Master of Deception System-Chapter 24: The Final 45 Minutes

The look in Ye Gaoyi's eyes at this moment stunned Xu Zhibin.

"Xu Zhibin!"

"Where is he!?"

Ye Gaoyi questioned again.

His tightly furrowed brows showed his frustration. He had personally traveled a long distance to be on K331, all to capture Li Xuan, but now it seemed Xu Zhibin had lost sight of him!?

Xu Zhibin was also stunned. He didn't say anything, he just clutched the railing and climbed up.

Looking at the empty bedding, confusion filled his eyes.

"How could this be!?"

Through gritted teeth, Ye Gaoyi said, "I told you to be careful!"

"Just keep an eye on him, that's all!"

"Is that too difficult!?"

Although the lights were already off, Ye Gaoyi's voice was lowered, yet his inner fury was evident.

Xu Zhibin had no idea how to respond. He pulled out his phone and sent a message: "Where's Li Xuan?"

"The person responsible for keeping an eye on Li Xuan?"

"Where is he?"

Soon, he received a reply: "Captain Xu, Li Xuan hasn't left Car 14."

Xu Zhibin showed this message to Ye Gaoyi and said, "It's okay, he must be in another bunk..."

Before he could finish, Ye Gaoyi was about to search other bunks.

However, Xu Zhibin grabbed him, "What are you doing!?"

"Don't forget we have a mission!"

Ye Gaoyi understood Xu Zhibin's point. Searching bunk by bunk could easily alarm the members of the thief gang.

In such a situation, all they could do was wait.

But Ye Gaoyi clenched his teeth. While he could wait if he could confirm Li Xuan was still on this train, he doubted if Li Xuan was still here at all...

Could they really trust this message alone?

He even doubted that if they were to pull everyone out and interrogate them, they would be able to find Li Xuan!

"Ye Gaoyi! Those people are involved in homicide cases!"

"We need to prioritize matters! I promise you, Li Xuan definitely hasn't left the train!"

Ye Gaoyi knew it was just an assurance, but right now, it was all they could do.

With a cold snort, he turned and left.

Xu Zhibin followed behind Ye Gaoyi, his expression even grimmer than Ye Gaoyi's.

They hadn't found out who that Uncle Hua really was, and now they had lost Li Xuan!

Even if Li Xuan was truly still on the train, what was he planning to do if he continued to stay on board?

Was he actually in another bunk, or was he hidden somewhere else?

Xu Zhibin's mind was a mess at this moment.

However, he was very clear in his mind that his focus now must be on "Uncle Hua"!

Their original plan was to judge the identity of "Uncle Hua" based on the actions of the thieves. But now... these thieves on the train weren't making any moves at all!

They were acting just like regular passengers, eating, drinking, sleeping...

Now the heavy burden was on him...

How were they going to find him!?

...

Ye Gaoyi and Xu Zhibin returned to the dining car. The car was now full of plainclothes police officers from different compartments.

"Tonight is our last chance to find Uncle Hua."

"If we miss this opportunity, we don't know when we'll catch him."

"Does anyone have any new leads? Report to me!"

However, after Xu Zhibin said this, no one said a word.

Xu Zhibin clenched his teeth and then ordered again, "Keep your eyes wide open. If you spot someone even slightly resembling him, send me a message immediately!"

Having said that, all the plainclothes officers walked towards the various compartments again.

Seeing the dining car empty within half a minute, Xu Zhibin furrowed his brows, biting his lip, "Where is he?"

But this search...

It lasted the entire night.

When the sky was just beginning to brighten, still, there was no trace of Li Xuan or Uncle Hua.

At this point, there were only five hours left until the train reached Jinling.

As the sky gradually brightened, Xu Zhibin went to Car 14 once more.

After confirming with the plainclothes officers that no one had left Car 14, he checked each bunk one by one.

But he still didn't find Li Xuan.

How could a person vanish into thin air?

Yet, the reality was just that. Ye Gaoyi returned to the dining car, looking worn out...

Seeing him come back, Xu Zhibin immediately spoke, "Ye Gaoyi, do you have any ideas?"

He was really at a loss. If he didn't have concrete evidence and a list in hand, those thieves on the train would just appear to be ordinary passengers, rather than criminals on the run.

Rubbing his temples, he asked, "How can we find Uncle Hua?"

Ye Gaoyi gave a disdainful snort, "Catch Li Xuan first. I guarantee that once you catch him, I'll find Uncle Hua for you. How about that?"

As he spoke, Ye Gaoyi's voice got lower and lower. Suddenly, he looked up.

"Right, check their IDs!"

"It's dawn now, whether it's the sleeper berths or anywhere else, check their IDs!"

"Li Xuan is using the alias Liu Yang, and he's using a temporary ID. As long as you find a match, you're certain to find him!"

Xu Zhibin was taken aback for a moment, but upon second thought, it made sense.

Checking tickets and IDs was quite appropriate on a train.

Although this method wouldn't lead to finding "Uncle Hua" for sure, time was running out. Perhaps this kind of check could force him to reveal himself?

Subsequently, they contacted the train staff and initiated the ID check.

Just as the ID check had barely begun, a broadcast announcement played over the intercom.

"Dear passengers, good day."

"We're broadcasting a lost and found message."

"Mr. Liu Yang from Zhonghai City, Liu Yang, please come to Compartment 6 to retrieve your temporary ID."

"Repeating the message..."

Both Ye Gaoyi and Xu Zhibin were dumbfounded.

They looked at each other, speechless.

Simultaneously, a thought emerged in their minds...

Was Li Xuan playing with them again?

It was as if he knew what they were going to do!

The check had just begun, and his temporary ID was already at the lost and found station!?

How was that even possible!?

Ye Gaoyi's face darkened further.

But Xu Zhibin tried to ease the situation, "It's okay. Even without an ID, he will eventually expose himself."

"I've looked at his records and files. This kid might be able to disguise as Liu Yang, but he can't keep pretending to be someone else for another month!"

"He won't be able to hide for much longer!"

Ye Gaoyi nodded slightly but remained silent.

His intuition was telling him that he had fallen into Li Xuan's rhythm!

This time, he might once again return empty-handed!

...

Wang Hua was still lying on his bunk.

He had noticed that something was amiss.

The sudden ID check had given him a sense of impending danger.

The checking procedure for bunk, soft sleeper, and hard seat tickets differed.

Normally, hard seat tickets would be checked at any time. However, for bunks and soft sleepers, passengers only needed to exchange their ticket for a berth card upon boarding, and there wouldn't be another check.

But at this moment, something was clearly off.

"Are they checking on me?"

Though the ticket inspector's expression didn't show anything unusual, Wang Hua was inherently suspicious...

Under these circumstances, he was already considering ways to escape.

He even glanced at the old lady sitting across from him, who was gazing out of the window.

He didn't want to reveal his identity, so he wouldn't take any action if everything was normal.

However, if things went awry, he wouldn't surrender without a fight.

Four counts of murder, along with theft, fraud, robbery, and extortion... with such a plethora of crimes, once caught, the punishment would undoubtedly be death.

He didn't want to be sentenced to death at this point.

...

Time ticked away, second by second.

There was only one more station left before reaching Jinling.

However, Ye Gaoyi and Xu Zhibin still hadn't received any messages.

They hadn't even found a single suspicious person.

Their emotions grew increasingly restless as time passed.

Just at this moment, Xu Zhibin's gaze suddenly froze.

Ye Gaoyi saw his expression and also turned to look behind them.

"This is..."

Both of them locked onto a figure ahead of them, a figure imprinted in their memories.

It was Uncle Hua!

Xu Zhibin and Ye Gaoyi exchanged a glance, then silently stood up and started walking towards him.

"He actually disguised himself as a train attendant?"

"No wonder we couldn't find him!"

Xu Zhibin's heart raced. He was finally going to catch him!

They both quickened their steps, and the guy in the dark blue uniform ahead of them also picked up his pace.

"That's him, no doubt about it!"

If they were mistaken, he wouldn't react so sensitively, nor would he speed up!

With the target confirmed, Xu Zhibin immediately pulled out his phone and messaged all the plainclothes officers, "Target currently in Compartment 10! Moving towards Compartment 11!"

"Corner him!"

"Target wearing dark blue uniform, disguised as a train attendant, height around 180 cm!"

"The rest, get ready to apprehend other targets!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!!! Action starts now!"

His fingers flew across the phone screen. He had never moved this fast before.

Simultaneously, the steps of both him and Ye Gaoyi quickened as well.

Train attendants received the message too. They hurried to the target compartment since there were more civilians there, and they were responsible for maintaining order.

At this moment, there were only 45 minutes left until they reached Jinling station.

For the officers from Fengtian Police Bureau, who hadn't slept a wink all night, completing the mission would make it all worthwhile!

...

Hard seat compartment.

Upon receiving the message, a plainclothes officer stood up from his seat and walked towards "a family."

"Stand up."

"All of you, stand up and come with me."

As he said this, he showed them his police officer's badge.

This scene repeated in nearly every compartment.

"Don't move!"

"Don't move!"

"Fengtian Police Bureau!"

A few who attempted to run were tackled directly to the ground, losing their teeth in the process.

They didn't seem to realize that on this moving train, even if they escaped, where could they possibly go?

...

In Compartment 11.

Wang Hua took a deep breath and opened his eyes, sitting up from his bunk.

He had heard the footsteps.

Pitter-patter of footsteps.

He suddenly turned his head and spoke to the elderly woman beside him, "Auntie, didn't I mention that I'm a craftsman?"

"Ah, Auntie remembers, Xiao Wang. Don't be fooled by Auntie's age, my memory is quite good."

Wang Hua smiled and said, "If I have the chance, I should show you my skills."

"Sure..."

Wang Hua squinted. He didn't know what went wrong; how could he have been discovered?

...

Just as they rushed into Compartment 11, Ye Gaoyi and Xu Zhibin abruptly stopped in their tracks.

"What's going on..."

They watched their colleagues charging from the opposite Compartment 12 and wore expressions of confusion.

The figure of the train attendant they were following suddenly disappeared!

Just like that, vanished?

Did they lose track of him again?

Xu Zhibin gritted his teeth and said, "People can't just fly!"

"Call some of the train attendants' colleagues to help maintain order!"

"Search! Right here in Compartment 11!"

"Search one by one!"

Clang!

All the compartment doors were pulled open, and Xu Zhibin loudly announced, "We are from Fengtian Police Bureau, pursuing fugitives!"

"Passengers, please have your identification ready!"

The inspection began.

People waited in their compartments, anticipating the inspection.

However, as he watched this situation, Ye Gaoyi furrowed his brow.

Among these compartments, there were no traces of anyone hastily changing clothes.

Doubts started forming in his mind.

"What about that train attendant?"

"He changed his clothes so quickly?"

"That doesn't make sense..."

As Ye Gaoyi was pondering, Xu Zhibin pulled him into a compartment.

In the compartment sat a family of three, along with a seemingly refined young man.

"Do you have your IDs ready?"

The old lady took out the family's IDs from her bag and handed them to Xu Zhibin.

While Ye Gaoyi looked at Wang Hua and said, "Hello, show me your ID." freeweɓnøvel.com

Wang Hua smiled and handed over his ID.

He didn't have any other choice now.

If he ran just now or tried to run now, his true identity as Wang Hua would undoubtedly be exposed. After all, train tickets were purchased using real names, so he had no way out.

What's more, on a moving train like this, even if he did run, where could he escape to?

So, if he wanted the best outcome, he had to bluff his way through!

Ye Gaoyi hadn't expected that this seemingly sophisticated and affable young man would be Uncle Hua.

This didn't match the image of Uncle Hua he had in his mind, and he didn't resemble the guy who disguised himself as a train attendant from earlier.

So he didn't pay much attention.

After a quick glance at the ID and a comparison between the photo and the person, he nodded, returned the ID, and continued.

Wang Hua reached out to take it back, but just as his fingers touched the ID, it slipped through his fingers.

"Huh?"

Ye Gaoyi looked at the ID again, squinting his eyes, muttering, "Wang Hua?"

Internally, Wang Hua cursed, but outwardly, he remained composed. "Is there a problem with my name?"

Ye Gaoyi shook his head and said, "No problem."

As Wang Hua was starting to feel a bit relieved, he heard, "However, we need to inspect the luggage you're carrying."

"Inspect the luggage?"

Wang Hua's tone changed slightly.

Ye Gaoyi nodded and then stepped aside. "Step out, we're just conducting routine checks."

...

"Hehe..."

Suddenly, without warning, Wang Hua burst into laughter.

Just as Ye Gaoyi's heart screamed that something was wrong, an unexpected change occurred!

Wang Hua abruptly stood up, grabbing the elderly woman and pulling her forcefully!

At the same time, he swiftly positioned himself behind her!

In his hand, he held a fruit knife, which he had managed to grab without anyone noticing. And now, the blade of the fruit knife was pressed against the elderly woman's neck!