Chapter 137: Serial Murder

Chapter 137: Serial Murder

Stunned, Gray Bear stared at the young man who was significantly shorter than he was. No, forget young man. This was a boy who was still wet behind the ears.

“You?” Gray Bear’s mouth twitched. “Protector?”

“Yes,” said Gao Yang.

“Ahaha, hahahaha...”

Gray Bear slapped his thighs as he guffawed, shaking with the sheer force of his laughter like a flower shaking in a storm. His voice rumbled and reverberated throughout the lobby.

After a while, he took a breather and stared down at Gao Yang, arms akimbo. “You? A Protector?” The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

“Correct.”

“Hahahahahaha!” Gray Bear burst into laughter again.

The two receptionists couldn’t bear to watch the farce play out any longer. Thankfully, the one in white qipao got a call then. With a sudden change of expression, she jogged up to Gray Bear and said, “A call for you, Mr. Gray Bear.”

“Haha, hahaha...for me? Who is it?” Gray Bear took the phone, still laughing so hard that he had trouble breathing.

The receptionist said, “Elder Black Tortoise.”

The laughter died in an instant. Gray Bear reflexively wiped his hands on his jeans and took the call with deference. “Elder Black Tortoise. Yes, he’s arrived. Yes...Of course, of course. You don’t have to worry.”

He ended the call and returned the phone to the receptionist.

Then he turned to Gao Yang and sniffled awkwardly, scratching his head because he didn’t know where to put his hands.

After a few seconds, he offered Gao Yang a hand with an obsequious smile, “Nice to meet you, Captain Seven Shadow. I’m the vice-captain of the fifth operations team, Gray Bear.”

“Nice to meet you.” Gao Yang nodded and purposefully didn’t take his hand.

His situation was different now. As a Protector, he had to act like a mid-ranking leader.

“Sir Black Tortoise told me to show you around. However, a case came up, and I have to go at once...”

Gray Bear was conflicted. When Gao Yang didn’t say anything, he quickly explained, “My day job is a police officer. Haha.”

“A murder?” Gao Yang was curious.

“Yes, serial murder! The culprit is disgustingly bold!” Gray Bear was a little worked up.

Gao Yang suggested, “Aren’t you short on hands? Take me with you.”

“I won’t trouble Captain Seven Shadow with something this trivial...”

“You need a driver, don’t you?” Gao Yang curled his lips.

“No, no!” Gray Bear quickly put on a servile smile. “I’ll drive. Please.”

Gray Bear led Gao Yang out of the Walled City of Ten Dragons and climbed into a private car. He fished out a uniform for police hands[1] and handed it to Gao Yang. “Captain Seven Shadow, due to your age, I’m afraid I’d have to trouble you to play a police hand for me. When we enter the crime scene, please refrain from speaking up unnecessarily. After all, it was the monsters’ territory outside the Walled City of Ten Dragons.”

“I understand.” Gao Yang climbed into the car and quickly changed into the uniform, putting on the cap.

“But why?” Gray Bear didn’t understand. “If someone newly awakened has an offensive Talent, how are they going to reach level 3 if not through killing monsters?”

“What do you think?” Gao Yang asked.

“Well.” Gray Bear did give it some thoughts. “They can kill monsters in Rune Caves or kill other types of monsters, but the cost is way too high. It doesn’t make sense.”

“There are a lot of rules that don’t make sense in the Twelve Zodiac Signs.” Gao Yang purposefully expressed grievances for his former organization.

“Haha, that’s right. The Qilin Guild is the best.”

“Of course,” Gao Yang said with an impassive expression.

“Captain.” Gray Bear glanced at him through the rearview mirror, curious. “May I ask about your age?”

“Does it matter?”

“Of course not.” Gray Bear smiled apologetically. “This mouth of mine just won’t stop after it gets started.”

“Tell me more about the case.” Gao Yang decided to start with the serial murder. It would be too obvious if he asked the man about the Qilin Guild immediately.

“Oh, okay. There’s no connection between the victims. It looks completely random. Judging by the murder scenes, though, the culprit seems to be a fanatic of some evil cult.”

Gao Yang nodded.

“Anyway, it’s quite creepy. You’ll see soon.” Gray Bear made a full rotation with the driving wheel and turned into an old district.

After a few minutes, the car stopped at a messy alleyway that had seen better days.

The worn street sign at the alley said, ‘White Apricot Alley’. Inside were pink signboards for bathhouses, massage parlors, beauty salons, and health services[2].

Gao Yang glanced at Gray Bear.

With a knowing smile, Gray Bear said, “Yeah, it’s that kind of place. The latest victim seems to be a regular visitor.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a young officer emerging from the alley. His stature was small, but well-built. His skin was tanned, his hair shaved, and his eyes bright and intelligent. “Here you are, Uncle Xiong!”

He offered Gray Bear a cigarette.

“I’ve quit.” Gray Bear waved a hand at him. “They spotted a shadow in my lungs in my last health check. You should smoke less too, Young Liu.”

“Haha, I’m still young.” Officer Liu grinned. “I’ll quit after two years.”

He then turned to Gao Yang. “Who is this, Uncle Xiong?”

“Private eye.” Gray Bear had already come up with a cover story. “The investigation has seen no results, and the higher-ups are getting impatient. I brought him in for help. Perhaps he’ll lead us to a breakthrough.”

“Got it.” Officer Liu quickly handed Gao Yang a cigarette. “Well met, Sir. May I ask for your surname?”

“I don’t smoke. Thank you.” Gao Yang pressed a fist to his mouth and coughed, lowering the pitch of his voice. “No need for the honorific. I’m Jin Tiannan. You may call me Mr. Jin.[3]”

“Of course, Mr. Jin.” Officer Liu turned around to take the lead. “This way. Please follow me.”

1. In China, in addition to the regular police force, there are also auxiliary police, fu jing, and police hands, xie jing. The auxiliary police are basically contracted officers, while the police hands aren’t actually police officers, but helpers hired temporarily to fulfill certain needs. ?

2. These are the kinds of establishments that often serve as a front for sex workers. ?

3. A play on the young detective Kindaichi from The Kindaichi Case Files. In the Chinese rendition of the name, Kindaichi is pronounced Jintianyi. ?