Free Web NovelChapter 2395: Chapter 2387: Framing
At the same time Feng Jun put down the energy stone, someone issued an alert ten kilometers away, "Something’s happening at Hesheng’s storage yard!"
Hesheng’s covert transportation of energy stones had already been reported upwards, and the response from above was quite normal: observe first, ensure conclusive evidence before taking action, and avoid acting rashly.
After all, this enterprise is too powerful, and its influence is too extensive.
The official government even had other thoughts—after securing conclusive evidence, they could use it to threaten Hesheng, demanding cooperation.
It’s true that their ultimate goal wasn’t to trouble Hesheng, but to trace back and identify the source of the energy stones.
Just targeting Hesheng alone, even if they confiscate the entire company, what impact would it really have on the current situation?
The official government thus quietly enhanced surveillance, avoiding glaringly visible drones, and installed cameras on treetops around the production base, providing all-round monitoring.
However, Hesheng had chosen a vast location for confidentiality, so the cameras were far from the core of the production base and more than three kilometers from the yard, making night-time surveillance less effective.
When Feng Jun placed the energy stone, he used the Art of Concealment, which significantly reduced infrared and life magnetic field characteristics, so the cameras couldn’t capture clearly.
Feng Jun himself overlooked this point, assuming he only needed to guard against Hesheng’s cameras on their turf, not realizing there were official government cameras in the distance.
When he discovered a camera adjusting its lens, without a second thought, he Blinked and started searching for nearby cameras again.
On inspection, he noticed that several cameras appeared newly installed, likely not placed by Hesheng.
"Sigh," Feng Jun sighed lightly, pulled out his laser pistol and fired several shots, destroying all cameras, then Blinked back to the yard, sweeping away the energy stones in an instant and left swiftly.
His laser gun was a common infantry weapon, not very powerful, but enough to alert Hesheng’s security personnel.
As they inspected everywhere, Feng Jun had already left and he dialed He Runxian on the handset, "Director He, about those newly added cameras... do you have any explanation?"
"Cameras, what cameras?" He Runxian was bewildered directly, "There weren’t any cameras recently installed at the base. I’ve actually stopped quite a few installations. What do you mean by this?"
"Newly installed," Feng Jun asserted confidently, "I just destroyed them... The deposit cannot be paid now. I need an explanation, and if you can’t give me one, I won’t mind giving you one!"
"Hold on, I’ll look into it," He Runxian hurriedly replied, "Please keep your communication channel open, and I’ll provide a response quickly."
Once he contacted security, they had already confirmed that someone fired several shots with a laser pistol earlier. The personnel were searching for the individual—although these shots were trivial during wartime control, recklessly firing isn’t advisable.
Clearly, it wasn’t a major concern compared to the Flames of Flame Beetle.
Upon hearing that the broker was right, He Runxian became anxious, "Analyze the trajectory of those laser shots and identify the target. I need results within ten minutes!"
"Ten minutes is a bit rushed," the security personnel expressed difficulty, "Trajectory analysis takes time, needs positioning, and we must consider risks... It’s said there’s a drill tonight."
The drill is actually He Runxian’s arrangement for transporting energy stones; since unrelated personnel can’t know, everyone refers to this action as a "drill."
"Then make it five minutes!" Director He replied without hesitation, "Mobilize all hands; the drill will likely be canceled because of these shots, and I must quickly give an account to certain people!"
The security chief, being a confidant of the He family, understood instantly, "Okay, five minutes."
Within five minutes, the mobilized security personnel found three damaged cameras, and they could basically identify the model. He Runxian received the news first and realized whose scapegoat he was being.
The technology level of these cameras is extremely high, and even the police don’t have the procurement authority. It could only be military involvement.
This discovery made him uneasy, even neglecting to contact Feng Jun immediately, wanting a well-devised plan to relieve pressure from both directions simultaneously.
However, before he had time to execute anything, the newest update came, Hesheng’s security personnel collided with the City Defense Army’s patrol—generally considered local armed forces, during wartime they are commanded by the military, but the local official government can issue commands too.
In these circumstances, Hesheng’s security personnel couldn’t defy patrol orders. The patrol indicated that the destroyed cameras were part of the Skynet Defense System, alarming the security personnel.
—We’re indeed not qualified to know all Skynet monitoring points, but these cameras were clearly newly set up and surrounding our production base, what are you trying to do?
The patrol was unclear about the higher-ups’ intentions, but their orders were to thoroughly investigate Hesheng and find the culprit behind the damaged cameras.
Indeed, the upper management intended to fish, but having all the cameras destroyed instantly, making no response would risk being underestimated.
For now, upper management wasn’t convenient to step forward, notifying the patrol was the most usual reaction.
The security personnel expressed apologies, claiming ignorance about the camera destruction and ongoing investigation.
Both parties were slightly agitated, and the patrol was about to arrest personnel, when He Runhua rushed over upon receiving the news.
Given his status, rushing over late at night was unlikely, especially during wartime with strict checks, the possibility of uncleaned Insect Race appearing, such a prominent figure could simply command remotely, avoiding such risk.
However, only He Runxian understood the hardship, he quickly mediated, advised cooperation, warned against needless confrontation in critical times.
The patrol executed wartime regulations, but facing Hesheng’s second-in-command locally, couldn’t just flip—investigation orders targeted camera destroyers, not Hesheng.
Thus someone reported the situation upwards, asking how to proceed?
Not long after, a platoon leader of the patrol arrived, directly asked Director He if they could talk privately?
"I have nothing to discuss, I wasn’t at the scene," He Runhua directly refused, "Negotiate well with our security personnel, we’re willing to cooperate, facing the great enemy Insect Race, we must stand united."
Finished speaking, he unexpectedly turned and left in the car.
Frankly speaking, the platoon leader wasn’t really qualified to contact him, but in wartime, such people were the least offensive, though seemingly insignificant, they held true authority, crucially wielding soldiers.
Yet, He Runxian had to leave, not wanting the broker to misjudge his role in this matter, and he guessed the platoon leader’s intention, so he preferred no contact.
The platoon leader proposed wanting to search the production base, to verify if the shooter ran inside, but Hesheng’s security handed over laser trajectory analysis, showing the shooter wasn’t within the production base when firing.
"Not inside? We must search to be sure," the platoon leader was firm in attitude, "You must cooperate unconditionally."
His reason was solid, wartime regulations were powerful, no search warrant required.
However, Hesheng wasn’t just any enterprise; they held core technology, with significant commercial value.
Both sides argued for a long time, finally local official government mediated, suggesting waiting until daylight for a search warrant, bringing experts for inspection—at least knowing what areas to search and not to search.
Local officials surely came from the He family, though the reasoning was adequate, so the patrol guarded outside the base overnight.
After returning home, He Runxian contacted Feng Jun, explaining the situation, estimating they had been targeted.
Feng Jun accepted this explanation, in fact, his Divine Sense saw the disputes between the patrol and security, but he couldn’t help complaining, saying their operations were careless.
He Runxian disagreed, retorting, asking why he assumed their actions were careless?
Perhaps his side experienced the oversight, and blaming him now was pointless, solving the issue promptly was the right approach.
Feng Jun was confident no oversight occurred on his side, but currently explaining further held no value, couldn’t delineate details.
Determining it wasn’t He family’s mischief relieved him, solving the issue remained crucial!
Thus, he indicated, planning communication tomorrow. If successful, continued business could occur with the family, if not, it’s over.
The next day, those arriving for the search comprised few soldiers, instead experts and leaders in majority, including a young intelligence department major, coldly observing, eyes sharp.
Upon reaching the yard for inspection, since the security conducted a swift cleanup overnight, virtually all energy stone fragments were cleared.
The young major suddenly bent down while walking, uttering a light "Hmm," "Hmm, what’s this?"
As he straightened up, a fragment about one centimeter in diameter, dark blue in color, appeared in his hand.
"Bewitching Butterfly Scale Fragment!" An expert exclaimed softly, perplexed in eyes, "Have we...had any Bewitching Butterflies nearby recently?"
"As far as I know, none," the intelligence major shook his head, speaking calmly, then looked at He Runxian, "As to why it’s here, perhaps Director He can explain a bit?"
