At nine o’clock in the morning, the moment the doors of Zhongqi Bank’s Tongtai Street branch swung open, two figures in military police uniforms appeared at the entrance. They showed their credentials, and a member of security escorted them up to the second floor.

The second floor housed the director’s office. A middle-aged man in a Western suit had only just taken his seat when he looked up and saw the two enter, immediately rising to his feet. “It’s Director Shi — please, please sit down.”

The man personally pulled out two chairs, then set about pouring tea and water.

Shi Ting came directly to the point. “Director Lin, before Song Zixian was promoted to the head office, he served here as branch director at Tongtai Street — is that correct?”

“Yes.” Director Lin sighed. “We all heard what happened to Director Song. It’s such a terrible shame.”

“While Song Zixian held his position here, where were you?”

“I was the vice director at the time. Director Song didn’t stay long before he was transferred to the head office — and that was only this past January that he was formally promoted to head director of the main branch.”

“I’d like you to think carefully, Director Lin. During Song Zixian’s tenure here, did anything of significant consequence occur at this branch?”

Director Lin thought for a moment, then turned and retrieved a bound document from the bookshelf behind him. “Now that you ask, I can’t quite bring it to mind off the top of my head. This is the complete record of all significant events since the Tongtai branch was established.”

Shi Ting accepted it, filtered through the most recent three years of entries, and turned directly to the section from three years prior — the last year Song Zixian had worked at the Tongtai branch.

Shortly, a particular passage caught his eye.

“Do you remember this, Director Lin?” Shi Ting pointed to the relevant passage and asked.

“Remember it? Of course I remember it.” Director Lin’s expression grew deeply somber. “That event caused an enormous shock at the time — even now, thinking back on it, my heart still trembles. Three years have passed, and that one hundred thousand in stolen funds has never been found.”

Zheng Yun, standing to the side, had also looked over — his reaction equally stunned. “Three years ago, the government was constructing the Chengguan Railway. Facing a funding shortfall, they sought a one-million loan from Zhongqi Bank’s Tongtai Street branch. The branch converted the one million into gold bars and handed them over to the government. The government then dispatched an escort unit to transport this vast sum to Chengguan. Midway through the journey, as the convoy was passing through Shanmiao Village, they were ambushed by bandits. The entire escort platoon was wiped out, and the enormous sum was seized.”

“One million,” Zheng Yun murmured, clearly shaken. “That truly is an enormous sum.”

Converted into today’s currency, it would be worth roughly a hundred million.

“Who was responsible for compensating the bank for that one-million loss?”

Director Lin said, “The bank had lent the money and held a signed loan agreement. In principle, the bank bore no responsibility for the money being seized. However, after the incident, both parties renegotiated the agreement. The government still committed to making monthly repayments to the bank — though with the interest waived. The blow to the bank was considerable even so.”

“Is there anything else you can tell us about the details of this incident?”

“Three years is a long time. It was shocking at the time, but most of the specifics have faded from memory by now.”

After leaving the Tongtai branch, Shi Ting said, “Find everything we can on this case from back then — the more detailed, the better.”

“Boss, I have a feeling that once we find the right thread, this whole tangled mess will slowly unravel,” Zheng Yun said with steady confidence.

When they returned to the military police department, Bai Jin was outside smoking. Spotting Shi Ting, he ground the cigarette butt under his foot and looked up. “Boss, Miss Yan is here.”

Yan Qing had been following the case closely and had come over right after breakfast, only to find that Shi Ting had already gone to the Tongtai branch. She had settled in to wait at the office.

Hearing footsteps, Yan Qing looked up from her book, her eyes curving with warmth. “How did it go? Anything new?”

“Yes.” Seeing her, Shi Ting felt his mood lift at once.

Yan Qing pointed to the desk. “Take your medicine first.”

Shi Ting walked over and swallowed the pills with the water she had already poured.

“The wound is still hurting, isn’t it?” Yan Qing gestured for him to crouch down in front of her. “Let me have a look.”

Shi Ting crouched obediently before her and let her examine the wound.

“The recovery is going well. Keep taking the anti-inflammatory medication, and I’ll come tomorrow to change the dressing.” Yan Qing pulled his clothing up slightly. “Make sure you keep it dry — no bathing for the next few days.”

“What if I absolutely have to wash?”

Yan Qing’s brow pinched.

“Will you help me?”

“Shi Ting!” Yan Qing’s face went red. She balled her hand into a fist and swung toward him — but he caught it, his palm wrapping around her entire hand.

“I’m joking. Don’t be angry.” The corner of his mouth held a quiet glimmer of amusement. “Why do you blush so easily?”

“Does everyone have skin as thick as yours?” Yan Qing gave an indignant huff and pulled her hand free with some force.

Shi Ting smiled and looked down at her legs. “How are you feeling today?”

“Probably because I stood yesterday — there’s some aching today.”

Shi Ting’s expression softened with concern. “Don’t push yourself after this. Let things happen naturally.”

“The discomfort is unavoidable. A little pain like this is nothing.” Standing up easily wasn’t something that came without effort.

As the two were talking, Zheng Yun knocked and entered with a folder in hand.

“Boss, the information is here.”

Both Shi Ting and Yan Qing straightened at once.

Zheng Yun handed over a document. “On March 5th, three years ago, the one-million yuan earmarked for the Chengguan Railway construction was converted into gold bars and stored in a lockbox. A platoon of soldiers was dispatched to escort it to Chengguan. While traveling through a remote lane in Shanmiao Village, gunfire rang out from the forest, and several members of the escort unit were struck down. A group of bandits then surged out from the trees, armed with heavy weapons. They launched an assault on the escort platoon, and in the end, all thirty men of the escort unit were killed. The lockbox containing gold bars worth one million was seized.”

Shi Ting went through the document, his brow drawing into a deeper and deeper furrow. “This was a government secret. The only people who knew about it were the responsible officials at the bank and the leader of the escort unit. For them to be ambushed midway by bandits — that was no coincidence.”

Zheng Yun continued, “For three years, the government has been investigating the whereabouts of the funds. But as time passed and all thirty of the escort soldiers also died in the ambush, the trail grew extremely cold. Just last month, the case was moved into the archive of old, closed files — which means the government has effectively abandoned the pursuit.”

“No wonder the killer chose this moment to murder Song Zixian — he had been waiting all along for the dust to settle before daring to act.” Shi Ting’s gaze sharpened as he saw a familiar name in the document. “The officer responsible for escorting the funds at the time was Han Qiren?”

“Yes.” Zheng Yun confirmed. “Minister Han held the position of standing committee member of the Highway Administration at the time. The escort platoon was one he personally assigned.”

Yan Qing couldn’t help but interject. “Who is Minister Han?”

“Han Xiling’s father. The current Minister of Finance.”

Yan Qing had heard passing mention of this figure. He was a trusted confidant of the Commander-in-Chief — it had been he who arranged for Han Xiling to come to the military police department to gain experience.

“Get me a file on Han Qiren.” Before Shi Ting had even finished speaking, a folder was being held out to him.

“Already had it prepared.” Zheng Yun was meticulous and perceptive, always anticipating what Shi Ting needed — which was precisely why he had become Shi Ting’s right-hand man.

“Han Qiren is from Xijin City.” Reading that line, Shi Ting’s brow drew into an even deeper furrow.

“Boss, you’re thinking of the pistol used to kill Song Zixian?”

“Not only is he from Xijin City — when he was stationed there, the munitions factory that produced the large-caliber Mauser pistol fell within his area of jurisdiction.”

Zheng Yun also grasped the gravity of the situation. “Boss, this is Minister Han we’re talking about. If the investigation leads to him, I’m afraid…”

“The law is equal for all — no one stands above it, not even royalty.” Shi Ting’s gaze was unwavering. “Go and invite Minister Han to the department to assist with our inquiries.”

Zheng Yun gave a crisp salute. “Yes, sir.”

After Zheng Yun left, Yan Qing couldn’t conceal her worry. “If this Minister Han really does turn out to be involved, what are you going to do?”

“The Shun Cheng Code states that those who kill shall answer for it. If the facts are as we suspect, the number of deaths connected to this case extends far beyond Song Zixian alone.”

“You suspect that Song Zixian and Minister Han conspired together to stage the bandit robbery — and secretly kept the money for themselves.”

“At this point in the investigation, that possibility seems extremely likely.”

“I’m worried this Minister Han will refuse to cooperate.”

“If he won’t come to me,” Shi Ting said simply, “then I’ll go to him.”

As expected, when Han Qiren received word that the military police department wished him to assist with inquiries, he sent a subordinate in his place — a smooth-talking man who answered every question with either vagueness or a denial of all knowledge.

The military police department, seeing no useful information could be extracted, took a brief statement and let the man go.

The subordinate returned to Han Qiren’s office and gave him a full, faithful account of the questions he had been asked at the department.

“They suspect me of being connected to Song Zixian’s case?” Han Qiren’s expression darkened with fury. “Absolute nonsense.”

He slammed his teacup down on the table. “What did they ask?”

“They asked where you were on the evening of the tenth, and whether anyone could confirm it.”

“And what did you tell them?”

“I said you were at home playing mahjong on the evening of the tenth, and that everyone present could vouch for it.”

Han Qiren gave a curt nod. “Go on.”

“Then they had me provide a list of the people who were at the mahjong game, so it seems they plan to verify each one.”

“Nonsense, utter nonsense.” Han Qiren brought his hand down on the desk. “Bad enough that they’re treating a minister of the government like some common suspect and interrogating away at him — now they want to go disturb the people around him too. Do they have any idea who those people are? Who do they think they are, a little military police department that thinks it can just summon whoever it pleases?”

Han Qiren swept his coat from the rack. His subordinate asked urgently, “Minister, where are you going?”

“Where else would I go? To the Commander-in-Chief. I’ll ask him to judge this fairly — to see why his son’s military police department sees fit to suspect a loyal and devoted official who has served faithfully at his side all these years.”

“Minister, please try to calm down. Director Shi is the Commander-in-Chief’s son after all — best not to act in anger. Sit down and think through our approach carefully.”

“I have nothing to think through.”

Han Qiren’s expression was thunderous, and his subordinate could not hold him back. He yanked open the door —

And came face to face with a tall, composed figure standing just outside.

Both Han Qiren and his subordinate froze.

Shi Ting tilted his head up. A sharp, clear gaze cut from beneath the brim of his police cap. His voice was cool and steady: “Minister Han. I’ll have to ask you to stay right where you are.”