Chapter 18: The Collision

"I got held up preparing some things,"

Actually, David had intentionally arrived late, to give Nisen the impression that he had been investigating through special channels.

Otherwise, if he really caught the car thieves, he wouldn't be able to explain the source of his information.

"So, any findings?"

"Half an hour ago, two Asian-looking guys acting all sneaky came by, but they didn't match the photos in our files. I'm not sure if they're the car thieves we're after. To avoid spooking them, I didn't do anything!"

David nodded and didn't say much else. Instead, his gaze began to sweep around the surroundings, and he also started using his "golden finger" ability to scan the passing crowd.

The two of them staked out the area for quite some time until, an hour later, David finally said, "Nothing unusual here. Let's go check out the Aria Hotel."

Nisen didn't waste any words and immediately started the car.

The Aria wasn't far from the Grande, about 3 kilometers away, and in less than ten minutes, they arrived there.

Just as they were about to enter the parking lot, they saw a Bentley exit through the gate. However, less than 10 seconds after the Bentley had left, a white Toyota also followed out.

Nisen, perhaps because he was focused on driving, didn't notice anything unusual.

However, when David looked through the half-open car window and saw the person in the passenger seat, his expression changed dramatically.

[Name: Nakamura Ota.]

[Occupation: Car thief.]

[Monthly income: 26,000 US dollars.]

[Income details: On December 11, stole a Porsche 911 in the Crystal Shopping Street, sector 4, made a profit of 5,000 US dollars. On December 21, stole a Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Horseshoe Bay Hotel, made a profit of 6,000 US dollars. On December 30...]

[More details...]

[Taxable amount: 2,600 US dollars.]

"Turn around, follow that white Toyota!"

"Huh?"

Faced with David's sudden shout, Nisen stepped on the brake and felt a bit stunned.

"The guy we're looking for is in that car!"

Upon hearing this, Nisen immediately came back to his senses and hurriedly turned the wheel to give chase.

The two vehicles, one after the other, soon arrived in front of a casino in the Lake District. The Bentley stopped first; after parking, a middle-aged man and a woman dressed in a gown got out and both entered the casino.

"That's... McAllister!"

Meanwhile, Nisen, parked not too far away, recognized the man at a glance.

Indeed, he was the English tourist they had information on from today.

He didn't have time to think further.

At that moment, the door of the white Toyota they were following opened, and a short-statured man with an Asian face got out, holding a device resembling a remote control in his hand.

"He's about to make his move!"

Nisen was about to get out of the car when David pulled him back, "Don't rush. This isn't our business. Besides, after he succeeds, we'll have more tax revenue!"

Nisen was startled at first, but then he quickly realized.

Right.

"I'm a tax inspector for the IRS, what's car theft got to do with me?"

And after he catches his prey like a mantis stalking a cicada, we swoop in as the oriole does next, to collect the taxes. Wouldn't that mean more tax revenue for us?"

With that in mind, Nisen wasn't in a hurry anymore and just quietly watched the guy's performance from a distance.

But the very next second, he witnessed a sight that left him dumbstruck.

He saw the guy walk around the Bentley with a device similar to a remote control, and after a circle, he pressed a button, and the door just automatically opened.

"What... what is this thing?"

Nisen wasn't very familiar with the technology of car thieves, but in his mind, wasn't car theft supposed to involve tools like lock picks, hydraulic cutters, or some sort of master keys?

How did he just fiddle with the thing and the door automatically opened?

And that's a Bentley!

The anti-theft system in such luxury cars definitely isn't comparable to ordinary cars.

"It's a decoder. Once some hackers or professionals input specific programs, it can decode the security of specific vehicles."

David wasn't very surprised; he had seen plenty of thieves using decoders to steal cars in his previous life as a police officer.

"A decoder, huh? That seems high-tech. I really didn't expect car thieves to use high-tech methods these days..."

"Stop dazing out, they're leaving. Follow them and see where their nest is!"

While the two were talking, Nakamura Ota had already started the Bentley and was driving away. Seeing this, Nisen also collected his thoughts and followed no rush.

Ten minutes later.

After taking a turn at a traffic light, Nakamura Ota in the Bentley furrowed his brows as he noticed the black Volvo following behind.

He then pulled out his phone and dialed a number: "Kameda, did you notice a black Volvo when we left Aria?"

"A black Volvo... I didn't really pay much attention!"

A male voice came through on the other end of the phone.

"This car seems to have been following us since we left Aria. I thought it was a coincidence at first, but it has still been tailing me after I succeeded. I suspect we've been spotted!"

There was silence on the other line for a while before the voice said, "Don't head back to 'headquarters' just yet. Lead them on a wild goose chase. I'll come to back you up, give me your exact location now!"

"I'm on Caesar Shopping Center Avenue, heading toward the old town area..."

"Good, I know the place!"

...

David and Nisen were unaware of Nakamura Ota's situation at the time, but after tailing for about fifteen minutes, they began to sense something was off.

They realized that their quarry had been driving in circles and didn't seem to have any destination in mind.

Nisen frowned, "This guy is quite vigilant; it looks like we've been spotted!"

David, although not responding, also looked somewhat helpless. After all, they were just inspectors, not good enough in surveillance. Perhaps this was a job better suited for the FBI guys.

"Forget it, let's take action. I refuse to believe we can't get him to talk!"

With that, Nisen stepped on the gas, trying to get ahead and block the other car, but what he didn't expect was for an accident to occur the very next second.

They heard a loud 'bang' as their vehicle was suddenly hit, and although Nisen instinctively hit the brakes, both were left dazed by the unexpected impact.

And what angered them even more was that, right after the accident, the Bentley in front of them suddenly sped up and immediately vanished from their sight.