C29 The Gambling

The creaky old wooden door swung open, revealing Captain Wang's view of Xiao Hao, the cramped bedroom behind him, the walls tinged with yellowing paint, and a tiny bathroom, no more than two or three square meters, tucked into a corner.

The rental unit lacked a living room, let alone a kitchen. The main door opened directly into the bedroom, furnished with just a small table, a small chair, and a bed that occupied a third of the available space. There wasn't even an extra chair to offer a guest.

The time was just past noon, and in the sweltering heat of the afternoon, the bedroom offered no relief, lacking an air conditioner.

Captain Wang, on the verge of speaking, felt a sudden tightness in his chest, a rush of emotions that left him at a loss for words, choking back whatever he had intended to say.

The investigation had shown that Xiao Hao was an excellent student before he dropped out. Since then, he'd struggled in various jobs—selling insurance, working in sales, and as a business representative.

Was it really a lack of intelligence or eloquence?

No, that wasn't it.

The reason was an unspoken truth everyone knew.

Was he about to exploit Xiao Hao's goodness?

A pang of pain struck Captain Wang's heart.

He was a man in his forties, with a son about the same age. The thought of his own son enduring such hardships was unbearable.

Struggling to contain his emotions, Captain Wang reminded himself that all was for the sake of the Dragon Kingdom.

"Hello, Xiao Hao, I'm Wang Ho, the captain of the morning shift at the Criminal Police Squad," he introduced himself, extending his right hand.

Xiao Hao looked at the hand suspended in mid-air, hesitated briefly, but then shook it.

"Hello, I'm Xiao Hao. Captain Wang, you're here to discuss this morning's incident, aren't you? It's not really suitable to host everyone here. I know a coffee shop nearby; shall we talk there?" Xiao Hao suggested with an amiable smile.

Wang Ho nodded in agreement, "That sounds good."

Xiao Hao grabbed his phone, locked the door, and led the way downstairs. The narrow stairwell was silent, the team members following without a word.

En route, Xiao Hao had already reserved a private room through an app, and he led the team members straight into the secluded space.

Wang Ho had intended to order something, but the coffee had already arrived courtesy of the waiter.

"Everyone, you must try the signature drink here at this café—the Cappuccino Ice Coffee is excellent," he suggested.

Xiao Hao, who used to conduct business meetings here, had always enjoyed the atmosphere of the café. With expenses reimbursed, the price of the coffee was never a concern for him.

Wang Ho nodded at Xiao Hao's suggestion while subtly signaling to one of the team members with a wink.

The members of the Biao Bai Group were sharp; a mere glance from their captain was enough for them to catch on. "Excuse me, please continue your conversation. I need to use the restroom," the member said, excusing himself and carefully closing the door behind him.

With the door shut, Wang Ho sipped his coffee, signaling that it was time to delve into the heart of the matter.

Regaining his composure, Wang Ho set aside any unnecessary emotions and addressed Xiao Hao, "The 'Fear-Driven Survival Method' you mentioned this morning is quite intriguing. However, I have several questions I'm hoping you can clarify for me."

Xiao Hao's demeanor turned grave as he promptly responded, "Rest assured, Captain Wang, I'll be completely forthcoming."

"How is it that you remain so composed in the face of cockroaches? Most people would be terrified, yet you managed to confront a mutated cockroach without any prior training and stay cool under pressure."

Xiao Hao didn't rush to answer, nor did he launch into an explanation.

He knew that standing out too much in such moments could raise suspicions. Moreover, Xiao Hao could sense the trap in Captain Wang's words.

Terms like "calm and unperturbed" implied that Wang Ho believed Xiao Hao had some underlying confidence when dealing with cockroaches. Agreeing with Captain Wang's statement would certainly give him away.

Carefully choosing his words, Xiao Hao replied with feigned embarrassment, "Ah? To be honest, I was pretty scared at the time. But realizing the door was blocked and there was no escape, I had no choice but to bluff. I never expected it to actually work."

Captain Wang, who had a slew of questions ready, found his line of inquiry disrupted by Xiao Hao's apparent timidity.

With the initial trap skillfully avoided, the planned sequence of questioning was no longer viable.

Wang Ho had to pivot, approaching the issue from a different angle.

"When the cockroach ran into the corridor, scared off by you, it faced a group of armed police officers who weren't afraid of it. Why didn't the cockroach flee back the way it came? Did it perceive the danger behind it to be more terrifying than what was ahead?"

Xiao Hao had his response ready, yet he feigned confusion as he said, "How should I know? It's like when you're armed with slippers, ready to squash a cockroach. The bug might scurry away, or it might just crazily jump on you. I'm not a cockroach, so I can't fathom its thinking."

Wang Ho's brow creased slightly. Was Xiao Hao genuinely clueless, or was he just toying with him?

Wang Ho didn't ponder for long; if he mulled it over and halted his questioning, he'd only afford Xiao Hao more time to concoct a response.

"I heard from Liu He Gang that in his panic, he pushed you with all his might, yet couldn't budge you an inch. How come you're so physically robust?"

Before Xiao Hao could even respond, Wang Ho pressed on, his voice rising, "You're a player, aren't you?"

With those words, Wang Ho's gaze locked onto Xiao Hao, searching for any slip-up.

Xiao Hao, however, was ready for the abrupt grilling.

His pulse remained steady, not quickening with fear.

His resilience, honed in life-or-death situations, had developed at an extraordinary pace.

Usually, when people lie or feel cornered, they instinctively avert their eyes, unable to maintain eye contact.

But Xiao Hao met Wang Ho's gaze squarely, his expression one of bewilderment, tinged with shock and puzzlement.

Wang Ho's suspicion deepened. Could it be that Xiao Hao wasn't a player after all?

In a swift blink, he stole a glance at Xiao Hao's feet.

No odd predilections here; he was checking if Xiao Hao's toes were angled towards the door.

From his experience with many prisoners, he knew that in moments of fear or anxiety, a person's toes might unwittingly point towards an exit.

The door represented not just the way out of the secret room, but also the subconscious urge to flee.

Yet, Wang Ho found no issue with the direction of Xiao Hao's toes. Instead, he spotted a non-flaw flaw.

Xiao Hao's toes weren't aimed at the door, and since sitting down, his legs hadn't shifted once!

Looking up, Wang Ho noted Xiao Hao's hands were still clasping the coffee cup; his body had barely moved since their conversation began.

Why the stillness?

To prevent any body language from giving him away.

Wang He's attention was riveted on Xiao Hao's fingers, and a thought resurfaced in his mind: "The iced coffee is freezing, yet he clutches it persistently. Could it really be to mask any potential slip in his movements? If so, he's far more formidable than I anticipated."

What felt like an eternity was merely a matter of seconds.

True elites are not made with mere words.

Wang He's thoughts raced, operating at a speed several to dozens of times faster than the average person.

Xiao Hao appeared to catch on, deftly sidestepping the 'physical fitness' pitfall and lobbing the question back at Wang He with a hint of confusion in his voice. "I'm familiar with Chief Inspector Liu, but what do you mean by 'Players'? Are we talking about a game? If you're referring to 'Pesticide,' then yes, I'm certainly a player..."

As he spoke, Xiao Hao seemed to become aware of Wang He's intense scrutiny. He casually released the iced coffee from his grasp and rested his hand on his neck.

This subtle gesture significantly ramped up Wang He's pressure, giving him the eerie sense that he was dealing with a criminal mastermind.

He might have leveraged Xiao Hao's peculiar body language as a gateway to unearth his secrets, but Xiao Hao's simple act had defused it all.

The body language conveyed a different message: he wasn't holding onto the coffee cup to control his movements, but rather to seek relief from the heat.

The room was air-conditioned, yet even so, it was a perfectly reasonable excuse.

After some deliberation, Wang He opted to abandon his confrontational line of questioning in favor of a more heartfelt approach. He earnestly implored, "If you're a player, you must understand that the Dragon Kingdom won't harm you. On the contrary, they're committed to your development!"

Xiao Hao looked utterly baffled. "What player?"

"The Dragon Kingdom is dedicated to fostering players, enhancing their chances of survival, and freeing them from the constraints of material needs."

"What are you talking about?"

Still not convinced?

Wang He pressed on: "The Dragon Kingdom will even rectify any injustices players have endured!"

Xiao Hao's response was hesitant.

What good were these promises now?

Back when he was at his most vulnerable, even his teachers had favored the children with supportive parents. Now that he was empowered, this 'belated justice' was less valuable than dirt.

Xiao Hao saw the saying "Good and evil will be repaid; it's not that it won't happen, the time just hasn't come yet" as nothing more than a weak person's self-comfort.

An evil person could live a lifetime committing wrongs, basking in riches and glory, and only in their final years face a brutal punishment. Meanwhile, a good person might endure a lifetime of hardship, only to be understood and respected in their twilight years.

Is that fair?

If justice is delayed, then justice can go to hell.

Moreover, the justice that Xiao Hao was offered came with strings attached.

Xiao Hao chuckled, "You're making it sound quite appealing."

Wang Ho's lips curled into a smile, but before he could respond, his grin froze.

He had just heard Xiao Hao's next words.

"So what's this game about? I want in. The perks sound amazing!"

Just then, the guy who had gone to the restroom finally came back.

He shot Wang Ho a knowing look, and Wang Ho got the message.

The bill had already been settled.

They could have claimed expenses; the other party was undoubtedly aware of that.

Yet, they had insisted on paying first.

He was well aware of the other party's dire finances, but still, they paid up without hesitation.

Some people love to take advantage, while others refuse even when it's offered, not wanting to be in anyone's debt.

Wang Ho fell silent for a while, feeling a sense of weariness.

He realized that the other party had fallen out of love with the world.

Money, power, women – all were within easy reach for the other party.

But not only did they decline, they did so decisively.

He ventured cautiously, "The Dragon Kingdom will bring you justice, and not a single one of those bullies will get away."

"No need. It's been so long, I've already forgotten."

Wang Ho gazed deeply at Xiao Hao, who wasn't giving him an inch.

If forgetting were so easy, there wouldn't be so many plagued with psychological issues.

Psychologists have found that the mental scars of bullying often don't heal until one reaches their forties, and for some, the pain lasts a lifetime.

The other party was being too harsh on themselves.

When faced with injustice, people often dream of punishing the wrongdoer to ease their inner torment.

Yet when the chance was offered, the other party simply turned it away.

Was he allowing the pain to persist in his heart as a constant reminder to grow stronger?

Or perhaps he didn't want to be indebted to anyone, choosing instead to observe the impending chaos with indifference, without intervening.

Has the world extinguished the fire within him?

He arrived too late.

Even kindness can be eroded over time.

The other's kindness had long since been fortified, no longer vulnerable to exploitation.

Wang Ho rose to his feet, a touch of melancholy in his posture.

He was aware that today he would leave empty-handed.

It didn't matter if Xiao Hao was a player or not; he had no intention of joining the Dragon Pool.

His presence here was pointless.

"My questions are answered. Thank you for your hospitality."

Many failures stem from premature triumph.

Despite Captain Wang's warning, Xiao Hao remained vigilant, not allowing himself even a hint of relief, but instead offered a smile, "Captain Wang hasn't mentioned what the game is yet."

Even with his extensive experience, Wang Ho found Xiao Hao inscrutable.

With a hint of significance, Wang Ho stated, "You'll find out tomorrow."

As Wang Ho and his group departed, Xiao Hao subtly expressed his bewilderment.

The news had been building up all day; the game would be revealed tomorrow. This was why Wang Ho wasn't concerned about leaking any details.

Back in the business car, Wang Ho pondered but ultimately decided against removing Xiao Hao's name from the list of suspects.

He had no evidence to confirm that the individual was a player.

Yet, his instincts told him otherwise, and the feeling was unmistakable.

If the other party was reluctant, he couldn't press the issue.

After all, the players' interests aligned with those of the Dragon Pool, whether or not they chose to join.

The business car rolled out of the residential area, and from a window on the seventh floor, Xiao Hao watched it disappear, finally allowing himself to relax.