Stole two sedan cars in a row⦠This is probably a crime syndicate. How can one person drive two cars? I canāt help but mutter inwardly.
This is the cultivation Iāve gone through as a fan of courtroom dramas and detective series, as well as me being a loyal reader of crime deduction novels.
Of course, I donāt say it out loud. I believe that people with standard intelligence can come to a similar conclusion.
When the guard on duty calls to confirm my identity, I take out my phone and check the time.
Thereās more than enough time⦠I let out a sigh of relief as I unhurriedly circle around the pond in the middle of the courtyard and enter the building facing the main entrance.
After I run through the possible exchange in my mind, I knock on the door of the targetās office three minutes early.
āPlease come in.ā A mellow voice sounds from inside.
āO-Officer Dengā¦ā As soon as I push open the door and enter, I realize that the officer sitting behind the desk is the one who had come to check on my residence permit!
I always imagined that heās a police officer at the police station, but I never expected him to have an office at the Municipal Public Security Bureau. He even has the room to himself!
āYou are?ā Officer Deng raises his hand to comb his receding hairline and asks with a puzzled look, āDo we know each other?ā
āLast night, you checked on my residence permit and reminded me of a mysterious cult. Later, we met again in Lawson. I even reported a woman suspected to be a member of the cult.ā I begin to suspect that the person in front of me is Officer Dengās biological brother, but I still give the details.
Officer Deng is enlightened.
āZhou-Zhou Mingrui, right?
āIām face-blind, and I donāt have a good memory. It was night, so I couldnāt see clearly.ā
I donāt need you to tell me that your memory isnāt good or how you have face-blindness. I can tell⦠I politely smile.
āToday, Iām representing the Intis Group to take over the previous project.ā
āYes, we agreed to meet at four.ā Officer Deng points at the chair opposite his desk.
I immediately approach it and plan on placing the black notebook that I just bought on the table. I will then flip it to the middleāI canāt let Officer Deng notice that I just bought it and have never written on it.
Officer Deng glances at the notebook and frowns slightly.
Following that, he picks up the phone and dials an internal department number.
āHey, the Intis Group is here. Come over for a meeting.ā
After a simple briefing, he puts down the phone and smiles at me.
āThis is an international collaboration project. We canāt decide on our own. Yes, the other partyās representative will be here soon.ā
āIām aware of that.ā Iāve read the relevant documents in the morning and know whatās going on.
Of course, even if Iām lazy and didnāt read it, Iāll still have given such an answer. I canāt let the partner Iām working with find out that Iām skiving and not doing my job well.
Not long after I sit down, I hear Officer Dengās office door open.
I stand up politely and look back. I see an old man in a long black robe.
His hair is white, and the wrinkles at the edge of his eyes and mouth are deeply recessed. His dark red eyes appear slightly turbid.
A red moon pendant hangs on his chest. He looks like a priest from a cathedral.
A foreign priest⦠I nod with a smile, fully displaying my courtesy.
For some reason, I find this old man a little familiar, just like the first time I met Officer Deng.
Strange⦠Recently, Iāve been feeling sad for some inexplicable reason. Is this the after-effect of the Assassin beverage? I silently inhale and control my emotions.
At that moment, Officer Deng introduces, āOld Neil, an Interpol representative, a clergyman.ā
āHello, Mr. Neil.ā I quickly greet him.
Old Neil doesnāt speak. He sizes me up and chuckles.
āLad, have you been troubled by ghosts recently?ā
ā¦You can tell? Iām shocked. I donāt know if I should admit it or hide it from a stranger.
āDonāt lie. My eyes are very sharp.ā Old Neil smiles and points at his eyes.
āA littleā¦ā I mutter.
āHaha.ā Old Neil immediately laughs. āYouāre still too young. You confessed the moment I called you out. Actually, Iām not that sure. Yes, Iām a priest. I have the ability to expel wraiths and shadows. Do you need my help?ā
ā¦Is it okay to discuss such feudal superstitions in front of a police officer? I open my mouth, speechless.
Old Neil walks to Officer Dengās table and very naturally picks up the coffee can on it.
āDonāt worry. I donāt charge much. If youāre still a believer of the Goddess, I can even do it for free.ā
I wasnāt a believer of the Goddess in the past, but I am now! At this moment, my heart is palpitating.
I hesitate for two seconds before sighing.
āBut, Iāve already found a helper.ā
āWho is it? There arenāt many people with such abilities. Most of them are cheats.ā Old Neil skillfully brews his coffee and asks casually.
āā¦Daly, do you know her?ā I ask hesitantly.
āDaly⦠Ah, then thatās fine.ā Old Neil retracts his smile and asks, āAre you the representative of the Intis Group? Letās begin.ā
At the same time, Officer Deng shakes his head with a smile, looking helpless.
āOh, ohā¦ā Everyone knows each other! I canāt help but sigh.
This boosts my confidence in Madam Daly.
I stop chatting and begin communicating with Officer Deng and Old Neil about the project, taking note of their requests.
An hour passes.
āYawn.ā Old Neil stretches his back. āItās finally over. These old bones of mine really canāt withstand the torment of such meetings. I no longer have the energy.ā
With that said, he stands up and smiles at me and Officer Deng.
āItās time for me to retire.
āItās time for me to leave. Iāll go to a faraway village. Iāll grow some flowers, feed the chickens, and play the piano for my wife. I donāt have to worry about things here anymore.ā
Officer Deng stands up as well. As he sends Old Neil out, he smiles and says, āLetās go together.ā
As I watch them leave, I suddenly feel speechless.