Elder Master Ji had already decided to return to the country and issued an order to Ji Tong, "Go and prepare the personnel needed for our return. That is the territory of the Zhan family after all, so we must be extremely cautious. If possible, I hope to live out my remaining years in the country."
After so many years abroad, Elder Master Ji had grown accustomed to, yet also weary of, life in a foreign land. Although he was still in good health, as one aged, homesickness became a powerful yearning, and he was no exception. He had accompanied his grandson abroad for many years. Now that his position was stable, it was time for him to spend some time with his son.
It was he who had gone to great lengths to rescue Ji Tong from prison, a debt of gratitude Ji Tong would forever remember. Seeing that his grandfather truly wished to return, Ji Tong was willing to brave the dangers for him.
"Alright, Grandfather. Since you've made up your mind, I'll accompany you back this time. I'll go prepare the personnel first. When you decide when to leave, we'll depart."
Knowing his grandson's filial piety, this outcome was well within Elder Master Ji's expectations. He nodded with satisfaction, "Then go. We'll return as soon as possible, don't keep your father waiting too long."
Ji Tong automatically ignored the latter half of the sentence. He wouldn't feel any sadness even if that father were dead.
For this trip back, they were thoroughly prepared and did not take a commercial flight. They used their own helicopter to land directly at a domestic airport. The plane was full of their men, making it convenient to retreat at any time should any unforeseen situation arise.
After landing, they proceeded with extreme caution. Seeing no abnormalities at the airport, Ji Tong breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps he had been overthinking things.
They had arrived in their own helicopter; could Zhan Mohan predict their landing time?
The airport was safe, and their taut nerves relaxed. However, to their surprise, just as they exited the airport and before they could even get into their car, they were surrounded by a group of uniformed personnel.
"You are Ji Tong?"
The person in charge directly addressed him by name. Ji Tong knew then that this was a premeditated move.
"That's right, I am. May I ask what this is about?"
After he admitted his identity, the man immediately produced handcuffs. "In that case, all of you will come with us. Someone has reported you for involvement in arms and drug trafficking, so we need to take you in for investigation."
This was indeed a trap!
Ji Tong immediately realized, "Zhan Mohan, you have excellent methods. Blocking me directly at the airport, ensuring I have nowhere to escape. What a meticulous plan."
It wasn't just him who was put into the car; Elder Master Ji was also there. Both of them were on the list of those reported, so they had to be taken in together.
Zhan Mohan had already provided sufficient evidence, which was the video of Ji Qun's confession. Ji Qun was unaware that he had left conclusive evidence to report his closest kin. Under the threat of torture, he had even revealed the landing time of Ji Tong's plane.
This was also one of the important reasons why Zhan Mohan could intercept them at the airport.
Ji Tong had already figured this out.
Only Ji Qun knew about their return. They had only told him the landing time of the plane. It would have been impossible for Zhan Mohan to time their apprehension so precisely without Ji Qun's assistance.
In the car, he sarcastically remarked, "Grandfather, this is what your good son has done, calculating and betraying even his own father and son."
Although Elder Master Ji was old, his mind was not muddled. He knew Ji Tong was speaking the truth; he had indeed been betrayed by his own son.
But what use was it to know this now? The situation was irreversible. He could only hope that Zhan Mohan did not possess too much evidence, otherwise, the Ji family would be completely ruined.
After the grandfather and grandson were taken to separate interrogation rooms, the staff opposite them directly asked them to confess their crimes.
Ji Tong still tried to play dumb. "Comrade, I think you must have made a mistake. My grandfather and I are just visiting relatives back home. You must have arrested the wrong people."
The other party did not give him a chance to quibble and directly showed him the video Zhan Mohan had used to report them. "You must recognize the person in this video, right? According to our investigation, he is your father."
Looking at Ji Qun's pathetic demeanor in the video, Ji Tong didn't know what to say. This was clearly a fact, and anything he said now would only be a futile attempt at sophistry.
"That's right, he is my father."
"Since you admit it, please cooperate fully with our investigation."
At the same time, in another interrogation room, Elder Master Ji also saw this video and was rendered speechless. The son he had doted on his entire life had betrayed him, and even revealed all of the Ji family's business, turning it into a video for Zhan Mohan to use to bring down the Ji family.
He could guess that Ji Qun must have been threatened by Zhan Mohan to say these things, but that did not diminish his disappointment.
He had shown his son great care, willing to endure pain himself rather than let him suffer a single scratch. Yet, when Ji Qun was threatened, he could so easily betray his son and father, in exchange for his own temporary peace.
Moreover, from the video, he could tell that his good son had shifted all the blame onto others, absolving himself. It was equivalent to using the lives of his grandson and himself to secure his own meager survival.
"Hahaha... This is my good son. To save his own life, he can abandon even his own father and son."
In contrast, he, knowing that their return might be a trap, had still rushed back without hesitation, wanting to rescue his son from his predicament.
And the result? He had lost everything.
Zhan Mohan had meticulously planned the timing. The moment they exited the airport, they were brought here, clearly after much preparation. Since they were already here, there was likely no chance of acquittal.
With this thought, Elder Master Ji steeled himself. "Comrade, I admit to all these crimes. But they were all committed by me alone and have nothing to do with my son or grandson. They are innocent. Please enforce the law impartially and do not wrongly accuse good people."
The situation had reached this point, and they had no escape. Elder Master Ji was ninety years old and had lived long enough. He would rather bear all the blame himself to give his son and grandson a chance at life, and to ensure the Ji family had descendants.
The staff understood his mindset. After all, the business they engaged in was a grave offense, and everyone involved would be severely punished. At this point, the fewer people implicated, the better.