"What exactly happened?" Commissioner He stood abruptly, demanding answers.
"Zhang Huaming and the others were attacked last night. They were bitten by unidentified venomous insects and are currently in the city hospital," his aide reported in one breath.
"Venomous insects? Was this intentional?" Commissioner He immediately thought of the attack on Chen Jincheng, where the assailant had used a similar method.
"It has to be him," the Deputy Commissioner muttered, his eyes flickering with realization. After a pause, he asked, "Were any of the other officers from the drug raid affected?"
"No, the others are fine. It’s only our people who were targeted," the aide explained, which was precisely why he had rushed to report it. This was clearly aimed at them as retaliation from Russell.
It was evident that Russell wasn’t just the ordinary worker his records suggested. With a powerful bodyguard and an unknown background, he was more formidable than they had anticipated.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have managed to target Commissioner He so precisely, let alone identify those involved in apprehending him.
If his aide could piece this together, surely someone in He’s position could as well.
"What about Zhang Huaming's injuries?" Commissioner He asked, his voice hoarse.
"The perpetrator hasn't been found. We tried tracing any leads overnight, but there were no signs of forced entry at their homes. It's very strange."
The aide hesitated before continuing, "As for their injuries, they aren’t life-threatening, but because of where they were bitten—it’s similar to Mr. Chen's case from before—it will take at least a year for a full recovery, if at all."
"Whoo," Commissioner He exhaled sharply. This bizarre method was indeed shocking, particularly since it targeted men’s most sensitive areas, which would send chills down any man's spine.
A few small bites in such sensitive spots were more than just minor wounds. Imagine the agony if any tension caused the wounds to reopen.
"Could he be one of those legendary Miao practitioners, controlling venomous insects?" the aide speculated.
"It's possible. This matter is becoming quite troublesome." Commissioner He realized he had likely provoked a formidable opponent, feeling a deep sense of unease.
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"Regardless, treat this as a top priority case and allocate more resources to apprehend the culprit." At this point, that was his only option. Capture Russell, and no matter how strange his methods, they'd be rendered useless.
"Yes, Commissioner," the aide responded, standing at attention. Once he left, He’s expression grew increasingly stern. The prospect of endless retaliation loomed large.
If a powerful police commissioner like him was intimidated by such tactics, he would be unworthy of his position. He thought it over and made a call, which was quickly connected.
"Hello, I need Black Bear."
"Who are you?"
"You don't need to know. Just tell him someone named He is looking for him." Without further explanation, He hung up.
Soon enough, his line rang. Picking up the phone, He gave detailed instructions before slamming down the receiver. He refused to believe that with both legal and underworld avenues at his disposal, Russell could evade capture. As long as Russell caused trouble in the area, He would unearth him.
No matter what mysterious powers Russell might wield, they would have to bow before the might of authority.
Commissioner He felt somewhat reassured after exhausting all his resources. He decided to stay in his office, convinced Russell wouldn't dare confront him directly. He also had all his office windows and doors reinforced with thick, tempered glass, confident that unless Russell controlled something as extraordinary as an alien, those little insects couldn't possibly threaten him.
Yet, he was in for a shock. The following evening, when his aide once again rushed in, He knew things had escalated.
"What? They were bitten again? And in the same place? I ordered officers to guard them, didn't I? What do you mean they fell asleep on duty? Worthless!" He’s frustrations boiled over. Despite using every available resource, he had failed to root out Russell, and his men were attacked once more.
Was this another warning? He hadn’t felt such anger in years and vowed to double the watch, ensuring 24-hour protection. He was determined to stop the attacks.
As for Chen Jincheng, the main target?
He found it strange that Chen remained unscathed while his own men continued to suffer. Was Russell biding his time before targeting Chen directly?
By the third day, Russell was still nowhere to be found, but the police station was in a state of growing panic. The situation had escalated.
If the first two days were about using insects to harm them, the third day introduced venomous creatures into the mix. According to doctors, it was still unclear how they had been poisoned.
Commissioner He visited the hospital and was chilled by his subordinates' pale, fearful faces.
This time, Russell had struck in broad daylight, yet the officers on watch had noticed nothing. The victims’ conditions deteriorated simultaneously, marked by symptoms of vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, and nausea—clear signs of poisoning. The hospital struggled to manage the symptoms but had yet to find an effective treatment.
His men were on the verge of physical and mental collapse, constantly fearing more attacks. What if the situation worsened on the fourth day? What about deadly poisons or other terrifying methods?
It felt like an invisible devil's hand was pressing down on everyone involved.
On the fourth day, the expected escalation arrived, but this time it involved a prominent figure, someone even He relied on.
"Chen Zhuonan was involved?"
"Yes, he's dead," his aide confirmed with a trembling nod.
Despite staying in the police station, never venturing out, He was hit by the news.
With a loud clatter, the document in his hand fell to the floor. He stood frozen, overwhelmed by a fear he could no longer suppress.