Honestly, I didn't sleep well that night. I had all sorts of messy dreams, which reminded me of my past self. Back then, I spent most of my time in internet cafes and was quite good at strategy games like Red Alert. I was skilled at ambushes, positional warfare, and espionage. But then CS came along, and everyone forgot about Red Alert.
In CS battles, I found myself cursing and losing touch with my true nature. In reality, I had a talent for strategy from the very beginning, but I just didn't have the ability to recognize it. I remember one time, during a match on de_dust, I was playing as the terrorists. The police had four players left. I hid in a secluded corner, watching the red numbers representing health flash.
That time, I won.
How I won, I don't remember. In desperate situations, my potential is often unleashed.
...
I don't know why I dreamt about such distant memories, but after waking up, I smiled at the cold prison walls. Life goes on, and I can't be defeated by difficulties.
Just then, someone came to bring me food. This uncle looked like he was nearing retirement. I had met him twice before, and he seemed unhappy with his life. I had tried to talk to him, but he ignored me. Today, I decided to try a different approach. As he approached, I pointed at his nose and challenged him, "Do you think it's legal for you to imprison me like this?"
The uncle was provoked and scoffed, "What's wrong with holding you? If all sorts of methods were used like in the past, you're actually quite comfortable now."
"You said that was the past. We can't go back to how things were. You've angered me, including you."
"You've angered us? What can you do?"
The old man was dismissive.
"Did your leader tell you I'm a wealthy person?"
What is the biggest hardship for ordinary people? Lack of money! Who are ordinary people most afraid of? They don't fear officials. You can find old men and women cursing local leaders all over the streets. What do they fear? They fear wealthy people. They haven't lived in that stratum and don't know what that world represents. But the idea that money can move heaven and earth is ingrained in their bones.
"I... I'm just here to help temporarily."
"Then help me."
"No, I'm close to retirement. They said you're a terrorist, and I can't help you. What if they fire me using that as an excuse? Who will give me my pension?"
I smiled: "Uncle, you need to understand that a pension is a form of insurance and has nothing to do with your employer. Even if they fire you, you'll still get your pension."
"No... no, you're a bad person."
"Hello, I'm looking for Jiang Cheng."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"An appointment?"
Where would I get an appointment? In my memory, this grizzled uncle in his forties lived like a shut-in, relying on the game Legend of Mir. Back then, I planned to partner with him to start a gaming company, also to help the Lin family repay their debts.
Later, after I got married, he knew I was back and called me. He said his company was called Jiangnan E-sports Game Co., Ltd., and invited me to visit and have a meal.
At the time, I felt I had no lingering connections in my life, so I politely declined. I guessed this guy probably had a bad temper, and after my refusal, he never contacted me again. I'm not very familiar with his company's situation. What I'm thinking now is that Lu Yao definitely doesn't know this person. Therefore, I am forced to call him.
"No appointment. Could you please tell President Jiang that my name is Tang Nan?"
"Okay, please wait a moment."
After the secretary finished, she politely said, "Hello, sir. I will now transfer you to President Jiang's office."
"Thank you!"
A moment later, a deep, muffled voice came from the phone: "Speak."
"I need you to do me a favor."
"Say it!"
Just as I was about to speak, the uncle snatched the phone away, hung up, and stuffed it into his pocket, his face filled with panic. My eyes caught a glimpse, and I saw Director Lu approaching.
Director Lu smiled at the uncle: "Old comrade, you spoke with this suspect."
"Yes."
"What did you say?"
"I... I told him that if it were like before, we would have used methods on people who didn't confess."
"Haha! Anything else?"
"No, that's all."
I sneered: "I told this uncle that I'd give him 100,000 yuan and a house in the city, and he even asked for a car."
Hearing me say this, the uncle's lips turned purple.
"And then?"
"He just handed me the phone, and before I finished my call, you came in."
After hearing my explanation, Director Lu's smile vanished, his brow furrowed, and his voice became stern: "Give me the phone."
The uncle tremblingly handed the phone to Director Lu. Director Lu checked the outgoing call records, his expression surprised: "114?"
"I don't remember the number very well."
"Tang Nan, you need to remember phone numbers. Such a good opportunity, wasted."
After speaking, Director Lu gestured for the uncle to leave. He stood outside the prison, looking at me through the iron bars.
...
"Director Lu, have you ever considered that our positions might be swapped?"
"I doubt that day will ever come."
"Really? The people bringing food aren't deaf or mute. You can control your people, but can you control greedy human nature? Someone will still lend me a phone."
Director Lu smiled slightly: "Actually, it never had to be this troublesome. Lu Yao has always assured me that he could handle you, which is why I acted according to his instructions."
I looked at Director Lu's face and vaguely sensed some information. I asked in surprise: "Your operational plan has changed."
"From today, you are under normal custody. You can call whomever you want, and you can find a lawyer if you wish."
"Because you have no evidence against me, you're not afraid anymore?"
Director Lu chuckled: "Tang Nan, you can't fight the authorities. After this experience, you should know that cooperating with me is your best option."
"I refuse."
"I've given you a chance."
"What about Lu Yao?"
Hearing my question, Director Lu chuckled: "Tang Nan, stop probing. Lu Yao's whereabouts have nothing to do with me. He has no connection to me; he's just your friend. The accusation that I used my authority to detain you is also invalid because during this period, I allowed you to meet your lawyer, Lu Yao."
...
Hearing Director Lu say this, I understood. Lu Yao had lost contact with Director Lu. Lu Yao was supposed to be dealing with Lin Han, so how did he go missing? What's going on?
I couldn't quite comprehend it. This was the aftereffect of my use of Schrödinger's cat. When there are too many uncertain factors, I even feel a sense of displacement, as if in parallel worlds. What happened? How did things change so drastically overnight?
Is my bad luck over just like that? Once the procuratorate files charges, their plan to judge me legally will fail. As long as I find a good lawyer, the charge of harboring national treasures will simply not hold.
Will it be that simple?
After Director Lu left, I still couldn't quite believe it was true. This kind of illegal confinement was over. I was really transferred to a normal detention center, and today they would hand me over to the procuratorate.
I sat in the cell, waiting. Just then, two tattooed men were also brought in.
Seeing their unfriendly gazes, I felt something was wrong. Initially, I was the only one in my cell. Director Lu had a reason to prevent me from contacting anyone other than my lawyer. And Lu Yao, as my lawyer, filled that loophole. Therefore, I couldn't use that as a reason to accuse Director Lu.
Now, Director Lu has sent me to a normal cell. It's a shared cell. Since I came in, more people have been coming in one after another, about seven or eight of them, all with hostile expressions.
While there are no good people in prison, it's not usually like this. These guys look like they have a plan. They intend to kill me in the detention cell.
Then it will be a fight, a brawl. Someone must be hiding a weapon.
After that person kills me, they will take all the blame. This was the tactic used by agents back in the day, and it's the desperate situation Zhang Si faced in prison.
They are all adult men. Even if I know martial arts, fighting them all in this confined space is impossible. I will surely die. The saying "might is right" probably applies here. Under their siege, any strategy is useless. Director Lu knows the law will not favor him. Therefore, he must resolve me on his territory before I leave the detention center.
Sensing my wariness, these people began to slowly close in on me. I began to understand why I had that dream. The dream foreshadowed the current desperate situation.