The Gu Family Mansion was brightly lit on that side.
Several police officers were seated in the hall, with various tracking devices laid out on the table. Over four hours had passed since Young Master Gu was kidnapped.
Gu Yikun sat on the sofa without saying a word, his slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest. His cold and stern features exuded an aura of immense pressure, making everyone present too intimidated to speak.
Housekeeper Cheng stood behind Gu Yikun, his face filled with guilt.
It was him who had gone to pick up the young master, yet the kidnappers managed to take him right under his nose. He bore undeniable responsibility!
The police officers sat upright and tense. A kidnapping case like this happening in Yan City, with the victim being the young master of the Gu Family, and with several hours having passed without any leads, was truly a disgrace to the Yan City Police Department!
Director Chen knew that President Gu had already ordered his underworld connections to investigate. If they found the person first, the police department's reputation would be severely tarnished!
But these kidnappers were indeed skilled. Not only did they understand counter-surveillance, but they also managed to avoid all the road cameras. The clues they could find were very few and far between.
It seemed to have been planned for a long time.
Director Chen cleared his throat, breaking the silence, and asked the technical staff in the hall, "Did you manage to trace the address from the last phone call?"
A police officer came over with a computer and said, "Report, Director. The kidnappers used a satellite phone and the call duration was too short to trace the address." As he spoke, he placed the computer on the coffee table. "However, we processed the recording, slowed it down to one-third speed, and discovered some information."
Director Chen's spirits lifted. "What information?"
Gu Yikun's expression also showed a slight change.
The technician clicked play, and a voice began speaking slowly from the computer: "Uncle, it's me, Jun Xi. Jin Xiu and I have been kidnapped. They want nine billion as ransom. You must give it to them. Don't tell my parents! If they ask about me, just say I'm sketching at Mumian Mountain and will be back soon...."
An Junxi's original speech was rapid. If not slowed down and replayed several times, no one would have made out what she was saying.
After the recording finished playing, the officer said, "According to the clues provided by Housekeeper Cheng, this Miss An only had some minor conflicts with Young Master Gu. They happened to be together at the time of the incident and got kidnapped together. As for saying she was his cousin, it's likely just a phrase to confuse the kidnappers. The possibility of Miss An being an accomplice can be ruled out."
Director Chen impatiently said, "We already know all this. What did you discover?"
The officer continued, "After listening several times, Miss An mentioned Mumian Mountain, or perhaps Mumian Mountain or some place with a similar pronunciation. But regardless of the exact characters, there is no such mountain in Yan City, so this Mumian might be a crucial clue, suggesting Miss An is trying to convey some information."
Director Chen, with his police instinct, immediately stood up and ordered the other officers, "There aren't many places in Yan City with cotton trees. Quickly check which mountains have cotton trees growing on them."
The technical officer continued, "Miss An likely knows their current location but is unable to say it directly. She said she's coming back soon, possibly hinting that the place isn't very far from us."
Director Chen instructed them again, "Start searching within an 80-kilometer radius first."
The officers tried more precise methods, ignoring An Junxi's words to listen to the surrounding sounds, but apart from a few bird calls, there was nothing else heard.
Director Chen paced back and forth a few times before sitting on the sofa and saying to Gu Yikun, "President Gu, the kidnappers will call again to set the ransom drop-off point. Rest assured, we will certainly rescue Young Master Gu."
Gu Yikun responded with a quiet "Hmm." He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and dialed a number, asking calmly, "Yu Chen, any news?"
A male voice on the other end, sounding relieved, responded, "Yikun, we're lucky to have your niece. She's really a smart girl and provided us with important clues!"
Gu Yikun rubbed his forehead, "Focus on the main point." He doesn't have a niece, and this topic will likely be a joke for them for years to come!
Xie Yuchen, dropping his playful tone, seriously said, "We've targeted Fire Phoenix Mountain in the South Suburb. There's an abandoned factory there, not far from us. Most importantly, it matches the clues of Mumian Mountain and the recording. We also picked up other background noises."
Gu Yikun didn't inquire further. He hung up the call and said, "That's all for now."
Then, he immediately dialed another number and succinctly said, "Send people to Fire Phoenix Mountain in the South Suburb immediately. Ensure Young Master Gu's safety, and also the girl named An Junxi."
The other side acknowledged, "President, we're preparing right away."
Gu Yikun hung up the phone and looked through the glass at the fountain and sculpture in the courtyard. His thin lips softly murmured three words, "An Junxi."
What kind of girl is she?
Housekeeper Cheng came over with a stack of documents, respectfully handing them over with both hands, "Young Master, these are all the detailed information on Miss An."
Gu Yikun took them and gestured for Housekeeper Cheng to leave, opening to the first page.
A photo first caught his eye: a pretty girl quietly reading in the library. She looked back, searching for someone, and the image froze.
She wasn't the type of person you'd remember at first glance, but she looked pleasant.
Gu Yikun skimmed over it and began reading the rest of the information.
The phone rang again in the hall. Gu Yikun casually put the documents aside and answered, "It's me, Gu Yikun."
The nearby officers immediately started tracing the call.
A voice altered by a voice changer came through, "President Gu, the ransom will be collected at six places. I'll first tell you, before the last payment is received, if the police catch any wind of this, you can prepare to collect your son's corpse!"
A flash of murderous intent crossed Gu Yikun's eyes, but he calmly said, "The money is ready. Where, and when?"
The kidnapper listed several locations and quickly hung up.
Director Chen said angrily, "These kidnappers are cunning! They might abandon one or two locations and escape with most of the money. We can't alert them!"
Gu Yikun, much calmer, said indifferently, "My money isn't that easy to take. Even if they get it, who's to say they'll live to enjoy it."
Director Chen shuddered and said no more.
The Gu Family is a powerful clan; many things are beyond the law's constraints. It's better for him to pretend not to understand.