Chapter 93: Climbing the Ladder and Grabbing Opportunities

As the big bosses of the major case-handling units walked out of the meeting room, they all gave him strange looks.

Xiao Yu’s face was almost frozen with an awkward smile. He felt like a humble policeman caught in the middle of all these big shots.

Take any of these people, and they all held high positions. The lowest was a Section Officer, and there were several Deputy Section Directors, Section Directors, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and Bureau Chiefs, all much higher in rank than him.

That’s right, Xiao Yu was already a Section Officer. The higher-ups approved it while he was recovering from his injuries.

At this moment, Yun Xiangguo came over and said to Xiao Yu, “The difficulty of the case has been mentioned in the meeting, and the time given by the superiors cannot exceed one week. Whether you can handle it depends on you.”

‘You’re teaching me how to do my job,’ Xiao Yu smiled bitterly and nodded.

Yun Xiangguo had publicly issued the appointment in the meeting room. Since it had been approved, it couldn’t be changed. He had to be the commander-in-chief whether he liked it or not.

Unless Xiao Yu decided to take off his police uniform and leave the civil service for good.

“Chief, why?”

If he had questions, he asked them. That was Xiao Yu’s character. But it didn’t change his current mood, which was more conflicted than visiting a grave.

“Last time the National Security Bureau came to our city to investigate a case, the whole city’s police force cooperated to make arrests, and a gag order was issued for the specific details of the case. At that time, even I didn’t know what the case was. I only knew that it was a major one,” Yun Xiangguo smiled. “But later, I heard a piece of news that you helped the National Security Bureau solve the case, right?”

Xiao Yu’s expression turned peculiar as he thought, ‘This is really not treating me as an outsider.’

The confidentiality level of that strange murder case was A-level. To put it bluntly, anyone who dared to spread the news would face serious consequences.

No matter who spread it or heard it, they would be dealt with.

If Xiao Yu turned around and sold out Yun Xiangguo, Yun Xiangguo would be completely wiped out, his career finished.

A-level confidentiality was that serious. People even said this to his face.

Giving you leverage and still treating you as an outsider? Showing goodwill?

Xiao Yu couldn’t understand it.

Wang Dong of the National Security Bureau might have shown goodwill to him because he solved the case, which was understandable. But Yun Xiangguo, this big boss, wasn’t familiar with him, and he had only met him three times at most.

Xiao Yu couldn’t figure this out.

Is there really someone willing to hand you a big opportunity just like that?

“Being able to command the national security forces to solve a case and lead the police force of an entire city, is that a big deal for you?” Yun Xiangguo had a peculiar expression as he explained, “You managed to solve a C-level special case. If you were me, knowing such a talent, would you use it or not?”

‘I see,’ Xiao Yu understood.

‘Damn, it didn’t feel good to be treated as a tool.’

But in this world, either you take advantage of others or they take advantage of you.

“I won’t let you work for nothing. Just focus on catching the criminals, and I’ll handle the command. If you need us to do anything, just say the word.” Yun Xiangguo looked serious, “If you can solve this within seven days, I’ll recommend you for a commendation and a promotion.”

Xiao Yu was shocked.

Deputy Section Director?

Why was he shocked? How difficult was it to get promoted?

Let me put it this way.

Some people, let alone becoming directors, work as ordinary officers until retirement.

***

Walking out of the municipal bureau, Xiao Yu raised his head and looked at the sunset, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.

He never cared about positions.

All he cared about was the obsession that he couldn’t let go of in his past and present lives.

Now that he had taken over the case, how should he investigate?

The first stop–the detention center.

Half an hour later, Xiao Yu stood in a cell.

Why go back to the detention center?

The prisoners had already escaped. What was the point of coming back? Shouldn’t he be out there catching them?

No.

With the city locked down, no matter how skilled the escapees were, they couldn’t get far in a short time. The fact that so many police officers couldn’t find them indicated that they had some tricks up their sleeves, and understanding those tricks was crucial.

At the same time, Xiao Yu wanted to understand the purpose behind their escape.

These were two individuals who were about to be released after serving their sentences. Why would they go to the extreme of killing someone and breaking out of prison?

Precisely because it was so irrational, it warranted a focused investigation.

What was the relationship between police and criminals?

Soldiers and thieves?

Justice and evil?

No, they were opponents.

To defeat an opponent, you have to understand them. Understand their behavior, understand their purpose, understand everything about them.

This was basic common sense.

This cell was the room for the janitors in the detention center. Inside, there was a large wooden bed for the prisoners to rest on. It was also the prison where the escaped prisoners, Lu Jia and Ma Hexuan, were held.

The surveillance showed that, to facilitate the janitors’ work during the day, the cell was basically left unlocked. Only at night, when the janitors returned from their work, would the prison guards close the cell door. This privilege was exclusive to the janitors. Other prisoners and suspects were detained in their cells day and night.

Of course, there were special circumstances. For instance, some detention centers had designated areas where prisoners could work. However, unconvicted criminal suspects were not included in this category.

What was interesting about the cell? A lot. 

Many prisoners managed to obtain some external items that were prohibited by the detention center. For example, cigarettes, snacks, cash, and some special items.

What special items? You might not believe it, but things like novels, game consoles, and even mobile phones.

The cell had already been thoroughly searched by the criminal police.

The police dogs had been around several times, and indeed, there was nothing to find. However, just because a search had been conducted didn’t mean there were no traces left. It didn’t mean that the prisoners wouldn’t have hidden something in the cell.

Activating his Falcon Eye, Xiao Yu carefully observed everything in the cell. He focused on the places where the two escaped prisoners used to sleep and where they placed their clothes and sundries.

Nothing.

Using the Monarch Butterfly Nose, Xiao Yu’s nose twitched slightly a few times.

Achoo!

A sneeze burst out, and the pungent smell of disinfectant nearly knocked Xiao Yu out on the spot. After activating the Monarch Butterfly Nose, his sense of smell was magnified many times more than that of a normal person. What might be a tolerable smell for an ordinary person became overwhelming when magnified countless times.

Instantly shutting off the Monarch Butterfly Nose, Xiao Yu frowned. No wonder bringing in police dogs hadn’t worked. The path of using scent to find clues was cut off.

Wait.

A sharp light flashed in his eyes as Xiao Yu thought of something. 

Could it be that before escaping, they anticipated that the police would use dogs and made preparations in advance? If that were true, it would be terrifying.

A normal fugitive, if they truly wanted to escape or could escape, would probably wake up laughing in their dreams as long as they had money. 

How could they possibly anticipate the police using dogs and then try to mask their scent to prevent pursuit? Was that even scientific?

But what if they did think of that? Did they calculate this?

Xiao Yu’s expression changed as the information about the escaped fugitives surfaced in his mind. 

Ma Hexuan? How should I evaluate this person? Developing software in his twenties and making 20 million before the age of 28—is that easy?

Then compared to Mu Qingwu, isn’t he still a little trash? That’s not right. Mu Qingwu had a foundation, a legitimate rich second generation. She only made it big after taking over her father’s company. Why don’t you let her start from scratch? How many normal people start from scratch and make 20 million before the age of 28?

This Ma Hexuan, it’s not an exaggeration to say he’s a genius. As everyone knows, geniuses have higher IQs than ordinary people.

Xiao Yu held back from swearing. 

Why do I always encounter criminals like this?