Chapter 434: Breaking the Game (Three more updates, please subscribe)
In the chairman's office of Jinhao Real Estate Group, Jin Bolong watched the television news in front of him, his face dark as iron.
"The 'Guang Ming Investigation' operation, jointly planned by Mayor Huo Bangguo and the Security Bureau, is still ongoing. Today, it's reported that over 3,400 gang members have been arrested and another 4,200 have been summoned. The charges include drug manufacturing, drug trafficking, murder, robbery, fraud, forced deals, extortion, provocation, illegal detention, and forced prostitution, among others. Let's take a look at several offices of the Security Bureau, which are indeed crowded with people."
"At exactly 12:00 today, the Security Bureau formally arrested three members of the Loyalty Gang: 'Clay Bear' Jiang Shan, 'Iron Leopard' Tie Anrui, and 'Golden Bull' Lv Hao. There are reliable sources that the Security Bureau has obtained solid evidence, sufficient to convict the three, possibly related to the eldest son of 'Black Tiger' Li Zhaokang, Li Shiji."
"Additionally, the Security Bureau has issued arrest warrants for two other members of the Loyalty Gang: 'Domineering Boxing' Yan Mei and 'Claymore' Anderson. They are also on the arrest list of the Security Bureau and are currently at large with their whereabouts unknown."
"The Police Headquarters has issued a statement congratulating the Security Bureau on their achievements, while subtly expressing dissatisfaction about being excluded from the 'Guang Ming Operation.'"
"Let's turn our cameras to Section C, Pipe 3441, also called Qingyun Street. This area is a well-known gathering place for drug addicts in Ninth Base City. You can see that nearly all the stores here are closed, with many people loitering around looking in bad shape, likely due to the sudden cutoff of their drug supply—"
"Let's also randomly interview a few pedestrians and ask for their opinions on the Security Bureau's 'Guang Ming Operation.'"
"It's fantastic; the Security Bureau should have done this long ago! Thunder Admiral is awesome!"
"It would be best to clean up the police department in Ninth Base City too; the public safety here has been terrible over the years."
Jin Bolong watched the news quietly. Although his expression gave nothing away, he gripped the armrests of his chair so tightly that deep indentations form.
At that moment, the group's intelligence director sent a video call request.
"Chairman, the Supervision Center of the Security Bureau has just announced that the three forensic institutions they commissioned found no trace of drugs or Illusion Technique effects in the bodies of the deceased and arrested suspects from the Li Family."
Jin Bolong looked incredulous, "Are you sure their reports are correct? Could someone have tampered with them?"
Was Li Zhaokang truly insane? Not only hiding drugs in his own house but also having his bodyguards and subordinates launch an attack on the Security Bureau officers?
After decades of whitewashing himself, how could he still engage in such folly?
If this were in the past, a character like Li Zhaokang had no ties whatsoever to Jin Bolong.
Jin Bolong wouldn't have cared a whit about the life and death of a gang leader.
But now, the situation was different; the properties he rented to Li Zhaokang had been seized by the Security Bureau on suspicion of gang involvement.
"It's unlikely. Public opinion is highly focused on this case, and the Socialist Party to which Li Zhaokang belongs is also keeping an eye on the matter."
The intelligence director grimaced, "With the upcoming elections, Li Zhaokang's case will greatly impact their campaign. They won't overlook any suspicious details. Moreover, to my knowledge, the equipment and technology of these three forensic institutions are very advanced."
Jin Bolong frowned deeply, "Then what kind of person is this Thunder Admiral? What does he have to do with our Jinhao Group? Can't you convince him to lift the ban on those properties?"
"Chairman, this Thunder Admiral is very mysterious. He was personally recruited by the Second General of the Security Bureau and joined the Security Bureau; his service record within the bureau is classified at the SSS+ level."
The intelligence director's expression was solemn, "Through special contacts, we've learned a bit about him. Before joining the Security Bureau, he was likely serving in the 'Divine Eagles Brigade,' a classified military unit on the secret Sky Extreme Star, God Extreme Island."
"Divine Eagles Brigade?"
Jin Bolong's brows furrowed as he looked more solemnly, a serious light flashing in his eyes.
Besides the four continents and twenty-eight islands of Sky Extreme Star, there are, in fact, several larger uninhabited islands.
For eight hundred years, the Earth Federation was helpless against the four great dynasties and Central Continent, yet they had managed to occupy several uninhabited islands of substantial size overseas. They invested heavily in establishing defense bases within these islands and developed the barren lands for crop cultivation and Spiritual Medicine cultivation.
The Divine Eagle Brigade was the core military force stationed on Sky Extreme Star, even more elite and secretive than the renowned 'Sky Extreme Special Combat Brigade,' 'Punisher Brigade,' and 'Heavenly Soldiers Brigade.'
It was said that the Divine Eagle Brigade only had 500 members, but each one of them had reached the 6S level, their combat power on par with those of the Abyss's 'Divine Guard.'
The Director of Intelligence continued, "I am working with the Director of Public Relations to see if we can leverage our relationship with Thunder Admiral. However, don't hold out too much hope. Judging by his record, he appears to be upright and detests evil. I have not heard of any bribery cases involving him, and his finances are very clean."
Jin Bolong waved his hand, ending the communication, then rubbed his forehead with immense headache, pondering a solution to the dilemma.
In the past, if it were another Admiral from the Security Bureau, Jin Bolong would have had a hundred ways to deal with him.
Even now, Jin Bolong could easily have an Admiral from the Security Bureau transferred from his current post or entangled in legal troubles.
However, this Thunder Admiral was different; he was not only the focus of public and media attention but also highly regarded by the Second Commander and Huo Bangguo.
It was said that last night during a meeting at the city government, Huo Bangguo had loudly praised Thunder and the 'Operation Light Breeze' in front of numerous senior officials.
This man had also set a trap and killed that 'Ling Huan' who had troubled the Federation for centuries!
Ling Huan had countless enemies within the Earth Federation, and by eliminating him, Thunder Admiral had won the gratitude of many, both openly and secretly.
The Socialist Party had also intended to suspend Thunder Admiral or transfer him to another base city.
However, before the Second Commander and Huo Bangguo could act, the Security Bureau's Human Resources Department had already repelled the Socialist Party's efforts.
They even tried to cut the financing for the National Security Special Action Center and Special Service Center to force Thunder to submit, but the various financial agencies in Ninth Base City had ignored them.
This indicated how solid Thunder's foundation was; he wasn't just relying on the Second Commander and Huo Bangguo.
Thunder had also demonstrated 6SSS+ level combat ability during the battle with the Li Family, showing extremely strong martial prowess, making it difficult to eliminate him physically.
"Chairman, our situation is very precarious right now."
That was Lu Hanyuan, an independent director of Jinhao Group, sitting on the sofa across, looking at a Go board in front of him, "We still don't know how long the Security Bureau will seize these properties. If the seizure lasts more than two months, our financial chain may collapse, which would be a dead game for us."
Lu Hanyuan placed a black stone on the board.
"I think that dragging this out will only worsen our situation. We must burn our boats and solve the problem from the root as soon as possible."
Jin Bolong raised his eyebrows, looking at his friend and advisor, "How exactly do we 'burn our boats'? And how do we solve the problem from the root?"
"Please put aside all concerns, Chairman, and go all out in a battle with Linghu Mingde!"
Lu Hanyuan lifted his head, "Linghu Mingde won't live much longer. Regardless of whether you win or lose in this battle, he will die even quicker. This move might have some repercussions, yet it is the best way to resolve our group's dilemma."
"Linghu Mingde!"
Jin Bolong immediately turned his head, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window.
Linghu Mingde was indeed the source of all Jinhao Group's current predicaments.
The only recourse now was indeed to fight a desperate battle, the only potential way to break through.