Chapter 34

Li Hao walked into the confidential room with a light step.

His mood was quite good.

Seeing Wang Ming, his mood became even better.

"Xiaoming is here?"

Wang Ming was entering data. Hearing this special address, he stiffened a bit but quickly greeted, "Brother Hao is here. Did you go on patrol today?"

"Yep."

As Li Hao spoke, he deliberately showed the banner in his hand.

This was the glory of the new inspector!

Even though Li Hao was usually honest and low-key, at this moment, he couldn't help but show off the banner.

Look, someone gave me a banner!

Wang Ming was indeed attracted, with some curiosity: "A banner? For Brother Hao?"

"Yep, it's a small matter. The person was just too polite and insisted on giving me the banner!"

Li Hao replied as if it was no big deal, then laughed heartily and said, "Of course, Xiaoming, you'll have one sooner or later!"

At this moment, others in the confidential room were also drawn to Li Hao, looking at him one by one.

When they saw the banner in his hand, they started to gossip and ask what had happened.

Li Hao naturally confessed, saying he hadn't done much, just helped someone fix their car.

It was all true!

As for what happened after the person gave him the banner... who cared about that?

...

The confidential room was lively for a while.

Li Hao hung up the banner, then sat down, thinking of something and asked, "Xiaoming, didn't you say you would be late today because your family elder was coming?"

Previously, during a meal, this guy had said that his family elder was coming today.

"They came! I was an hour late this morning. Brother Hao wasn't here, so you didn't know."

Li Hao nodded.

They came!

Was it a Night Patrol strongman or a real elder?

Li Hao smiled innocently, "Why don't we visit after work? Let your elder know that we take good care of you here, ensuring you have a smooth time."

"That's not necessary!"

Wang Ming declined, politely saying, "My elder doesn't like socializing much and has some quirks."

Got it!

Definitely a Night Patrol member. Otherwise, he wouldn't keep referring to 'elder'—if it was his father, he'd just say father, and if it was his mother, he'd just say mother.

Li Hao didn't probe further; saying too much could raise suspicion.

But Wang Ming wanted to chat more with Li Hao and lowered his voice, "Brother Hao, it seems there will be rain in Yincheng the next two days. We happen to have a day off. Do you have any plans?"

Today is the 16th, and it will rain in Yincheng on the 18th.

Li Hao and his team will be on leave on the 18th and 19th.

"Do you have plans?"

Li Hao seemed curious and asked, "You just arrived, do you know any good places in Yincheng? Why don't you suggest a place, and I'll see if I can go?"

"How about hiking?"

Wang Ming said with anticipation, "There's a Tianwang Mountain in the outskirts of Yincheng. I heard it's quite magnificent... Shall we go up the mountain?"

Hiking!

Outskirts!

Li Hao thought for a moment. Chen Na, nearby, said with some disdain, "What's so fun about hiking? It's a desolate place, and it's raining. There's nowhere to take shelter. Why don't we go singing or have a meal?"

Wang Ming laughed dryly, "Sister Na, we guys don't like singing. Hiking can be good exercise! And there are places to stay on the mountain. We can stay overnight and watch the sunrise. Tianwang Mountain at night in the rain might be even more beautiful!"

Chen Na politely declined!

Forget it, she didn't want to hike. It would be exhausting and meaningless.

Li Hao quickly assessed the situation.

Was Wang Ming suggesting hiking to find a suitable ambush site for the Night Patrol?

Tianwang Mountain is sparsely populated, and even less so in the rain, fitting the Night Patrol's mindset. Fighting there wouldn't affect Yincheng.

After all, it's an official organization, upholding justice and order. Even though the Night Patrol has many issues, it remains the greatest protector of ordinary people.

So, the Night Patrol, including the Demon Hunting Squad, actually hoped to set the battle site in the outskirts, not in the city.

A battle between superhumans could easily cause massive casualties among ordinary people.

Tianwang Mountain...

Li Hao thought for a moment. The Demon Hunting Squad's chosen location wasn't there, though it was also in the outskirts. The Demon Hunting Squad relied more on thermal weapons, so they needed a plain, not a mountain, where it's hard to plant explosives.

"Let's see!"

Li Hao didn't rush to refuse and decided to ask Liu Long and the others.

Wang Ming wanted to say more, but seeing Li Hao focus on his work, he didn't push further.

He was a bit anxious inside.

Li Hao couldn't stay in the city all the time!

This guy was the next target. A high-ranking Night Patrol member had come to Yincheng, showing significant importance to the Eight Families. Wang Ming didn't know much, but he had some vague understanding.

The Eight Families of Yincheng were previously overlooked, but something seemed to be happening in the superhuman realm, possibly related to these unknown Eight Families.

So, this time, the high-ranking Night Patrol member came to solve problems and also to see what the Li family's sword was like.

Of course, he knew Li Hao was working with the Demon Hunting Squad.

After some consideration, maybe Li Hao had to follow the Demon Hunting Squad's arrangements. In that case, the high-ranking person would have to decide how to proceed.

...

The confidential room was quiet in the morning.

Apart from the discussion about Li Hao's banner, everyone soon returned to their usual activities, chatting, drinking tea, and reading newspapers. No one cared about Zhou He and the other person's whereabouts.

Everyone assumed they had left after delivering the banner.

Who would stay, waiting for the Inspection Bureau to treat them to a meal?

...

At the same time.

Outside the Inspection Bureau.

An old man casually walked past the bureau's entrance, heading forward. After a while, a black car stopped nearby.

Yin 7219.

The old man glanced at the car as if unintentionally.

He soon left naturally.

No one in the car!

The car had been parked there for hours.

After a while, the old man entered a small alley. During working hours, few people were out, and the alley was quiet.

As he walked, he slowly said, "They're not there. No news after entering."

A moment later, a cold male voice came from the earpiece hidden in his ear: "Come back first! Zhou He wouldn't rush in, and after entering, he seemed to disappear... The Inspection Bureau hasn't received any intelligence! Clearly, they either fled or were... secretly captured, possibly by the Demon Hunting Squad!"

Not the Enforcement Team.

Otherwise, there would be some news.

As for why Zhou He went in... it was said to deliver a banner to Li Hao... What a mess!

Is it related to Li Hao?

Probably not!

According to the intelligence, Li Hao was happily showing off the banner, back in the confidential room.

A new inspector, if Zhou He's capture was related to him, he wouldn't have the nerve to show off the banner. So, they immediately ruled out any connection to Li Hao.

It was likely that Liu Long and the others discovered them and secretly captured Zhou He and the others.

"Stupid Zhou He!"

The old man heard another curse in his ear.

Cursing Zhou He for being stupid!

What were you doing?

Going to deliver a banner to Li Hao... Isn't that like a lamb entering a tiger's den?

Do you really think Liu Long and the others wouldn't act?

"Whatever, if they were captured, so be it... Those two didn't know much, but it's a pity... Zhou He, if he had completed this mission, would have been recalled for the energy induction ceremony, with a good chance of becoming a superhuman!"

A Level 10 Martial Artist is highly valued by major superhuman organizations.

This mission for Zhou He wasn't difficult, just to earn some merit. After earning merit, he would have enough credit and reason to undergo the induction, becoming a superhuman with a good chance of reaching the Moon Shadow level.

Now, everything is in vain!

It's Zhou He's own fault.

The old man didn't respond, walking faster and gradually disappearing into the alley.

Since it was confirmed that Zhou He was captured, he didn't need to do anything more.

...

Inspection Bureau.

Even though Li Hao was about to be transferred, he still completed his tasks diligently.

In the afternoon, after finishing his work, the phone on his desk rang.

It was Liu Yan, asking him to go to the Enforcement Team.

Li Hao told Chen Na and Wang Ming, leaving under Chen Na's envious gaze and Wang Ming's curious look, heading to the Enforcement Team.

In the basement.

The blood had been cleaned up.

Zhou He and the woman surnamed Yuan were nowhere to be seen, dead or alive.

Li Hao didn't care.

Sometimes, Li Hao was quite indifferent to life and death. Being alone, with friends and parents dead, and having seen countless cases, he knew no one could escape death.

Seeing so much, he became desensitized.

There was a small meeting room in the basement.

Liu Long and Liu Yan were there, while others were absent.

When Li Hao entered, Liu Long gestured for him to sit.

Li Hao obediently sat down.

Liu Yan, who was beside him, looked at Li Hao with a strange expression, "Did you think of anything disgusting when you returned to work?"

"..."

Li Hao looked puzzled, what disgusting thing?

Liu Yan had to explain, "Aren't you scared?"

"Huh?"

Li Hao was genuinely confused, scared?

Why?

Isn't it over?

Why be scared?

Liu Yan, seeing his expression, felt exhausted and helpless. This guy was really abnormal.

He actually went back to work as if nothing happened!

For the first real combat, who wouldn't savor it for a long time!

Whether you won or lost, whether you killed or not, even if you didn't see blood, it was worth savoring!

But... Li Hao?

He really went back to work, as if it was over.

"Xiaohao, didn't you think about it at all?"

Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "I did, Sister. I'm not heartless. When I returned, I thought about whether Zhou He, a Level 10 Martial Artist, had any martial arts manuals or mysterious abilities. And if a Martial Artist dies, can their mysterious abilities be extracted like a superhuman's? Even if not, can their internal energy be extracted?"

Damn!

Liu Yan realized this kid was really abnormal!

She couldn't help but whisper, "Pervert! Cold-blooded guy!"

"..."

Li Hao felt innocent!

What's wrong?

In his view, the Demon Hunting Squad was the abnormal ones.

Isn't this what a normal person would think?

Killing and arson, after killing a Level 10 Martial Artist, asking if there are any benefits, is this a problem?

Liu Long was speechless, interrupting their conversation, "Enough! Let's not talk about this! I'll share some intelligence I just obtained. Li Hao, you were involved, so you're here to listen!"

Li Hao nodded obediently.

"The Zhou He you killed..."

Li Hao raised his hand like a student, quickly objecting, "I didn't kill him!"

"..."

Liu Long coldly said, "You shattered his foot, pierced his chest, crushed his kidney, and broke his spleen. If not for the stronger vitality of a Martial Artist, he would have died on the spot! Even so, he couldn't be saved later!"

So, Zhou He really died.

Li Hao was stunned for a moment but quickly regained his composure, saying nothing.

Dead is dead.

He didn't kill him directly. Zhou He died during interrogation, not in front of him, so Li Hao pretended not to know.

His first action killed a Level 10 Martial Artist.

Li Hao was somewhat concerned, but... thinking the other was a criminal, he felt justified. As an inspector, punishing evil and promoting good, killing criminals is encouraged during training!

If a criminal resists and poses a threat, the Inspection Bureau suggests killing them directly!

Since that's the case... there's nothing to say.

Liu Long didn't care about his thoughts and continued, "Zhou He, 40 years old, a Martial Artist from Yaoguang City!"

Yaoguang City, the second-largest city in Yinyue Province, with a population of ten million, ten times more prosperous than Yincheng!

"Started martial arts at 21, apprenticed to a Level 100 Martial Artist in Yaoguang City... His teacher died ten years ago, and Zhou He reached Level 10 at 32, with no progress in the following eight years!"

"A year ago, Zhou He joined an organization related to superhumans, called Ghost Face. The leader of Ghost Face is a Level 100 Martial Artist, not a superhuman. Zhou He and Yuan Xiao are members of this organization!"

A superhuman-affiliated organization?

Li Hao thought for a moment, and Liu Long continued, "There are many superhuman organizations, but having a Level 100 Martial Artist set up a peripheral organization and recruit many Level 10 Martial Artists... such a superhuman organization... is definitely not weak!"

"You need to understand, no profit, no early rise! For Martial Artists, unless they advance, it's hard to buy them. Getting them to serve loyally is even harder. But this organization provides a lot of mysterious energy to these Level 10 Martial Artists. If they can't break through to become superhumans, they can advance to Level 100... Even the Night Patrol doesn't misuse mysterious energy!"

Li Hao frowned, "Boss, you mean this organization is wealthy, possibly large and very strong?"

"Yes."

Liu Long nodded, looking at Li Hao, and continued, "Also, just a peripheral organization has a Level 100 Martial Artist... In this era, Level 100 Martial Artists are not too common, though more in Yaoguang City. A Level 100 Martial Artist is a rare martial arts expert. It's not easy for them to serve loyally."

Li Hao nodded again.

Liu Long continued, "According to Zhou He's confession, his and Yuan Xiao's task was just to follow you, not letting you leave Yincheng. The task was simple, not a key role!"

Li Hao nodded again.

Liu Long suddenly said, "There's a problem here, can you hear it?"

What problem?

Li Hao thought for a moment, analyzing, and said softly, "Boss, you mean this organization is strong, so the people they send are strong... We already guessed this, it's not the key..."

Looking at Liu Long, he seemed to realize something, and Li Hao's eyes moved, "They have a peripheral organization, meaning they're not just a superhuman organization, and they don't have that condescending attitude towards ordinary people! Also, a Level 100 Martial Artist, if in a local area, is usually not too poor or low in status, or like Boss, is a head of the Inspection Bureau... Thermal weapons?"

He suddenly thought of this!

Liu Long and his team rely partly on thermal weapons to continuously kill superhumans.

So, this organization might also have thermal weapons?

Liu Long nodded, "More than that! Their Martial Artists might have been to the Night Patrol, thermal weapons are one part, second, they might have all the intelligence on our Demon Hunting Squad! So, in their eyes, we have almost no secrets!"

Liu Yan added, "Third, in the ordinary world, an organization with good intelligence might consider your teacher Yuan Shuo! Including the two Night Patrol members in Yincheng, two Moon Shadow level Night Patrol members, they are likely in their plans!"

Liu Yan also looked serious, "In that case, with their caution and over a decade of planning, they would at least arrange for two Level 100 and two Moon Shadow level attack capabilities! Including us... they would prepare at least five Moon Shadow and Level 100 level experts to deal with you!"

This exceeded their capabilities.

Liu Yan added, "If a Sunlight level superhuman comes, it would be better. The fear is that most are Moon Shadow and Level 100, and a Sunlight level expert, though strong in single combat... can do limited things. We're worried they will divide their forces on the day of the attack! Using some to hold us back, then dealing with you separately!"

Li Hao didn't speak, this was indeed troublesome.