Chapter 515: Internal Strife
Chapter 515: Internal Strife
Within the corridor, the Elephant Gang's guards exchanged glances, allowing Chen Chuan to pass through.
Chen Chuan walked down the hallway, his gaze fixed on the intricate, colorful patterns adorning the polished floor. Having reached the second stage and learned some techniques, he no longer exuded the same sharp aura as he did during the first stage. When he met with Deng Xing earlier, he had deliberately restrained his mental presence.
However, as he approached just now, he intentionally unleashed both his mental power and field, knowing that ordinary people couldn't withstand the impact of his mental strength and would immediately lose consciousness.
This deliberate action was a clear signal to those inside that he had arrived, ensuring they wouldn't have time to react if he rushed in.
Upon entering the corridor, Chen Chuan's eyes swept the area, spotting four elderly men dressed in Sheini attire and a middle-aged man.
The Elephant Gang was bound by kinship, and these elders were not only the gang's veterans but also respected elders among the younger generation. The middle-aged man, with his muscular build and a jade earring dangling from his ear, held a whip in his hand, exuding an air of formidable power.
Surrounding them were over twenty guards, each holding a gun and watching Chen Chuan with tense vigilance.
In the center of the room, a young man knelt, bound and muscular. Even in his kneeling position, he exuded a more commanding presence than most in the room, immediately drawing attention. This must be Tu Nai.
The tall elder stepped forward, his politeness laced with caution. "We didn't expect the esteemed Captain Chen of the Processing Bureau to grace us with his presence. May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit to our Elephant Gang?"
Chen Chuan wasn't surprised that he knew him. If a gang in Central City didn't recognize a fighter like him, who held a position in the Processing Bureau, they wouldn't have lasted this long.
The elder spoke fluent Dachun dialect without a hint of an accent. The Sheini people, despite living in Central City, maintained their own distinct community, which was quite closed off. Consequently, they retained their native language, but this very reason also subjected them to disdain and exclusion from the rest of Central City.
In contrast, the people from the overseas island nation almost exclusively spoke Dachun dialect, effortlessly incorporating ancient idioms and proverbs. If one ignored their clothing and customs, they were nearly indistinguishable from the Dachun people, giving them a significant advantage in Central City.
Chen Chuan asked, "What should I call you?"
The elder replied, "Tu Man."
Chen Chuan checked his records and found that this man was Tu Ge's brother, responsible for handling some of the gang's daily affairs.
"Mr. Tu Man, I've been tasked by the Bureau to track an important lead here. I suspect that the death of your leader is connected to the Swordfish Gang and the Ferris Wheel Corporation. Therefore, I need to speak with someone in your gang who can make decisions."
As soon as Chen Chuan spoke, a commotion erupted among those present. Wasn't it said that Tu Nai's negligence in administering the wrong medicine had led to the death of the old leader?
So, it was the Swordfish Gang and the Ferris Wheel Corporation?
This explanation seemed more plausible.
Even Tu Nai, who was kneeling, suddenly straightened up and turned to look at Chen Chuan. The middle-aged man lashed out with his whip, striking Tu Nai's back, and shouted, "Kneel down!"
Tu Nai slowly knelt back down.
Tu Man spoke in a low voice, "Captain Chen, are you saying that the Swordfish Gang and the Ferris Wheel Corporation are behind this?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I'm investigating. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. The Processing Bureau received advance information, and I was just looking into the situation. I didn't expect things to have escalated here already."
The middle-aged man stepped forward and said, "Captain Chen, do you have concrete evidence?"
Chen Chuan glanced at him but didn't respond.
"Tu Han!" Tu Man scolded him. "Captain Chen is the executive captain of the Processing Bureau. He wouldn't make such statements without solid leads."
They weren't like the Tianju Gang, a powerful gang with numerous fighters, nor were they like the Swordfish Gang, backed by the Ferris Wheel Corporation. They had no powerful backers; initially, they were just a group of foreign workers banding together.
Although the younger members of the gang held official matters in disdain, these older members still feared the authorities.
Furthermore, Chen Chuan felt that if he weren't investigating this lead, he wouldn't have bothered coming to the Elephant Gang. His words were indeed credible.
Chen Chuan looked down at Tu Nai and said, "You just said that you hold him responsible for the leader's death?"
The middle-aged man spoke up, "He was in charge of the old leader's medication, but the leader died after taking the medicine he provided. Of course, we need to investigate him."
"Of course, we need to investigate," Chen Chuan agreed. "I need to take him away and get to the bottom of this."
This was the simplest way to handle the situation. Chen Chuan had no intention of arguing on Tu Nai's behalf; it would be pointless. Taking the man away was all that was needed, and it would also allow for further investigation.
Tu Man hesitated slightly.
The middle-aged man looked at Tu Man anxiously and reminded him, "Uncle Man, this is an internal matter for our gang." They were willing to investigate the lead, but they didn't want the Processing Bureau to get involved, as it could lead to future troubles.
Chen Chuan's tone remained calm. "Sir, you may have misunderstood. I'm merely informing you, not seeking your opinion."
"You..." The middle-aged man's expression turned angry.
Tu Man reached out to stop him, and in a deep voice, he addressed Chen Chuan, "Captain Chen, we're giving you face. You can take the person, but we expect the Processing Bureau to provide us with a definite result."
Indeed, it was impossible not to give face, as Chen Chuan's presence was overwhelmingly intimidating. When he entered earlier, almost no one outside could stand against him. His keen perception left no doubt that Chen Chuan could effortlessly defeat everyone present and then take the person away.
Moreover, if the other party could come once, they could come again. They genuinely didn't want to face such a person, let alone the fact that the Processing Bureau was backing them.
"You'll find out the result," Chen Chuan said.
Tu Man glanced at the kneeling Tu Nai, "Tu Nai, did you hear that? You go back with Captain Chen to investigate clearly, and if you can't get it straight, don't come back."
Tu Nai had been paying attention to their conversation, and at this moment, he stood up, his arms struggling, and the binding handcuffs snapped. He took a breath and said, "I'll follow Captain Chen. I'll find a way to uncover the truth about Uncle Tu's death."
"Then let's go," Chen Chuan said.
"Wait a moment."
Tu Man called out again and walked over, saying, "Captain Chen, can we talk privately for a moment?"
Chen Chuan looked at him, "Sure."
Tu Man gestured, leading Chen Chuan to a nearby open space. Once they were away from the crowd, he said to Chen Chuan, "Captain Chen, I actually believe this isn't something Tu Nai could have done."
"Brother Tu Ge's health hasn't been good. He's been preparing for the gang leader succession, and the plan was to hand over the position to Tu Nai. Otherwise, why would he be in charge of the daily medications? How could Tu Nai harm him?"
The problem was that Tu Nai was stubborn, and with a few words of incitement, he insisted on taking responsibility for this matter.
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Tu Nai held significant influence among the youth, and dealing with him or not was a dilemma. I think this must be the intention of the Swordfish Gang and the Ferris Wheel Corporation. So, having Captain Chen take him away is a good thing. I hope the Processing Bureau can investigate this matter clearly.
I know the Processing Bureau doesn't want to see the Swordfish Gang dominating the Crystal District. We, the Elephant Gang, can still be of use to you."
Chen Chuan thought, this old man has a clear head. His intentions were obvious: he wanted the Processing Bureau to clear Tu Nai's name, allowing him to return and inherit the gang leader position, thus stabilizing the gang. He also subtly expressed his willingness to cooperate with the Processing Bureau.
"The matter will be clarified," he said.
"Then thank you, Captain Chen."
Just then, a commotion erupted outside, with many people shouting. A gang guard used Jie Ping to communicate and then his expression changed.
He said, "Tu Liu is outside, saying that Tu Nai and the Swordfish Gang poisoned the old man, causing his death. He's rallying people to confront the Swordfish Gang for revenge."
"That Tu Liu!" Several elders present were filled with anger.
Chen Chuan looked outside; the situation seemed to have changed.
His actions were swift, but someone else was even faster.
This was likely a well-planned scheme: first, kill Tu Ge, then incite everyone, urging them to avenge the gang leader.
The timing was also well-chosen, as it was easy to exploit the Elephant Gang members' grief to incite them to charge the Swordfish Gang.
It was predictable that the Swordfish Gang was prepared, waiting for them to come, so they wouldn't be blamed for starting the trouble afterward.
He turned back and said, "Mr. Tu Man, things are moving fast. It seems this Tu Liu is very problematic. You need to make a decision, and quickly. Otherwise, no one can save your Elephant Gang. Or... I can help you make the decision."
Tu Man's expression changed, and he quickly exchanged opinions with the elders behind him. He knew that once the gang members were incited, they'd be like an out-of-control vehicle, charging recklessly until they crashed and broke into pieces.
The other elders couldn't see too far ahead, but they understood the danger of the situation. They couldn't let the gang members run amok. Moreover, they became highly vigilant of Tu Liu.
As the most conservative faction within the gang, they didn't want to be controlled by their subordinates, which would mean a loss of influence and a shift in gang power.
So, they quickly reached an agreement.
Tu Man returned and asked, "Captain Chen, can you handle it?"
Chen Chuan was direct, "Tell me where he is."
Tu Man immediately had someone use Jie Ping to show Chen Chuan the location and sent him a contact method, "Captain Chen, leave Tu Liu to you. We'll handle the aftermath and calm things down."
Tu Nai stepped forward, "Captain Chen, Tu Liu is very capable, and he has many followers. I'll go with you."
But Tu Man stopped him, "Tu Nai, you can't show yourself now. Stay here!"
"Mr. Tu Man is right," Chen Chuan said. "Your appearance will only complicate matters. I can handle it alone."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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