quickly went to check Zhang’s car’s dashcam. It showed him visiting a very remote location. Lin Qiupu called for other officers to handle the scene and, with Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue, rushed to the location.

Lin Dongxue was filled with disbelief the entire way. This couldn’t be real, could it?

If Lü Qi was indeed planning to use this insane method to dispose of the body, would the police have to spend millions on a Cold War-era Soviet satellite retriever to fetch the body back?

Hours later, they arrived at the location. In the distance, they saw a white rocket standing in an open field, surrounded by a temporary launch tower and a crowd of people.

Lü Qi and Su Chan were among them, their figures unmistakable. Lü Qi was talking to someone when he noticed the car and said something, causing everyone to move.

“Damn it, stop them!” Lin Qiupu shouted, “Speed up!”

“I’m already flooring it,” Chen Shi replied. The car was almost flying, bumping over the rough, snowy terrain, shaking them all.

As they neared, a plume of fire shot from the launch tower, the roar drowning out all other sounds and shaking their bones.

They got out of the car and ran. Lin Qiupu, furious, drew his gun, but Chen Shi yelled, “Don’t! If the fuel tank explodes, we’ll all die!” His voice was lost in the rocket’s roar.

Lin Qiupu realized and holstered his gun, stomping in frustration as they watched the sleek white rocket ascend faster and faster. Lü Qi stood below, arms spread wide, laughing maniacally.

As the rocket soared into the sky, they finally heard Lü Qi’s taunting shout over the deafening noise: “Cops, come catch me! Hahaha!”