The Favored Heiress
Chapter 423: You’re a Member of the International Club?

Chapter 423: Chapter 423: You’re a Member of the International Club?

Another half an hour passed, and the Special Investigation Team from the police station sat in the conference room, their eyes fixed on the voice communication device on the table.

A forceful voice, brimming with interrogation, came through the device, "I know Director Wen has recently taken a leave, so the South Sea Police Station won’t make things difficult for you, but we request that you transfer this case to us as soon as possible."

Team leader Brother Liu was sweating profusely as he forcefully pinched the paper cup, "Director Fei, this case was reported to Chong City, we didn’t think too much of it at that time, and besides, we are still investigating..."

"So what if it was reported to Chong City? Was it that the suspect conducted human experiments on a witness in Chong City? Renhe Laboratory is under the jurisdiction of my South Sea.

So, you Chong City police didn’t think too much? Then what were you thinking? You wanted to handle a case across provinces without following procedures, is it because you don’t see South Sea Police Station as important or you think your authority is so great that you can do as you please?"

Director Fei’s speech left team leader Brother Liu speechless.

It just so happened that Director Wen was on leave, but he had specifically instructed that this case be treated with the utmost seriousness.

Everyone understood what this implied.

What was unexpected, however, was the South Sea Police Station stepping in to claim jurisdiction.

More importantly, the new evidence that had been brought in could potentially overturn the case.

...

That afternoon at five, the supposedly vacationing Director Wen rushed back to the station in a hurry.

He had been in his position for many years and, as a director, had always been composed and carried himself with an air of authority.

No officer had ever seen him in such a state of panic.

Director Wen walked in and headed straight for the detention room. Upon opening the door, he saw Li Qiao sitting alone inside the cell with bars.

He motioned for the officers to open the gate, stepped through the barred door, and then with a turn, gestured for the officers who had followed him to leave.

It wasn’t until it was just the two of them in the detention room that Director Wen carefully offered an apologetic smile, "Ms. Li, Ms. Li."

At that moment, Li Qiao was half-closing her eyes, casting a fleeting glance at the restrained Director Wen and tapping her slender finger on her knee, "Isn’t Director Wen supposed to be on leave?"

"Not at all, I just took a day off today. I didn’t know you had arrived in the country, my apologies for not welcoming you sooner," said Director Wen with a look of reverence, or rather... fear, in his eyes when he looked at Li Qiao.

Li Qiao listened to his obsequious tone and nearly smiled, "I’ve been in the country for a while now."

"This..."

Director Wen, in fact, didn’t recognize her, but when he had heard of her identity, he was utterly shocked.

Faced with Li Qiao’s cool demeanor, he didn’t dare to take her lightly, "Miss Li, I truly apologize. This has been a huge misunderstanding today, please show us leniency..."

"Show leniency?" Li Qiao repeated his words, her eyes flickered, "I’m currently in your custody. Director Wen, aren’t you mistaken? Shouldn’t it be you... showing leniency?"

"No, no, no, definitely not mistaken. If I were to affect the diplomatic relations between our two countries, I could not bear such a responsibility," Director Wen said, dripping with sweat. A minor police station director like him, even a minister would have to treat her like an esteemed guest if they met her now.

Li Qiao looked at the wall in front of her and tugged at the corner of her lips, "So, may I leave now?"

"Of course, of course. Right this way, please. We received new materials this afternoon that can prove you weren’t involved in any human experiments whatsoever. It’s all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding," Director Wen said as he stepped back two paces, then bent over to gesture towards the direction of the barred iron door.

Li Qiao took two steps forward but then slowly halted her pace, "I heard that you... are a member of the International Club’s investment firm?"

Director Wen’s eyes widened in shock, his pupils constricting sharply, as if struck by lightning.

Li Qiao looked unimpressed at Director Wen’s unraveling expression, her lips slightly curling, "So, Director Wen, you’re the one who initially helped Shang Qiongying by recommending Shang Fu to the International Club’s investment firm?"

Although she phrased it as a question, her tone was declarative.

Director Wen’s pupils shrank to the extreme as he rigidly met Li Qiao’s gaze, feeling for the first time in his fifty-odd years that his intelligence was insufficient.

The International Club had been in existence for a long time, with eight major groups under it and countless members.

A few years ago, he had the good fortune to join one of the Eight Major Groups, the Investment Group. Although he was only a regular member, he saw significant investment returns in the field of investment.

The Investment Group, as the name suggests, primarily focuses on making money through investments.

But why did Li Qiao know all this so clearly?

Unless... she was a core member.

Shang Qiongying had only said she needed his help with something, she damn well didn’t mention that it would affect his career.

But now, it seemed that things had completely spiraled out of control.

Because before he came here, he received a call from the Military Department, only then realizing that his small police station had actually detained a high-ranking person from Myanmar.

At this moment, Director Wen was as if struck dumb, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Li Qiao, with one hand in her pocket, glanced at him and said, "So, it shouldn’t be difficult for Director Wen to help me with the next thing I need, right?"

Director Wen nodded eagerly like a marionette, "Of course it won’t be difficult. Just command me, I can do anything."

Let alone running errands, even handling cases would do!

...

At 5:15 PM, Li Qiao quietly left through the back door of the police station.

The entire police station was notified to work overtime all night at a moment’s notice, with no one allowed to step out even half a step.

No one knew what had happened, only their Director Wen sat dazed in his office at the police station, with a vacant look in his eyes, completely devoid of his usual vigor.

Before six o’clock, Li Qiao appeared near a residential house in the back street of the convention center.

A young man in plain clothes but with a sharp gaze spoke with her in low tones at the corner of the wall. Li Qiao looked up at the sky and asked, "How is she now?"

"She’s alright," the other party said in a low voice, yet respectfully, "The hospital says that although she was injected with an overdose of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) which caused hallucinogenic effects, her strong resistance to drugs means it’s not too serious."

Li Qiao’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she squinted, "And her brother?"

"He’s also been rescued, nothing major, just some minor injuries."

Li Qiao swallowed, looking up at the surveillance camera mounted on the streetlight, "Keep them both safe, don’t alarm Shang Qiongying, and also pull the footage from the road cameras for the past few days, I need it tomorrow."

"Understood, Miss Qi."

After giving these instructions, Li Qiao and the other person passed by each other, heading in opposite directions.

She stopped by a small shop, bought a black face mask, put it on casually, and left the back street on foot.

...

Two hours later, the night was dark as thick ink.

A black sedan drove up to the back courtyard of the State Guest Hotel. The bodyguard opened the rear door, and Li Qiao leaned out.

By the back door, Luoyu and He Chen waited nearby.

Upon seeing Li Qiao, He Chen compressed his lips and took a drag of his cigarette, flicking his fingers towards her, "Sister-in-law, you really have opened my eyes."