Tang Hongda dealt with Captain Lin of the public security team with a slick, smiling face, a clear sign of an old hand at this.
Lu Heng had guessed his identity upon seeing the name on the insurance assessment report.
The owner of Hongda Loan Company, Tang Hongda, was frankly a usurer.
Of course, loans were extended under the maximum legal interest rates; anything below an annual rate of 24% was legal, and the law enforcement team wouldn't intervene.
However, such loan companies operated murky waters.
There were many ways to implicitly increase the interest rate, such as by using financial schemes and contracts to juggle debts notoriously timed to the second for overdue fees—too many tricks to count.
Moreover, anyone who ran a loan company usually had some backing.
Considering all this, Captain Lin's attitude was quite understandable.
Lu Heng looked at the captain of the public security team and asked, "So, you guys don't handle troublemaking like this?"
The captain responded officially, "I act according to regulations, compensating where compensation is due and assessing injuries where needed. You can follow formal procedures or settle matters privately, it's up to you."
"Fine, we don't need your help then, you can leave," Lu Heng said, too lazy to listen to more from the captain, and promptly signed off for them to leave.
After dispatching the law enforcement team, Lu Heng pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Tang Hongda, asking bluntly, "You're targeting me, right? Just spit it out, what do you want?"
A resentful look flashed in Tang Hongda's eyes as he threatened, "Turn yourself in, and I'll leave your family alone. Otherwise, you'll get a taste of the destruction of your family…"
Lu Heng had already guessed the answer and remained very calm, "Tang Guizhe is your son."
Tang Guizhe was one of the four individuals who had driven Su Muyu to her suicide, and the most sinister among them.
A forthright student once reported Tang Guizhe for smoking in the classroom, only to be bullied into severe depression, showing tendencies of self-harm and transferring schools the following semester.
When Tang Hongda heard Lu Heng mention his son's name, he slammed the table and bellowed, "I knew it was you! You owe my son his life!"
"What life debt? Don't talk nonsense!" exclaimed Li Xiuyun in a panic.
"Mom, don't worry, I'm fine."
After comforting his mother, Lu Heng looked at Tang Hongda and said calmly, "The law enforcement team have already investigated and proven that the case has nothing to do with me."
Tang Hongda retorted furiously, "That alibi of yours, you think I'd believe that? Only fools in the law enforcement would believe your crap."
A glint appeared in Lu Heng's eyes as he caught the mention of "alibi."
How would a business owner know about an "alibi"?
The content of a law enforcement's investigation shouldn't be known to a loan company boss.
Unless he had someone inside the law enforcement who could access the case files.
…
Once Lu Heng understood Tang Hongda's motives, the rest was manageable, "If you suspect me, then come directly at me. Why involve my parents?"
Pointing at Lu Mingli and his wife, Tang Hongda threatened Lu Heng, "Surrender yourself to the Detective Bureau, and I will spare your parents, otherwise I can't guarantee their safety."
"Come at me if you want to!" Lu Heng's face showed anger as he slammed his hand on the table.
Tang Hongda continued his threats, "You think you're the only one who can fabricate some nonsense alibi? One day I might dump these two old folks in East Lake and have myself an alibi as well."
Lu Heng slowly clenched his fist, a cold light flashing in his eyes, "So, it's a contest of ruthlessness? Fine! Let's see the truth in action then."
"Such a milk-sop, and yet you dare to boast. I'll wait and see your 'truth'!"
Tang Hongda finished speaking and glared fiercely at Lu Mingli and his wife before leaving with his subordinates.
...
After they had left, Lu Mingli and Li Xiuyun became anxious. "Son, what were you talking about just now? Wasn't it about a rear-end collision? Why did it sound like something about paying with a life? Don't scare your mom and dad."
"Don't worry, this Mr. Tang is clearly trying to intimidate you. I wanted to ask you, how did you get involved with these people?" Lu Heng quickly changed the subject.
"Ah! A couple of days ago, I was driving home from work as usual. The other car suddenly cut me off at the front, I let him go, but as soon as I did, he slammed on his brakes, resulting in a rear-end collision." Lu Mingli looked extremely haggard, having not slept well for several days.
"Isn't there a dash cam? With such driving behavior from the other party, they should be charged with reckless driving." Lu Heng was a bit puzzled.
"I don't know what happened, but someone stuck two pieces of chewing gum on the dashcam lens, so it didn't capture anything."
As Lu Mingli mentioned this, he felt a tightness in his chest.
After retiring, he had been driving for over a decade without a single accident.
The first accident he had involved a car worth over ten million, and the insurance was not enough to cover it.
When Lu Heng heard about the chewing gum on the camera lens, he immediately understood what had happened.
It was clearly a setup by the other party, and his father was not to blame.
Lu Heng reassured his parents, returned to his room, closed the door, and made a phone call to Su Muyu, "I'll send you an address, come over."
...
At eight in the evening.
Lu Heng went out to meet Su Muyu.
At the intersection of Xingyang Street, Su Muyu, wearing a plaid skirt and standing under a street lamp, looked like an elf stepping out of the light.
Seeing Lu Heng appear, Su Muyu smiled sweetly, a sparkle in her eyes.
"Calling you out so late, it's not a problem, is it?" Lu Heng approached, worried that it might inconvenience her to come out too late.
"It's no problem, I told my mom I had to go back to school." Su Muyu, with her hands clasped behind her back and smiling brightly, was not even aware that her words implied she wouldn't be going home tonight.
"Did you manage to do what I asked?" Lu Heng then asked about the business.
"Yes, I did."
Before coming over, Su Muyu had released a recon eagle, as per Lu Heng's request, to spy on the Hongda Loan Company on Xingyang Street.
She reported everything, "Now, those men are drinking and playing games on the first floor, each looking quite fierce, not like good people.
"I followed your instructions and destroyed the surveillance cameras inside the building, including the hidden one outside the safe."
After reporting on her reconnaissance mission, Su Muyu continued:
"There's another thing. In the office of the company's boss, I saw a Demon Crystal Core. He mentioned over the phone that it was acquired on someone's behalf.
"However, they seem unaware that it's a Demon Crystal Core. They referred to it as a Purple Crystal on the phone.
"Uh... that Demon Crystal Core has been placed by Tang Hongda inside the safe in the third-floor office, and the safe's code is 753951."
"Good job,"
Lu Heng complemented her and then raised his hand to use a Skill and release a Shadow Clone, saying, "Why don't you go to the mall, and if you see any clothes you like, buy a couple."
"Oh, then I'm off." Su Muyu walked away, looking back three times with every step.
Once Su Muyu left, Lu Heng pulled his hoodie over his head, drew the Aurora Blade, and strode towards Hongda Loan.