Chapter 512 - 244: My Partners Might Be Able to Help

Chapter 512: Chapter 244: My Partners Might Be Able to Help

After hearing this, Yao Zhenwei was stunned for a moment before his eyes lit up. He slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming excitedly, "How did I not think of that? This method is so covert! Who would think to search through frozen meat in a refrigerated compartment during a routine traffic stop? Plus, refrigerated trucks have legitimate routes and temperature requirements, making them perfect for long-distance covert transport."

The other police officers also reacted instantly, their faces showing a mixture of realization and excitement.

Amid his excitement, Yao Zhenwei immediately notified the traffic police, the transportation department, and the market supervision bureau.

He ordered them to pull the records of all refrigerated trucks that had departed from the Yuanzhou City District in the past week—especially around the time the children disappeared and from near the abduction sites in the South District and West Mountain District.

The focus was to be on all refrigerated vehicles heading south and west.

They were to investigate the trucks’ routes, cargo manifests, and the drivers’ backgrounds.

With a clear direction, the investigation proceeded much more efficiently.

Just over an hour later, the preliminary results were compiled and sent to the command center.

"Director Yao, we found something!"

A technical investigation officer rushed into the conference room excitedly. "Following your instructions, we focused on refrigerated trucks leaving the city recently. We found a highly suspicious refrigerated box truck registered to the ’Yuanzhou Hongfa Cold Chain Logistics Company,’ with the license plate Dong B·X****."

"Over the past half-month, this truck has frequently traveled between the Yuanzhou City District and several counties and cities in the neighboring province. However, its cargo manifests are extremely vague, often just listing ’fresh and frozen goods.’"

"Most importantly, according to road surveillance footage, on the night after the second child went missing, this truck departed from a remote cold storage warehouse in the West Mountain District, left the Yuanzhou City District, and got on the provincial highway heading west."

"We pulled the surveillance footage from along the provincial highway and found that after traveling for forty kilometers, the truck suddenly turned off the highway at a three-way intersection. It entered a small, unmonitored country road leading into the mountains and then vanished."

"This road leads toward a vast, forested mountain range that straddles the border between Handong and Hanxi provinces. There’s a river in those mountains. The land route is concealed, and the waterway can also be used. It perfectly fits the conditions for a covert transfer."

"We also looked into the Yuanzhou Hongfa Cold Chain Logistics Company. Its registered legal representative is a seventy-year-old man, but we can’t find the actual person in control. The company’s books are a mess—it’s just a shell company."

...

"Good, good!"

Yao Zhenwei suppressed his excitement, his gaze fixed on the spot on the screen where the refrigerated truck had last been seen. He spoke quickly, "The Handong-Hanxi border... mountains... a river... What a perfect rat’s nest!"

He spun around, faced Yang Qi, and gave him a solemn salute.

"Advisor Yang, it’s all thanks to you that we were able to find the criminals’ trail."

Yang Qi quickly waved his hand dismissively. "It was nothing. The most important thing now is to find that truck and the children. That road has no surveillance. They likely have a secret transfer point in the mountains, or perhaps their main stronghold is located somewhere in there!"

That was right. All the information, clues, and logic pointed to the same conclusion.

The hideouts discovered within Yuanzhou City were merely frontline points for this organ trafficking network—used for screening, temporary holding, and preliminary processing.

The true core—the nest equipped with better surgical facilities, capable of long-term covert operation, and conveniently located for transporting people out of the province—was most likely hidden in the sprawling mountains west of Yuanzhou City, on the border of Handong and Hanxi provinces.

The suspicious refrigerated truck that had vanished on that mountain road was the most compelling piece of evidence.

"The nest in the mountains is certain to be more concealed, more heavily fortified, and better prepared for emergencies than the hideouts in the city."

Yao Zhenwei pointed to a huge map on the wall, which was marked with the children’s last known locations, the section of road where the suspicious vehicle disappeared, and the topography of the provincial border. His voice was grave.

"The question now is, how do we take down this nest?"

He looked around at the core members of the task force in the conference room. "A direct assault is too risky. We can be almost certain that the six missing children, and possibly even other undiscovered victims, have been taken into those mountains."

"If a direct assault is detected, the criminals will get desperate. The likelihood of them harming or even killing the hostages is extremely high. Moreover, the mountainous terrain is complex, and an assault could easily lead to casualties on our side."

"A large-scale, high-profile mountain search is also out of the question."

The criminal investigation detachment leader shook his head. "The target area is too large, the mountains are high, and the forests are dense. No matter how many officers we deploy, we can’t guarantee we won’t miss blind spots. Plus, a large-scale operation is tantamount to announcing our arrival. They could take the hostages deeper into the mountains, destroy evidence, scatter and escape, or even take more extreme measures."

"Then what do we do? Just sit here and wait? Every minute we delay, the children are in more danger!" the deputy leader said in a low voice.

"We have to find a way to pinpoint the nest’s exact location, figure out the internal layout and personnel distribution, and ideally, approach undetected. Then we can launch a lightning raid to control the situation and rescue the hostages before they can react!"

Yao Zhenwei said, his brow furrowed.

This objective was easier said than done—it was next to impossible.

Finding a carefully hidden nest in unfamiliar, rugged mountain terrain, all while conducting reconnaissance and closing in without alerting the enemy—this would require the infiltration and reconnaissance skills of a special forces unit. And time was short.

The conference room fell silent for a moment as everyone racked their brains for a solution.

Just then, a calm voice broke the silence.