Chapter 40
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Chapter 40: Same Dust
Lin Qingliu moved swiftly in a semi-stealthy state, occasionally poking his head out to check his surroundings.
Soon, he arrived at the security bureau, ignored the guards at the entrance, and took a deep breath before passing through the wall into the interior of the bureau.
In the outer city, there were almost no surveillance cameras except in military camps and along the city walls.
The security bureau was no different.
After ensuring that all entrances and exits were securely locked and that guards were stationed outside, no one expected anyone to run into trouble at the security bureau.
After all, there was hardly anything valuable inside; it was the kind of place that could make El weep.
Lin Qingliu didn’t know where Zhuang Mian’s office was, but it didn’t matter because he could read.
Recently, there had been many cases in the eastern district, and piles of documents were scattered everywhere like trash. After flipping through some files, Lin Qingliu successfully pinpointed Zhuang Mian’s desk.
He saw plenty of interesting things, including a letter full of provocative tone.
“…Your security management is somewhat lax…” This sentence was deeply etched in Lin Qingliu’s mind.
After placing the report letter in the center of the desk, Lin Qingliu, who was forcing back laughter, chose to leave quietly.
But just before he turned away, his gaze swept over a file buried underneath, and several keywords prompted him to take it out for a closer look.
After reading the entire account of the “Beef Leg Killer” crime, a strange expression appeared on the face of the “Beef Leg Killer” himself.
He recalled Zhuang Mian’s indirect questions while eating noodles and the nonchalant responses he had given at the time.
These culminated in the last sentence on the file:
“…Based on interviews and profiling, it can be basically confirmed that the offender is male, aged between thirty and forty, tall and strong, taciturn, straightforward, clear about grievances and favors, and skilled in using violence…"
Emmmm, how to put it, in both this life and the last, Lin Qingliu had never encountered a situation where he was the subject of such third-person reasoning about his criminal processes.
But no matter how you looked at it, what did the case of the “Beef Leg Killer” have to do with Dr. Lin?
He was simply a passerby who used the digestive system to help others dispose of stolen goods!
After restoring the scene inside the security bureau, Lin Qingliu used the same technique to return to his still-uniform, soft bed.
Ah, still warm.
Lin Qingliu twisted his body a few times, feeling everything was getting better. He closed his eyes and began the process of “Sleeping Until Noon.”
Meanwhile, ten kilometers away at the intersection of the Southeast District, inside Dr. Bard’s residential building, Zhuang Mian stood with a pale face in the room where the crime had occurred for the second time.
An hour ago, a phone call had woken her from her warm bed.
Someone had died again.
—
Things were not simple.
Although she was still six years away from thirty, Zhuang Mian was indeed a qualified graduate of the security school and a capable member of the Public Security Team.
In the divine dream bestowed upon her, her experiences felt like a heavy reference book, providing the best label for her current situation—
A provoked incompetent.
At this moment, Zhuang Mian felt her anger gradually subsiding after reaching its peak. The fury seemed to fuel her rapid thinking, enabling her to handle everything in the best possible state.
Zhuang Mian glanced at the team members who had accompanied her to the crime scene.
The new batch of officers dispatched from the security bureau had not yet fully arrived, and most of the men and women before her were passionate young individuals.
As for the old-timers who only knew how to shirk responsibility, they had already perished in the car chase the previous night.
Now, just a day later, her deputy Zhao Qi lay dead here.
It felt as though the figure lurking in the shadows had issued another death threat after failing to eliminate her two nights ago.
But was the essence of the matter truly so straightforward?
Zhuang Mian channeled the version of herself from that dream, feeling her perspective elevate to a higher level.
The ambush from the previous night had indeed nearly claimed her life, but it had also eradicated the disloyal elements within her team.
The Zhao Qi before her, clad in black, was clearly not here as a peace officer.
His death here could only mean one thing:
He was an outright mole.
This made the situation intriguing.
After losing half her team, Zhuang Mian’s control over her remaining members had reached an unprecedented level.
The shadowy figure seemed less like a threat and more like an ally helping her consolidate power.
No one had ever mentioned this to her, as if the two shared an unspoken understanding.
If it were the old Zhuang Mian, she might have felt anxious and fearful at this moment.
But now, with memories from another life guiding her, Zhuang Mian only wished to savor this moment.
As a leader, nothing pleased her more than seeing her subtle hints perfectly interpreted by her subordinates.
Though the Heart Snatcher was not her subordinate, he had indeed aided her greatly.
At this moment, Zhuang Mian only wanted to do one thing—go with the flow.
“Report, Captain, there are no visible wounds on the deputy captain. To determine if this was the work of the Heart Snatcher, we’ll need to wait for the coroner’s autopsy.”
“Understood.”
Zhuang Mian’s response was calm and devoid of emotion.
Since this was a gift from the other party, she had no reason to refuse it.
With the current leads dried up, she might as well use this opportunity to reconnect the threads.
The ambitions of her other self burned fiercely, guiding her toward the optimal solution.
As she watched the team members preparing to place Zhao Qi into the body bag, Zhuang Mian called out to stop them.
“Wait.”
She scanned the half-squatting male officers and found one whose height and build resembled Zhao Qi’s:
“You, take two people and infiltrate Deputy… Zhao Qi’s home. If you encounter any visitors outside our team, apprehend them and contact me immediately.
“Ensure they are taken alive.
“The rest of you, restore the scene, secure the perimeter, and transport the body back.”
An hour and a half later, as Zhuang Mian entered her office with the rising sun, she found a neatly folded report letter.
“Dear Captain Zhuang:
Your deputy was no good, and I have dealt with him.
Dr. Bard was likely his victim; you may now continue your investigation.
No need to thank me for my actions. I only hope you will faithfully uphold the oath every peace officer takes upon assuming their role.
I also look forward to our sincere cooperation in maintaining harmony and stability in the Eastern District.
P.S. I’m not particularly fond of the nickname you’ve given me.
Sincerely,
The Heart Snatcher.”
Zhuang Mian tore the report letter into pieces without a change in expression and tossed it into the trash can.
A capable ally who far surpassed Zhao Qi had become her partner; all that remained was establishing direct communication to achieve seamless coordination.
With one operating in the light and the other in the shadows, Zhuang Mian suddenly felt a surge of optimism.
To achieve greatness, a shadow to handle the dirty work was indispensable. Though the Heart Snatcher remained a wanted criminal, if he could be utilized effectively, it might not be such a bad thing after all.
