Because of the name "Cat's Eye Man," Yu Xiaoluo brought me to meet Wang Zeyin. When I was in Ruili, I didn't think Wang Zeyin was an important figure, but here at the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Wang Zeyin commanded great authority; everyone treated him with respect.
In the spacious, brightly lit office, I sat opposite his desk and saw the wall behind him covered with awards like wallpaper. This Wang Zeyin had solved many major and important cases, receiving so many awards he was almost overwhelmed. It was clear he would be a significant figure in the Criminal Investigation Bureau in the future.
Wang Zeyin poured me a cup of tea. As I reached for it, he said it was hot and placed it on his desk for me. Then, with a gentle smile, he said, "Tang Nan, in Ruili, the Jingyu Action Group successfully apprehended the leader of the Empty House criminal group. You played the biggest role in this case. I was too busy back then to thank you before you returned home. Now that you're in Beijing, I must treat you to an authentic Zhajiangmian."
"You're too kind. May I ask what 'Jingyu Action Group' means? Are you the leader?"
"Yes, Jingyu is the operation codename. It's a special task force temporarily formed with the Criminal Investigation Bureau taking the lead, assisted by local public security bureaus and concerted efforts from various departments, mainly targeting major and important cases. The Empty House fraud organization involved a huge amount of money, so our Criminal Investigation Bureau, along with local public security bureaus, jointly formed the Jingyu Special Action Group. Once the case was closed, the task force was disbanded. However, the issue of Empty House's fund flow is still being monitored and managed by our Criminal Investigation Bureau."
Hearing Wang Zeyin say this, I felt some regret. I shouldn't have used the term "Cat's Eye Man." I thought since we were in the same system, it would be easier to talk, and I could help Old Tie get out of this trouble. Also, I was really curious about Qin Sisi's situation and couldn't let it go. Now it seemed Old Ghost was right to tell me not to get involved. Regardless of anything else, Wang Zeyin's current authority suggested the criminals he dealt with were definitely not ordinary people. Here I was, someone who should have stayed far away, deliberately getting myself involved.
"Xiao Luo told me your friend was swindled by the Cat's Eye Man?"
"He was swindled, but I don't know if it was the Cat's Eye Man. The other party was quite meticulous. I wanted Xiao Luo's help, and it slipped out. Please don't take it seriously."
Wang Zeyin chuckled and glanced around. "Are these eight big characters I wrote saying 'Confess and be forgiven, resist and be punished' written here?"
"No, no."
"Then have you done anything illegal or against discipline?"
"Of course not."
"Then what are you afraid of me for?"
"I'm just afraid of speaking carelessly and hindering your investigation."
Wang Zeyin smiled faintly, picked up the phone, and called Yu Xiaoluo to his office. Yu Xiaoluo stared at me, her expression grim, as if Wang Zeyin had already exposed my lie. I didn't speak, just lowered my head, feeling like I had painted myself into a corner.
"Xiao Luo, let's get involved in Tang Nan's friend's case. Make a call to find out the situation."
"Okay. I'll go now." Yu Xiaoluo was extremely surprised but did not disobey Wang Zeyin's instructions.
After Yu Xiaoluo left, Wang Zeyin watched me with a smile. "Drink your tea before it gets cold. This is good tea I got from the deputy director. Tell me about how your friend was swindled."
As I was recounting the whole story, Yu Xiaoluo returned. She reported that she had a rough understanding of the situation. The temporary arrest of Tie Zhishan was because they suspected the rope in his hand was a murder weapon, so Tie Zhishan was detained. The rope was sent for analysis, and the result showed no skin tissue on it, meaning Tie Zhishan was basically not involved in the murder.
I felt a wave of relief. Wang Zeyin chuckled. "Xiao Luo, thank you for the call. Please release Tang Nan's friend. We can proceed with the joint investigation slowly; there's no need to keep him at the police station."
"Group Leader Wang, isn't that against regulations?"
"It's alright. I still have some face. Let's not let Tang Nan walk into a trap for nothing."
Wang Zeyin's words made me feel extremely awkward. He was right about one thing; I was willing to walk into this trap myself.
When Xiao Luo went to handle things, it was just Wang Zeyin and me in the room. Wang Zeyin looked at me and said, "Tang Nan, I'll have Xiao Luo track the fraud and murder case you mentioned. It's not impossible that it's related to the Cat's Eye Man. Let me tell you, Qin Sisi implicated an organization called 'Logical Paradox' for helping Li Dazhi launder money. Currently, besides some cash from Empty House, there's over fifty million yuan in an anonymous account in Beijing. We haven't sealed the account, waiting for the Cat's Eye Man, whom Qin Sisi implicated, to take the bait. But months have passed, and the Cat's Eye Man hasn't shown up."
"Perhaps he heard Qin Sisi was arrested and became afraid to act."
"No, the fraud organization Qin Sisi belonged to, calling themselves 'Strategists,' has a common weakness: overconfidence. Taking fifty million from the police is something an ordinary person wouldn't even dare to imagine, but for a Strategist, it's a challenge they're more willing to take."
Hearing Wang Zeyin say this, my face felt hot.
Wang Zeyin observed my expression. "I know you also call yourself a Strategist. That's fine. 'Strategist' isn't exclusive to criminals; it's a term that has existed since ancient times. Your strategies can be applied to life, career, and love. As long as they're not used for crime, I support them."
I took a deep breath and asked seriously, "Why didn't the Cat's Eye Man take that money?"
"I suspect the conditions weren't ripe. Either Qin Sisi concealed some facts, or there are conditions even Qin Sisi doesn't know about. I believe once the conditions are met, the Cat's Eye Man will immediately transfer the fifty million overseas and disappear."
Hearing Wang Zeyin say this, I fell into thought. Conditions? Could it be related to the jade ring Qin Sisi gave me?
"Tang Nan, did you think of something?"
"Not yet."
I used the words "not yet" to leave myself a way out. Wang Zeyin, with his keen intellect, smiled slightly. "It doesn't matter if you haven't thought of anything yet, and you don't need to rush to tell me. I believe that where the heart leads, the actions will follow, and you are on the side of justice. Go and see Qin Sisi, ask her, and then solve the case according to your own ideas. I'll assign you an assistant."
"Who?"
"How about Xiao Luo? Would that work?"
"Her?"
"Or Haozi? You know both of them."
My heart tensed, and I blurted out, "Let's go with Yu Xiaoluo."
Wang Zeyin called Yu Xiaoluo to his office and arranged a car for us to go to the prison to see Qin Sisi. Yu Xiaoluo seemed a bit displeased. "Why should I go? I have work to do."
"Tang Nan knows you."
"Haozi knows him too. Group Leader Wang, let Haozi go."
"Haozi is with the action team; you're with the criminal investigation team."
Yu Xiaoluo reluctantly complied, pouting and clearly annoyed with me. She sat in the passenger seat all the way, not even turning her head.
...
I met Qin Sisi. She had cut her hair short. Her skin was a bit dry, but she seemed in good spirits. Upon seeing me, Qin Sisi gave me a knowing smile.
"Long time no see, Tang Nan."
"I came to see you, mainly because my friend was swindled. The scammer used a chrysoberyl cat's eye, so I wanted to ask about the Cat's Eye Man."
"Still up to your old tricks."
"Why are you cursing?"
Qin Sisi smiled apologetically. "Tang Nan, I'm not talking about you. Let me ask you, did your friend buy a chrysoberyl cat's eye of about five carats in the ghost market, and then someone used a matching trick to defraud him?"
I hadn't said anything yet, but Qin Sisi already knew. I stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Did someone die?" Qin Sisi added.
"Yes, someone named Bi."
"Who died is not important. The chrysoberyl cat's eye scam is a classic opening move for the Cat's Eye Man. Since I met him, he's used it no less than five times. I just know that once someone dies, the game begins."
"What game?"
"A trial of human nature."
When Qin Sisi said this, Yu Xiaoluo, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but ask, "What kind of scam is this 'trial of human nature'?"
"More people will die. The Cat's Eye Man watches them struggle and fight like God, finding pleasure in it."
"Is the Cat's Eye Man a serial killer?" Yu Xiaoluo asked again.
"No, he never kills anyone."
Hearing Qin Sisi say this, Yu Xiaoluo pouted. The Cat's Eye Man doesn't kill, yet more people will die? Does he have magic powers?
"Qin Sisi, will my friend be in danger?"
Compared to the terrifying legends of the Cat's Eye Man, I was more worried about Old Tie's safety.
"He's already in the game."
"Thank you. I'll be back."
I pulled Yu Xiaoluo away. After we left, Xiao Luo was still a bit unhappy. "Why didn't you ask her more about how to catch the Cat's Eye Man?"
"No strategist reveals their entire strategy to others, and no strategist would use the same strategy in different places with different variables."
"But Qin Sisi said so!"
"I know. The chrysoberyl cat's eye scam. That's probably the only way the Cat's Eye Man maintains his image. The beginning. Making all his strategies start the same way is to tell certain specific people that this strategy belongs to him."