Nominal: The pinnacle of power began in the sixth province of Handong.

Chapter 186 I Owe You

The lobby on the first floor of the hospital.

Medical staff and patients have been evacuated, and police from the provincial department are guarding every exit.

The main force was all gathered in the lobby, guns pointed in the same direction—

Hidden behind the reception desk, holding a gun, was Qi Tongwei, who was being held hostage.

Gao Yuliang, the on-site commander, also showed a rare expression of worry, and shouted to Cheng Du:

"Dudu, don't be impulsive. Just tell me your conditions."

Cheng Du roared:

"I want to see Secretary Sha!"

Gao Yuliang never expected Cheng Du to make such a request. Although Cheng Du, at his level, was unaware of Sha Ruijin's suspension, how could a criminal possibly meet with the provincial party secretary so easily?

"The extent of your demands depends on your sincerity in negotiating. Your demands show a complete lack of sincerity; how can we possibly continue this discussion?"

Gao Yuliang made another statement.

Cheng Du then changed the subject, saying:

"Alright, I have something to tell the leaders of Handong. Inviting Governor Liu over is certainly possible!"

Gao Yuliang's patience was almost completely worn out. While dealing with Cheng Du, he asked Li Gangxin in a low voice:

"Is the sniper in position?"

Li Gangxin reported to his supervisor with a troubled expression:

"Reporting to Secretary Cheng, Cheng is a veteran police officer with exceptional stealth skills. The hiding place he chose is completely out of the way of sniping and raiding, allowing him to conserve his energy as much as possible."

Gao Yuliang cursed inwardly and then asked:

"Where are the negotiation experts from the province?"

Li Gangxin replied truthfully:

"On the way, we expect to arrive in ten minutes."

"Secretary Yuliang, forget about sniping or negotiating with experts. I'm a veteran police officer; I know all those tricks by heart! I have only one condition: see Governor Liu. Once he arrives, I'll release him." Cheng Du remained unyielding.

After much deliberation, Gao Yuliang concluded that it was reasonable to report to the governor that a vice governor had been held hostage by criminals.

Therefore, Gao Yuliang spoke out again:

"Okay, I'll go report to Governor Liu. Please be patient."

Gao Yuliang put down the megaphone, walked to the side, and took out his phone.

After about twenty seconds, Governor Liu's sleepy voice came from the other end:

"Hey, Yuliang?"

"Governor, emergency report." Gao Yuliang quickly reported the current situation to Governor Liu in an extremely concise and clear manner.

Governor Liu pondered for a moment and said:

"Okay, I'll be there in about half an hour. You must stay at your post, direct operations, and ensure there are no casualties, including Cheng Du himself. Also, tell Xia Qing to handle any public opinion issues on-site; just say it was my arrangement."

"Understood, Governor. I get it." Gao Yuliang said briefly and hung up the phone.

He told Xia Qing, who was standing next to him, about Governor Liu's arrangements, and Xia Qing readily led a team of police officers to carry them out.

Gao Yuliang then picked up the megaphone again and shouted to Cheng Du:

"Governor Liu will arrive in half an hour. Since you don't want to say anything, just wait for him. Also, I'll send someone to bring you water and food to replenish your strength. Governor Liu said he doesn't want anyone to get hurt, including you!"

"...Send someone to put water and bread on the counter, then immediately back away. If he dares to try anything funny, his life is in danger." Cheng Du kicked the triage counter and said.

Gao Yuliang nodded and waved his hand. A policeman carrying two bottles of mineral water in his left hand and two bags of pork floss bread in his right hand walked toward the triage desk.

"Okay, stop!"

Cheng Du roared:

"Open both bottles of water and take a sip. Tear open the bread wrappers and eat a bite from each!"

The police officer delivering the food did as instructed.

After about ten minutes, seeing that nothing had happened to the policeman, Cheng Du said:

"Alright, you can go back now."

Seeing this, Gao Yuliang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This is based on his experience.

If the perpetrator is still willing to eat and drink, it means he hasn't lost his humanity and still subconsciously wants to "survive" deep down.

There is a chance to win over such criminals.

Soon, Governor Liu also arrived at the scene, dressed neatly and in high spirits, and went straight to the center of the standoff.

Gao Yuliang gave Governor Liu a brief report on the situation. After Governor Liu understood the situation, he raised the megaphone and said to Cheng Du:

"Chengdu, I am Liu Changgeng. I have come to speak with you as requested."

Gao Yuliang was very grateful for Governor Liu's attitude. He knew that Governor Liu came purely for Qi Tongwei's safety.

Cheng Du, who was huddled behind the reception desk, looked up and let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

Then he roared:

"Governor Liu, let me ask you this! Have all the people of Handong treated me like a dog of the Zhao family, never giving me a second glance?"

Governor Liu was taken aback, but quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice:

"Chengdu, what are you saying! Before you went down this path, you were a police officer in the Public Security Bureau. How did you come to be associated with the Zhao family?"

"Bullshit! Do you think I don't know what you're thinking!" Cheng Du then grabbed Qi Tongwei's neck with his left hand, pulled hard, and pressed the pistol against his temple even harder.

Qi Tongwei coughed violently, feeling an increasingly intense pressure in his throat, and his consciousness became somewhat hazy.

At this moment, Cheng Du seemed to have gone mad, his eyes bloodshot, and he continued to shout at Governor Liu:

"And this Governor Qi, you've always treated him like one of the Zhao family, haven't you? Am I right?"

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Gao Yuliang's eyes.

Is the goal to drag everyone down with them?

Gao Yuliang would never allow this kind of development.

He turned to Li Gangxin and relayed the instructions.

Be ready to launch a strong attack at any time.

Li Gangxin nodded. His political acumen was far beyond that of ordinary people, so he naturally understood Gao Yuliang's feelings.

If Cheng Du says something he shouldn't, Qi Tongwei will be in trouble.

Now is the perfect time to express your determination.

Li Gangxin secretly ordered the special police to prepare.

Over there, Governor Liu kept trying to calm him down, but Cheng Du remained hysterical.

When he was exhausted, he said in a hoarse voice:

"Enough, I'm going to tell everyone a secret..."

Gao Yuliang immediately sensed something was wrong and gave Li Gangxin a wink.

Li Gangxin also brought the walkie-talkie to his mouth.

The entire lobby was eerily quiet.

Until Chengdu grinned and said those words:

"Do you know who secretly notified Ding Yizhen and then let him escape?"

"That's Lao Tzu's level!"

"Who does Qi Tongwei think he is? Does he even deserve to be a member of the Zhao family? Let me tell you, he's not worthy!"

Cheng Du took another deep breath, mustered all his strength, and roared:

"The only person who has ever worked for the Zhao family is my father, Cheng Du!!!"

The audience was silent.

Governor Liu turned around in shock and saw Gao Yuliang, who also had an incredulous expression on his face.

This was the first time Governor Liu had ever seen Gao Yuliang with such an expression.

The situation was completely unexpected, leaving him somewhat at a loss.

Behind the reception desk, Qi Tongwei, looking somewhat dazed, heard a hoarse whisper in his ear:

"I'm sorry, Brother Qi, this is the last thing I can give you back... If you haven't paid it back, maybe in the next life."

By the time Qi Tongwei realized what was happening, he had already been kicked away by Cheng Du.

Cheng Du slowly raised his pistol and aimed it at Governor Liu.

Qi Tongwei suddenly remembered.

This small pistol has only six bullets.

He had already used up all his bullets in the previous firefight.

Realizing this, Qi Tongwei had a moment of clarity, and he immediately connected everything that had happened at the hospital with what he had done, and understood everything that Cheng Du had done.

In the end, Qi Tongwei only heard his own cries:

"Don't shoot! He's out of bullets!"

"Bang bang bang bang bang."

Beautiful flowers bloomed on Chengdu's body.

With a smile, he danced gracefully to a sonata of flowers and gunfire.

The music ended.

Ended.