Simulation Game: Crisis Management

Chapter 466 - 218: Fusong Gang (2)

At this moment, the black Honda sedan carrying the target, Akashi Renji, was 100 meters ahead, occupying the left lane, while Zeng Dan and their off-road vehicle maintained a distance of about 40 meters behind, occupying the middle lane.

This was done to maintain staggered lanes, using civilian vehicles as cover to avoid frequently appearing in the target vehicle’s rearview mirror.

Fortunately, they chose black and white Volkswagen paint jobs, making them extremely inconspicuous in the traffic flow.

The two sides maintained this trailing distance for fifteen minutes.

Soon, Akashi Renji turned onto the highway, and Shi Zhengmin and his team also chose to turn and follow, accelerating to surpass the target vehicle.

Because it’s difficult to turn around on highways, they mostly remain in the same direction except at ramps.

So overtaking at this time can reduce the sensitivity of the target being tracked.

"It looks like they’re heading back to Tokyo City, Mr. Gu, be ready to take over anytime, and we’ll turn around at the next exit to follow you back."

"Understood."

Upon hearing Zeng Dan’s instructions over the intercom, Gu Ji answered and instructed Lang Shaobo to speed up.

As they watched the target signal and merge onto the ramp, they too exited the highway.

The seasoned National Security Special Service members knew the "no more than two turns" principle well, because following a target with more than two directional changes increases the exposure risk to criminals with strong counter-surveillance abilities.

Especially since it’s the first time the Fusong Gang showed up after hiding for half a month.

Therefore, for vehicle surveillance, team operations with two to three cars are more suitable.

But currently, most of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s resources are devoted to city patrols and the Yijuan Association, and there’s no extra police force available to follow them on a "leisurely stroll" every day for over two weeks.

Gao Bo raised his phone and said.

"Gu Ji, once we enter Tokyo City, the lane shown in Google Navigation turns yellow."

"Then we cannot allow too much distance; following must adjust based on traffic density. In densely trafficked areas with many traffic lights, if we’re two to three vehicles away from the target, as soon as the car in front stops to prepare to turn, it’s easy to miss one or two light changes, losing track of the target vehicle."

Wu Kang suddenly spoke up from the back seat.

As a top student in the police entrance exams, he remembers such police tracking questions particularly well.

Gu Ji nodded, "Do as Mr. Wu said, maintain the left lane."

Since cars in Japan have the driver’s seat on the right, drivers habitually watch the driver’s side mirror more, so tracking from the left lane reduces the chance of being discovered.

Just like that, they followed, stopping and starting.

Until that black Honda sedan turned into a small alley ahead.

Gao Bo suddenly shouted:

"That alley seems like a cul-de-sac."

"Don’t turn, drive straight ahead!"

"Huh? Okay!" Lang Shaobo was about to signal a lane change. Although he didn’t understand why Gu Ji issued these orders, he still followed instructions, accelerating past the alley entrance.

"Mrs. Qiao, the target turned into a narrow alley, and we’re unsure if it’s to test if they’re being followed, but we can’t follow them anymore."

"Okay, Mr. Gu, leave it to us!"

Chen Zhiyu’s voice came over the intercom, indicating Zeng Dan was likely busy making phone reports again.

Lang Shaobo stared wide-eyed, "Could it be, Mr. Gu, we’ve been discovered?"

"Not necessarily, it might just be the criminal’s usual counter-surveillance strategy. Vehicle tracking is most tabooed by mimicking the target’s driving behavior, especially making abrupt turns into remote communities or alleys. Without civilian vehicles for cover, we become totally exposed to the target’s view."

"My goodness..."

Lang Shaobo felt a chill down his spine.

About twenty minutes later, Zeng Dan reported that the target circled around and finally stopped at Tokyo Metropolitan University in Minami-Osawa, Hachioji City.

After Akashi Renji exited the vehicle, a plainly dressed woman appeared beside him, suspected to have gotten in at the alley, very likely being the snakehead of the Fusong Gang: Mrs. Na!

"A smuggling gang went to a university? Could anything happen?"

Lang Shaobo couldn’t help but worry out loud.

When Gu Ji and others arrived at the target location, stopping near Zeng Dan’s Mitsubishi off-road vehicle, they might have seen the license plate from the rearview mirror; Chen Zhiyu’s voice came over the intercom:

"Mr. Qiao and the disguised Jingshang have gotten out and followed the target into the university, and the two are currently moving towards the Business School building."

"There aren’t any new suspicious vehicles around?"

Gu Ji asked while scanning the surroundings.

Perhaps because it was a Saturday, with students on holiday, there were many civilian vehicles parked around the school. Most Japanese university students were gathering in groups to hitch rides to the city center, and the black Honda sedan was parked just to the right side of the road.

This allowed them to remain hidden but also complicated the investigation.

"No suspicious vehicles seen, Mr. Qiao sent a message that the target entered the teaching building."

"Gao Bo, Wu Kang, get out and check the two intersections ahead and behind, mainly watching for vans and passenger cars with dark-tinted windows that obscure the view of the interior."

"Okay."

After listening to Chen Zhiyu’s report, Gu Ji began directing Gao Bo and Wu Kang to keep watch at the intersections.

He remained in the vehicle to continue monitoring Akashi Renji.

About five minutes later, Zeng Dan sent a message saying the two targets were meeting a foreigner, who likely was a professor of economics at the Business School.

A foreigner?

Upon hearing this, Gu Ji felt he might have caught onto something, but just then, Zeng Dan sent an emergency message: "Gu Ji, you all need to come over immediately, a group suddenly appeared in the office... "

Before Zeng Dan could finish speaking.

"Gu Ji! A black van just accelerated and charged over here!"

"Screech—!"

Gao Bo’s shocked shout and the screech of tires braking erupted almost simultaneously. A black Toyota van rushed onto the university’s entrance, stopping abruptly in front of where Shi Zhengmin and Chen Zhiyu’s Mitsubishi off-road vehicle was parked.

The car doors swung open.

Six or seven black-clad Japanese thugs leapt out, surrounding the off-road vehicle, pressing their faces against the car windows, grinning "hehe" as they stared in.

"Mr. Gu, it seems we’ve been found, suddenly a group of..."

"Gao Bo, Wu Kang! Go to the Business School to assist Mrs. Qiao immediately! Lang, lock the car doors! No one except our own people should open them, no matter who it is! Crash!

Taking in Chen Zhiyu’s shout over the intercom, Gu Ji’s expression changed dramatically, issuing commands in quick succession, then leaped out of the car.

Despite the vehicle being surrounded, Gao Bo and Wu Kang gritted their teeth and followed Gu Ji’s instructions, sprinting toward the school’s entrance.

"Ah, shut up! What are you looking at, you fool!"

"Hey, hey, hey, nonsense! Get lost, all of you!"

...

Several thug enforcers, clinging to the car’s roof, shook it wildly, with the leader—dark-skinned, crew-cut, donned in fake Gucci—shouting loudly in broken Xia Kingdom speech.

The car window rolled down.

Shi Zhengmin knitted his brows and sternly asked, "Who are you, and why are you...?"

Before he finished, one thug suddenly reached out to grab his collar, but Shi Zhengmin swiftly dodged.

Much to his surprise, the thug dove head-first into the car, and the next moment, the entire SUV shook violently, with muffled sounds coming from inside, while other thugs pounded on the windows with their elbows, shattering glass.

"Damn it!"

As Gu Ji sprinted, his gaze turned fiercer, letting out a fierce shout; twisting his waist, his left foot’s shadow instantly shifted, and his right leg sprang into the air, retracting like a human mantis, delivering a swift kick that sent the tall thug smashing a car window flying to the ground!

Police grappling combat, step-and-side kick!

"Damn you, you bastard! Die!!"

The tall thug, falling to the ground, cursed, with several nearby thugs glaring menacingly and pressing forward.

Gu Ji, meanwhile, rolled up his hoodie sleeves, eyes resolute as he stared them down:

"Whoever wants to die, just come at me!"