Chapter 12: Dividing the Spoils and Closing the Case

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There was no need for words—upon seeing the entire cabinet filled with gold, Lin Tiansheng’s face flushed red, his heart surging with excitement. Indeed, to get rich, one must rely on a windfall.

This sum was the first bucket of gold to establish their enterprise; it was also the settlement fee for the foot soldiers, the blood-earned reward of the brothers.

Even the former Five Poisons detective would never dare touch this money, let alone Lin Tiansheng.

He was straightforward and reiterated firmly: “According to the agreed share, including Ah Cong’s portion, each person gets 350,000. But I don’t want a seventh person to know about this.”

“From now on, if anyone gets into trouble and dares to blab…”

Ma Delong made up his mind and cut in decisively: “I’ll kill his whole family!”

He Li stared at the gold and nodded: “From now on in the police force, whether living or dying, advancing or retreating, we follow Boss Sheng’s lead.”

“That’s right, we trust Boss Sheng,” Liu Yi added.

With their perspective, no need to look far—this sum alone was enough to change their destinies and entrust their lives.

Zhang Jinrong quietly drank beside them, watching the big boss earn loyalty. It had to be said, after three years honing his skills in the pond, the boss had matured a lot.

Besides always talking about profits, he was now more willing to share the money than before.

Just this alone proved the three years weren’t wasted.

Of course, Zhang Jinrong had seen big money before and despised petty gains; what he wanted was a comeback, to rise above all. But the boss’s progress gave him a glimpse of hope.

This was no incompetent braggart.

Seeing the three pledge their loyalty, Lin Tiansheng smiled and said, “Alright, pack up the gold. We’ll exit from another street corner later.”

“Understood, boss.”

Ma Delong naturally changed his words in private, fetched a backpack, stowed all the goods inside, and handed it to Zhang Jinrong, who handled shipments.

Between people, there was no absolute trust, but as interests intertwined, feelings deepened bit by bit, until the moment came when one was willing to lay down their life.

Because humans are emotional creatures, empathy exchanged with life for life.

After leaving the building at another corner, Zhang Jinrong didn’t accompany the others but caught a cab alone, waving his hand as he said, “I’m out.”

Ma Delong, He Li, and Liu Yi bid farewell to the boss and returned to their own homes.

Lin Tiansheng took a cab back to Rongchang Building on Shanghai Street, opened the cabinet, brewed a cup of instant noodles for a quick meal, then returned to his room and fell into a deep sleep.

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The next morning.

Lin Tiansheng had just returned to the police station when he saw Ma Delong, He Li, and Liu Yida already at their desks. Zhang Jinrong was nowhere to be found.

Chen Sheng greeted him softly and whispered, “Write a case closure report for Inspector Pi. He’s too embarrassed to meet you.”

“Got it, got it.” Lin Tiansheng yawned as he sat down. Just as he pulled out his pen, Ma Delong approached with a document: “Lin Sir, here’s the case closure report. Take a look and see if anything needs adding?”

Lin Tiansheng’s eyes widened in surprise. Opening the file, he found the report neatly written with no superfluous words. He took the pen, signed it, and grew to admire Old Ma even more.

“Very good. With your help, I’ll be much more relaxed.”

Ma Delong smiled, his laugh lines deep as ravines. “It’s all part of what I should be doing.”

Chen, sitting a few meters away, glanced over, surprised but not shocked.

Under the police reform system, Old Ma, as a veteran officer, would find it very hard to rise from sergeant to inspector without further study or major achievements.

Though Lin Tiansheng had offended foreigners and faced constant troubles, at least he had some backing. Those foot soldiers who had served time, now transferred to the Major Crimes Unit, owed it all to Lin Sir.

Since the foreigners saw them as expendable, clinging to Lin Sir’s thigh was the only way.

He thought Ma Delong was just a bit clever, never imagining they had already sold their lives to Lin Sir.

Pi Zhibang, who had been watching behind the blinds for a long time, pushed open the office door with a displeased face and called out, “Ah Sheng, where’s last night’s case closure report?”

“It’s done.”

Lin Tiansheng shrugged, stood, and handed the report to Pi Zhibang with little enthusiasm. “Any advice, Inspector Pi?”

Pi Zhibang snatched the report angrily. “Do you think solving cases is just about shootouts? Working in the police force requires brains!”

“The report only says the criminal was killed, what about the stolen goods and money?”

Lin Tiansheng was puzzled: “What stolen goods? The Big Circle Gang just got off the boat. Besides bullets, all they had were grenades.”

“Can’t even recover stolen goods, what kind of case is that?”

Pi Zhibang tossed the file to Chen Sheng beside him: “You’re in charge of asset recovery.”

“Me?” Chen Sheng was stunned.

“Yes, you. Do you think it’s me?”

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In the Major Crimes Unit, chasing criminals is exhausting and dangerous, sometimes even life-threatening. Recovering stolen goods and raiding homes, by contrast, is easier and more relaxed, without having to confront criminals directly.

Normally, whoever handled the case is responsible for asset recovery.

Though recovered money can’t go into personal pockets, Li Xudong had robbed the Royal Watch Company. If they could retrieve a batch of watches and return them to Boss Yang, it would earn big face and perhaps a personal favor from the big boss—useful in future promotions or demotions.

If bold enough, secretly pocketing some wouldn’t be impossible either.

Inspector Pi assigned Lin Tiansheng the grunt work but gave him no chance to earn favor—it was a blatant suppression.

The other three Major Crimes assistants, who had wanted to chat with Lin Tiansheng, immediately lost the will and just hoped to keep to themselves.

Ma Delong, He Li, and Liu Yida were tense at first, but seeing Pi Zhibang merely venting his anger, they relaxed and chuckled quietly.

Pi Zhibang, hands in pockets, stepped out of the Major Crimes Unit arrogantly. Lin Tiansheng pulled out a cigarette, snorted, and openly taunted: “Your footsteps louder than high heels—did you put on ten-centimeter lifts, shorty?”

Chen Sheng, apologetic, stepped forward: “Sorry, Lin Sir, I stole your chance.”

“Not your fault. It’s just those useless shrimps causing trouble,” Lin Tiansheng patted his shoulder.

“Shrimps?” Chen Sheng raised his eyebrows.

“In their Weihai dialect, they call them mantis shrimps,” Lin Tiansheng pointed toward the corridor door. Chen Sheng suddenly understood and chuckled quietly: “Keep it down, don’t let Inspector Pi hear.”

“Um, lunch is on me. Will two roast geese be enough?”

“No need to be so polite.” Lin Tiansheng smiled, not refusing outright.

Around eleven o’clock at noon.

Zhang Jinrong returned to the Major Crimes Unit carrying a fruit basket. He casually set it down and leaned over Lin Tiansheng’s desk, whispering, “Everything went smoothly.”

He Li, Liu Yida, and Ma Delong, eating nearby, struggled to hide their delight but kept their heads down to conceal their expressions.

Lin Tiansheng pointed at the roast goose on the table: “Chen Sir treated us. There’s also a box of rice in the bag. Eat quickly. After lunch, we’ll visit Ah Cong in the hospital.”

“Okay.”

Zhang Jinrong didn’t waste time either, opened the lid, and began eating.

In the office of the Operations Section Chief, the foreigner Henry, dressed in uniform, legs crossed, holding a cigar, questioned angrily: “You said you’d finish them off in one night. It’s been a day, and Lin is still alive. How do you expect me to report to the Commissioner?”