Chapter 229: Closing the Deal
The trail had just broken off, and Luo Zheng's anger surged like a volcano on the brink of eruption. Had he not been naturally calm and aware that anger wouldn't solve anything, he would have killed the boss right away. After a careful inquiry, Luo Zheng realized the boss didn't know much, or rather, the whole situation wasn't that complicated. Reincarnation had accepted an assassination mission. Given the difficulty of executing it in Ba Country, they utilized the Wata Guerrilla, who, blinded by high returns and lies, became unwitting accomplices. After capturing the target, the Reincarnation Organization hid him away and continued to use the Wata to eliminate their own.
After clarifying the situation, Luo Zheng knew the boss was right, Huaxia Country wouldn't forgive this incident, not even if he asked personally. The dignity of the nation absolutely wouldn't allow provocation, and any plea or private promise would only provide the Song family with new pretexts to attack him, trapping him in a hopeless situation. Therefore, the only option for Wata was to flee, but this broke the investigative lead completely.
Luo Zheng glanced at the despairing boss, pulled out his satellite phone, and dialed the company captain to briefly explain the situation. The captain hadn't expected such complications and, after a moment of reflection, he advised, "I'll notify Ba Country to lock down all ports to prevent their escape. Tomorrow, meet with Drunkard; discuss with him, as he has extensive experience dealing with the Reincarnation Killers."
This was all they could do for now. After a brief exchange, they ended the call. Luo Zheng looked at the boss, who had lost much blood, walked over, tore the hem of his pants, and bandaged the wound with the torn cloth. The boss looked at Luo Zheng with uncertainty and asked, "Aren't you going to kill me?"
"Killing you won't save my people. You're a local tyrant, guide me to a place to rest for the night, then mobilize your resources to find out about those who hired you. You owe me that much. Afterwards, depending on the situation, I might consider sparing your life. Fair deal?" Luo Zheng asked coldly.
"Okay, this deal is beneficial for me. I owe you one. Rest assured, we too are victims, deceived by them. I'll do my best to help you," the boss replied with a gleam of hope, readily agreeing.
Luo Zheng wasn't worried about the boss being deceptive, as in the face of Huaxia's superior national power, Ba Country had no choice but to cooperate. Even if Ba didn't cooperate, the likes of this boss were not enough to matter. Luo Zheng could tell the boss was smart enough to see this and wouldn't make a mistake that could lead to his own death.
The Ferrari roared to life again. With the boss too weak to drive, he sat in the passenger seat at Luo Zheng's allowance and directed the way. Half an hour later, the Ferrari approached a manor-house villa; normally a vacation spot for the boss, it was unoccupied at the moment.
The villa had first aid supplies, which the boss used to treat and rebandage his wounds. Afterwards, the two sat in silence in the living room. Luo Zheng worriedly thought about Lan Xue and the others' safety. He was anxious but clueless about where to start searching. The boss also dwelled on his personal concerns. Suddenly, the boss said, "Those people are Westerners; their features are distinct and easy to recognize. They probably wouldn't just wander off; they aren't hard to find. I'll make a call." Saying this, he picked up the landline and dialed a number, chattering away.
After a while, the boss graciously said to Luo Zheng, "I'm sure they're at the base. They must have moved after you were spotted there. That is to say, they haven't gone far, still around Mogan Town. I've already alerted my people; I believe we'll have news soon."
Luo Zheng immediately pulled out a map, located the base they had just talked about, and circled a fifty-kilometer radius around it, almost entirely encompassing Mogan Town. He nodded and asked, "Are many people dispatched?"
"Don't worry, not only have my people gone out, but I've asked for help from other local gangs as well. There're nearly a thousand people searching in organized zones; they can't hide," the boss said confidently, the assurance of a local tyrant evident.
"I'll notify your government to join the search," Luo Zheng said, taking out his phone.
"Wait, please," the boss quickly interrupted, noticing Luo Zheng's skeptical look and hurriedly explained, "The government and our people don't get along. If they show up, our people won't dare to be seen. It's better for us to handle this. I've already put out a reward of a hundred thousand; they'll be motivated. Trust me, if we can't find them, the government definitely won't."
Realizing the boss was right—local street thugs had broader networks, knew the terrain, and were indeed more suited for a full-scale search than the government—Luo Zheng immediately agreed and patiently waited. Watching the boss's complexion gradually improve, he couldn't help but marvel at how unpredictable life was; they had been enemies before but were now partners in cooperation.
Time ticked by, heightening their anxiety until suddenly, the distinct ring of the phone broke the silence. The boss looked at Luo Zheng, who nodded. Emotionally, the boss picked up the receiver, listened for a while, then hung up, exclaiming with joy,"Found them! They're hiding in a hostel in Mogan Town!"
"Let's go," Luo Zheng said excitedly. After a quick preparation, they left immediately, driving the Ferrari towards Mogan Town. An hour later, they arrived at the small town and, under the boss's direction, the Ferrari stopped in front of a hostel. Luo Zheng recognized the place with a start, remembering it as the place he had used to shake off a young tracker.
"Upstairs?" Luo Zheng asked cautiously.
"Just a moment," the boss replied, rolling down the window. Soon, a young man hurried over and whispered something before rushing off. The boss closed the window and said, "They're upstairs, haven't come out, room 402."
Hearing the room number, Luo Zheng's expression turned grave. That room was exactly the one he had booked. He thought, could it be that the Reincarnation Killers had traced the room, came to assassinate, and, finding him gone, decided to lie in wait there instead? Considering this, Luo Zheng looked at the boss.
Composed and confident, the boss immediately said, "Don't worry, they're definitely inside. The young man just now works at the hostel, a subordinate of my subordinate. He's trustworthy, saw them enter and not come out. I'll come in with you and settle my score with them as well."
"Let's go," Luo Zheng said, not fully trusting the boss but seeing no reason to object as the boss was eager to accompany him. They got out of the car and headed towards the hostel. The hostel manager stood to inquire but, recognizing the boss, turned pale and sat back down without a word. Luo Zheng glanced at the hostel manager and saw nothing suspicious, then followed the boss upstairs, pistol drawn.