Chapter 047
Jongharng Chioujen
Chioujen looked straight at the person lying down. He couldn't hide his anxiety about that fact. He didn't know the man's condition, but he was sure that everyone in his position would agree that the man lying down needed immediate help. That dark underground room was by no means the right place to treat a sick or injured person.
"What happened to him?"
The person who called himself Maachaang Shentay did not immediately answer Chioujen's question. He turned to the person lying on the bed. He got up and walked over to the bed. As he walked, he kept the flashlight he was carrying. Some parts of the blanket covering the person had been exposed. Maachaang Shentay rearranged the position of the blanket so that it covered the person's body well. After sitting back down in front of Chioujen, only then did he start talking.
"Actually, I'm a bit confused about where to start to describe the sequence of events that we experienced. I'm not an excellent storyteller. But one thing is certain is the fact that we are running away from something bad. Two days ago, the five of us escaped from a group of people. We managed to escape with the help of one of the criminals, who somehow sympathized with us. My friend and I managed to get into this building. I don't know what happened to the other three people who were with us. It's very likely that they've been caught again."
In an instant, Chioujen remembered the story had been told by the young girl who appeared together with Shannchyuan.
It could be that the woman they kidnapped was one of the three people this person was referring to.
"Is one of the three a young woman?" Chioujen couldn't help but ask that.
"That's right! Just like that old man, who is lying on the bed. That young woman is also my coworker."
"Why didn't you report to the police? Why did you choose to continue hiding in this place?"
"I'm afraid they're still hanging around outside this building. So as soon as we get out, they'll catch us right away. Besides, my coworker is currently injured. It's impossible for him to move quickly. So I'll have to wait until his condition starts to improve."
"Yes, but without proper treatment, your coworker's condition might even get worse."
"I know, Sir! But as of now, we have no other choice."
"You said earlier that you were held captive. Where were you held?"
"In a place not far from here. That place is in the border area between this city and the city next door, Sir. So technically, it's actually a part of the neighboring city."
"You mean the forest that lies between this town and the town next door?"
"Yes, Sir."
Chioujen nodded. As Chioujen recalled, Dahfeisy Tower was only about ten kilometers from the city border if he drew a straight line. Chioujen had heard that Shannchyuan referred to the place, a particular ground of the city border, as "zero point." Beyond that boundary was the territory of another city. However, the border of the neighboring city, which in its truest sense, namely the area inhabited by a large number of people, was about twenty-five kilometers from the "zero point." Along these twenty-five kilometers, on the right and left sides of the road, lied a forest which, in some parts, could be described as dense forest.
"So the thugs brought you there?"
"No, Sir! We were indeed exploring the place. At that time, they caught us and held us."
Chioujen remembered his friends' stories about Songfei holding games in the forest. For an instant, he had guessed that Maachaang and his friends might also have the same interests as Songfei. But soon, he ruled out the possibility.
"How did you find this secret place? I, who had been in and out of this building for a year, didn't even know that there was still a floor under the basement floor, which was actually not used anymore."
The person did not answer straight away. After about half a minute of silence, he continued his story.
"The person who helped us not only helped us escape from the captivity of these people. He also smuggled us in the truck he was carrying. The truck he was carrying was full of drums that we didn't know what was in it. I think he's in charge of bringing the drums to their base."
"Wait a minute! You mean he smuggled you out of there by putting all of you in those drums?"
"That's right, Sir! After unloading, the drums were empty. That's when he put us in those things."
A tactic that, at first glance, sounds so simple! But it's actually challenging to put into practice. It must not be easy to get the captives out of their captivity. Especially then having to put those people into the drums. How could the guards over there not notice that? There's something odd about this guy's story.
"Then, after that, why didn't he immediately take you to the police station or to the hospital?" Chioujen raised his eyebrows. According to Chioujen, it was one of the few things that made less sense.
"He said he didn't have much time. That person had to go elsewhere in the city right away to return the truck he was driving. He also didn't dare to go to the police station. After stopping the truck around here, he told that there was a building we could use as a hiding place, at least temporarily. He also told us where the keys were hidden in one toilet on the ground floor of this building. When we checked the toilets in this building, we found several keys. That person also explained the function of each key. One key to go down to the B1 floor, namely the key to open the lock from the iron bars installed to prevent people from going down to the B1 floor. One more key to enter one room on the floor. B3. And then the key to this room."
"So, this is the B5 floor?" asked Chioujen.
"I think so, Sir!"
How amazing! There is even a floor that is not depicted on the building plan in the manager's room. It means I cannot trust the floor plan of the building at all. Or maybe there are actually missing pieces of the building plan.
"Are there other rooms outside this room?"
"There are many other rooms outside, Sir! They are very similar to the rooms on the floor above this floor."
It means the room layout on this floor is almost the same as the layout on the B4 floor.
"The one who gave you the keys. How did he get the keys to the rooms in this building?"
"I don't know, Sir! But he probably knows one tenant of the unit in this building."
"How did you know he knows one tenant here?"
"I'm not sure about that either. Maybe he knows someone, maybe he doesn't know. The fact that he knew about the whereabouts of the keys proved he had something to do with this building. But there are other things that show that he didn't really understand the location and intricacies of this building. The proof is that he didn't drop us off right in front of this building, but in front of another building about a kilometer and a half from here."
"What was his expression, then?"
"When he gave us an explanation, shortly after stopping the truck, he looked as if he was remembering instructions given by someone else. He also seemed to be just guessing where the building he was talking about was. So we concluded that someone else ordered him to. And the person who ordered it was probably one tenant in this building. Or maybe part of the people who run this building."
"So after he dropped you off around here, he just left."
"That's right, Sir! He just drove his truck away from where he dropped us off."
"So you guys walked here?"
"That's right, Sir!"
"How did you two get separated from the others?"
"There are several buildings around here. We didn't know which building that person was referring to, so we split up to look for the right place. Our consideration was that by splitting up, we reduce the risk. Had they managed to track us down, they were less likely to catch us all at once. I think the tactic was quite successful. The proof is that my coworkers and I are still here."
"I still don't understand why you chose to hide in this building? You've escaped. Why not ask the people in the buildings or other places for help? In fact, this place is very close to the underground station. Isn't it much better? I think it makes a lot more sense if you guys just run over there and ask for help."
The man fell silent. He seemed to be considering something. After a while, he finally spoke.
"I think you are right. We should have immediately reported to the police when we had the opportunity. Hiding here was an awful choice. But we didn't know that this place was so close to the subway station. We were both so tired when we entered this building."
Chioujen nodded. What Maachaang said was very reasonable. Fatigue made people unable to think clearly.
"There is another reason, Sir."
"What reason?"
"At that time, the person who helped us asked us not to report to the police first. He asked for a little time."
"A little time? How long?"
"At least a week."
"So, after a week, you can go to the police?"
"That's right, Sir!"
"Wouldn't after a week the criminals had all fled?"
"Look, Sir! I'll explain first. The five of us who ran away were not from the same group. Me, Mr. who was lying weakly on the bed, and a young woman, worked in the same place. While the other two, I don't know them, Sir. But I know they work in the same field as us."
"What field do you guys work in?"
"We're journalist, Sir! So we were investigating a case that we would like to make headlines."
Turns out my guess was correct. These people are not members of the detective and mystery lover group like Songfei and his friends. Luckily, I wasn't too quick to jump to conclusions!
"Oh! You guys are reporters!"
"Yes, Sir! We work in a magazine."
"Then what does that have to do with the matter from last week?"
"There seems to be a special deal between the person who helped us, or the person who asked that person to help us, and the two people who work in the other media."
"So you mean if you delay reporting to the police, then you'll get an exclusive story about the case you're investigating?"
"I think so, Sir!"
"But you didn't get the deal. So you are free to do different things from those two."
"My coworkers said we should see what happens in the next few days."
"Then these few days, how did you two survive?"
"In another room there is canned food, there is also bottled water. We can eat and drink. It's just that there is no medicine."
"Canned food? Are they still edible?"
"Yes, Sir! I've checked. Nothing has expired. I think the food and drink were brought into this place recently."
"Who brought in the food and drink here?"
"I don't know, Sir. They were already here when we arrived."
"How about clean water to clean yourself up?"
"If things really have to, we can go up secretly to the ground floor to use the toilet there. It's very quiet at night. As far as we know, no one lives in the building. But we don't have to do that because on this floor there is a toilet that is still working. The water is still flowing smoothly."
The information shocked Chioujen.
"Even though there is no electricity, but the water still flows smoothly?"
"That's right, Sir! On this floor, the water flow doesn't depend on the electricity. I think the water pipe in the toilet is connected to the water pipe from the ground floor."
"You came in here through one room on the B3 floor. Have you ever tried going up the stairs behind the service lift?"
"You mean the small chamber with the couch?"
"Yes, that's what I mean."
"Yes, Sir! I once tried to go up there. But after reaching the top floor, there was no exit, Sir. So I went down again."
"The door is on the ceiling of the top room. I came in from there," Chioujen said.
"I've also noticed, Sir! But it can't be opened from the inside."
"Ah! You're right. It's locked from the outside." Chioujen patted his forehead.
They were both silents. There was silence for a few moments.
"Isn't it about time you untied this?" Chioujen broke the silence.
"I'm so sorry, Sir!"
That person then approached Chioujen. He shuffled behind Chioujen's back. Quickly, he untied Chioujen's hand.
Chioujen rubbed his wrists together.
Luckily it was only for a moment.
"Are there still people outside the building looking for us, Sir?" Ask the person.
"I don't see people looking like they're looking for someone. But they could be hiding while watching the front door of this building."
"What do you think we should do now?"
"Is your coworker still able to walk?"
"I can carry him, Sir!"
"Behind the backyard of this building there is an alley that is positioned parallel to the road in front of the building. The alley runs through to the section of the road where the subway station entrance is. You can go out that way and get help at the station."
"Is it far from this building to the station?"
"No. Maybe only about two hundred meters."
"Okay, Sir. We'll give it a try."
"But rather than that, I think, it will make a lot more sense if I call the police and ask them to come here," Chioujen said.
The man nodded. "I think you're right. It will be much better if we wait here." He stretched out his hand. The person returned the flashlight to Chioujen.
After receiving the flashlight, Chioujen then stood up. He stretched the muscles all over his body.
"I'm going upstairs first. Don't come out yet. When I call the police, I won't say where you are hiding. I'll wait until the police actually come here before coming back here to pick you up."
After he finished saying those words, Chioujen rushed up the stairs. He quickly returned to where he had come from. After arriving on the B4 floor, he entered the chamber behind the service elevator. From there, wasting no time, he went straight up to the roof. This time, he rose with gusto. Even though his body felt sore, his heart was thrilled. In no time, much shorter than before, he had arrived at the top floor.
There, he saw a rope ladder running down from a hole in the ceiling. The rope ladder looked brand new. The quality was also excellent.
Where did Hannrong get a thing like this? Why didn't he just use this rope ladder earlier?
Chioujen swiftly grabbed the rope ladder. He rushed upstairs. From outside the hole, someone reached out his hand.
"Thank you." Chioujen caught the outstretched hand swiftly.
After appearing above the hole, Chioujen instantly stood up. Hannrong was standing right in front of him. He was not alone. There were two men with him.
Ah! Of course! Such an important discovery, Hannrong definitely had to report in a flash!
Both men were wearing jet-black suits. Their faces were so solemn. One of them then came forward to him.
"Good afternoon Mr. Jongharng. I think we have important things to discuss immediately!"
The person then smiled. Awkwardly, that smile looked so strange. Chioujen couldn't guess what such a smile meant. Still smiling, the person stretched out his right hand in front of Chioujen. Chioujen didn't know what to do. But automatically, his right hand reached out to accept the person's outstretched hand.
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