Chapter 5

It was six o'clock in the afternoon.

It was time for the inspectors to finish work. As Li Hao was not a frontline law enforcement officer, he naturally clocked out on time.

On most days, Li Hao would have left long ago.

But today, Li Hao didn't rush to leave.

In the office of the section chief.

Wang Jie glanced at Li Hao and said in a serious tone, "You said you want to go to Zhang Yuan's house and take a look?"

"Yes."

"You and he are classmates. Now that the case might be a murder, it's not impossible for you to investigate, but... for a confidential room officer to apply for a firearm to take home, that's a bit troublesome."

Indeed, Li Hao had come to apply for a firearm.

He needed Wang Jie's approval to carry a gun home.

Although the red shadow was strange and a firearm might not be useful, the red shadow might not appear now. In that case, Li Hao should be more cautious about people.

If it was a person, the firearm would have significant lethal power.

"Chief, it's not for taking home, it's for the investigation!"

Li Hao corrected him.

Wang Jie smiled. Taking a gun home and using it for an investigation were two different things. This kid, a student of Yincheng Ancient Academy, had changed the nature of the request with just one sentence.

"Our confidential room is not the enforcement team."

Wang Jie shook his head, and Li Hao felt a bit disappointed.

He hadn't thought of a good way to deal with the red shadow yet, because he didn't know much about it. But if he had a gun in hand, it would at least give him some sense of security.

"The Zhang Yuan case has only been communicated with the enforcement team so far, and it hasn't been officially filed. You can't apply for a firearm based on this."

After saying this, Wang Jie thought for a moment and quickly said, "Here's what we can do. Yincheng Ancient Academy will soon have an external inspection, and the inspection bureau will send some people to provide protection. You can fill out the form and apply to participate. This way, you'll have a mission, and as a protection officer, you'll be qualified to carry a gun."

Li Hao was taken aback and soon felt a bit helpless.

After all the twists and turns, it seemed this mission was still on his head?

In the morning, Chen Na had mentioned this, and Li Hao had refused.

This time, it was said that his mentor would lead the team from Yincheng Ancient Academy. If he took on this mission, he would soon see his teacher again?

Seeing his silence, Wang Jie sighed and said, "What's wrong? Afraid of being beaten by Old Yuan? I heard you didn't part ways well when you dropped out. Xiao Hao, since you've joined the inspection bureau, you should find a chance to improve your relationship. After all, he's your teacher."

"If Old Yuan helps you, your future in the inspection bureau will be brighter. But if everyone knows that Old Yuan doesn't like you, even though he doesn't manage the inspection bureau, others will consider whether it's worth it to go against Old Yuan for a third-level inspector like you."

Wang Jie had put in a lot of effort. He didn't know the specifics, but he had heard that Li Hao had a falling out with his mentor when he dropped out.

Old Yuan might not be able to influence promotions in the inspection bureau, but the Yincheng inspection bureau would still give him some face.

"Wanting a firearm, this is the best way, and it can also ease the tension with your teacher, a win-win situation..."

He wanted to persuade Li Hao more because he saw great potential in him.

But before he could say much, he heard Li Hao nod and say, "Okay!"

The words stuck in his throat!

Wang Jie looked at Li Hao strangely. Wasn't this kid known for being kind but a bit stubborn?

Why did he agree so readily today?

Li Hao showed an honest but helpless smile, "Chief, what people say outside isn't necessarily true. My relationship with my teacher isn't that exaggerated. When I dropped out, my teacher was a bit dissatisfied, but it's been a year, and he's let it go. He even encouraged me to work hard in the inspection bureau the other day."

"That's good, that's good!"

Wang Jie nodded, satisfied. Although he didn't know if it was true, Li Hao seemed honest enough.

"Then fill out the form. In a few days, you'll have an external mission, accompanying the enforcement team to protect the inspection team from Yincheng Ancient Academy."

Li Hao took the form and glanced at it. The inspection team's departure date was set for the end of the month.

However, the specific destination was not written, only that the accompanying personnel should be on standby.

This was to prevent information leaks. The ancient academy had a high status and significant value. The inspection team, especially one led by his teacher, would likely face a challenging mission.

He wondered if it would conflict with the red shadow.

With his teacher traveling, there was a high chance that the night patrol would follow. If the red shadow acted then, it might be a good thing.

After a moment's thought, Li Hao quickly filled out the form.

"Go to the equipment warehouse and collect your gear!"

Wang Jie put away the form.

Li Hao didn't leave immediately. He hesitated for a moment and cautiously asked, "Chief, the Zhang Yuan case... it's a bit... strange. Do you think it might involve some unusual forces? Can our inspection bureau really handle it?"

"Hmm?"

Wang Jie quickly looked at Li Hao, his eyes flickering, and frowned, "What have you heard?"

"Nothing, nothing."

Li Hao felt a bit awkward, as if he couldn't hold back, and said dryly, "I'm worried that the enforcement team might... alert the suspect or have an accident. I heard... our inspection bureau... has another organization?"

"Enough!"

Wang Jie frowned, "Be careful with your words! I know you might have heard some rumors, but this isn't something we should discuss! And one more thing, don't think about it. Honestly, if it really comes to that, it will be even more troublesome! Every time they come, it's a mess!"

He didn't want to say more and didn't want to talk about the night patrol.

Their arrival was never a good thing.

Once the night patrol was involved, it would be very troublesome, and their arrival often brought significant problems.

So unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want any involvement with the night patrol.

The enforcement team probably didn't want them involved either.

Of course, if it came to the worst, the night patrol would naturally appear, and it wouldn't be up to the inspection bureau to decide.

Li Hao nodded and finally reminded, "Chief, I've observed the times of the self-immolation cases. They always happen on rainy days. Yincheng is about to enter the rainy season, and it's almost a year since the last case. Based on the previous timeline, I suspect that if it's a murder, it might happen soon!"

Wang Jie took this seriously.

He had just taken over the case and hadn't delved into the details, so he didn't know as much as Li Hao.

Hearing this, Wang Jie was silent for a moment and nodded, "I'll talk to the enforcement team. Be careful yourself. When you check Zhang Yuan's house, be cautious. Do you need additional personnel?"

"No!"

Li Hao shook his head. It wasn't that he was courting death; if he encountered the red shadow, ordinary people wouldn't see it and would be useless.

If he didn't encounter the red shadow, he had a gun and some other arrangements, so it wouldn't be a big problem.

Besides, most of the confidential room were clerical staff. If they encountered trouble, who would protect whom was a question.

"Be careful. Although a year has passed, I don't think there's much danger."

Wang Jie waved his hand, dismissing Li Hao.

...

Li Hao quickly left the office, breathing a sigh of relief.

Wang Jie was very considerate.

He walked to the equipment warehouse, holding Wang Jie's approval, and soon received a deep black pistol with a metallic feel.

The Vortex III, effective range 50 meters, with no accuracy beyond 50 meters.

It was said that some major cities had started using the Vortex IV, with an effective range of 100 meters. However, Yincheng wasn't a major city, so it hadn't been widely adopted yet. Even the frontline enforcement team was still using the Vortex III.

The issued ammunition was 18 rounds, loaded 6 at a time, and could be fired in bursts, making it a very intimidating weapon.

Before joining the inspection bureau, Li Hao had undergone a month of temporary training, including shooting, so he knew how to use it.

But he hadn't used it for a long time since he had been in the confidential room.

Wearing a weapon, Li Hao felt more confident.

But he wondered if it could harm the red shadow. Others couldn't see it, but he could. If he shot at it, would it be effective?

"From Chief Wang's reaction, the enforcement team probably doesn't want to involve the night patrol. But time is running out. Can they handle the red shadow without the night patrol?"

"If I say I can see the red shadow..."

This thought flashed through Li Hao's mind.

But he also remembered the case files, where some people who could see the red shadow eventually disappeared.

Dead, or what?

Those who saw the red shadow, such cases, the night patrol might have been involved, but the people all disappeared or died.

Li Hao didn't know if they were dead or absorbed into the night patrol.

This uncertainty made Li Hao struggle.

If the night patrol could solve the red shadow and was willing to, then exposing himself would be worth it. But he feared...

Was there any collusion between the night patrol and the red shadow?

If he exposed himself prematurely, would the night patrol solve the red shadow or solve him?

"Mysterious forces... the night patrol might be one, and the red shadow is likely another. Are they allies or enemies?"

Li Hao couldn't judge; he lacked the channels to gather this information.

If they were allies, and those who discovered the red shadow were silenced, that would be Li Hao's greatest concern.

Headache!

At this moment, Li Hao was very conflicted.

He wanted the night patrol to solve the red shadow, to avenge Zhang Yuan and his parents, but he also feared that it might backfire, exposing himself and leading to his own demise.

"Let's wait a few more days..."

Li Hao knew he was in danger, but even so, he preferred to wait a few more days for the enforcement team's results and attitude.

Currently, he had only accidentally discovered the anomaly in the self-immolation case. He believed that if the enforcement team took it seriously, they would soon discover it too.

If there were any astute people in the enforcement team, Li Hao thought they might contact the night patrol in advance.

Just now, Li Hao had hinted that the self-immolation case might happen soon, to make the enforcement team feel the urgency. If the enforcement team could lead to the night patrol, Li Hao wouldn't need to expose his ability to see the red shadow.

"Besides, my teacher will soon lead a team on an inspection. This means the night patrol will likely appear, regardless of whether there are any in Yincheng. In the next few days, the night patrol should arrive."

After considering everything, Li Hao decided to put aside the idea of exposing himself.

Whether they were allies or enemies, he would soon find out.

Before the rainy season, if the night patrol hadn't appeared or contacted him...

...

Leaving the inspection bureau.

The sun had set, and the sky was tinged with red, with the evening glow appearing.

There weren't many people outside; the weather was stifling, and even at 8 or 9 PM, it was extremely hot, so few people were out.

Li Hao's home wasn't far from the inspection bureau, about 7-8 kilometers.

He took out his bicycle and got on. He had been cycling to work for the past year.

Partly for exercise, partly to avoid danger.

Crowded places made it harder to detect danger.

After Zhang Yuan's death, Li Hao had been very cautious.

Riding his bike, Li Hao casually looked around, pretending to check the road and scenery, but actually looking for anyone following him.

Especially today, he had determined that the red shadow's next target was him.

Li Hao was thinking about how the red shadow located them.

Based on his judgment, the red shadow didn't appear for long and would quickly disappear, staying outside for a short time. So how could it accurately locate them?

Did it mean that someone was secretly observing them in advance, just waiting for the red shadow to come and kill?

This possibility wasn't out of the question.

Despite not being a professional inspector, Li Hao still had some basic counter-surveillance skills.

"Nothing suspicious so far. Can the red shadow directly locate us? Is it related to the Starry Sword I carry? Can it track us through these inherited treasures?"

The bicycle moved slowly, and the Vortex III was in Li Hao's inner pocket, the button undone, seemingly to catch the wind, but actually to draw the gun quickly.

As usual, Li Hao didn't notice anything unusual.

But when Li Hao reached a downhill section, and the bicycle sped down, his heart skipped a beat.

On the fast-moving bicycle, Li Hao caught a glimpse of a black car coming from the opposite lane, very ordinary and common, no different from the other vehicles.

"Silver 7219!"

Li Hao's heart raced. Something was wrong.

He had seen this car before. Although there were many such cars on the street, this one was basic and common, but... Li Hao remembered the license plate!

Li Hao, who could enter Yincheng Ancient Academy, naturally had his strengths.

A good memory was almost a must.

If he didn't have any strengths, he wouldn't have been noticed by Professor Yuan Shuo and quickly become his student.

"Something's off. This car was following me in the same direction. I was cycling slowly, and this car had already passed me and driven away, about 7 minutes ago!"

In 7 minutes, at this car's speed, it would have driven straight ahead with no suitable place to stop.

If it had stopped to do something or drop someone off, it wouldn't have returned so quickly.

Now it had returned, facing Li Hao, indicating that it had turned around shortly after leaving him.

Li Hao remained calm, but his heart was racing.

"Never before, today is the first time... Is someone really following me?"

"Why?"

Soon, Li Hao thought of a possibility. The case he had reported to Wang Jie... might have... leaked!

"There's a mole in the inspection bureau!"

"Probably in the enforcement team!"

This was Li Hao's first thought, and his heart sank. Although it might be a coincidence, Li Hao didn't dare to treat it as such.

Any coincidence should be treated as intentional.

"Chief Wang went to the enforcement team and told them about the self-immolation case. If someone in the enforcement team knows I proposed reopening the case, they might be watching me! If the enforcement team has issues, they can just ask me directly, no need to follow me, because I'm just paying extra attention to the case because it involves my classmate..."

"Also, every time someone reported seeing the red shadow, they were soon found... I've long suspected there's a mole in the inspection bureau, either the red shadow or the night patrol!"

Li Hao had seen the case files. Those who reported seeing the red shadow soon died or disappeared.

Of course, it was hard to notice unless you paid attention.

Many inspectors treated such cases casually, just recording them without follow-up, considering them absurd.

But someone had noticed.

What did it mean?

It meant that someone in the inspection bureau was paying extra attention. Whenever someone reported, it quickly reached the ears of others.

"Am I being watched now?"

"Is it because I proposed reopening the self-immolation case, and they want to confirm if I saw the red shadow or just discovered it by chance?"

"Last year, when Xiao Yuan died, I didn't dare say I saw the red shadow. If they know, they probably think I discovered it by chance, not because I can see the red shadow, otherwise, I would have reported it last year!"

In a short moment, Li Hao thought of many things and analyzed them.

He was a third-level inspector and had just discovered the anomaly in the self-immolation case. Li Hao guessed that even if someone was colluding with the red shadow, they wouldn't harm him now, as it would confirm the case's anomaly and cause more trouble.

"Getting more interesting!"

Li Hao coldly snorted in his heart, showing no signs of any abnormality, and continued cycling.

The car he had noticed soon disappeared.

...

Silver 7219.

In the car