In the end, Li Xin decided to abandon that low-cost food article, and instead, honestly focus on writing more about his Duke of Utopia Mountain. Concentrated, Li Xin saw that owl again, holding a letter in its mouth, impatiently tapping at the window.

Li Xin opened the window, took the letter, “Next time, can you tap lightly? If you break it, you’ll have to pay for it.”

The owl looked at him with ridicule in its eyes, flapped its wings a few times, and flew away, leaving behind a splash of droppings, completely ignoring Li Xin, the piece of onion.

It was a summons from Night Patrol. Li Xin put away his typewriter, changed his clothes, and when heading downstairs, bumped into Dragon Mother, “Master Ah Xin, heading to the Bird Report?”

“Yes, Dragon Mother, you’re looking full of joy today.”

“You’re the only one in the whole Li Long who uses your eyes well. Be careful when you go out, that organ harvester is making people panic; you can’t be careless even in broad daylight, especially someone as sturdy as you.” Dragon Mother said and gave a pat.

Li Xin reached the door, waiting for his convertible, probably it’s about the organ harvester. Hedan Daily was thrilled, as their sales soared to record-breaking levels and dominate the market, but the pressure directly transferred to Council Hall and Funeral Attendant, even the Church Court felt the pressure. People’s insecurity spreads and infects others.

Secret incidents which caused big disasters are plenty, and many more horrifying, but the effect is nowhere near what the newspaper reports achieved. Coupled with idle chatter over tea and meals, things get exaggerated, and various versions spread wildly. At this time, even Hedan Daily themselves realized the issue was getting huge, but they had their strategy; reports are their job, but the newspaper is not responsible for solving cases.

If it’s a security case, it’s handled by the Council Hall City Guard. If it’s a secret incident, it’s the Funeral Attendant, with clear responsibilities. Here in fair Hedan, no one can hope to muddle through.

Pressure fell on Funeral Attendant, making their days tough, and everyone else won’t have it easy either, requiring journalists to provide information and some departments to collaborate on operations. The matter had already alarmed the King, who issued strict orders for Funeral Attendant to find the real culprit within a week.

This had clearly been categorized as a secret incident.

In the Night Patrol’s meeting room, President Ma Zhe and Christie were present, since Christie also handles coordination with Funeral Attendant. Everyone is aware of her role, but colleagues for so many years, they have always gotten along well, and no one would foolishly point it out.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the King has issued strict orders, demanding the case be solved within a week. If we solve the case, or provide key clues, Hex Bird Report will receive the highest publication rights. This is our chance for Hex Bird Report to establish a foothold. The proposals everyone submitted earlier seem feasible. Spread the manpower, and for the next week, we won’t take breaks. Capture this case, and it’s a great achievement for everyone!” Christie said.

Ma Zhe coughed a few times, “It’s time to demonstrate our strength, and also prepare for Night Patrol’s future endeavors. Our Bird Report and Night Patrol have two important positions vacant: one is Bird Report’s Editor-in-Chief, and the other is Night Patrol’s Action Team Captain. If someone from Bird Report achieves merit during this case, the position of Editor-in-Chief beckons. The Action Team Captain wasn’t set before because it was inconvenient in Hedan, to avoid misunderstandings with friends. Now, upon Funeral Attendant’s request, our Action Team can also be established. This is a challenge and an opportunity. Whoever can solve this case will become the Action Team Captain!”

Everyone’s eyes lit up. This level was elevated, and the salary brought by the position wasn’t much, but the rights and future advancement space behind it were different. After all, Ma Zhe couldn’t stay away from Dragon Capital to report forever; the succession has to be talked about. This Action Team Captain position is very valuable.

“President, you’re not joking, are you? If an ordinary member achieves great merit, will it end without any outcome, or will someone steal the credit?” said Old Wu, the captain of Team Three, who’s been around a long time, arriving in Hedan even earlier than Ma Zhe.

His interest isn’t exactly in the drink; it’s about how to distribute credit and who to decide. If vague, does it get assigned to the president, or directly arranged for Christie.

This is also the concern of several other Night Patrol core members.

Ma Zhe looked sharply at everyone, patted the table, “The capable occupy the Action Team Captain position. Whoever achieves the first merit will follow them, regardless of who among you, even a newcomer like Li Xin can. Night Patrol has always valued heroes based on ability!”

Li Xin touched his nose; he just entered the room and they talked about him. Could it be the damn owl always delivers to him last, making him late every time?

Everyone applauded after hearing Ma Zhe put it that way. Clearly, Ma Zhe’s grasp of Night Patrol is not the same as Luo Jin’s; environment issues play a part. Compared to Night Patrol, this place feels more like a scheming club.

Li Xin arrived not long before, and the meeting was adjourned. No one paid attention to him. If he wasn’t formally with Night Patrol, he wouldn’t have been called. Ma Zhe’s mood wasn’t good either; Bird Report’s days used to be smooth, and these guys were obedient, but now they’ve grown wings and started scheming.

Old man is unreliable; sisters are better. After the meeting, Christie escorted Li Xin to the office amid everyone’s ambiguous glances, but Li Xin didn’t mind this.

“The King issued a death order to find the murderer within a week. Funeral Attendant is under great pressure and knows our Night Patrol’s strong capabilities in this area, especially at night. They want our help. If completed, it will reverse Bird Report’s adverse situation.” Christie still habitually brewed tea for Li Xin, “I heard you have a knack for solving cases, copied a dossier from Funeral Attendant, maybe not so detailed, take a look first.”

Li Xin smiled, “Learned a few things from Uncle Luo. These secret cases mostly require a bit of luck.”

Li Xin picked up the dossier and started flipping through it. Christie smiled slightly, “Luo Jin in Night Patrol is also considered unconventional, quite unfortunate.”

“Sister knows Uncle Luo well?”

“Heard the President mention it,” Christie said, “A similar case started five years ago, has records at Funeral Attendant. Then there was a calm period for over three years, and it reemerged last year. The initial methods were consistent with five years ago, while the recent half year’s occurrences were quite chaotic.”

Christie spoke, and Li Xin didn’t respond, seriously looking through the dossier, spending over an hour on it, drank two pots of tea too. Christie obtained a dossier that wasn’t first-hand and detailed. Much of the information was missing, thinking Funeral Attendant wouldn’t give first-hand information to outsiders. Most of it is to utilize Night Patrol’s Moon God power to offer more assistance at night. If Night Patrol actually solved the case, it wouldn’t look good for them.

Through the information at hand, Li Xin quickly imaged in his mind. A skilled criminal has a distinctive style, might even take pride in such a style, possibly provoking Funeral Attendant intentionally. This is the perpetrator’s amusement.

Five years ago, the methods followed a route, and parts of the recent events were consistent, showing sophisticated techniques. The level of organ harvesting was akin to surgical expertise. Li Xin didn’t know if the area’s medical level had such capabilities, asked Christie.

Christie thought for a moment, “Funeral Attendant also has such suspicions. They’ve investigated famous doctors, even those skilled in dissection, but they can’t do it this cleanly. So it’s speculated more likely to be a secret organization. Without certain capabilities support, it’s impossible.”

Li Xin nodded. In fact, those dealing with secret cases aren’t foolish. Instead, they better understand secret powers and have relevant experience. The delay of the case indicates the opponent’s extraordinary skills.

Recently, over the past half year, the cases have differences. Methods were crude, heart extraction occurred, but messy. The main goal should be rape, the target a girl, likely hiding the real intent; there have been several such cases, methods are brutal, the perpetrator has strong tendencies for abuse, extracting only after achieving the goal and killing the target.

Half a year ago, some heart losses showed traces of Fallen. Abyssal Fallen mimicked organ harvester, since the Celestial Capital incident, Li Xin felt such matters were inevitable; even the Church uses them, secret organizations definitely won’t miss it. Enduring bloodthirsty addiction is extremely painful, any addiction is long-term torture, relapse is unavoidable.

Aside from that, some cases were completely without rules, seemed improvised, even imitating.

“Currently, four types of people are committing crimes. The first is the original organ harvester; the second is the addicted Abyssal Fallen; the third a purely opportunistic perverse rapist killer; the fourth some petty criminals crudely disguised as organ harvester.”

“Could it be that the original perpetrator created the latter three types to cover up?” Christie asked, “This situation is also quite common.”

Li Xin shook his head, “Very unlikely. From the first type’s case dossier photos and description, the opponent is extremely meticulous, with top-notch dissection technique. A technical pretentious criminal is often mentally obsessive and proud, completely disdainful of using such chaotic methods to degrade technique, and look at the subsequent photos, a technique imprinted into muscle; trying to disguise wouldn’t yield such chaotic cutting, filled with panic and disorder.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep