Chapter 774 - 668: Guardians

Chapter 774: Chapter 668: Guardians

The one who answered him was the slightly older veteran constable in the middle, the same person who had reported to him over the phone earlier.

A few words over the phone couldn’t make things clear. Now seeing Secretary Hou in person, he had gone over the sequence of events several times in his mind while waiting, striving to report everything clearly and accurately.

This was a rare chance to leave an impression on the chief aide of a Member of Parliament. He took a deep breath, steadied his spirit, and began speaking:

"Secretary Hou, we located Captain Li’s phone using technical methods, and when we arrived at the location..."

"That’s the sequence of events. But Secretary Hou, you don’t need to worry too much."

"Captain Li and Chang Erbing were incredibly lucky this time. As soon as we found them, we rushed them to the hospital, ensuring the doctors could treat them promptly."

"We just inquired the attending doctor, who said their vital signs have stabilized. They’re still unconscious due to blood loss, hypothermia, and extreme exhaustion."

"The doctor said that once they’ve had a blood transfusion, warmed up, and had some sleep, they should regain consciousness."

The veteran constable kept talking, spilling out everything he knew in one breath, then cautiously observed Hou Wendong’s expression after finishing.

Hou Wendong listened impassively, eyebrows slightly knitted. It wasn’t until the other speaker finished that he barely let out a breath, though the seriousness on his face remained.

He did not comment on the detailed report; he simply gestured to the veteran constable.

The veteran constable was momentarily stunned, not immediately understanding the gesture.

Hou Wendong lightly cleared his throat, somewhat impatiently:

"You mentioned earlier on the phone, the law enforcement recorder found at the scene? Hand it to me."

"Oh! Oh! Right, right!"

The veteran constable suddenly realized, and quickly turned around, almost snatching from a young constable behind him a law enforcement recorder encased in a transparent evidence bag.

The device showed obvious signs of being knocked and cracked at the edges.

He respectfully handed it over to Hou Wendong with both hands:

"Secretary Hou, this is it. We found it still recording, though the screen was chipped at the corner."

Hou Wendong took the evidence bag, rubbing the cracked edge through the bag, and without further questioning, nodded, then gripped the recorder with one hand while pushing open the thick door of the hospital ward with the other.

"Stay guarding the door, and don’t let anyone in without my permission," he ordered without turning his head.

"Yes, Secretary Hou!" the veteran constable quickly replied.

Hou Wendong was halfway into the ward when he suddenly paused, as if he remembered something extremely important.

He abruptly turned his head, casting a sharp glance back at the veteran constable by the door and lowered his voice to ask:

"By the way, have you reported finding Li Shang to the Patrol Office, or anyone else?"

The veteran constable immediately stood erect, solemnly answering:

"Rest assured, Secretary Hou, when we found it was Captain Li and the others, we first called you and then immediately headed to the hospital.

During this time, neither I nor my colleagues disclosed any information to anyone at the Patrol Office."

After listening, Hou Wendong’s tense expression slightly relaxed. He nodded, softened his tone slightly, but reiterated with greater severity:

"Very well done. Remember, from now on, regardless of who asks, don’t say a word without my permission, understand?"

With the caution of a seasoned secretary and an acute sense for danger, Hou Wendong imposed a gag order before the situation was clear.

He must firmly control all information outflows in his hands, because only by doing so could he confidently weave a "truth" most favorable to himself, or rather, Mr. Wang, after Li Shang wakes.

Of course, given the unclear situation, he hadn’t decided whether to take this final step, but he had to be prepared.

Basic skills, don’t slip up!

This is merely the basic competence of every qualified secretary—always prepare two plans to respond to changes at any time.

Secretaries lacking this capability are destined not to go far on this path.

Like the previously headstrong Secretary Du Ziteng.

Du Ziteng: "...?" Can the grass have grown on my grave, and I’m still brought up to be criticized?

Inside the ward was utter silence, except for the steady and monotonous tick of medical equipment, echoing in the air like cold time measurements, gauging the flow of life from the comatose.

Li Shang was lying on the white hospital bed, eyes tightly closed, his face a pallid and haggard hue from blood loss.

His arm, exposed, had a needle inserted into clearly visible veins. Red blood was slowly flowing into his body through a narrow tube, while a transparent liquid bag hung nearby, infusing fluids and electrolytes.

The heart monitor screen beside him showed green lines rising and falling steadily. Although the blood oxygen saturation and blood pressure numbers weren’t strong, they remained within a safe range, indicating his vital signs were gradually recovering.

Hou Wendong pulled up a chair to sit by the window. Seeing Li Shang still unconscious, he furrowed his brows and tinkered with the recorder in his hand.

The screen struggled to light up, with only about half of the area barely visible.

The footage began to play but was extremely disjointed, violently shaking, interspersed with harsh noise and heavy breathing. For most of the time, it was either dark or depicting meaningless still images of the ground, debris, and so forth.

Hou Wendong, with patient restraint, fast-forwarded through the clips, then suddenly pressed the pause button.