Chapter 1403 - Truth and Yueying

Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales

“Magpies living in a dove’s nest”: that was the saying that best described the state of the Brenian Special Bureau station right now.

The original investigators, with Candy Dad Jerry as the lead, had all been excluded from the case. Acting chief Faran Liang had transferred eight investigators from four regional planets at the last minute to form a task force set out to investigate Wu Jie’s murder.

“How strange. Isn’t Huang Rong a suspect who vandalized the scene of the crime? Why has Faran invited him into the office?”

“Yeah, even if Huang Rong isn’t who committed the murder of Wu Jie’s family, he must have a connection to the murderer, as is clearly written in the previous dossier. But now it appears as if Huang Rong isn’t a suspect, but a private consultant of Faran’s, discussing every detail with him. It’s very strange.”

“Hey, the two of you better keep all that talk to the minimum. We were transferred at the last minute to Brenia, and will head back after. Faran is a Senior Investigator from Headquarters, and deputy chief of the Seventh Division. He’s not someone any of us can afford to offend.”

The investigators who had been rallied at the last minute had plenty to discuss. None of them could make sense of Faran’s actions. Even if Huang Rong held a special status as someone from the military, he was still a suspect who had destroyed evidence from the crime scene.

Logically speaking, Faran ought to be interrogating Huang Rong overnight, and definitely not be inviting him into his office for a cup of tea. Seeing how close of a relationship the two had, how could any of the investigators not find it suspicious?

They saw the elevator door suddenly open, and Candy Dad Jerry strode into the office, along with the group of original local investigators.

Dunn and Chenchen pushed aside everyone who attempted to stop them as they made their way to the chief’s office. Chenchen did not knock, and just barged right in.

What they saw in the office was Faran and Huang Rong sitting side by side on the couch, discussing something in hushed whispers. The moment he saw Dad, the expression on Faran’s face turned sour as he declared with a frown, “Dad, you’ve already been fired. Without approval from Headquarters, you do not have the right to be here in the station.”

Getting up, Faran rudely reprimanded his support staff, “To fail to even stop an old man, what exactly are you all made off? Those who don’t wish to work for the Special Bureau can get lost!”

“Men, escort Dad away!”

Dad’s face was crestfallen. He was very disappointed after seeing how rude and unreasonably Faran was acting.

That was when Xia Fan suddenly chuckled and said to Faran, “It’s best not to be too harsh in how you treat others, so there’s room for friendly relations in the future. Is there a need to be so overbearing? We’ve come looking for you for an urgent matter, even meeting you in your office. Let’s all just have a chat.”

Xia Fan’s tone was even and calm. His smile was the same as ever, radiant and inviting.

However, Faran was even more annoyed after hearing that, glaring at Xia Fan contemptuously, “You’re just a trainee investigator, do you even have the qualifications to be talking to me?! Don’t think that Dad will be able to back you. He can barely even help himself!”

*Zing*

Cheyenne and Chenchen were instantly provoked. The veins on their forehead became visible, and just as they were about to confront Faran, everyone suddenly heard Xia Fan let out a mirthless laugh, “Not reciprocating when shown face.”

“What did you say?” Faran was taken aback. He was enraged, raising his arm to point aggressively at Xia Fan’s forehead.

“Not reciprocating when shown face,” Xia Fan repeated what he said with that same smile, but his tone was much colder than before. “Originally on account that you’re my senior, I wanted to leave you some face and have this chat in your office, so as to help you avoid the trouble of excusing yourself in front of so many people.

“But it’s such a pity that you’re so eager to die, so you can’t blame me for not being sympathetic. Investigator Liang, or perhaps I should call you Chief Liang. May I ask if Qin Yuwei, the killer of Wu Jie and his family, is your daughter?”

The moment Xia Fan said those words, the entire station went silent. It was so quiet that anyone could have clearly heard if a pin dropped.

The killer was actually Faran’s daughter?!

That was far too shocking a conclusion!

Faran’s expression changed drastically. First it went red, then it turned pale. He opened his mouth slightly, seemingly wanting to explain, but Xia Fan did not even give him the chance to. Xia Fan’s eyes were sharp as he continued rapidly in a strong voice, “Six years ago, the tragedy of the Ariane! The military’s hostage rescue operation was a failure, and 5482 civilians, as well as 12 military intelligence special force commandos, lost their lives.

“However, this was a statement given to those outside. Actually, one of the commandos did not die. She very fortunately escaped from the explosion and survived. This person was Qin Yuwei, who happens to be your illegitimate daughter!”

“What nonsense! Chief Liang isn’t even married, how could he have a daughter?! Besides, the woman you spoke of has a last name of Qin, that’s completely different from his!” an investigator that had been transferred from another planet stood up to refute him.

“Hmph!” Xia Fan let out a cold snort and stared at the already twisted face of Faran Liang. “Qin Yuwei was born 27 years ago; her mother was Qin Xueying. According to the data, Qin Yuwei has no father, and was Qin Xueying’s child, born out of wedlock.

“The scum of a man who abandoned Qin Xueying when she was pregnant was none other than the dashing vice-chief of the Headquarters’ Seventh Division, Senior Investigator Faran Liang!

“Always speaking of righteousness and morality, but just a scoundrel who is corrupt and despicable. Qin Xueying was just an ignorant girl, and Chief Liang harbored loftier aspirations. Upon learning that he had been admitted to the distinguished Blue Boiling Point Training Camp, he actually abandoned the girl out of fear that she might jeopardize his future.

“Unfortunately you did not know then that Qin Xueying was already pregnant with your child. By the time she was born, you actually got angry and threatened her to not leak the relationship you two had, or you’d kill her parents. Chief Liang, do you still remember those words today?

“The poor Qin Xueying was still a child herself, but was forced to drop out of school, raising Qin Yuwei on her own. Given her results, she should have attended a decent university and gotten herself a good job, but because of you, the irresponsible scumbug, she is just a cashier in a supermarket even today, earning a salary that is barely above minimum wage.

“Fortunately, her daughter Qin Yuwei achieved success despite everything. If you had given your daughter anything, it would be that she has inherited your good genes and has a special ability. She managed to join the military while achieving outstanding results, becoming a member of the special forces commando for the Military Intelligence Bureau.

“Along the way, I placed a call to Qin Xueying. At first she refused to admit that she was your daughter, but after I told her that Qin Yuwei was still alive, Qin Xueying could not help but cry and tell me the truth that had been hidden all these years.

“Chief Liang, the reason why you’re in such a hurry to take over Wu Jie’s case isn’t because of your moral righteousness, but because you’re afraid that others might learn that the killer is your illegitimate daughter!”

*Slap*

Xia Fan tacked a photograph on the whiteboard of the Special Bureau. It was a photo of Qin Yuwei. Her right eye was just like a normal person, but her left eye had two pupils, one big and one small!

“Chief Liang, if I remember correctly, your nickname seems to be Double-pupil. May I trouble you to take off your sunglasses and let us compare your eye with Qin Yuwei’s?”

Faran seemed to have already fallen apart. He collapsed onto the sofa with a thud, a pale expression on his face, his legs trembling visibly.

“Old Liang!” Huang Rong grabbed him by the shoulder, angrily shouting at Xia Fan, “You don’t understand, the situation isn’t as simple as you think!”

“SHUT UP!” Xia Fan promptly yelled back several decibels louder. “You aren’t a good guy, either!”

“Was the Ariane tragedy just an accident? Just what unspeakable role did your Military Intelligence Bureau play inside? Was it so great that Qin Yuwei has risked everything to take revenge after escaping with her life?!”

*slap slap slap slap*

Xia Fan pasted even more photos on the whiteboard, a dead body front and center in every one.

“The Ariane tragedy six years ago! Field Commander Wu Jie and his family of five! Intelligence Officer Blair and his family of four, Technical Officer Strong and her spouse! With so many already dead, if we don’t stop Qin Yuwei, then her next target will be Lieutenant General Zhang Qichao! I’m afraid he won’t live past tonight!”

“Tell me, just what exactly happened on the long range cruise ship the Ariane six years ago?! What are you people trying to keep under wraps!?”

This was the first time anyone had seen Xia Fan act so forcefully; even Xia Fan’s partner Cheyenne had never seen this side of him. Whenever they were in the Bureau, XIa Fan was always smiling and seen by everyone as a cheery and bright young lad. But today, Xia Fan’s was nothing like the grinning boy he had been, giving Huang Rong and Faran Liang a vicious tonguelashing.

As for the truth that Xia Fan had just speculated, it left everyone even more creeped out. Reading between the lines of the words he uttered, it seemed like he believed that what had happened to the Ariane was not an accident, but artificially orchestrated! Out of consideration of their own face, the military was currently working with Faran to hide the truth of the matter altogether!

Huang Rong shook his head strongly, saying each word with emphasis, “The truth is that the Ariane Tragedy was an accident.”

“Still wanting to keep mum when you’re already at wit’s end,” Xia Fan pursed his lips. “Dad, I think you can use the truth serum on him.”

Candy Dad Jerry squinted and then nodded slightly, directing Dunn to swagger off to the dangerous goods storage.

*Clap clap clap*n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

All of a sudden, Huang Rong actually clapped his hands as he glared hatefully at Xia Fan. “Well done, truly you are an investigator who has been groomed by Dad. You’re so young, yet you have already forced me and Old Liang to the point where we have to show our trump card. With how the chips have fallen, I see no point in me not saying this: there is no way for you to learn the truth, ever.”

With those words, Huang Rong suddenly rolled up his sleeve and showed a tattoo of a blue goshawk on his left arm.

Qin Zimo seemed to recognize the mark and yelled out abruptly, “You’re a Mooneagle?!”

Mooneagles: they were the most secretive special force of the Union Military, specializing in taking the most classified missions in the military!

The Special Bureau was second to none in the Union, and there were very few organizations that did not fall under their jurisdiction, but the military’s Mooneagle Force happened to be one of them!

Hurang Rong did not directly answer Qin Zimo’s question, but only pressed slightly on his tattoo to activate the signal generator hidden under his skin.

At that moment, a secret signal was sent from there that promptly reached the office of the highest-ranking chief of staff in the military.

In a matter of seconds, the purple phone that was of special significance in the Special Bureau suddenly rang urgently.

It is easily foreseeable that the person behind that call must be some major figure that wielded monstrous authority.

“Dad, please pick up the phone,” Huang Rong said softly as he slowly returned to his seat next to Faran, still grappling with his nervous breakdown.