Chapter 131: The Plan to Exonerate the Ian Family
Not only did Colonel Ryan’s human eyebrow arch when he heard the words spoken directly before him by Cain... but he also placed his armored cybernetic finger on his chin, curling his lips upward into a sarcastic, astonished smile as he stared at the sanitation worker talking with such sheer audacity!
Ryan raised his palm for a few moments to hide an involuntary smile forming on his face; the entire situation transcended surrealism. He asked in a mocking tone:
"Are you truly the one responsible for all these crises and disasters?... A mere simple sanitation worker committing all of this?!"
Cain lowered his head slightly, feigning a look filled with regret and remorse, speaking in a low voice throbbing with artificial grief:
"I know that your Excellency and the security agencies believe the virtuous ’Ian’ family is the true culprit and primary party responsible for these allegations... But in reality, I am the one who did everything! I am the sole sinner here, Colonel, sir... and well... I shall prove it to your Excellency right now!"
And suddenly... Cain unzipped the sanitation worker jacket he was wearing right before Colonel Ryan’s eyes! Cain did this while his head remained pointed downward, as though weighed down by the heavy burden of guilt...
Yet what appeared beneath that jacket was something Colonel Ryan had never anticipated in his most absurd dreams!
Tackled and neatly secured across Cain’s chest were dozens of transparent bags containing a strange, white powder!
Heavy, prolonged moments of silence stretched across the sealed room...
Colonel Ryan froze in his seat, no longer knowing what he ought to say in this bizarre moment! Should he ask if this was merely a ridiculous joke from this vagabond? Or should he wonder in utter shock how this man managed to pass through and enter a high-level security headquarters—bypassing thorough searches, X-ray scanners, K-9 units, and reinforced fortifications—all while carrying such a massive quantity of cocaine bags?! And if this truly was cocaine... what was this fool trying to accomplish in the first place?!
Yet Cain shattered this eerie silence with the most unexpected declaration the Colonel had ever heard in his professional career:
"Yes, Colonel, sir... I am the true and only culprit! I am the one who hid these cocaine shipments inside the properties and residences of my masters, for whom I work... I am the actual and sole owner of the five bags you undoubtedly found during the raid on the palace! Did you not assume the Ian family traffics in contraband and launders money?... It was all because of me! And under no circumstances can I allow people who treated me with utter love and benevolence to be slaughtered and thrown into prison because of my sin!"
At that moment, Colonel Ryan did not know whether to burst into full laughter at such absolute naivety, curse at this vagabond, or order his immediate arrest! This was the fastest, most ridiculous surrender of a criminal he had ever witnessed during his entire career in the police force!
This boy had come of his own accord to throw himself into the arms of the authorities, deluded by childish ignorance into thinking that through this foolish manner he would exonerate the Ian family, completely failing to realize in his simple-mindedness that he would be thrown into the exact same dark cell with them to rot!
Ryan narrowed his eyes mockingly and said, "Oh, really? And how many more of these contraband bags do you possess, boy? And where exactly do you purchase these substances from?"
Ryan did not have the slightest time for such trivial nonsense and minor troubles; he could throw him into the building’s subterranean holding cell immediately until the narcotics enforcement police arrived to take custody of him... However, he wanted to exploit this moment of lowered guard and the worker’s naivety to extract the remaining information and network names from him before handing him over to the relevant authorities.
Cain replied pitifully, while deep down he and Lucy smiled with hidden triumph, watching this arrogant officer fall into the meticulously planned trap, precisely as they had anticipated!
"In truth, Colonel, sir... This is the full quantity in my possession, and I do not purchase it from anyone... I learned the method of its synthesis and extraction by pure chance from an old chemical blueprint I bought from a secret site on the Dark Web..."
Ryan nodded his head with a satirical smile, looking at Cain who appeared like a completely remorseful, defeated human, even though just a few minutes ago he was casting glances of defiance and arrogance at the Colonel!
Colonel Ryan raised his cybernetic hand, pulling the radio transceiver mounted on his shoulder, and spoke in a stern tone:
"Lieutenant Wiseman... Please report to my office immediately accompanied by three other heavily armed recruits."
A swift response of agreement and confirmation echoed over the device from Lieutenant Wiseman on the other side: "Understood and executing immediately, Colonel, sir!"
Meanwhile, Cain spoke in a tone brimming with plea and entreaty:
"Colonel, sir... I make a special plea for you to release the members of the Ian family and remove them from custody at the earliest opportunity... For they are completely innocent and bear no guilt, sir!"
Colonel Ryan gave a sly smile toward Cain sitting before him and said:
"Most certainly, Mr. Cain... as soon as humanly possible! In fact, I myself shall escort you down to the cell directly adjacent to theirs, so you may deliver the tidings of their release in person!"
Upon hearing that, Cain and Lucy shared a broad, enigmatic smile in their hearts!
All of this masterclass acting and comedic performance was executed for one single, clear, and brilliantly defined objective...
For "Darren"—the last remaining godfather boss of the "Smile Organization"—was being held and guarded under heavy security within the subterranean cells of this very headquarters!
And the plan concocted by Cain and Lucy condensed into: sneaking into the depths of secret detention, breaking Darren out of heavy custody via a teleportation portal, in exchange for one crucial condition... that Darren go live on air before the entire world and explicitly confess that the Ian family possessed no connection or involvement whatsoever with the Smile Syndicate!
And through this clever method specifically... they would save the innocent family and clear their names completely before global public opinion, without ever having to resort to direct violence or their magical power!