"Andy, can you lend me your phone for a moment?"
Superintendent Wong’s voice was calm—too calm—as he casually extended his hand toward Andy Lau.
The young inspector froze for a fraction of a second. A flicker of panic flashed deep in his eyes before he smoothed it over with a practiced smile.
Superintendent Wong didn’t miss it. Not at all.
Bingo.
Earlier, Superintendent Wong had believed Fenric’s warning seven or eight out of ten. But now? Now he was almost certain—there was a problem with Andy Lau.
"Don’t get me wrong," Superintendent Wong said, lips curling in a genial smile. "My phone just died. Need to call the old folks at home."
Andy Lau hesitated for only a beat before forcing a chuckle and handing over his device. "Of course, Sir. Go ahead."
His tone was casual, but Superintendent Wong saw the stiffness in his shoulders.
Superintendent Wong didn’t immediately redial the last number. He could have. If he called back and Eric Tsang picked up, it would be the smoking gun proving Andy Lau was the mole.
But that would also spook the snake. Eric Tsang would vanish, tonight’s meticulously planned operation would collapse, and a decade-long investigation would go up in smoke.
Eric Tsang was the root of all this rot. Catching him mattered more than anything.
So Superintendent Wong simply punched in a familiar number and made a believable call.
"Hello, Mom? Yeah, can’t make dinner tonight. Don’t save me any. I’ll grab something with a buddy later... Okay. Bye."
He hung up, handed the phone back with a polite smile. "Thanks."
Andy Lau mirrored it perfectly. "Come on, Sir. No need to be so formal."
Two smiles. Two masks. Beneath them, both men were sizing each other up like predators in a cage.
Superintendent Wong’s mind churned as he studied Andy Lau—the rising star of the police force. Thirty years old, already Inspector of the Intelligence Division. One rank below Superintendent Wong himself.
His meteoric rise was legendary. Every step earned through "brilliant" results.
Cold cases cracked overnight. Suspects apprehended in days. Colleagues hailed him as a genius.
But looking at it now... too many coincidences.
Once or twice was luck. A dozen times? That was design.
"Let’s get to work," Superintendent Wong said, tone brisk.
"Understood," Andy Lau replied smoothly.
They walked back inside together, both pretending nothing had happened.
The plot had already veered far from the original.
In the movie, Superintendent Wong never suspected Andy Lau—not until it was too late. That ignorance had let Andy Lau tip off Eric Tsang, sabotaging the entire sting.
But this time, Superintendent Wong was on guard. Fully alert.
And the first move he made was decisive.
"Listen up!" Superintendent Wong’s voice cracked through the room like a whip. "Tonight’s operation is critical. No leaks, no exceptions. Everyone—leave your phones here. Now!"
No one objected. Orders from the top were absolute.
But Andy Lau’s heart skipped a beat. His hand tightened almost imperceptibly around his phone. Then he felt eyes on him—Superintendent Wong’s—and saw that calm, knowing smile.
He forced one of his own and stepped forward to comply. Inside, his stomach sank like lead.
He suspects me.
A clever man like Andy Lau didn’t need more hints.
In the corner of the room, Fenric observed everything, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Perfect. Phase one complete. Superintendent Wong has him pegged as the mole.
That was all Fenric needed. Once Superintendent Wong believed him, the rest of the mission was going to be much smoother.
Then—pat.
A hand landed lightly on his shoulder.
Fenric turned, brow arching. It was the middle-aged woman from earlier.
"John, what’s with the big grin?" she teased lightly. Then her tone dropped, her words pitched so low only he could hear. "Tell me—Andy Lau’s under suspicion, isn’t he?"
Fenric’s gut tightened. His eyes sharpened as they locked onto hers.
The woman’s expression didn’t change. She just smiled—calm, almost friendly.
And that was when the truth clicked.
She was like him. A Samsara.
From the start, Fenric had felt something was off, something missing in the picture. Now he knew what: he wasn’t the only player in this game.
Five other samsaras had entered this mission. Four had allied and gone to the Triad-side. That left one unaccounted for—the masked girl.
Turns out, she had chosen the Police camp. And she was standing right in front of him.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Fenric said with a polite laugh. A fake one.
She caught it. They both knew the truth. No need for more words.
After a moment’s pause, she leaned closer and murmured, "How about an alliance? After we’re out, I’ll transfer ten million to any account you want."
No euphemisms now. Both knew what the other was.
"Ten million?" Fenric chuckled softly, then shook his head. "No deal."
Did the offer tempt him? Hell yes. Ten million could change his entire life.
But taking that money meant risk—exposing himself. And besides, mission rewards were still unknown. He wasn’t about to split them blindly.
(Note: After forming an alliance, all rewards are divided equally.)
Fenric wasn’t a fool. Ten million wasn’t worth the gamble.