Chapter 11

The enforcement team began searching the old Zhang family residence.

Naturally, they found nothing of value. The Zhang family had nothing of worth.

But Liu Long understood that someone had been watching for a long time, and it was impossible that there was nothing important. Or perhaps the other party was waiting for someone?

Who would come to the Zhang family’s place?

However, with the Zhang family already gone, who would come here, except for Li Hao, who still cared about the case.

The tall Liu Long, with his hands behind his back, wandered around the courtyard.

Li Hao and a few others followed behind. As for Black Panther, he had not left, but he did not dare to get close to Liu Long, seemingly quite afraid of the team leader.

Soon, Liu Long approached the kitchen.

The kitchen door was already open, and someone was searching inside, but of course, they found nothing.

Li Hao did not look at the chimney. He had replaced a stone there, trying to restore it as much as possible, but the layer of lime on the outside of the chimney had already fallen off, and there was no way to put it back.

In a kitchen that had not been repaired for years, it seemed quite normal for some lime to fall off.

Others would hardly look up or pay much attention.

Liu Long’s gaze, however, was extremely sharp. With one glance, the entire layout of the kitchen came into view. He did not expect to find anything here, nor did he expect that after being watched for so long, there would be any treasures waiting for him to discover.

Just as he was about to look away, Liu Long’s gaze paused slightly, lingering for a moment on the stone block that Li Hao had replaced.

Soon, Liu Long moved his gaze away.

Without saying much, he turned, glanced at Li Hao with a somewhat condescending look, and said coldly, "Li Hao, did you find anything when you came here?"

"No!"

Li Hao shook his head, then added after some thought, "Not exactly nothing. Based on my observations, the entire house has been tampered with, even the old tree in the courtyard has been dug up."

"The commotion was significant, yet no one knew about it. Either they are very powerful or have strong concealment abilities!"

Liu Long nodded slightly.

Suddenly, he said, "Do you think that if we tear down the Zhang family’s house, the person behind the scenes will show up?"

"Probably not!"

Li Hao chose to speak the truth, "Even if we tear down the Zhang family’s house, with the enforcement team here, the other party, even if they are powerful, would not dare to show up easily. That would not be acting in secret but openly opposing the entire Silver City!"

"Then do you think it’s necessary to continue tearing down this old house? This is the ancestral home of your good friend."

Li Hao perked up. Had Liu Long discovered something?

Was he suspicious of Li Hao, or did he suspect that the Red Shadow force had taken something?

Most likely, he was suspicious of Li Hao!

After all, the Red Shadow force had been sending people to watch the place until today. If they had taken something, there would be no need to continue staying.

So, Liu Long really might suspect Li Hao.

"Really persistent!"

Why had this person, who was so persistent, given Li Hao the impression of being somewhat incompetent over the past year?

The enforcement team had not solved many cases, otherwise, Li Hao would not have thought the enforcement team was incompetent just because of a simple self-immolation case.

After some thought, Li Hao hesitated and said, "If it can be left standing, it’s best. If it can’t be left, as long as we can catch the murderer and avenge Zhang Yuan, the house is just a dead object. Whether it’s torn down or burned, I have no objections!"

"Very well said!"

Liu Long nodded slightly. In the next moment, he suddenly punched the kitchen wall, creating a hole. Li Hao’s heart trembled at the sight.

The kitchen wall, though not made of copper or iron, was built of bricks.

Liu Long’s punch shattered the bricks, creating a pit. From this, Li Hao understood that if he were hit by Liu Long’s punch, he would either die or be severely injured.

The old kitchen, already in disrepair, was now punctured by Liu Long’s punch, causing lime to fall from the walls.

Liu Long coldly scanned the surroundings and said calmly, "Since we found nothing, let’s not waste time. Tear down the house! Dig three feet deep, and if we still find nothing, set it on fire! If we still find nothing after the fire, then that’s it!"

"Yes!"

The enforcement team members responded, and soon, the sound of demolition echoed.

Liu Long looked at Li Hao again and said calmly, "Do you want to find a few items to keep as mementos?"

Li Hao shook his head lightly, sighed, and said somewhat dejectedly, "No need! It’s meaningless! Taking the murderer’s head and presenting it at Zhang Yuan’s grave is more valuable!"

At this moment, Li Hao would not invite trouble upon himself.

Taking a few items, when the entire Zhang family had nothing left, would make it seem as if Li Hao had taken those items. If the Red Shadow force could not find the Zhang family’s knife, they might think Li Hao had taken it.

And Li Hao really did have it!

Liu Long’s words were not necessarily well-intentioned.

Perhaps it was a test, or perhaps it was a way to use someone else to kill. In any case, Li Hao would not take the bait.

A faint smile appeared in Liu Long’s eyes, and in the next moment, he shouted loudly, "Don’t destroy everything. Take a few items back to the inspection office as evidence!"

Li Hao did not speak.

Instead, he quickly judged Liu Long’s intentions. Was he trying to lure the Red Shadow force into a trap?

At this moment, he would no longer underestimate the enforcement team or Liu Long. He carefully analyzed the meaning behind every word.

"Everyone, scatter and search! Li Hao, follow me!"

Liu Long dismissed the other team members and called out to Li Hao.

Li Hao did not ask anything, just obediently followed Liu Long’s orders and quickly caught up.

Liu Long said nothing, taking large strides outward.

Li Hao immediately followed, running to keep up.

...

Outside the Zhang family’s door.

The entire street was now filled with people, including enforcement team members and residents of the old street who had been startled. Although many had moved away, some still remained.

Liu Long said nothing, continuing to walk forward.

He walked all the way to a water tower in the center of the old street, stopped, and then stepped into the tower, heading directly to the top.

Li Hao followed again.

He did not understand Liu Long’s intentions or why he had come here.

Was it to get a better view?

This was the tallest building in the old street, offering a clear view of the surroundings. Was he looking for the enemy?

Following the creaking wooden stairs, the two climbed up, and a moment later, they reached the top of the tower.

Below, the old street was in full view.

Liu Long, wearing a black windbreaker, had the wind blowing it open, revealing a dense array of weapons inside. To Li Hao’s surprise, they were not firearms but various cold weapons.

A short knife, a delicate silver hatchet, and some small-handled throwing knives.

Liu Long looked up at the sky, not at the crowded old street, and said coldly, "Li Hao, you are an inspector in the confidential room. I ask you, what is your biggest impression of the enforcement team after a year at the inspection office?"

"Capable!"

Li Hao did not hesitate.

"Hah!"

A cold laugh came, and Liu Long’s face showed a mocking expression, "Hypocritical! Scholars are all like this!"

"..."

Li Hao was speechless.

Liu Long said coldly, "Incompetent! They can handle trivial cases, but they fail to solve major cases nine times out of ten!"

"But you should know that the inspection office’s enforcement team has only been incompetent in recent years. In the past, the Silver City inspection office was the stabilizing force of Silver City!"

"You are from Silver City, so you should know that when you were a child, Silver City was the safest city in the area, where people could leave their doors unlocked at night!"

Li Hao thought for a moment and nodded.

Indeed, Silver City seemed very safe when he was a child.

Of course, it might also be because he had not been exposed to such things at that time. Back then, he thought Silver City was very safe and there would be no danger.

Liu Long did not care what Li Hao was thinking and suddenly said, "Do you know why I wanted you to join the enforcement team?"

"I don’t know..."

"Because of Zhang Yuan!"

"..."

Li Hao frowned, what did he mean?

Liu Long’s tone was calm, "I have been the team leader for ten years and have developed feelings for it! Just like you have feelings for Zhang Yuan, I have brotherly feelings for the enforcement team and cannot bear to see it gradually die!"

"I once tried to save it, but I found that when you are in the situation, you are confused. I could no longer clearly use my reason to control my emotions! I know everyone very well, but precisely because of this knowledge, I feel that no one in the enforcement team would betray me!"

"I do not want to suspect anyone, nor do I want to believe that my brothers who once shared life and death with me would betray our original intentions for some money or material things!"

"When we joined the inspection office and the enforcement team, we swore together: to enforce justice! To enforce fairness! To fear no power, to fear no sacrifice!"

"Justice will always exist, never fearing, never compromising!"

Liu Long spoke with great seriousness, but in the next moment, a hint of self-mockery appeared on his face, and he said sarcastically, "This was the oath we made back then, but it seems that few people can stick to it from beginning to end, always keeping it in mind!"

Li Hao listened silently.

He was not close to this person, and perhaps because of this, the person was talking to him about these things.

Liu Long did not continue and changed the topic, "Zhang Yuan’s case is not simple! It may involve superhumans!"

Li Hao did not pretend to be deaf and nodded, "I think so too! After all, the six self-immolation cases were all very natural, and I even witnessed one myself. It’s hard for ordinary people to do that."

"Then you still dare to investigate?" Liu Long suddenly laughed, perhaps the first time that night, and it was a bit eerie.

Li Hao did not know if this person was also involved with the Red Shadow, but at this moment, he had no other choice or method.

"Zhang Yuan is my only friend!"

"Would you risk your life for a friend?"

Liu Long said calmly, "When you are young, you have such impulses and enthusiasm. But as you get older, your thoughts may change!"

After saying this, he added, "This is not important! You are in danger now. First, you are involved in this self-immolation case! Second, you uncovered the beginning of the self-immolation case, bringing it to the attention of the enforcement team. Third, you came here tonight, alarming the enemy, which is also a source of your danger."

"Don’t expect Professor Yuan to help you much. You can only rely on yourself, not on others, as relying on others is unreliable!"

"Professor Yuan is just an ordinary person. The Night Watchers may or may not give him face. Don’t think that just because it involves superhumans, the Night Watchers will intervene."

"For the Night Watchers, six deaths are nothing!"

Liu Long shook his head, "It’s not that they don’t care about deaths, but the Night Watchers are few in number and spread out across different areas! There are very few Night Watchers in the Silver City area, and they each have their own responsibilities. Unless there is a large-scale death toll, the Night Watchers will not act. Otherwise, a few deaths involving superhumans may not be worth their attention."

This was the first time Li Hao had heard someone seriously talk about the Night Watchers.

Li Hao could not suppress his curiosity and asked in a low voice, "Are the Night Watchers few in number?"

"Yes!"

Liu Long nodded, "There are few, and in fact, maintaining public order is mostly done by ordinary people in the inspection office! The Night Watchers only act when absolutely necessary, and there is another point: not all superhumans join the Night Watchers. The Night Watchers are just one of the larger organizations in the superhuman system."

Li Hao thought for a moment and asked, "Captain, are superhumans born or created?"

"Both!"

Liu Long said with a playful tone, "Do you want to enter this field?"

"No."

"Liar!"

Liu Long sneered, "Anyone, when they first hear about superhumans, will be fascinated because they don’t know the dangers and secrets involved. They only know that superhumans are mysterious and can do anything! Only by delving deeper can you understand the dangers involved, and you might regret it later, but at the beginning, you will likely be fascinated."

Li Hao had to nod in agreement.

Anyone who heard this would be fascinated, and he was actually quite fascinated.

"But you know nothing, and rushing in without understanding the difficulties, you might end up risking your life!"

"Coincidentally..."

Liu Long laughed again, "I know a lot about the Night Watchers. If you join the enforcement team, maybe I can give you some guidance."

Li Hao asked curiously, "Captain, are you saying all this just to persuade me to join the enforcement team? I’m just a third-level inspector who has been in the inspection office for a year. I don’t think I’m worth so much that the captain would say so much to me, even involving the superhuman field, just to get me to join."

"Don’t underestimate yourself!"

Liu Long’s eyes had a deep meaning, "I want you to join, and it’s not that simple. You can also think of it as using you to kill someone! For example, your teacher, Professor Yuan, is a good support! The enforcement team is now in a difficult situation, and perhaps it needs some external force to break through the barriers."

"First, your teacher Yuan is an ordinary person, but not entirely. The Silver City authorities, the Ancient Academy, and the Night Watchers all rely on him to some extent to help solve problems."

Li Hao listened silently without interrupting.

"Second, the enforcement team indeed needs some fresh blood, and you, coming from the Ancient Academy, are a good choice!"

"Third, you are loyal, which I value greatly. At least I can trust you with my back."

"Fourth, you are smart and meticulous. With some training, you might become my capable assistant!"

Li Hao nodded again.

Liu Long smiled, "What do you think? Is this enough?"

Is it enough?

Not enough!

Li Hao felt that although these reasons were sufficient, they were not enough to make someone like Liu Long keep an eye on him and talk to him so much just to get him to join.

He looked at Liu Long, but at this moment, Liu Long was not looking at him.

The tall captain was staring at the sky, perhaps sensing Li Hao’s gaze, and suddenly said, "Kid, knowing too much is not always a good thing. I want to help you solve the case, and you help me. Isn’t that enough? Why dig deeper?"

Li Hao was silent for a moment and said in a low voice, "I want to avenge Zhang Yuan, but... I want to know what I’m doing. Knowing is better than not knowing! I can understand and accept everything the captain says, but I want to know the truth, not be a pawn without knowing it!"

"Young people, you really can’t keep a cool head!"

Liu Long laughed, "Did you take something from the Zhang family’s old house?"

"No, I don’t understand what the captain means."

"Hah!"

Liu Long laughed coldly, "The chimney seems to have been tampered with, Li Hao. I’ve been an inspector for twenty years and a team leader for ten. You can think I’m incompetent, but you can’t think I’m blind! The traces are fresh. Could it be that someone else tampered with it?"