Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 84: The Enemy in the Shadows

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Enemy in the Shadows

Su Hui quickly utilized the surveillance footage to find a clue. As Gu Fan had suspected, Lv Wei did indeed get on a black motorcycle taxi. Through continuous surveillance, the black motorcycle taxi carrying Lv Wei drove into a very old residential area.

"Finally found you." Gu Fan was overjoyed. After several consecutive disappearances, this was the first time such a useful clue was found. They might be able to unravel the mystery and save all their classmates.

According to inquiries, the residential area was quite old, and many homeowners had moved out and rented their houses to workers. Most of these workers either drove black motorcycle taxis or other types of black vehicles.

To determine which building Lv Wei was taken to, more surveillance footage needed to be reviewed. Not only Gu Fan was holding his breath, but many others were also eagerly awaiting the answer.

The surveillance camera captured the black motorcycle taxi driving into the passageway under a building. It was highly likely that they either used the stairs inside the passageway to go upstairs or passed through the passageway to the other side. Either way, everyone believed they had found a clue.

However, something unexpected happened. The camera captured another black motorcycle taxi entering the same area. After a while, a third one also drove in.

According to the surveillance footage, not long after, one of the black motorcycle taxis drove out from the passageway, leaving everyone in shock. Which one of the three black motorcycle taxis did Lv Wei get on?

It turned out that this building cut off the entire residential area. Everyone had to go through the passageway under that building to get in and out. There were vehicles, pedestrians, black motorcycle taxis, and to make matters worse, every black motorcycle taxi looked the same.

If the entrance and exit of the passageway couldn’t differentiate the black motorcycle taxis, then the actions inside the passageway should be carefully observed.

But to everyone’s disappointment, the surveillance footage at that time was blocked by a van. A large part of the footage was obscured. You could see black motorcycle taxis entering, but whether they exited directly after entering or parked to go upstairs was unknown.

It felt like it was designed this way. Su Hui suspected there was a problem and ordered an investigation while continuing to monitor the surveillance footage, believing that unless the person could sprout wings, they couldn’t escape the camera.

Gu Fan thought that even if the black motorcycle taxis looked identical, the drivers, given their height, physique, and clothing, couldn’t be identical and would eventually be caught.

Gu Fan had a good memory of what the driver of the black motorcycle taxi that took Lv Wei away was wearing. If a person with the same clothes appeared at the entrance and exit, he would keep a close eye on them.

It was mealtime, and many drivers of black motorcycle taxis and other black vehicles had returned. After eating, they would go out to do business, making this a busy time. There was so much activity, Gu Fan could barely keep up.

After reviewing the surveillance footage, Su Hui couldn’t help but sigh: "Not to sound pessimistic, but the perpetrator seems to know exactly when to act. You know what I mean."

Gu Fan nodded: "Indeed, the perpetrator took advantage of this time when most of the black motorcycle taxi drivers were home for dinner, using them as cover for his actions. If he changed his clothes and pretended to be a pedestrian, we might not be able to find him."

Su Hui shook her head: "There’s another possibility. What if he wasn’t alone? What if he had accomplices? Subduing Lv Wei would be no easy task. It might take some effort."

As if being awakened, Gu Fan also realized this and couldn’t help but say: "Yes, they drove into a residential area. If Lv Wei noticed the route seemed strangely off and questioned it... But it seems like nothing unusual has happened."

Gu Fan had a bad hunch. Perhaps the black motorcycle taxi didn’t take Lv Wei into the residential area at all, so Lv Wei didn’t resist. Or maybe the driver found an excuse to convince Lv Wei that it was a shortcut.

With no clear understanding of the perpetrator’s methods, Gu Fan was breaking into a cold sweat as he continued to watch the surveillance footage. Finally, the van blocking the view moved away, revealing everything clearly.

However, too much time had been wasted, and too many things had happened that were unknown. Gu Fan had a premonition, a bad one, that this investigation would still be in vain.

As expected, a police colleague reported back to Su Hui that they hadn’t found anything. There were many black motorcycle taxis in the residential area. After detailed questioning, no one had seen Lv Wei or anything unusual.

The surveillance footage had captured the face of the black motorcycle taxi driver. Although the police questioned all the drivers with the picture, everyone insisted they had never seen this person.

After learning about it, Su Hui lets out a long sigh, then says, "What do you think?"

Gu Fan gives a bitter smile. "The other party is deliberately calculating our moves to plan accordingly. It means that the driver of the black motorcycle who took Lv Wei might have been around in recent days, specifically to coordinate this operation."

Su Hui nods her head. "I think so, too. They must have known in advance about your activity and sent people to survey the terrain and surroundings, to plan Lv Wei’s abduction, and then temporarily disguise someone as the driver."

Listening to this, Gu Fan’s mind lights up. If so, how did the others find out about Gu Fan’s and Lv Wei’s activities so they could quickly deploy?

Someone must have leaked information. Who could it be? Gu Fan starts to wonder. The teachers at school, students involved in the activities, the organizers of this training - the scope is broad.

At this point, all Su Hui could do was to let Gu Fan and the rest go home. The police would continue their investigations here, and reassured Gu Fan and the others that the police would give it their all.

A dark cloud hung over everyone’s heart. When will such an incident end? Especially Du Jun and Lin Xi, their expressions were even more somber. If this continues, they’ll go mad.

Du Jun drove his sports car home alone. Before, he would always offer Lin Xi a ride home. But with his anxiety now, Lin Xi was left behind.

Only after Gu Fan took Lin Xi home did he feel relieved. In the past, he would always drop her off at the entrance of the residential area. This time, Gu Fan and Lin Xi went upstairs together, hiding beneath the stairs. Gu Fan only felt assured when he saw Lin Xi opening the door to her home and heard her talk with her parents.

But this is not a solution. Gu Fan can’t always be with Lin Xi. If Lin Xi is at school, Gu Fan should have no worries. The problem is on Fridays when she leaves school for home, and on Sundays when she leaves home for school, Gu Fan must accompany Lin Xi all the way.

Having thought it over, the only solution at present is to limit Lin Xi’s movement. An accident happens every time there’s a gathering. Gu Fan really doesn’t understand what means the other party is using.

On the way, Gu Fan and Lin Xi have already agreed that Lin Xi will either be at school, at home, or escorted by Gu Fan between the two. This seems like a more secure method, but Gu Fan feels that if the other party really wants to make a move, they’ll find an opportunity.

After today’s field training and another disappearance, and now having to take Lin Xi home, Gu Fan, who’s not made of iron, is also tired. As soon as he is home, he sees Su Hui sitting on the sofa looking at the materials in her hand.

Looking at Gu Fan’s fatigued face, Su Hui says, "You look very tired. Rest a bit."

Gu Fan nods. "I do need rest. I feel like I’m about to collapse if this continues."

"I understand. You’re under a lot of pressure, but you haven’t been inside the secret room, there’s no danger. As long as you keep Lin Xi safe, even if your stress is high, it’s not as great as Du Jun’s and Lin Xi’s. It’s because of your strong sense of responsibility that you take on more burden." Su Hui’s words led to a bitter smile from Gu Fan. "Yes, I’ve always felt that I’m responsible for finding Zhou Yu and Xia Yue, but I haven’t been able to do it."

Su Hui continues, "I’m sorry. The higher-ups have assigned me to another case. I’ll ask colleagues to investigate your case. But based on my experience and the precedents of your missing classmates...you know..."

"As long as you’re trying your best, that’s enough. The rest is up to fate. If this is how the heavens want to treat us, we can’t do anything about it." Gu Fan shook his head and, exhausted, climbed the stairs back to his room. As soon as he was inside, he fell asleep. He was fast asleep within five minutes. He was really tired.

Su Hui quietly comes in, covers Gu Fan with a blanket, feeling a little sorry for him. Gu Fan is still so young, but he’s under so much pressure. It reminds Su Hui of when she first became a police officer. She hadn’t been on the job for long when she encountered a life-or-death case, which put a lot of pressure on her, almost enough to break her.

Recently, Su Hui has been organizing materials, collecting all the information about the missing students, and analyzing the circumstances of the day they disappeared. She’s discovered some dubious points that make her suspect the situation isn’t as simple as she initially thought.

Su Hui still needs to confirm her suspicions, so she hasn’t mentioned these dubious points to Gu Fan. Nevertheless, she believes she is very close to finding answers that might lead to a shocking truth.

Su Hui feels this might be the most complex case she has cracked. She could get promoted because of it. Just as she was preparing to get down to work, the higher-ups unexpectedly assigned her to another case, really frustrating for Su Hui.

Su Hui wants to complain. She wants to help Gu Fan now even more and wants to crack a major case, but because of an order from the higher-ups, she had to comply. However, it feels strange. Why when she was about to make some discoveries, the higher-ups gave her an order and even set a deadline, asking her to crack another case within a few days, leaving Su Hui no time to care about the missing students?