Chapter 60: Elite Special Forces

On the fifth floor, Huo Xinqi knocked on the door, and Yang Fan opened it quickly. Yang Fan returned to the sofa, while Huo Xinqi entered, closed the door behind her, and also sat down on the sofa.

“Thank you for last night,” she said.

“It’s nothing,” Yang Fan replied.

“I came today because I want to know—how did you find out about that girl’s background?” Huo Xinqi asked directly.

“Professional secret, sorry, I can’t tell you,” Yang Fan answered just as bluntly. It was his secret, after all.

“With your skills and abilities, it’s really a shame you’re not a police officer.”

Yang Fan smiled. To be a cop? There was no money in that. Was he supposed to work himself to exhaustion for nothing? Although, he always felt that doing good was his responsibility to society.

“How about it—you become a cop!” Huo Xinqi suggested.

“No thanks, I’m not in the mood. I’ve still got a pile of work at my company,” Yang Fan said with a laugh, taking a sip of his drink.

Of course, Huo Xinqi already knew who he was; she had looked into him thoroughly last night.

“I’m serious. We really need someone like you on the force!”

“But I’m not interested. I can’t be patrolling the streets in uniform every day. With my looks, I’d have a swarm of fangirls trying to get close to me. Aren’t you worried that if I joined, the precinct would descend into chaos?”

“Who said anything about patrolling the streets?” Huo Xinqi replied, a bit exasperated.

“Even if I just sat at the precinct every day, I’d be losing millions a month. Millions! Do you know how many fangirls I could support with that kind of money?”

“Alright, let me be upfront with you,” Huo Xinqi steadied herself and went on, “I spoke to my superiors yesterday. Since I’m the team leader of the Special Police, I have the authority to recruit officers. I want to recruit you as a Senior Officer in Tianning City. As long as you agree, we can get the paperwork done immediately.”

Yang Fan was taken aback, and Huo Xinqi continued, “There’s a major case in Tianning right now. We desperately need your help. Based on what you showed last night, not even our senior officers can do what you did.”

“I’m not that capable, honestly.”

“Don’t lie to me. If your suspicions about that girl were just keen observation, what about when you took out the money? I saw there was nothing written on it, yet in just a few seconds, so many words appeared!”

Yang Fan was genuinely impressed; this top special police officer truly lived up to her reputation, noticing even the smallest details.

“Think about it. With so many missing people in Tianning, shouldn’t you do something for the city? I’ve looked into your company’s charity work for underprivileged college students. It proves you have a sense of responsibility. Now, protecting the peace is just another way to show it…”

Yang Fan felt his scalp tingle. It seemed she had come today determined to persuade him.

“So, may I ask—what’s the salary per month?”

“Five thousand.”

Yang Fan was disheartened; Ai Xiaomei alone spent more than that every day!

Huo Xinqi held her ground, and Yang Fan truly felt defeated.

“I have conditions,” he said.

Huo Xinqi immediately brightened. “Name them!”

“I won’t participate in the Special Police’s training or daily routines. Only call me when there’s a mission.”

“Agreed!”

“Alright then, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my business, I’m in,” Yang Fan said.

“Also, this case is special. Once it’s over, I’ll reveal your identity and hold a welcome ceremony for you at the precinct.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Let me tell you about the case,” Huo Xinqi began.

Yang Fan nodded.

“Starting a year ago, Tianning City has averaged around a hundred disappearances per month. The data isn’t exact, but it’s definitely over a hundred. The missing are seventy percent female, all under twenty-five, and all from the lower strata of society—earning less than two or three thousand a month.”

“It makes sense. They wouldn’t dare touch those from the upper or middle class; if the upper class was alarmed, the consequences would be too severe.”

“That’s what we thought as well. These victims come from all walks of life. Another point: after they go missing, their families all receive a message—‘Redemption.’”

“So, there must be an underground organization in Tianning,” Yang Fan said.

“Exactly. And in the past year, we haven’t found any leads, except for the girl we caught last night.”

“She targeted you on the spur of the moment. She must have failed her mission and acted rashly,” Yang Fan added. He’d gathered this from the girl’s scattered memories.

Huo Xinqi looked embarrassed, then said, “Our goal is to take down this organization. For now, that girl is our only lead.”

“It has to be. I also suspect the man who died last night was killed to lure others in.”

“That’s possible. Our investigation confirmed the girl killed him—there’s no doubt. But from her interrogation, we found nothing useful.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“I saw her memories yesterday. They’re all in chaos,” Yang Fan said.

Huo Xinqi was stunned. What a talent—this alone was enough to elevate Tianning’s Special Police to a new level.

“So what should we do?”

“Let me think.”

“Alright! From now on, we’ll meet here. Outwardly, we’ll say I’m your kept woman. Actually, no need to say it—the more I come, the more people will assume it. Your identity will remain secret. The point is to attract Redemption’s attention. You’ll operate in the shadows, and we’ll coordinate from both sides. Only by pretending to be a couple can we meet to discuss the case and act together.”

“So, we’re going to keep up this act, right?”

“Right!”

Yang Fan was frustrated—he’d told Xia Yufei and the others they were just acting, and now it was coming true. What a jinx he was.

“Fine, there’s no other way. If we’re not a couple, it wouldn’t make sense for us to meet so often. I suppose even your colleagues are being watched by Redemption.”

“Exactly. Yang Fan, I now officially authorize you as a Senior Officer of Tianning. Your mission begins this very moment.”

“Who’s my boss?”

“Me, of course!” Huo Xinqi said, pointing at herself.

“So does our ‘relationship’ start now as well?”

“Yes. Not only will we meet privately here, but we’ll also have to check into hotels regularly to throw them off. That way, we can act together for missions.”

“Alright,” Yang Fan replied, speechless.

They talked for over an hour. To make the story of her being his kept woman spread in the precinct—and reach Redemption—Huo Xinqi even let Yang Fan leave a hickey on her neck and ripped a button off her shirt.

Downstairs, as Huo Xinqi walked out, Xiao Liu and the others came over.

“Xiqi, your neck…”

“It’s nothing,” Huo Xinqi said, pulling her jacket up.

“Are you two really a couple now?” Xiao Liu was genuinely impressed. The most beautiful and cold policewoman in Tianning—he’d actually taken her. And now, kept as his mistress. What was this world coming to!