Chapter 39: A Twist in the Case

[Ding] Congratulations, Host, on cracking the major dismemberment murder case.

[Reward Skill: Wangdie’s Nose!]

Stepping out of the sports car, Xiao Yu suddenly halted.

“What’s wrong?”

Mu Qingwu, who had driven Xiao Yu to work, asked.

“Nothing.”

Coming back to his senses, Xiao Yu waved at Mu Qingwu inside the car. “Sis, I’m off to work.”

“Alright.”

With a puzzled look, Mu Qingwu nodded. “Stay safe!”

“Wangdie’s Nose?”

Watching the sports car vanish, Xiao Yu wrinkled his nose, still clearly picking up Mu Qingwu’s scent.

It was as if that aroma formed an invisible chain, leaving a lingering trace in the air.

At that moment, his nose could still detect an array of bizarre scents drifting by.

He then deactivated ‘Wangdie’s Nose’, shaking his head in amused disbelief.

Isn’t it just like a dog’s nose!

Xiao Yu furrowed his brows.

Something wasn’t right.

The day before yesterday, when he cracked the major dismemberment case,

he had been eagerly anticipating a reward from the system.

But not only had the system withheld a reward, it only granted one today.

Could it be that the case is only now considered solved?

Entering the Criminal Investigation Team, Xiao Yu greeted his colleagues one by one.

He sat down, about to familiarize himself with his newly assigned desk.

Then his phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number.

“Xiao Yu, come to the City Bureau.”

Niu Peng’s voice came through the phone. “There’s been a development in the case.”

Xiao Yu’s face darkened. After bidding farewell to his team, he grabbed a cab straight to the City Bureau.

Sitting in the cab, he wondered what kind of development could have emerged.

All the system rewards had been issued—this shouldn’t be anything major.

Upon arriving at the City Bureau, Xiao Yu was summoned to a large meeting room, where he encountered a group of superiors.

Everyone looked relaxed, smiling and nodding as they saw him.

Reputation is earned, and status is won by merit.

For instance, Niu Peng, the esteemed Captain of the Criminal Investigation Sub-Team.

He sat quietly in the meeting room, looking every bit the unassuming junior.

“There’s been a change in the case.”

The City Bureau Director addressed Xiao Yu, saying, “He Xia has agreed to confess his crimes—but he has one demand.”

“What?” Xiao Yu asked in surprise.

“He wants to be executed by firing squad as soon as possible!”

The Director gave Xiao Yu a strange look. “We’re curious—what exactly did you say to him to scare him like this?”

“Kid, you’ve got a lot of questions, don’t you?”

Xiao Yu exhaled in relief. So that was it; he had feared a new twist in the case.

He recounted everything he had told He Xia without holding back.

As everyone absorbed that mentally ill criminals received ‘special treatment’ during confinement, they finally understood.

Now it made sense—no wonder the suspect was desperate for death.

He must have been terrified!

Indeed, that particular detention facility was nothing short of a torment, both physically and mentally.

But no one could sympathize with a criminal—what were you thinking when you annihilated an entire family?

Karma catches up eventually; you only fear it when punishment arrives!

“I’m calling you in today not only about the case but also for another matter.”

The Director said kindly, “You might have to travel to the province in a few days.”

Xiao Yu: ???

I have no reason to go to the province!

“The higher-ups have decided to award you a second-class merit—a commendation within the provincial system.”

The Director explained, “We don’t have the authority to grant second-class merits here at the City Bureau. You’ll have to collect it from the province yourself.”

Oh, and don’t forget this… Xiao Yu suddenly recalled.

Indeed, the City Bureau could only issue third-class merits.

Second-class merits must be awarded by the province.

First-class merits require a trip to the capital.

Local authorities just aren’t authorized for those.

Leaving the City Bureau, Xiao Yu’s emotions were mixed.

In this life, aside from attending the police academy, he hadn’t really ventured far.

It was time to explore and get to know this world a bit better.

Back at the team, Xiao Yu approached the Team Captain to request leave and inform them he’d be heading to the provincial capital next week.

Zhao Changshan graciously granted him two days off.

Finally settling at his desk, Xiao Yu stared blankly at the new computer before him.

In an investigative unit, not everyone is lucky enough to have a computer at their disposal.

Being just a low-ranking officer himself, he felt utterly insignificant.

Whose reputation was the Team Captain really protecting? He finally realized.

No matter in his past life or this one, one can never escape the intricacies of human relationships.

It’s all about connections…

Booting up his computer, logging into the team’s internal system, and setting his password, Xiao Yu then applied for access to the archives.

Only with access could he review some case files.

With nothing else to do, Xiao Yu began browsing through some old unsolved cases…

“Huh?”

Xiao Yu clicked on a case file with his mouse.

Curiosity piqued, he noted that this case seemed rather interesting.

Four years and it still hadn’t been solved?

[Ding] Case triggered successfully…

Xiao Yu: …

Could even a minor case trigger a system task?