Chapter 5: This Trickster Is As Pure as a Blank Sheet!

Jinling City Public Security Bureau, Cyber Police Unit.

The sharp clatter of keyboard strokes intertwined with the low hum of server cases, forming the only sound in the office. The air was thick and suffocating, like congealed glue pressing down on everyone’s chest.

All eyes were magnetically fixed on the enormous spliced screen ahead.

At the center of the screen was the official website of Longhai University. Exquisitely designed, professionally laid out, every detail exuded the authoritative aura of a legitimate academic institution.

Yet, in the most prominent spot on the website, the constantly flickering “Donation Channel” entrance glowed with a sinister glare, like a grotesque scar that stabbed painfully at every officer present.

“Captain Liu!”

A voice shattered the silence. A young officer abruptly stood, the report in his hands slightly crumpled from his grip.

“As of just now, in the past three days, we have received over 137 reports regarding ‘Longhai University’! Backend data shows the amount involved has surpassed 800,000 yuan—and that number…” He pointed to a corner of the screen, where a crimson number climbed erratically upward, each jump seeming to mock their helplessness.

At the main seat, Deputy Captain Liu Jie remained motionless.

His elbows rested on the armrests, fingers interlaced tightly, knuckles blanching from pressure. The ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts, though he hadn’t lit another. His eyes pierced through the flickering data on the screen, as if trying to wrench the hidden mastermind from the virtual depths of the internet.

“An unknown website,” Liu Jie finally spoke, his voice low but like a stone dropped into still water, rippling through the office atmosphere.

“Three days, over 800,000 yuan. This isn’t petty theft, nor ordinary telecom fraud.”

He slowly raised his bloodshot eyes, yet deep within his pupils burned a flame of chilling calm.

“This isn’t fraud. It’s outright robbery! Exploiting public sympathy, precisely harvesting every kind-hearted person!”

He swept his hand decisively.

“Immediately conduct the deepest, most thorough penetration investigation into the website’s server IP, all linked payment accounts, and the puppet masters behind it! I want to see that person’s face in the shortest time possible!”

“Yes, sir!”

With the order given, the cyber police unit instantly transformed into a high-speed precision machine. Data cascaded across screens like waterfalls, commands turned into invisible electric waves piercing the deep ocean of the internet.

Half a day later.

A freshly printed A4 sheet, still warm from the printer, was gently placed on Liu Jie’s desk.

An eerie silence filled the office again. Everyone held their breath, anticipating the deputy captain’s thunderous wrath. They had imagined the mastermind might be a foreign high-intelligence crime syndicate or a seasoned domestic scammer.

But when Liu Jie’s gaze swept over the first line on the sheet, the usually stern expression on his face twisted into something almost absurdly stunned.

Someone in the office gasped sharply.

“Suspect: He Yu.”

“Gender: Male.”

“Age: 20.”

Each word on the page struck like a hammer, pounding violently against everyone’s understanding.

“Social relations: Orphan, parents deceased, no records of direct or collateral relatives in the files.”

“Personal background: Graduated from Jinling City No. 3 High School. Took the national college entrance exam for three consecutive years starting at seventeen, failed all attempts. No criminal record, no unfavorable social associations, credit record clean.”

“His social ties… as clean as a blank sheet of paper never used before.”

The young officer read the last sentence with a dryness in his voice he couldn’t explain.

Liu Jie’s fingers tapped slowly on the desk, emitting a soft “tap, tap, tap.” He stared at the background report as if trying to see through it.

“What about bank account verification?” he asked, his voice deep.

“Report, Captain Liu. The receiving account is indeed a savings card opened under He Yu’s real name. We checked transaction history over the past five years… account balance rarely exceeds 300 yuan. The most recent large deposit was two months ago—2,000 yuan in college entrance exam failure assistance funds.”

Silence.

Dead silence.

A 20-year-old youth.

A thrice-failed exam taker, barred from entering university.

A destitute orphan, so poor he struggles to meet basic living needs.

And yet, such a person designed a website flawless even to professional technicians? Orchestrated a precise scam harvesting over 800,000 yuan in donations, sparking enormous public outrage?

It defied logic.

It even defied criminology!

In Liu Jie’s mind, the vague image of He Yu clashed violently with the image of the professional, cold, ruthless mastermind—and was torn apart.

No!

Impossible!

“Bang!”

Liu Jie’s palm slammed down on the desk. The loud crack startled everyone.

He stood, the shock in his eyes vanishing, replaced by the sharp certainty of a hunter tracking prey.

“This He Yu is merely a ‘front man’—a perfect scapegoat!”

His voice was decisive, brooking no doubt.

“A flawless decoy! A puppet so clean it deceives everyone! Behind him must be a tightly organized, clearly divided, highly experienced professional fraud syndicate!”

“They chose He Yu because of his ‘blank slate’ background! Once exposed, all evidence points to him—and what can a 19-year-old orphan reveal? This move is brilliantly cunning!”

The young officer straightened instinctively, caught up in Liu Jie’s commanding aura.

“Captain Liu, should we arrest him now?”

“No.”

Liu Jie shook his head firmly, walking to the giant screen and gazing at He Yu’s somewhat youthful one-inch photo. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

“Arresting him now is like telling the snake we’re coming. If this small fish is netted, the real big fish beneath the water will sink forever, never to be caught.”

He turned, his gaze sweeping over every team member present.

“Relay my orders!”

Liu Jie’s voice rose sharply, filled with undisputed authority.

“Immediately establish a ‘Fishing’ task force!”

“From now on, place He Yu under twenty-four-hour, comprehensive, no-blind-spot surveillance! Every outing, every call, every internet access must be logged!”

“Especially his livestream!” Liu Jie’s tone intensified, his finger almost poking the screen. “Lock onto it! Not a single frame missed! I want to see clearly who he contacts, where his money flows, and who is truly behind him!”

Liu Jie’s plan was terrifyingly clear.

He would turn the tables.

Since the enemy offered a perfect “bait,” he would be the patient “fisherman.”

He would use He Yu, the seemingly impeccable “bait,” to trace that invisible line, uproot the entire fraud syndicate lurking in the dark depths, and catch them all in one net!