Chapter Ten: It Would Be Bad to Cause a Misunderstanding

If anyone else had tried to command their mentor, they would have been reprimanded immediately. But Lu Zhongxin was different; when it came to work, he treated everything with the utmost seriousness, regardless of who was speaking. Seeing Yu Dazhang’s anxious demeanor, he didn't even ask for an explanation before dialing the First Brigade directly.

In such situations, contacting the team captain directly was undeniably the most efficient approach. Other departments usually required reporting to superiors first, followed by inter-departmental coordination, but the Criminal Investigation Division was different—it was a place where efficiency was paramount.

"Old Lu, what’s going on?" Wei Qian’s urgent voice came through the receiver.

Lu Zhongxin repeated Yu Dazhang’s words exactly as they were said.

"How do you know the hostage has regained consciousness?"

"Because I know exactly how she was knocked out." Lu Zhongxin didn’t give a direct answer, shifting the focus back to the matter at hand. "Go and ask her as soon as possible."

After hanging up, Lu Zhongxin pondered for a moment before turning to Yu Dazhang. "Do you suspect this is an inside job?"

A veteran criminal investigator like Lu Zhongxin was no amateur. He could capture clues from mere fragments of conversation and make rapid judgments. This wasn't a place for those looking for an easy ride; anyone lacking ability would have been transferred to another department long ago—or, if they weren't cut out for the job, they would have requested a transfer themselves after a few cases.

"It’s not just a suspicion. It’s basically confirmed now." Yu Dazhang pointed to the section in the case file where Qu Tuotuo was picked up at the airport. "Kidnapped just after returning to the country, before even leaving the airport. Furthermore, she was taken without any struggle, which implies that the kidnappers must have said something to earn her trust. For instance, 'So-and-so sent me to pick you up,' and that 'so-and-so' must have been someone she trusted implicitly. The file also mentions a ransom demand of twenty million. Mentor, if you put all these pieces together, do you still think this case is random?"

Lu Zhongxin listened silently to his apprentice's analysis. Combining it with his own judgment, the more he thought about it, the more he felt this was a premeditated crime. Just look at the ransom—twenty million. Across the entire country, how many people could come up with that amount at once? You would need a net worth of at least a hundred million to do so. How could the kidnappers be so capable as to instantly target a super-rich second-generation heir like Qu Tuotuo in a crowded airport?

"It’s also possible that someone sold the information about Qu Tuotuo’s return to the kidnappers," Lu Zhongxin suggested.

"Perhaps," Yu Dazhang replied, saying no more.

It was likely that the First Brigade had already begun questioning Qu Tuotuo. If she recognized even one of the four kidnappers, the case would be as good as solved. Perhaps they had already identified the familiar face among the four.

Yu Dazhang sighed heavily, feeling a sense of weight, and looked out the window. The sky was darkening, the sun was setting, and he was starving.

About five minutes later, Lu Zhongxin’s phone rang. After answering with a few grunts, he stepped out into the hallway. He returned a moment later and handed the phone to Yu Dazhang. "Captain Wei wants to talk to you."

*So, he sold me out...* Yu Dazhang took the phone and held it to his ear. "Hello?"

"What else did you deduce?" Wei Qian’s tone on the other end was a bit impatient.

"Nothing else. My knowledge is limited, and that’s as far as my ability goes." It wasn't false modesty; Yu Dazhang was simply stating the facts. Solving a case just by looking at a file—even fantasy novels wouldn't dare write that. Finding a new lead was already quite an achievement.

"Aren't you curious about what the victim said?"

"If she recognized those four kidnappers, you wouldn't be calling my mentor back."

With that said, there was no point in Wei Qian asking further. He could tell that Yu Dazhang had no intention of getting more involved in the case. After ending the call, Lu Zhongxin took back his phone. "Dazhang, I know what you’re thinking, but try to help if you can. After all, we’re all in the same detachment."

Yu Dazhang sat in his chair and stretched vigorously, letting out a yawn. "Ahhhhhh..."

The gesture made Lu Zhongxin feel sleepy just watching him. "Is a little running around really that exhausting? Sit up straight."

Yu Dazhang twisted his waist once more before saying, "The elite of the detachment are all in the First Brigade. Anything we can do is just a minor reminder; it’s not really help. If we push ourselves into it, people will only misunderstand and think we’re trying to steal the credit."

"You see through things quite clearly," Lu Zhongxin nodded. He knew Yu Dazhang was right, but these were things one could only mutter behind closed doors. His apprentice seemed honest and simple, but it turned out he had a belly full of schemes. That was fine; being sharp wasn't a bad thing—it was better than being clueless.

Returning home that evening, Yu Dazhang looked at the dinner his mother had prepared and suddenly felt starving. After washing his hands and sitting at the table, he finished half a bowl of rice before finding the breath to ask, "Mom, where’s Dad?"

"Your father is working overtime today. Don't wait for him," Li Xuehe said as she scooped more rice for her son.

Yu Dazhang waved his chopsticks. "Mom, don't serve any more. I’m only eating this one bowl tonight. I’ve decided to lose weight." He had wanted to start for a long time, but it never made it onto his schedule. This extra weight was a real hindrance, especially as a criminal investigator who was always on the move.

"Lose weight, lose weight, always talking about losing weight." Li Xuehe placed the bowl of rice in front of him. "Listen to your mother: eat what you should eat and drink what you should drink. If being a police officer is too tiring, we can just change jobs."

"Mom, you’ve changed." Yu Dazhang sighed and picked up his bowl to continue eating. In his previous life, his mother wouldn't have pampered him like this. Back then, they would usually have two dishes, eating the freshly cooked ones one day and leftovers the next, in an endless cycle. Since his rebirth, that cycle had been broken. Every day there were four dishes and a soup, and Li Xuehe constantly changed the menu. If she noticed her son wasn't satisfied with a dish, she would swap it out immediately, ensuring it never appeared again. Yu Dazhang even started to wonder if he had been adopted in his previous life; otherwise, why was the treatment so different?

"Son, seriously, why don't you quit being a police officer?" Li Xuehe looked at him with great sincerity. "Or at least switch departments. Criminal investigation is too dangerous."

This wasn't the first time his mother had tried to persuade him, and Yu Dazhang was tired of hearing it. He swallowed a mouthful of rice and replied nonchalantly, "Our brigade’s main work is anti-pickpocketing; it’s not dangerous. Besides, in the future, there will be fewer thieves and more scams."

Yu Dazhang had been reborn from 2024, and he was very clear about future trends, especially regarding crime. Before long, it would become increasingly difficult for pickpockets to operate. They wouldn't dare steal large appliances, and precious gold or jewelry would be rare. With the spread of electronic payments, cash would disappear, and stolen mobile phones would be easily tracked. In short, there would be nothing left to steal.

Though, for a while, stealing electric scooter batteries would become a mainstream crime. There was a guy who went to prison the moment he "debuted" in that line of work—a man with the stage name "Steal-Guevara," whose manifesto was: "Working is impossible; I can never work in this life..."