Listening to the nightmarish cries in the distance and watching the flames light up the night sky, we were all bereft of speech. Xiaotao gritted her teeth, "There’s no time to delay. It is important to protect the people. I will call Sun Tiger right away."
I soon received a call from Dali who yelled into the phone, "Song Yang, there are many criminals out on the streets. It's terrible!"
"I’m sorry, I won’t be able to watch out for you tonight. Make sure you close the doors! Is Luo Youyou with you?" I asked.
"Yes, we’ve just piled all the furniture against the door."
"Be careful!" I cautioned.
I returned to the conference room where the Dog Trainer leisurely sat, his legs placed on the table with a cup of hot tea in his hand. "Song Yang, miss me?"
"No, I can’t wait to cut you into pieces!" I spat.
"No matter how you deny it, there’s a certain connection between us. It’s more than friendship or love. No matter if I succeed tonight or not, I will always stay in your head and heart. I’ve become one of your demons," laughed the Dog Trainer.
"And I’ve become yours!"
The intense hatred made me switch to the Eyes of Yama instantly. The Dog Trainer fell to the ground screaming, hot tea spilling all over his body. He crawled on his hands and feet as if frightened by the devil, laughing wildly, "So the intelligence was right... You’ve woken up the Eyes of Yama..."
I felt a fearful energy gather in my body as I strode towards him, glaring fiercely, "Order them to stop!"
The Dog Trainer retreated to the wall, mumbling, "You’ve forgotten one thing... No matter how strong your fear is, you can't overcome the desire for survival... I can't hand over my cards..."
"Then go to hell!"
I violently unleashed that fearful energy unto the Dog Trainer who screamed and tried blocking with both hands. Right then, the door behind me burst wide open and Xiaotao shouted, "Stop!"
I shut away the Eyes of Yama, my entire body drained and weak. Xiaotao asked, "Are you crazy? If he loses his mind, Nanjiang City will suffer heavy losses."
I covered my forehead, "Then are we just going to sit here and let him succeed?"
"This is a chess game with no solutions. We can only compromise," lamented Xiaotao.
The Dog Trainer roared with malicious laughter and got up from the ground. "The police are more obedient than I thought!"
Xiaotao clenched her fists, "We’re only forced to agree to your request. It doesn't mean that I will personally tolerate you. If you keep running that mouth of yours, I won’t be able to control where my fists land!"
Seated once more, the Dog Trainer ordered, "Miss Huang, get me a cup of tea."
Xiaotao frowned and pulled me out of the room. "Don't worry,” she whispered. “It’s just a temporary compromise. We will settle all debts with him in the future."
A while later, Sun Tiger arrived, clearly suppressing his anger. "This is a dereliction of duty on my part. I will speak to him first."
When he entered the room, the Dog Trainer greeted him, "Good evening, Director Sun!"
"I have to say your methods are brilliant, forcing even me, the director, to surrender. I’m here to talk terms. The visa you want can be done immediately but the amnesty can't be signed so quickly. Get your men to stand down first. "
The Dog Trainer shrugged, "I’m not negotiating. You figure it out for yourself!"
Thud! It seemed as if one of the chairs was overturned. We assumed Sun Tiger had acted in rage, but when we entered the room, we found him kneeling before the Dog Trainer. "I beg you! Your purpose has been achieved. If you want my life, take it. Please let go of the innocent citizens."
The Dog Trainer smiled, "What a privilege. I almost feel guilty."
The Dog Trainer pulled out his cell phone, gave his orders and hung up. "For the sake of Director Sun's humility, I have just lifted the first phase of the operation. In half an hour, a hundred criminals will show up at the station and surrender."
I gritted my teeth, jaw clenching in anger. Human life was merely dirt to him. He was simply a monster among criminals compared with the rest!
Yet, he was just a middle-level member of the organization. The true power of this organization far exceeded my cognition.
Sun Tiger stood up, uttered his thanks, and immediately ordered officers to prepare the airplane and vehicle for the Dog Trainer.
Half an hour later, a group of people suddenly showed up in front of the station. They were covered in blood and expressionless. Upon seeing the police, they held out their hands without so much as a word, waiting to be handcuffed.
Since the detention room couldn't hold so many, Sun Tiger sent a SWAT team armed with loaded rifles to monitor them.
We waited anxiously while Sun Tiger phoned the airport, confirming that the earliest a special airplane could be arranged was one in the morning. Fuming, Sun Tiger slammed his phone onto the table.
I turned to Huang Xiaotao, "The amnesty is just a cover for him. In fact, he’s never intended to ask for this since the beginning. He still thinks he’s innocent and hasn’t left behind any evidence!"
Xiaotao looked out of the window, "Even if we kill him right now, the price the city has paid far is too great! I honestly never imagined anything like this! Countless properties have been destroyed in Nanjiang City tonight and we can be considered accomplices."
There was nothing I could say to absolve us of our responsibilities. Perhaps after tonight, Sun Tiger, Xiaotao and all these officers would resign.
But I would continue to be a criminal consultant. The cancer of society–the Jiangbei Daggers–must be eradicated! I secretly swore in my heart!
An officer came to inform us that the car escorting the Dog Trainer had arrived so we headed outside. Sun Tiger stood humbly before the Dog Trainer and said, "I’ve made an agreement with the airport. At 12:30 am, you will be flown to the US on a special airplane. Let's head to the airport now!"
A slight smile rose to The Dog Trainer’s lips as he pulled out his cell phone and made a brief call. Then, turning to us, he said, "I have lifted the second phase of the operation. Wait here, your chance for meritorious service is coming!"
The officers clenched their fists, trying hard not to tear him to pieces.
Xiaotao and I got into Sun Tiger’s car. We sat in the back while Sun Tiger drove, surrounded by four armored vehicles.
Five police cars drove through the devastated city. There were smashed vehicles and burning buildings everywhere. The sirens of the fire brigade reverberated through the night sky and sweat-covered policemen guarded the people of the motherland with their lives.
Everyone fled home to lock the doors at the request of the police and the streets were empty, making Nanjiang City extremely desolate.
Huang Xiaotao ridiculed, "What a great honor it is for you, Dog Trainer!"
"I don't pursue these meaningless things,” he smiled. “The reason why you failed is because you regard me as an ordinary, vulgar criminal. But in fact, I’m essentially different from them."
"Are you trying to say you’re much better than them?" Xiaotao asked coldly.
The Dog Trainer shook his head, "A little officer like you won't understand me. There’s only one person in this car who can!"
The Dog Trainer looked at me through the rearview mirror and continued, "Song Yang, it's a pity that our game can't go on. Sometimes your opponent is your true bosom friend. And Song Yang, that is what you are to me."
"I don't think we have anything in common!" I cried in disgust.
"You constantly solve crimes, and for the sake of what? Honor? Money? Self-satisfaction?" The Dog Trainer threw me a question in return.
Without a second thought, I replied, "It’s my mission."
"For me as well!" laughed the Dog Trainer.