A lavish mansion fire, carefully staged. A “tragic hero,” shaped by public opinion. A series of bizarre symbols pointing to a criminal organization that has already been wiped out… When the international police’s Red Flag Task Force gets involved, they discover this is no simple case of murder for money.
Shen Xingyue, an expert in criminal psychology, and Lu Yanzhao, a seasoned field operative, join forces. Starting with the faint lotus pattern left in the ashes, they follow the clues and expose a massive fraud scheme built on public sympathy. But as their investigation deepens, the trail intersects with a sealed archive from a national strategic project called “Dragon Pattern.” Beneath the “Coiling Dragon Pillar” of urban legend lies no ghost or god, but a strategic secret long coveted by hostile forces.
On one side are greed, betrayal, and murder in the present; on the other, loyalty, protection, and sacrifice in the past. The two storylines intertwine, shrouded in mystery. How will the Red Flag Task Force pierce the layers of secrecy woven by capital and public opinion, and protect the untarnished foundations of the nation through the smoke of history?
“This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. All names, places, and events are unrelated to reality.”
