"Normally, when setting up a special task force, many people are unwilling to put aside their ongoing cases. After all, if they've invested a long time in certain cases, they have a higher chance of solving them, which leads to merit. But this time, because of you, many people volunteered to join the 'Remnant' task force."
"Does joining the task force require an application?"
"Selection is based on mission requirements. However, it's also based on voluntary principle, especially since, according to the information we have, the 'Southern Faction' is in Chengdu. In the past, many would be reluctant to go, but there's no such trouble this time."
Hearing Luo Bo say this, I smiled helplessly, "Brother-in-law, I'm not trying to go against you."
"A slap, then a sweet date; you're calling me brother-in-law at this moment."
I chuckled, "Brother-in-law, you are magnanimous."
"What's the deal with the Red Informant contract?"
I had no reason to hide it from Luo Bo. He was there to uphold the law, and I was there for Wang Zeyin. As long as we could coexist peacefully, I was willing to share information with Luo Bo. After all, Luo Bo was one of the people I trusted.
"Just signed it."
"Who did you sign it with? Director Zhang?"
"I don't know if I'm allowed to say. I'll ask later, and if I can, I'll tell you."
"No need. Red Informant work is inherently covert. You revealing your identity today is already very dangerous."
I smiled wryly, "For me, Red Informant is a shield and a constraint. However, in terms of danger, it's neither here nor there. Judging by the actions of this 'Imposter' this time, they don't intend for me to live."
"Do you need protection for your family?"
I smiled, "Isn't my sister under your personal protection?"
"Stop fooling around!"
"No need. This time is different from before. I won't wait for them to attack us; I'll go find them directly."
"You're going to Sichuan?"
"This afternoon!"
Luo Bo frowned, "I thought you were going to find the killer of Director Wang in Beijing."
"That person should have fled Beijing. I have a feeling that once I reach Chengdu, I will meet them again."
"As soon as the task force members are confirmed, I'll be there. If you need any assistance from the local police department, call me immediately. This time, we'll clear out the 'remnants' together."
...
On the private jet, I looked at Ke Yingying. He was still the same as when I first met him, a fawning smile on his rugged face. I snorted and said, "I asked you to book a private jet because of your expertise. I didn't expect you to tag along."
"We, the Four-Color Jacks, are your assistants, so of course, we have to follow you."
"Don't call us assistants. You are my senior in the Special Crimes Task Force."
Ke Yingying appeared flattered, "My rank is nowhere near yours. You are a Red Informant, and your future is limitless. I'm just a Black Informant, a member of the criminal organization, hoping for leniency."
"When were you caught?"
"During the 'Fu Zheng' operation!"
"So, Ye Qingcheng and Xiao Zi'an are also members of the Special Crimes Task Force."
"They are not. They were persuaded by me. Xiao Zi'an was a tool for Teacher Li Jiu, with almost no prior record. Later, due to special emotional circumstances, he left Teacher Li Jiu and went abroad. As for Ye Qingcheng, I'm not very clear. However, judging by the methods used against Lu Yao, it's likely not her first murder. We need to be careful when dealing with her."
"Were Ning Caichen and Lu Yao also arranged by you?"
"I know some things about Ning Caichen, but I truly didn't know Lu Yao would turn so quickly. Honestly, I knew Lu Yao was ambitious, but I never expected him to join the 'Southern Faction.' After all, Lu Yao wanted to inherit Teacher Li Jiu's legacy and become the sect leader. Perhaps Lu Yao and the 'Southern Faction' are merely in some sort of cooperative relationship."
"How much do you know about the 'Southern Faction'?"
Ke Yingying gave an embarrassed smile, "Nothing at all."
"Do the people in the Special Crimes Task Force not know either?"
"They only know that Ning Caichen contacted the 'Southern Faction' through the counterfeit money scheme, and I heard that the 'Southern Faction' is still using this scheme."
'Counterfeit money scheme'?
Back then, in Hu City, I faced Li Jiu alone, while Old Ghost and Senior Sister went to Sichuan to deal with the counterfeit money scheme. At the time, the reason they gave me was that Li Jiu might be in Sichuan. Judging by my later understanding of Li Jiu and Old Ghost, that reason was false. The reason they did that was to avoid arousing Gao Ji's suspicion, using the theft of the famous painting 'Woman III' to attack Gao Ji, and then, when Gao Ji believed he was the 'demon,' Old Ghost used the opportunity to have him die miserably in bed.
Looking back at what happened, the 'counterfeit money scheme' was just a link in this grand design, seemingly insignificant. Now that I think about it, this link was not simple. Ning Caichen's defection to the 'Southern Faction' is likely related to Senior Sister. But there's one thing I can't understand. The confrontation between the schemers, understanding the situation, setting up the scheme, and breaking the scheme; it sounds simple, but within the scheme, there are many confrontations, countering each move, and frankly, it's an intellectual duel.
Ning Caichen lost to me. With his intelligence, he could have started over, but he didn't. He was too hasty, getting a gun to kill me, claiming it was out of love for Senior Sister Cao Qian. That gun was a good setup, but he was too hasty. What was he rushing for? Would his actions help Cao Qian?
Perhaps uncovering the truth of the counterfeit money scheme will reveal the truth about Senior Sister joining the 'Southern Faction.'
"Ke Yingying, do you know about the counterfeit money scheme?"
"I know a little!"
"Why did the counterfeit money make Gao Ji believe that the scheme was set up by Li Jiu?"
Ke Yingying thought for a moment and then earnestly explained the entire process. The counterfeit money scheme wasn't about producing fake RMB, but fake US dollars. To perfectly produce counterfeit money, four elements were required: one, the banknote template; two, an intaglio printing press; three, color-shifting ink; and four, acid-free paper.
Let alone gathering all four skills, the first element, the banknote template, was something an ordinary person couldn't create. Li Jiu happened to possess this technology. Of course, both the banknote template and the process were created by Li Jiu.
The second element was an intaglio printing press. This equipment couldn't be bought, no matter how much money was offered. And during that period, the Gao family happened to lose such a government-controlled device.
...
I listened, dumbfounded, "What did the Gao family want with a government-controlled device like an intaglio printing press?"
"Once Gao Ji owned his own territory, he would naturally want to print currency with his own portrait on it."
"I see. Then the third element, color-shifting ink. Although I don't understand it, I imagine this color-shifting ink isn't available on the market either."
"It actually was purchased!"
"From where?"
"Besides the deceased Ning Caichen, no one knows the source. The color-shifting ink and acid-free paper were bought by Ning Caichen. The exact location is unknown, but it's confirmed to be a powerful European nation."
"Ning Caichen is indeed a talented individual."
"Indeed!"
...
In his counterfeit money operation, Ning Caichen borrowed ideas from the antique world's aging techniques. His counterfeit bills were also old. After the scheme began, he offered an exchange rate far below the market value. Moreover, genuine US dollars were mixed in with the fake ones. Of course, these genuine dollars were even older.
People always like to get a bargain. A low exchange rate made them want to exchange more. Gradually, Ning Caichen gained more customers. Although Ning Caichen was the planner of this operation, the real profit went to a local group, which was responsible for the manufacturing.
When Old Ghost and Senior Sister arrived, they used their local connections to create a lot of trouble for the two of them.
Ke Yingying stopped talking at this point, and I looked at him curiously, "And then?"
"That's the 'then.' Cao Shi and Cao Qian broke the scheme, Ning Caichen was arrested and imprisoned, the counterfeit production site was exposed, and oh yes, that intaglio printing press was lost."
Looking at Ke Yingying's apologetic smile, I felt a little angry, "Didn't you say you knew some things? You only know this much."
"This is all I know."
"What about the details?"
"Those four elements are the details! The intaglio printing press is still in the enemy's hands; isn't that a detail?"
"These are details about manufacturing counterfeit money. I'm asking about the details of Ning Caichen and Cao Qian's interaction, how Ning Caichen fell in love with Cao Qian, and how such an intelligent person would sacrifice himself for love."
Hearing me say this, Ke Yingying blinked awkwardly, "Sect Leader, please don't make things difficult for me. How would I know those kinds of details? Ning Caichen is dead. You'll have to ask Cao Qian about this."
...
This wasn't the answer I wanted, but Ke Yingying was correct. Only the people involved could know the details. Although I didn't learn much about the counterfeit money scheme this time, even a glimpse of it was astonishing. Ning Caichen's ability to perfectly replicate banknotes truly opened my eyes.
The plane soon arrived in Sichuan. I left through the VIP channel, while Ke Yingying said he was going to get the luggage. I waited for him at the pickup area outside. Just then, someone patted me on the back. I saw a woman wrapped in a scarf. She was petite and delicate, and her height was considered normal in Chengdu.
"Teacher Ye!" I was a little surprised to see her right after landing.
"Come with me!"
"Where are we going?"
"Let's leave here first. I don't trust Ke Yingying."