Given the sheer number of people, it was clear that "a crowd" was an understatement. When Tie Wan led her officers to the station's entrance, they were met by a sea of black-clad figures, easily numbering forty or fifty. Each man was dressed in a uniform black suit, with dark sunglasses perched on their faces and hands clasped behind their backs, exuding an air of disciplined intimidation as though desperate to flaunt their organized cohesion.
Amid the black-suited throng, one figure stood out conspicuously—a young man clad entirely in white, from his suit to his tie, as striking as a lone crane in a flock of crows.
This man, seemingly in his mid-twenties, possessed a strikingly handsome visage, a tall and elegant frame, and an air of refined charisma that could set the hearts of young women aflutter. His presence was that of a celebrity idol, capable of eliciting shrieks from admirers wherever he went.
Tie Wan instantly recognized him as the leader of this imposing group. Already irked by the recent incident involving the rogue detainee, her voice turned frigid. "Who are you? What are you doing here with this many people? Are you planning to lay siege to a government office?"
The man in white responded with a disarming smile, a grin that could melt hearts yet concealed a sharp edge. "Please don't misunderstand, Chief. We're all law-abiding citizens. How could we possibly engage in anything illegal?" Even as he spoke, his gaze lingered appreciatively on Tie Wan. He had heard rumors of the stunningly beautiful director of the East District Police Department, but seeing her in person was another matter entirely.
Tie Wan responded with a cold snort, entirely unmoved by his charm. "Consider this your warning. Disperse this crowd immediately, or you'll leave me no choice but to take action!" Her mind raced with the implications of such a large group lingering at the station entrance. What would the public think? They might even assume a criminal organization was preparing to storm the precinct. While that wasn't the case, the damage to the police department's reputation was unacceptable.
The man in white remained unruffled. "Of course, I'll take them away," he said with infuriating composure. "But I came today to bail someone out. I hope you can extend me this courtesy, Chief."
"Are you threatening me?" Tie Wan's decision to join the police force was driven by her unwavering sense of justice, a burning desire to uphold what was right. To her, this was a brazen affront, and she was incensed, her hand nearly reaching for her gun.
Her subordinates, well aware of their chief's temperament, exchanged uneasy glances. They couldn't help but worry for the audacious young man in white. Despite his entourage, Tie Wan was no ordinary officer. To reach her rank at such a young age required not only skill but also an unshakable support system. Whispers of her formidable connections were well-known, and even the city mayor treaded cautiously around her.
Yet the man in white appeared unfazed. His demeanor remained courteous, as if oblivious to the storm brewing before him. "This is not a threat, Chief. As I said, I'm here to post bail. Surely you can make an exception?"
"An exception?" Tie Wan's laugh was scathing, dripping with disdain. "Do you think this is some kind of joke?"
"This is a police station," he replied with maddening ease, as though discussing a trivial matter.
"Knowing this is a police station, you still dare to act so brazenly?" Tie Wan, who had never encountered such audacity in her career, was about to order her officers to disperse the mob.
Just then, a middle-aged officer hurried to her side and whispered something in her ear. Tie Wan's expression shifted, her gaze sharpening as it landed on the man in white. "Are you the son of An Tiger?"
"I am," the man confirmed with a slight bow. "My name is An Wen. I trust you'll look after me, Chief."
A murmur rippled through the gathered crowd. It wasn't the name "An Wen" that caused the stir but the mention of "An Tiger." In Beihai, one could be ignorant of the city's wealthiest tycoon or even its mayor, but the name "An Tiger" was legendary. His reputation was so formidable that even children had heard of him, their parents using his name to scare them into obedience. Rumor had it, invoking his name could even quell a child's cries at night.
Even Xiang Ri, who had just been standing beside the female officer, felt a subtle shift in his expression. In truth, despite being constantly absorbed in the cutthroat financial market as the head of his own organization, he had certainly heard of the notorious "An Tiger." This name carried far more weight than the once-prominent, now-forgotten leader of the Beihai's largest gang, the "Panlong Society." Although "An Tiger" had never established a formal gang, he was undeniably the undisputed godfather of the criminal underworld in Beihai.
However, after achieving great success and fame, this "tiger" had immediately withdrawn from the shadows, turning to legitimate business instead. Ironically, his ventures flourished even further, entangling both the legal and illicit worlds in a complex web, earning him the unspoken title of "King of Beihai."
Tie Wan, though unafraid, recognized the gravity of the situation. Her own courage was steadfast, but her subordinates were not immune to the reach of "An Tiger." While he might not dare to exact revenge on her directly, targeting her officers would certainly be within his means. However, after hearing that he had come to post bail for someone, Tie Wan's curiosity was piqued—what sort of person could command such influence as to have "An Tiger" send his own son on their behalf? She couldn't help but entertain another thought.
"Very well," she said, her teeth gritting. "Tell me who this person is that you wish to bail out. Perhaps I might... 'accommodate' your request." Her voice dripped with barely contained fury. If I find out who this bastard is, I'll deal with him accordingly. Her resolve was unwavering—she would not allow the release of someone under "An Tiger's" protection. Anyone able to invoke such a figure's favor would surely contribute to escalating crime, and she could not, in good conscience, let them go free.
But her vow was quickly overshadowed by what the man in white said next: "His name is Xiang Kui. He was brought in by a police officer named 'Ma Long.'"
"What?" Tie Wan froze for a moment, her gaze sharpening as she examined the rogue with a mix of suspicion and growing realization.
Captain Ma, whose name had just been called out, trembled. This was not good news. If the person being bailed was indeed someone of such significance, it implied a close relationship with "An Tiger." Ma, who had personally brought this individual to the station, was now unmistakably the one caught in opposition. If this had been a small-time gang, he would have been indifferent, but this was "An Tiger's" man. How could a mere low-ranking officer like him dare to stand in the way of such a figure? Even higher-ranking officials would be at his mercy.
Regret coursed through Ma's veins as he remembered his impulsive actions and the misguided encouragement from his cousin. Without proper investigation, he had brought the man into the station, even considering using force against him. Thankfully, his superior had arrived in time. Had the situation escalated, with "An Tiger's" ruthless methods, Ma doubted he would see the light of day again.
The fear was palpable, and as he recalled the moment when his superior had seen the young man he had brought in, even the blind would have noticed the unusual connection between them. Ma couldn't help but think that his career might be over. But one thing gnawed at him: who had he truly angered?
The one who suffered the most was Ma Tianhao. The young man, who had once basked in the protection of his cousin's power, instantly wilted at the mention of "An Tiger." When he caught a glance of his cousin's hateful, venomous look, he was struck with such terror that he nearly soiled himself.
Xiang Ri was equally puzzled. When had he ever been involved with "An Tiger"? Moreover, seeing the determined group of people before him, it seemed they would stop at nothing, even confronting the police. But... wait! Xiang Ri suddenly froze, a realization striking him. The surname "An"? Could it be connected to An Xiao Niu? However, considering how harshly he'd spoken to her before, would she really be inclined to repay his cruelty with kindness and help him now? But if not her, he couldn't think of any other acquaintances with the surname An...
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Xiang Ri suddenly felt a sharp, discerning gaze piercing through him. He looked up and met the eyes of the female officer, her expression a mixture of suspicion and the unmistakable frustration of one who felt a sense of betrayal.
Xiang Ri immediately recalled how the officer despised the criminal underworld, particularly figures like "An Tiger," the leader of such thugs. To prevent any misunderstanding from the female officer, he quickly decided to distance himself from the man attempting to bail him out: "May I ask who you are? And why do you wish to bail me out?" Though his question was direct—and perhaps could unintentionally make the well-meaning individual feel slighted—Xiang Ri had no choice but to place his trust in his wife above all else.
By asking, he could clearly communicate to the female officer that he had no ties to "An Tiger," a far more effective strategy than simply denying any connection to the notorious figure.
Indeed, upon hearing this, Tie Wan's tension visibly eased. The same relief was shared by the two morally dubious Ma brothers; as long as Xiang Ri had no connections to "An Tiger," their safety was assured.
"You are Xiang Kui?" The man in white seemed unfazed by the blunt inquiry. Still, he furrowed his brow as he scrutinized the young man before him. His first impression: his physique was too frail to be worthy of his sister. Second: his appearance was far too ordinary, and his attire spoke nothing of wealth or nobility. He couldn't fathom why his sister, who had always been indifferent to men, would choose this unremarkable man. But since he had promised the old man to come and bail someone out, he would not abandon the task. Yet, his interest in the "future son-in-law" had already waned. He barely gave Xiang Ri another glance before turning back to the female officer: "Officer, what do you think? It should be no problem to bail him out, right?"
"No problem," Tie Wan replied, though she still found these people distasteful. Ultimately, they were here to assist a thug, and rejecting them would only complicate things. Despite her misgivings, she had already entertained the idea of releasing the criminal. She had not yet found an appropriate solution, considering that the thug had indeed committed an act of violence—though the victim's claims were exaggerated. More importantly, during the interrogation, she had nearly let slip something inappropriate. As the head of the department, covering up for a criminal in front of so many subordinates would have been too embarrassing. Now that someone was willing to bail the person out, it provided her with a convenient excuse to back down. As for why they were so eager to bail out a criminal they barely knew, that was something she could put aside for the moment, with plans to ask later.
But there was always someone ready to spoil the mood. A clear, resolute voice rang out: "I have a question!"