Snail Senior Brother

Chapter 120 Was His Scheme Truly Flawless

I'm in a foul mood. The Schemer's setup was too intricate, too perfect. He spouted a load of useless maxims, yet I couldn't find any flaws in them. Every time I thought I saw through his scheme, I fell into another trap.

I admit defeat. With my current abilities, I'm no match for the Schemer.

But can I surrender now? Yang Zhenzhen was definitely injected with something. Although the Schemer didn't give her sleeping pills, he said she wouldn't wake up if she wasn't treated within twenty-four hours.

Holding the phone, I dialed the number of the mobile phone my Old Ghost had taken from me.

"I can't hold on any longer. Haven't you returned yet?" I asked directly.

"I broke through the counterfeit money scam ahead of schedule. Qianqian will be with you by noon today. Kid, you've already done an amazing job playing my Senior Brother's game for six days. From now on, you don't have to do anything."

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"I can't do nothing. The Schemer has hostages. He must be forcing me to do something."

Old Ghost sighed, "As long as you give up, with my Senior Brother's personality, he won't kill anyone."

"This time, he will. The Schemer is dying. He has cancer and doesn't have long to live."

After I said that, I could feel Old Ghost's distinct silence on the other end for a moment, after which he said, "I hadn't considered that. I'm already in Beijing."

"What are you doing in Beijing?"

In the international case, Old Ghost enlisted the legendary figure Gao Ji to forcefully break the deadlock and save me. However, shortly after the international police returned to the country, news broke that the thief who stole the painting "Woman 3" had been apprehended. The thief was caught red-handed as he was about to return a fake painting to its owner. A seemingly solved case now presented a mystery: why would the thief return the painting?

Under repeated interrogation by the police, the thief confessed that he had received a fake painting from China. The employer who hired him to steal the painting had instructed him to return the fake one to make it indistinguishable from the real one and thus clear the case.

Would the collector not know that a fake was being returned? Such a claim was absurd, yet when the international police brought in experts to authenticate the painting, an awkward situation arose. The experts could not believe that the "Woman 3" in their hands was fake.

Subsequently, the thief revealed his employer, stating that the employer was named Gao Ji and that Gao Ji was already in China, desperately trying to obtain the authenticated fake painting, which was, in fact, the real one.

The international police quickly contacted their counterparts in China and confirmed that Gao Ji was preparing to purchase this fake painting. Gao Ji, a renowned collector, had been persuaded by Old Ghost to bring experts to prove the painting was fake. However, the experts had completely failed to detect it. This method of forgery had captured Gao Ji's attention. As a collector, Gao Ji could not tolerate a forgery technique he was unaware of. Thus, he pulled strings and went to great lengths to bring this fake painting back to Hong Kong.

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Unexpectedly, this led to an international lawsuit. The international police suspected Gao Ji of being the mastermind behind the theft. Although Gao Ji was a legendary figure, he was not above the law, and he had to cooperate with the investigation.

Any ripple caused by someone like Gao Ji could be extremely troublesome. Old Ghost had contacted Gao Ji, who claimed there were no problems. He merely wanted to buy a fake painting, and even if he were falsely accused, no one would take drastic action based on mere accusations. However, just yesterday, authoritative experts from both countries issued a definitive ruling: the "Woman 3" that Gao Ji had experts authenticate in China, and which was discovered at Zhang Ying's home, was not a forgery but the genuine article. This development made it impossible for Gao Ji to explain himself. The shadowy forces that had long coveted Gao Ji's wealth began to make their moves.

If Gao Ji encountered trouble, it could trigger another economic crisis in Hong Kong. Therefore, Old Ghost had to go there to resolve the issue.

I understood. This was the Schemer's doing.

The seller, the canvas expert, the paint expert, the craftsman, the liaison.

These people who played "Pirates' Gold" with the Schemer had no idea they were targeting me. From start to finish, they believed the boss genuinely wanted to create a fake painting.

The seller, Zhang Ying, was a foreign trade teacher, capable of dealing with foreigners and conducting business, which was quite normal. Initially, the Schemer, under the alias Jiang He, contacted Zhang Ying to help sell the fake painting. He promised Zhang Ying a certain profit, a sum that would bring her close to the amount she had defrauded through her VIP investment company. The Schemer knew that Zhang Ying had killed that young man surnamed Zhu (the one posing as a real estate heir) and hidden the money. Zhang Ying was actively seeking a way out, needing to clear her name and obtain over ten million yuan to live a life of luxury.

The sequence of events was likely this: the Schemer, impersonating Jiang He, successfully reported to our university and then, under the guise of admiring Teacher Zhang Ying, approached her. In reality, Jiang He was negotiating a deal with Zhang Ying to sell fake paintings abroad.

With a fixed method, and an unrelated person, it was no problem for the Schemer, with his capabilities, to persuade Zhang Ying. Then came the profit and trust, the samples, and the initial payment. This ten million was crucial; it made everyone believe the boss was wealthy and capable of creating fake paintings.

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Therefore, Zhang Ying had no idea that the craftsman and Jiang He were the same person. Once the fake painting was completed, Zhang Ying would begin selling it. Upon successful sale, Zhang Ying would receive additional funds beyond the final payment, which would significantly reduce the amount she owed for restitution. However, this amount would still fall short of her defrauded sum; she was still a little ways off from clearing her name.

It was at this point that Jiang He invited Zhang Ying to play a game, a game where I would become Jiang He.

In this game, Zhang Ying's misdeeds were gradually exposed. Unbeknownst to her, Zhang Ying progressively became a tool for the Schemer. After her murder charge was revealed, Zhang Ying, as the number one pirate, was forced to participate in the "Pirates' Gold" game.

Zhang Ying would never have imagined that the sample Jiang He gave them, hanging on the background wall of her home, was the genuine "Woman 3," estimated to be worth a hundred million US dollars. While a hundred million dollars hung on her living room wall, she, short by a few million to clear her name, became a puppet controlled by the Schemer's five fingers.

"I admit I didn't anticipate my Senior Brother's death. We were both fooled this time. However, you must remember to endure whatever situation you face. Qianqian will arrive by noon at the latest. Leave everything to Qianqian to handle."

"I really can't endure it. The Schemer has hostages."

"I know. The Schemer is forcing you to experience what he went through. Your life, your lifelong established beliefs will be completely destroyed. Then, your way of thinking and values will be reformed to become the next Schemer."

"How is that possible?"

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"Ghosts are monsters that can attach themselves to your thoughts. He's dying, and he wants someone to spread his ideology. Believe me, doing nothing at this point is the best course of action. My Senior Brother made a choice back then, and that's why he became who he is now."

"I understand!"

"Do you really understand?"

"What difference does it make if I understand? Am I supposed to stand by and let someone die? I don't know what you two went through. If I become as twisted as the Schemer, like I was back then, then that's my fate. I accept it. I'm going to save them, I will definitely save them."

Old Ghost was silent for a long time. "Good luck."

Hearing this, I didn't know why I started laughing, "Is that all?"

"All things under heaven are not owned by me, but all things under heaven are used by me."

"That phrase again?"

"That is the highest realm."

"So what? This isn't a martial arts novel. Can I achieve enlightenment and rebirth during a duel with the enemy? Since you can't help, let's say goodbye. I hope we meet again."

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After I hung up, Luo Bo walked over. "There are no clues here. Uncle Li has already taken them back. The task force is expanding the search area. I'll join them. What about you?"

"Let me have some quiet."

I went to the pedestrian street alone and sat cross-legged on the cold stone slabs. Time ticked by, and my phone rang. I didn't say anything, just listened quietly. The Schemer spoke on the other end, "Can you get Tang Nan to the phone?"

I smiled, a loud, discomfiting laugh that he would hear in the dead of night. "Schemer, so you're not a god."

"Hasn't the task force received the news yet?"

"The news about Gao Ji being investigated? About how the experts he brought proved the "Woman 3" was a fake, and then it was proven to be a masterpiece?"

The Schemer sounded clearly puzzled on the phone, "Since you already know, there's no reason for the task force to let you move freely."

"Schemer, you're too confident. I escaped your trap not because of Old Ghost and Gao Ji's help. Before they made their move, someone had already exposed Zhang Ying's lies. Don't talk about me not being Jiang He; even if I were, that famous painting has nothing to do with Jiang He."

"Such a thing happened? How did you do it?"

The Schemer was too arrogant. He believed his scheme was foolproof. Therefore, he hadn't paid any attention to the task force's developments.

"Why should I tell you? Aren't you omnipotent? Guess!"

I tried to provoke the Schemer, to make him doubt his own plan. He remained silent, and I continued to speak loudly, "Schemer, I will definitely catch you and punch you down. If you dare lick my shoes, I'll stomp your long tongue into pulp."

"You're very confident, Tang Nan!"

"Yes!"

"Unfortunately, I can't change things on my end now. However, you've made a cardinal sin in this game. No matter what you've done, you've shaken my resolve. Therefore, you must make this final choice in advance."

I'm not afraid. I have to face Old Ghost.

His wavering confidence is my only chance to defeat him in the end.