Chapter 207: Your Invitation

“Lin Xian? Where are you going?”

Chu Shan He’s voice echoed through the tense atmosphere of the Donghai Police Department, his eyes wide with concern as he watched Lin Xian stand up to leave.

At such a critical moment, where could Lin Xian possibly be heading?

Just a few days earlier, Lin Xian had discreetly requested Chu Shan He to mobilize national forces from beyond Donghai City for an ambush. Lin Xian’s mistrust of the local police was the primary reason for this.

Initially, Chu Shan He hadn’t understood Lin Xian’s intentions. But once Lin Xian revealed that the primary suspects were Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui, Chu Shan He immediately got it.

Ji Xin Shui’s high status and international reputation, coupled with Ji Lin’s favored guest status with the Donghai police due to his assistance in solving numerous cases, made it clear. If the local police were involved, Ji Lin would likely uncover Lin Xian’s plans.

Ten hours ago, in the early morning, the capture operation had taken place successfully. Chu Shan He had used his personal connections to enlist the help of a significant figure from the capital, who took the series of murders targeting scientists very seriously. This person’s subordinates fully cooperated with the operation. Everything went smoothly.

Unfortunately, obtaining evidence of motive and proof of murder proved problematic. Due to Ji Lin’s last-minute hesitation and the skid marks left by a taxi driver, the final result of the capture operation became unclear.

Chu Shan He wasn’t worried about losing face or looking foolish. He was furious at the killers of Professor Xu Yun and wanted nothing more than to see them dead. If they escaped, he would feel he had let down Xu Yun and the other great scientists who had died.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Chu. I’ll be back soon,” Lin Xian said, pausing at the door and looking back at Chu Shan He.

“I have an idea to make them talk. Please continue to monitor Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui. Don’t let them meet. We’ll take action once I return.”

Leaving the Donghai Police Department, Lin Xian took a taxi directly to MX Company. At the front desk, he inquired and found out that Zhao Ying Jun was out attending a meeting. The office was empty, saving him a lot of trouble. He took the elevator and pressed the button for the 22nd floor.

Ding—

When the elevator doors opened, he headed straight to Zhao Ying Jun’s office door with the keypad lock. He entered the code and successfully got in—only the two of them knew the password to this office.

“Phew...”

Lin Xian closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Ying Jun’s office was just as it had always been, unchanged. A fine layer of dust had started to settle on the sofa and coffee table due to the lack of recent cleaning.

Zhao Ying Jun didn’t trust anyone else, not even the cleaning staff, and didn’t allow anyone to enter her office without permission. So, this spacious office had to be cleaned by herself whenever she had the time.

As for Yellow Finch... You use this place like an ATM, coming and going as you please, couldn’t you at least clean up a bit while you’re at it?

Lin Xian went to the filing cabinet in the corner. Zhao Ying Jun was terrible at organizing documents. If Lin Xian didn’t help her tidy up, she would stack all her documents on the table until there was no more space.

And that’s why Lin Xian had hidden the fake Genius Club invitation here before heading to the Donghai Police Department to confront Ji Lin. He was glad he hadn’t thrown away or destroyed the fake invitation, despite his hesitation.

Also, there was another reason to choose Ji Xin Shui. In order to catch the thieves, you must first capture their leader. Ji Xin Shui was likely the boss or a key figure in their group, possessing the most information. If Lin Xian could trick Ji Xin Shui, it would be equivalent to uprooting their entire gang and catching them all.

“I’ll go see Ji Xin Shui first. Watch for my signal to turn off all monitoring,” Lin Xian instructed Officer Liu and the staff, then took the file folder and headed to Ji Xin Shui’s interrogation room.

Since his arrest last night, Ji Xin Shui had been here the entire time. This might be his only chance.

Creak.

Lin Xian pushed open the heavy door of the interrogation room and walked in, facing the elderly man sitting in the iron chair. This was his first time meeting Ji Xin Shui in real life. A fateful encounter, and it happened in such a place.

Ji Xin Shui looked even older than Lin Xian had imagined. The photos in the news must have been taken years ago. The old man had very few strands of white hair left, his scalp shiny, wrinkled like a worn cloth. He was incredibly old. Judging by his age, he must be over eighty, but his physical and skin condition made him look even older.

But his spirit was strong. Even shackled in the chair, his expression remained confident, disdainful, relaxed, and... arrogant. As if it was Lin Xian who was shackled, not him.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” Ji Xin Shui sneered as Lin Xian entered. “You’re a tough one to kill, aren’t you?”

Bang. Lin Xian didn’t respond, his expression unchanged as he gently closed the door, silently taking a seat opposite Ji Xin Shui. Ji Xin Shui straightened his back, leaning back, looking down on Lin Xian with a scornful gaze.

“Give it up. I’m not saying anything. It doesn’t matter who you send.”

Snap.

Lin Xian snapped his fingers. Thud, a dull sound. The one-way glass darkened, turning into a black screen. The corner cameras’ power indicators went out, retracting. The recording systems’ indicator lights on the table and walls also went dark, signaling the end of recording.

Ji Xin Shui looked around, frowning in surprise. He didn’t understand what was happening. Lin Xian was just an ordinary employee; he shouldn’t have the authority to turn off all the surveillance equipment. Besides, he wasn’t a police officer and had no right to interrogate.

“What are you trying to do?” Ji Xin Shui looked at Lin Xian warily. Would the Donghai police dare to resort to violence in this closed room?

“No need to be nervous,” Lin Xian finally spoke. He unwrapped the seal on the file folder as he spoke. “All monitoring devices are off. Our conversation stays between us.”

“So what?” Ji Xin Shui snorted. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to deliver something,” Lin Xian said, unwrapping the seal. Then, in Ji Xin Shui’s astonished gaze, he pulled out the dark red invitation! The wax seal faced up, and the words “Genius Club” glinted arrogantly under the fluorescent light. Lin Xian pressed the invitation with two fingers, slowly sliding it toward Ji Xin Shui.

“Congratulations, Ji Xin Shui,” Lin Xian said, looking up and smiling at Ji Xin Shui’s shocked eyes. “This is your... invitation!”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation