Chapter 1: The Enormous Entrustment (Part 2)

  Professor Ouyang's theory caused a sensation as soon as it was proposed. Under pressure, his theory proved to have the ability to be implemented, but he did not have the opportunity to conduct physical experiments. Nevertheless, Professor Ouyang still established himself as an absolute authority in the field of brain science and international neurology.

  Li Lan smiled bitterly: "Twenty days ago when Professor Ouyang went to Zurich, we had arranged for people to provide him with strict protection..."

  "Protection?" Zhang Fan gave a slight cold laugh. For such a heavyweight scientist, the implication of national security protection was not as important as surveillance. However, he didn't say anything, this kind of "protection" was an international convention, and even if he was dissatisfied, he had no grounds to make accusations.

  "...But just half a month ago, Professor Ouyang was actually kidnapped from under the noses of our colleagues!" Li Lan continued. "And it wasn't until the next morning that our people realized Professor Ouyang was gone!"

  "What? You're not kidding, right?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but be shocked. If they were able to be sent overseas to protect a heavyweight figure like Ouyang Tianyi, then the national security personnel must have been absolutely top-notch. But for someone to actually kidnap the person right under their noses and only let them discover it the next day was just too unbelievable.

  "I also hope it's a joke." Li Lan bitterly smiled: "This matter has made the top have great doubts about our National Security Bureau's ability to handle things, our pressure is really unimaginably huge."

  Zhang Fan rolled his eyes, what's the big deal? Your pressure isn't my problem. However, he didn't express this emotion directly, but instead smiled faintly: "I think you should tell me the whole story from start to finish, and then I'll ask questions if I have any." As he spoke, he turned around and called out: "Xiao Xue, come out and take notes!"

  Li Lan smiled at the little snow that came out from inside, obviously Zhang Shuai had told him about this matter. He waited for Little Snow to get into position before slowly starting to explain.

  It turned out that Professor Ouyang had read a paper at the meeting the night before, and after the meeting, he had discussed with several academic colleagues for a long time before returning to his hotel. Of course, this whole process was under the surveillance of the two national security agents. After Professor Ouyang entered his room, the national security agents even confirmed that he was in his room. According to their account, Professor Ouyang did not leave his room all night. However, when they called Professor Ouyang to wake him up in the morning, they found that their protected person had disappeared!

  When he heard this, Zhang Fan frowned again. This was almost impossible! Although he had never dealt with the National Security Bureau, he knew that for people in this line of work, high vigilance was an essential quality. Therefore, they said Professor Ouyang did not go out that night and must not have gone out. But, just like that, Professor Ouyang actually disappeared from under their noses!

  But he didn't make a sound. This matter must have a follow-up, the National Security Bureau can't be so flustered with just this little thing.

  As expected, at the moment when Professor Ouyang was found missing, two well-trained national security bureau personnel immediately reported to their superiors. Upon receiving the report from his subordinates, the person in charge took the most correct measures - he did not pursue whose responsibility it was, but instead arranged for a search team and requested assistance from the Swiss authorities.

  Although the other party's whereabouts were quite mysterious, the National Security Bureau and the Swiss authorities' efforts could not be underestimated. They soon discovered Professor Ouyang's trail - Professor Ouyang was walking with two men in black, and judging from his appearance, he seemed somewhat unwilling, so at first Li Lan said he had been kidnapped.

  "Now that we know his whereabouts, why don't we arrange for someone to rescue Professor Ouyang?" Little Snow asked strangely before Zhang Fan could say anything.

  "We certainly took corresponding actions!" Li Lan smiled bitterly: "In the past few days, we sent out six of our best personnel to take action according to intelligence..." At this point, a helpless expression suddenly appeared on Li Lan's face, and he paused for a moment.

  "What's wrong? Didn't you rescue the person?" Zhang Fan knew from his expression that things didn't go smoothly.

  "It's not just that!" Li Lan weakly waved his hand: "These people have all gone missing too! Three days ago, we even sent out the trump card that was hard to use, but except for one message three days ago, there has been no news at all."

  Zhang Fan nodded, when the National Security Bureau personnel went on a mission, a daily report was indispensable. Three days without news was simply impossible. —— If it came to this point, nine out of ten would be bad luck rather than good fortune.

  "Just at this moment, Zhang Shuai strongly recommended you to me. He even said that if even you can't solve this problem, then almost no one in the world can solve it." Li Lan looked up at Zhang Fan with a hint of distrust in her eyes: "He also guaranteed that you are a patriot and will absolutely not use your abilities to do anything detrimental to the country!"

  "That's because he lacks experience." Zhang Fan replied bluntly. A patriot? Just because he helped him catch a few thieves who smuggled cultural relics, he became a patriot? Moreover, as an ordinary person, Zhang Shuai naturally had some unusual abilities. "However, I don't know if Zhang Shuai has told you that, putting aside the issue of patriotism or not, at the very least, I am a businessman with a conscience. Since I have accepted the commission, I will definitely follow the professional ethics of a private detective."

  "I believe that," Li Lan nodded. "So what about this case, will you take it or not?"

  "How much is the commission?" Zhang Fan thought for a moment before asking slowly. "You should know that first-class service usually comes with a first-class price."

  "One million euros, what do you think?" Li Lan was clearly well-prepared, and the price he quoted was quite enticing.

  "Hmm, let me think... what unfinished quests do I have on hand recently..." Zhang Fan secretly rejoiced, but still wanted to put on a pretentious air.

  "Accept, of course accept!" Unfortunately, Xiaoxue on the side heard this price and was so happy that she fainted, without any intention of cooperating: "One hundred million euros! Do you have any other commissions? We've been idle for two or three months now!"

  Xiaoxue's words directly reminded Zhang Fan of the 10 million euros! This price was simply astonishing, and the difficulty of the matter could be imagined. He didn't believe that the National Security Bureau would give him money for nothing, those guys were as cunning as ghosts.

  "Uh, it seems I've also taken on a personal safety protection commission..."

  "Mr. Smith has returned from Antarctica, no need for protection!"

  "Ah, and there's also a requirement for a power of attorney providing details of the spouse's recent daily life..."

  "Mr. and Mrs. Liang have already divorced!"

  "There's also one searching for missing family members..."

  "Mrs. Wang's purebred Airedale Terrier was bitten to death by the guard dog of another family after it sneaked into their yard and bit their chicken, according to police reports!"

  "Uh..."

  "What's that?" Xiaoxue glared with her eyes: "Contribute to the country, cannot refuse! You stop making excuses!"

  "It's probably for the money, right?..." Zhang Fan muttered to himself, usually you're not so enthusiastic, isn't it just because of that one hundred million? Why bother speaking so nicely?

  "What did you say?" Xiaoxue's eyes widened almost as much as the searchlight, and the warning in her eyes was self-evident.

  Nothing, nothing, I say, to make an effort for the country, to make an effort for the country! This lady director has taken charge of her own financial power and is not a person to be trifled with. It's better to know when to act. And a commission fee of 10 million euros, saying that she doesn't care at all is definitely fake.

  "That's settled then!" Li Lan directly pulled out a check from his pocket: "This is half of the advance payment, five million. After the matter is successful, I'll pay the other half."

  "I have a request." Zhang Fan pressed down on his hand: "During my operation, I don't want the national security side to interfere with or monitor my actions in any way."

  Watching Li Lan turn around and walk out, Zhang Fan narrowed his eyes and smiled with a hint of profundity. It seems that there are some things behind Captain Zhang's back that he doesn't know about, otherwise the National Security Bureau wouldn't have come to him just because of one sentence, and even agreed to his last request - he knew how excessive this request was for the national security system.