Chapter 56

Captain Liu walked over with Yang Jian's ID card in hand.

"Officer Liu, how is the situation? I didn't make a mistake, did I? This security guard is indeed suspected of extortion. I suggest you detain him immediately. Afterward, I will hire a lawyer to gather evidence. I must seek justice for myself," Manager Li said with a righteous tone, as if he had truly become the victim.

Captain Liu replied, "Manager Li, we can only investigate your case. We will only file it if the evidence is solid. Yang Jian's rank is too high for us to detain him. We must seek approval from higher-ups. If Manager Li is certain that Comrade Yang Jian is indeed suspected of extortion, please accompany me to the police station for further investigation."

"Huh?" Manager Li was stunned by these words.

"What? No authority to detain? Captain Liu, are you mistaken? You have no authority to detain a mere security guard?"

Yang Jian immediately understood. It seemed that after taking Zhou Zheng's satellite phone, Xiao Yu had already arranged for him to join the International Criminal Police Organization.

Speaking of which, is the rank of the International Criminal Police in the Asian region really that high?

He was a bit puzzled, as he didn't understand the rank system in Asia.

"I'm not mistaken. I've already consulted with the provincial police. Manager Li, please come with us," Captain Liu said. "We'll take Manager Li to the police station to record his statement."

Manager Li felt something was amiss. He cautiously asked, "Captain Liu, what if the investigation doesn't hold up?"

"If the evidence is insufficient and it turns out that the plaintiff is falsely accusing the defendant, they will be arrested for endangering national security," Captain Liu's gaze toward Manager Li was now suspicious.

He was a seasoned police captain, and Manager Li's tone clearly betrayed his guilt.

This case was likely a false one.

"Will I be detained?" Manager Li asked again.

"Detained?"

Captain Liu shook his head. "What kind of joke is this? Endangering national security carries a minimum of twenty years, and in severe cases... You can consult your lawyer friend; he should know better than I do. In the past, this crime was called treason, and the consequences are severe, as you should understand."

"What?" Manager Li was shocked.

His face turned pale.

Is it that serious?

It's just ordinary fraud, yet it has escalated to the level of betraying the nation.

... Manager Li broke out in a cold sweat.

When he looked at Yang Jian again, he was filled with fear.

This is definitely not just a security guard...

Yang Jian said, "Don't look at me. Please continue your performance."

"Brother, I was just joking. How about we just let it go? I'll treat you to a meal and apologize. What do you think?" Manager Li forced a smile.

"You accused me of extortion. Why are you backing down now?"

"It was a misunderstanding. I was very happy playing the caterpillar, but I got a bit dizzy. I was just talking nonsense. I couldn't control myself."

Manager Li continued, "Look at my mouth; it doesn't listen to me. I must have been possessed. I was also a victim."

"You're really something. I'm starting to admire you, but I hate leaving things unfinished. Since we're investigating, we should do it thoroughly. What do you think, Captain Liu?" Yang Jian said seriously.

"Of course."

Captain Liu nodded. "Take Manager Li back for investigation."

Two police officers immediately approached.

Manager Li was so scared that his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, more desperate than if he had encountered a ghost.

"Goodbye, caterpillar."

Yang Jian waved. "Take care. Don't blame me; I did nothing. You did this to yourself. Don't resent me when you get out in twenty years."

"Yang Jian, you bastard." Manager Li cried and cursed.

He never imagined the weight of the International Criminal Police.

He couldn't tell when he first met Zhou Zheng.

"Yang Jian, when you came out of the mall, do you know what's going on inside? Can you share any information? If it involves the International Criminal Police, never mind."

Captain Liu lowered his voice. "Recently, there have been many disappearances in the mall. I'm under a lot of pressure to solve the case. Please understand."

"Everyone who disappeared is inside the mall, but they are no longer human. The mall is now very dangerous. I suggest you immediately seal it off and not send anyone in. Otherwise, they won't come out. This case is under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Police. Zhou Zheng is dead, and the new officer hasn't arrived yet. I suggest you transfer the case to the new International Criminal Police when the time comes."

"In short, minimize unnecessary casualties."

Yang Jian suggested out of kindness.

"I understand." Captain Liu nodded, immediately grasping the situation.

He immediately ordered the officers to secure the area and cordon off the mall.

"I need to go back in to handle some matters. I won't disturb your investigation, Captain Liu," Yang Jian said.

Captain Liu smiled bitterly. "You're the one investigating; I'm just assisting."

After reviewing Yang Jian's file, he was convinced that Yang Jian was a member of the International Criminal Police.

"Yan Li, let's go. Follow me into the mall."

Yang Jian didn't waste time and immediately took action.

Yes, he had made up his mind.

This ghost should be caught.

He couldn't avoid it forever. This was a good opportunity, and he had to try.

"We have no choice. We must seize every opportunity, or we'll just be waiting to die," Yan Li said as he approached.

"Yes, we have no choice," Yang Jian looked at the dim mall.

The sky had already darkened.

At this moment, in the empty mall, Jiang Yan was hiding in the surveillance room on the fifth floor.

She didn't dare to go out or move around.

Because Liu Qiang's headless body was still kneeling on the ground, and his head was lying nearby.

If Yang Jian didn't come to get her, she would have to stay in the surveillance room.

"Why hasn't Yang Jian come back? How long has he been outside?" Jiang Yan watched the surveillance footage, her face filled with panic and fear.

Everyone who survived had been rescued, leaving only her.

She was afraid that Yang Jian was using her to make money and would abandon her in the end.

"Hey, Yang Jian, can you hear me? Hey."

Jiang Yan's voice was tinged with tears. "Come and save me. I've been so obedient; you can't abandon me."

"Stop crying. I'm still a kid and I haven't cried. You're an adult, and you're crying and making a fuss. You're not mature at all," Yang Jian's voice came from the phone.

"Did you find the true identity of the ghost? I'm coming to get you."

Hearing Yang Jian's words, Jiang Yan's tears turned to a smile, and she felt a great sense of relief. "I didn't find the ghost's true identity, but I saw that it first appeared in a clothing store on the fifth floor..."

The footage showed a clothing store.

The recording time was at night.

The store was closed, but at some point, a door inside the store slowly opened.

The footage showed a blurry shadow.

The shadow walked out and paused in front of a mirror. Then, the mannequins around it suddenly fell to the ground.

The shadow walked over and began disassembling the mannequins, taking their limbs and bodies, and reassembling them.

The reassembled mannequins were either too short or too small, and the shadow seemed unsatisfied.

It took over two hours to reassemble the mannequins.

All the mannequins in the store had been disassembled.

Finally, a two-meter-tall mannequin with a small body, long legs, and long arms was assembled, but it had no head.

However, the footage showed the shadow merging with the mannequin, and then the headless mannequin came to life.

It took the heads of other mannequins and placed them on its neck, but they didn't fit and rolled off.

The headless mannequin kept trying, and time passed. Unknowingly, it was already morning.

The store owners began to arrive at the mall to open their shops.

A female owner came to her clothing store.

The two-meter-tall mannequin stood motionless in front of the glass window.

As the female owner entered, the mannequin's head slowly turned to follow her...

It turned a full 180 degrees, and the head seemed to be unsuitable, so it fell off and rolled to the ground.

The female owner glanced back and then continued to tidy up the store.

As she turned around, the strange mannequin moved.

Its disproportionately long arms reached out from behind and grabbed the female owner...

"Was she the first victim?" Jiang Yan watched the footage, extremely tense.

"So, the ghost... is in that clothing store."