Facing the death of a Japanese media tycoon, which should have been a difficult matter to resolve, the two handled it with ease, as if from a higher dimension.
“It feels like there is nothing in this world left that requires us to exert much effort to solve,” Lu Zheng said calmly.
“Is that so?” Lin Wan turned back and added lightly, “Common prosperity?”
“Cough cough!”
“Destroy global nuclear weapons?”
Lu Zheng said helplessly, “Do you want to start the Third World War?”
“Punish corruption?”
“Big sister, I was wrong. Can we talk about something achievable?”
“Is that right? But you are the one who said there is nothing left in this world that needs you to exert effort to solve,” Lin Wan said with a mischievous smile.
Lu Zheng raised his hands in surrender. “It happens to be our days off. Let us go on a holiday.”
Having taken out Ito Tansi and eliminated future worries, Lin Wan’s mood improved. “Good. Where to?”
For matters outside of work, Lin Wan generally did not care much. Whenever they travelled, it was usually Lu Zheng who decided.
Lu Zheng immediately smiled. “Do you not like petting cats? This time, let us pet big cats.”
Lin Wan’s eyes lit up. “Where?”
“The Far East, Outer Xing’an Mountains. How about we go find Siberian tigers?”
This was something Lu Zheng had planned long ago. If conditions were not right, he could have brought a tiger demon from ancient times.
“Good good good!” Lin Wan was thrilled. “Wandashan No.1? When do we go?”
“Go back first for a late-night snack, and show our faces under surveillance,” Lu Zheng said with a smile. “Depart early tomorrow morning.”
“Fly there?” Lin Wan raised an eyebrow.
Lu Zheng snapped his fingers. “Bring outdoor gear. We do not need a guide.”
“Got it!”
…
The two returned to Haicheng close to midnight, but the city’s nightlife was just truly beginning.
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan had no interest in bars or nightclubs. They simply went to a night market barbecue stall.
They drank and ate meat, then posted a nine-grid photo on Moments, drawing dozens of angry comment sprays.
Perfect!
…
The next day, Lin Wan received a message from the Interpol Haicheng liaison office.
“Ito Tansi suffered a sudden heart attack and fell unconscious. His cigarette fell, causing a fire that burned three rooms including his bedroom. He himself was burned to death in the bedroom.”
Lin Wan quickly spotted the loophole. “How was he at home, and not in the Metropolitan Police?”
The head, “…”
“If he were not dead, I would protest to Interpol headquarters,” Head Tian Jinsong said helplessly. “But he happened to burn to death. Pursuing it further has no meaning, and…”
Lin Wan curled her lip. “And Interpol is just a coordinating organisation. We still belong to our respective countries after all. What is the point of protesting?”
“At least it shows our stance. Moreover, the Haicheng Japanese School continues rectification, and other domestic schools must accept supervision.”
Lin Wan snorted coldly. “That is just the bare minimum.”
“No, before there was no reason. This is what you exchanged with your life. Everyone is not a fool,” Tian Jinsong said. “So the higher-ups awarded you a second-class merit. Do not think it does not match you.”
“Second-class merit!?”
Lin Wan’s voice rose two octaves. “I do not mind, how could I mind.”
It was worth noting that Lin Wan’s father had died in the line of duty in his early years and never earned a second-class merit. In a way, she had surpassed her father.
So Lin Wan grinned like a fool. “When will it come through? Do I need to give a speech on stage?”
Tian Jinsong said helplessly, “Rest assured, we will pin a big red flower on you for photos. The superior leader will present the certificate and take a group photo. Satisfied?”
“Yes!” Lin Wan said, content.
“It will be awarded at the commendation conference on the fifth of next month. You will be back by then, right.”
“No problem!”
Tian Jinsong chuckled. “Alright, nothing else. Continue resting. I will approve three more days of leave for you. There will be plenty of chances for you to contribute later. We will also handle the follow-up intelligence work.”
Lin Wan could not help smiling. “This incident was not your fault anyway.”
Tian Jinsong shook his head with a sigh. “Sigh, there are frictions between nations, let alone cooperation between Interpol offices. Nothing is pure!”
The two chatted a bit more, then Lin Wan suddenly asked, “This Ito Tansi, was it really a sudden heart attack?”
Tian Jinsong paused. “Why do you ask that?”
Lin Wan shrugged. “I just feel it is too coincidental. I thought someone above could not stand it and helped me get revenge.”
“You wish!”
Tian Jinsong scoffed. “He was a media tycoon after all, a public figure. And we never do such things.”
“You know that?”
“Tch, you still do not know where I retired from.”
“Oh? Head, you have a story?”
“Heh, classified!”
The two chatted casually a bit more, then hung up.
Lin Wan made a V-sign with her fingers. “Handled!”
No matter if Tian Jinsong’s call had any probing intent, Lin Wan’s response was perfect.
As expected of a criminal police officer. Impressive!
“Crude crude!”
Thinking of going to pet big cats, Lin Wan suddenly became cute and playful.
“I am going to pet a brain axe!”
Lu Zheng, “…”
He waved his hand to open the window, turned invisible, summoned clouds, loaded supplies, and soared into the sky.
Haicheng was much farther from the northeast than from Japan. Even at Lu Zheng’s speed, it took half a day to fly there.
They had everything, and did not take a plane or high-speed rail, so they did not appear in cities or towns at all. They flew straight into the primeval forest.
“It is just… not easy to find…”
Eastern Heilongjiang, primeval forest, everywhere covered in white snow. The whole world seemed only black and white, quiet and elegant, yet full of vitality.
Though they had not seen a Siberian tiger, when Lu Zheng and Lin Wan revealed themselves, they spotted many other animals.
“Look look! Sika deer!”
Lin Wan saw a grazing sika deer from afar. Before it could flee, she dashed over like the wind, reached it in a breath, pressed it down to prevent escape, and started petting while reaching out.
“Why no antlers?”
“Female sika deer have no antlers.”
“So it is a little girl.” Lin Wan giggled and continued petting.
The sika deer, “…”
“Hee hee.” Lin Wan laughed while extending her hand to Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng patted the gourd, took out a head of cabbage from it, and handed it to Lin Wan.
Lin Wan broke off a few leaves and offered them to the deer’s mouth. “Eat?”
It ate!
The sika deer chomped away, but after two bites, it shuddered all over, broke free from the unprepared Lin Wan, and fled swiftly.
Lin Wan not only did not chase but immediately withdrew the cabbage in her hand. She turned her head at once, eyes burning as she looked toward a spot in the east.
Lu Zheng smiled. “Though not a big cat, it is qualified for you to pet.”
