(Quick Transmigration) Even If You Become an Animal, You Still Have to Serve an Iron Rice Bowl - Chapter 22

Chapter 22:

The factory was bustling with people moving back and forth. With Skinny Monkey holding the rope, Shen Qiu stayed close to his feet as they walked.

The wide open space made it easy to see who was doing what at a glance.

Without drawing attention, Shen Qiu quietly recorded everything on the camera.

Meanwhile, the police had already contacted the armed forces for a three-way joint operation.

“Captain, we’ve confirmed the layout. The only escape route behind the mountain is by water. The armed police forces have already been deployed to block the river.”

Qin Yan looked at the map and nodded. “Have Team One disguise themselves as tourists and drive in. Whatever you do, don’t alert the sentries outside.”

“Understood.”

Their escort led Shen Qiu and the others deep into the factory. In the middle of the crowd was a single chair with a man sitting in it.

The guide, who had been extremely arrogant earlier, was now utterly subdued with an ingratiating smile.

“Boss, we’ve brought them. These are the contacts from Haishi.”

The man addressed as “Boss” lifted his head. A long scar ran across his face, starting from his left eye down to his right jaw. 

He didn’t seem to care about the wound at all and made no attempt to hide it. The damaged eye was nothing more than a lump of scarred flesh.

He used his one remaining eye to scan Old Five and Skinny Monkey, then his gaze landed on Shen Qiu.

That sharp, blood-tinged stare made Shen Qiu instinctively lower his head, angling his collar to hide the camera. He was afraid the man might spot it.

Even though it was only a glance, those watching the video feed recognized the man’s face immediately.

Yang Yue quickly hit pause. “Captain! Doesn’t this guy look familiar?”

Qin Yan frowned and stared for a moment before his pupils constricted.

“Boss Bai. The drug lord who was wanted two years ago. I thought he died overseas.”

The task force was stunned.

Two years ago, Boss Bai had smuggled a massive amount of narcotics into the country, causing more than two hundred deaths from overdoses. 

He was placed on the most-wanted list, with a bounty of one hundred million yuan. But he’d slipped away, vanishing abroad.

A year ago, rumors spread that he’d overdosed and died in a foreign country. No one could confirm it, but the warrant had never been withdrawn.

And now, he was hiding right here, in a remote mountain village.

Qin Yan didn’t have time to think. He immediately called the bureau chief.

Back inside, Boss Bai’s gaze flicked off Shen Qiu, and he spoke.

“Talk. What’s the situation in Haishi?”

Old Five mustered up his courage. “Boss, don’t worry, everything’s fine. Even though Old K’s contact point was found by the cops, the Heaven and Earth Club is still running smoothly.”

“Is that so…”

Boss Bai’s tone turned cold.

“Then what about the experiment results? Half a month ago, you bought a batch of my goods at a low price. I told you I didn’t want money, only results. But after half a month, you’ve brought me nothing. And you call that smooth?”

His voice was low and menacing, sending chills down their spines.

“B–Boss, please let us explain. It’s just that Old K wouldn’t cooperate. He insisted on reporting to you personally once he had results. We couldn’t force him, right?”

Old Five looked pitiful.

Boss Bai’s expression grew darker. “Useless trash! If Old K won’t give it to you, what about your own men? Don’t tell me you’ve only got him as a contact in Haishi! Do you believe I won’t blow your brains out right now?”

He drew a pistol from his coat and aimed it at Old Five’s head.

Both men’s legs gave out, and they dropped to their knees in terror.

The rope tied to Shen Qiu slipped free and fell. Shen Qiu glanced at it, then slowly crouched down and curled up, quietly dragging the rope under his paws.

“Boss! Please, give us one more chance! It’s the cops’ fault! Somehow they’ve been right on our trail every time! Boss, maybe there’s a mole inside. Give us a chance and we’ll find the rat for you!”

The word “mole” instantly caused the crowd’s expressions to change.

Boss Bai cursed. “Shut up! Tell me everything that’s happened this past half month!”

Relieved to have survived, Old Five hurriedly began explaining.

From his words, Shen Qiu learned that Zhang Jibo and the original owner of Qiuqiu were both buyers from this very man. Which meant the two captured dealers he mentioned before were the same ones Shen Qiu had personally taken down.

What a coincidence. Shen Qiu shot Old Five a glance, thinking that if the man knew his first subordinate was caught because of him, he’d probably want to tear him apart.

While his mind wandered, Boss Bai suddenly interrupted.

“Wait. You said you found this cat in the truck? Have you seen this cat back at the villa?”

Old Five froze. “No… But it’s a villa district. It’s normal to see cats like this there.”

Boss Bai still wasn’t convinced. That single eye fixed on Shen Qiu, making his fur stand on end.

Shen Qiu’s heart sank. He didn’t know what detail had triggered the man’s suspicion.

He grabbed the rope in his mouth and chewed on it, pretending to play.

But Boss Bai’s sense of unease only deepened.

A villa district was full of people and suddenly, out of nowhere, a purebred cat appeared. It not only sat openly in the back of a truck, but it also didn’t run when approached?

If he knew anything about cats, he’d spot the flaw right away.

Cats were cautious creatures. Even injured, they’d drag themselves to a dark corner to hide, not sit in plain sight on a truck.

And a cat this big…how could strangers have brought it all the way here so easily?

He didn’t understand cats, but his instincts screamed danger.

“Go. Get rid of that cat.”

The sudden order made Old Five and Skinny Monkey flinch.

“Boss, it’s just a cat. I heard it’s worth a lot—”

Boss Bai’s face turned vicious. “And you brought a cat with an unknown origin here? What if it leads the cops straight to us? I’ll carve you up myself!”

He pointed the pistol. “Kill it!”

Old Five trembled, sweat pouring down his forehead. He didn’t dare argue. He grabbed Shen Qiu by the scruff and turned to go.

Shen Qiu squirmed weakly, his mind racing.

Escaping from here would be easy enough, especially in the dark, but he couldn’t afford to let them grow suspicious. Otherwise, by the time Qin Yan’s team arrived, this place would already be deserted.

He decided to wait until they were outside before running.

But before Old Five could take two steps, Boss Bai called out again.

“Wait! Put the cat down.”

Old Five froze. His eyes darted before he reluctantly turned around.

“Boss, no need to dirty your hands. I’ll handle it.”

Boss Bai narrowed his one eye. “Put it down.”

He aimed the gun straight at Shen Qiu’s head, clearly intending to do it himself.

Shen Qiu cursed silently.

Before Old Five could speak, Boss Bai pulled the trigger, killing Old Five on the spot, and turned the gun on Shen Qiu.

“Meow!” Shen Qiu yowled, biting down on the rope and leaping out of Old Five’s arms.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The silenced shots hit the floor behind him, kicking up shards of rock that stung his leg. Pain flashed through him, and he nearly swore aloud.

Thankfully, Boss Bai’s aim was terrible, and Shen Qiu, who was as light as a feather, darted across the tables and benches before leaping straight through a window.

Beyond it stretched open farmland with rows of corn under the night sky. The cat was gone in an instant.

Cursing, Boss Bai fired two more shots into the cornfield.

“Move! Grab the goods and head up the mountain!”

He refused to believe any of this was a coincidence.

That cat was not normal.

At his command, the men scrambled into motion.

But a moment later, a furious shout tore through the chaos…

“Boss! The cops are here!”

Hiding under the window, Shen Qiu bit through the last of the rope with a sharp snap. Hearing the commotion outside, he knew Qin Yan’s team had arrived. He sprang up to look.

Boss Bai, his face grim, was already climbing out of another window with a box in hand.

Shen Qiu realized that direction led to the back mountain.

He couldn’t sit still any longer.

The place was in chaos with people running everywhere. No one paid attention to a cat.

Only Skinny Monkey noticed him, still thinking about the money he could make. He lunged forward to grab him.

But Shen Qiu sensed it first. He twisted away, sprang up, and kicked Skinny Monkey square in the chest before bolting toward the direction Boss Bai had fled in.

The night sky was pitch-black. The police cars’ wailing sirens echoed through the mountains, startling flocks of birds into the sky.

Shen Qiu looked up, muscles tensed, and followed the trail of Boss Bai’s footsteps up the back mountain.

~~~

T/N: We’ve finally found the main culprit! I hope they’re able to catch him! 

Also, happy late mid-autumn festival! I hope everyone enjoyed a mooncake in the fall weather. 

2.5k characters to 1.5k words | Translation Time: 1.5 hours