Chapter 117 Squad Members

"Difficult."

Zuo Kang put down his ballpoint pen and looked at Chen Mo, uttering that single word.

"You might not understand the situation. Our informant went undercover for half a year to get such an important lead for this case."

"We sent half a detachment to Luocheng, but the operation failed because of Wang Wu."

"I can agree to release him, but I wouldn't be able to give my subordinates an explanation."

Hearing this, Chen Mo understood what the other man meant.

Uncle Wang accidentally caused the operation to fail.

From the perspective of the Anti-Drug Squad members, this itself was somewhat suspicious.

Whether he deliberately sent a signal or did so unintentionally remained unclear.

Continuing to detain Uncle Wang was in accordance with procedure.

Chen Mo couldn't find any fault with it.

Unless there was evidence now that could prove Uncle Wang really had just been an accidental interloper.

But such evidence did not exist.

"The reason I said I've heard of you is because the cases you've handled were done very beautifully."

"Wang Wu is indeed a suspect, but you and I both know he's likely not a drug dealer."

"So, help us solve this case and restore his freedom as soon as possible."

Zuo Kang crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Chen Mo.

He had looked into many of the cases Chen Mo had handled. As someone who also started as a criminal investigator, he couldn't help but feel admiration.

This kid indeed had some skills.

"I'm sorry, I'm not interested."

Chen Mo shook his head. He didn't like the feeling of Zuo Kang using him to help solve the case.

He liked it even less that Zuo Kang spoke to him with a tone that suggested he had Chen Mo cornered.

Even if, in terms of police rank, Zuo Kang was a superior.

"Then please, leave."

Zuo Kang extended his hand, making a gesture for Chen Mo to depart.

In response, Chen Mo stood up expressionlessly and left directly.

Just as he was about to step out the door.

Zuo Kang suddenly called out to him.

"Why?"

"Didn't you come here to get him out? Why refuse me?"

He didn't understand what on earth Chen Mo was up to.

This was clearly a win-win situation.

"I've already gotten him out."

Chen Mo turned around, looking at Zuo Kang with a relaxed expression.

"What do you mean?"

The man certainly wouldn't be released just like that; if he were, Zuo Kang would have been notified.

Therefore, he couldn't fathom the meaning behind Chen Mo's words.

"You said it just now; neither you nor I think Wang Wu is a drug dealer."

"I believe you are a righteous police officer who won't frame an innocent person nor let a criminal go free."

"In that case, you'll have to release him sooner or later."

If it were anyone else he cared about who had been in a detention center for days, he would be thinking of getting them out as quickly as possible.

But who was Uncle Wang?

A place like a detention cell was like a vacation to him.

There was no need for Chen Mo to worry at all.

Right now, a bunch of people were probably massaging his legs and shoulders.

"Are you playing mind games with me?"

Zuo Kang was so exasperated he laughed.

Good grief, he hadn't expected Chen Mo to pull this move on him.

He also blamed himself for not keeping his mouth shut and revealing all his cards.

"What will it take for you to help me?"

Zuo Kang's voice fell.

At this moment, a subtle shift occurred in their dynamic.

It went from Chen Mo needing something from him to him needing something from Chen Mo.

"Why must it be me helping you?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. There were plenty of capable people; it didn't have to be him.

There had to be another reason.

"A feeling. I have a feeling that with your help, this case can be solved."

Hearing this, Chen Mo turned and left.

Feeling, my foot.

The man just didn't want to tell him the truth.

"Wait."

Zuo Kang's voice came from behind, but Chen Mo no longer wanted to pay him any mind.

In his heart, he truly didn't want to get involved with the Anti-Drug Squad's affairs.

The most important thing for him right now was the competition.

...

Inside a hotel near the Zhongyuan Municipal Bureau.

The three of them met there.

"How are things on your end?"

"Is Wang Wu's situation serious?"

Yang Jianguo opened the window, letting fresh air flood into the room.

"He just messed up a big operation for the Anti-Drug Squad, so they're a bit angry."

"He'll be released in a while."

Chen Mo explained casually.

Then, the three of them tacitly stopped discussing the topic.

"Tell Chen Mo about the competition situation."

Long Hao nodded and gestured for Chen Mo to sit.

"A total of 22 provinces are participating in this battle for the 'Pilot City' status."

"Each province will select their five strongest people to form a Criminal Investigation team."

"The cases are drawn randomly; they could be recent cases or cold cases from years ago."

"The format uses a round-robin group stage. There are four groups, and the first and second place from each group will advance."

Chen Mo nodded. The format was very simple and not hard to understand.

"The pressure of this format is quite high."

"The first round of competition leads directly into the top eight."

Long Hao rubbed his face.

In a competition among the nation's top Criminal Investigation experts, it was impossible to feel relaxed.

"Look at you."

Yang Jianguo punched Long Hao's arm.

"Chen Mo said we can take fifth place. Have a little confidence in yourself, okay?"

He couldn't stand seeing his subordinates looking dejected.

"What! Fifth?"

Long Hao looked at Chen Mo with a face full of surprise.

He had a lot to say, but meeting the Instructor's warning gaze, he ultimately swallowed his words.

"This is the contestant data; take a look."

"I'm going out to scout for more information."

As Yang Jianguo spoke, he left the room.

Only Chen Mo and Long Hao remained in the room.

The Instructor didn't let him speak just now, but now that he was gone, he could finally talk.

"Chen Mo, you haven't seen the member profiles for these 22 teams, have you?"

As Long Hao spoke, he spread the files out in front of Chen Mo.

"Look at this Wang Feng. He's a top talent in Criminal Psychology. There's an 80% probability he can deduce a criminal's thoughts and motives!"

"And this Xu Lingyun is even more incredible. A Trace Technician genius who developed his own investigation system at a young age. No lead can escape his eyes."

"..."

"These are all top-tier experts."

He wasn't saying this to make Chen Mo take back his claim about getting fifth place.

Rather, he wanted Chen Mo to take the opponents seriously.

He always felt that Chen Mo's nonchalant attitude meant he was underestimating the opposition.

That was very bad.

"I know they're all experts."

Chen Mo naturally understood why Long Hao was telling him all this.

He wanted him to be serious and feel a sense of urgency.

"But I don't think we're that bad either, right?"

Long Hao's concern was valid.

As a contestant, he really should be a bit nervous at this time.

But he just couldn't get nervous. What could he do?

Instead, it led to the misunderstanding that he was underestimating his opponents.

"That's true too."

"Anyway, if we can take eighth, we won't have failed everyone's expectations."

"This is our team's roster."

Chen Mo took it and scanned the five names one by one.

Long Hao (Criminal Investigation), Chen Mo (Criminal Investigation), Liu Fengxia (Criminal Investigation), Wu Tian (Autopsy), Sun Yi (Trace Technician).

According to the profiles, Wu Tian and Sun Yi were both from the Provincial City Bureau.