18: Chapter 18 No Wonder the Killer Likes to Return to the Crime Scene 18: Chapter 18 No Wonder the Killer Likes to Return to the Crime Scene “Remember this place, this is the headquarters of our Team Seven,” Yang Peng said, as the elevator doors opened.
There weren’t a small number of people—by a rough estimate, there had to be several dozen.
People were working methodically, and they all greeted Yang Peng naturally as they saw him.
The Security Team of the City Guard consisted of twelve smaller teams, each with more than a hundred people ranging from intelligence, to logistics, to fieldwork.
Yang Peng’s Team Seven and Zhao Xiong’s Team Three were both strong contenders for the next head of the Security Team; thus, they were constantly at odds.
“Li Ning must have already told you,” Yang Peng said casually, pointing to an empty seat, “That’s your workstation.
The normal working hours are from 7 AM to 5 PM, and you must be present in the event of an emergency.”
“The salary is three thousand Star Coins a month.”
Upon hearing this, Li Ming’s expression turned slightly peculiar.
Three thousand isn’t too little,” Li Ning read Li Ming’s expression and sat down beside him.
“I don’t make much more myself.”
After the recent events, Li Ning didn’t look down on Li Ming like a child; his own energy level was only 0.9, and Li Ming would be able to catch up to him quickly.
Li Ming’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
After briefly setting up Li Ming, Yang Peng clapped his hands to draw everyone’s attention and said with a serious tone, “Come, let’s gather and summarize the clues from the Red Street Beheaded Case.”
Li Ming thought to himself, this is my case.
“Old Knife, you tell us,” Yang Peng gave up his spot to a middle-aged man referred to as Old Knife, who nodded and stepped forward:
“Based on the specific time of death, Wang Bo seemed to have died before Ma Wu.
There were many signs of struggle at the scene, with fragments of stones on the ground, but no items were left behind that could be traced back to any life forms.”
“We pulled up their Star Network data and found that Wang Bo had sent a message to Ma Wu between the times of their deaths, seemingly luring him out.”
“The person who acted was very meticulous, even copying Wang Bo’s day-to-day speech patterns and punctuation habits.”
“Some witnesses from the Red Street area also reported that they faintly heard some noise coming from that alley; a woman named Ling Zi, who had close contact with Wang Bo, stated that he disappeared silently right before her eyes.”
Old Knife glanced at Li Ming as he said this because the last thing Wang Bo muttered was about Li Ming.
By rights, he should be a prime suspect, but due to well-known reasons, no one believed him to be the perpetrator.
“Li Ning, how’s the investigation into the Mechanical Transformations going?” Yang Peng inquired.
Li Ning stood up, “This past month, there have been 186 Mechanical Transformations that entered Silver Grey Star, among which only 28 were equipped with armed prosthetics.”
“Sixteen had left before the crime took place, leaving twelve.
Eight of them have alibis, and I’m about to check on the remaining four.”
“But these four are not F-level life forms…” he hesitated, “and besides…”
“Speak your mind if you have something to say!” Yang Peng frowned slightly.
“I feel they don’t fit the profile of the criminal; it’s likely the work of other forces on Silver Grey Star.”
Li Ming’s brows raised slightly, a good conjecture, I support you.
“I was about to say…” Yang Peng’s gaze flickered as he stood up and continued, “Last night, and early this morning, one person from both the Rose Society and the Wild Dog Gang turned up dead.”
The people around looked at each other; Li Ming was also intrigued.
Was someone else making their move?
“Does this mean that these three gangs are messing with each other?” Li Ning speculated.
“These are all uncertain for now,” Yang Peng didn’t make any conclusion.
“Scar-faced Tiger doesn’t think it was the doing of another gang, but we still have to investigate it.
Li Ning, you go to the Rose Society tomorrow.”
“Yes!” Li Ning acknowledged, as Yang Peng assigned tasks to everyone.
“Jeez, Li Ming, take a look…the head burst open, just like a watermelon…” Li Ning exclaimed, as a few crime scene photos appeared on the virtual screen in front of him.
He showed them to Li Ming, curious to see the new recruit’s discomfort, wondering if he might even vomit.
Several seasoned veterans nearby overheard and also cast surreptitious glances.
That’s exactly how they had treated Li Ning when he was new, and it resulted in him not being able to eat for three days.
“It is indeed quite gruesome,” Li Ming stared at the photos for a while, then couldn’t help but sigh, no wonder they say criminals return to the crime scene to watch.
This feeling really is quite marvelous.
Li Ning stared intently at Li Ming and realized that this guy didn’t seem the slightest bit uncomfortable, which she found rather boring.
Especially after hearing a few veterans nearby talking about stuff like “haven’t had a bite in three days…” her face couldn’t help but turn red.
This guy is just too weird, was he born for this job?
“Cough cough…looks like it’s almost time to clock out.
Remember not to be late tomorrow, we’re going out on field duty,” Li Ning changed the subject, “You’re in luck, your first field duty is with the Rose Society, and that place is full of beauties.”
Li Ming then asked about matters concerning life energy levels.
Only afterward did he understand that anything below 1G is a life form that has not integrated a gene seed.
After fusion, the energy level generally surpasses 1G.
The measurement unit upgrades, adopting ‘F’ as a suffix, and only at 100F does one step into E-level life form, where the unit measurement changes to the suffix ‘E’.
The calculation formula is very complex, universally used in interstellar space, with huge differences, where 100F is equivalent to 1E.
Speed and strength each have their own specific formulas.
Reaching one is enough for identification.
This refers to one’s regular energy level, not including any other methods.
Many gene seeds focus on different evolution aspects.
When a gene seed focused on either strength or speed is developed to its utmost, it might exceed the standards of its level, but not by much.
“It also means that, even among life forms of the same level, there could be a disparity in strength of up to a hundred times.”
“My energy level should be less than 10F…” he estimated, as his close combat skills, boosted by basic training, were quite decent.
Initially, he had hit 0.3G without using much strength, and with just a little more effort, 0.6G.
His true energy level should be around 5,6F, but with the addition of the Control Object Ability, it could double.
After that, there wasn’t much to do.
Li Ning took him to mingle with the folks in Squad Seven and then it was time to clock out.
He was off work, but Li Ning wasn’t finished yet and was organizing files.
It wasn’t much, so Li Ning let him leave first.
Li Ming went downstairs alone, encountering several police officers along the way who cast sidelong glances at him.
Clearly, the incident in the training room that afternoon had spread, and Zhao Xiong had been thoroughly embarrassed.
Many people now also had a preliminary impression of him—
He seemed quiet, but every sentence was lethal.
“Hey there…” At the entrance, a familiar figure sprung out.
She changed her outfit, wearing tight jeans that outlined her shapely figure, and a crop top, revealing her soft, pale waist, radiating youthfulness.
“Why are you here?” Li Ming was puzzled.
“It’s your first day at work, Grandpa asked me to pick you up,” Yang Yu explained, looking Li Ming up and down, with crescent-like eyes smiling, “I didn’t realize, but you clean up quite handsomely.”
Li Ming was now dressed in his uniform which fit him perfectly, the intertwining blue and black stripes accentuated his tall figure, shoulders back, and a slim waist.
Actually, it wasn’t just the clothes.
His demeanor had greatly changed over the past few days, and after changing into the uniform, it became even more apparent.
“You need to pick me up?” Li Ming said wordlessly, and headed home with Yang Yu.
It was rush hour, and the skytrain was packed with people.
Yang Yu chattered non-stop, sharing interesting stories and talking about what clothes she bought, while Li Ming listened in silence, occasionally nodding in agreement.
The two of them standing together attracted many envious stares.
So young and already a City Guard, with such a beautiful girlfriend, truly a life winner.
Old Yang had prepared dinner, and Li Ming joined him, engaged in light conversation.
Seeing Li Ming the way he was now, Old Yang felt gratified and enjoyed a few drinks.
“Not bad, not bad, when I die, I’ll have the face to meet Old Li as well…”
Old Yang and the grandfather of the body’s previous owner were from the first generation of immigrants to Silver Grey Star, and that generation supported each other a lot.
Amongst Yang Yu’s complaints, Li Ming helped Old Yang upstairs, cleaned up the kitchen, and then headed out.
As soon as he stepped out the door, his heart gave a sudden lurch, and involuntarily, he glanced toward the dark area in front of the shop.
It was now close to seven o’clock, the streetlights were on, and in the shadows, there seemed to be a figure lurking.