The man facing me sized me up from head to toe. How could I possibly be the type to back down? Naturally, I returned his scrutiny without hesitation. This person was probably around six feet tall. While he looked rugged, his face was surprisingly kind, and he was very cleanly groomed. Right now, however, he seemed deeply displeased by my presence.

“May I ask who you are?” I asked, frowning slightly. I certainly wasn't a fool; anyone bold enough to show up at a crime scene like this couldn't be some low-level street thug.

“I’m Fu Zhen, team leader of the Fourth Unit of the Criminal Investigation Brigade. Where did you pop out from, kid? And you, you, you.” He pointed a finger, not just at me, but specifically at Xiao Cuo and Zhang Jiewei as well.

“This Team Leader Fu, we are from the Special Affairs Investigation Office, specifically assigned to this case.” Having only recently arrived at the Municipal Bureau, I had certainly heard of the Criminal Investigation Brigade. Not only had I heard of them, I’d even borrowed resources from them. I couldn't figure out why their people were here, dictating orders to us.

“Special Affairs Investigation Office?” Fu Zhen, who claimed to be the leader of the Fourth Unit, lowered his head in thought, as if trying to recall something. After a moment, he suddenly looked up and exclaimed, “You’re that ‘Special Ops’ bunch, aren't you? Haha! Alright, alright. Go tell your Jiang Haitao that this case isn't anything special, there’s no need for you to interfere. We’re taking over directly! You people have nothing more to do here, scram!”

I turned to look at Xiao Cuo beside me, who was equally dumbfounded, and Zhang Jiewei, whose eyes were filled with confusion. No wonder the Fourth Unit of the CID was here—they were trying to snatch our case.

“Team Leader Fu, hello. We have been investigating this case all along. Without instructions from above, we will continue our investigation. We can’t simply let you take over,” I told Fu Zhen frankly. Years of work experience taught me that instructions from superiors were paramount. If you follow orders from above, even if you make a mistake, the responsibility won't fall solely on you. Moreover, based on Fu Zhen’s single assertion, it was indeed hard to convince any of us.

“Nonsense! Pack up and leave immediately, my people will be here any moment,” Fu Zhen glanced at me, clearly surprised that I wouldn't be sensible, and certainly didn't give me a pleasant look.

It wasn't that I didn't want to save Fu Zhen some face, but this situation was genuinely tricky. If handled poorly, being charged with dereliction of duty would ruin me.

I didn't immediately agree with Fu Zhen. Instead, I walked over to Zhang Jiewei and Xiao Cuo and quietly told them, “I’m going to call Lord Jiang to confirm. You two watch things here; I doubt he’ll dare cause much trouble.”

Zhang Jiewei and Xiao Cuo both nodded. Only then did I quickly walk to the other side of the lawn, taking out my phone to dial Lord Jiang’s number as I walked.

“Hello, Boss! Things here have taken a turn for the weird!” I said breathlessly the moment the call connected.

“What’s weird about it?” Lord Jiang sounded like he was doing something, deliberately keeping his voice low. Was he being scolded by his wife? Haha, I admit, I was being vulgar…

“We just found another victim’s body. It's definitely connected to the corpse found earlier on the West Hill, possibly even the same killer.” Since Lord Jiang lowered his voice, I naturally dropped my tone and volume by an octave.

“So what? Keep investigating,” Lord Jiang kept his voice low, but his tone was decidedly unpleasant.

“The point is, the Fourth Unit of the CID is here too, saying they’re taking over the case and telling us to leave.” I reported the facts, unsure what the situation was on Lord Jiang’s end.

“What?” Lord Jiang sounded significantly shocked, but after a moment, he suddenly erupted, “Damn it! Why didn’t you argue with him! Tell him it was me saying it—they can forget about interfering with our case. Handle everything else as you see fit!”

After Lord Jiang finished his outburst, just as I was about to ask a few follow-up questions, he abruptly hung up. Oh my God, what in the world is going on here!

Tucking my phone into my pocket, I felt a cold dread creeping into my heart.

Returning to Zhang Jiewei and Xiao Cuo, I found the scene crowded with even more people. Besides the original personnel, a quick glance revealed quite a few other ‘unauthorized personnel.’ Roughly five people in total, four men and one woman, were inspecting things nearby. I was genuinely worried their reckless behavior might compromise the scene.

“What’s the situation now?” I asked Xiao Cuo quietly, stopping beside him.

“Brother, you can’t even tell that? Their people are here. Look, that ‘Deputy’ leader is already directing his subordinates to start working,” Xiao Cuo complained while looking at the group with disdain.

“Lord Jiang has given the order. No matter who they are, this case belongs to us. Them wanting us out? Not a chance,” I told Xiao Cuo, but my peripheral vision caught someone walking toward us from that group.

“Did Lord Jiang really say that?” Xiao Cuo knew Lord Jiang’s temper, but he was still somewhat surprised. I had initially thought, since we ran into a conflict, it might be better to hand the case over and enjoy some peace and quiet ourselves. I hadn't expected our old Lord Jiang to actually get into a confrontation with that Fu Zhen.

“Nonsense! Do you think I’d lie to you!” I glared at Xiao Cuo crossly, about to lecture him further, when a hand landed on my shoulder.

I turned around to see a man, with three other men and one woman standing behind him. His overwhelming aura gave me an indescribable sense of shock. A thought immediately sprang to mind: this group must not be amateurs; they could very well be a formidable opponent for us.

“Hello, I am Hong Yang, Deputy Leader of the Fourth Unit of the Criminal Investigation Brigade. I look forward to working with you,” said Hong Yang. Although his tone was polite, he exuded an undeniable arrogance that seemed even more imposing against someone like me, who usually acted casually.

“Hello, I am Wang Lei from the Special Affairs Investigation Office. These are my colleagues, Zhang Jiewei and Bao Qiang.” I gave a casual introduction, then extended my hand to shake Hong Yang’s, which he naturally didn't refuse.

As Hong Yang shook my hand, he scrutinized Zhang Jiewei and Xiao Cuo beside me. Seeing his demeanor, I felt another jolt of shock. Hong Yang wasn't just physically imposing; his gaze was exceptionally sharp.

“Heh heh, Deputy Leader, isn't your team leader also a Deputy Leader?” Xiao Cuo snickered from the side with a somewhat mischievous look.

“Our leader’s surname is ‘Fu,’ so he is 'Fu' Leader. ‘Deputy Leader’ is a position, so he is Deputy Leader Hong,” a young woman beside Hong Yang couldn't hold back and blurted out immediately after hearing Xiao Cuo.

“Oh… but isn’t that still a Deputy Leader?” Xiao Cuo laughed even more unrestrainedly this time.

“You! Big dummy! You’re uneducated!” A young woman snorted at Xiao Cuo and said irritably.

“I apologize, I am Ding Qingyuan, and this is my colleague, Cong Lin. She has quite a fiery temper, please bear with her, brother,” Before Xiao Cuo could retort, he was interrupted by someone next to the girl.

Ding Qingyuan looked to be in his twenties, but he carried himself with a practiced maturity. Since he had intervened, Xiao Cuo felt awkward arguing with a young woman and reluctantly turned away, ignoring the girl named Cong Lin.

“And this one is…” I looked at the other man beside Hong Yang and asked tentatively.

“Wang Xuyang! Please call me Mr. Wang.” Mr. Wang pulled the cigarette tucked behind his ear into his mouth while habitually flicking his right leg, throwing me a cool profile shot. His bearing, his composure—he was the epitome of a Hong Kong triad member. Looking at his swagger, I almost felt compelled to concede defeat.

Cong Lin, who had just been fuming, couldn't help but laugh, but when her eyes swept over Xiao Cuo, they were still filled with contempt. Fortunately, our Xiao Cuo possessed extraordinary psychological resilience. Even when faced with the strongest aura of disdain, he could simply ignore it and transform it into positive energy. I understood this deeply.

“I came to speak with you clearly about this case.” Just as we were all engrossed in Mr. Wang's unparalleled swagger, Hong Yang began to address serious matters. “Team Leader Fu must have made our position clear when we arrived. I hope you will cease your involvement in this case and kindly leave now so as not to interfere with our investigation.”

“What’s the big deal about a unit from the CID? Why should we hand this case over to you? What difference is there between people like you and those who steal the fruits of others’ labor!” Xiao Cuo was getting more animated as he spoke.

“Enough,” I signaled Xiao Cuo with my eyes, then turned back to Hong Yang and said, “I’m sorry, Deputy Leader Hong, but we cannot make decisions on matters like this. Until we receive orders from our superiors, we will not let go. We request you show some self-respect.” Of course, I couldn't relay Lord Jiang's exact words. Given Lord Jiang’s tone, there might be some underlying issue with Fu Zhen, requiring us to stand firm against him on this matter, but I wasn't foolish enough to betray Lord Jiang.

Hong Yang looked at me and fell silent for a moment, likely surprised by my lack of cooperation. However, soon after, he spoke again: “Very well, I will ensure you receive the superior’s command as quickly as possible.”

I didn't dwell on what Hong Yang meant by that statement. All I cared about at that moment was holding our ground.

“We await it at any time,” I replied with a single sentence, not intending to entangle myself further with this group. After all, the investigation itself was the crucial task now.

Without waiting for Hong Yang’s response, I turned and left with Xiao Cuo and Zhang Jiewei. Since they wanted to investigate, I wouldn't chase them away, but they shouldn't expect to slow down our progress either.

“Brother Lei, what is going on? Those people showed up completely out of the blue,” Xiao Cuo muttered incessantly as we walked.

“It is indeed strange, but nothing in this world is absolutely impossible—just like how we don’t know if the killer will strike again. Since they want to get involved, as long as they don’t muddy the waters, let them be,” I said dismissively. Since Lord Jiang had given his order, what else was there to worry about?

“Brother, can you stop speaking in such profound terms? I have no idea what you’re saying,” Xiao Cuo complained in a low voice, not really digging deep into my words.

“That was Lord Jiang’s exact attitude? To let these people brazenly snatch our case?” Xiao Cuo pondered before asking again.

“Only if they have the ability to do so!” I smiled and then began surveying the scene.

“That Hong Yang just now…” Zhang Jiewei, who had been silent, suddenly spoke halfway through a sentence. If it weren't for the fact that he was Zhang Jiewei, I would have smacked the back of his head.

“What about Hong Yang?” I looked up at Zhang Jiewei. Hong Yang had given me a different feeling, but I couldn't pinpoint what was off—it felt like a significant threat to me.

“Heh heh… nothing…” Zhang Jiewei only spoke half a sentence, and he even managed a rare smile. I wondered if he had taken the wrong medicine today.

“Are you looking for a beating, kid?” I caught up to Zhang Jiewei and yelled teasingly.

“I just think you two are very similar,” Zhang Jiewei said quietly, still fiddling with his titanium alloy lighter, which looked both heavy and deeply meaningful.

“Similar?” I repeated the two words Zhang Jiewei had used, asking myself repeatedly in my mind. The image of Hong Yang flashed through my thoughts, but I couldn't figure out how I resembled him at all. Was I blinded by being too close to the situation?

In the end, Hong Yang’s group didn't leave. Even after the forensic team took the discovered body away, they followed the main procession, never falling behind.

“Do you know those people?” I asked You Qiaolin beside me. I specifically chose to ride back with You Qiaolin; his two assistants had rushed back to the bureau with urgently needed evidence. In the spacious vehicle, it was just the two of us left alive.

“Heh, how could I not know them?” You Qiaolin smiled faintly, taking off his white gloves and gently adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses before continuing, “The Fourth Unit of the CID is quite well-known within the entire brigade. They’ve cracked many major cases, and their leader is highly valued by those above, which is why they are always assigned to investigate major crimes.”

“I see. But their leader is quite diligent, coming to the scene in person. My Lord Jiang is usually elusive, appearing and disappearing like a ghost.” I sighed, realizing that Fu Zhen's rank should be slightly higher than our Lord Jiang, and he was indeed valued by the higher-ups, making him incomparable to the director of our ‘Special Ops Office,’ which was so neglected it was gathering dust. Seeing him take such a hands-on approach, I felt a bit envious that their unit had a leader who managed things so personally.

“Heh, I’ve dealt with Fu Zhen before. He’s a decent fellow, generally gets along well with his subordinates, never puts on airs like a boss. This has earned him a lot of support. But the one who truly manages their unit isn't him,” You Qiaolin smiled and added.

“If the leader doesn't manage things, then who does?” I blurted out out of habit, but then realized something and murmured softly, “Could it be Hong Yang who’s in charge?”

“That’s right, it’s him. He looks very proper, and he has his own methods for handling things. His subordinates trust him completely, even obeying his every word. In the hearts of the Fourth Unit members, his status is no less than Fu Zhen’s. Fu Zhen is well aware of this, but Fu Zhen lacks any cunning. He places great hope in the intelligent and capable Hong Yang,” You Qiaolin said while looking directly into my eyes.

“So, that means Hong Yang isn't a simple character either?” My assumption was understandable; people like that are either exceptionally capable or have powerful connections.

“You could say that,” You Qiaolin nodded, his gaze suddenly becoming strange as he looked at me. “Have you been sleeping well recently? You have such heavy dark circles.”

“Heh, I have been sleeping, but I have too many dreams. Every night I have many inexplicable dreams, but I can’t recall them clearly upon waking, and my dark circles are getting worse day by day. Speaking of which, should I be using an eye mask?” I joked, though the excessive dreaming was indeed true.

“Oh, make sure you get some rest,” You Qiaolin urged quietly. My joke didn't seem to lift his spirits; instead, a shade of melancholy crossed his brow. He shook his head slightly.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned by his reaction.

“Nothing,” You Qiaolin simply replied with three words, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Unsure what caused his sudden shift, I naturally didn't want to press further. I refocused my attention on the body covered by the white sheet nearby, and a chill ran down my spine.

The body beneath the sheet was contorted into a bizarre shape. The unnatural contours reminded me of the strange posture in which it was discovered. That feeling was more than just eerie…

With the conversation over, my attention drifted elsewhere, and I began examining the interior structure of the vehicle. But this car felt like nothing more than a white cage.

My hearing has always been excellent. Even while the car was moving, I heard a strange, rhythmic sound.

“Drip… drip… drip…”