Trafford's Trading Club

579: Chapter 47: Turning Oneself In 579: Chapter 47: Turning Oneself In “…Haven’t found it yet?” Officer Ma was contacting Lin Feng, “You guys should come back now.

We were short-staffed earlier, and had no choice but to ask Ren Ziling for help.

Now that the support team has arrived, let them conduct the search.”

Officer Ma hung up the phone as he finished speaking, then glanced at Ali.

Ali said nothing, which indicated no objection to Officer Ma’s arrangement.

Their positions had undergone significant changes, and from a professional standpoint, Officer Ma naturally understood that everything should be prioritized according to Ali’s views.

This room was temporarily cleaned up to serve as the command center.

Of course, it was previously a small meeting room for Baiyu Cruise’s crew meetings.

From the issuing department, Xiaobao was sitting here at the time — just sitting in the seating area under the podium, watching Officer Ma and the unfamiliar woman exchanging something, while quietly slacking off playing a recently popular online game, Emerald Fantasy.

On the floor beside Xiaobao lay a man named Flying Eagle.

Xiaobao glanced over again… Who knows what this man has been through?

The whole person was curled up on the ground, as if every man on the ship had discussed philosophy with him.

From Xiaobao’s professional perspective, it wasn’t hard to see tear stains at the corners of Flying Eagle’s eyes and he exhibited a particularly sorrowful demeanor, much like the appearance of women harmed in assault cases.

Addtionally, Flying Eagle’s mouth was taped with black tape.

At this moment, the door of the temporary command room welcomed a knocking sound, causing Officer Ma to pause his actions and gesture at Xiaobao.

Promptly, Xiaobao nodded, following Officer Ma’s earlier instructions.

Upon seeing his gesture, he should hide the man called Flying Eagle under the desk, and use an electric shock stick given by Mu Zi (Xiaobao was only told Ali’s name was Mu Zi) to rest against Flying Eagle’s body. “Sorry, don’t make any noise, I don’t know how strong the voltage of this thing is, it seems modified…” Xiaobao whispered into Flying Eagle’s ear, “You need to cooperate, brother.”

Flying Eagle… Flying Eagle just gazed blankly at the floor, like a walking corpse, allowing Xiaobao to manipulate his body.

Officer Ma finally opened the door, “Vice-Captain Mu, you’re here?”

Mu Qinghai nodded and walked in, glancing around.

He saw not only Officer Ma but also a woman, and someone sitting quietly on the side… He remembered this person seemed to be an evaluator who later arrived via helicopter.

Mu Qinghai calmly asked, “Officer Ma, what’s the reason for calling me here?”

Officer Ma said indifferently, “Vice-Captain, we have something we’d like you to take a look at… Xiaobao!”

Seeing Xiaobao quickly nod, pausing the game, ditching the team during the dungeon raid, and without any pressure, turning on the projector on the table to play a film. “This is…” Mu Qinghai frowned, “Is this surveillance footage?

Officer Ma, why are you showing me this?”

Officer Ma chuckled, “Don’t rush, take a look first, see if there’s anything amiss.”

Mu Qinghai didn’t say a word, just stood in front of the projection screen, watching silently, after a while, Mu Qinghai shook his head and said, “Sorry, Officer Ma, I don’t see any issues.”

Officer Ma said indifferently, “Vice-Captain, this footage was taken from the surveillance room, covering the period between 3 AM and 6 AM last night.

Our technicians have verified that this footage shows signs of being overwritten, meaning…”

Officer Ma stared at Mu Qinghai, eyes flashing with fierceness, “Someone erased the original footage!”

Mu Qinghai silently looked at Officer Ma for a few seconds before furrowing his brows, “Officer Ma, what are you trying to say?

Are you suspecting that I switched the footage?”

Officer Ma said indifferently, “Vice-Captain, I’m just asking, didn’t say you switched it… You seem to be in a hurry to explain something?”

Mu Qinghai said, “Officer Ma, given your questioning style, it’s not surprising that one might think along those lines, right?”

Officer Ma squinted his eyes at Mu Qinghai for several seconds, then suddenly nodded and pressed the phone button, “Bring the person over.”

After Officer Ma gave the order, seeing there was still some time, he suddenly asked, “Vice-Captain, there seems to be some commotion on the ship, is that right?

I noticed a lot of security and crew have been mobilized.”

Mu Qinghai said indifferently, “Nothing significant, just discovered a thief.

Security reported losing them near the small theater and heard several loud bursts… like explosive sounds, many tourists in the theater were frightened.

So it’s quite tense.”

Ali… Ali lowered her head, playing with her fingernails.

Officer Ma coughed lightly twice, then the small conference room’s door opened, and a uniformed police officer pushed the door to enter, bringing a crew member inside.

Mu Qinghai glanced over, brows slightly furrowed.

Officer Ma pointed at the crew member, “Vice-Captain, this crew member should be the one who was on duty in the surveillance room last night, right?

Correct?” “Correct.” Mu Qinghai nodded.

Officer Ma pointed at the crew member, “Tell us in detail what happened last night.”

The crew member nervously looked at everyone, “I was on duty last night… suddenly the power went out… then the Vice-Captain called me to go see the electrical room with him.

Then…” “What happened next?” Officer Ma asked in a stern voice.

The crew member quickly glanced at Mu Qinghai, then looked away, “Later we arrived at the electric room only to find we didn’t have the key.

The vice-captain went back alone to get it and left me to wait.” “How long was that?” “About… about seven or eight minutes?

Anyway, the vice-captain returned very quickly.” “So, you weren’t together the whole time, were you?” “Y-yes.” “You can go now.” Officer Ma waved his hand.

The officer led the crew member out of the room, and only then did Officer Ma look at Mu Qinghai, calmly saying, “Vice-Captain, can you explain whether you really only went back to get the key during that short time?”

Mu Qinghai responded indifferently, “Besides getting the key, what else could I have done?”

Officer Ma scoffed, “I’ve learned that only you and the captain have the key to the archive where the data is stored.

According to Xiaobao’s assessment, the segment that was overwritten, at the very least, is not from within the last seven days.

In other words, it’s data stored more than seven days ago.” “This proves nothing.”

Mu Qinghai shook his head, “The lock on the archive is not some specially designed electronic lock.

Anyone who wants to open it likely has a way.

Just like the electric room that just had an incident.

It was originally locked, yet didn’t someone also open it?

Officer, if you simply determine it’s me just because I have the key, isn’t that too presumptive?

Of course, if you want to say I’m a suspect, I understand and am quite willing to cooperate with your investigation.

But if there’s no substantial evidence, don’t I have the right to pursue accountability?”

Officer Ma suddenly said, “Vice-Captain, we obtained a recorded conversation as well, please listen…

Xiaobao.”

Xiaobao took out a voice recorder, plugged it into the laptop, and a very complete recording began to play…

Once the recording finished, Officer Ma solemnly said, “Mu Qinghai!

It’s very clear now!

You murdered Qian Guoliang and took something from him!

Do you still want to deny it?”

This thunderous interrogation carried Officer Ma’s decades as an upright officer, intimidating in its power.

Ordinary people would be shaken, if not directly unnerved, then at least wavering.

Unexpectedly, Mu Qinghai remained calm, “Officer, this recording was given to you by a man wearing a straw hat, right?

As it happens, he’s the one we’re looking for.

This guy sneaked into the captain’s cabin and tried to lure me with some strange words, evidently with ill intentions.” “Mu Qinghai, the conversation is very clear, you’re really trying to deny it!” “Officer Ma, this man’s background is unknown.

If I hadn’t stalled him this way, I would not have waited for anyone to come.” Mu Qinghai shook his head, “According to the ‘Several Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on…

Article 68, evidence obtained by infringing on others’ legitimate rights or in violation of restrictive laws, cannot be used as the basis for determining case facts.

Violating restrictive laws generally refers to eavesdropping equipment, threatening others, illegally entering others’ residences, etc…”

As he spoke, Mu Qinghai looked at Officer Ma, his gaze sharp, “…someone can prove this man broke into the captain’s cabin.

Additionally, can such a recording still be considered valid factual evidence?”

Mu Qinghai looked at Officer Ma’s gaze as if wanting to devour him, finally saying earnestly, “Officer, the deceased was last found on the deck… and at that time, I was filming a documentary with the captain, which at least proves both the captain and I have alibis, doesn’t it?” … “Damn it!!

The thing I hate most is these intellectual types!!” Officer Ma angrily pounded his fist on the table.

Having just started idling again, Xiaobao was so frightened he immediately disconnected again, and after screwing over his teammates, he quietly closed his laptop.

Of course, Xiaobao knew Officer Ma was very angry… but being angry had no use.

Officer Ma could only temporarily classify the vice-captain as a suspect and keep an eye on him—in another room nearby. “Old Ma, step outside for a bit.” Ali suddenly opened the door.

The two stepped outside, Ali leaned against the wall, frowning, “Old Ma, you say under these circumstances it’s hard for an average person to stay calm… but isn’t Mu Qinghai overly calm?”

Officer Ma nodded, “What he said is actually right.

I originally intended to bluff him; the report to be delivered to court definitely can’t be written like this… but this guy is really impervious.” “Mu Enli and Qian Guoliang had two contacts… yet Mu Qinghai remained so composed.” Ali bit her lip and muttered, “Between these two, who exactly is codenamed King?” “Ali, in this case… should we control both suspects directly, not letting any of them slip?” Officer Ma suddenly asked quietly.

Ali exhaled, silently shaking her head, “I’m not comfortable with this approach… but with national interests at stake, there’s no other way.

But in fact, regardless of which one is King, the other is implicated, even if it’s merely an adoptive father-son relationship… but… at least quietly it has to be done this way.”

A phone suddenly rang.

Officer Ma glanced at the caller ID, then suddenly looked up at Ali, “It’s Mu Enli!” “Answer it.”

Officer Ma nodded, then put it on speaker, “Hello, Captain?” “Officer Ma, come over, I’m in the central control room… don’t bother looking, I’ll explain everything.”

After saying this, the call ended.

Officer Ma and Ali exchanged a glance, both frowning at the same time.