Hong Yang and Zhang Jiewei shared a fierce lust for power. For them, authority was akin to their own parents; my description is in no way an exaggeration. If it were Hong Yang summoning the Special Agents Office to a meeting with the Fourth Criminal Investigation Unit today, I would use the exact same words to describe Zhang Jiewei.

Ding Qingyuan maintained his usual air of seasoned slipperiness, his eyes darting around every face as if searching for a lost treasure.

Of course, the star of the show, unanimously acknowledged by everyone, had to be the "Leg-Shaking Prince," Wang Xuyang.

He didn't sit on a stool or a chair; instead, he leaned against the wall, shifting eighty percent of his body weight onto one foot, perfectly positioning the other leg for its erratic performance.

Watching that skinny little leg tremble incessantly, my own heart nearly shook right out of my chest; I truly wanted to chop it off and sell it to McDonald's for frying.

Naturally, he didn't lean against just any wall; he chose the one right beside Feng Siyan, looking for all the world like Itaro Yamamoto from the manga panels.

I glanced again at Gao Jianning. His head was slightly bowed, his eyes fiercely locked onto Wang Xuyang's quivering leg, as if he were trying to bore holes through it with his gaze alone.

The meeting then officially commenced, primarily to analyze and summarize the three current cases and arrange the next steps.

Right now, we have the 'Grim Reaper' case, the He Shuhua homicide in the rental apartment, and the church priest murder case. These three are distinct, yet the 'Grim Reaper' and the priest case might be connected. However, since the methods used in the two are completely different, we cannot merge them until new evidence surfaces.

Separately, there is the case of He Shuhua's murder in the rental unit. We already have a suspect for this one: the victim's boyfriend, Jiang Bo. But he hasn't confessed, and he certainly won't volunteer one, so the next step is to meticulously investigate based on his testimony at the rehabilitation center. Not a single detail can be overlooked; the goal is to achieve a breakthrough through evidence first, which will make prying his confession open much easier.

Just as the meeting was underway, the door was suddenly flung open, and a stranger walked in. I was about to voice my question when Hong Yang from the Fourth Unit answered for me.

"Director Fu!"

It turned out he was Fu Zhen.

An entirely unremarkable middle-aged man; if he were lost in a crowd, I wouldn't spot him even if I looked a hundred times.

Yet, this was the man who led the Fourth Unit in cracking major and sensitive cases repeatedly.

My gaze remained fixed on Fu Zhen, but he showed no reaction, offering everyone a slight smile. "Meeting, is it? I'll join in."

Rumor certainly matched reality. I had long heard that Fu Zhen was affable and devoid of any official airs; his prestige within the unit was even lower than Hong Yang's. Seeing him today confirmed the reputation.

However, judging by how quickly Hong Yang greeted him upon entry, it wasn't a lack of authority, but rather a mastery of managing subordinates. As the unit head, Fu Zhen only needed to manage Hong Yang; the rest would naturally fall under Hong Yang's purview.

Fu Zhen sat down in an inconspicuous spot, projecting an image of harmlessness. But I sensed trouble brewing because Zhang Jiewei organized this meeting, yet Fu Zhen was the true superior of the Fourth Unit. This arrangement violated protocol. Therefore, Fu Zhen’s self-degradation to attend must have a purpose.

I nervously glanced at Zhang Jiewei. He remained perfectly composed, sitting stiffly. He politely stood up towards Fu Zhen. "Director Fu, we are delighted you could attend. We welcome any guidance you may offer."

Fu Zhen nodded casually, crossed one leg over the other, and said, "Continue."

Zhang Jiewei turned back around. "Among the three current cases, only the rental apartment homicide shows a glimmer of progress; the other two are stalled. Of those two, the 'Grim Reaper' case is the most bizarre."

At this, Fu Zhen suddenly interjected, "May I ask, what exactly do you mean by 'bizarre'?"

A jolt went through me—this man was making his move.

Zhang Jiewei held his composure. He looked serious. "Bizarre means this case has highly unusual elements."

His answer was clever; it addressed the question without giving away specifics. It seemed this fellow only pretended to be solemn; deep down, he knew better than to use words like mysterious or supernatural when addressing Fu Zhen, the expert in scientific investigation.

But if Fu Zhen let himself be fobbed off like that, he wouldn't be Fu Zhen.

He continued, "Every case has unusual aspects; that’s what we call a case’s peculiarity. I assume that is what you meant, correct?"

Huh? Why was this man deliberately giving Zhang Jiewei an out? Was there a trap?

Zhang Jiewei quickly nodded. "Yes, that's what I meant—peculiarity."

Fu Zhen then slowly uttered another phrase, "I wonder where the peculiarity in this case lies?"

Hearing that, I knew we were in trouble. If Zhang Jiewei fumbled the response, a direct confrontation was imminent.

"The, the peculiarity..." Zhang Jiewei, usually adept at questioning, seemed lost for words when faced with Fu Zhen's seasoned cunning.

As the former acting director, I knew I had to step in to salvage the situation. I interjected, "It's that absolutely no trace was left at the scene; that is what’s so strange."

It’s the classic case of the players being blind and the spectator seeing clearly. Zhang Jiewei was capable of seeing this point, but he was overwhelmed by Fu Zhen's powerful presence, completely trapped in his logical net, unable to escape.

Fu Zhen heard this, turned his head to glance at me, and then smiled faintly. "You are Wang Lei?"

I was surprised that so many people knew me without meeting me, so I nodded. "Greetings, Director Fu."

Just as I braced myself for a decisive showdown with him, the door to the Special Agents Office was thrown open again, and a familiar figure burst in.

Elder Jiang!

I immediately and instinctively fell silent.

With both top leaders appearing simultaneously, a good show was about to begin. We mere underlings should avoid stepping into the crossfire, lest we suffer collateral damage without even knowing how we died.

The moment Elder Jiang appeared, Fu Zhen ignored me, leaned back in his chair, and let his gaze sweep lightly over the newcomer.

They exchanged looks for less than a second, yet the feeling was as if a full day had passed.

Elder Jiang flashed forward and was suddenly at my side.

I immediately rose to give up my seat and moved over to Xiao Cuo. Xiao Cuo instantly followed suit, respectfully yielding his chair.

After I sat down, I realized Elder Jiang hadn't deliberately snatched my seat; it was because my seat was directly opposite Fu Zhen’s.

The entire room instantly entered a bizarre state, as if a massive magnetic field were drawing the gaze and thoughts of everyone toward one central point.

No, perhaps two immense magnetic fields, pulling us in two directions.

Confused, I watched these two titans, wondering if a physical brawl was about to erupt, knowing both were hardened veterans forged in battle.

For them, iron and blood were fact and reason!

I waited tensely, but Fu Zhen didn't seem willing to satisfy my morbid curiosity. He grinned at Elder Jiang, just as I usually grinned at Zhang Jiewei, and said, "Well now, Haitao, what brings you around here today?"

Elder Jiang’s face showed no expression; it was ice cold. "Have you forgotten, this is my territory."

"Right, right, how could I forget that? Ah, among brothers, what's the point of 'mine' and 'yours'?"

Watching Fu Zhen’s demeanor, I suddenly thought he resembled that old man at the market who always overcharged me a few dimes when selling pickled vegetables.

Elder Jiang let out a soft snort, then completely ignored Fu Zhen, addressing Zhang Jiewei. "Continue the meeting. Get to the point—primarily, clarify the tasks for each unit."

It seemed Elder Jiang had been waiting outside the door for a while; otherwise, he wouldn't speak like that.

A thought struck me: perhaps this meeting wasn't Zhang Jiewei's own initiative, but a command from Elder Jiang. Otherwise, why would Fu Zhen suddenly appear, and why would Elder Jiang materialize at such a crucial moment?

Understanding this, I felt a wave of relief. Today’s events truly didn't concern me; this was a battle between two great gods, and we should distance ourselves as much as possible.

Zhang Jiewei, given permission, began, "Next, I will assign tasks to the respective units."

"Wait." Fu Zhen spoke up.

What was meant to happen would happen; there was no avoiding it—otherwise, Fu Zhen wouldn't be Fu Zhen.

"Speak," Elder Jiang commanded.

Zhang Jiewei hesitated, stopping mid-speech, then starting again. Watching him, I truly appreciated having resigned as acting director; otherwise, I would be the one suffering now.

Elder Jiang, being reasonable, knew this situation stemmed from him. He stopped pressing Zhang Jiewei and turned to Fu Zhen. "Then please, you speak. You're used to lengthy expositions anyway."

Fu Zhen remained unperturbed. He sat in his chair and deliberately spoke slowly. "I believe the key to solving a case lies first in clarifying the nature of the crime. We know that cases broadly divide into violent and non-violent offenses. Using that as an example, if we apply methods designed for violent crimes to non-violent ones, do you all think that would work?"

The moment Fu Zhen finished speaking, I realized this man was extraordinary. His logic was meticulous, every word sound, impossible to refute. Moreover, these few sentences governed the entire scope of the argument. If Elder Jiang agreed with this premise, he would lose without a fight.

Indeed, Elder Jiang's face soured slightly.

I secretly sweated. I knew Elder Jiang’s style: whenever the Special Agents Office had an issue, he settled it in a few sentences, threatening outright if his word wasn't followed. Asking him to reason now was like asking a rooster to lay an egg.

Elder Jiang’s face grew redder. I knew I had to intervene or it would be too late. Although I didn't want to get entangled in the feud between these two powerful figures, seeing Elder Jiang about to lose without a contest affected the dignity of our Special Agents Office going forward; I didn't want to lose face in front of the Fourth Unit later.

"Director Fu, please forgive my interruption. What you said is certainly logical, but surely you've heard the phrase, 'There are no absolutes in anything,' right?"

As soon as my words left my mouth, Elder Jiang's complexion immediately improved, and his breathing eased.

Fu Zhen glanced at me. I suddenly felt like I had fallen into an ice cave, and a chill of dread ran through me: was this the legendary killing intent?

"Wang Lei, yes, I know you're a smart man. What you just said has some merit, but there are aspects you don't fully grasp."

Hearing this, my interest piqued; I wanted to hear how he intended to rebut it.

"You said there are no absolutes, which is correct, but within a single, fixed context, that statement becomes false—terribly so."

Fu Zhen’s rhetoric was razor-sharp, completely contrary to his gentle appearance.

I glanced out of the corner of my eye and noticed the Fourth Unit members looked like they’d been injected with adrenaline. If someone gave the signal now, they would undoubtedly jump up and shout, "Long live Director Fu!"

I gritted my teeth—I had to commit!

"I am eager to hear your elaboration."

I refused to believe it. The whole world believed in 'relativity'; could Fu Zhen really conjure up an 'absolutism'?

Fu Zhen remained unhurried. "You are Wang Lei, correct?"

"Yes."

"Is it impossible for you to not be Wang Lei?"

"Impossible."

"Are you absolutely certain you are Wang Lei?"

"Of course."

The moment I spoke, Xiao Cuo and Gao Jianning deflated like punctured balloons, slumping motionless.

Fu Zhen smiled faintly, looking like a fisherman who had already hooked his catch, not rushing to reel it in, but certain the fish couldn't escape.

Hong Yang was already preparing to cheer when Fu Zhen suddenly stood up. "All personnel of the Fourth Unit, return to your posts immediately! Do your assigned duties and strictly follow the arrangements of the Bureau Party Committee!" With that, he was the first to walk toward the door.

Damn, he really had a system, striking while the iron was hot, showing no hesitation.

Hong Yang and the others immediately responded loudly, "Yes!" and stood up, ready to leave.

Elder Jiang was now on the verge of an explosion. By this point, I fully understood: this meeting was orchestrated entirely by him. He intended to suppress the Fourth Unit, and Fu Zhen naturally refused to yield, so he personally showed up to challenge him.

The result was unfortunate: under Fu Zhen’s relentless barrage, we couldn't even strike back. Before we could fully react, we were utterly routed.

"Fu Zhen, stop!"

Elder Jiang’s voice trembled slightly. I couldn't imagine how explosive he would be if he truly lost his temper, so I immediately stepped forward, intending to mediate, but Elder Jiang's men were already gathered by the door.

Facing Elder Jiang’s towering rage, Fu Zhen maintained his composure. "Oh, old friend, are you planning to keep us here for dinner?"

I was truly exasperated with Fu Zhen. Elder Jiang was already furious; couldn't the man show a little restraint and say less? Did he only feel satisfied when things devolved into chaos?

Elder Jiang’s face shifted from red to green, then from green to black. Suddenly, he burst into loud laughter. "Hahahaha!"

Our hearts nearly stopped, terrified that Elder Jiang might do something impulsive. But Fu Zhen seemed accustomed to this; he didn't advance, nor did he retreat, simply standing there with his arms crossed, waiting quietly.

"Fu Zhen, you win."

Elder Jiang spat out those words angrily, then burst through the door and vanished down the corridor, leaving behind a group of us completely dumbfounded.

Fu Zhen was much more refined. He turned back to us from the Special Agents Office. "Don't be nervous, folks. That's just his temperament; he won't do anything serious." Then, he led his unit out triumphantly.

Once the Fourth Unit left, we all wilted like cabbages left out in the frost, silent for a long time. Only Feng Siyan seemed unaffected; she brewed hot tea for everyone and offered some nonsensical words of comfort.

"Beauty Feng, please stop talking. My heart right now feels utterly chilled," I said weakly to Feng Siyan.

Xiao Cuo nodded in shared misery, then remained stiffly silent. Gao Jianning was the same, perhaps trying to maintain a façade of strength in front of Feng Siyan, but this defeat was too crushing. Our entire Special Agents Office had been single-handedly dismantled by Fu Zhen with no recourse—it was a profound humiliation!

Even Zhang Jiewei, usually as solid as bedrock, carried a deep sense of failure. He sat rigidly, his eyes fixed on one spot, unblinking for a long time.

Sighing, seeing everyone so defeated, I forced myself to rally the troops. I struggled to say, "Everyone, victory and defeat are common in warfare. Don't be discouraged. Next time, next time we will definitely win."

I didn't believe those words myself, let alone anyone else. They were meaningless.

Just then, Zhang Jiewei began to speak. "We are police officers. Whether it’s the Special Agents Office or the Fourth Criminal Investigation Unit, we are all part of one big family; our only difference is in division of labor. Therefore, we must unite and strive together."

Oddly enough, while Zhang Jiewei’s platitudes usually fell flat, at this crucial moment, they actually had an effect. Everyone's spirits showed marked improvement.

Xiao Cuo chimed in, "Director Zhang is right. We are all one family; there's nothing to be ashamed of."

Gao Jianning agreed, "Yes, yes, we need unity. Unity brings case-solving. Once the case is solved, that's what matters most."

Inspired by Zhang Jiewei, I delivered my final word. "What if one day Fu Zhen transfers to the Special Agents Office, and Elder Jiang moves to the Fourth Unit? Wouldn't our current suffering be utterly pointless?"

Upon hearing this, all unpleasantness was immediately cast aside, and everyone silently wished for that day to arrive soon.