"Aside from the two bathtubs, what do you think of the two large pots in the kitchen and those two huge steamers?"

"This... Subordinate, I was careless!"

With Shen Hao’s reminder, Zhang Liao immediately realized it too. Zhao Chongwu lived alone—there was no need for two large wooden barrels, nor would he need two big pots. As for those massive steamers, they were even less likely to be found in an ordinary person’s kitchen.

Shen Hao was not very satisfied with Zhang Liao’s performance. Compared to Wang Jian, Zhang Liao’s mind was indeed not as quick. He could handle cases without much difficulty, but when it came to cases requiring high insight and imagination, he struggled clearly.

"Since Zhao Chongwu’s house has things a single man shouldn’t have, it shows our surveillance on him is necessary. Immediately, write to Hundred Households Tang in my name. Explain the current situation and ask if he can extend the temporary deployment of those seventy Hundred Households Guards in my Black Banner Battalion.

Also, inform the brothers below to get ready for a long-term operation in Fengri City. This case will probably still take quite some time."

"Yes, General Flag!"

Zhang Liao hurried off to make arrangements. The man might not be suited to leading investigations, but he was highly efficient when carrying out orders. What’s more, rumor had it he performed quite well on the battlefield. At least this gave Shen Hao a much clearer understanding of Zhang Liao’s abilities.

Refocusing his mind, Shen Hao turned his attention back to the case. This trip to Zhao Chongwu’s house had been quite productive. Although he hadn’t found the crime tools to directly nail down the perpetrator, he had unexpectedly discovered traces likely related to an "accomplice."

Two wooden barrels, two pots, two huge steamers.

These were clearly prepared by Zhao Chongwu for someone else. If Zhao Chongwu was the mastermind behind the series of missing cases, then this person so closely associated with him was very likely involved as well.

To dig deeper, Shen Hao had no choice but to abandon his original "conclude in five days" plan and prepare for a long-term stakeout instead.

As for the effects and trouble brought by the change in plan, Shen Hao didn’t need to worry for now. The three people who were already onboard—Tang Qingyuan, Jiang Cheng, and Chen Yiyun—would handle it for him.

According to Flying Dragon’s earlier surveillance records, Zhao Chongwu lived an extremely regular life. In the past ten days, he hadn’t been seen meeting any "friends" during his time off, nor had anyone come to visit him.

Even in the Population Department, his colleagues didn’t seem very friendly with Zhao Chongwu. Private interactions were nonexistent. The surveillance reports even noted that his colleagues often deliberately distanced themselves from him.

Living in a run-down place, cash-strapped, living an inflexible routine—such a man making it to squad leader was already bizarre. One could hardly expect him to earn his colleagues’ favor.

However, the very next day after Shen Hao personally took command in Fengri City, things changed—sooner and more unexpectedly than anyone had anticipated.

At night, a man who had no business being on West City Old Street knocked on Zhao Chongwu’s door. After cautiously confirming no one was following him, he entered the house, oblivious to the delighted eyes watching from the shadows.

The visitor was actually Zhan Wenlin!?

This Chief Officer of Fengri City’s Population Department was unexpectedly the very accomplice Shen Hao and his team had been searching for? No one had previously linked Zhan Wenlin with Zhao Chongwu; most suspected someone outside the Population Department, perhaps even an Evil Cultivator who provided Zhao Chongwu with various conveniences.

And why immediately judge that Zhan Wenlin was Zhao Chongwu’s accomplice? Simple. If it were a normal visit, he’d have just gone straight over. Why go through the trouble of dressing in dirty, coarse clothes, messing up his hair to look like some farmer from the fields? There was no need for such a disguise, was there?

No one knew what Zhan Wenlin and Zhao Chongwu discussed inside, but after only a cup of tea’s time, Zhan Wenlin came out again. Several Black Banner Battalion scouts, who had been secretly waiting outside, immediately tailed him away.

Soon after, one scout returned and reported: After Zhan Wenlin left West Street, he turned into a deserted alley, changed his clothes, tidied his hair, and then took a long detour before finally returning to his home on South City Tongzi Street.

Now Shen Hao was faced with two choices.

First, wait a little longer, and try to probe deeper into Zhan Wenlin’s background.

Alternatively, disregard all concerns and take immediate action—detain both Zhan Wenlin and Zhao Chongwu before they could react, and send them to the Interrogation Chamber to "loosen their tongues" and extract a confession.

Both choices had their pros and cons. The first could dig out as much as possible and avoid overlooking anything. The second could cut through the mess quickly and prevent new twists from emerging.

Which to choose?

Shen Hao didn’t hesitate long—he chose the first: to wait and see.

But waiting didn’t mean idling. Now that the case had cracked wide open, the investigation process had entered its final stage. Zhao Chongwu couldn’t escape; nor could Zhan Wenlin. Yet, as the Senior Sixth Grade Chief Officer of Fengri City’s Population Department, simply suspecting Zhan Wenlin wasn’t enough; they needed solid evidence—not only to avoid giving people cause for gossip, but also for soundness.

At present, Shen Hao felt that everything was still under control. Being cautious was his greatest concern.

That night, Wang Jian, having traveled all the way from Yu City, finally hurried into Shen Hao’s temporary command post. On one hand, the urgency of the case had pushed him to rush over right after getting what he needed in Yu City; on the other hand, he didn’t want to miss out on firsthand involvement in such a major case—this would be a rare addition to his record.

"General Flag, I found Zhao Chongwu’s family at a hamlet called Little Water Bay outside Yu City. Per his records in the Government Office’s Document Library, he has a wife, two children, and an elderly mother, but that’s just on the surface. In reality, it’s all fake."

"Fake? What do you mean by fake?"

"Zhao Chongwu’s so-called family are actually hired actors. The old woman is actually a refugee from Jingbei; Zhao Chongwu took her in eight years ago, settled her in Little Water Bay, and called her his mother in public.

Zhao Chongwu’s wife is also a refugee, originally from Jingnan. The two kids are orphans this woman picked up along her way. Five years ago, Zhao Chongwu took the three of them in and brought them to Little Water Bay to live with the old woman—claiming publicly they were his wife and children.

The locals at Little Water Bay have no idea what Zhao Chongwu actually does. They only know he moved there eight years ago and is often out earning money elsewhere. They don’t know anything else.

In fact, in Little Water Bay, Zhao Chongwu’s family and the neighbors hardly interact at all; they keep entirely to themselves. As for their expenses—they are indeed being supported by the silver coins Zhao Chongwu sends back. They don’t live extravagantly, but they get by quite comfortably."