Free Web NovelChapter 2484: Chapter 2548: Labeling
Their position was just at the top of the stairs on the second floor, turning the corner. According to the plan, the SWAT team was ready with door-breaking hammers, gunners and assault team in position. Once the door was breached, they were to fire tear gas inside, engage in physical intervention, and then the assault team would rush in to rescue the hostages, with the gunners ready to shoot to eliminate threats.
But just as they reached the door and hadn’t had time to set up, they saw the meeting room door open. The door was a double door, quite wide, and the people outside were shocked. A few SWAT members with masks on their heads were stunned, and the nearby gunner instinctively raised his gun to aim at the people inside.
"What the hell!" The officer who opened the door was shocked, not expecting such a scene outside; he originally wanted to be helpful by opening the door...
The SWAT team leader also saw this, his eyes widened, and muttered, "What’s going on?"
Wang Gang was also taken aback and asked, "Why did you open the door?"
"Chief Wang, you’re here, come in quickly." The officer naturally recognized Wang Gang and quickly greeted him.
"What’s going on inside? Have you controlled the suspects?" Wang Gang asked.
"Uh, no... no suspects, Chief Wang, you can come in, tell the brothers to put down their weapons, it’s too tense!" the officer said.
Wang Gang hesitated for a moment; his people should not lie, but things didn’t seem as expected. Then he heard the SWAT team leader ask, "Wasn’t it said that suspects took guns and hostage hostages?"
"That’s not true, the gun... was lost, but no one took hostages, Chief Wang, Captain, you’ll know when you come in." The officer couldn’t explain clearly with a few words, so he stepped aside, and Wang Gang looked inside. He saw a row of officers standing, which puzzled him even more.
However, it seemed not dangerous, so Wang Gang nodded, tugged at the hem of his coat, and stepped inside. The SWAT team leader held his gun ready for any emergencies and followed him inside. Once they entered, they could see the layout of the meeting room clearly.
An ordinary-looking man sat boldly on one side of the meeting room. The officers stood on both sides, with two more officers sitting. Wang Gang immediately recognized who they were; one was an instructor and the other a police officer from the bureau. Both were bruised, undoubtedly the ones beaten. His face sank, thinking even he was here, yet the family member of the patient still sat there arrogantly, so damn brazen.
"Chief... Chief Wang." A group of officers greeted.
"Hmm!" Wang Gang asserted his authority, as he was indeed a chief, keeping his stature before his subordinates. Seeing the beleaguered instructor, Wang Gang frowned and said, "What’s going on? Can’t you even handle this situation?"
Damn it, if you’re so capable, why don’t you handle it yourself? Though the instructor’s rank wasn’t low, it couldn’t compare to Wang Gang’s, so he couldn’t curse back directly. Even filled with self-perceived grievances, he still managed to grin, which turned into a grimace because many places in his mouth were damaged, making it impossible to speak.
Wang Gang sprayed rough air out of his nose, unwilling to question him further, and directly walked to the meeting table, staring at Li Yifei a few meters away who remained unresponsive, and directly asked, "Is it you causing trouble here?"
Li Yifei seemed lost in another world, his eyes dazed, slightly turning his head to look out the window, which naturally had nothing outside, merely indicating his disregard for the chief, oh, the sub-bureau chief.
From this man’s behavior since he arrived, Li Yifei knew this guy was biased. Clearly, the instructor had explained the original situation, yet this guy seemed unaware, so he was biased and had a bad attitude. Thus, Li Yifei naturally had no reason to show him a good face.
Seeing Li Yifei ignoring him, Wang Gang gritted his teeth, placed his hand on the table, tapped, and said, "I’m talking to you. You’d better cooperate, I’m the sub-bureau chief of the new development district, enough rank to dialogue with you, right?"
Li Yifei turned his head back and gave him a calm glance, as if seeing Wang Gang for the first time.
"Your family member broke their leg and needs compensation, which can be discussed, but don’t cause trouble; now it’s gotten worse, you’ve hit officers, and these two are seriously injured. Assaulting police is a serious crime, plus you took a gun, which is an even grave sin, so I advise you not to resist stubbornly and come back to the bureau with us," Wang Gang said sternly. He’d been chief for years, naturally carrying some official authority, though unfortunately, he was biased.
Li Yifei looked at him coldly and said, "Is this the level of speech from a chief?"
"You!" Wang Gang was choked. Initially wanting to speak decently, but with such attitude from the other party, he didn’t bother wasting words further, slapped the table and shouted, "If you don’t eat the toast, you’ll be forced; people, take him down."
Once he spoke, the officers in the room still didn’t move; those moving were the SWAT team behind. The instructor intended to stop it but couldn’t speak and suddenly thought pulling down another might not be bad, so he simply shut up.
With him silent, no one else spoke up, and a SWAT team approached Li Yifei.
Li Yifei tapped the table and said, "Wait, I have a few questions."
"There’s nothing to ask. You either surrender or let us take you in!" Wang Gang, thinking the other party was about to give in, immediately got angry.
Li Yifei chuckled lightly, shook his head, and said, "I thought you had more tricks up your sleeve, but it’s just this."
"Kid, are you done yet?" Wang Gang asked angrily, eyes wide open.
"Mr. Chief, do you really understand the situation?" Li Yifei tilted his head, glanced at the approaching SWAT officers, and said, "You’d better not make a move first. Wait for the chief to give the order."
"Nonsense, you attacked the police, seized a gun, and caused trouble first. What’s there to say?" Wang Gang replied.
Hearing this, Li Yifei shook his head, looked at the instructor, and said, "Repeat what you just said on the phone to this chief. I think his memory is poor; he can’t recall what just happened, which is not very good!"
"This..." The instructor immediately felt awkward, showing a troubled face... let’s call it troubled, as half of his face was swollen, making his appearance quite unsightly.
"Go ahead, I can lessen your offense a bit," Li Yifei said.
"Enough, are you done yet? We’re all here to watch you show off? Kid, I’ve been a cop for many years, seen all types, and you want to mess with me? I’m telling you, it won’t work!"
"You’re wrong. I’m not showing off to you," Li Yifei shook his head and denied.
"Pretending won’t work either," Wang Gang said.
Li Yifei laughed heartily, still leaning back in his chair, tilting his head back, and said, "I don’t need to pretend in front of you. I’m just here to ask for justice, to ask your new development zone, your city leaders, whether there’s justice here. If not, I can help establish it. Instead of letting dirty maggots like you run rampant!"
The SWAT team leader had a grim face. He wasn’t stupid. Having been on many missions, he’d seen desperados and arrogant ones, but none as composed as this. With a full sense of confidence, it seemed the situation wasn’t simple. So, he discreetly signaled the SWAT officers closing in to pause and wait for his command, as he was their boss, not Wang Gang.
With the signal, the SWAT officers immediately stopped.
Wang Gang clenched his fist. He hadn’t known Li Yifei to be so arrogant before. Feeling this now, he held back for a few seconds and said, "Arrogant and ignorant, slandering government officials, you have one more crime!"
"You’re good at putting labels, but sadly not rigorous enough!" Li Yifei said.
"Huh!" Over the years, Wang Gang seldom got so annoyed by others. He exhaled forcefully, looked at the SWAT officers on both sides, and ordered, "Take him down immediately. If he resists, shoot him on the spot!"
The SWAT officers hesitated for a moment, their first reaction was to look back at the SWAT team leader. Seeing he had no reaction, they didn’t move either,
Li Yifei had just noticed the gesture and guessed that the others were not on the same side, which didn’t matter anyway. After all, even if they did act, Li Yifei could handle it instantly.
"What do you mean?" Wang Gang turned and looked at the SWAT team leader, who remained expressionless and said, "I think the situation is not simple. You seemed to make a lot of holes when talking upstairs. Shouldn’t we understand the case before arresting anyone? Communication is so advanced these days. I’m worried we’ll catch the wrong person, and if the media finds out, we’ll be in trouble."
"Don’t you believe me?" Wang Gang frowned. Damn, an unknown little guy dared to defy and mock me, and now you too are defying orders?
"Wang Bureau, you’re joking. It’s not a matter of disbelief, just being cautious isn’t wrong. Besides, he can’t run away." The SWAT team leader still maintained a serious expression, explaining a bit stiffly, but Li Yifei had a much better impression of him. He had a military demeanor, suggesting he might have been a veteran transitioning to civilian life.
"You... arrest him and investigate at the bureau. What’s the point of doing it here?" Wang Gang’s expression softened a bit, but he was already extremely dissatisfied. I asked you to help, but now you’re adding trouble for me. Damn it, do you think you can be arrogant because you think I can’t control you?
The SWAT team leader exchanged a glance with Li Yifei, felt a stir in his heart, shook his head and said, "Wang Bureau, since we’re here, it’s never wrong to listen. Rest assured, if he’s guilty, I’ll be responsible for arresting him. What’s wrong with that?"
"You’re being unreasonable!" Wang Gang threatened. "This matter is personally ordered by District Chief Yue to promptly control the rioter to prevent escalation. What’s your point in delaying?"
The SWAT team leader shook his head, saying, "Since District Chief Yue personally ordered it, we should be more cautious. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be failing his trust?"
