Inside the municipal administrative building where the special investigation team was based, a storage room had been repurposed into a temporary interrogation room.
Lu Zhao walked out and instructed one of the team members, "He's a murderer, but not the man we're looking for. Notify the police and have them come pick him up."
"Yes, sir."
The team member hurried off.
Lu Zhao entered Lin Zhiyan's office to give his report.
The rich aroma of coffee hung thick in the air.
Lin Zhiyan sat upright behind the desk with her hands clasped together, her brows carrying their habitual pride.
She was not in the least surprised that the lead had been wrong. "If the robbers were so easy to catch, I wouldn't have needed to bring you here from the start, Senior."
Lin Zhiyan gestured for Lu Zhao to take a seat on the sofa, and her adjutant, Xu Fang, poured him a cup of coffee.
"This isn't contraband. You can drink it, right?"
Due to the demanding conditions required to grow coffee, it was a rationed good. Only units with superior standing were allocated a quota—agencies handling legal affairs, personnel, or taxation, for example.
Lu Zhao did not care for coffee. In this life, back when he had access to it, he hadn't yet become an overworked cog in the machine; now that he actually needed something to keep going, production had already been slashed.
By comparison, he was glad tea production hadn't been cut. Instead, it had become the sole ubiquitous stimulant. Tea was far less demanding to cultivate, didn't compete with staple crops for arable land, and carried cultural prestige.
He took a sip, and the bitter taste made his brows knit at once.
Setting the cup down, Lu Zhao decided against taking a second.
"If you prefer it sweet, Senior, I have milk here."
"No need."
"Then let's get down to business."
Lin Zhiyan crossed her legs and smiled faintly. "Do you have any idea how much effort it took me to dig you out? First Lü Jinshan, then the city executive, then people at the prefecture level, and perhaps even higher up in the circuit.
"You're just a minor junior officer, yet the moment I touched you, all of them leapt up as if they were terrified of you, Senior."
Lu Zhao replied, "They aren't afraid of me. They're just afraid the black caps on their heads will tumble off."
"It has been that way since ancient times. An official's cap is worth more than his head."
Lin Zhiyan took a sip of her coffee before veering onto another topic. "Two years ago, Dijing University and Chishui began factoring in academic scores, requiring at least six hundred points for admission.
"The Federation has no shortage of talent. Ever since the education reforms supplied life supplements, more and more people meet the life-force threshold. How many points did you score in your academic coursework back then, Senior?"
"Seven hundred and ten," Lu Zhao replied.
"Then even today, you would still be admitted to Dijing University." Lin Zhiyan laid her cards on the table. "Yet society is different. Your competition isn't divided by age group. If you want to achieve higher standing, you need certain means."
"Such as?" Lu Zhao asked, feigning ignorance.
"Such as me. I can make sure you rise steadily, step by step."
Lin Zhiyan pressed a hand to her chest, the pride between her brows unmistakable. Her striking eyes held an aggressive glint, as if she had him completely cornered.
Unlike Chen Qian's petty arrogance, Lin Zhiyan's pride was open and direct. She had no need to step on others just to flaunt her authority.
"I can sever the Chen family's influence over you and guarantee smooth sailing for your future career. In exchange, all you have to do is follow my lead."
Standing to the side, the adjutant, Xu Fang, could not help but wear a look of envy.
This was the Cangwu Lin family. Even if their influence had waned in recent years, the prestige of their forebears still endured. As a legitimate daughter of the Lin family, Lin Zhiyan enjoyed the patronage of numerous prominent figures.
She could easily get in touch with Liu Hanwen, the Martial Marquis and paramount leader of the entire circuit.
Latching onto a noble lady like her was an extraordinary opportunity.
Looking at Lu Zhao's impossibly handsome features, Xu Fang let her thoughts wander even further.
*Perhaps he could even marry into the Lin family one day.*
Lu Zhao remained composed, gazing quietly at Lin Zhiyan. Ten seconds passed in total silence, and the smile on her face gradually faded.
*She just wants to take me on as a lapdog. Teacher, your assessment wasn't quite accurate on this one.*
"That does not conform to regulations," he said.
Lin Zhiyan frowned. "What regulations?"
"The special investigation team only has temporary authority to mobilize local municipal units," Lu Zhao replied. "It has no direct command over border defense, nor are you my direct superior.
"Therefore, it is against regulations."
Lin Zhiyan's expression darkened. "Do you think the Chen family follows regulations?"
She had anticipated that Lu Zhao might refuse; she had grasped his character after yesterday's meal.
Even so, Lin Zhiyan still wanted him to submit. Taming someone like him was the only way to find any satisfaction in it.
"Nor do they," Lu Zhao said, shaking his head. "But their failure to follow regulations doesn't mean I should break them as well."
He stood up and put his cap back on.
"I obey only the Federation's command. If Team Leader Lin has any assignment, please issue a formal written mission order, and I will execute it to the letter."
With that, he turned and left the office.
He left behind a grim-faced Lin Zhiyan and a thoroughly bewildered Xu Fang.
The adjutant offered an awkward remark. "Staff Officer Lu is certainly an unusual man."
Lin Zhiyan felt irritated, yet powerless. "Xu Fang, submit an application to the General Security Bureau for a special operation. I want to mobilize the Mayiling border defense station to blockade the Foreign District."
In truth, she knew how to handle someone like Lu Zhao. But she had never wanted a fleeting cooperation built purely on procedure—she wanted a long-term, convenient chain of command with Lu Zhao at her beck and call.
***
On June 20, Lin Zhiyan invited Lu Zhao out for dinner once again.
It was another upscale restaurant. Because it wasn't located in the Foreign District, the establishment didn't dare serve illicit food.
Lu Zhao had offered to treat her, but the young mistress of the Lin family turned her nose up at roadside eateries and insisted on dining at a luxury venue.
Since she was so headstrong, there was no reason for him to strain his wallet to keep up appearances.
Lin Zhiyan produced a little blue booklet and slid it toward Lu Zhao.
"This is a temporary transit pass from the General Security Bureau. For the next three months, you may lead troops in and out of Fangshi. With this pass, you are exempt from inspections and do not need to report to municipal departments.
"This will make it far more convenient for you to enter and leave Fangshi. You won't have to check in with the Special Counter-Terrorism Detachment every single time."
Lu Zhao took the transit pass, verifying that it was properly stamped by the General Security Bureau.
"Can the General Security Bureau really issue a mission directive of this level?" he asked.
Border defense units were not part of the regular military, but they were still armed military police. Under normal circumstances, they could not leave their jurisdiction at will.
Previously, whenever the border defense station's squad entered the city for an operation, they had to be attached under the name of the Special Counter-Terrorism Detachment, subject to Wang Tong's command, and Lu Zhao's men hadn't even been allowed to carry weapons.
With this pass, the border defense station gained operational independence.
Lin Zhiyan explained, "Before the Cataclysm, this required special approval from the Hall of Martial Virtue. Eight years ago, Circuit Politics Bureaus were granted authority to mobilize armed forces within their circuits. Five years ago, command over armed police was devolved to the prefecture level.
"The Special Counter-Terrorism Detachment, for instance, answers directly to the city executive."
The Federation's authority had been progressively devolving down the chain. That was the broader trend; local authorities required sufficient autonomy to keep the situation stable.
Lu Zhao remained noncommittal. "Can we carry weapons into the city?"
"You may carry handguns," Lin Zhiyan replied. "Heavier firepower is only permitted under emergency circumstances."
Chapter 61