Chapter 34 - Betrayal Never Comes From A Stranger

UNEDITED VERSION: 

Author's notice: 

Hi everyone, Mango here. I'm down with high fever and headache. I wanted to update regularly, but my health is bit unstable. I hope you would understand.

The next day itself, the Eagle team visited Rising Ravens to carry on with their detailed interrogation of workers in the club regarding drug supply. 

The sparkling interiors of the club that once brimmed with the cheerful crowd and loud music appeared hauntingly deserted as an after effect of the unfortunate incident that occurred on new year eve. 

While the police officers interrogated the staff members who were present on the new year eve, Qin Kai, the club's owner sat opposite Wan Yi Jun with a tired and desolate look. 

His usual smiling face lacked its warmth as he sat there, unable to figure out how to overcome the difficult situation that was fell over his shoulders, 

"Boss, have some water." The manager handed over a glass of water to Qin Kai, who appeared devastated. Like the rest of the staff, he has lost his sleep while thinking about their unstable future. 

"We know that it is a tough time for you, but still, thanks for cooperating with the investigation." Wan Yi Jun pointed out this as an attempt to initiate the interrogation. He was very much aware of the fact that it was high time for business, and closing down the club even for a few days would result in terrible loss. 

"It's alright, officer." Qin Kai tried to plaster a warm smile on his face and glanced around the empty club before continuing, " All these, I built them from my hard work... from nothingness. Of course, losing business is always an awful thing, but I will not let my guards down in front of these attempts to ruin Rising Ravens." He hopefully proclaimed as if he was ready to withstand any trouble that awaited him. 

However, Wan Yi Jun, who caught that Qin Kai was more agitated by the scandals and news that will ruin his business, more than the death that happened in the club. So he decided to press more on the issue and search for helpful evidence from the owner.

"These attempts? Do you think this is an attempt to ruin your club's status, but not an accident." Wan Yi Jun asked and looked at Qin Kai's tired face as if he was studying him. 

"No...no, I didn't mean it. Whatever happened to that girl, it's really unfortunate and brutal," He immediately rephrased his words when he realized that investigating officer had misinterpreted his statement as if he was a non-sympathetic person." And I'm willing to go to any end to make sure that she receives the justice which she deserves."

As soon as he finished, Wan Yi Jun attentively nodded and took a mental note that he must keep an eye on Qin Kai, who happened to be overly sympathetic. 

"Hmmm. So, have you ever seen this girl, Shu Li Li, before?" He swiftly changed the topic and showed the photograph of the girl who was murdered on the new year eve. Qin Kai took the photograph and took a good luck for a long minute before answering No.

"No, sir. We host hundreds of people every day, and it is nearly impossible to memorize one person among them." He honestly replied and leaned on the chair, "I think Huo Shin might know."

"Huo Shin?"

"The manager in charge of Rising Ravens. Since we have opened a new branch of rising Ravens in the west city, I rarely comes here.  Even if come here, there aren't many chances for me to interact with customers." Qin Kai explained without any hiding any details. "Maybe manager Huo could add some information that might 

"I just asked because she was a regular here...She made sure to visit rising ravens once in a fortnight."

"Here, we try not to interfere with customers unless they start creating trouble for others."

"Normally, how do you manage whenever there is some argument or fight between with customers."

"We usually try to mediate if it is something trivial. Or we warn those trouble makers before kicking them out from the club. If they repeat it, we prohibit them from entering the club.

Mostly, these repeat offenders are those who get into fistfights or eve-teasing and sometimes drug abuse.

"I wanted to ask earlier. You were strict about drug usage on the club premises. Were there any specific reasons for that?"

"We never had any objection back when we started the club. We only cared about making money and never cared about anything, drugs, prostitution, we didn't care about anything.

"From my own experiences. My sister was an addict." 

"And,"

"We never really care about anything unless we get directly involved in it. While we were focusing on making the 

He committed suicide despite all the wealth and fame he possessed, abandoning his wife and only son all alone in the world. 

"I'm leaving." Wan Yi Jun gently bowed his head and walked out of the dining room as everyone remained shocked by the turn of the events. 

"If you leave now, you are just proving that whatever I said was true." Han Ze Min tauntingly said to the man who was about to leave the room in a vague effort to stop him. 

And unfortunately, Wan Yi Jun stopped in his tracks and turned slowly to meet his cousin, who was purposefully provoking him from the moment he showed up in the mansion. 

"I don't have anything to say, captain Han and I really don't have any time to listen to your bullshit theories." Wan Yi Jun retorted in a calm voice that completely contradicted his inner turmoil. 

"And you were right. I absolutely hate coming here." He paused for a moment and glanced at the startled faces of the rest of the Han family. 

"But that's not because of your stupid theory of vengeance, but because of you...only because of you." Wan Yi Jun pointed his finger at Han Ze Min, who stood there grinning as if he wasn't affected by any of his cousin's words. 

"If it isn't for grandma, I wouldn't have tolerated you till now." He concluded his harsh remarks and stomped out of the room without waiting for any reply. 

No one could believe that Han Ze Min's maniacal behaviour had not only ruined an auspicious day but also brutally hurt everyone with his hurtful words. 

"What's wrong with you?" Han Lao Dao, who was disappointed with his son's eccentric tantrums, touched his forehead as if he had no strength to fight anymore. 

Even though Han Ze Min and his annoying personality nearly pissed off everyone, nobody could disagree with the fact that the HK group was partially responsible for whatever happened to the Wan family in the past.

"I don't know how many times I have told this...It is a freaking possibility, nothing else. Anyone can target HK corporations out of personal vendetta...It can be the Terada family or any of your previous business partners who lost their lives while the corporation rose into prosperity. And for god sake, it was just a bunch of stupid examples. Why does he have to take it as a serious issue?" Han Ze Min opened his hands as if it was no big deal and stood up from the seat, leaving the rest of the people in utter disbelief.

As soon as Wan Yi Jun walked out of the Han family mansion, he aimlessly drove his car through the busy streets of imperial. His confused mind kept replaying every word he heard from Han Ze Min and his uncle at the dining table.

Those painful memories were the last thing he wanted to remember on this day.

He doesn't want to remember the Terada family nor his own father, who left this world while he was a helpless teenager who could do nothing to save them from their misery.

Somehow Wan Yi Jun managed to return to the police headquarters with muddled thoughts that made him lose the sense of his surroundings.

He took a deep breath to calm himself and walked into the police headquarters, only to run into general Zhi, who came out of his office at the same time. 

"Good afternoon, sir." Wan Yi Jun stopped in his tracks and greeted his senior officer, forgetting the bad blood he shared with Zhi Qian over these years.

"Hmm. Good afternoon. " Zhi Qian gently nodded his head and studied the tired face of the young man who stood before him. It was evident that Wan Yi Jun didn't rest due to the continuous work schedule. 

"I heard that you deliberately asked permission to investigate a murder case even when you were busy with several other duties." He inquired in a voice full of concern, which sounded different from his usual self.

"I think that case was somehow related to one of the cases I have previously investigated." Wan Yi Jun used the same excuse he used earlier to reply to his senior officer.

"Haa, I see. I thought you didn't want to get associated with the case that involves HK corporation." As he made an effort to continue the conversation, Zhi Qian somehow managed to stop Wan Yi Jun from running away from him.

"I don't think you are not that low to abuse your power just because the victim of this case is your uncle. I recommended you on the belief that you would solve the case and avoid any mishap that might cause harm to Han Shi Zhong." Zhi Qian honestly admitted and looked at the young man as a betrayer.

"Thanks for believing me, sir. But I don't think I will do any better job than the last team which handled the case.." Wan Yi Jun politely explained his reason for choosing some other case.