My Pet Beast is Super Awesome - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Laisi’er

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Shucheng, MAD.
Arriving at the MAD, Shao Zifeng followed Qian Cheng and the stone-faced officer once they alighted. They did not antagonize Shao Zifeng on the way, instead, they had a casual chat with him about the weather.
Just then, another MAD vehicle arrived as well. Two officers were escorting a sneaky-looking middle-aged man, whose eyes kept darting around. When he saw Qian Cheng, his eyes lit up.
“Officer Qian! Officer Qian! It’s me, Sun Laisi!”
He shook off the two young officers and ran up to Qian Cheng with a servile look, trying to butter him up. “Officer Qian, tell these two young chaps that I am not an outsider. There’s no need to keep such a close watch, right?”
“Li, what is this all about?” Officer Qian ignored Sun Laisi and smiled at the two young officers.
“Brother Qian, we received a civilian report regarding this suspicious man. We went to check him out and found that he was selling fake energy potions. He was caught red-handed, so we’ve brought him back.” Li glared at Sun Laisi.
Sun Laisi was not too happy, and he smacked his thigh with his eyes wide open. “How could you frame an innocent man—”
“What do you mean, innocent? I saw you selling fake potions with my own eyes!” Li shouted.
Sun Laisi’s face turned red, and blue veins popped up on his skin. “They are not fake potions! I was just selling potions! It was all business; how can it be considered fake?” he mumbled about something like there being a genuine potion and that it was the buyers who did not appreciate it.
“It would have been worse if they had been real potions! You need to be thankful that you were just selling fake potions. Had they been genuine ones, you would have to spend the rest of your life in prison!” Qian Cheng smirked.
Sun Laisi… Sun Laisi’er1 shrank back, keeping his mouth shut.
Hearing their conversation, Shao Zifeng quietly noted down the information in his mind. He had little intel about such things and had to depend on himself for everything. These illegal traders might not be very trustworthy, but people who lived on the edge like them should know the situation on the dark side of the city very well.
Just then, Li noticed Shao Zifeng. “Brother Chen, this is…” he asked Qian Cheng.
Qian Cheng glanced at Shao Zifeng and appeared hesitant.
“I understand; it’s confidential. It’s all right,” Li quickly said as he gave Qian Cheng a knowing look.
“There is nothing confidential about it. During the mur… explosion in the old city, this fellow student, Shao, was at the scene. Captain Chen just wants to bring him in to assist with the investigation.” After he pondered for a moment, Qian Cheng figured that there was nothing that he could not divulge.
“Huh? Shao was at the scene? We would appreciate your cooperation very much, Shao!” Li chortled as he stepped forward, wanting to give Shao Zifeng a pat on the arm.
However, Shao Zifeng took half a step back and nodded at him with a smile.
Li’s hand froze halfway before he pulled it back as if nothing had happened. “I’ll leave you to it then, Brother Qian. Captain Chen is still waiting for us.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Qian Cheng left with Shao Zifeng.
Seeing the three walk away, Li wore a knowing smile. “Shao Zifeng,” he mumbled to himself quietly.
Walking behind Qian Cheng, Shao Zifeng suddenly felt a chill run up his spine as he sensed a malicious stare behind him. He looked back and waved at Li with a candid smile.
…
Knock, knock!
“Come in.” Hearing the reply from inside the room, Chen Zhenglong brushed himself down before he pushed the door open.
An office room with a solemn feel came into view. It was spacious and brightly lit. In front of the window was a red star-dragon flag, while files were piled up on the mahogany table and bookshelves. A man, middle-aged and overweight, was burying himself in a pile of files, busy at work.
“Sir, Captain Chen from the MAD reporting.” Chen Zhenglong stood up straight and saluted the middle-aged man.
“You’re here, Zhenglong. Don’t just stand there. Come and sit over here.” The middle-aged man stopped what he was doing and went up to Chen Zhenglong with a bright smile on his face. He brought Chen Zhenglong over to the lounge. “I’ve told you not to be so serious. Look at you; you still haven’t changed a bit.”
“Yes, Sir,” Chen Zhenglong replied solemnly.
The director-general shook his head upon seeing his response. He gave up on trying to change him. It was hard to find fault with Chen Zhenglong, who was hardworking and dedicated to handling cases that had been passed to him. Due to his military background, his stubbornness was well-known throughout the department.
“Your team has done a good job recently.” The director-general made two cups of tea and handed one to Chen Zhenglong after they sat down.
“Credit goes to all the team members. What did you want to see me about, Director-general?” Chen Zhenglong took the cup and put it aside.
The director-general was silent for a moment before he spoke. “Did your team bring a student called Shao Zifeng over today?”
“Yes.” Chen Zifeng thought for a moment, then added, “From to our investigations, we found him in the footage of the surveillance cameras at the alley entrances in the old city. He has appeared for the second time and has been wounded.”
The director-general went quiet upon hearing that. “Let him go! He is not the man we are after,” he said after a while.
“I need proof.” Chen Zhenglong paused and looked at the director-general with a serious face.
“He’s the man from the other side. Is that good enough?” The director-general calmly looked Chen Zhenglong in the eye.
Chen Zhenglong’s eyes twitched after he heard what the director-general said. “It’s not good enough,” he said categorically.
“The person-in-charge in Shucheng City has called me to release him. Isn’t that good enough?”
“No, Sir. I still have something to attend to, so please excuse me.” Chen Zhenglong downed the entire cup of tea and spun around to leave.
“What do you want, Chen Zhenglong?” The director-general slammed his hand on the table.
“This student appears suspicious. We can’t stop our investigation just because of what they say. I will handle this case personally, and I need answers.” Chen Zhenglong stood with his back to the director-general, his voice stern.
“Who do you think you are to handle this case?” Looking at Chen Zhenglong, who was silent this time, the director-general lowered his tone. “I know that you have opinions about the other side. That’s your private affair, and I don’t want to interfere, but you have got to remember one thing: you are representing the MAD, not yourself, Chen Zhenglong!
“Forget about ideologies. We and the other side are counterparts that serve the same country and people. Think about it!”
Chen Zhenglong stood motionless on the spot. His mouth was open but there was no word from him.
…
“You can go now, Shao Zifeng.”
Shao Zifeng’s mind was still muddled when he stepped outside the MAD main door. There was something wrong with the script; the made-up scenes and excuses in his mind had failed to work.
Shao Zifeng flashed back to what happened in the MAD today. He had spent half a day in the interrogation room, enjoying the free WIFI and lunch. Had that not been a good deal?
“Yup. If they could send me back there again, I would give them, at least, a five-star rating,” Shao Zifeng thought to himself.