Chapter 41: A Frightened Bird

“How did you know?” Officer Tang fixed his gaze on Mo Fei, eyes sharp as blades.

Mo Fei stroked a crease with his finger, tilting his head. “Are you asking me this because you think I’m one of them?”

Officer Tang hadn’t expected such directness. He paused for two seconds before replying, “I don’t think you’re with them.”

“Then you must think I’m not a good person, either?” Mo Fei shook his head. “For your profession, suspicion is a virtue. But if you keep doubting the wrong person, you’re just wasting time.”

Officer Tang listened, half amused and half annoyed. “So you’re saying I’m making a mistake by doubting you?”

“I never said that,” Mo Fei denied immediately, breaking into a sunny, open smile. “But you do understand me, don’t you?”

Officer Xiao Xu’s gaze flicked between Mo Fei and Officer Tang.

He couldn’t explain it, but even as a civil servant himself, he felt utterly unable to interject during their exchange.

“Um, boss, we’re off topic,” Officer Xiao Xu reminded in a low voice. “The kidnappers.”

Officer Tang kept his composure, silent.

The crease on Mo Fei’s brow seemed to gloat: ‘Come on, start fighting, I love a good show.’

Mo Fei flicked the cat’s head lightly and spoke before the crease could protest, “Whether it was the three who tried to snatch the child before, the ones who later ambushed us, or even the group that kidnapped Ji Xingyu, all their activities have been confined to this city.”

“They’re the lowest rung, the catchers. Once they have their targets, they need a channel to offload their goods.”

“In a smaller city, having even one person at the top of the chain is already impressive,” Mo Fei continued, his eyes gradually brightening. “The recent surge in kidnappings here means the higher-ups are pushing hard, otherwise these people wouldn’t dare to snatch victims in broad daylight.”

Officer Tang watched his expression carefully, then ventured, “What do you think they want with the people they take?”

“Organ trafficking, of course. Didn’t that occur to you?” Mo Fei asked in frank disbelief.

If even he, an ordinary citizen with a bit of smarts, could reason this out, surely these professionals could too?

Mo Fei was skeptical, eyeing Officer Tang. “Are you testing me again?”

“What about the most basic trust between people?”

Officer Tang was left momentarily speechless. He beckoned Officer Xiao Xu over. “Come here.”

Seeing the two officers step aside to confer in hushed tones, Mo Fei couldn’t help but grumble, “What could you possibly have to say that a law-abiding citizen like me shouldn’t hear?”

‘Looks like your popularity isn’t much to brag about either, you sneak,’ the crease taunted mercilessly.

Mo Fei retaliated by vigorously rubbing the cat’s head, his laughter odd and wild. “Even with poor popularity, it’s enough to deal with you.”

Officer Xiao Xu, watching this strange scene, was at a loss.

How to put it—he actually thought Mo Fei was mostly decent, aside from being a little eccentric at times.

But since his mentor was convinced there was something off about the man, Officer Xiao Xu was in a tough spot.

“Tiansheng, how well do you know him?” Officer Tang asked seriously.

Officer Xiao Xu pondered for two seconds before replying, “Not very well. I find him interesting, but trouble does seem to follow him.”

“That’s nothing. Our job is to deal with trouble,” Officer Tang said, giving his shoulder a heavy pat. “Since he’s got these issues, all the more reason you should step up and help sort things out for the public.”

After a moment of silence, Officer Xiao Xu retorted, “Are you asking me to cozy up to him as an undercover informant?”

“Not undercover, but building rapport wouldn’t hurt,” Officer Tang answered candidly. “Last time I met him, he radiated a kind of ruthless energy. This time, it’s gone.”

“I suspect he’s more guarded now, better at hiding his true self.”

Officer Xiao Xu just couldn’t see what his mentor saw in Mo Fei to warrant such suspicion. He tried to reason, “He’s an actor. Maybe he was just in character last time, and now he’s back to normal?”

Officer Tang nodded. “An actor—better at pretending.”

Clearly, the point was lost on him.

Officer Xiao Xu fell silent.

Officer Tang noticed his meaning but simply shook his head. “You’re still young. Many high-IQ criminals seem nothing like criminals. Some even enjoy excellent reputations and high social standing.”

“If a high-IQ criminal also has certain personality flaws, they tend to despise morality and law, doing everything purely for the thrill.”

“For example, befriending a police officer and playing him for a fool. Or, before committing a crime, befriending an officer just for sport, and maybe eliminating a few criminals they find distasteful along the way.”

As he spoke, a look of contemplation flickered in Officer Tang’s eyes.

“So, if Mo Fei is in one of those latter stages, maybe, Tiansheng, you being his friend could actually bring him back onto the right path.”

Officer Xiao Xu pointed at himself, incredulous. “Me?”

Officer Tang smiled. “You young people get along well enough. Let’s settle it, then.”

Glancing back, Officer Tang saw Mo Fei gnawing on the cat’s head again.

He really couldn’t fathom what went on in this man’s mind.

“He’s your responsibility now,” Officer Tang said, giving Xiao Xu a heavy, meaningful look. “Get more information out of him. It’s up to you to lead him towards good.”

With that, Officer Tang departed with a flourish.

Officer Xiao Xu still couldn’t see how someone who gnawed on his cat could pose any real threat, and was more convinced than ever that his mentor had read one too many crime novels.

“Cut down on your time online!” he called after Officer Tang’s retreating back, though he doubted it would do any good. He turned and sat at his desk.

Mo Fei had stopped gnawing on the cat and now sat quietly, the picture of tranquility, cradling his pet.

Officer Xiao Xu’s thoughts were scattered; for a moment, he didn’t know where to start.

Seeing his hesitation, Mo Fei helpfully reminded him, “We were just talking about organ trafficking.”

Officer Xiao Xu nodded rapidly. “Right, organ trafficking. Actually, whatever the kidnappers’ motives, our top priority is to rescue the abducted victims.”

“But we’ve interrogated all the traffickers we’ve caught so far, and none of them will talk.”

Mo Fei wasn’t surprised. “If the higher-ups are this desperate, and the operation is this large-scale, they must have their own ways of keeping things quiet.”

“Still, you really do need to move faster,” Mo Fei said, shaking his head slightly. “A single delay, and those people may have no way out.”

Officer Xiao Xu’s expression turned grave. “Do you have any leads?”

“Not exactly,” Mo Fei replied. “But you should know better than I do how startled prey reacts when its nest is disturbed.”