Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1135 574: Bloodshed in the Black Market (Part 4)

Before I die I have to fight one more time. I can't just give in like this, can't just give up like this. Even if I take one enemy down with me, I won't have betrayed the chairman's trust and expectations!

Goncharova mustered all her courage, her bloodshot eyes glaring at everyone.

Then she wrapped her hands around her head and squatted down on the ground.

Thinking is one thing, courage is one thing, but actually putting it into action is another.

Goncharova's explanation to herself was that she had to live on properly under Luchalev's protection.

...

Goncharova was escorted into the car. Dumpling glanced around, but didn't see Light Bulb.

"Where did Light Bulb go?"

Chuuni was also a bit curious: "I just saw him. He suddenly disappeared when we started the operation."

Dumpling gave Light Bulb a call. Not long after, everyone saw Light Bulb running out from a nearby alley.

Dumpling was very angry. He lowered his voice and said, "Where did you run off to? This is a mission. How can you have zero sense of discipline?"

Light Bulb said, "We'd just taken our positions and Bureau Chief Li asked to borrow some oil from me, so I gave it to him."

Dumpling asked curiously, "What did he want to borrow oil from you for?"

"He didn't say," Light Bulb shook his head. "He took the oil and left. He took quite a bit, and my oil here was running a bit low. I was afraid I'd drag everyone down during the mission, so I hurried to find a place to get some oil into me and top it back up."

Dumpling frowned. "He just left after taking the oil? You're sure you're not leaving anything out?"

Light Bulb froze. "What would I leave out? I'm telling it exactly as it happened!"

Chuuni said, "Then are you topped up now? You're drenched in sweat—it looks like you're still a bit weak."

"I'm not weak," Light Bulb shook his head and looked at everyone. "I'm really not weak. I've already topped up. Bureau Chief Li just borrowed some oil from me, he didn't do anything else, seriously!"

...

Once they got to the Dark Star Bureau, Goncharova remained mostly silent. She didn't say a word about the Secret Cultivation Conference, nor did she give any explanation for why she went to the Cultural Palace tonight.

The only request she made was that she needed detox treatment; as for what poison exactly she'd been given, she couldn't say clearly herself.

Shen Jingye said to Li Qi, "Don't you dare screw me over. There's been a death at the Cultural Palace. Instead of hurrying over to solve the case, I'm still here interrogating her. The higher-ups are not going to let me off easy."

Li Qi said earnestly, "Little Shen, would I ever shortchange you? Once you interrogate her clearly, the homicide will be cleared up too.

Just take her to the interrogation room and use the Virtue Cultivation equipment. Won't everything come out then? Why waste all this effort?"

Shen Jingye said, "She's a foreigner, and she isn't even a suspect, she's a victim. If I send her into the interrogation room, I'll have to take responsibility for that!"

"So what if she's a foreigner?" Li Banfeng was displeased. "If you put it that way, I really won't bother using any other methods. Just hurry up and send her to the interrogation room!"

"You have other methods?" Shen Jingye's eyes lit up. "Bureau Chief Li, don't make things hard for me. If you have a way, then hurry up and use it.

I'm telling you, if the higher-ups start putting pressure on me over this and the real business gets delayed, don't you regret it later.

You know some things can really split their attention—especially this kind of incident. If the higher-ups shift their focus off Du Wenming, then the real issues are going to get bogged down!"

On this point, what Shen Jingye said was indeed true. If you want a hot incident to cool down, the best way is to create a new hot incident.

Li Banfeng sent the others away. He wanted to talk to Goncharova alone.

Goncharova was extremely on guard. "What are you going to do? Are you planning to use illegal methods to interrogate me? I want to contact my lawyer. I'm going to fight for my rights! You can't treat me with illegal methods."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "You're overthinking it. We're not planning to keep questioning you. The higher-ups attach great importance to the Cultural Palace incident. Director Du has ordered us to transfer you over to him."

"Transfer me to who?" Goncharova's face instantly turned pale.

"Transfer you to our superior, Director Du. I heard he's your friend. Maybe he can provide you with the necessary help.

This transfer will be carried out in secret. Most people in the Bureau won't know about it. I'm just giving you a heads-up in advance—someone will come to pick you up in five minutes."

With that, Li Banfeng left.

Goncharova sat in the room, her body starting to tremble in waves.

From time to time she gripped her own hair, pacing back and forth in the room.

She couldn't fall into Du Wenming's hands, absolutely could not fall into his hands.

She wanted to leave this place, yet she didn't dare take even a single step out.

Five minutes felt very long, yet also very short.

Li Banfeng told Chuuni and Dumpling, "You two go in, tell her it's time to go, then take her to another room."

This was easy enough. Wasn't it just changing rooms?

The two of them walked into the room. Dumpling said, "It's time to go."

Goncharova shook her head frantically. "I'm not going. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here."

Dumpling was baffled. It was just changing rooms—why was this woman resisting so much?

Chuuni's expression darkened. "We're not here to negotiate anything with you. This is our assignment. All we need is your cooperation."

As he spoke, he took out the handcuffs.

Goncharova shoved Chuuni hard. Chuuni crashed into the wall and almost got hurt.

At Chuuni's current level, dealing with Goncharova was really too difficult.

Dumpling was no match for her either and was just thinking about how to report back to Li Qi.

"I'm not going!" Goncharova roared at the two of them in Ravsha Language mixed with Huan Country speech. "Don't any of you come near me, or I'll fight you to the death.

Tell Li Qi to come here. I have something important to tell him. Call over your most important people!"