It has only been half an hour, and you are bringing in another one?

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Shanhe City, Police Chief’s Office.

“You’ve had two reports of child abductions in your precinct over the past two days—I’m aware of them!”

A man nearing forty knocked on the door and entered the chief’s office. Seeing Chief Miao Hui put down the phone, he placed the report he was holding on the desk.

“Boss, here is the report on Gao Xuan’s murder case. The victim’s body has been found, and the forensic team has already retrieved fingerprints and skin flakes belonging to Wei Na and Huang Xuehai from the victim’s backpack. All evidence from the murder to the disposal of the body can now be linked. In a few days, once the forensic squad compiles all the test reports, they will be submitted for further examination.”

Miao Hui quickly skimmed the case report and set it aside.

“Tianzong, I don’t need to look over your report again. Now there’s a new development.”

“The director of the Academy District precinct, Old Liang, reported a situation. In the past two days, his precinct received three cases of children being abducted. I just called several other precincts, and they’ve also received reports of child abductions recently. If only one or two precincts had such reports, it might be isolated incidents by a wandering perpetrator. But now, in just two days, every precinct has received child abduction reports. I analyze this is very likely an organized criminal operation.”

“Since these cases involve abducted children, send some female officers to investigate and interview, and analyze whether these recent abductions around the city are connected.”

Lin Tianzong nodded slightly, “Understood!”

——————

On the bus.

After Lu Xingzhou boarded, a woman holding a child fixated her gaze on him.

His handsome face, combined with the sweat-dampened T-shirt revealing faint muscular contours, made him look like a walking charm demon.

As the woman was distracted, she failed to notice the little boy in her arms suddenly grab the police badge on Lu Xingzhou’s banner and loudly cry for help.

Startled by the boy’s voice, the woman looked over and saw the police badge on the banner in Lu Xingzhou’s hand. She turned pale and hastily clutched the child tighter, angrily scolding him:

“What nonsense are you spouting? Do you want to send your mother to jail?”

Her sudden, hoarse, and furious shout drew the attention of all the passengers on the bus.

Though trying to remain calm under their gazes, her heavy breaths, flushed cheeks, and the dilating and contracting pupils all betrayed her inner panic.

As for detective knowledge, Lu Jiangying could skip it, but Lu Xingzhou could not.

Teachers cannot hit students at school, but at home… on rainy days, hitting your younger brother is just something to do.

This forced Lu Xingzhou, though not a criminal investigator, to learn a considerable amount about criminal investigation.

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Lu Xingzhou didn’t immediately react but glanced at the little boy.

The woman hurriedly looked over and explained, “Officer, my child has been mischievous since childhood, just making things up. I’m her mother.”

Lu Xingzhou seemed to believe her and asked, “The child looks unwell. Were you planning to go to the hospital?”

The woman caught the hint: “Yes, yes. The child has had a cold and fever these past couple of days. I was going to take her to the hospital.”

Lu Xingzhou smirked, “The stop before the police station is the Women and Children’s Hospital. Why didn’t you get off there?”

Her pupils instantly widened, realizing she’d been caught.

Lu Xingzhou shouted loudly, “Driver, turn the bus around and head back to the station!”

“Got it!”

The driver, having noticed the exchange, immediately turned the bus around at the intersection and headed back.

At the police station, Criminal Investigation Second Squad office.

Zhou Shuwu was briefing Lu Jiangying and Xu Hui on a new task.

“Jiangying, Xiao Xu, the city’s child abduction situation is very severe right now. The chief personally called all precincts and gathered information—five children have gone missing in just two days. The department suspects a premeditated gang operation. Since it involves children, I need you two to visit each precinct, gather information, and see if there’s any connection between these recent spate of child disappearances.”

Lu Jiangying and Xu Hui saluted, “Yes, Captain!”

As they exited the office building, Lu Jiangying was starting his car when Xu Hui pointed toward the police station’s entrance.

“Jiangying, isn’t that your brother back again?”

Lu Jiangying looked up and saw it was indeed Lu Xingzhou, standing with a woman and a child.

“Didn’t he just leave? Why is he back so soon?”

Lu Jiangying pressed the accelerator and pulled up beside Lu Xingzhou at the station entrance.

“Why are you back? Who is this woman?”

Lu Xingzhou pointed at the woman, “A human trafficker.”

At his words, Lu Jiangying and Xu Hui exchanged a glance. Just as they were about to head out and investigate the trafficker, one was delivered to them unexpectedly.

Lu Jiangying glanced at the child’s condition in Lu Xingzhou’s arms, immediately opened the door, got out, and pulled out handcuffs from his waist.

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“Detain her first. Xiao Hui, use the radio to call the clinic and ask a doctor to come check on the child.”

Lu Jiangying and Xu Hui stepped forward and restrained the woman, handing the child back to Lu Xingzhou.

Re-entering the police station, Lu Xingzhou looked as if returning home.

Being taken in twice in one day was becoming quite familiar.

Zhou Shuwu had just come out from the forensic squad’s office urging progress. When he looked up, he immediately saw Lu Jiangying and Xu Hui escorting a woman back.

“What’s this?”

Lu Jiangying explained, “Captain, this woman was brought in by Xingzhou. He says she’s a trafficker. Ask him for details.”

Lu Xingzhou nervously held the unconscious little boy and narrated how he had taken the bus home, coincidentally sat next to the trafficker, and how the boy had begged him for help.

Zhou Shuwu regarded Lu Xingzhou with a strange, amazed expression.

Half an hour after leaving the station, he had already brought in another case—what an absurd level of efficiency!

Still, Zhou Shuwu quickly recovered from his surprise. He’d seen such situations before.

The last eccentric fellow had encountered 26 cases in a month, leaving the criminal investigation squad stunned.

Zhou Shuwu patted Lu Xingzhou’s shoulder warmly.

“You’re a blessing, kid. We were just about to merge the five child disappearance cases from the last two days for joint investigation with no leads, and you’ve already brought in a suspect. You deserve credit again.”

The woman listened to their conversation, growing increasingly uneasy.

Five child disappearances in two days?

Would the cops pin the gang’s crimes on her?

If they lumped all five cases on her, she’d be close to execution.

Her body sagged involuntarily, and she began to scream and thrash in protest.

“It’s unjust! Officer! The five child abduction cases have nothing to do with me! I just started this business earlier this year and have only abducted three children in total! Two were intercepted immediately and beaten badly! For seven months this year, six were spent with a cast on my arm! The five abduction cases have nothing to do with me! Please don’t pin this on me!”