Chapter 1: Is This an Illegal Taxi?
"Hello, everyone..."
"I am reporter Liu Ruyan."
"I am about to undertake an extremely dangerous mission..."
"To investigate the recent surge in abductions and missing persons cases..."
Dressed as a college student and radiating youthful energy, Liu Ruyan, a reporter for the national broadcaster, spoke with a solemn expression into the camera. Tens of thousands of viewers in the livestream heard her words clearly.
"Sob, my Sister Ruyan usually plays villains, but she’s finally playing a righteous reporter for once."
"Is this for real? It’s not a script, is it? Letting herself be abducted? That’s too dangerous!"
"Exactly, how would there even be a signal deep in the mountains?"
"How could it be a script? Don't you see the national broadcaster's logo? This is clearly state-sanctioned!"
"Waaah, Little Liu is playing with fire. Please don't let it go wrong; it’s impossible to escape from those mountains."
"The moment I think of Little Liu becoming a breeding machine for some rough mountain villager, suffering the tragic fate of being held captive, I feel like crying!"
Liu Ruyan looked at the scrolling comments and took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her pretty face. She knew full well that this trip was incredibly dangerous. But some things simply had to be done by someone. As a reporter, she had to stand on the front lines, daring to strike at and expose these hidden shadows.
This operation had been proposed by her superiors at the national station because these human trafficking rings had become far too rampant lately. They were specifically targeting college students, kidnapping both men and women. There were plenty of wealthy, dim-witted daughters of landlords in rural areas just waiting for someone to carry on their family lines.
"Thank you all for your concern. Please rest assured that my supervisors and the SWAT team are monitoring the situation here. Once I successfully infiltrate them, they will rescue me at the first opportunity!"
Even as she said this, Liu Ruyan knew that the situation remained unpredictable. If the traffickers got angry or desperate, they might just decide to dispose of her immediately. If that happened, all the SWAT team could do would be to collect her body and seek revenge.
Liu Ruyan took a deep breath and looked into the camera with a determined expression. "I just want to say, some things must be done by someone!"
These words immediately moved the countless viewers in the livestream.
"This is what a modern reporter should be doing!"
"Sob, I’m so moved. Ruyan reminds me of the reporter who exposed the DGY case back then. It’s precisely because of reporters like these that so many dark places are illuminated by the light."
"That’s right. Never mock those who are braver than you, because the radiance they strive for illuminates you as well."
"I feel this deeply! I’m a female college student myself. One of the students recently abducted was from our school; I’ve been terrified."
"Don't just say you women are scared; I’m a guy and I’m scared, too. Now, whenever I see a van like that, I stay away."
Liu Ruyan secured a micro-camera, no thicker than a human hair, onto her neck. From the outside, it looked exactly like a tiny birthmark. There was not a single flaw to be seen.
"From here on, the broadcast will continue from a first-person perspective. Furthermore, I will no longer be interacting with you all."
With that, Liu Ruyan walked out of the university town. It was currently winter break, and there were plenty of people around. She quickly noticed a van with what appeared to be obscured plates, sporting an arrow-shaped sticker. It looked exactly like an illegal taxi.
At the national station's command center, the police officers monitoring the scene watched the screen.
"Should we move in?"
"No. This is just a small faction of the criminal ring. Our goal is to map out their trafficking routes and locations to save more people."
"Besides, some recent major international cases seem to be linked to a specific location used by this trafficking ring."
A police inspector said with a grave expression. The others understood. They turned their eyes to the screen, all filled with admiration for the female reporter's courage. If they had sent in special forces, it would likely have been a suicide mission, yet this woman dared to use herself as bait, venturing deep into the tiger's den.
On camera, Liu Ruyan took a deep breath and walked toward a secluded area with few people. The moment she began to move, the van followed. Once she reached a remote spot, the van screeched to a halt behind her.
Liu Ruyan whirled around, coming face-to-face with the dilapidated Wuling van. Immediately, the van doors swung open. Four ferocious-looking men jumped out, clearly following a coordinated plan: one stood watch, one covered her mouth, and two subdued her, dragging her directly into the vehicle!
*Bang!*
The door slammed shut. The entire process had taken less than three seconds. Everyone in the livestream was shocked.
"Whoa, is it really that easy to abduct someone? That was only a few seconds? It was faster than I am!"
"Like I said before, there are only two types of cars that will kidnap your girlfriend: sports cars and the legendary Wuling. The former might require some conversation, but the latter takes care of it in three seconds."
"This is too brazen! To abduct someone in broad daylight like that! It looks like I can't go to isolated places anymore."
"I’m terrified. I’ll never dare to walk alone at night again. I’m going to drag my boyfriend along; he’s big and strong and will protect me. @ToughGuy"
"Don't @ me. Don't even talk about me being big and strong; if a horse were in my place, it would’ve been dragged in within three seconds. Let’s just stick to the crowds."
"I’m sorry, I know this is a serious moment, but I really want to laugh."
Inside the Wuling van:
"Boss, this chick is a catch! We can sell her for a good price!"
Wang Ming, who had a dragon tattoo on his arm, looked at Liu Ruyan with a lecherous grin, his eyes scanning her body repeatedly. His gaze, transmitted through the camera, made countless viewers in the livestream shudder.
"Damn, the male gaze!"
"Forget the women; even I, as a guy, am scared seeing that look!"
"It feels like an alien is examining my soul. Sob."
Liu Liang, the bald man sitting in the passenger seat, turned his head. "Shut up. We can't touch this one. If she’s tarnished, the buyers will check. If you touch her, the price gets cut in half. Keep your 'little brother' under control."
"Heh heh," Wang Ming chuckled. "I was just joking."
Li Gou, sitting to the side and brandishing a knife at Liu Ruyan, stared at her gloomily. "You’d better behave yourself, or you’re going to end up with a scar on that pretty face."
Before he could finish, the leader in the passenger seat threw a plastic water bottle at Li Gou’s head. "Watch yourself, damn it! If you actually ruin her face, I’ll slice your balls open."
Li Gou rubbed his head, looking aggrieved, and put the knife away. "I was just joking, Boss."
Wang Xue, the fourth man sitting on the other side of Liu Ruyan, chuckled. "Boss, where are we heading now? Are we offloading her directly?"
"No, we still need one more guy. Let's drive around a bit more..."
Before the leader in the passenger seat could finish his sentence:
*Creak.*
The rear door of the Wuling was suddenly pulled open. A sunny, handsome youth, looking to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, opened the door and looked at the five stunned men inside.
Lin Xian wore a radiant smile. "Is this an illegal taxi? Are you going to Mingshan? I’ll pay at most fifty bucks for the fare."