Chapter 236: Chapter 236: A Big Net

Today, everyone gathered at Gu Fan’s house for a meeting to mainly discuss how the enemy expanded their power step by step. If they could figure this out, they could also find an opportunity to infiltrate them again.

Everyone already knew how they recruited their subordinates. Next, they wanted to understand how they hooked up with so many high-level officials and wealthy people. Understanding their operating model was the key to dismantling them progressively.

Gu Fan, Lu Yi, Jie, Su Hui, Zhuo Hang, and Xu Haowen arrived. Everyone put their heads together, conferring and figuring out strategies, yet they couldn’t come up with anything.

Zhuo Hang altered the information about Yuan Zhenggang and Liu Zhendong slightly, and shared it with everyone, to see if there were any similarities.

Gu Fan was dissatisfied, "Why have parts of this information been altered? Don’t you trust us still? Perhaps, the altered sections are the key ones."

Zhuo Hang found it tough. After all, he shared quite a lot of information about the city’s elite with Gu Fan.

Lu Yi complained, "The information you’ve provided is already on the internet. So, you essentially didn’t contribute anything."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhuo Hang didn’t know how to respond. As Lu Yi pointed out, what Zhuo Hang brought seemed useless. Su Hui intervened, "Alright, let’s not be tough on Zhuo Hang. There are indeed some things we shouldn’t expose."

Gu Fan looked very disappointed: "Alright, I never pinned my hopes on this information anyway. Let’s go back to discussing the city’s security management unit."

Hearing this, everyone perked up and became interested, particularly Su Hui, who quickly asked, "What have you found, Gu Fan?"

Gu Fan nodded: "Assume that a criminal group is looking for a protector. What would they do? Bribe them?"

Lu Yi immediately replied: "Absolutely, no benefits, no protection."

Gu Fan asked, "What kind of protector is able to give a criminal syndicate excellent protection?"

"Definitely someone with power. Otherwise, how they would have the ability to grant protection," answered Jie. Seeing Su Hui furrowing her eyebrows, it seemed that she was getting lost in thought.

Then Su Hui shook her head: "Even a person with power can’t protect a criminal group by themselves. Without cooperation from grassroots workers, it would be futile. Let’s say, for example, the city decides to crackdown on gambling tonight. A person in power will get the news immediately and inform the gaming house to pack up. However, all gaming house operators are reported by the public to some extent, and these reports always go to the grassroots workers first, before being passed on to their superiors."

Zhuo Hang agreed, "Right, just like how Gao Lu covered up for Old Xing’s fingerprints, and those who tampered with the surveillance are all grassroots workers. Without their cooperation, even a person with a high position can’t help the mystery force."

Lu Yi offered a different perspective: "But aren’t the grassroots workers supposed to follow the orders of those in power? Even if they are unwilling, or find the order odd, they still must obey."

"But half the time when grassroots workers realize their superiors have problems, some turn a blind eye, some collude with them, while others refuse to cooperate, and even report it. That’s why any illegal act is risky without taking care of grassroots workers," Zhuo Hang said. This made everyone ponder deeply.

Su Hui added, "Winning over grassroots workers is even more challenging. Because there are many grass-roots workers, mistakes are more likely to happen. Their views differ, and not everyone is willing to cooperate. There are a lot of them who have a sense of responsibility and duty."

"Those grassroots workers who are willing to cooperate and those who aren’t, those who feign ignorance, those who just follow orders, the situation is complicated, and very hard to manage." Gu Fan sighed heavily: "In other words, this mystery force can captivate so many grassroots workers, which fully shows their ability."

Hearing this, Lu Yi was somewhat desperate, "The other side has colluded with so many high-level executives, wealthy people, and grassroots workers. They are so formidable - how can we compete?"

Su Hui pondered, "To develop grassroots workers into an accomplice, the risk is huge. Even the highest level leaders wouldn’t recklessly woo grassroots workers. They must make multiple observations, probing various aspects before making a decision."

Gu Fan also said, "Grassroots workers must have shown particular traits to be wooed."

Zhuo Hang furrowed his brows, "In my many years of work, I’ve never seen any force capable of winning over so many high-level and grassroots workers in a city. And it’s not just city officials, but also several branch units. How can they extend their reach so far?"

Lu Yi presented an idea, "It’s quite straightforward - the upper levels develop the middle levels, and the middle levels develop the grassroots. The network of relationships spreads out like a spider web."

"It’s indeed a good idea, but it could lead to a situation where there are too many people involved in building the network, which increases the likelihood of mistakes and the exposure of the network." Su Hui’s words won everyone’s approval, and Gu Fan added, "The other party must have a proven successful method for dealing with both high-level and grassroots individuals."

Lu Yi shook his head, "What other methods can there be? If I were a grassroots member, from my perspective, I would only resort to secretive activities if my superior isn’t wrapping me in. If a mysterious force approaches me, I must be watchful, and only then might I, reluctantly, work for them."

Lu Yi’s words sounded reasonable, prompting everyone to reconsider what methods the opposition could have used to groom the grassroots members while minimizing risks.

After pondering without reaching a conclusion, Gu Fan asked, "Zhuo Hang, did you bring the files on the two suspects we apprehended earlier, as well as Gao Lu’s records?"

"I did bring them, but after several reviews, I didn’t find any similarities between them." Zhuo Hang handed the files to Gu Fan, hoping Gu Fan could discover something, making the meeting worthwhile.

Xu Haowen, who had yet to share his observations, couldn’t hold back any longer, "Are there any similarities in their backgrounds, family connections?"

Zhuo Hang shook his head, "No, there are no similarities at all. I’m baffled about how that mysterious power managed to recruit these individuals or if their superiors recruited them to work for this mysterious force."

"It’s not the superiors," Su Hui confidently responded, "Because I’ve been a grassroots member before. I was once part of a sub-division with issues, but my superiors never approached me with attractive job offers."

Hearing this, everyone shook their heads, "Sister Su, if we were your superiors and had witnessed your persistent sense of justice, we’d know you’re incorruptible."

"Really..." Su Hui seemed somewhat embarrassed.

At this point, Gu Fan posed a question, "What’s the feedback about the two suspects from their colleagues?"

Zhuo Hang pondered for a moment before responding, "I remember someone mentioning that these two suspect officers seemed to have a way around things. Whenever their family members fell ill, they always managed to secure hospital beds. They even helped a doctor whose car was impounded, securing its release in record time."

"Mutual benefits. Doctors do them a favor, they return the favor." Everyone agreed there was nothing suspicious about this.

Su Hui chimed in, "Remember Gao Lu? I investigated discreetly and found out his child, despite mediocre grades, got admitted to a distinguished high school. Also, whenever his family members got sick, he could always secure a hospital bed easily."

"Is that so?" Gu Fan sank into contemplation before exclaiming, "These suspects have quite a network. Is it just a coincidence?"

Su Hui shook her head, "I don’t think it’s a coincidence. When I was at the sub-division, a colleague claimed to know many doctors, lawyers, teachers, and civil servants. He had also assisted these individuals many times, in what can be described as mutually beneficial relationships."

"Do law enforcers, even those at the grassroots level, have such strong connections these days?" Not only Gu Fan but everyone else found this odd.

Suddenly, Su Hui appeared to recall something, her face showing surprise, "I remember several colleagues once asked that individual, and he smugly mentioned that he had joined a club of some sort, where people from various fields could meet. High-ranking officials meet their peers, and grassroots members forge friendships amongst themselves. I didn’t think much of it then."

"A club? Doesn’t sound like a place a good person should frequent." When Gu Fan made this comment, everyone looked quite bemused, envisioning unsavory dealings taking place in the so-called club.

"These connections, this tit-for-tat, it’s essentially trading favors." Zhuo Hang’s face darkened as he finished his sentence.

Gu Fan made a point, "This club seems to have members from all levels. If it’s being operated by this mysterious force, and they’re observing, assessing, and probing members to recruit for their cause then..."

"That makes sense, but there are many clubs in this city. We can’t possibly search for them one by one." Su Hui pondered for a bit before suggesting, "If Gao Lu also joined a club and also aided the mysterious force, that would be enough to suggest that the club is problematic."

Zhuo Hang sprang up in excitement, "Exactly, that’s it! We should go and confront Gao Lu immediately. As long as he tells us which club he’s part of, we will have a better opportunity to expose the mysterious force."

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