Chapter 240: Meeting the Team Leaders

Walking out of the police department, Xiao Yu smacked his lips. The big boss’s tea was pretty good. 

‘Guess I should start drinking tea to keep healthy in the future. Wait, I’m only 22 years old!’

Xiao Yu suddenly recalled a famous saying: I often feel out of place with you all because I’m not perverted enough!”

‘Tea? No way. Only soda can keep me going!’

But still… He glanced down at the small red box and the gold-and-red certificate the boss’s secretary had handed him. Xiao Yu’s face showed a hint of excitement. 

The honorary title of First-Class Outstanding Police Officer! 

This was the highest honor in the police profession. And he’d been a cop for less than a year. 

Did he really just get it?

Turning back to glance at the police department building, Xiao Yu grinned and murmured, “Big boss, thank you!”

Thank him for what?

Whether it was the big boss of the police department or the big boss of National Security, they all seemed to know he didn’t care much for those flashy award ceremonies. No group medal ceremony, no need to go to the Great Hall. 

And meeting top officials wasn’t just something that happened on a whim. 

This was perfect. Just perfect. 

‘I came in quietly, and I’ll leave quietly. I wave my hand… Wait, what?’

Xiao Yu blinked and saw Wang Dong not far away, grinning and waving at him. 

‘What the…? Brother Wang, aren’t you from the National Security Bureau? Wandering around the police headquarters—aren’t you afraid of getting beat up?’

“Met with your big boss already?”

Seeing Xiao Yu approach, Wang Dong glanced at the red box in his hand. His face was full of envy and jealousy, putting on a classic ‘sour lemon’ expression. 

“Damn, I don’t know when I’ll ever get that kind of honor.”

A first-class honorary title, the highest merit anyone could hope for—who wouldn’t be envious? 

Once you’ve got that title, even if you slack off in the future, you can still live comfortably, taken care of by the state.

Just thinking about Xiao Yu’s merit record: six first-class merits, two second-class honors, and now a first-class honorary title. As for second and third-class merits… don’t even bother, he got too many of those.

“Jealous, aren’t you?” 

Xiao Yu grinned, waggling his eyebrows, deliberately flaunting it. “All earned with brains and skill.”

“Screw you!”

Wang Dong flipped him the middle finger, expressing his ‘affection.’

“Stop pretending, Sister Bai already spilled the beans.” Xiao Yu’s grin faded, and he eyed Wang Dong. “Five first-class merits, two second-class honors… Brother, you’ve been hiding this pretty well, huh?”

“Uh!”

Wang Dong was caught off guard, chuckling awkwardly. “Sister Bai’s not playing fair, selling me out like that.”

“She’s pretty close with my wife now.” Xiao Yu smiled. “Thanks though, without your help, Sister Bai wouldn’t have agreed to take care of her.”

That wasn’t just flattery. It wasn’t like rich people could hire anyone they wanted as a bodyguard. Special agents at Bai Ting’s level? Even in retirement, they were not available to just anyone.

Wealthy? 

They were still not worthy.

“What nonsense are you talking about between brothers.” Wang Dong reached out and patted Xiao Yu on the shoulder. “Come on, big brother here will treat you to dinner.”

Xiao Yu stayed silent. He knew exactly what Wang Dong was up to.

To be honest, he really didn’t want to meet that group of people. But Wang Dong dragged Xiao Yu along, hopping into a business van.

***

Beijing, Third Ring Road.

At a discreet, unassuming location. In a private club that wasn’t open to the public.

Wang Dong led Xiao Yu into a room.

It looked much like a private dining room in a high-end restaurant.

There was a large round table, and seated around it were eight people, both men and women. The youngest was probably in their thirties, and the oldest looked to be close to fifty.

The moment those eight pairs of eyes locked onto him, Xiao Yu immediately felt the weight of their stares—sharp and cutting, like tiny blades scraping across his skin.

“Here’s the little brother, everyone, take a good look,” Wang Dong said with a grin, pulling Xiao Yu to sit down. 

He raised his hand and introduced the others from left to right. 

“Leader of Group 1, Shen Zhengyang… Leader of Group 3, Tan Li… Group 4, Shao Jiafu—you don’t need an intro for him, right? You worked together on that jailbreak case… Group 5… Group 6… Group 7… Group 8…”

When Wang Dong got to Group 9, Xiao Yu froze.

His eyes went wide as he stared at the man sitting before him, who was presumably the leader of Group 9.

The man had a short buzz cut, dressed in camouflage without any insignia, making it impossible to tell his rank. But the strong military vibe was unmistakable. And from this man, Xiao Yu sensed an intense feeling of danger.

How to describe it?

A weapon.

This man gave Xiao Yu the impression of a weapon, a lethal one at that.

The man was also sizing up Xiao Yu, and their eyes locked. The room fell into silence.

“Zhou Lie!”

The man stood up and extended his hand toward Xiao Yu.

“Xiao Yu!”

Xiao Yu slowly got up and extended his palm.

The dramatic showdown everyone had anticipated didn’t happen. Xiao Yu and Zhou Lie simply shook hands, gently, and then let go. No contest of strength, no cracking knuckles—just calm and effortless.

Everyone, “???”

That was it?

After that, everyone sat down for a meal, chatting and laughing without bringing up any work-related matters.

The group leaders were all very warm toward Xiao Yu, especially Group 4’s leader, Shao Jiafu, whose usually frosty expression softened into a smile.

During the last prison break case, he had seen firsthand what Xiao Yu did for a colleague he barely knew. Shao Jiafu had a great impression of the young man and had given him high praise.

The meal lasted for more than two hours. Then, Wang Dong escorted Xiao Yu to the airport.

Back in the private room, the relaxed smiles on the faces of the eight team leaders faded away.

“He’s a good kid.”

“It’s a shame he won’t join National Security.”

“Six first-class merits… his ability speaks for itself.”

“But he’s not coming.”

“Forced recruitment?”

“You know the kid’s wife is worth hundreds of billions, right? He’s just being a policeman for the sake of being a policeman.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. The big boss already said he won’t be coming for now.”

Shao Jiafu, leader of the fourth group, made the final statement. Everyone’s gaze shifted to Zhou Lie, the leader of the ninth group, who had yet to speak.

“He’s dangerous.” Zhou Lie seemed lost in thought, “Ten times more dangerous than that monster we encountered before.”

The expressions on the other seven team leaders changed drastically, their faces filled with shock. Because the monster Zhou Lie referred to was responsible for wiping out an entire team.

“Old Zhou.” One of the team leaders looked doubtful, “You’ve got to be joking.”

“I’m not joking. Just now, I deliberately let him sense a bit of my killing intent.” Zhou Lie’s expression was calm, “I almost died.”

A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone knew what the ninth group was about. When they were sent in, the mission had one clear objective. Turn the target into a corpse—or leave no trace of the body at all.

The ninth group had another name–the Execution Squad.

And who was Zhou Lie?

A soldier, special forces, the king of the battlefield. And he said… he almost died?!