Chapter 109: To Catch the Bandits, First Capture Their Leader!

With Yun Ruo's words, everyone's gazes once again fell squarely upon Yang Ling.

Shi Xin's eyes lit up. He had witnessed Yang Ling's methods firsthand, and that sharp observational ability was definitely something ordinary people lacked.

Lü Zhan and the others had also personally seen Yang Ling's capabilities, and a glimmer of expectation appeared in their eyes.

Sun Biao also looked at Yang Ling with anticipation.

Yang Ling's perception was extremely sharp. He could take in the subtle changes in everyone's expressions without even needing to observe them deliberately.

At the same time, he also sensed a scorching gaze falling upon him.

This gaze did not belong to anyone present.

He Dongfeng!

That guy was secretly watching him!

Yang Ling's mood grew even calmer.

If the opponent was in the shadows, a superior Seventh-Rank expert would indeed be terrifying.

But now, the opponent was in the open, while he himself was in the shadows.

The advantage and disadvantage had already reversed!

Having understood this, He Dongfeng's terrifying three-dimensional attributes no longer seemed like much in his eyes.

"Director Yun, my nose is indeed quite sharp, but this matter... I haven't found any clues either."

Yang Ling gently shook his head.

A flicker of disappointment appeared in Yun Ruo's eyes. She then began conversing with Sun Biao and Shi Xin, sharing her own insights and analysis.

Cui Tao secretly glanced at Yang Ling before whispering something to Wen Kongxuan.

Yang Ling felt that scorching gaze had already left, making him feel even more composed.

"First, collect the body and send word to the Valley of the Dead and the Pharmacy Guild."

"Then have our men conduct a thorough investigation here, see if any commoners witnessed who made the move."

Sun Biao ultimately made the decision:

"I believe the murderer hasn't gone far. He is extremely confident in his own strength and is probably watching us with amusement right now."

As he spoke, his gaze swept around the area.

What met his eyes were the distant commoners, full of curiosity and craning their necks to see.

Yun Ruo and the others maintained serious expressions, also glancing around.

They also agreed with Sun Biao's words.

That murderer was probably right here at the scene.

They just didn't know who it was.

"A murderer capable of killing Dai Huaijin cannot be taken lightly. Even if we discover traces, we need a detailed capture plan."

"Otherwise, if he goes on a rampage, who knows how many casualties there will be."

Yun Ruo murmured softly to herself.

Just as everyone was about to leave, another group of men suddenly arrived quickly.

Among the three leading figures, Lin Yan was also present.

Behind them followed twenty or thirty Ironclad Constables, though the insignias on their collars were different from those of Lü Zhan and the others.

"The Inspection Department, what a nuisance!"

A constable muttered quietly under his breath.

The expressions of Sun Biao and the others also turned unpleasant.

"The Director of the Inspection Department?"

Yang Ling's expression shifted slightly.

"Don't say anything for now. Let Director Sun handle this. The Inspection Department showing up here today probably means they're looking to cause trouble for us."

Shi Xin's voice sounded in Yang Ling's ear:

"Zhang Tie, the Director of the First Division of the Inspection Department, doesn't get along with any of the Directors from our Ironclad Department's Yamen."

"Whenever we make the slightest mistake, he's the first to write a letter to the Capital."

"He's a petty and narrow-minded fellow."

At that moment, Zhang Tie had already arrived before the group.

He had his hands tucked into the sleeves of his official robe, his expression cold as he swept a glance over the corpse on the ground. Then his gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Sun Biao:

"Is the dead man on the ground Dai Huaijin, a disciple of the Valley of the Dead?"

"Zhang Tie, since you already know, why bother asking?"

Sun Biao gave a thin, insincere smile: "Our Public Security Department will handle this case. What are you people from the Inspection Department doing here?"

"Dai Huaijin was a disciple of the Valley of the Dead and also a member of the Pharmacy Guild. He died in broad daylight in our Changhe Prefectural Capital. If this news spreads, people will think our Ironclad Department is just for show, a bunch of useless freeloaders."

Zhang Tie said indifferently.

These words immediately angered the constables present, who glared fiercely at him.

Zhang Tie didn't care in the slightest and continued:

"Director Sun, if you don't handle this properly, I'm afraid you'll have to give up your position as Director of the First Division of the Public Security Department to someone else."

Yang Ling's mind stirred.

"If the other party wanted to kill Dai Huaijin, there was no need to do it in broad daylight. There's no benefit to that."

"The only benefit is making the Ironclad Department lose face."

He suddenly understood the reason behind the other party killing Dai Huaijin.

This was the same old trick. Failing to kill Wen Kongxuan, they simply killed Dai Huaijin instead, indirectly making Sun Biao's position as Director of the First Division of the Public Security Department unstable!

Yang Ling glanced subtly at the three Chief Constables behind Sun Biao.

These three were also Eighth-Rank experts. If Sun Biao stepped down, one of them would likely take over as acting Director of the First Division of the Public Security Department.

"But it's also possible they would select someone from the Directors of the Second or Third Divisions. That way, a Director position would still be vacant in the Second or Third Division, leaving room for manipulation."

Yang Ling secretly drew a sharp breath of cold air.

If that were the case, not only were the three Chief Constables under Sun Biao suspect, but the Chief Constables under Yun Ruo were also potential suspects.

"You don't need to worry about my position. Our Public Security Department will definitely solve this case."

Sun Biao said calmly: "But we need a little time."

"How long?"

Zhang Tie: "Is three days enough for you?"

"Three days?"

Sun Biao was so angry he laughed: "The murderer is a Seventh-Rank expert. How can three days be enough?"

"Three days it is. If you haven't cracked the case in three days, I will write to the Capital."

With that, Zhang Tie turned and left.

As Lin Yan walked away, he deliberately threw a meaningful glance at Shi Xin and Yang Ling.

"Damn it all, those Inspection Department bastards are really inhuman!"

Cui Tao cursed under his breath at that moment.

Everyone felt his curse was justified.

"Let's head back."

Sun Biao's expression was grave.

Ironclad Department, Yamen, the small courtyard where Yun Ruo resided.

"What is it that couldn't be said in the meeting room, that you had to come here?"

Yun Ruo frowned, staring at Yang Ling.

"Director Yun, I have a lead."

Yang Ling got straight to the point.

Yun Ruo's expression shifted: "If you have a lead, why didn't you say it openly? Couldn't Sun Biao and Shi Xin hear it?"

"It's not that the two Directors can't hear it, but my lead lacks sufficient evidence to support it."

Yang Ling pondered and said: "To have conclusive evidence, I'm afraid we'll need Director Yun to take action."

Yun Ruo's interest was immediately piqued:

"Tell me about it."

Yang Ling took a deep breath and reorganized his thoughts.

His idea was simple: to catch a thief, first catch the king.

Since he was sure He Dongfeng was problematic, there was no need to peel back layer after layer and then expose him.

Just capture He Dongfeng directly, and everything would have a basis.

But talking to Shi Xin about this was useless. He was only Eighth-Rank, and he might not believe Yang Ling quickly enough anyway.

The same went for Sun Biao.

Only this Director Yun Ruo was young, a Seventh-Rank expert, and had a somewhat straightforward personality.

Talking to her might be the way to cut through the knot quickly!

"Let me start from when I went to the Dragon-Subduing Gang."

Yang Ling said.

"The Dragon-Subduing Gang? The Dragon-Subduing Gang of He Xiang, He Dongfeng's son? That's just child's play."

Yun Ruo frowned again.