Chapter 927: I’ll Give You a Billion

Chen Shi asked, “So, can you use your connections to help us find out who might be performing this dark ritual?”

The old man let out a hearty laugh, “Young man, don’t push your luck. I’ve already told you enough. You’re police, do your own investigations. Besides, the Five Elements Rebirth is a sham. If some idiot actually tries it, they’ll just end up killing five people for nothing… I’m leaving!”

With that, a puff of smoke rose from his sleeve, and he seemingly vanished into thin air. A waiter nearby was so startled that he dropped his tray.

However, KK quickly noticed where the old man had gone and pointed towards the corridor, “Look, the old turtle is crawling on the floor!”

Everyone turned to see the old man on all fours, slowly making his way to the door.

“The magic trick loses its charm once exposed,” Sun Zhen commented.

“Yeah, it’s ridiculously awkward… Can he crawl any faster?” KK added.

“Chen, if someone is collecting organs, I can check the dark web for you. There might be a platform for such trades,” Sun Zhen offered.

“Thanks, I appreciate it!” Chen Shi replied.

“He’s still crawling! Like a snail!” KK continued to mock.

“Let’s pretend we didn’t see this. It’s too embarrassing,” Sun Zhen suggested.

Lin Dongxue turned to Chen Shi, “What do we do? The only capable person we found won’t help. Are we just going to watch as Old Master Lu loses everything?”

“Let’s gather evidence to see if Liao Chunhuang is indeed a ‘rule-abiding’ fraud. If he is, we’ll wait until Old Master Lu is scammed and then help Wang Haitao through legal means. If he isn’t, we’ll bring the old man back to help us and proceed with our original plan,” Chen Shi said, glancing at the old man who was still slowly crawling. The old man probably thought Chen and his team were still awestruck by his sudden disappearance.

“Our biggest takeaway today is the information about the murders. It seems someone born on February 19, 1973, might be the one the mastermind wants to ‘resurrect.’ Following this lead could help us find the culprit.”

Chen Shi pondered, “When was Liao Chunhuang’s wife, Xu Rongrong, born?”

Lin Dongxue quickly checked her police database, “November 24, 1975.”

“Well, it doesn’t seem like just a coincidence,” Chen Shi noted.

At that moment, Wang Haitao walked in, waving at them from outside. KK gestured towards the door, “He’s at the entrance!”

“Why is he here?” Lin Dongxue was surprised.

“Hehe, I messaged him to come. You never know until you try,” KK grinned.

The old man finally crawled to the door, only to be blocked by a pair of legs in suit pants. He waved frantically, “Move! Move!”

“Hello, are you Master Ju Zhenglei from the Tianshi Sect? I’m Wang Haitao,” Wang said.

The old man stood up, looked at Wang Haitao, then at KK inside, and said, “What is this? A bribe? I said I wouldn’t do it!”

“Can we sit down and talk?” Wang suggested.

“No, I’m leaving.”

“Waiter, bring a bottle of Wuliangye,” Wang ordered.

The old man wiped his mouth, “Well, since you’re so sincere, I suppose I can sit for a while.”

The old man was led back to the table. KK joked, “What a surprise! Let’s sit.”

“I’ll only have one drink! Don’t expect to persuade me.”

The waiter brought the liquor and glasses. Lin Dongxue poured him a drink. The old man took a deep whiff, then slowly drank it, savoring the taste before asking for another. Lin Dongxue obliged, but Chen Shi whispered to her, “Don’t pour him any more.”

The old man, looking as if he were in a liquor commercial, drank the second glass with great enjoyment. He smacked his lips, maintaining his dignity, and said, “No matter what you say, it’s useless. I, Ju Zhenglei, have lived by the rules all my life. I won’t break them now.”

Wang Haitao said, “Master Ju, my family is on the brink of ruin. Please, have mercy.”

“It’s not about mercy. Flies don’t bite seamless eggs. Your father wouldn’t have fallen for it if he were more cautious. But rest assured, we follow rules. We won’t let you go completely broke. You’ll still have some money left.”

Wang Haitao smiled bitterly, “What if I offer you a million as a reward?”

The old man was taken aback and reached for the bottle, but Wang moved it away, staring at him for an answer.

“And I’ll throw in my villa in Longwan.”

“You could offer me a billion and it wouldn’t matter. I won’t…”

“Then I’ll give you a billion,” Wang Haitao said calmly.

The old man’s mouth dropped open in shock. Everyone, including Chen Shi, was stunned. The amount was astronomical.

The old man’s eyes filled with tears. He wiped them with the tablecloth and said, “Please, stop increasing the amount. The more you offer, the worse I feel. I know I can’t take that much money. My blood pressure is rising. This isn’t about money; rules are rules!”

“Why can’t you break the rules for a good cause? Your rules are essentially agreements among criminals!” Chen Shi exclaimed.

The old man, still crying, said, “Yes, I am a criminal. I’ve deceived many people in my life. Arrest me if you want, but I can’t help you.”

Wang Haitao looked disappointed, “It seems my family is doomed.”

“But…”

That one word caught everyone’s attention. The old man continued, “Considering how desperate you are, I can investigate and see if that young man is breaking the rules. As his elder, he must respect me.”

Wang Haitao immediately wrote a check for a million and handed it to him, “Whether you help or not, this money is yours. Thank you for your assistance.”

The old man waved, “I’ll do my best and leave the rest to fate.”

It was decided they would go that afternoon. This time, the old man didn’t use any disappearing tricks. He was so emotional that his legs were shaky, and KK and Sun Zhen had to help him out.

Chen Shi asked Wang Haitao, “Do you really have a billion?”

“A billion in cash, probably not. I’d have to mortgage, borrow, and scrape it together,” Wang Haitao replied with a bitter smile. “My family is on the brink of collapse. I have to try everything. I hope my father stops being so obsessed with this. His health is deteriorating because he stopped treatment, drinking the master’s charms every day. Besides money, I have nothing else to offer.”

“You have friends,” Chen Shi said, patting his shoulder.

“Thank you, Mr. Chen, Officer Lin. I appreciate you standing by me in this difficult time,” Wang Haitao said gratefully.