Hidden Assassin 240

Flowers swirled and danced, blanketing all of New York. They drifted through the snow-covered streets, swirling around the dilapidated garbage disposal plant, a scene of chaos. It was early morning, and police cars had already surrounded the facility. Besides the New York Police Department, FBI agents were also present. Employees who had been working here were now under control, gathered in several rooms on the outskirts of the facility. Key personnel were being questioned, while others were confined and not allowed to leave, looking more like criminals than victims.

Braving the swirling snow, a deep-black Cadillac roared toward the plant. It seemed as if it would collide with the parked police cars, but the Cadillac’s steering wheel jerked, and it screeched to a halt in a sharp, sideways skid just inches from the rear of a police car. A tall, handsome white man in a black suit emerged from the car, slammed the door shut with a resounding thud, and a chill radiated from his face.

Two police officers stationed at the outer perimeter exchanged glances, pretending not to notice him as he passed through the middle of the cordon.

A warning tape had been stretched across the front of the plant. The man headed straight for a row of buildings, pushing the door open. Inside, the garbage disposal plant employees were gathered. Seeing him enter, they all rose to their feet and bowed their heads. “Mr. Smith.”

“What’s our loss?” He glanced outside, then slammed the door shut and asked directly. One employee lowered his head. “About 200 kilograms….”

“***Who the hell did this?”

“Bill didn’t get a clear look. Someone knocked him out with a slap. The cops are questioning him now.”

“Didn’t get a clear look!” Smith nodded, repeating the words. “What about you guys? Something this big happened, and all you did was call the police? And you called them this late? You know what that arrogant jerk Eisen said on the phone? ‘Mr. Smith, a few people died at your factory. We also found about 200 kilograms of heroin. Did you lose it?….Whoa, it’s like he’s talking about 200 kilograms of flour that I accidentally spilled on the road….”

“We…” Their faces filled with fear, the few who were on duty that night exchanged nervous glances. It was so cold last night, and the plant had been shut down. They naturally found a warm place to sleep. They had no idea that such a big thing would happen. For a moment, they struggled to find their words. “It…it was someone else who called the police. The cops arrived quickly, and then they started inspecting the garbage….They didn’t allow us to contact the outside world. In fact, the police were the first to discover that the heroin had been mixed in with the garbage. We…we…”

“You!” He gritted out the word, but now was not the time to deal with these idiots. The expression on his face shifted several times. He took a breath, and the door behind him opened. A police officer appeared at the doorway. “Hey, Mr. Smith. You’re here. Good morning. You manage this place too?”

A smile stretched across Smith’s face. He turned. “Hi, Eisen. What a coincidence. The weather’s nice today, so my mood’s good too. Unfortunately, I’m in charge here.”

“Four dead, and one of yours…oh, maybe just an employee, since you’re running a legitimate business. He was knocked out with a slap. Your…employee who died, shot directly in the head. You know, from a professional standpoint, that shot was a beauty. Three others, unidentified, were thrown directly into the compactor. They turned into something like a compressed cookie. I think you’ll be allergic to compressed cookies for three months after seeing them. That’s junk food. I always advise people to avoid it.” The policeman named Eisen clearly had it in for Smith and was enjoying the misfortune. “Oh, of course, I don’t want to say for sure. The Mafia used to do this all the time. They’d throw the people they wanted to kill into garbage disposal plants and compress them into cookies. I mean…perhaps as Americans, we’re all used to this, haha.”

Eisen laughed loudly and slapped Smith on the shoulder. Smith laughed back, his eyes fixed on the other man, a hint of anger flickering in them. He withdrew his hand, and Eisen’s smile faded. “So, since this happened on your property, I think it’s appropriate to ask for your assistance in the investigation…”

“Of course, assisting the police in solving a crime is every citizen’s duty.”

“Also, there was a large quantity of heroin, about 200 kilograms, compressed with those three people. We suspect you may be involved in this batch of drugs…”

“What do you mean?” Smith’s voice rose. “Someone caused trouble in my factory, killed my workers, and you think I’m guilty? Is this your police logic?”

“Just suspicion, don’t get worked up.” Eisen smiled and shrugged. “It’s our job as police officers to make reasonable deductions based on available clues and then seek verification. If we decide to prosecute you, you can always get a lawyer to defend you and prove your innocence. You can wait here for now. Then we’ll take you to the police station. There might be other things that require your assistance. Please don’t decline.”

He smiled and started to leave, then turned back after two steps. “Oh, right. You have the right to remain silent. But…sorry, I think you’ve heard that a lot. It’s probably wearing on your ears. I won’t repeat it. But there’s something I need to tell you. You were speeding when you arrived. The ticket is on your windshield. Remember to pay the fine. Goodbye, good citizen…Mr. Smith.”

“Bullshit!” He swung his arm, his fist smashing a hole in the wooden door beside him. From afar, the policeman shrugged in the wind and snow, his figure disappearing around the corner of the road.

Meanwhile, in front of the large pit in the center of the garbage disposal plant, the giant mass of compacted garbage had been lifted. A group of people surrounded the pile of refuse. Many things were so mangled and bloody they were unrecognizable, but some could still be identified. Combined with the fbi’s action at the airport last night and the resistance they faced, things were fairly clear. Not much testing was needed. The remaining work involved speculation and prediction.

“Two Japanese, one American. Based on eyewitness accounts at the airport, they were chopped up almost as soon as they got in the car. The car also matches. They’re the ones. The question now is who actually did it. *Yan Huang Jue Xing* (炎黄觉醒) (**Yan Huang Awakening**)? *Zao Wu Qi Ji* (造物奇迹) (**Creation Miracle**)? Or that Flower-Picking Great Thief *Yu Jin Xiang* (郁金香) who kills without hesitation.

…The 200 kilograms of heroin probably belong to the Gambino family, but there’s no proof. It wouldn’t be in their best interest. Usually they wouldn’t involve the mob in their operations. 200 kilograms of heroin, are they using it as a flavoring agent in the cookies? Or is it a unique sense of humor on their part?”

Standing at the edge of the pit were FBI agents Lavon and Michelle Philipp. The recent uproar surrounding *Yu Jin Xiang* in China meant that more than one or two groups were involved in this case. However, besides Denis and Michelle, only one other man and woman had come this time. The four of them stood there, analyzing the possibilities of this event.

“I think it might be *Yu Jin Xiang*.” Denis, a tall, thin white agent, said. “Of course, it’s just a gut feeling based on the video from yesterday. She seems like someone who would do this.”

“If it were her, this would be a bit over the top.” Michelle frowned. “According to the current clues, although the Chinese side claims that *Yu Jin Xiang* is their person, all of the current intelligence points in one direction. They have no clear subordination. Essentially, *Yu Jin Xiang* is still a free agent. It’s just that the situation is sensitive right now. No one is focused on dealing with her. To take on an entire organization by herself, if it were me, the murder at dawn yesterday would have been a show of force, and the incident at noon would have been to gain certain intelligence. She wanted to force the American *Pei Luo Jia* (裴罗嘉) to back down and let this pass. That would have been enough of a deterrent. Why kill these two insignificant Japanese? Was it for revenge for the incident in Jiang Hai City, China?”

“Right, this is counterproductive.” One of the agents nearby nodded. “These two Japanese were sent to New York as envoys. They weren’t that important, but killing them, whether for face or whatever, the American *Pei Luo Jia* branch won’t let it go. To do something so unnecessary, although the style is similar, unless *Yu Jin Xiang* has gone crazy, she wouldn’t do this. I think it’s more likely that someone else did it and intentionally made it look like *Yu Jin Xiang*. After all, that guy who got knocked out said it was a man. *Yu Jin Xiang* has the strength to knock out a strong man with one slap, but if it was a man…the only one who partners with *Yu Jin Xiang* is that Chinese boy, Gu Jia Ming. While we can’t rule out the possibility that he’s very skilled, but…he probably wouldn’t be at that level…”

“The drugs came from the Gambino family. The Gambino family is currently having a tense relationship with the Salieri family. And Gu Jia Ming is connected to the mother and daughter from the Salieri family.” In the wind and snow, the female agent nearby pushed up her glasses. “This is a clear connection…too obvious. Although 200 kilograms of drugs would cause some trouble for the Gambino family, I still think it’s a bit petty for *Yu Jin Xiang*, she could have easily gone and killed Smith or the new Godfather, John D’amico. Heh, this is going too far. Making *Yu Jin Xiang* go crazy, leaving the North American *Pei Luo Jia* with no room to maneuver. Who would want that the most?”

“Right, in America, they’re the only ones who have a direct and significant conflict with *Pei Luo Jia* right now. So, I think the possibility of *Zao Wu Qi Ji* is above 70%, and *Yu Jin Xiang*…less than 30%…”

The FBI was analyzing the case in the garbage disposal plant, while in a nearby room, a phone call connected to Japan across the ocean. Castro was talking to Omori Tsukasa. “….About Watanabe-san’s situation, it was our negligence on this side. I will take full responsibility. We’ll find out who the opponent is. Yes, he came over. Heh…he was here playing a couple of years ago, we got along well. Give my regards to Aki…the Chinese have an old saying, ‘Heroes emerge from youth’…hm, goodbye.”

He hung up the phone, his expression calm. He then smiled at the person across the desk. “Omori-san asked me to give you his regards. Zhuang…about last night’s incident, they think it could be *Yu Jin Xiang*. What do you think?”

“I just got back not long ago, I can’t say for sure.” The voice on the other side was soft and gentle, like a woman’s. “But looking at the situation now, this third incident is different from the first two. Inexpedient.”

“I agree. Continue.”

“No purpose, no gain.” Zhuang Amilton paused. “The first two times *Yu Jin Xiang* made a move, there was a very strong purpose. The first street assassination had the strongest impact. She showed her ability, the most effortless killing, the precise control of the whole situation. The second time, she took those files, although they were all old files. But after整理和推算(zhěng lǐ hé tuī suàn) (整理和推算) (organizing and calculating), no one knows what kind of effects they will have. Subtly, this is a bigger threat. But this third time, she had no reason to attack Watanabe-san and the others. Even if she wanted them to die, she could just inform the FBI secretly. But it’s the following part that is…strange. I heard that there was heroin from the Gambino family in the garbage. That’s even more ridiculous…plus, purely out of personal preference, there was blood splattered everywhere in the car where Watanabe-san and the others died. As a beautiful lady like *Yu Jin Xiang*, she shouldn’t get blood splattered all over her body. Anyone who thinks like that is a defilement of the beautiful lady.”

“I think we agree.” Castro lowered his head, then smiled at the person across the desk. “Watch out for *Zao Wu Qi Ji*. Be ready to act against them. We can’t be played for fools.”

The smarter someone is, perhaps the more they fear a madman. They think too much, they think too meticulously, and sometimes their vision is obscured by small doubts. For so-called wise men, illogical actions are perhaps the most terrifying. Fools can’t defeat smart people, but madmen…can maintain a 50% chance of winning in any situation. If you can control that madness, your chance of winning might even be higher. In this snowy morning, Jia Ming was thinking just such things.

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