This sudden anomaly caught the Production Team completely off guard.
However, similar incidents had occurred in overseas regions before, so the program already had contingency plans in place.
The Chief Director acted decisively, immediately notifying all viewers that the live broadcast would be temporarily suspended. Once the anomaly was resolved, the footage would be replayed for the audience as soon as possible.
The purpose was clear: to prevent the real criminals from learning the Pursuit Team's strategies through the live broadcast.
In the early days of the United States of America's region—the first to launch the program—the rules were still evolving.
A similar incident had occurred, but the Production Team, convinced that live broadcasting would generate greater excitement, continued with the live format.
Predictably, criminals also tuned into the popular program. Through the Pursuit Team's live streams, they learned every detail of the team's deployment.
Although the criminal was eventually apprehended, the Production Team's foolish decision transformed what could have been a simple case into a serious crime resulting in casualties.
Following the incident, at the urging of the vast majority of nations within the Terran Alliance, the show's rules were revised. Moving forward, whenever the Pursuit Team was involved in real-life criminal investigations, all related live broadcasts would cease until the case was resolved.
A TV show, after all, could not take precedence over the lives and property of the people.
While viewers were initially disappointed at not being able to watch the live broadcasts immediately, they largely understood and accepted the decision. Everyone believed that with Cifera's exceptional assistance, the Pursuit Team would successfully handle this extraordinary situation.
Although the public broadcast had been suspended, Nie Junfeng in the studio and the host, Qiu Qiu, could still monitor the filming. Their reactions would be edited into the eventual broadcast replay.
Faced with a real criminal situation, the elite training of the Police Force shone through in Nie Junfeng's composure.
In contrast to host Qiu Qiu's visibly flustered expression, Nie Junfeng remained calm and composed:
"Everyone, please don't worry too much. Trust the Pursuit Team. Trust that our Police Force will handle this properly.
"Contestant Cifera is currently explaining her findings to the Pursuit Team. Let's all listen carefully."
On the screen, the Production Team displayed two surveillance footage clips that Cifera had specifically isolated earlier.
The first clip showed a janitor, dressed in a uniform and pushing a cleaning cart, emerging from a public restroom. Outside, a young woman was holding a small boy while looking at her phone.
The second clip captured a scene at a street corner where a wealthy woman was being restrained by two masked men who forced her into a van.
Cifera's serious and focused voice played over the footage:
"Old Liu, Teacher Wang Lei, your situation involves a suspected human trafficking case.
"In the first clip, the suspect disguised as a janitor likely drugged a young girl in the restroom and hid her in the cleaning cart. The woman outside the restroom is probably the victim's mother.
"After noticing the anomaly in the surveillance footage, I reviewed earlier recordings and confirmed that a young girl entered the restroom shortly before but never emerged.
"Later, when the mother entered the restroom and discovered her daughter was missing, she called the police. I've also reported the relevant information to the investigating police station."
"I've already identified the suspects' escape route and successfully tracked them. The data has been sent to your phones.
"I'm handing over the operation here to you."
"Received!" Liu Shanhe and Wang Lei replied simultaneously.
Then, Cifera's tone grew more serious:
"Little Lin, Little Zhang, Little Feng, the situation on your end is clear: a kidnapping case. But it's more complicated than we initially thought.
"Using technical means, I've confirmed the victim's identity: Liu Ruyan, the widow of our country's late 'Jewelry King.'
"The Jewelry King had no children, so Liu Ruyan inherited his ten billion in assets. However, she lives a very low-profile life, entrusting all her jewelry business operations to hired specialists and never involving herself in management.
"Therefore, I believe these two kidnappers are likely unaware of Liu Ruyan's true wealth. They probably assumed she was extremely wealthy based on her designer clothes and lavish spending habits, leading them to act on impulse.
"The problem now is that Liu Ruyan is showing remarkable defiance in the face of the kidnappers' demands for money. She's completely unwilling to cooperate, even seeming willing to die rather than hand over any funds."
"At this rate, I'm afraid she'll provoke the kidnappers, putting her life in grave danger."
Hearing this, Lin Zhiyuan asked, "Cifera, what's the basis for your assessment?"
Clearly, Lin Zhiyuan found it impossible to deduce such information solely from accessing surveillance footage.
"Well, I used hacking techniques to break into Liu Ruyan's phone and secretly activated her microphone and camera," Cifera explained.
"I see. Can you share the live feed with us, including both video and audio?"
"No problem."
Soon, the violently shaking footage revealed a wealthy woman bound with hemp ropes, appearing to be in a sparsely furnished room.
She was wearing a form-fitting black bodycon dress, her hands and feet tightly bound and immobile.
It was Liu Ruyan, the same woman Cifera had previously captured being shoved into a van in the surveillance footage.
At that moment, a short, masked kidnapper was stripping her of her necklaces, jewelry, and other valuables.
Another kidnapper, holding her phone, remained out of view but spoke with fierce aggression:
"You stupid bitch! I advise you to cooperate! Contact your family and tell them to pay the ransom, or I'll kill you!"
Though the shaky camera made it impossible to see Liu Ruyan's expression, her voice alone revealed not a trace of fear, only disdain in the face of the kidnapper's threats:
"Oh, then I suggest you hurry up and kill me. Get a single cent from me? Don't even think about it! I've already been through worse than kidnapping, bitch. At worst, I'll die. Why should I hand over my money to benefit you bastards?"
"Hmph! If you won't cooperate, your husband certainly will! A woman as beautiful as you must be deeply loved by him."
"You're right—my husband did love me dearly. But sadly, he's been dead for years. And I have no family left in this world. I'd love to see where you're going to find someone to pay your ransom! Ha ha ha!"
"You... you bitch! Cut the act! Do you really think I'd believe your lies? Looks like you need a lesson to make you cooperate properly!"
As the man holding the phone finished speaking, the camera suddenly spun wildly, followed by the sounds of punches, kicks, and Liu Ruyan's muffled groans.
Clearly, Liu Ruyan refused to show weakness, enduring the beating without crying out.
...
After a moment of silence in the voice channel, Zhang Hong's furious voice erupted:
"Cifera, we're already rushing to the coordinates you provided, but at this rate, she'll be dead before we arrive!
"You must have a way to buy us some time, right?"
"I do have a plan. I'll impersonate Liu Ruyan's husband and contact her directly. Once the kidnappers see a chance to get the ransom, they'll naturally stop hurting her."
"Huh? You're going to impersonate Liu Ruyan's husband? Can you even pull that off?" Feng Chiyu asked, puzzled.
"Leave it to me. If I say I can do it, I'll make it happen!"
Cifera's confident and resolute voice echoed through the voice channel.