Chapter 18: On the Verge of Becoming a Regular Officer, How Thrilling

It was night, 8:15 PM.

Xiao Yu entered the interrogation room of the Criminal Investigation Brigade. His brows furrowed as he laid eyes on the middle-aged man cuffed to the interrogation chair.

Liu Shu, male, 37, owner of XX factory, was the prime suspect.

The arrest had been surprisingly smooth, devoid of any struggle.

The man hadn’t resisted, nor had he shown any intent to run away. It was as if he had anticipated the police’s arrival.

“You requested to see me?” Xiao Yu’s voice was icy as he stood before Liu Shu.

“Yes.” Liu Shu’s demeanor was eerily composed as he appraised Xiao Yu, “A trainee… police officer?”

“You recognize police ranks?” Xiao Yu’s response was cool and measured.

“Yes.” Liu Shu nodded. “I attended the police academy but never became an officer due to certain reasons. Perhaps, even fate knew that someone like me wasn’t cut out to be a cop.”

So that was it. No wonder his anti-surveillance tactics seemed familiar. 

Xiao Yu’s eyes narrowed, “Why didn’t you run?”

“There was no escape,” Liu Shu said with a wry smile, shaking his head. “Once my plan was uncovered, I knew my fate was sealed. I just never imagined the one to catch me would be so young.”

“Not entirely insane, at least.” Xiao Yu nodded in agreement.

What was he implying?

“I tried.” The bitter smile lingered on Liu Shu’s face as he revealed, “She’s been my wife for years, sharing my bed. I couldn’t bring myself to harm her.”

Xiao Yu’s expression turned complex as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

In his past life, he was a habitual smoker. Yet, in this life, he hadn’t touched a single cigarette. Opening the pack, Xiao Yu took one for himself, placing it between his lips, and offered another to Liu Shu, lighting it for him.

“Thanks,” Liu Shu murmured, taking a drag and nodding slightly. His eyes narrowed, savoring the taste of the tobacco.

“Ahem!” Xiao Yu coughed, unaccustomed.

This was the first time his body in this life reacted to smoke, struggling to cope.

But he persisted, inhaling gently, acclimatizing to the tobacco, rediscovering a familiar sensation from his previous life. He was cautious not to inhale too deeply, fearing the dizziness that might follow.

“Was it worth it?” Xiao Yu finally asked.

“Restlessness is hard to suppress,” Liu Shu exhaled a stream of smoke, reflecting on the nature of men.

“You don’t have any regrets, do you?” Xiao Yu gazed intently into Liu Shu’s eyes. “You understand the consequences, right?”

“Yes.” Liu Shu nodded, his smile faint.

“I’ll advocate for your personal assets to be left to your parents and children,” Xiao Yu stated, his tone detached. “Your wife shouldn’t lay claim to any of it.”

Expecting to seize a husband’s wealth after infidelity? Wishful thinking.

“Thanks.” A spark of gratitude flashed in Liu Shu’s eyes.

“You didn’t run, this is what you’ve earned.” Xiao Yu shook his head. He was well aware of Liu Shu’s intelligence. Capturing him quickly would have been a challenge if he had chosen to run. The Criminal Investigation Brigade’s inability to close the case would have jeopardized his mission. Success later on would hold little significance.

“Anything else you’d like to say?”

As a police officer, Xiao Yu would never harbor sympathy for criminals. No matter the reasons, they never justified the crime. This applied to everyone, himself included. Those who transgressed must face the consequences. Otherwise, what’s the purpose of being a policeman?

“No, nothing else,” Liu Shu discarded his cigarette butt, a note of regret in his voice. “My only regret is letting down my children and parents.”

Xiao Yu turned and departed from the interrogation room.

Stepping into the hall, he was greeted by the sight of his fellow officers, each radiating joy. This lifted the heaviness in his heart, and a slight smile crept onto Xiao Yu’s face.

The brigade commander approached, his face beaming. He extended a hand and gave Xiao Yu a hearty pat on the shoulder.

“I’ve submitted a report for you,” Zhao Changshan announced with a grin. “Given your exceptional performance and significant contributions, you’re eligible for an accelerated promotion to a permanent position. It should be approved within a week. Whether you’ll receive a third-class merit or something of the sort depends on higher-ups’ decision. But at the very least, you’ll be awarded an honorary medal within the system. How does that sound?”

‘Your tactics for winning over subordinates aren’t exactly subtle,’ Xiao Yu thought to himself, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

It was clear to see that the brigade commander was a straightforward, no-nonsense individual.

Straightforward and to the point, that was him.

Working under someone like this would be very comfortable, and not a chore.

The three deputy team leaders, instructors, and a host of future colleagues came forward with their congratulations.

The expressions on the other four trainee officers were tinged with irony, their smiles bore the weight of begrudging respect.

Envy was inevitable. They all started their internships together, so why was he the standout?

But then again, he had cracked a murder case, so that settled it.

With the case resolved, Xiao Yu was largely excused from the subsequent work. The formal rewards would follow after the case’s official closure. Yet, the Criminal Investigation Brigade had already presented Xiao Yu with a reword of their own, three days off.

Xiao Yu felt a surge of excitement.

He knew all too well the rarity of holidays for police officers. In a profession where a phone call could summon you from bed to duty in the dead of night, the idea of an early leave was laughable. Overtime could be endless, and all-nighters were the norm in case investigations.

Dreaming of a holiday? That was almost laughable in their line of work. Time to wake up from such sweet dreams.

【Ding! Congratulations to the host for cracking the warehouse murder case!】

【Reward: Skill – Falcon Eyes!】

As Xiao Yu stepped out of the Criminal Investigation Brigade’s doors, he halted abruptly.

His eyes transformed in a flash, gleaming as if illuminated by a radiant light.

In an instant, Xiao Yu’s vision changed dramatically. The world as seen through his eyes was different now. He could see further, discerning finer details in his visual field. Even moving objects seemed to slow down under his gaze.

Xiao Yu finally grasped the distinction between the system-granted abilities and skills.

Abilities directly enhanced his physical capabilities.

Skills, on the other hand, could be toggled on and off at will.

With a blink, ‘Falcon Eyes’ deactivated.

A joyous smile spread across Xiao Yu’s face.

As the clouds dispersed, revealing the moon, its light shone over thousands of miles.

Bathed in moonlight, he set off on the path home.