Before leaving the secret room of the quadrangle courtyard, I only took the autopsy knife. According to my ancestors, I wouldn't need anything else. But this autopsy knife was enough. The knife was entirely black, its hilt exuded a cold gleam, and its blade was thin, sharp, and could slice through iron like mud. Its unique shape suggested it could sever any bone, and I discovered it seemed to change its temperature according to the corpse's temperature. It was truly miraculous. I didn't know how my ancestors achieved this, nor where this knife came from. Perhaps no one would ever know.
Leaving the quadrangle, I quickly returned to the company. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream, but I had indeed obtained the autopsy knife and put it into my forensic kit. I had also memorized the He family's ancestral teachings. Rest assured, ancestors, I will not fail your expectations for us!
It will be on my generation, He Sheng's, to completely eradicate the Polaris International Crime Organization!
I thought Liang Xiaoxia had returned and noticed I seemed a bit down. She curiously asked, "Boss, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just a bit tired. Liang Xiaoxia, if I leave here one day, you must live well, understand?"
"Ah, boss, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing. All good things must come to an end. You also need to grow up, don't always be like this. No one in this world will look after you forever!"
"Boss... you're acting strange today. You went out just now, what were you doing?"
"You don't need to know. Alright, go and cook. I want to eat pig liver today!"
I said casually, just to keep Liang Xiaoxia from overthinking. She picked up the grocery basket and said happily, "Luckily, I bought pig liver. It seems you have good luck, wanting something and I bought it!"
I smiled. Liang Xiaoxia went into the kitchen. I recalled the records on the bamboo slips. My grandfather had already taught me most of the forensic techniques, but some I hadn't encountered yet. However, I had taken pictures.
I'll look at them slowly later. I didn't see the bamboo slips because I discovered what appeared to be someone's ashes there...
Let it forever accompany its creator.
While eating, the news started playing again. This time, it reported that the criminals in the 'human-shaped sacrifice' case had been sent to the procuratorate. It seemed they had done a good job. Just then, my phone rang: "It's done. Not sure when you'll be back, but we're all waiting!"
This was a message from He Xin. I replied saying I'd see then and put my phone away. I didn't know if Liang Xiaoxia was one of Cang Xuesong's people, so I didn't dare be too conspicuous.
I ate reasonably well. Every time, I was very careful, testing for poison with a silver needle and observing Liang Xiaoxia's actions when I slept. Even the door to my room had a mechanism. In any case, I would be very cautious from now on.
Days passed like this, until one day, Mr. Minister sent me a message: "He Sheng, it's time. We've gathered a lot of evidence of Cang Xuesong's crimes. Today, he will take a small group towards Bingquan Mountain. We received word that he will notify you to return to Zhenshui City. The criminal police will be deployed first along the way. If the plan succeeds, Zhenshui City can be controlled by our police before he returns."
"Understood!" After replying and deleting the message, Cang Xuesong indeed sent me a message: "Cao Daming, there's a mission today. You need to come back to Zhenshui City for a meeting. Oh, right, bring your little follower."
"Okay, master!" I replied, changed my clothes, and asked Liang Xiaoxia to drive me to Zhenshui City. Whether we could capture Cang Xuesong depended on today's operation! It must succeed!
Ancestors, you will protect me, won't you!
According to Mr. Minister's arrangements, I was supposed to leave the company directly. However, the moment I stepped out, someone grabbed my arm from behind: "Don't go!"
I turned back and stared at the person with a scrutinizing gaze. I knew who it was; it was Liang Xiaoxia, who had been following me for some time.
"The master is summoning us, we have to go!"
"You've fallen into a trap. Don't go, okay? I know you've been dealing with Cang Xuesong!"
"What? How do you..."
"Did you think I was just a fangirl? Heh, remember me?" At this moment, Liang Xiaoxia actually peeled off a piece of skin from her face. The person before me was actually Alicia.
Alicia was none other than the international police officer who had saved us on the ship when we were dealing with Polaris' people and almost perished.
"It's you!" I don't know how many years have passed, but every time I recall this, I feel embarrassed. I thought Liang Xiaoxia was just a fangirl, a fool, but I never expected her true identity to be Alicia.
"Long time no see! Alicia, is this Mr. Minister's idea?"
"Yes, but you really can't go this time?"
"Why, is this Cang Xuesong's plan?"
"You guessed right. If you go, we will all die!"
"Then I need to notify everyone to stop their actions!"
"No, I didn't say not to go at all. I meant we can't act for now. No, someone has gone in our place."
"Oh? It seems you've played a counter-trick on Cang Xuesong?"
"We'll wait here, for about an hour. the sun also visited the dirty land, but it was not polluted by it."
My English is average, but I understood the meaning of this sentence at this moment: "The sun also visited the dirty land, but it was not polluted by it."
That's right, no matter what difficulties we face, the light of hope will surely shine upon us police officers.
The wickedness of human nature, the bitter fruits of malice, will ultimately be enveloped by the halo of justice, leaving no room for evil to hide.
"Gluttony," "Greed," "Sloth," "Envy," "Pride," "Lust," "Wrath"—human desires, worldly chastisements, disputes over interests, secular erosion—all these require heavy payment. And no matter where I run, I will stand foremost before the lives and property of the people, simply because I am a people's police officer, and I will forever play this role, never regretting it.
I am He Sheng, Forensic Investigator of Strange Cases. In our line of work, there are no unsolvable cases, only cases that are yet to be solved.
I thought we had been together for a while. I actually wanted to ask Alicia why she was here, but she explained preemptively: "Dealing with the Polaris International Crime Organization is the duty of the world's police."
"It's time, He Sheng, let's go!"
"Thank you. This time, it's all thanks to you! Alicia."
"It's nothing. All police officers are family worldwide."
"Well said!"
We drove away from the company and headed straight for Zhenshui City. At that time, I didn't know what was happening. I didn't hear any gunshots, nor the sounds of fighting or chaos. Could it be over already?