Chapter 141: The Wrong Person Was Caught

Captain, your martial prowess is truly extraordinary. You subdued the target so effortlessly, and the operation went completely smoothly! said one of the team members with a smile.

The other two team members chimed in with agreement and laughter: When it comes to our Captain's combat skills, among the hundreds of personnel in the entire Action Department, he is easily one of the very best. Old Sun—no, Captain Sun's skills are impressive enough, right? But he is simply not in the same league when compared to the Captain. He wouldn't last even a few rounds in a spar with the Captain!

There was certainly a hint of flattery in their words, but they were well aware of their Captain's terrifying combat capability.

During routine training at the garrison grounds, Ning Zhiheng never hid his abilities, and everyone who trained with him could witness them firsthand. He saw no need to conceal his strength because it was entirely unnecessary. As an action team leader, possessing exceptional tactical skills made it easy to earn his subordinates' trust, which was far more beneficial for his leadership duties!

Initially, some action team members, seeing Ning Zhiheng's youthful face, thought it necessary to show him the true prowess of the military's elite.

Consequently, they stepped forward one after another to spar with him, but they quickly learned of Ning Zhiheng's formidable strength, failing to last even a few moves against him.

Ning Zhiheng's true strength lay in his astonishingly immense power, even though his physique appeared only slightly more robust than an ordinary person's. Only those who actually crossed paths with him in combat could feel his terrifying explosive force. Coupled with the fact that his strikes completely lacked flashy maneuvers, he had successfully integrated and mastered the best aspects of military close-quarters combat and the Xingyi Quan taught by Sun Jiachen.

Every strike was practical and effective, delivering the most ferocious attack in the shortest possible time! The combination of these two factors was practically unbeatable!

Eventually, only Sun Jiachen could spar and contend with him, and that was only when using training daggers. If they fought hand-to-hand, even Sun Jiachen could not withstand his fierce onslaught.

Furthermore, Ning Zhiheng's marksmanship was terrifyingly accurate! Backed by his cheat-like physique, his extraordinary eyesight and exceptionally steady arm strength were fully utilized in the realm of shooting.

Now, whenever Ning Zhiheng practiced shooting at the firing range, many people would quickly gather around to observe and learn, breaking into expressions of amazement from time to time.

Whether using rifles or handguns, as long as it was within the target, he hit the bullseye almost every single time, making him an undisputed sharpshooter in every sense of the word.

As a result, whenever tactical experts were mentioned within the Military Intelligence Investigation Agency, Ning Zhiheng's name was always near the top of the list. This alone was enough to make these self-proclaimed elite action team members admire him without reservation!

Yet now, as if he hadn't heard a word they were saying, Ning Zhiheng waved his hand and commanded, Have the men move in immediately and conduct a thorough search!

One of the action team members hurried to notify the personnel waiting outside the courtyard and instructed Wang Shutong, who was securing the alley entrance.

Meanwhile, Ning Zhiheng frowned slightly as he carefully observed Zhou Wenbin.

This operation had been exceptionally smooth, which was originally within his expectations.

Ning Zhiheng's own combat capabilities had advanced by leaps and bounds over the past half-year, a progression so massive that even he secretly marveled at it.

He was confident that with his current skills, if he were to encounter Huang Xiansheng from half a year ago or the Snow Wolf from three months ago, he could easily subdue them completely unscathed.

Even if this Zhou Wenbin truly were a rigorously trained Japanese spy, under the circumstance of Ning Zhiheng's sudden assault, the outcome could easily be imagined!

Yet ever since Ning Zhiheng entered this residence, he had a lingering sense that something was amiss—everything simply seemed far too smooth.

Zhou Wenbin had displayed none of the defensive awareness a spy ought to possess.

First of all, his alertness was severely lacking; the doors and windows of his residence hadn't even been bolted shut before sleep, and the bedroom door wasn't latched securely. Most importantly, when he locked Zhou Wenbin's neck in a chokehold, he could clearly feel that Zhou Wenbin's muscle strength during his death throes was exceptionally weak, no different from an ordinary person's.

One had to know that spies who had undergone specialized training possessed split-second reflex reactions entirely distinct from ordinary people; their responses to crises were far swifter, more violent, and sustained.

Yet Zhou Wenbin's reaction was entirely that of an ordinary person. He had lost consciousness almost the instant his neck and the back of his head were subdued, which planted a faint trace of doubt in Ning Zhiheng's mind!

Could they have arrested the wrong person?

Up until now, every step of Ning Zhiheng's judgment when solving cases had been remarkably accurate, almost without a single error. His luck had also consistently been good; nearly every operation he undertook yielded results.

This had fostered a profound self-confidence in his own judgment—a confidence immensely precious to an operative! It made it difficult for others to sway Ning Zhiheng's mind, but at the same time, it easily made him prone to a stubborn bias. Fortunately, Ning Zhiheng was not a greenhorn who had never suffered a major setback; his myriad ups and downs in his past life were enough to teach him discretion and instill a sense of caution, which was why he had gradually developed a cautious and suspicious temperament.

He quickly brushed aside the suspicion in his heart, revealing no expression on his surface, and ordered his subordinates to conduct a thorough search, hoping for some reward from the subsequent investigation.

Before long, Zhou Wenbin slowly regained consciousness. Forcing his eyes open, he was astounded to see numerous strange, burly men in his home, rummaging through boxes and cabinets and tearing his house apart in a chaotic mess.

He was so terrified that he instantly jolted, quickly shutting his eyes and pretending not to have woken up. He must have run into robbers breaking into his home!

Misfortune had struck out of nowhere! Fortunately, he was somewhat worldly-wise; thoughts raced rapidly through his mind as he frantically calculated countermeasures!

Enough! Stop playing dead! Ning Zhiheng stepped forward, kicked him lightly, and ordered in a low voice.

He had long since taken in all of Zhou Wenbin's actions, and his heart sank with disappointment. It seemed they really had arrested the wrong man!

Ah! Good fellows, I didn't see any of your faces! I really didn't see anything! Please take whatever you want in this house as my tribute to you heroes, just spare my life! Zhou Wenbin kept his eyes tightly shut, not daring to open them, and begged repeatedly through sobs.

Knowing his little performance had failed to deceive anyone, profound terror welled up inside him. Was his life about to end here today?

Ning Zhiheng shook his head. If this Zhou Wenbin truly were a Japanese spy, then his acting skills could certainly be considered Oscar-worthy.

Too lazy to bother with him further, Ning Zhiheng directed his team members to carry out a carpet search, and they quickly turned the entire house inside out.

Captain, aside from discovering a safe, we didn't find any other items of value! reported Wang Shutong. He looked at the house, which had been ransacked down to its foundations; even the sofa in the living room had been torn open and inspected. They were practically dismantling the house!

Ning Zhiheng was somewhat speechless. He kicked Zhou Wenbin once more and said irritably, Tell me the combination to your safe!

Zhou Wenbin was a bank department manager with a handsome income, so naturally, there were precious items in his home, prompting him to specially purchase a safe, which was installed behind the bedside table in the bedroom and promptly discovered by the action team members.

Hearing Ning Zhiheng's words, Zhou Wenbin felt a sharp pang of agony. His life savings were all inside that safe, and today it seemed destined to slip through his fingers. He could only pray that these people would take the money without harming his life. Money was important, but not as important as his life—he still understood this basic distinction!

Hearing Ning Zhiheng's demand, he dared not delay and quickly blurted out the safe's combination.

Ning Zhiheng stepped forward himself, turned the circular dial according to the combination, and easily unlocked the password safe.

Instantly, stacks of cash, gold bars, and several jewelry boxes inside were revealed before everyone's eyes.

Yet Ning Zhiheng did not spare even a single glance at the cash and jewelry. Instead, he picked up some documents inside to inspect them. It turned out they were certificates for various bonds and real estate—undoubtedly another substantial fortune.

However, after searching the safe from top to bottom, Ning Zhiheng found no exposed photographic film or any other items related to espionage!

He glanced at Zhou Wenbin, thinking to himself that his luck had run a bit thin this time. Out of nine targets, this attempt had failed!

Still, this man could not be easily let go. For the sake of caution, he still needed to take Zhou Wenbin back for further screening.

Zhou Wenbin, let me ask you, why did you go to Erma Alley this afternoon? Ning Zhiheng asked stubbornly.

Erma Alley? How do you know about that? I have a penchant for a drink, and I'm fond of the spirits from that winery in Erma Alley. I often pay a high price to buy some and bring it back to satisfy my cravings! If you don't believe me, just go look in my liquor cabinet and you'll see! Zhou Wenbin answered cautiously.

He was also a sharp-witted man, and at this moment, he vaguely sensed that these people might not be ordinary robbers. They actually knew he had been to Erma Alley that afternoon—could it be they had targeted him back then? Alas, one shouldn't flaunt one's wealth!

Ning Zhiheng curled his lip and said with annoyance, Zhou Wenbin, you needn't be afraid. We are not robbers. We are investigators from the Military Intelligence Investigation Agency. We now suspect you are connected to a case we are investigating, and we request that you accompany us back to assist with the investigation. Rest assured, if everything goes smoothly, you'll be able to return shortly.

Hearing Ning Zhiheng's words, Zhou Wenbin grew even more anxious. As a bank department manager, his social circle was broad, and he had once heard rumors of this special department possessing astonishingly formidable authority.

Yet he never expected to become entangled with this agency today. He could only place his hopes on Ning Zhiheng keeping his word and sending him back shortly.

Ning Zhiheng casually shut the safe, taking none of the valuables inside. Although he loved wealth, he believed in acquiring it through proper means. Toward evildoers who committed atrocities and had blood on their hands, he was naturally ruthless, stripping them to the bone and squeezing out every last penny without a shred of psychological burden!

However, toward ordinary, law-abiding citizens, he still maintained his own bottom line; otherwise, what difference would he make compared to genuine bandits?

Ning Zhiheng gave the order to withdraw, leaving Wang Shutong behind with a few team members to secure the premises, while he personally led Zhou Wenbin and the rest of the team back to the police station to report to Zhao Ziliang and Xiang Yan!