Volume Twelve: Invitation from Hell Chapter Eight: The Seamless Deal

At the top-floor conference room of Yilanxuan International, Yaoguang sat in the chair of honor, her expression grave as she addressed all the directors below. "Our trade partnership with Haiyun Group has lasted several years, primarily involving clothing import and export. Everyone is aware of the recent issues within Haiyun Group. Please take note of the following points. First, immediately suspend all cooperative projects with Haiyun Group; do not withdraw investments yet, await my instructions. Second, compile all project documents related to Haiyun Group and report by tomorrow. Third, gather all business transaction reports and financial exchanges since the beginning of our cooperation. Fourth, for the ports under our management, investigate all shipment information related to Haiyun Group’s cargo passing through. All Haiyun Group containers currently at the port are to be halted for inspection. No one is allowed to release Haiyun Group’s goods for export—if anyone disobeys, do not blame me for disregarding past relations. Understood?"

"Understood, Miss. But I’m curious—while we know the CEO of Haiyun Group is in trouble, what about the company itself?" Director Chen asked.

"The police suspect Haiyun Group of illegal smuggling, and I am the lead officer on the case. If I cannot maintain control here, how can I wear this uniform with honor? I reiterate—this is a grave matter. I urge all elders to take it seriously. If anyone causes trouble now, I won’t be able to protect you. Is that clear?" Yaoguang said firmly.

"Rest assured, Miss," the group nodded.

"Good. Meeting adjourned." Yaoguang left the room and returned to the police station, looking troubled.

"What’s wrong?" Tianyou approached, noticing her solemn demeanor.

"My Yilanxuan Group also does business with Haiyun Group. I worry they might be tampering with shipments at the port I oversee. If that’s true, it spells big trouble for me. When you asked why I serve as a special advisor and nothing else, it’s because I’m also the secret owner behind Yilanxuan. We partnered with Haiyun because they were honest and reliable—but now this happens. It’s so frustrating," Yaoguang sighed, shaking her head.

“Miss, Miss, sorry to bother you, but the data has arrived. To summarize, our business with Haiyun International concerns only clothing exports. We package the clothes, inspect them, and ship them directly to Haiyun’s port via our own logistics. Customs inspections are carried out by our personnel cooperating with customs officials. Every financial transaction relates solely to clothing—nothing else. Haiyun Group only ships containers out through our port; none come in. All outgoing cargo consists solely of clothing, and every step—from receiving, unpacking, inspection, to loading—is handled by our staff. This cooperation only increased clothing exports; no other business was involved. All transactions were in RMB, no foreign currency. We've already halted cooperation. All Haiyun cargo at our port has been stopped and transferred back to our own port. Detailed inspections there found no issues. I personally went and used spiritual detection—no problems. Rest assured. Here’s a copy of the data for you, and another was sent to customs. I’m sending it as I speak,” Yitian arrived, breathless.

“Excellent. As long as we keep ourselves clean, I can continue this investigation with integrity.” Yaoguang finally breathed a temporary sigh of relief.

“Phoenix, we’re back,” Xuanchen entered.

“How’s it going?” Yaoguang asked.

“We reviewed Haiyun Group’s detailed financial transactions. Every transaction is clear, with proper business corresponding. There’s nothing suspicious at all,” Xuanchen reported.

“Master, we’re back,” Huo Mingkun entered.

“Why that sly smile? What did you find?” Yaoguang laughed.

“We investigated several ports under Haiyun’s responsibility and found no issues. Every port strictly inspects and records cargo movements. But we accidentally discovered that every ship leaving always has one container only half full—either half or more than half empty. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?” Huo Mingkun explained.

“How did you tell it was empty?” Yaoguang asked.

“When I checked, I wondered if something was hidden inside. So, I used the Golden Eye technique and found one container wasn’t fully loaded. That’s illogical—port shipping operates strictly by container units. They never ship less if they can ship more. Carrying empty containers is a loss; which foreign trade company would do that? It just doesn’t make sense,” Huo Mingkun said. “Also, I detected electronic waves from that container—meaning it had a temperature and humidity control system. But they were shipping clothes and daily necessities. Why would such goods need controlled conditions? It’s very strange.”

“I think you’ve discovered the key here. I’ll have Yitian check the next shipment time. I’m taking you all on a covert operation. Ah Xu, Ah Kun, you two come with me onto the ship. Xuanchen and Tianyou, you’ll be on standby. Split into two teams—one by water, one on shore. I’ll contact Xiaobailong; you’ll follow the transport ship underwater. Wait for my signal,” Yaoguang said, then stepped aside to make a call. After a while, she returned. “The next shipment is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at two.”

“Master, what are you planning?” Jiang Yun, seeing Yaoguang’s mischievous smile, knew another cunning plan was underway.

“Heh heh,” Yaoguang grinned wickedly.

At one o’clock the following day, Yaoguang brought Huo Mingkun and Chen Haixu to the port. “You two take these pills. They let you become invisible at will for five hours—enough time for our mission.” Saying this, Yaoguang chanted a spell, and her body began to fade into transparency.

With a sly glance at the now invisible young men beside her, she strode boldly toward the ship. The three invisible figures watched cargo being loaded. This shipment was daily necessities. They waited nearly an hour until one container was brought down, but it was only half loaded. When customs questioned the loaders, they explained that was all the cargo and had reported it in advance. As the container doors began to close, Yaoguang and her companions slipped inside.

Huo Mingkun was right; the container had a hollow compartment with ventilation equipment.

“This is a temperature and humidity-controlled space. What kind of goods need such preservation?” Yaoguang asked the two.

“Could it be antiques?” Huo Mingkun responded quickly.

“I think you’re right. Let’s wait and see.” After the ship sailed for over an hour, it stopped. The container doors opened, and Yaoguang’s group slipped out. They found themselves in a desolate sea area. The ship was anchored mid-water. Soon, several speedboats approached, ropes were thrown down, and the men aboard the speedboats jumped into the water. The speedboats quickly sped away beyond the horizon. The ropes then tightened, and people on the ship began pulling them up—one waterproof crate after another.

These crates were taken into the container, unpacked, and their contents transferred into smaller containers, repackaged inside. Shortly afterward, another speedboat arrived. A few men carrying luggage climbed aboard via a rope ladder. They entered the container, sat down silently, neither speaking nor moving.

Yaoguang glanced at Huo Mingkun and Chen Haixu, then approached the repackaged goods. Using spiritual sensing, a cold magnetic field emanated—a tomb’s aura. These were burial goods.

Yaoguang didn’t alarm anyone but continued following the ship. Near the border, the ship slowed and soon stopped just past the boundary line. The men disembarked. The ship moved again, stopping in another remote sea area, this time docking. The hatch opened, and a man descended, directing others to unload the container’s contents. Then the contact man handed over two large boxes. Opening them revealed stacks of US dollars.

No wonder they couldn’t detect it—it was a cash transaction. The ship was already out of territorial waters, making arrests impossible on foreign soil. Yaoguang cunningly placed a spiritual mark on the receiving man to track distribution locations and processes.

Yaoguang, Huo Mingkun, and Chen Haixu then slipped into the water, meeting Xiaobailong underwater. Tianyou and Jiang Yun were inside a large shell nearby.

“What did Master find?” Jiang Yun asked.

“Smuggling of burial goods and human trafficking, all paid in cash. What did you find?” Yaoguang asked.

“The speedboats carried crates underwater. When the ship stopped, people in the boats dived, tied ropes to the crates, and pulled them up,” Jiang Yun reported.

“Good job. Did you get it all on camera?”

“Yes, all recorded,” Jiang Yun nodded.

“I got footage here too,” Chen Haixu added.

Led by Xiaobailong, the group returned to their territorial waters and went ashore, where Xuanchen awaited them.

“How’s it looking?” Yaoguang asked.

“The men who disembarked were picked up and loaded into a vehicle. Then a man came down from the ship, took a black briefcase back aboard. I kept my distance but left a spiritual mark on the contact,” Xuanchen said.

“Human trafficking, burial goods smuggling, cash deals—this explains why Haiyun Group’s ships always arrive half a day late. Alright, let’s go back and discuss the next operation. Since this involves foreign waters, coordination is necessary.”

Back at the police station, Yaoguang reported the surveillance findings. Chief Jia instructed Director Zheng to arrange a joint operation.

While awaiting responses, they ordered a check for the next Haiyun ship departure.

Preparations complete, now they just waited for the fish to bite.