Suddenly, someone rudely pushed the door open and entered: "No need to investigate. We'll hand over the items directly to you. Whatever punishment you deem fit, we'll accept."
Such overbearing and decisive words immediately drew the attention of everyone present.
Who dared to speak before Chief Qingye and Ichinose Supervisor?
The newcomer was a man with reddish-purple long hair, dressed in a punk style, looking like he was in a band. Although male, he wore thick black lipstick.
However, his facial features were undeniably masculine, without any effeminate feel. Therefore, his appearance, which most discerning people would likely perceive as "flamboyant" at first glance, was probably just a personal preference. It was a dark style, but with more wildness than Zheng Fan's.
And the three lines at the corner of his right eye told everyone present his identity.
Chuanmu!
One of the two main leaders of Banmu Office, a mysterious Chief/Boss whom most of the subordinates had never seen, so most people didn't recognize him.
"Chief/Boss Chuanmu!" But Ichinose Supervisor rose with a shocked expression and called out his name, which made even those who didn't know him recognize him.
Qingye Heshi couldn't help but widen his eyes.
The person he had just mentioned appeared before him again after several years, and precisely at this moment? He sensed something was amiss.
Hong Yijia looked curiously at this Banmu leader, whom she had met once before but hadn't seen for a long time since, only solidifying her impression from documents: "Chuanmu? It's an honor to meet you, though I haven't heard many people mention you."
"It is I who truly admire Consultant Hong Yijia. Even when wandering outside, I occasionally hear bits and pieces about her," Chuanmu smiled. His facial structure, when he smiled, instinctively gave people a sense of danger.
"It's because I run around everywhere and get chased into working," Hong Yijia didn't feel flattered at all, only helpless. Then she said, "Since you're so cooperative, take us to see the items?"
"Please," Chuanmu showed considerable cooperation.
When passing by Su Hongyuan, Su Hongyuan called out in a low voice, "Chief/Boss..."
Chuanmu ignored her and strode past.
Seeing this, Zheng Fan realized something was wrong: "It seems your plan might not proceed smoothly."
Qingye Heshi frowned: "Why would he return at this time?"
"Perhaps this is also an opportunity to turn the tables and eliminate you?" Zheng Fan extinguished one unsmoked cigarette after another: "It might be true that your influence was greater than theirs, but what if they added a proper big brother to their side?"
Qingye Heshi gently shook his head: "That's impossible, it makes no sense, it doesn't align with their interests."
"I don't know about that. If you knew about any hidden interests behind it, you would have already contacted this Chuanmu," Zheng Fan said airily.
Unable to figure it out, Qingye Heshi quickly followed, his eyes questioning Ichinose Supervisor.
But Ichinose Supervisor was also bewildered and couldn't answer.
...
In a warehouse behind the office, Chuanmu showed Hong Yijia a large number of items.
"They're all here, and there are some extras that even your Processing Bureau might not have noticed. They're all here. You can take your time to count them carefully," Chuanmu gestured.
After a glance, Hong Yijia immediately led her people to inspect them.
Ichinose Supervisor and Qingye Heshi followed, saying, "Chief/Boss Chuanmu, what exactly is this?"
"Oh, Ichinose, you've worked hard during this time. But it's okay, you'll be able to relax soon," Chuanmu said with a smile.
"Do you mean you're coming back to personally oversee the office?" Ichinose's eyes lit up.
Chuanmu nodded inadvertently.
"Really? After leaving for several years without a word, disappearing without a trace, and now suddenly returning, can you still win over the hearts of the people here?" Qingye Heshi, however, directly stepped forward, his voice cold and sharp.
"Heshi, you've grown up quite a bit," Chuanmu's smile remained unchanged.
"Uncle Chuanmu. If you want to take over the office so easily, I won't stand with you," Qingye Heshi continued on his own.
Ichinose also snapped out of his initial joy at the return of their backbone and looked worriedly at Qingye Heshi.
Over the years, he had gradually come to approve of Qingye Heshi's actions and was planning to let Qingye Heshi become the new leader of the office soon.
But now that Chuanmu had suddenly returned, a conflict with Qingye Heshi was inevitable.
"Ah, I understand," Chuanmu was stout and slender, and even taller than Qingye Heshi, so he effortlessly looked down at him: "You used to have quite a few complaints about some of my policies. Now you're truly capable, you've gathered your own people, and you've even established your own faction within the office. That's really good."
Saying that, he turned his head: "However, you're still just a studio manager after all. Watch quietly from the side; there's no room for you to interfere in what comes next."
Several people from Su Hongyuan's faction appeared one after another, looking at Qingye Heshi, their smiles restrained but still arrogant.
Having been suppressed by Qingye Heshi for so long, they now had a real tiger's skin to pull!
"Consultant Hong Yijia, if you need to pursue accountability, I can cooperate again and provide a list. These are some of the culprits we investigated; these were their unauthorized actions. If you need it, I can also provide clues about the person who initially stole these goods from the Processing Bureau," Chuanmu continued to Hong Yijia.
And when Qingye Heshi saw the list he produced, he was instantly furious.
These were all his people!
When did Chuanmu prepare this?
Qingye Heshi looked at Su Hongyuan's group; they all had expressions of watching a good show.
Did these people contact Chuanmu early on? Or did Chuanmu, after premeditating the situation within the office, choose to contact these people and use this opportunity...
This matter was not accidental.
He glanced at Zheng Fan beside him.
It wasn't that Lin Yilin's side messed up; rather, these items were originally prepared for this trip, but were brought forward after Lin Yilin's side discovered them.
Even so, it was still within Chuanmu's plan.
The frequent exposure of unstable transactions and the almost open defiance of the Processing Bureau in recent days were mostly the work of Su Hongyuan's group.
Perhaps it could be explained as a drawback caused by the office's overly wild growth, but looking back now, if they had been prepared all along, some foolish exposures would have a better explanation.
"Consultant Hong Yijia, this list is not true. Chuanmu has not been in the office for a long time, and may not even be in Xixikoke. This list is just a perfunctory expedient," he immediately said to Hong Yijia.
Chuanmu, however, was nonchalant: "Although I'm not in office, I have my own people and informants within the office. Such a simple trick shouldn't be hard to figure out, Heshi."
Hong Yijia looked at both sides, reached out, and took the list: "We will investigate the specific individuals involved ourselves, and in fact, we're not just investigating this one account; the entire Banmu will be liquidated. This list is only for reference. As for your internal disputes within the office, they are none of my concern. I just hope they don't hinder the search."
"Please," Chuanmu said with a chuckle, appearing unconcerned.
Qingye Heshi silently clenched his fists.
He commanded enough influence. If it came to an internal struggle, Qingye Heshi believed he wasn't afraid of Chuanmu.
But the Processing Bureau was present; they couldn't make a move in front of the Processing Bureau. This was an insurmountable obstacle for the office. Chuanmu was now using the Processing Bureau's presence to suppress Qingye Heshi.
A counter-move.
A true veteran.
At this moment, Zheng Fan said, "Holy crap, why is my name on the list?"
More precisely, the name "Cheng Fei."
"Hmm? Aren't you one of Heshi's subordinates?" Chuanmu looked at Zheng Fan, who had jumped out, and raised an eyebrow.
"You're his subordinate, your whole family are his subordinates," Zheng Fan cursed directly.
But it was true, if Chuanmu had prepared to return and purge Qingye Heshi early on, then Cheng Fei at that time was indeed under Qingye Heshi.
This was truly messed up.
"Is that so? Then Mr. Cheng Fei, please cooperate with the investigation first~," Hong Yijia seized the opportunity, already looking for a chance to make trouble for Cheng Fei.
Just as the others were about to step forward to apprehend Zheng Fan, and Zheng Fan was preparing to casually slap them a couple of times...
Hong Yijia's phone rang.
She glanced at her phone, her eyes immediately lit up, and she answered.
"Investigation postponed." Even though it was slightly distorted through the phone, familiar people, Zheng Fan and Qingye Heshi, immediately recognized it.
It was Lin Yilin.
"Ah, well, ahem, yes," Hong Yijia was speechless at first, then cleared her throat, more or less understanding the situation, and then responded in a serious tone, accepting a superior's order.
"We have a slight detour here, so we're pulling back for now. We'll come back to investigate tomorrow. How about we give you some time for internal coordination?" Hong Yijia's tone was somewhat cheerful, as if she was enjoying the show.
"Good, thank you," Qingye Heshi said loudly, making sure Lin Yilin, who hadn't hung up yet, could hear him.
"Uh, no, Consultant Hong Yijia, this doesn't comply with your Processing Bureau's rules, does it?" Chuanmu, a Chief/Boss-level figure in this gang office, actually made such a statement.
Don't drag it out when the investigation is going well. Use your fearsome reputation to decisively bring down the iron fist.
In fact, the Processing Bureau members were also a bit confused; this indeed didn't align with their understanding of Hong Yijia.
However, Hong Yijia quickly led them to retrieve the stolen goods and then withdrew.
"Consultant, may I ask if something is wrong?" The accompanying recorder asked Hong Yijia.
"Nothing, I just thought of a way to find the involved criminals more easily, without us having to go through too much trouble," Hong Yijia said with a smile.
"So we're really pulling back for now?"
"No rush. The perimeter can go rest, but as for us, we'll stay around for a while," Hong Yijia said, narrowing her eyes.
At this moment, inside the Banmu Office warehouse.
A considerable number of Banmu Office personnel had already gathered.
The moment the Processing Bureau personnel left, the manpower Qingye Heshi had assembled earlier directly surged in and surrounded the office. Other factions that tried to gather their people were blocked outside and couldn't get in.
Even a significant portion of Qingye Heshi's subordinates were armed.
It was a real gang war scene.
The situation looked somewhat lopsided, but Zheng Fan felt it was probably evenly matched, if he didn't count himself.
He had been observing Chuanmu, eyeing him from the start.
He sensed that this person had a rather powerful Illusion about him.
That was Chuanmu's greatest confidence, and to some extent, his objective.