Insights Chapter 65: Butterfly Flaps Its Wings

Chapter 65: Butterfly Flaps Its Wings

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

On Saturday, Gu Yanchen rose early. Instead of going mountain climbing this week, he drove to another location in Penang, the Penang Third Detention Center, situated northwest of the city. Penang has three detention centers in total. The third one houses economic criminals or those guilty of minor offenses. The environment is relatively better, and the staff are more courteous.

Gu Yanchen knew some of the prison guards and seniors inside. After presenting his credentials and completing the necessary procedures, he entered the visiting room.

Before long, a middle-aged man with handcuffs was brought out. Then the prison guard left the room, locking the door behind them, leaving only the two of them. The man’s hair had grown a bit long, and he had some stubble on his face. Just a few months ago, he was still elegant and proud, but now he had become a fallen prisoner.

Gu Yanchen looked up and greeted the man, “Mr. Zhong, long time no see.”

The man opposite him was none other than Zhong Zhichun, who had been brought to account after the Fang Zhengrong drowning case. After Fang Zhengrong’s death, in a short period, he had fallen from grace.

Upon seeing Gu Yanchen, Zhong Zhichun’s expression stiffened for a moment. “Captain Gu, don’t joke with me. It’s my carelessness. I am your defeated subordinate. Speak up, what brings you here?”

Gu Yanchen said, “I came to see you today to ask you some questions. We can make a deal. If you can provide me with some information, I can assist you with a reduced sentence application to cooperate with police investigations, which might greatly help you in your upcoming trials.”

Zhong Zhichun asked, “These conditions sound too vague. Are there any concrete ones?”

Gu Yanchen was straightforward, “The most practical one is that I can arrange for you to be transferred to a single cell upstairs, where the conditions are much better.”

Zhong Zhichun was intrigued. He knew that the conditions in the upper cells were better. Aside from anything else, there were fewer mosquitoes upstairs, and some even had air conditioning and private bathrooms. He had been living comfortably for years, but recently, he had suffered a lot. If he could improve his environment, he would gladly accept. Zhong Zhichun asked, “What do you want to know?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “Hetu Trading Association.”

Upon hearing this term, Zhong Zhichun took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, his tone turning cold. “How did you know about the association?” Without waiting for Gu Yanchen’s response, he denied, “I am not familiar with those people.”

Gu Yanchen said, “According to my investigation, you were once a member of the association. And I suspect that, regarding the Fang Zhengrong case, you hired a planner to help you with the scheme.”

Zhong Zhichun looked at him guardedly. “What makes you think I would tell you?”

Gu Yanchen said, “Now, you have been abandoned by them. Since this organization cannot protect you, why not try to bring down those who betrayed you?”

Gu Yanchen’s purpose in coming here was to exploit Zhong Zhichun’s disappointment with the Hetu Trading Association.

He knew that since Zhong Zhichun had been imprisoned, he must have tried multiple times to seek help from others. But not only did those people keep their distance, they also completely cut ties with him and even added insult to injury.

This kind of disappointment could breed strong resentment. He intended to capitalize on Zhong Zhichun’s disillusionment. To make members of the Hetu Trading Association stumble would also be a scene Zhong Zhichun would want to witness.

After some hesitation, Zhong Zhichun asked, “Is this conversation absolutely confidential?”

Gu Yanchen said, “Turn off the surveillance, no electronic devices. My phone is turned off. Even if I don’t consider whether you are in danger, I will act cautiously.”

Only then did Zhong Zhichun relax. “I can tell you some things. But I cannot provide you with a list of members or give you any confidential information. One, I am just a peripheral member, and there are things I don’t know. Two, if I offend those people, I might not live to see tomorrow.”

Gu Yanchen said, “I just want to know the methods to trace their tracks. The rest, we as the police, will investigate.”

Zhong Zhichun fell silent for a moment, then he spoke, “Apart from the single cell upstairs, I also want cigarettes.”

Gu Yanchen tossed a lighter and some cigarettes to Zhong Zhichun. “I’ll have my junior bring you a few packs later.”

Zhong Zhichun lit a cigarette. He had been in the association for many years, doing a lot for them over the years, and now he found himself in this situation. He suddenly wanted to reveal some information to the policeman in front of him. Perhaps watching them fight each other would be an entertaining show.

Gu Yanchen asked him, “Is Yao Lin also part of the Hetu Trading Association?”

Zhong Zhichun hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Since you know this, it means he’s also going to be expelled from the association. But the Yao family is different from someone like me.”

Even if expelled from the association, the Yao family was powerful enough to handle many things.

“What exactly do you want to know?” Zhong Zhichun asked.

Gu Yanchen said, “The core mechanisms of the association, the illegal activities it engages in, and how it protects criminals.”

According to Gu Yanchen’s previous investigation, the association provided many benefits to wealthy individuals and offered them various services, which was why many people chose to join. Even wealthy individuals couldn’t handle certain matters alone. The association facilitated these things for them, thereby earning money and consolidating its own position.

Only by understanding this could the police further investigate and dismantle the organization.

Zhong Zhichun took a deep drag of his cigarette before speaking, “Most of the time, the Hetu Trading Association is idle. When they’re not busy, they don’t contact each other. But some members are involved in certain activities. These activities leave traces and are the core of the association. Once a member is found guilty of a crime, they are abandoned. So, they do everything possible to cover up the truth.”

It was like a game between hunters and prey. One side pursued relentlessly, while the other laid traps.

He paused for a moment, “As for their methods of accumulating wealth, there are a few. There are bankers who can create wealth out of nothing, wealthy women with numerous lovers, and a city of revelry and debauchery where people live in a drunken stupor.”

He didn’t speak quickly, as if he had to consider whether each word should be said. These words sounded like riddles. Their meaning couldn’t be determined solely by their literal interpretation.

“All of this is under the control of the association’s leader. Through these means, he controls and influences the entire Penang indirectly.” Zhong Zhichun took another drag of his cigarette. “What I’m telling you now, you may not fully understand, but when you encounter it, you’ll know I’m not wrong. They also have some external companies they cooperate with, such as security companies and cleaning companies. There are quite a few security companies in Penang, but this one is not just ordinary security. They employ professional thugs armed with weapons. As long as you pay, you can hire them for your safety. The head of the cleaning company is called the boss, and the best planner there is called Clearwater. The ones who assist are set designers. If the security team operates in the open, the set designers work in the shadows. They are experts in creating accidents and are a group of high-end professionals. The cleaners don’t usually appear unless there’s a mess to clean up. Once they do, they take care of all sorts of problems, even erasing all traces left on the internet. Surveillance, phone records, chat logs, bank information, there’s nothing they can’t modify or delete.”

Gu Yanchen listened carefully. This part about the cleaning company aligned with Ding Yueran’s confession before. He firmly remembered these points. At this point, the association began to take shape in his mind, outlining its entity.

With these pieces of information, it meant that wealthy individuals could turn their wealth into weapons. The security team provided violence, the cleaning company helped with killings and covering tracks. And there were people specifically focused on accumulating wealth. With this assistance, they could surpass all social norms.

After saying this, Zhong Zhichun extinguished his half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray. “Captain Gu, I’ve disclosed enough information. You’ll have to find out the rest about this association on your own. Perhaps I’ll remember more details later. But for now, this is all I remember.”

He was the type to only give away information when it benefited him. He would see what Gu Yanchen did next before deciding whether to continue providing him with information.

Gu Yanchen said, “Thank you, the information you provided is very useful.”

Zhong Zhichun replied, “You’re welcome, Captain Gu. Let me remind you, this is like a huge vortex under the cliff. Once you get close, if you’re not careful, you’ll be sucked in and broken to pieces.” He looked at Gu Yanchen and added, “You’re not the first person to seek these secrets. Those before you either died or were swallowed by this vortex.”

Gu Yanchen stood up and said, “I only know that as long as all of this doesn’t disappear, I won’t be the last person hoping to uncover some truths.”

Zhong Zhichun looked at him and said, “Gu Yanchen, I quite like you. I’m waiting for the day of your victory.”

Gu Yanchen stood up and left the detention center. Walking down the long corridor of the prison, his footsteps echoed in the empty space, and the light casting his shadow stretched long. Gu Yanchen looked straight ahead, amidst the passing of time, as if time itself was flowing. He suddenly remembered some people.

Lin Xianglan might have known something that made those people take risks and eliminate him. Li Zhongnan might have also investigated these people, which led to his disappearance. Including Lin Luo…

He had once hidden himself to facilitate investigations. Now, he had finally stepped into the forefront. Perhaps he would also become the next victim. Gu Yanchen’s gaze was resolute, his belief unwavering. This was a battle, and bloodshed would accompany it.

Since taking up this profession, he had never feared death. He would face ultimate evil and uphold his inner goodness. And perhaps, it was his illusion, but he felt he wasn’t alone; there was a force beside him, seemingly engaged in a game with the darkness. Exiting the prison, Gu Yanchen stopped in his tracks, looked up at the sky, and saw a storm brewing as if it were about to sweep in.

According to the butterfly effect, this might have been caused months ago when a butterfly flapped its wings, creating a faint air current that triggered a chain reaction. Gu Yanchen was curious about the beautiful patterns on that butterfly’s wings. He awaited the arrival of the storm. When the heavy rain swept through the earth and sky, it would eventually be followed by clear skies, a bright world.

—

A few months ago, just after the New Year, the weather was still cold. It seemed like an ordinary night. In the provincial capital hundreds of kilometers away from Penang. The lights were on in the Public Security Department, with many people working overtime. A top-secret high-level meeting was taking place in the four-story leadership office. The meeting was chaired by the head of the provincial department, with Deputy Directors Liu and Zhang also present.

There was a thick stack of files on the table, including documents, files, and related reports.

“The main topic of today’s meeting is to discuss matters related to Penang. You should all be aware that Wang, the head of the Penang City Bureau, was removed from office recently, and Director Ding has just taken over. On the surface, Penang seems similar to other cities, but I think we all know deep down that it’s a complicated place, especially some of the grassroots sub-bureaus, which turn a blind eye to the people’s affairs and provide protection for criminal elements. Our provincial department can hardly intervene. Let’s take a look at these reports.”

Deputy Director Zhang sighed, “We’re all aware that the number of criminal cases and missing persons in Penang has been rising year after year. Some cases blatantly insult our intelligence. Since Director Lin passed away… that place…”

At this point, all three shook their heads. Everyone could sense that something was amiss. These leaders were well aware that the problem in Penang was significant. If they didn’t take advantage of Wang’s removal from office to remove some tumors and uncover the masterminds behind the scenes, it would likely become even more difficult to eradicate the issues in the future.

“The problems in Penang City must be addressed. No authority can stand above the nation and the people.”

“That place is in a state of utter devastation, rotten to the core. Moreover, the relationships there are complex and intertwined. It’s unlikely that a simple reshuffling of personnel will solve the problem.”

Deputy Director Liu suggested, “Would sending an inspection team be helpful?”

Director He shook his head, “You should know what the result would be if we send an inspection team.”

As the saying goes, “The higher the sky, the farther the emperor.” 

Sitting hundreds of kilometers away, they couldn’t possibly understand the specific situation in Penang with just these materials. Even if they were to establish an inspection team, they could only stay for a month or two at most. Time was limited, and they wouldn’t be able to touch upon the core issues.

By the time the inspection team withdrew, the hidden figures would have already caught wind of it, and they would continue their activities, posing a threat to the region, without solving any actual problems. Even if the higher-ups were capable, they couldn’t solve all of Penang’s problems by themselves.

Deputy Director Liu asked, “So, Director He, what do you suggest we do?”

Director He said, “I intend to send someone down early to conduct a thorough assessment of the city’s public security situation, identify problem areas, and uncover major cases. Then, when the inspection team goes down, they can work together to investigate and arrest those people.”

Deputy Director Zhang said, “That’s a good idea, but this work is extremely dangerous. We need someone capable and reliable. Do you have a reliable detective for coordination?”

Deputy Director Liu, who always advocated caution, shook his head lightly. “Sending a detective down isn’t suitable. Once you send someone down, the other party will definitely be alerted. They might even conduct surveillance on us, not to mention the risk to the safety of our personnel.”

Director He said, “Liu’s reasoning is sound. I’ve considered this as well.”

Deputy Director Zhang said, “Director He, stop beating around the bush. Do you already have someone in mind?”

Director He finally said, “I intend to send a medical examiner.”

The other two deputy leaders were initially stunned, then fell silent, carefully considering, but eventually nodded in agreement.

Deputy Director Liu said, “A medical examiner is a good choice. They can work on the frontline, gain a deep understanding of the situation, and not attract too much attention.”

Deputy Director Zhang asked, “Who’s the specific candidate?”

Director He handed out a printed file for the two colleagues to review.

Deputy Director Liu flipped through it. “Shen Junci, I know him. His skills are excellent, and he has a promising future in the provincial department. Is he willing to go to Penang?”

Director He interlocked his fingers. “He has some connections to Penang. I’ve talked to him, and he hopes to return to work there. Moreover, I can assure you that he’s absolutely reliable, with strong personal qualities.”

Deputy Director Zhang closed the file. “That makes things easier. I have no objections to this candidate. However, it’s also crucial to have a reliable detective to work with the medical examiner. Penang has been plagued by Wang’s influence for years. Can we find a reliable detective there?”

Deputy Director Liu added, “Selecting a detective for cooperation won’t be easy. They need to be intelligent, with exceptional detective skills, both mentally and physically strong, unafraid of authority, unwilling to collude with corrupt officials, and absolutely reliable.”

Director He had already prepared for this. He pulled out another file. “I had someone collect all the police files from the Penang City Bureau and found a candidate in the Logistics Department.”

Deputy Director Liu took the file and carefully examined it. “This person might work.”

Deputy Director Zhang also glanced at it and said after a moment, “I’ve carefully reviewed the resume. He worked on the Xu Chenghuang case before and has no ties to Wang’s group. I think he’s worth a try. However, before confirming, we need to keep him confidential and conduct an assessment of his capabilities. If necessary, we can replace him at any time.”

Deputy Director Liu nodded. “I agree with Director Zhang’s suggestion. Let Director Ding talk to him later.”

With the problem and solution satisfactorily addressed.

At nine o’clock in the evening, Shen Junci suddenly received a call from Director He, asking him to come to the main building. He had just finished dissecting a corpse, still wearing his medical examiner’s suit when he arrived at the leadership office of the provincial department.

As he entered, he saw the three provincial leaders, and the atmosphere was particularly serious. Shen Junci sat across from them. He had a faint guess about the topic of this conversation.

Director He said, “Doctor Shen, as we discussed last time, Director Zhang, Deputy Director Liu, and I have already discussed it. For the long-term stability of Penang, we’ve decided to send you there to conduct an assessment of the city’s public security, crack down on criminal forces, and fight against the dark elements of Penang. During the secret assessment, you’ll have the authority to report directly to us and will be given certain task permissions. We’ll also provide you with some support to assist you in your covert operations.”

Shen Junci’s expression remained calm, as if he had been prepared for all of this. He replied, “Understood.”

His response was too quick and calm. Deputy Director Liu, looking at the young medical examiner with a handsome face, was afraid that he was being too hasty and couldn’t help but caution him again, “This task is extremely arduous and carries a certain level of danger.”

Sitting across from the leaders, Shen Junci’s posture was straight, extremely upright. His face remained calm, and his eyelashes fluttered lightly like raven feathers. “I understand. I won’t underestimate the situation there.”

And no one understood the danger of that city better than him. Lin Xianglan died there, and Lin Luo had also died there. But at the same time, that city held his childhood, his fondest memories. It had his comrades-in-arms fighting alongside him. Having experienced those events, he was fearless to this day.

Director He nodded in agreement. “Your ultimate goal is to thoroughly understand the situation in Penang before the inspection team arrives, and to uncover as many major cases related to the criminal forces in Penang as possible.”

Looking back on this matter, it was like being ordered to conduct a secret investigation, but unfortunately, without the imperial sword. Shen Junci was like a pawn they moved, a nail they hammered, and also the bait they threw out. He was their eyes and ears. Although he was just one person, he would stir up waves throughout the entire city.

Director He continued, “I have already approved Director Ding’s request to establish a Special Criminal Division in Penang. The most challenging cases will be assigned to this team, and some of them will undoubtedly be related to various forces in Penang. You will become the medical examiner of the Special Criminal Division, conducting in-depth investigations and reporting directly to us.”

“After entering the Penang City Bureau, your mission must not be revealed to other officers or colleagues. There will be no official appointment documents for this task. You may find yourself isolated or in danger. We hope you can successfully complete the mission while ensuring your own safety.”

Shen Junci said, “I understand.”

Director He’s tone softened slightly. “This mission may last for six months or even a year. Of course, we won’t make it too difficult for you. We will do our best to arrange for some trustworthy personnel to gradually support your work. You’re also allowed to use some unconventional methods to combat the enemy.”

Shen Junci asked, “When will the mission begin?”

“For now, it’s the preparatory period. The specific start time will be a few months later,” Director He said. “As for the selection of the Captain for the Special Criminal Division, we have also considered it.” He handed Shen Junci a file. “This person may become your partner in the future. You can assess his performance. If he performs well and your cooperation is tacit, we consider converting the Special Criminal Division into a special task force to cooperate with the inspection team after they settle in.”

Shen Junci’s gaze fell on the file. The name on it was very familiar to him, and countless memories flooded his mind for a moment. Gu Yanchen. The man in the photo was handsome and sharp-eyed, with a high nose bridge, just like yesterday.

After looking at it for a while, Shen Junci raised his head solemnly. “Thank you for the trust, leaders. I accept this mission.”

He had been planning for a long time, and now the plan had taken an important step forward. On the table of the several bureau chiefs lay the evidence they had collected over the years. After the leaders saw these things, they wouldn’t just turn a blind eye and take no action. The past determined the present, and the present influenced the future. Everything was interconnected like an ouroboros. Everyone’s fate was entangled in it.

After years of separation, he had overcome countless difficulties and finally had the chance to meet him. He hoped that this time, they could have a good start and a bright future.