Half an hour later, Chu Muhan arrived at the Yunhu Mountain Villa.
As soon as she parked the car, a middle-aged man dressed as a secretary came up, striding forward with a smile and extending his hand for a shake. "Officer Chu, you're here."
Chu Muhan, feeling a bit uneasy, nodded slightly and responded with a smile, "Hello!"
"Team Leader Long is in the Yuan Yang Hall. Please hurry over."
Chu Muhan thanked him and quickly headed towards the hall.
In the private room, Long Qingjia, a man in his fifties with graying hair, an imposing presence, and piercing eyes, was intently reading a thick dossier. Hearing a knock, he closed the dossier and put it into a black leather bag beside him. "Come in."
Chu Muhan entered and respectfully greeted him, "Team Leader Long, hello!"
Long Qingjia smiled slowly and gestured to the chair opposite him. "Please, have a seat. Officer Chu, I hope I haven't disturbed you by calling you over so suddenly?"
Chu Muhan waved her hand dismissively, no longer exhibiting her usual aloof demeanor, but instead appearing like a fan, excited and awkward. Long Qingjia was a renowned figure who had taken down many high-profile criminals and had a fearsome reputation. Chu Muhan had long admired him and considered him her idol.
After she took a seat, Long Qingjia personally poured her a cup of tea, his manner warm and his tone casual. "Before I came to Jiangcheng, I had heard about the beautiful and talented female police officer in the criminal investigation team. Seeing you today, it's truly deserved. Next time the police team makes a promotional video, you must make an appearance."
Chu Muhan, holding the teacup with both hands, blushed slightly. "Team Leader Long, you're flattering me…"
Long Qingjia chuckled and said, "If you don't like such flattery, then I'll get straight to the point. Officer Chu, I want to confirm one thing: Are you a good police officer for the people?"
Chu Muhan was momentarily stunned and promptly stood at attention, saluting. "Team Leader Long, my case-solving abilities may be questioned, but I am absolutely worthy of my police uniform and the trust the people have placed in me!"
Long Qingjia stroked his chin and said, "Sit, sit. No need to be so formal with me."
He suddenly changed the subject, saying, "To be honest, since the day I arrived in Jiangcheng, I have been observing you in secret. Now, I firmly believe that you are indeed a deserving good police officer!"
Chu Muhan's expression became somewhat uncomfortable. Although she didn't know exactly why Long Qingjia was seeking her out, she knew that the Supervisory Team had been investigating her for so long due to her family background.
Long Qingjia was straightforward: "Officer Chu, don't take offense. Your family background is... complicated."
Chu Muhan forced a smile. "It's fine, it's expected."
She had a vague sense of foreboding: Was he bringing this up to recruit her as an undercover agent in the Chu family?
Long Qingjia seemed to read her thoughts and said with a smile, "Officer Chu, the Chu family has been a major power in Jiangcheng for decades and holds significant influence in the business world. I've heard some things and made my own judgments. Don't worry, I won't put you in a difficult position. The reason I called you here is for something else."
Chu Muhan was puzzled. "Team Leader Long, please be straightforward."
Long Qingjia stood up and walked to the window, looking at the faintly visible "Nine-Tiered Demon Tower" in the distance. "Have you ever been to the Red Building?"
Chu Muhan's expression froze for a moment. She replied honestly, "No. Since I joined the police force, there haven't been any significant incidents at the Red Building, and it's a high-end private club, so I can't get in."
"Well, you must have heard about who can enter the Red Building?"
Chu Muhan furrowed her brow. "Of course, I've heard. Many people from the Chu family have membership cards for the Red Building. As for the rest... I assume you know that better than I do?"
Long Qingjia chuckled and turned around, pointing to the three sheets of paper on the table. "These are the lists I've collected over the past few months."
Chu Muhan took the three sheets and looked at the densely packed names, far more than she had known. Her spine tingled with cold.
Long Qingjia sighed, "Years ago, I heard that the Red Building in Jiangcheng had an unseen boss who was like a local emperor and was referred to in the streets as the Minister of the Underground Organization. Look at this list—these are all his disciples and lackeys! Jiangcheng is rotten to the core!"
Chu Muhan was even more confused. "Team Leader Long, what exactly do you want me to do? I'm just a frontline detective with no interaction with these people, and I don't know about their private lives..."
Long Qingjia stared into her eyes, his gaze suddenly deep. "Officer Chu, I'm not asking you for intelligence. I want you to join the Supervisory Team."
Chu Muhan was stunned.
Long Qingjia continued, "I need someone fearless, who can be strict and impartial, unafraid of power, and can cut through all obstacles. The Supervisory Team can arrest anyone we want, no matter where, and will go in without hesitation, without consideration, and without tipping anyone off. Can you handle that?"
Chu Muhan was shocked, taking a while to respond. She nodded vigorously. "I can! I'm very willing to join the Supervisory Team!"
Long Qingjia nodded in satisfaction. "Good! Officer Chu, I hope you understand that I have high expectations for you! Remember, our dealings must remain confidential, even from your director! You should continue your regular work, and if there's a task, I will contact you personally!"
"I understand!"
"Also," Long Qingjia took a sip of tea and asked, "What do you know about the new Eastern Club in Jiangcheng?"
Chu Muhan's heart skipped a beat, but she remained composed. "They've been making many big moves recently. The police have arrested several people. It's confirmed that the leader is a man named Li Bin, but... we don't have enough evidence to arrest him yet."
Long Qingjia pondered for a moment and said, "At this critical moment, if someone dares to act recklessly, he's either extremely arrogant or being manipulated by someone behind the scenes... You need to keep a close watch. I'll also inform your director to cast a wide net and try to catch them all! Eradicating crime is my top priority in Jiangcheng."
"Understood, Team Leader Long."
"Alright, that's all for today. You can head home now. I have a few more things to discuss with Secretary Chen."
After Chu Muhan left, Secretary Chen came into the room, busy preparing tea and asked, "Team Leader, can we trust this Officer Chu?"
Long Qingjia smiled. "Do you have any other suitable candidates to recommend?"
Secretary Chen gave a wry smile and said nothing. After a moment, he took out a few photos from his bag and placed them in front of Long Qingjia, whispering, "Just arrived."
Long Qingjia looked through the photos, which showed Si Tu Jingyao and President Jiang of the Jiangcheng Chamber of Commerce walking hand-in-hand into the Red Building. "Hmph... trying to cover up the truth!"
Long Qingjia said coldly, "This Jiang probably is just a stand-in! Look at Si Tu Jingyao in the photos. Dig into her background thoroughly. This woman has too many secrets!"
"Yes!" Secretary Chen nodded and, after putting away the photos, moved to the window, gazing at the distant Red Building, and asked with a frown, "Team Leader Long, do you really think it's him?"
Long Qingjia took a deep breath, his Adam's apple moving slightly. He pressed his lips together and remained silent, his gaze growing increasingly profound.