Chapter 181 Master Zhou

Seeing the hesitation on the faces of the three men, Zhou Debiao felt much more at ease; they were indeed young people.

He felt more confident, put his hands behind his back, and took a step forward.

"Inspector Fang, I'm giving you face, and also for the inspection bureau behind you."

"Take the person back for questioning. Once you're done, if it's unrelated to your case, return the person to me, and we'll be even."

"But I must take the sheep with me today. It's not that I, Zhou Debiao, am heartless, but the hundreds of brothers down here need to eat. If we can't collect the debts, no one will want to do business with me in the East City."

The air freezes.

Behind Fang Yingxia, Qian Mantang and Zhao Shouxin had never seen such a scene before, and were momentarily at a loss for what to do.

They were good at dealing with the supernatural, but they were still a bit green against a seasoned veteran like Zhou Debiao.

Their silence was like a tonic, filling Zhou Debiao's stomach and giving him even more confidence.

"Inspector Fang," he sighed, his tone suddenly becoming candid, "Don't blame me for being blunt, but in the eyes of ordinary people, the sign of the Inspection Bureau is that of an official, and in the eyes of those shady characters, it's a nemesis. But in the eyes of the Chamber of Commerce, it's just a piece of paper."

Zhou Debiao lit a cigarette, took a puff, and white smoke slowly emerged from his nostrils.

"Do you know how much funding the Chamber of Commerce allocates to the Inspection Bureau each year? And who paid for the bullets in this gun you're holding?"

"I support your investigation bureau in handling this case."

"But you also have to understand us business people. What do we get out of paying so much money to the inspection bureau every year?"

"I just wanted peace and quiet, so that my business in the East City could continue smoothly. But now? You shot one of my men and now you want to steal my sheep."

He spread his hands, looking completely innocent.

"If word gets out, where will the Chamber of Commerce put its face? What will those big bosses who pay the inspection bureau think? They'll say: 'Oh, I paid money to raise a bunch of ungrateful wretches, and they turn around and bite my hand?'"

That's a very strong statement.

The expressions of Fang Yingxia and the other two changed upon hearing this.

Zhou Dekun's lips curled up slightly, ready to add fuel to the fire.

"Are you done talking?"

A voice drifted over from the end of the street.

The volume wasn't loud, and it even carried a hint of impatience.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the newcomer, and they all turned their heads in unison.

Chen Mo walked out of the alley, his hands in his pockets, a cold smile on his face.

"Team Leader Chen."

Fang Yingxia and the other two breathed a sigh of relief when they saw him arrive.

"Captain Chen?" Zhou Debiao had seen everything. Judging from the expressions on Fang Yingxia and the other two's faces, he knew that Chen Mo must be their captain.

He took the cigarette holder out of his mouth, twirled it between his fingers, and put on that charming, shrewd smile.

"Oh, it's Brother Chen..."

"I said," Chen Mo interrupted him, choking Zhou Debiao's remaining words, "you just said that the Inspection Bureau is paid by the Chamber of Commerce?"

Zhou Debiao was taken aback, not expecting the other party to get straight to the point with that sentence.

"That's natural..."

"Do you know who's in charge of the supply inspection bureau?"

Zhou Debiao was stunned again.

"It's the Chamber of Commerce."

"The Chamber of Commerce is a tribute," Chen Mo said for him, his tone flat. "It's not your Chang Le Gang."

"What kind of thing is your Chang Le Gang? Just a branch of a chamber of commerce, paying a few protection fees every year, and you dare to call yourself the bread and butter of the Inspection Bureau?"

Zhou Debiao's face darkened. "Young man, watch your words..."

"I'm careful what I say." Chen Mo pulled his hand out of his pocket and took a step forward. "But you, you should watch your words."

"You're using the Chamber of Commerce's name to pressure the inspection bureau? Do you think those big bosses in the Chamber will even acknowledge you as their dog?"

Zhou Debiao's face turned bright red.

"So what's the point of all that rambling?"

Chen Mo's voice suddenly turned cold. "You're just bragging with your mouth. How much does your Chang Le Gang pay to the Chamber of Commerce in a year? What do you have to do with the funds the Chamber of Commerce allocates to the Inspection Bureau?"

He turned his head away from Zhou Debiao and waved to Fang Yingxia.

"Take people with you, take the sheep with you, leave no one behind."

Fang Yingxia happily agreed and turned to help the old shepherd.

Qian Mantang, holding one sheep in each hand, and Zhao Shouxin drove the flock of sheep toward the street.

Zhou Debiao's expression changed completely. He didn't expect Chen Mo to actually dare to make a move, right in front of him and in front of forty or fifty gang members, just taking people away without warning.

"Stop!" he shouted sternly, slamming his cigarette holder on the ground. "Who dares to touch those sheep...?"

Chen Mo suddenly turned around, drew his pistol from his waist, and pressed the muzzle directly against Zhou Debiao's forehead.

The entire end of the street was quiet.

"Zhou Debiao," Chen Mo's voice was neither loud nor soft, but as cold as ice, "Do you know what kind of sheep these are?"

Sensing the murderous intent in his eyes, Zhou Debiao's Adam's apple bobbed, but he still stubbornly refused to back down.

"What can a flock of sheep be?"

"The art of animal creation."

Three words.

Zhou Debiao's face turned pale instantly. Not only him, but several older members of the Chang Le Gang around him also turned pale.

Animal husbandry techniques.

One of the forbidden techniques announced by the Inspection Bureau.

They turn living people into livestock; once verified, they are caught and killed.

No trial, no sentencing, no procedure required.

Don't talk about killing.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Zhou Debiao said, forcing himself to speak.

"I say, these sheep might be the product of animal creation techniques." Chen Mo's gun barrel remained motionless as his gaze swept over the gang members around him. "This is my final warning to you all. If the Chang Le Gang dares to obstruct the investigation again, you will be treated as accomplices according to the regulations."

"Anyone who dares to stop us will die here today. Don't blame me for not warning you."

A fine layer of sweat appeared on Zhou Debiao's forehead. As he watched the flock of sheep being led away, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

He knew exactly what these sheep were, and if they were taken away by the other party, he would likely be the one to take the blame.

Now he can only gamble, gamble that the other side won't actually kill them.

"Stop them!" he roared. "Get the sheep back!"

Several gang members hesitated for a moment, then rushed forward with their machetes.

Chen Mo did not hesitate.

"Bang!"

The gang member at the front of the charge had a bloody flower explode in his chest, and he was sent flying backward, crashing onto the bluestone slab.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two more shots were fired.

Two gang members who followed immediately fell to the ground, their machetes flying out of their hands, bouncing twice on the ground with a crisp metallic clang.

The end of the street was completely quiet.

The remaining gang members were rooted to the ground, none daring to take another step forward.

They weren't really afraid of death.

Chen Mo pointed his gun at Zhou Debiao again.

"I gave you a chance."

The other person's face was deathly pale.

"You—you—"

"Obstructing the Bureau of Investigation in the performance of its duties, involving a case of prohibited animal husbandry techniques, and resisting arrest."

"Shooting him dead on the spot is in accordance with regulations."

Chen Mo's index finger was on the trigger.

"No...don't..."

"Bang!"

The fourth shot.

Zhou Debiao's body shuddered, a bloody hole exploded between his eyebrows, and his pupils still held the disbelief of that last moment.

Chen Mo's gaze swept over the remaining gang members, whose faces were ashen and whose legs were trembling.

"Who else wants to die?"