My chat group members are all legendary criminals.

Chapter 34 The Battle of Angeli

In 1945, after the Nazis were defeated and surrendered, the United States launched Operation Paperclip.

They brought a large group of German scientists, engineers, and intelligence personnel back to their home.

I wonder how many die-hard Nazi fanatics are hidden among this group of talented people.

They are hiding under the American sun, continuing their plans.

Lu Yiming held the blackened cicada specimen in his hand.

The cicada lies dormant underground for seventeen years, only to make its final, astonishing cry.

Mia tilted her head, looking at Lu Yiming with a puzzled expression: "So?"

Lu Yiming was taken aback. "That's right."

So fucking what?

Why take a salary that barely covers a dollar's worth of meals and still dream of making America great again?

He's just a lowly police officer now, trying to climb the ranks and make some money along the way.

What does this have to do with him?

"What do you plan to do with this codebook?" Mia pointed to the notebook in his hand.

Lu Yiming thought for a moment, then stuffed the notebook into a bath towel: "I'll leave it here for now."

If we submit it now, it'll probably just end up gathering dust in the archives.

If you're lucky, you'll get a "Good work" compliment; if you're unlucky, you might attract the attention of those lunatics.

Having figured out the truth about the "haunted house," the two climbed back to their second-floor bedroom.

Looking back now, this house must have been built by Nazis who were lurking in America.

Lu Yiming thought about the secret room below, which had food, drink, and a hidden passage, and his heart skipped a beat.

This house is practically the perfect safe house.

Who can find those twenty pounds of gold hidden here?

That secret passage leading to the sewers is an escape route in critical moments.

The location of the house is good, it's a detached house...

He turned to look at Mia, a smile spreading across his face: "Mia~ you said this house belongs to your family?"

Mia asked warily, "Yeah, what's wrong?"

Lu Yiming leaned closer, rubbing his hands together: "This house is old, dilapidated, and supposedly haunted. Your family isn't short of money, so how about selling it to me for a million?"

Mia looked at her like she was an idiot and said, "One million? Where did you get one million? Did you rob a bank?"

She suddenly remembered something and her eyes widened.

"Wait! That cult leader's briefcase isn't on the evidence list... You wouldn't...?"

Lu Yiming's expression changed slightly, and he stepped forward to cover her mouth!

"Shh!" he whispered, "Nothing like that! Don't guess! Just tell me, are you selling or not?"

Mia broke free and glared at him.

"You wish! This house is in a great location; as long as it's not haunted, it could sell for millions after some renovations! Why should it be cheaper for you?"

Lu Yiming's smile vanished.

He cracked his wrist, making a snapping sound.

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!"

He smirked, revealing a villainous grin, "Heh heh heh... It's just the two of us here..."

"What...what do you want to do?!"

Lu Yiming didn't answer, and reached for the bath towel around his waist!

"Now you're scared? Too late!" He lunged forward with a wicked laugh!

……

Three minutes later.

"Sis! Be gentle! You'll break your hand!"

"Wrong, wrong! So wrong!"

"I won't do it again! I'll never do it again!"

Lu Yiming's arm was twisted behind his back by Mia's grappling technique, his face pressed against the floor, and he begged for mercy.

"Hmph!" Mia released him and snorted coldly.

"I want this house, but you'll have to do me a favor."

Lu Yiming rubbed his shoulder, which felt like it was about to dislocate: "You tell me."

"Help my dad out of a problem. After it's done, I'll sell you this house for a million."

Lu Yiming: o(ﾟДﾟ)っ!

"Hey, hey! The way you're talking makes it sound like you want me to kill someone. I wouldn't dare do that."

"No! We've lost something very precious from our house." Mia said seriously.

"Your house is missing something, and you're contacting me?"

"Isn't it because you've been acting a bit strange lately? You've been able to solve cases that the homicide unit can't."

Mia rolled her eyes and continued, "My dad has been so worried about this that he hasn't slept for days. The family bodyguards, consultants, and detectives he hired can't find anything. And we can't call the police."

Lu Yiming was taken aback.

Mia's full name is Mia Rockefeller.

Although her family was only a branch of that oil empire family, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.

What could keep a Rockefeller up at night?

"What's missing?"

"A painting."

"What painting?"

Mia stared at him: "I'm telling you, you absolutely cannot tell a third person."

"You think I have a big mouth like you?"

"You're the one who talks big!" Mia kicked him in the shin and whispered.

Have you heard of the Battle of Anghiari?

Lu Yiming's brain has stopped working.

The painting "Battle of Anghiari" could not have been stolen, not only because it was a fresco painted on the wall of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy.

More importantly, because it was never even finished!

But its creator is known to everyone—Leonardo da Vinci.

"The Battle of Anghiari" is considered one of Leonardo da Vinci's three great masterpieces, along with "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper," but it is not well-known because it was left unfinished.

"You scraped off the plaster from the walls of Palazzo Vecchio?!"

"It's a sketch! A sketch!"

"The original mural was unfinished; what has survived is Leonardo da Vinci's precious manuscript for the painting. It was in my house, but it's gone now."

Lu Yiming gasped.

Even the sketches of unfinished works are national treasures.

Such items, kept in private hands, could never withstand any investigation in terms of provenance.

Of course, it's impossible to call the police. If the police ask what was lost, the person who called the police would be the first to go in, unless the police officer who received the call was his daughter.

"How did you lose it?"

"It's been stolen."

"Good heavens!" Lu Yiming exclaimed in admiration. These days, thieves really dare to steal from police officers' homes.

"Not only that," Mia said, her face grim, "the thief also left a mark, a very arrogant clown symbol."

Lu Yiming's pupils contracted. A criminal mark? This was blatant provocation.

Mia looked at him. "So, will you help or not? As long as you help me look for it, whether I find it or not, I'll do my best to help you get this house. If I can find it, I'll sell it to you for a million. I keep my word."

Lu Yiming was tempted.

Buying this villa with a perfect secret room for a million is a steal.

It would also be good to the Rockefeller family.

He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Deal!"

"Come to my house tomorrow, and my dad will talk to you in person."

Mia checked the time. "It's too late, I have to go. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning!"

After Mia left, the villa returned to its quiet state.

Lu Yiming's playful expression faded somewhat.

Looking for something? A thief stealing an artwork? A criminal mark?

He scratched his head.

Solving cases can rely on the red envelope function in chat groups, but finding things requires solid investigative reasoning, intelligence analysis, and an understanding of the black market for art.

Does he have any? Absolutely nothing.

The group is full of lunatics. Some are researching how to cook people deliciously, some are researching how to make people kill themselves, some want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you, and some are always thinking about creating some kind of big bang art...

The only thief, Che Guevara, only knows how to pick locks and steal electric bikes.

Stealing paintings? And leaving provocative marks? This could involve an art theft ring.

"I wonder if there's a really good thief among the divers."

He muttered to himself and clicked on the [Legendary Criminals Chat Group].

Lu Yiming: Brothers, I have a question. I'm a bit short on cash lately, but I've got my eye on a painting and I'm thinking of "borrowing" it to enjoy for a few days.

Lu Yiming: Are there any experts who can give me some pointers on the process? For example, how to scout the location, avoid security, handle the painting, and what kind of mark would be tasteful?

Lu Yiming: Waiting online, it's urgent! (Emoji of someone holding a rose)