Chapter 247 Mr. Cui, Isn't This a Little Too Coincidental?
After hearing Chen Shoulin's report, Lin Haoran was a bit surprised but not overly shocked.
As expected, since Jardines had made a move, it was impossible for this matter to be resolved so easily.
He had been planning to let Cui Zilong gather useful evidence for a counterattack, but before he could even act, the other side had already taken the next step.
"Mr. Chen, I'll consult with Mr. Cui first. You and your team should also think of possible responses," Lin Haoran said, knowing it would be useless to discuss it further with Chen Shoulin at the moment. It was better to find Cui Zilong and see if he had any useful leads.
"Understood, Boss. I'll hang up now," Chen Shoulin replied before ending the call.
Holding the receiver, Lin Haoran didn't hang up but immediately dialed another number—Cui Zilong's direct line at the Oriental Publishing Company.
No one answered; it made sense, since it was after office hours.
So he called Cui Zilong's home instead.
This time, someone picked up quickly—Cui's wife, who after a brief exchange, handed the phone over to Cui Zilong.
"Boss, you must be calling about Fortress Electrical's situation, right? I just saw the report on Rediffusion TV myself," Cui Zilong said proactively.
"Exactly. Are you available now? I was thinking—this incident must have happened very suddenly. That police officer was clearly bribed or coerced by Jardines to make such a move. He probably couldn't stay in Hong Kong any longer.
If my guess is correct, he must have left Hong Kong before the video was broadcast, most likely by plane. I need you to use your network to find out exactly how he left and where he's headed," Lin Haoran instructed immediately.
When he first received Chen Shoulin's call, Lin Haoran's first instinct was that this police officer was the key to the entire situation.
The most direct way for Fortress Electrical to get through this crisis was to find that officer!
"Boss, I had the same idea. Right after seeing the news, I thought about it. If he left Hong Kong, it had to be either by ferry or plane.
Given they fled with their whole family, flying would be fastest. And moving to the mainland would be unlikely—who would want to move to the mainland right now?
So I immediately sent people to search for information, focusing on Kai Tak International Airport. There should be a record of their departure," Cui Zilong explained with a chuckle.
Lin Haoran secretly nodded in approval. His subordinate was truly sharp—already thinking through everything thoroughly without needing instructions.
"So, nothing concrete yet?" Lin Haoran asked.
"Not yet. I sent people twenty minutes ago. It shouldn't take long. We're checking both the ferry terminals and Kai Tak Airport. We won't miss anything," Cui Zilong replied.
"Good. Let me know the moment you find something!" Lin Haoran said.
"Rest assured, Boss. I'll update you immediately!"
After ending the call, Lin Haoran rubbed his temples.
Since time-traveling in 1978, he had advanced quickly, encountering smooth sailing most of the way.
This was only the second time he had been seriously targeted.
The first time was when the Brotherhood threatened the Cebu branch of Yingming Cement in the Philippines, but that had been easily resolved with force.
In fact, that incident had ended up strengthening their hold in the Philippines—an unintended but welcome result.
But this time was different. His opponent was Jardines Matheson, the so-called "King of the Hongs."
Naturally, the pressure was greater.
Fortress Electrical wasn't a small enterprise anymore—it had annual sales exceeding HK$100 million and net profits of over HK$10 million.
Across Hong Kong, there weren't many companies reaching that level.
Moreover, Fortress Electrical was one of his holdings.
If today Fortress was bullied, tomorrow another of his companies could be targeted.
He wasn't a fish on a cutting board to be sliced at will.
Ultimately, the problem was that he was too young, and others thought him easy to bully.
If it were veterans like Bao Yugang or Li Ka Shing, Jardines wouldn't dare pull such a trick so easily.
Lin Haoran lacked enough deterrent power in Hong Kong.
Even if he had Citibank faintly backing him, Jardines Matheson might not necessarily fear Citibank locally.
His previous acquisitions had mostly been handled with money, reinforcing the image of him as a "rich but naive" young man.
While thinking about how to establish authority in Hong Kong, the phone rang again.
It was Cui Zilong, calling back quickly.
"Boss, we found him. The officer's name is Tong Kit. He's been with the Royal Hong Kong Police for 18 years and is around forty years old.
Our investigation shows that around 6:30 p.m., there was a flight from Hong Kong to Manila. Tong Kit and his family were on that flight. They're scheduled to arrive at Manila International Airport at 9:08 p.m.," Cui Zilong reported.
Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran almost laughed aloud.
"Mr. Cui, isn't that a little too coincidental?" Lin Haoran remarked.
"Boss, I thought so too! I triple-checked it—there's no mistake," Cui Zilong said, laughing.
If the officer had gone to the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, or Europe, things might have been trickier.
But he went to Manila!
And Lin Haoran's security consulting firm had a major presence in the Philippines.
Not to mention, their good relationship with the largest Chinese triad in Manila, the 54 Gang.
By going to Manila, Tong Kit had essentially walked right into Lin Haoran's territory.
Lin Haoran glanced at the wall clock—just past 8:30 p.m.
Meaning, the officer and his family were still in the air and hadn't landed yet.
"You know what to do, right?" Lin Haoran said with a smile.
"Don't worry, Boss. Arrangements are already made. The moment they land, our people will control them!" Cui Zilong assured him.
"Good. Please work overtime tonight. I want concrete evidence as soon as possible. Jardines' actions this time have truly enraged me.
Find more dirt on them—I want to make them regret this attack!" Lin Haoran said coldly.
"Understood, Boss. I'll get right on it!" Cui Zilong responded.
"Alright, go handle it."
After hanging up, Lin Haoran breathed a sigh of relief.
The officer had gone to the Philippines—it was like handing himself over.
Finding evidence of Jardines' collusion now would not be difficult.
With that, Fortress Electrical's crisis would no longer be a real threat.
Business battles were truly complex.
Stretching lazily, Lin Haoran left the study to relax and watch some TV.
...
Meanwhile, in Manila, it was also just past 8 p.m.—no time difference with Hong Kong.
In Manila, with enough money, anything could be done.
After establishing the Philippine branch of his security firm, aside from retaining 150 veterans, Lin Haoran had expanded his manpower there, mainly for logistics and intelligence gathering.
Under Lin Haoran's directive, Cui Zilong had even begun building an intelligence department focused on Manila.
Though still in its infancy, it could easily handle smaller intelligence tasks.
Thus, only twenty minutes after Lin Haoran's phone call, staff from the security company were already at Manila International Airport.
They had bribed customs officials and quickly obtained insider information.
Indeed, a flight from Hong Kong would land shortly—and they had secured a passenger list.
On it was listed: Mr. Tong Kit, formerly of the Royal Hong Kong Police Criminal Division.
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