Inside the austere halls of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Inspector Cheng Liwei stood in front of Deputy Commissioner Wang. The dim fluorescent lights gave an eerie feel to the room as Wang handed Cheng a small folder.
"Inspector Cheng," Wang's voice was gruff, yet held a trace of gravity, "this assignment is not like the others. You're the best we have, and we need you to dive into something quite unconventional."
Cheng's brow furrowed as he opened the folder. Inside were various photographs, news clippings, and cryptic messages – all seeming to center around "Blood Moon Delicacies."
"Mr. Lang, or whoever he really is, seems to be the eye of this storm," Wang continued. "There are whispers – about the food, about where it comes from. Distasteful and disturbing, mind you, but we need to consider all possibilities."
Inspector Cheng's gaze darkened as he looked through the images. "Cannibalism?" he uttered the word like a bad taste in his mouth.
"Yes, and possibly more," Wang sighed. "A whistleblower has surfaced, but will only communicate with someone on the inside."
Wang slid a gun and an earpiece across the table. "This is your lifeline. The informant will communicate through this earpiece. Stay sharp, and trust no one in that restaurant. The staff are suspected to be in league with this Mr. Lang."
Inspector Cheng pocketed the gun and the earpiece. "What's the endgame here? What are we expecting to find?" he asked.
"We don't know," Wang admitted. "But whatever it is, it's driving ordinary people into mad cannibals."
Cheng's mind raced. He had seen the reports – normal individuals suddenly feasting on human flesh, their eyes devoid of sanity.
"I'll do what needs to be done," Cheng's voice was resolute.
Wang nodded. "Your new identity is in the folder. As far as anyone knows, you are now Hu Xiaolong, a junior chef hired at Blood Moon Delicacies. Gather evidence, and if the rumors are true, find out how to stop it."
As Inspector Cheng walked out of the room, he couldn't help but feel like he was descending into a world where shadows feasted and the line between man and monster was blurred. He adjusted the earpiece and clenched his fists. He was about to dance with demons in a banquet orchestrated by the mysterious Mr. Lang.
Inspector Cheng Liwei hailed from a long line of dedicated police officers. His father and grandfather had both served in the Shanghai police force, earning distinctions in numerous high-profile cases. Cheng had always felt the tug of duty, but his insatiable curiosity had steered him down a different path.
After excelling in forensics and criminology at the police academy, Cheng developed a keen interest in food safety. Having grown up in a family of gastronomes, he often found solace and warmth in the nuances of flavor. This unique amalgamation of passions led him to join the Food Safety Bureau, where he could employ his investigative skills to safeguard public health.
Cheng's reputation grew. His ability to piece together seemingly unrelated scraps of information had unraveled several food adulteration and contamination rings. However, his past as a law enforcement officer never really left him. His instincts were sharp, and his combat training honed.
His friends often joked that he was more of a detective than a food inspector. And deep down, Cheng knew that his heart still beat for justice, no matter the form it took.
He had been content with his role until now. The Blood Moon Delicacies case was like none he had ever encountered. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring together every strand of his life – his heritage, his love for food, and his relentless pursuit of truth.
As Cheng, now disguised as Hu Xiaolong, stood outside Blood Moon Delicacies, he felt the weight of his past pushing him forward. The earpiece crackled to life as he received his first message from the anonymous informant.
"Trust your instincts, and remember, the enemy lies in shadows. Your training and background are your best weapons," the voice was distorted but strangely comforting.
Cheng felt the ghosts of his ancestors watching over him as he stepped across the threshold of Blood Moon Delicacies. He was not just a food inspector or a former cop; he was the embodiment of generations of seekers of justice. This case was where all the paths of his life converged, and he was ready to face the storm head-on.
As Hu Xiaolong, an inconspicuous new hire in Blood Moon Delicacies, Cheng was peeling vegetables in the kitchen when his phone vibrated. He managed to check it discreetly. An encrypted message from an unknown number appeared on the screen:
"Inspect the third chiller from the left in the storage room. Behind the pork belly. But beware the eyes that never blink."
Cheng's pulse quickened as he read the message. He cautiously surveyed the kitchen. Staff members bustled around him, each absorbed in their tasks. The head chef barked orders, and the sous-chefs scurried to fulfill them. No one was paying him any attention.
In the following hour, he feigned clumsiness to make it look like he was struggling with the simple tasks assigned to him. Eventually, he was sent to fetch ingredients from the storage room as a measure to keep him from causing further havoc in the kitchen. It was precisely the opportunity he needed.
The storage room was cold, and rows of chillers lined the walls, packed with ingredients. His breath misting in the air, Cheng approached the third chiller from the left. His gloved hands moved to the pork belly section and fumbled behind the meat packets.
Suddenly, a cold voice whispered, "What are you looking for, Xiaolong?"
Cheng's heart skipped a beat. He turned to see Mr. Lang standing ominously at the entrance of the storage room. His eyes bore into Cheng with an intensity that made his blood run cold.
"I, uh, the head chef sent me for pork belly," Cheng stuttered.
Mr. Lang stepped closer, his gaze never wavering. "Ah, the pork belly. Excellent choice. Let me help you." His gloved hand retrieved a packet and handed it to Cheng.
"Thank you, Mr. Lang," Cheng whispered.
As Mr. Lang turned and walked away, his voice echoed back, "You must be more careful, Xiaolong. The storage room can be a dangerous place for the unwary."
Cheng's heart was pounding in his chest as he left the storage room. His fingers clutched the packet of pork belly, which felt heavier than it should.
Later, in the safety of the restroom, he unwrapped the packet. Hidden amongst the meat was a small, sealed plastic bag containing a bloodied restaurant napkin and a key, both chilling in their implication.
The anonymous tip had led him to the first piece of concrete evidence. But how did Mr. Lang know to intercept him? And what did he mean by the eyes that never blink?
Cheng knew he was entering treacherous waters. But this was bigger than him. He felt the darkness of Blood Moon Delicacies closing in, and he was determined to pry it open, no matter the cost.
Later that night, Cheng found himself in a dimly-lit room in an undisclosed location. The room was adorned with maps, photographs, and documents pinned to the walls, forming a spider's web of connected information centered around Blood Moon Delicacies.
In the room were a few high-ranking officers from the Shanghai Police Department, a shadowy figure who he assumed to be an international agent, and a stern, wiry woman who introduced herself as Deputy Chief Wang.
"Inspector Cheng, I assume you are aware of the seriousness of this operation," Deputy Chief Wang began. Her voice was as sharp as the knife she was using to point at various pictures on the wall.
Cheng nodded. His eyes were fixed on a photograph of Mr. Lang, surrounded by a plethora of question marks and red strings connecting him to an array of unsolved crimes.
"Your background in law enforcement and your current position as a food inspector make you the ideal candidate for infiltrating Blood Moon Delicacies. But we need you to understand this is unlike anything you've ever encountered before," Deputy Chief Wang continued.
She gestured to the shadowy figure, who stepped into the light. The figure placed a small black case on the table. Inside, nestled in custom foam, was a compact firearm and several vials of a clear liquid.
"This is for your protection," the figure said, voice obscured by a voice modulator. "You must not hesitate to use it if necessary."
Cheng, though taken aback, nodded again.
"The staff within Blood Moon Delicacies are highly trained, and likely conditioned to obey Lecter without question," the figure continued. "You must assume that everyone inside is as deadly as he is."
"And this…" Deputy Chief Wang picked up one of the vials. "This is a powerful tranquilizer. If you get an opportunity to incapacitate Lecter or any of his associates without drawing attention, use it."
Cheng took the case, the weight of the responsibility settling upon his shoulders. As he turned to leave, Deputy Chief Wang looked him in the eyes.
"Cheng, this is bigger than all of us. What we're fighting against... it's ancient, diabolical. Don't underestimate Mr. Lang or his henchmen. Get the evidence, and get out. We'll handle the rest."
As Cheng left the room, the spider's web of Blood Moon Delicacies seemed to pulse on the wall behind him. He steeled himself. The mask of Hu Xiaolong, the clumsy kitchen hand, would have to be his shield as he ventured into the lion's den.