KN | Chapter 13

Self-Important Cleverness

Two days later, Shao Yaozong sent an account ledger to Zhao Shengge as agreed. Zhao Shengge made a copy for himself, then passed it along to Customs and the supervisory authorities.

With Zhao Shengge shielding him, Shao Yaozong’s shipment quickly cleared the inner harbor. Unfortunately, it ran into monsoon currents and drifted at sea for several days. Only after the winds and waves calmed did it set off again.

It was not until the cargo ship had truly passed through the Jixi Strait that Shao Yaozong sent over another encrypted video, but he did not provide the password.

By the time the Criminal Investigation Division managed to decrypt it, the shipment had already passed through an international port. Pursuing it on the high seas would be far more troublesome.

But that was no longer Zhao Shengge’s concern. As scheduled, he secured that piece of land. He intended to build a dedicated terminal, establish his own transportation network system, and construct a maritime empire.

In order to wipe out the gang’s forces in one sweep and uproot them completely, the securities and banking regulators joined forces with the criminal investigation unit to investigate the goods, gold, and virtual currency stored by Shao Yaozong in Eagle Pool’s private bank. Everyone who had appeared at Eagle Pool that night was also screened one by one.

Baihetang had operated across Haishi for many years. Its hidden members were embedded in every industry. Some were white-collar workers in Fortune 500 companies earning high salaries, some were cleaners living on social welfare, and some were even officials and politicians. The group was a mixed bag, subjected to ideological indoctrination, not much different from a cult.

There had long been plans from higher up to eliminate them, but no breakthrough had been found. Zhao Shengge’s willingness to step into this mess made things much simpler.

Operating under the principle of “better to wrongfully kill ten thousand than let one slip through,” the police followed procedure and screened everyone who had appeared that night, compiling a long list. They then asked Zhao Shengge whether any of them were his people. Arresting the wrong person and causing unnecessary conflict would be undesirable.

Zhao Shengge glanced at it and said, no.

The surveillance footage from that night captured Chen Wan’s car, and also showed Zhao Shengge getting out of it. The officer from the Criminal Investigation Division, being cautious, asked an extra question, whether the car belonged to him. If it did, they could exempt it from investigation and reduce the team’s workload.

Zhao Shengge denied it. He said it was just a ride and instructed them to investigate whatever needed to be investigated properly, not to cut corners.

Who knew what kind of monsters and demons might turn up.

Chen Wan was Zhuo Zhixuan’s friend and not any particularly significant figure. Zhao Shengge had no reason to investigate him specifically. He did not have that kind of spare time. However, people like this often looked suspicious. Whether human or something else, the police and judicial system would reveal the truth with their discerning eyes.

Chen Wan was summoned for questioning while he was at the negotiating table, in the middle of discussing the transfer contract for a new patent with a businessman from Xin State.

This was currently the most important project for Kexiang. Chen Wan had poured a great deal of effort into it, stayed up through many nights, attended many social engagements he did not want to attend, and pulled many connections to secure this opportunity.

He was taken away by the police under the shocked and doubtful gazes of the investors.

Although he remained calm and composed, even managing to spare attention to reassure the other party and promise that there was no issue, that he was only going to answer some questions, he could still see the distrust and hesitation in their expressions.

Worried that all his efforts would come to nothing, Chen Wan promised he would give them an explanation as soon as possible. The police were pressing urgently, so he had no choice but to go to the station first.

By coincidence, Zhuo Zhixuan called him. Chen Wan gave him a brief explanation. Zhuo Zhixuan immediately said he would use his family’s connections to intervene, but Chen Wan stopped him.

Zhuo Zhixuan did not have much say within his family, and Chen Wan did not want his friend to go begging estranged elders on his behalf.

Chen Wan said he would first assess the situation, and told Zhuo Zhixuan not to make it public. He did not want it reaching Zhao Shengge’s ears. Being invited by the police for questioning was not exactly something honorable.

From beginning to end, Chen Wan remained calm. After all, he was someone who had fought his way out of Xiaolan Mountain. This kind of situation was nothing.

The police did not make things difficult for him. They only asked routine questions. Chen Wan had nothing to hide and could withstand scrutiny. However, when the police mentioned the passenger in his car, Chen Wan used careful wording to remove Zhao Shengge from the matter.

It was not exactly a lie, but he was clearly more cautious and guarded when speaking about Zhao Shengge than when speaking about himself.

The police, of course, knew Zhao Shengge had no issues. They did not expose his verbal maneuvering. His effort to protect Zhao Shengge instead further confirmed that he was not involved in the case.

Still, the officer had handled cases for many years and rarely saw someone with such strong mental composure skirting the edge with the police. He deliberately warned him, “Mr. Chen, it is best not to play tricks with the police. This is a criminal summons. Every word you say will be recorded. Giving false testimony carries criminal liability.”

Chen Wan was mild-tempered and had a face that inspired trust. “Officer, I take responsibility for every word I say.”

The officer gave him a meaningful look. Later, while on the phone with Zhao Shengge to coordinate tracking that shipment, he mentioned this matter in passing.

Zhao Shengge lowered his gaze, idly playing with the pistol model he had bought at the airport while listening.

At something the other party said, his casual movement paused for a moment, then resumed.

It was unexpected, yet also reasonable. Chen Wan was confirmed to have no problems, and he had displayed certain traits that Zhao Shengge was not very willing to acknowledge, such as intelligence, discretion, and reliability.

But Zhao Shengge still did not like him. He disliked uncertainty, disliked opportunism, and disliked people who thought themselves clever.

Because of this moderate setback, Chen Wan encountered some trouble with the investors. Fortunately, he was quick-witted. He reframed his visit to the police as assisting in an investigation, turning misfortune into advantage. Seeing that there were indeed no further risks, the investors signed the contract with him as scheduled.

After several rounds of complications, Chen Wan was tied up with these matters and missed several of the young masters’ gatherings. When Tan Youming asked about it, Zhuo Zhixuan loudly cursed the police for being incompetent, arresting people indiscriminately, and causing Chen Wan to be smeared with trouble.

Although they had all grown up together, Zhuo Zhixuan and Tan Youming were indeed the closest.

Even though they were now adults and had their own judgments, no longer as inseparable as when they were children, both still had the temperament of spoiled young masters. They indulged in eating, drinking, and entertainment, were cynical about life, and did poorly in studies. Among the group, the two of them talked the most, and once they started criticizing the police, it was hard for them to stop.

He went through in detail how the officers had made things difficult for Chen Wan that day, adding embellishments. He said Chen Wan’s project had been delayed, that he was running around everywhere, stretched thin, mentally and physically exhausted, and that even his complexion had worsened.

Listening to this, Tan Youming grew indignant as well. He slammed the table and said that Chen Wan was good in every way, except that he was too honest and did not know how to throw his weight around.

Zhuo Zhixuan felt he had found a kindred spirit. Great minds think alike. He loudly agreed, his peripheral vision occasionally sweeping toward the main seat.

Of course, Zhuo Zhixuan did not know that the person responsible was currently seated in the place of honor, nor did he know what had happened that night. He simply wanted to see whether hearing that name would cause even the slightest reaction.

There was none.

Zhao Shengge remained as he always was, detached. He rotated his teacup and observed from the sidelines.

In truth, Zhuo Zhixuan had always felt that Zhao Shengge’s true nature was cold. His tolerance, composure, and seemingly gentle demeanor were only the outer layer of long-cultivated discipline and upbringing. They carried the condescension and pity of someone in a position of power, rather than genuine empathy.

But Chen Wan insisted that he was an upright and kind person.

Zhuo Zhixuan had nothing to say.

Where Zhuo Zhixuan and Tan Youming were present, there was almost never a quiet moment. Zhao Shengge’s expression remained indifferent, and he had little interest in the topic about Chen Wan.

He found the evening somewhat dull. The food was not very good, and the room felt stuffy. The air was not circulating well.

This was their exclusive private room. When they were not here, it was not used by other guests. Perhaps the manager had forgotten to have someone open the windows in advance to air it out.

Zhao Shengge barely touched his food. Shen Zongnian glanced at him. Zhao Shengge shrugged.

The topic of Chen Wan still had not passed. Chen Wan would never have imagined that even in his absence, he would be the focus of this group’s conversation.

Because Jiang Ying was not as familiar with Chen Wan as the others, he asked why Chen Wan was so stubborn. If he had just said something to them, it would have been handled with a single phone call.

Zhuo Zhixuan waved his hand. “He hates troubling others the most.”

Tan Youming said they needed to correct this flaw of Chen Wan’s. Zhuo Zhixuan immediately agreed. Jiang Ying also said he could help smooth things over with the police. The procedures should be followed, but there was no need to make things so difficult. He had not met Chen Wan many times, but he had a good impression of him.

Zhao Shengge thought, he cannot be that incapable.

That was not what the officer had said.

Chen Wan seemed like the kind of person who could navigate any situation with ease. Even if a fight broke out, he could stab someone and then smile elegantly and say he was very sorry.

When Zhuo Zhixuan’s gaze once again drifted over unintentionally, Zhao Shengge met it politely and calmly. Zhuo Zhixuan leaned back in his chair, relaxed, without the slightest hint of guilt.

Zhao Shengge had spoken very little all evening. Only when the gathering was about to end did he say, “The land at Baoli Bay has been officially signed. How about I treat everyone to a trip out to sea to celebrate.”

He appeared generous. Tan Youming immediately became excited.

Going out to sea meant taking a yacht into international waters. Many activities were prohibited within Haishi’s jurisdiction, but once outside, no one could control it. One could do whatever one wanted.

However, the procedures for going out to sea were complicated. The approval process was long and involved. Many wealthy people found it troublesome. Whether it was troublesome or not depended on how strong one’s connections were.

Zhao Shengge glanced at Zhuo Zhixuan, who was discussing with Tan Youming what they would play at that time, and said as if casually, “Let’s take Whale Vessel No. 17. It has been idle for a long time since its maiden voyage.”

The Whale Vessel series was a flagship product under Minglong. There was only one Model 17 in all of Asia. It was an enormous, lavish vessel, not casually taken out to sea unless for extremely distinguished guests or major celebrations.

Tan Youming said excitedly, “What a waste.”

“The Whale Vessel is too big. With just us, we would not even know where we are inside.”

Zhao Shengge said, “Then invite more people. It will also serve as promotion for Minglong’s dock.”

Zhuo Zhixuan immediately said, “Then I am inviting Ah Wan.”

Zhao Shengge said nothing.

Shen Zongnian set down his glass and glanced at Zhao Shengge.