After ending the call, Ma Ban didn’t waste any time.

He meticulously inventoried the murderer's belongings, recording everything in his notebook.

Staring at his notes, Ma Ban frowned slightly. “I understand the cash and gold, but why the black beads?”

He knew little about black beads, only that they were residue from burning evil corpses.

Ma Ban frowned. “I’ve never heard of them having any special value.”

He still had doubts, but since someone was buying them, he decided to have his men investigate.

“A hundred pounds is a lot. Are they related to the ritual, or…”

Ma Ban, with his sharp mind, connected this to the crushed ritual pattern in the school storeroom. He made a mental note to investigate the black beads later.

Ma Ban continued, “So, the encounter with Blond and Red wasn’t a coincidence.”

He picked up the list and looked at Ivy’s information again, noting that she’d started working at the incinerator after dropping out.

“Blond and Red were watching Ivy and appeared near the incinerator.”

“The murderer might be buying black beads and also appeared near the incinerator.”

“Perhaps the murderer even bought black beads from the incinerator workers.”

“A coincidence. Blond and Red’s actions were noticed by the murderer, who then contacted me. Pretending to be Ivy was probably an impulsive decision, hence the clumsiness.”

Ma Ban connected the clues, suspecting that if they immediately brought Ivy in for questioning, they might discover more information about the murderer.

Of course, Ma Ban didn’t suspect Ivy’s involvement. He simply thought the murderer might have bought black beads from her, and she might have seen the killer.

The moment this thought appeared, Ma Ban dismissed it.

“I can’t touch Ivy. Even after Blond and Red’s deaths, I shouldn’t send anyone else. The murderer might suspect I’m investigating her, and she might retaliate.”

Ma Ban was highly suspicious and assumed everyone else was the same. He thought the murderer might be secretly observing him from nearby, testing to see if he’d investigate Ivy.

“So, Ivy’s name was a decoy, a trap,” Ma Ban thought, sneering. “A cunning individual.”

Ma Ban crossed Ivy’s name off the suspect list.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

He licked his dry lips and thought darkly, “There are still fifty suspects on the list, enough to get the precinct’s attention. Removing a precinct officer’s family member is just removing a small piece of fuel. The fire will still burn brightly.”

The only problem was that his plan was set for seven days later—he was going to provoke Zheng Si into taking action.

He’d laid the groundwork. Once the deadline arrived, he would present the list, claiming he couldn't find the murderer and had only narrowed it down to fifty suspects.

Then, he’d play the victim, blaming Deputy Captain Li Xiang for obstructing the investigation.

He would add fuel to the fire, ensuring that Zheng Si, fueled by alcohol and grief, would lose control and order his men to abduct and interrogate the suspects, using brutal methods to find his son’s killer.

Zheng Si would die honorably, allowing Ma Ban to step up and take control of the situation, using Zheng Si’s death to forge a closer relationship with Li Xiang.

Although he might suffer some physical pain during the apology, the rewards far outweighed the cost.

Ma Ban believed his plan was flawless. The key figures in the precinct were following his script.

What he hadn't anticipated was the unexpected arrival of the real killer, throwing his carefully laid plans into disarray.

In Ma Ban's plan, the actual murderer was irrelevant—it was merely a tool. How could this unexpected intrusion force him to change the script?

Ma Ban was furious, feeling forced to improvise and accelerate the entire operation.

His carefully planned actions had been disrupted, forcing him to react hastily.

As for moving the entire plan forward by seven days…

Ma Ban wouldn't make such a foolish mistake. A stew needs time to simmer; rushing the process wouldn’t produce a good result.

It’s like going to the toilet—waiting until the last minute is different from going right away. Ma Ban understood Zheng Si. Although he was angry and killing women, he still maintained a degree of control; he wasn’t completely out of control.

The situation wasn’t critical yet. The death of an underling was just the beginning.

He still needed to wait a week. Unfortunately, the murderer’s intrusion forced Ma Ban to act sooner than planned.

He was afraid someone might interfere.

No one would believe a murderer would be so cooperative.

“Fine. There’s nothing to be gained from overthinking. There’s no turning back now. I’ll use someone else to announce the abduction of the fifty suspects to Zheng Si and the gang.”

Ma Ban forced down his anxiety and devised a solution.

Although Ma Ban hadn't passed the college entrance exam, his martial arts aptitude was exceptional, and he had always been a voracious reader.

Therefore, he knew that this action, in ancient times, was called “forging an imperial edict.”

“And I’ve already placed someone to carry out this action beside Boss Zheng, haven’t I?” Ma Ban muttered, a cruel smile playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming.

He wouldn’t act today. He needed two days to make final preparations.

Knock knock knock…

“Brother Ban, Deputy Captain Li Xiang is here again,” a grim-faced Qian Hao reported.

Ma Ban’s face darkened. His suppressed anger flared up again.

He sneered. “They both want to devour the Qinglang Gang. One wants to strike a decisive blow, the other wants to take a little each day, making us their long-term meal ticket.”

Qian Hao shared his hatred. He was startled. “What do you mean, another one?”

"So my plan to rise to the top is to satisfy two wolves? I’m just chasing an illusion," Ma Ban thought resentfully, forcing a smile.

Greed was his best weapon!

Only through greed could he incite them to fight each other, paving the way for him to seize power.

Ma Ban went to meet Li Xiang, instructing Qian Hao before leaving, “Go to the black market and find the black bead dealer. Once you find…”

Ma Ban handed Qian Hao a check, then patted the knife at his waist, whispering instructions.