The voice sounded so familiar.
It was Jiang Si!
It was actually Jiang Si!
Realizing this possibility, Wu Tian Hongyi turned around in disbelief.
He had rushed out in a hurry that afternoon, only bringing a dagger for self-defense.
Now, with a gun still pressed against the back of his head, resisting would be like throwing an egg against a rock. Yet, surrendering without a fight didn’t seem like his style either.
"Miss Jiang, what is the meaning of this?" Wu Tian feigned confusion. "I’ve been a longtime friend of the Chi family..."
"Your friendship with them has nothing to do with me," Jiang Si interrupted. "Even if it were Chi’s mother—no, I should say Ikeda Mitsuko—standing here right now, she’d be taken in just the same."
The moment the name "Ikeda Mitsuko" was uttered, Wu Tian Hongyi’s expression instantly darkened.
At this point, he had no time to wonder how she had uncovered this information.
His priority was to escape as quickly as possible.
Pulling out an official work ID from his pocket, he said, "Miss Jiang, I am a lawful citizen of Gaul and a staff member of the Development Program stationed in China. I enjoy certain diplomatic immunities. You Chinese have no right to arrest me—"
Before he could finish, Jiang Si snatched the ID and tore it into pieces with a crisp snap.
"Have you lost your mind?!" Wu Tian stared at the scattered fragments on the floor, utterly stunned.
"Mr. Wu Tian, I suggest you save your breath. At your level, you’d only qualify for partial immunity—certainly not criminal immunity."
"Besides, after all these years in China, you should know what ‘repay debts with money, and pay for murder with life’ means."
With that, several officers stepped forward and handcuffed him.
It wasn’t until he was shoved into the police car that Wu Tian belatedly realized—
This time, getting out wouldn’t be so easy.
Otherwise, Jiang Si wouldn’t have shown herself, nor would she have revealed Ikeda’s real name in front of him.
Yet, the one most terrified by Wu Tian’s arrest wasn’t Wu Tian himself—it was Deputy Minister Xu.
That evening, as the outdoor break ended, Deputy Minister Xu was being escorted back by officers when he unexpectedly ran into Wu Tian in the hallway.
The moment he saw Wu Tian, Deputy Minister Xu’s legs trembled uncontrollably.
If not for the quick reflexes of the two officers holding him, he would have collapsed right then and there.
He couldn’t understand—how had Wu Tian been arrested in less than a day?
Had there been some slip-up on his end?
But that didn’t seem likely.
The hallway was short, and before he could gather his thoughts, Wu Tian was already standing before him.
Wu Tian didn’t speak, but the look he gave Deputy Minister Xu was nothing short of murderous.
In Wu Tian’s eyes, people acted only for profit.
If Xu Bingkun could betray the motherland that raised him for fame and fortune, he would surely sell Wu Tian out to save his own skin.
If not for the handcuffs and shackles, Wu Tian would have gladly traded his life for Xu’s right then.
Under that bloodthirsty gaze, Deputy Minister Xu instinctively swallowed hard.
He swore he hadn’t confessed a single word since being brought in.
But the way Wu Tian had looked at him just now—it was clear he wanted him dead.
What had happened in between?
Deputy Minister Xu was so lost in thought that he remained dazed throughout the subsequent interrogation.
It wasn’t until Jiang Si knocked on the door that his mind snapped back.
Seeing Jiang Si, Deputy Minister Xu felt as if he’d grasped a lifeline.
He assumed Minister Zhao had sent her.
Yes, that had to be it!
Jiang Si had powerful connections—she wasn’t just an external consultant for the Beijing Public Security Bureau; the former police chief was her uncle.
With her intervention, there might still be room to maneuver.
Thinking this, Deputy Minister Xu forced a smile. "Xiao Jiang, you’re just in time. You have to help explain—"
But the rest of his words died in his throat when he met Jiang Si’s icy gaze.
Maybe it was his imagination, but Jiang Si didn’t seem to be here to plead his case.
In fact, she seemed more like—
Deputy Minister Xu shuddered at the thought.
Jiang Si said nothing, merely watching his performance with detached amusement.
Deputy Director Wei and the other interrogator exchanged a glance but remained silent.
The atmosphere in the room grew unnervingly tense.
Despite sensing something was off, Deputy Minister Xu pressed on.
"...Xiao Jiang, you know Old Yan and I have been friends for years. How could I possibly do such a thing? This must be a frame-up—"
"That’s hard to say. After all, appearances can be deceiving."
Deputy Minister Xu froze.
If he’d only suspected earlier, Jiang Si’s mocking tone and cold stare now confirmed his fears.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. "Xiao Jiang, what do you mean by that?"
"Deputy Minister Xu, at this point, are you still refusing to tell the truth?"
"I am telling the truth!"
Clutching at straws, Deputy Minister Xu played the emotional card. "Xiao Jiang, you’ve been with the department long enough to know how I’ve treated you. I’ve always supported your work—"
Jiang Si let out a derisive laugh. "Oh, you’ve been very supportive—supportive enough to want me dead!"
Deputy Minister Xu stammered, "X-Xiao Jiang, how can you say such a thing?"
"What’s wrong? Dare to act but not own up to it?" Jiang Si sneered. "Deputy Minister Xu, you’re clever, but don’t take everyone else for fools."
"Wu Tian Hongyi has already confessed. Do you really think I’d believe you now?"
Confessed?!
Deputy Minister Xu’s pupils dilated in shock.
Jiang Si watched his reaction closely before continuing. "That day, you knew I was working late, so you tipped him off to tamper with my car. Too bad he never got the chance."
"He also said you ordered him to lure Secretary Tan to the riverbank, force alcohol down his throat, and then push him into the water—"
There was nothing more terrifying than a half-truth.
In just a few sentences, Jiang Si had Deputy Minister Xu sweating bullets.
Today, bad news kept piling up.
Deputy Minister Xu couldn’t tell—was Jiang Si bluffing, or had Wu Tian really talked?
But deep down, he suspected Wu Tian must have revealed something. Otherwise, how could Jiang Si know these details?
As for discrepancies, that was understandable.
At a life-or-death moment like this, Wu Tian would naturally twist the facts to save himself.
"You don’t have to admit it. That’s fine."
Jiang Si remained unfazed. "He’ll confess more today anyway. Whether you want leniency or insist on taking the fall alone—that’s up to you."
"However..."
However what?
Deputy Minister Xu glanced over upon hearing this.
Jiang Si didn’t keep them in suspense. "Time is running out for you. Think carefully."
Deputy Director Wei, standing nearby, couldn’t hold back. "You have children of your own. Working for Sunset Country—aren’t you afraid your descendants will be cursed for generations?"
"Let me be blunt—with the evidence we have now, taking you down is a matter of minutes..."
Just then, a knock came from outside.
"Deputy Director Wei, Deputy Minister Xu’s family has arrived," reported the young officer outside.
"Take them to the next room." Given the espionage involved, not just immediate family but anyone connected to Deputy Minister Xu’s household would be questioned.
Seeing the officer still standing there, Deputy Director Wei asked, "Something else?"
The young officer nodded. "We spotted a few suspicious strangers near the residential compound. They were armed."
He dragged one of the men crouching in the hallway inside. "This is them."
The officer didn’t recognize them.
But Deputy Minister Xu had seen these men before.
He was barely holding onto his composure, but when he learned these men had been stationed near his home on orders from Takeida, his last shred of resolve shattered.
It was clear—Takeida intended to use his family as leverage.
Or worse, silence them permanently.
At this point, he couldn’t hope for his family to escape unscathed.
In a desperate plea, he bargained, "If I confess everything... can you guarantee my family’s survival?"
