Chapter 140: Reinforcements

According to Long Er’s explanation, the medical ship was massive and had a deep draft, making it impossible for it to navigate the rivers of the Golden Triangle. In reality, the medical ship was anchored at a coastal port, while the vessels at the Golden Triangle’s river docks were tasked with ferrying the "piglets"—the victims—out to the ship before it set sail for international waters.

In other words, the ship they were looking for might not be the medical ship itself, nor was there any obvious identifying mark; it could be a cargo ship, or perhaps a fishing boat.

"How are we supposed to find it like this?" Mo Fei lamented, realizing what it truly meant to look for a needle in a haystack.

The Golden Triangle wasn't just some small apartment; the riverside was packed with ships. Not every vessel was carrying contraband, but it was close enough. In such a situation, trying to search the ships would result in them being riddled with bullets in a heartbeat. But if they didn't search, how were they going to find the people?

To Mo Fei, Li Momo was no longer just a heinous criminal; she was the ticket home for the police officers who had perished abroad. A fox dies facing its home hill; fallen leaves return to their roots. They had to bring them back.

"There is a way," Long Er said calmly.

Mo Fei was growing impatient with the way Long Er was doling out information like toothpaste. "If there’s a way, then just say it!"

"Piglets need to be kept fresh, so they are well-fed before being loaded onto the ships. There are no passenger ships in the Golden Triangle. Any boat carrying large quantities of food and fresh water but lacking a proportionate amount of weaponry is a ship transporting piglets."

Once they found one, they could follow the trail to the medical ship.

Mo Fei gave a thumbs up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s move."

Long Er nodded.

***

Back home, at the Yuncheng Police Department.

This was not the first time Long Si had sat in this chair, though the treatment she received this time was far more solemn than before. Judging by the ranks of the two officers across from her, they were merely mid-level leaders; she suspected that behind the one-way glass and the cameras sat a group of high-ranking officials watching the proceedings.

"We have sent the Burmese man to the hospital for emergency treatment. Now, please cooperate and tell us everything you know."

"I’ve already told you, an undercover officer died over there. It’s that simple," Long Si said, arms crossed, her expression cold. "The one who saw it with his own eyes is at the hospital, not me. I’m just here to deliver the message."

"As for other information, does a citizen being put on an international medical ship count?" Long Si, well aware of Long Er’s intentions, highlighted the most crucial point. "There are people on that medical ship who helped Bai Yingxiong produce drugs. That is the most vital eyewitness testimony. If you bring her back, it would be enough to see Bai Yingxiong die a thousand times over."

The witness was the bargaining chip; the citizen was the justification for intervention.

Behind the one-way mirror, a middle-aged man grew agitated. He grabbed the microphone and said, "Ask her if the person taken onto the ship is a woman."

The two officers across from Long Si fell silent for a few seconds before repeating the question.

"Yes," Long Si nodded. "She should be surnamed Li. What was it? Li Mo? Or Li Momo? Once the person at the hospital wakes up, you can ask him. He knows."

"Understood. Thank you for your cooperation."

The middle-aged man behind the glass had graying temples and was approaching his twilight years. By all logic, someone in his position at his age shouldn't be easily rattled. Yet, he couldn't help but feel stirred. "Bring her back. We must bring that witness back."

"File the report now!"

"Damn it, I’ve been wanting to take down the Golden Triangle and that medical ship for ages! This is a rare opportunity; we must take it down!"

Saying this, he felt it wasn't enough. He grabbed his coat and ran out. "Filing a report is too slow! I’m calling the Commissioner right now!"

Having reached this level, he understood the procedure for issuing orders all too well. Even with an expedited process—submitting evidence, approval, meetings, finalizing, and distribution—it would take at least a day. Add the time required for the Navy to mobilize, and by the time they reached the medical ship, the people might already be butchered.

The job had to be done and the procedures followed, but he also wanted to save those people. That child had suffered enough.

Seeing the serious expressions on the officers, Long Si knew they were taking action. With her brother involved, she couldn't afford to slack off. She reached into her inner pocket, pulled out a phone, and swiped a few times. "The concerned citizen is carrying a GPS tracker. This phone shows his location."

"It looks like... they’ve already reached the Golden Triangle."

Long Si pushed the phone across the table. The officers treated it with the utmost importance, busying themselves with the device as if they had found a treasure.

It seemed she wouldn't be able to leave the police station anytime soon, but the officers granted her maximum freedom for everything else. While sitting in the corner, she didn't forget to keep in touch with Long Er. Knowing that everything was going smoothly on their end put her mind at ease.

Just as Long Si was about to turn off her phone, a message popped up.

*Q: Third Sister, big news. Selling it for a grand. You interested?*

Long Si tapped the screen impatiently: *I’ll beat you up when I get back.*

*Q: Don't be like that, it's really big news!*

*Q: It concerns Big Brother!*

Seeing this, Long Si knitted her brows but transferred ten thousand dollars to an overseas account.

*Q: Received! Thanks for the business!*

*Long Si: Less talk.*

After receiving the money, the person on the other end became serious.

*Q: A protection mission was posted in the circle. The target is Big Brother’s target. Someone has already accepted it.*

Long Si, previously relaxed, sat up straight. A protection mission meant exactly what it said: someone was paying to keep a person safe. The target was Big Brother’s target—Mo Fei.

Someone was paying to protect Mo Fei?

From a mercenary’s perspective, Mo Fei was just a minor actor. He didn't have a triad boss for a father, no triad princess for a girlfriend, he wasn't a long-lost heir to a fortune, and he had no tech moguls in his circle. Nobody would want to harm him, so he had no value to protect. If he hadn't gone to the Golden Triangle in Myanmar, he wouldn't have needed a bodyguard back home.

So, was it someone who knew Mo Fei went to Myanmar and had paid for protection out of worry?

Long Si didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. If the group that arrived later didn't clash with Long Er, it should be a good thing. Without Mo Fei’s location, they might not even run into each other.

Long Si forwarded the message to Long Er, then leaned back against the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

What a mess...

She had thought this was a small, easy task, but it had sprouted so many complications that it had completely shifted the direction of the main mission.

It was cursed. This place was truly a forbidden zone for mercenaries; she must never come back here again.

It was already the middle of the night. The horizon had yet to break with dawn, and most people were asleep, their vigilance at its lowest. A shadow darted across the shipyard. A sleepy guard thought it was his imagination, but he rubbed his eyes and got up to investigate anyway.

The situation was dire; one could never lower their guard.

As he approached the corner, rifle in hand, a dark shadow closed in from behind. A pair of hands clamped onto his neck, dragging him into the darkness.