Power and Wealth

City State Security Third Division Office.

A few State Security staff entered the room and grabbed Liu Gang after Xu Yan gave the orders. He panicked and struggled.

"Let go of me! You all are accusing me!"

"We will find out if you have leaked any information."

"What's there to investigate? I had gone for a vacation, and it was my job to interview those foreigners. Let go of me!"

"All these are not up to you. Just cooperate with our investigation from today onwards."

"All these have nothing to do with me! You all had arrested the wrong person. I did not follow you all! Why can't you all believe me?"

"It's useless for you to say all these. We will investigate, and you just need to tell us what you know and did." Xu Yan said and waved her hand.

The two staff dragged Liu Gang out of the room. "Follow us!"

Xu Yan turns to the Third Division Chief. "Get a detailed statement from him and find out who instigated him."

"Yes, Mdm." The Third Division Chief nodded.

The door opened, and Liu Gang was dragged out of the room.

Liu Gang's legs had gone soft, and are terrified. If he were given a chance, he would never find trouble with Dong Xuebing. He finally understands that Dong Xuebing is not someone without backings. His backing is not a lowly reporter can provoke. The City-State Security Bureau! Even if someone from the District Government, the City Government, tries to help me, they are also powerless against the State Security. State Security is an independent department, and even the City Public Security Bureau cannot interfere with their work. He is in deep trouble now. He shivered at the thought of how long is he going to remain in custody until the investigation was over.

Half an hour later.

Nan Qi Morning Post, Deputy Chief Editor Office.

Someone knocked on the door. "Editor Pang, are you looking for me?"

"Is Liu Gang back?"

"Oh, not yet. I have not seen him since noon."

"Ok. Ask him to see me when he is back."

"Ok." That man left and closed the door behind him.

Pang Dabing is looking at the articles and layout for tomorrow's paper. Most of the articles for tomorrow's papers are ready, and he needs an article to expose Dong Xuebing. He frowned and called Liu Gang. Liu Gang's phone is engaged. This is the fifth time he has called Liu Gang. What is going on? Did he switch off his phone, or is he in an area with no reception? Maybe his phone's battery died. He is still waiting for Liu Gang's article.

Did something happen to Liu Gang?

Pang Dabing shook his head and felt this was not possible. Liu Gang had worked as a reporter for many years and is smart. Furthermore, what can happen to him?

Pang Dabing looks at his watch, and there's still time.

Pang Dabing remembers Liu Gang had mentioned that he had discovered something on Dong Xuebing during their last phone call. That means he should have a scoop. If they can get something negative about Dong Xuebing, they don't need to write fake articles to tarnish his reputation. Pang Dabing would prefer to use the truth than using fake news. He doesn't want to get involved in unnecessary trouble even if the higher-up is willing to back him. If Liu Gang could not get anything, he would continue to write about Dong Xuebing assault incidents to incite the people. This can also tarnish Dong Xuebing's reputation.

Suddenly, loud footsteps can be heard from outside.

"Hey, who are you all looking for?"

"Is Pang Dabing around?"

"Do you have an appointment with Chief Pang? Hey… wait…. What are you all doing?!"

The door was pushed open, and four men in plainclothes entered, followed by the newspaper agency staff who couldn't stop them. "Chief Pang, they…."

Pang Dabing frowned. "Who are you?"

The person in front asked. "Are you Pang Dabing?"

"What do you think?" Pang Dabing is furious. He had encountered such incidents before. People had barged into his office to create trouble because of some newspaper articles published, and he is used to it. "I am busy now. Go out and wait in the resting area." He said and continued with his work.

That man smiled. "I don't think I can wait, and I don't care if you are busy now."

That man turned. "Xiao Liu, go and check his identification."

"Yes." One of the men walked over.

"What are you all trying to do?" Pang Dabing is furious and stands up.

Xiao Liu doesn't care and reaches out for Pang Dabing's pocket.

Pang Dabing pushed Xiao Liu away.

But Xiao Liu didn't flinch. He grabbed Pang Dabing's wrist and used a simple grasp technique to pin him onto the desk. Bam! He pressed Pang Dabing's face against a document on the desk, and his face was imprinted with some words because of the wet ink.

Pang Dabing shouted angrily. "How dare you all create trouble here?! Get the security!"

The staff quickly runs out of the office.

Xiao Liu took out a leather wallet from Pang Dabing's pocket and walked back to his leader with the Identification card. "That's right. He is Pang Dabing."

The middle-aged man nodded. "Bring him back!"

The other two men walked over quickly to subdue Pang Dabing.

The middle-aged man continued. "Leave one man here. I want every corner searched and protected the scene. No one is allowed to enter."

"Yes, Sir!" That man put on a pair of white gloves and started to search for evidence.

Pang Dabing is shocked and knows something is wrong. "Who are you, people?"

The middle-aged man showed his identification. "We are from the State Security. Come with us!"

Pang Dabing is confused. He doesn't understand why State Security wanted him.

Two cars entered Nan Qi Morning Post's agency a few moments later. A group of men entered Pang Dabing's office. Another group of men went to Liu Gang's workstation to search for evidence. The news agency staff, which are not working, called their colleagues to tell them State Security Bureau Officers searched Liu Gang and Pang Dabing's apartment at their family quarters.

Deputy Chief Editor Pang was brought away by State Security.

Reporter Liu Gang should also be arrested.

Everyone in the newspaper agency is shocked to see Pang Dabing being dragged into a car. What crimes did they commit?

City State Security Bureau.

Pang Dabing was brought into a room.

Xu Yan is seated in the center, and the Third Division Chief and other staff are beside her.

Pang Dabing is furious about getting arrested for no reason. The State Security had sent their Officers to arrest him in his office, and his reputation will be tarnished. All this while, he was the one tarnishing other people's reputations. He never expected it would happen to him. "Why did you all arrest me? I am a law-abiding citizen and have done nothing to harm the nation. How can you all arrest me and search my house? You all better have a good explanation, or else, I will not let you all off!" Pang Dabing shouted, but he was trembling inside.

The Third Division Chief looked at Pang Dabing. "You should know why you are arrested."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Pang Dabing coldly replies.

"Fine. Let me remind you." The Third Division Chief replied. "Is Liu Gang your cousin?"

"Yes." Pang Dabing answered. "What's wrong with it?"

"Liu Gang had spoken to you three times this afternoon from his phone records. What did you ask him to do?"

Pang Dabing becomes cautious. "It is about work-related matters. Is it a crime to talk to him over the phone? We are talking about tomorrow's news article. I did not ask him to do anything."

"Are you sure? This is different from what we know." The Third Division Chief threw a file in front of Pang Dabing. "Read this yourself. This is handwritten by Liu Gang. He claimed you had ordered him to investigate Guang Ming Subdistrict Office Director Dong Xuebing."

Pang Dabing cursed in his heart. What is Liu Gang doing? Why does he need to mention me? "I don't know anything about this and did not give him any orders. He did not tell me anything." He knows following a Government Leader is illegal.

The Third Division Chief continued. "It's fine if you don't want to admit. We have the evidence." He took out another file. "You and Liu Gang are very close after he joined Nan Qi Morning Post, and you two are relatives. I am not afraid to tell you that he is arrested for monitoring and tailing our City State Security Bureau Chief this afternoon."

Monitoring the City State Security Chief?!

Pang Dabing laughed. "How is this possible?"

Pang Dabing knows Liu Gang is timid and will never dare to follow anyone from the State Security.

The Third Division Chief continued. "Impossible? Are you refusing to admit it? Fine! Look at these!"

All the evidence is placed in front of Pang Dabing.

The monitor played the tailing footage.

Xu Yan's photographs are in Liu Gang's camera.

If Pang Dabing had not received Liu Gang's call, he would be convinced Liu Gang was caught tailing someone. But Liu Gang had told him he was following Dong Xuebing and a woman. He should be trying to get evidence of Dong Xuebing's affair with that woman.

That stupid Liu Gang had fallen into a trap set up by Dong Xuebing and the State Security!

This is a setup from the start.

Pang Dabing immediately realized what was going on, and his face changed. They can never clear their names if the other party insists on going after them with the evidence. There's no way to argue even if they have a hundred mouths.