New Skill 004

Han Bin vaulted the courtyard wall and arrived at Old Zhao’s house next door. With a swift glance, he noticed a pile of coal in the corner, marked by footprints dusted with coal soot, clearly leading from that direction. One section of the coal heap bore the traces of fresh digging. Han Bin fetched a shovel and, after several strokes, unearthed a backpack.

Opening it, he found it stuffed with red banknotes and tools used in a crime: a hat, gloves, a flashlight, and so on. A rough count revealed more than three hundred thousand in cash, along with a check for eight hundred thousand—matching the property stolen from the Qindao Brewery.

“Lin Changsheng, we’ve found the stolen goods. What do you have to say for yourself now?” Zeng Ping demanded.

“They were dug out of Old Zhao’s coal pile, not mine,” Lin Changsheng argued slyly.

“Chen Juan, can you identify this bag? Does it belong to your family?” Zeng Ping asked.

Chen Juan appeared extremely anxious as she approached, casting a nervous glance at the bag. She shivered and shook her head, stammering, “No, no, I’ve never seen it before.”

“There are clear fingerprints on this flashlight. Once we check them, the suspect will be obvious. Denying it won’t help,” Han Bin said.

“Take him away!” Zeng Ping ordered with a wave of his hand.

Li Hui and Zhao Ming moved swiftly to restrain Lin Changsheng.

“Let go of my husband!” Chen Juan tried to intervene, but Tian Li stopped her.

“Take good care of the child,” Lin Changsheng sighed.

Zeng Ping barked, “What are you all standing around for? Take him away!”

…

Back at the police station, the technical team compared fingerprints lifted from the flashlight to Lin Changsheng’s—they matched exactly.

Lin Changsheng’s suspicion was confirmed. Even without a confession, the case could be closed.

Realizing there was no escape in the face of such ironclad evidence, Lin Changsheng gave in during the first round of questioning.

…

The success of today’s case was thanks in no small part to Han Bin. His contributions were obvious to all and universally acknowledged. The first merit would certainly go to him.

Han Bin didn’t join the interrogation. After all, if you take all the credit for yourself, who would want to partner with you in the future?

Just as Han Bin was preparing for his lunch break, a notification sounded in his mind: “Congratulations, Officer 577533, on successfully solving your first criminal case.”

“Skill proficiency +2, Merit points +5.”

“Would you like to exchange merit points for a new skill?” the police badge prompted.

Han Bin didn’t reply immediately. After a long consideration, he said, “Exchange.”

“Officer 577533, which new skill would you like to exchange for?”

“Micro-expression analysis,” Han Bin answered.

Skill: Micro-expression Analysis.

Effect: By observing subtle facial expressions and body language, determine a person’s true feelings and emotions.

Skill: Micro-expression Analysis.

Beginner level: requires one hundred merit points.

Advanced: five hundred merit points.

Expert: one thousand merit points.

“What’s the use of skill proficiency?” Han Bin asked.

“When upgrading a skill, proficiency can substitute for merit points,” the badge replied.

“I only have seven merit points total; that’s not enough for a new skill,” Han Bin said.

“Installment payments are available.”

“Is that possible?” Han Bin was surprised.

“This is the trend of future society.”

Han Bin was speechless.

“If I want to exchange for the beginner level of micro-expression analysis, how long would the installments take?” he asked.

“You pay ten merit points or skill proficiency per month, totaling one hundred and twenty merit points per year,” the badge said.

“Why the extra twenty points?”

“Interest.”

Han Bin was again speechless.

After some thought, Han Bin decided to proceed. Micro-expression analysis would be a tremendous asset, allowing him to judge the truthfulness of suspects’ statements through facial expressions and body language.

“I’d like to learn the beginner-level micro-expression analysis skill,” Han Bin said seriously.

A buzzing filled his mind as a torrent of knowledge and data about micro-expression analysis poured into his head, as if being directly infused. Its complexity far exceeded that of the footprint identification skill.

It felt like ages before Han Bin regained his senses.

“Ding-dong. Congratulations, Officer 577533, you have mastered a new skill,” the badge announced.

Officer 577533

Skills: Footprint Identification (Advanced), Micro-expression Analysis (Beginner)

Merit points: +7

Footprint Identification proficiency: +3

…

Having acquired a new skill, Han Bin wanted to test its effectiveness and called out to Li Hui.

“Li Hui, can I ask you something?”

“What’s up?”

“Between the two of us, who do you think is more handsome?” Han Bin asked.

“Bin, what’s gotten into you, asking such a profound question?” Li Hui laughed.

“Just curious,” Han Bin shrugged.

“Isn’t it obvious? Of course I’m the better-looking one!” Li Hui replied, unconsciously touching his neck.

Touching one’s neck while lying is a classic mechanical reaction.

Han Bin burst out laughing inwardly—this skill worked perfectly.

…

The Qindao Branch was not far from the sea.

After work that evening, Zeng Ping treated everyone, and the members of Team Two gathered at a seaside food stall for dinner.

They ordered a bucket of fresh draft beer, along with peanuts, mantis shrimp, mussels, scallops, octopus, oysters, lamb skewers, and more.

“Pour the drinks!” Zeng Ping called out, beaming. “Our team really showed its mettle today. From report to resolution, it took less than ten hours. We must celebrate properly.”

“When the other team saw us leaving work on time, their eyes turned green with envy,” Li Hui joked.

Everyone burst out laughing.

“Come on, let’s toast Han Bin. If not for him, we couldn’t have identified the suspect so quickly,” Zeng Ping raised his glass.

“No need,” Han Bin politely declined. “This was a team effort. With your guidance, Captain, the first toast should go to you.”

“Enough with the false modesty. Everyone deserves credit for solving the case, but you contributed the most,” Zeng Ping said, patting Han Bin on the arm.

Han Bin not only excelled at solving cases but was also tactful and considerate—Zeng Ping liked him all the more.

“Cheers!”

They all raised their glasses and drank heartily.

The moment after a case is solved is the happiest and most relaxing for a police officer; everyone’s spirits were high.

“Han Bin, your footprint identification skills are truly impressive,” Zhao Ming said admiringly.

Had Han Bin not quickly identified the suspect, it would have been difficult to convict Lin Changsheng if he had managed to move the stolen money.

“It’s just practice,” Han Bin replied.

“Han Bin, you were never this sharp back at the police academy,” Li Hui remarked.

“That just means you weren’t paying attention,” Han Bin laughed.

Everyone joined in the banter.

As the new arrival in the criminal investigation team, Han Bin seized this opportunity to get to know his colleagues better.

With the sea breeze blowing, they drank and chatted, the laughter drawing them closer together.

Only when they were full and satisfied did they part ways.

…

The next morning.

The shrill ring of a mobile phone jolted Han Bin from sleep. He groped for his phone by the bed. “Hello?”

“It’s Li Hui.”

“Why are you calling so early?” Han Bin grumbled.

“There was a rape case last night in the city park.”