30, Thank You

A night had passed.

On the morning of January 14th, the weather had turned from clear to cloudy.

Due to yesterday's operation, Lin Qing had breakfast and practiced Combat Skill once more before hurrying to the branch office.

"In just one month, three Third-class Merits?"

Inside the office of the branch chief, Kou Guoyong looked up from the report on the screen and smiled at Lin Qing, saying, "You've been promoted faster than your sister was; you're already a second-level Patrol Officer."

"Pure luck," Lin Qing chuckled and replied, "Who knows? I might be promoted to Patrol Officer before long."

Kou Guoyong laughed dryly, thinking this to be the playful boast of a confident young man, and responded with a laugh, "Then I really must look forward to that."

"You better keep an eye out," Lin Qing mentally prepared himself.

"Alright, I'll watch."

Kou Guoyong's belly, hidden behind the desk, jiggled as he laughed, then he added, "The merit and reward money still have to go through a process, but I expect they will be issued within a week."

"That soon? Chief Kou, is there no follow-up to this case?" Lin Qing asked, "Those two fugitives had many suspicious aspects. After interrogating them and investigating from the angles of their fingerprint sets and artificial irises, shouldn't we be able to find more clues?"

If he could dig deeper into this case and eliminate more criminals, his Order Level would be significantly increased.

It would certainly be to his benefit.

However, Kou Guoyong shook his head, "We can look into the fingerprint sets and artificial irises, but there will be no chance for further interrogation."

"No chance?" Lin Qing asked, puzzled.

"Those two fugitives died before last night's interrogation was due to begin."

Kou Guoyong sighed and explained, "The police reported that both individuals had special poison capsules hidden under their skin, which they ingested upon awakening, committing suicide by poisoning."

"Suicide by poisoning?" Lin Qing frowned slightly, "Wasn't it detected during detention?"

"No, the method of concealment was very sophisticated. The police concluded it was suicide out of fear of punishment," Kou Guoyong shook his head.

Lin Qing wondered, "But as fugitives who had participated in Black Boxing, shouldn't we keep investigating?"

"Didn't you all conduct a search last night?"

Kou Guoyong said, "Your team member Teng Feiyu has also been to see me and visited the City Bureau, eager to uncover that potential Underground Boxing Arena. But how can we investigate something without evidence?"

Lin Qing nodded slightly, without saying much more.

He knew that with the death of the two fugitives who had participated in Black Boxing, the leads had been severed.

Unless they conducted another search of Red Oak Boxing Gym and moved the mysterious locker in the changing room, there was no way to continue the investigation based solely on suspicions.

But perhaps this was for the best.

Since the police could not solve the case, he could attempt to claim the merit later on.

If he succeeded, the rewards would surely be substantial.

Of course...

Before that, he needed to first gather information about Red Oak Boxing Gym and continue to enhance his strength before making a move when he was confident.

"Speaking of which, Chief Kou."

Lin Qing suddenly asked, "Do you know the background of Teng Feiyu in my team? He knows quite a bit about criminal investigation and is very keen on investigating this case; he doesn't seem just a patroller."

"His background?" Kou Guoyong shook his head, "I can't really say; if you want to know, you should ask him yourself."

...

After leaving the office of the branch chief, Lin Qing went to the office of Group Seven on the first floor.

In the office, Teng Feiyu and Zhao Jiayi were on duty.

"Hello, group leader."

Zhao Jiayi greeted him proactively, seemingly with something to say as she slightly raised her hand, "Group leader, I..."

"Group leader."

At that moment, however, Teng Feiyu stood up, interrupting her and hurriedly asked, "Tonight, can we continue to search Red Oak Boxing Gym and Qingtai Hotel?"

"Didn't we just search last night?" Lin Qing gave him a look.

"But there's clearly something wrong with those two places."

Teng Feiyu couldn't help saying, "Isn't it the duty of a patroller to investigate these suspicious places?"

"But we didn't find anything yesterday," Lin Qing replied calmly. "What's the point of searching again? A first-level search warrant only goes so far."

Teng Feiyu fell silent for a moment before asking, "Then... can we investigate quietly?"

"Do you mean applying for an undercover search?" Lin Qing asked.

"No," Teng Feiyu shook his head, "I mean we just go and search without filing a report first."

"Why?" Lin Qing looked at him.

Teng Feiyu was silent again for a long moment before saying, "I suspect that both Red Oak Boxing Gym and Qingtai Hotel had received prior warnings and were prepared, which is why we found nothing."

"Received a tip-off beforehand?"

Lin Qing smiled and said, "Are you suggesting that either our team or Team Two has someone connected to the underground boxing arena, serving as an informant?"

Teng Feiyu was taken aback, not expecting Lin Qing to speak so bluntly.

But he remained silent, effectively agreeing with Lin Qing's statement.

"Then who do you think it could be?" Lin Qing asked mockingly, "Han Ying? Ruan Bing? Zhao Jiayi, or me? Maybe Team Lead Han from Team Two, or the acting team leader?"

Teng Feiyu kept his silence.

"It seems you understand that one cannot speak recklessly without evidence."

Lin Qing shook his head slightly and said, "The same principle applies… without evidence, you shouldn't act rashly. If you really want to investigate, do it alone and don't involve the entire team."

"...I understand," Teng Feiyu said gravely.

Lin Qing glanced at him and then drew a circle, passing it over:

"If you can find some evidence privately and confirm the information is accurate, when the time is right, I can indeed take you there for a search without filing a request report, just like you mentioned."

At this, Teng Feiyu took a deep breath and said, "I will do my best."

Lin Qing hummed in response and said no more.

He knew that Teng Feiyu must be aware of the existence of the underground boxing arena; otherwise, he wouldn't have headed directly to those two suspicious locations.

However, Teng Feiyu likely lacked sufficient evidence, or else why would he still need to search?

It just so happened that Lin Qing also needed to understand what this so-called underground boxing arena was about, its strength, before making plans.

Having someone else do the investigation could indeed be beneficial.

As long as a great achievement was recognized, even conducting a search directly without a report would be but a minor matter.

"Team leader, there's something I'd like to talk to you about."

At that moment, Zhao Jiayi, who was beside him, cautiously spoke up.

"What's the matter?" Lin Qing looked at her.

"Can we go to the next room, the conference room?" Zhao Jiayi asked shyly, looking down, "I'd like to speak with you alone."

…She's not going to confess, is she… Lin Qing eyed her strangely, recalling her coincidences from the previous night, but he replied, "Alright."

…

"Team leader."

In the conference room, Zhao Jiayi spoke rather hesitantly, "Actually, there's something I need your help with."

"Let's hear it," Lin Qing sat across from her.

"I have a friend… who recently succeeded with the 'Six-Four Practice Method' and wants to buy three units of High Energy Release Liquid."

Zhao Jiayi said softly, "I've heard that within the department, one unit costs only 69,999, could I trouble you to help purchase three units?"

"A friend?"

Lin Qing eyed her strangely, "Be honest with me, is this 'friend' actually you?"

He added, "Even if the Patrol Department has this privilege, it can only be purchased for individuals within the Patrol system, and it must be used on the spot, not given to others, you know?"

"Alright…" Zhao Jiayi coughed softly and admitted, "Team leader, it's for my own use."

"You mastered the 'Six-Four Practice Method'?"

Lin Qing examined her briefly, not at all surprised.

After all, having closely reviewed Zhao Jiayi's strokes of luck during the last operation, he had already speculated as much.

For a normal person to coincidentally and luckily use a stun baton to take down a fugitive was highly improbable.

"Right…"

Zhao Jiayi's face turned slightly red as she spoke, "I didn't mean to hide it… I just felt like, I can't pass the Patrol Department's professional exam yet, so it seemed unnecessary to reveal it too soon. Otherwise, people might know my capabilities and give me all sorts of tasks, which would be quite troublesome…"

"I see." Lin Qing nodded slightly, believing her somewhat.

Moreover, his intuition also told him that what she said was likely true; she spoke so candidly, there was no need for her to lie to him.

Zhao Jiayi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

That sounded reasonable enough…

After all, revealing just the 'Six-Four Practice Method' isn't too much, Dad said it was okay as long as I don't reveal my most crucial abilities…

"I can help you with that," Lin Qing asked casually, "But do you have the money to buy three units of High Energy Release Liquid? That would amount to 210,000."

"Including the 120,000 reward money, that should be enough."

Zhao Jiayi earnestly said, "As thanks, and for your help yesterday, I can transfer my Third-class Merit to you."

"Ah?" Lin Qing was taken aback.