Chapter 2: Step Into The Dark
(warning: the following chapters speaks and alludes to mature themes such as prostitution, drugs, human trafficking and sexual abuse. Readers discretion advised)
—————————————————————————
As Nan'Ke was speechless of the deprivation displayed on the computer screen, he became even more dumbfounded as he continued going through the files. He knew that what he was searching for was not going to be easy for him to stomach from his previous conversations with Officer Yuan, but this was way more worse than he could imagine.
The files depicted sexual acts with women and men, which wouldn't be a problem if it was a consensual affair, however base on the videos he could tell these girls were forced into these acts as they were crying, battered and bruise in addition to be bounded by their hands and feet. There were thousands of videos and images within the device and Nan'Ke didn't what to go through them all, but he had no choice as he had to know what would be use as evidence so he can log it into the system at station to ensure its security for the time of prosecution.
As he was doing his due diligence, Officer Yuan and another colleague of his a female Officer by the name Wang Yin Xi, was in the interrogation room interviewing one of the suspects from the raid.
This person name was Mu Chen. Sitting on the chair looking at the Officers he had bit of air to him. It wasn't arrogance but much more like him being here was nothing more than a trivial matter and treated the situation like one of those new experiences in his life as he never been in hand cuffs before, in a police station that is.
Officer Yuan start asking questions about their organizations and who is their leader and members and such, typical line of questioning that you see in those procedural dramas on tv. However the twist here is Mu Chen answered every question without even batting an eye. Seeing his candid response the pair of Officials felt a bit thrown off as not everyday a criminal or suspect tells you what you want to hear.
Mu Chen continues to speak "whatever it is you know or whatever it is I tell you, would it matter?" "Regardless, you are not the one with the control, you guys are just a bunch of street police, I will wait on the detective, and even they wouldn't be able to do anything." With those statements sent a bit shiver down the spine of the officers as they fell every word that the man in front of them uttered was the unfettered truth. As the officers knew they wouldn't get anywhere else they decided to leave, as they got up Mu Chen said another remark, "Heh I'll make it easier for you, I won't even ask for my lawyer, I wanna have some fun today. So make sure to keep me intrigued." After that the officers left the room thinking that they may have psychopath on their hands. Seeing that he will be talking to detectives from now on they breathed a sigh of relief.
Back at Nan'Ke work station, he has already log about 87% of the data from the laptop to the station evidence log system. While continuing, his eyes fell on a his folder with the name "D.M&16". Seeing the that this folder was the only specifically named folder out of all the data stored in the device Nan'Ke thought it would be the most important file. To his surprise the file required an additional password, with this layer of extra security he is now sure that whatever is in this folder is beyond the realm of the previous deplorable acts he had witnessed before.
Cracking the password was particularly easy for him it didn't take him more than five minutes to achieve. Now searching the folder, he saw files of different kinds, images and videos of an older man having sexual relations with younger women, but the women weren't just young they look underage, not more 17 years old and not younger than 14 years old. He even recognized one of the girls in the pictures, as she was a suicide victim the detectives of the station had previously investigated. It was even reported on the local news that a young woman age 15 was found dead by apparent suicide, however the coroner first reported that is was murder by asphyxiation, but another report was done by another coroner and they ruled it as suicide. She was found in her home hanging from a rope by her parents.
Piecing together the relevant information Nan'Ke drawn two conclusions, she was raped and couldn't live with the shame so she killed herself, or she was silenced by the people who had rape her. Nan'Ke chose to believe the latter as the key factor was the fist coroner report. Soon his suspicions were correct when he saw a video of the girl with someone that everyone living in Mu city knew and he was the Deputy Mayor. A cold sweat come over him as he possible stumbled upon something even bigger that he might have imagined. Running through his thoughts he understood why the folder was name "D.M&16" as it was most likely a blackmail folder to coerce the deputy mayor into doing their bidding.
Another theory pop into his head as he thought that the blackmailers had sent this video to him and to stop them gaining any leverage on him he had the underage girl secretly taken care of. Nan'Ke only muttered one word "scary". He eventually came out of his frightened state and start transferring the data to the evidence log, it got to about 93% when someone came over to him and pull out the plug of his computer essentially stopping the operation. Nan'Ke was livid and turn to say something but the words stuck in his throat as he saw the Chief of police looking at him. That's right it was the boss of this police station in Mu city who pulled the plug.
Chief Wei, that's his name, look at Nan'Ke and said "you didn't get anything off the laptop right?" Without waiting for a response he continued "good, good, sometimes you win some and sometimes you loose some. Ok I'll take it from here". As he proceed to grab the laptop from Nan'Ke desk and then walks back to his office but before he left he said something that caught Nan'Ke even more off guard "you can leave for the day, oh don't bother coming back tomorrow or any other day for that matter. Take your pay from reception and leave".
Stupefied Nan'Ke did what he was told. He felt he really needed to get out here as fast as possible as his earlier conjecture of city officials having people killed made him believe that he might be a casualty in this case. Without a second to loose he had already left the station and got on a bus to head back home. Currently his mind was racing on what to do now, he has lost his job and now his life might be in danger. He needed a solution to his problems, as his mind rack with different ideas he starting to sweat profusely as he started feeling the intensity of the situation his body ran hot. This was not the first time this has happened as he thought about the incident that took place two years ago.
But now wasn't the time for reminiscing, he needed a plan. Then an idea pop into his head and thought of it being the only path forward for now until he can think of a better one.
In the police station, The chief of police sat down in his office breathing a sigh of relief. He knew about the organization as they are back by two out of the five powerful families in Mu city in a secret alliance to control the underworld and their dealings and he also knew about the deputy mayor extra curricular activities with younger age or better termed underage women, however being stuck in a rock and a hard place with no power or support from superiors who may or may not be involved he choose to collect bribes for his services. However seeing the little orphan boy that he took pity on and offer an intern position that doesn't even exist to help him after noticing a computing skills at a local library, getting dragged into this, he knew he had to step in right there and then hoping that he had not seen or found anything. Thinking that he had done the right think he open up the laptop and proceeded to wipe the data so it could be said that Nan'Ke found nothing on the laptop and he even went into the evidence log to erase what was uploaded, unbeknownst to him once Nan'Ke has accessed to another computer, retrieving the data would be a piece of cake as he already had the server under his control.
After doing what needed to be done he the went to officers who had 'questioned' Mu Chen and told them to let him go, they were not overly surprised based on their interaction with him earlier it felt that he had some sort of background. After letting him go Mu Chen said "how boring it wasn't even ten minutes and didn't even get to talk to a detective, sigh". Seeing Mu Chen literally sighing out loud they really didn't know if he was crazy or the prime minister son with him being so unbothered by the current situation. After Mu Chen left in a black out Rolls-Royce Cullinan the officers asked the chief who is he and the chief's reply shock them to their core "he is the eldest young master of the Mu family one of the five great families here in Mu city" said the chief. He then continued "his ancestors are the ones that built the city from the ground up after the war 80 years ago". The officials immediately smiled as they know that they literally dodge a bullet by not treating him like they would any other suspect.
The police had relative control over the city but that only stops when come to the five great families which are Mu, Ling, Xiao, Gu and Shen. Currently the Mu are working with the Gu's in a secret alliance to control power of the underworld while the other great families have they own power play in the mix as fighting for full control of the city would grant them a huge financial benefit in the range of hundreds of millions if not billions.
Knowing the situation the officers didn't bother with anything else but Officer Wang Yin Xi then ask "did little Zhang discover anything on the laptop" hearing this Officer Yuan ears perked up as he wanted to know the answer to. The chief replied "no, the laptop was wiped clean but because of the nature of the inquiry into the case it put a burden onto him as he never dealt with anything like this before and he is still young so he didn't know how to cope with idea of sex traffickers and having to search their devices and see their deplorable acts so he decided to leave the job after today".
Hearing this the officer were surprised by Nan'Ke reaction and decision but ultimately they understood not everyone is cut out to step into the dark world.
The man in question Nan'Ke has already returned to his apartment and has already packed his belongings as he would be moving from today, not knowing the chief had already prevented the danger he perceived to be upon him. His plan isn't fully form but he thought it best if he moves and stay low for a while. After packing his bags he took the keys and went to the landlord downstairs to drop it off and ask if he could get a return on one months' rent since he was leaving. He wasn't hopeful of this but its better to ask than not. "Aunty, something has happened recently and I need to move, here is the keys". The middle aged women known as Miss. Wu look at the boy with indifference but nodded as she didn't really bothered. Then Nan'Ke ask "Aunty Wu is it possible to get back one months' rent seeing I have only stayed for 8 days only". Aunt Wu replied "boy you don't know how the world works. Just because you ask doesn't mean it will be given to you". Hearing this he frown then Aunt Wu said "the world isn't as kind as Aunty so you better not be so naïve in whatever you are hoping to achieve. Take advice from an old woman not everyone is your friend, you can trust but make sure and verify do you understand boy". Nan'Ke nodded, they exchanged a few more pleasantries and he thank her for words and then set off to his next destination after receiving the $800, The Attaché Hotel.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Mind_Medicine
Mind_Medicine so yeah although it does mention the 'dark world' that wouln't be the full focus of the novel. think of this arc like its a cannon event. Its the Mc starting point and he would make a life changing decision in the chapters coming up due this experience.....so yeah comment, crticized, rant in the comments like do you right. Don't get attached, who knows the novel might end in ten chapters meh.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone