Chapter 163 - 130: Wang Chao: I have a plan, and I have a dream...

There were so many possibilities for what these could be.

Jewelry, some kind of command token, a status symbol... you could guess at any number of things.

But all they could do was guess. They were guessing with no information, no evidence whatsoever.

"If we knew what it was, would we have even come to you?"

Xu Huo said with a resigned sigh.

"If you ask me, if you’re really interested in this..."

Zhang Liang grinned.

"Why not join the Special Fifth Bureau? As long as you’re an official member, you’ll have the authority to mobilize resources to investigate any case you take on!"

"With that kind of authority and a flood of resources, what case could possibly remain unsolved?"

Li Jianye’s face darkened as he cursed inwardly.

’This petty bastard, always shamelessly coveting what little I have!’

Jiangsan City’s talent pool wasn’t large, to say nothing of someone like Xu Huo.

Once the crisis in Jiangsan City was resolved and Xu Huo returned, the entire city’s security would be guaranteed for decades to come!

It was entirely possible for him to single-handedly advance the city’s criminal investigation capabilities!

If he rose to a higher rank, he could even hold down an entire province. That’s no joke.

After all, the resources and authority of a province couldn’t be compared to a city’s. Even with the same person on the same case, the difference in efficiency would be an insurmountable gap.

But if he were poached...

Then Haiyun Province could cry all it wanted, but it wouldn’t do any good.

’This is poaching, plain and simple! And the victim can’t even fight back because their rank isn’t as high as the Special Fifth Bureau’s...’

’Then Haiyun Province would have to tell him to go ahead while secretly wiping away tears as they watched him run all over the country for the Special Fifth Bureau.’

"Come on, I’m not about to sell myself out over three unknown Stone Tokens."

Xu Huo smiled, tactfully refusing.

’The rank is high, but... there’s likely little room for advancement.’

’It’s a high starting point with a low ceiling.’

’For someone with average or slightly above-average abilities, joining them would be a stroke of incredible luck, a major promotion.’

’But for someone like me to go...’

’It would be no different from a top scholar in ancient times being married off to a princess—a prestigious but dead-end position.’

"I’ll hold on to these for the time being, then."

"I’ll find a safe to lock them in."

Xu Huo put the stones away.

’Once something is determined to be unrelated to the case, how it’s handled is more flexible. Right now, these Stone Tokens are just a suspicion; there’s no clear link to a murder case.’

’It’s better to hold on to them.’

"Whatever."

Zhang Liang said nonchalantly.

"Alright."

Li Jianye said in a serious voice, "If anything unusual comes up later, or if you find anything... remember to notify me."

The death of Chu Xi’s father had left a deep shadow on him. If there really were still some criminals out there who hadn’t been caught...

He felt it was his duty to catch them himself.

"Got it."

Xu Huo nodded, then put the items away in his wallet.

Then, he looked up.

"When are we heading back?"

"We’ll have to wait another four or five days. With the Special Fifth Bureau’s help, the wrap-up will be quick. We’ll just leave a few people behind to supervise, and then we can hand the case over to the local city bureau."

Li Jianye yawned.

He hadn’t slept well at all these past two days, busy looking up information.

’But as soon as I get back to Linlan City... no, wait. The Corpse Well case is still waiting for me in Linlan City!’

At this thought, Li Jianye’s expression immediately soured. He felt his future was bleak.

"I’ll be going now. I still have things to take care of at the Special Fifth Bureau."

Zhang Liang said with a grin. He had paused something to come here and now had to hurry back to the Capital City.

The rest of his people would be staying, though.

Xu Huo and Li Jianye nodded, not surprised.

However, just as Zhang Liang was about to walk out of the room, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Li Jianye with that same grin.

"Captain Li, hmm... what do you think of the Special Fifth Bureau’s magnanimity?"

"Why, they’re the model of magnanimity, of course. Incredibly broad-minded."

Li Jianye replied instinctively, a little puzzled as to why he was being asked this.

"Is the Special Fifth Bureau petty?" Zhang Liang asked again.

Li Jianye was even more confused, not quite understanding what he meant.

After a long moment, Zhang Liang finally spoke:

"The Special Fifth Bureau..."

"Yes, they are very magnanimous. You can introduce them that way to people in the future."

Having said his piece, he left with a satisfied look on his face.

He left the two of them standing there, staring at each other blankly.

"Did that petty bastard run a check on you?"

Xu Huo asked suspiciously.

He remembered that Li Jianye had been bad-mouthing the man behind his back.

"Damn it, he really is petty," Li Jianye said, exasperated, but didn’t say anything more.

"Tsk, he really isn’t the most magnanimous person."

Xu Huo shook his head, then smiled.

"Is there anything else? If not, I’m heading out."

"That’s all."

Li Jianye shook his head.

Xu Huo was about to leave, but he got to the door and suddenly turned back.

"How are the arrangements for Song Min?"

"It’s all taken care of. The best nursing home in Zhaozhou. We hired a caregiver with a great reputation. She’ll be looked after in her old age."

Li Jianye said.

"That’s Song Min, the grandmother of Shen Miao—the girl who was impersonating Sun Yang. She was originally prepared to take the fall for her granddaughter and die, but she never expected Shen Miao to drink paraquat."

"Her mood has been very low lately."

"But it’s not a suicidal kind of depression. It’s more like she’s come to terms with life and death—a very serene state."

"Take fifty thousand from my bonus for her living expenses."

Xu Huo left this remark and turned to leave.

He was always on the move, so Song Min couldn’t stay with him.

After all, she was getting on in years. Even flying was difficult for her; she had already shown some discomfort when she traveled before.

In contrast, having the authorities find a place to care for her was an excellent choice.

"Heh, you kid. Pretty generous."

Watching Xu Huo’s retreating figure, Li Jianye laughed. A moment later, after the figure disappeared, his expression sobered.

Finally, he sighed.

’Song Min is going back to being old and alone again...’

"Tsk, when will things like this ever end..."