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Reaching for her phone.

A voice echoed from the side alley.

"Ning Ning!"

Chu Yuening looked over.

A small car was parked outside the alley, a humble private vehicle with a dull gray hue, less eye-catching than the previous Hummer, yet more discreet.

Shi Boren and Gan Yizu were crouched on the ground, both looking disheveled. Each held a bowl of oden, with Gan Yizu devouring his food hastily, while Shi Boren skewered a fish ball before standing up.

Chu Yuening approached them, putting her phone back into her backpack. Scanning her surroundings, she noticed only two curious onlookers. "Officer Zhou, where's Uncle Zhong?"

"Over there," Shi Boren pointed in a direction, then wiped his dusty face. Holding the skewer with the fish ball, his stomach growled hungrily, churning with acidic waves.

The spicy sauce, sweet and tangy, coated the hot fish ball as it rolled down into his cold stomach.

He munched on the fish balls, "Brother Xu and Uncle Zhong are still searching for him. Ma Zhengqi is a real scoundrel; we've been looking for a whole day and still haven't found him."

Gan Yizu lifted his head from the paper bowl of Kanto boiled food, "Brother Ren, could it be that your informant's information was wrong? Maybe Ma Zhengqi never actually returned to the country?"

Shi Boren remained silent, chewing on the fish balls. After a long moment, he spoke with gravity, "It's not entirely impossible. He only said he saw Ma Zhengqi's name at the entry checkpoint."

Gan Yizu: ...

Zhou Fengxu emerged from an old building with Uncle Zhong, his trench coat billowing with his swift steps.

Both Gan Yizu and Shi Boren stood up simultaneously, "Brother Xu, any news?"

Zhou Fengxu shook his head.

The four of them had been searching in Kowloon Tong all day. Zhou Fengxu's rolled-up sleeves were now dust-covered, and he pressed his lips together – his thin lips slightly chapped. Uncle Zhong, being older, showed signs of fatigue as he rubbed his shoulders.

After a day of running around, no one complained.

Ma Zhengqi was the prime suspect in the murder case of the young girl. Having smuggled himself out of the country eighteen years ago, no matter how difficult or exhausting the search, Team D was determined to bring him to justice and restore fairness to the Zheng family.

This is the mission of the Major Case Unit.

"Have you eaten?" Zhou Fengxu looked at Chu Yuening and offered her a bread roll. "Here, have something to fill your stomach."

Indeed, Chu Yuening hadn't eaten yet, and her stomach was rumbling.

She took the bread, tore open the wrapper, and took a bite. The sweet filling lifted her spirits; her brows arched as she said, "Thank you, Inspector Zhou."

"You're welcome," Zhou Fengxu replied, retracting his gaze. From his trench coat pocket, he pulled out a cylindrical object, which he unrolled on the hood of the car. With a marker in hand, he drew several red circles on a map of the Kowloon Tong area.

"There are still a few places left to search."

Uncle Zhong pointed to the four directions spreading out from the alley. "Each of us takes a direction – we should be able to finish before midnight."

Everyone was striving to keep their spirits up.

"Ning Ning."

Shi Boren dug into his jeans pocket and retrieved a photograph that had been folded multiple times. He unfolded it, and the corners stubbornly curled upward. A note was stuck in the middle, which he handed over to Chu Yuening.

"This is a passport-sized photo and birthdate of Ma Zhengqi that we managed to gather from his neighbors back when he lived near the Zheng family. Could you please take a look?"

Zhou Fengxu capped his pen.

Chu Yuening glanced at the photo. "Let's start with this."

The man in the picture appeared to be around forty, bald with a broad, fierce face, a mole on his chin, and narrow eyes that gleamed with malevolence.

She calculated his age and pondered for a moment. "Ma Zhengqi hasn't had an easy time in the north this year, and the United States is located in the north. Judging by his birthdate, currently, his elements of metal and earth are submerged in water. He's likely in a warm climate, in the south."

Shi Boren was delighted. "Isn't the south Hong Kong? It seems our informant was correct. Ma Zhengqi has indeed returned."

He brought over his bowl of oden. "Should we try to determine his exact location?"

Chu Yuening calculated again with her fingers. "Somewhere very close to a waterway, surrounded by many electrical appliances and buildings."

"A place with a water source, lots of electrical appliances, and buildings?"

Zhou Fengxu consulted the map, searching for an area with a waterway and numerous structures. He marked a spot with a highlighter. "Changsheng Street, the Vehicle Impoundment Center."

With a clear direction, everyone felt a weight lifted from their hearts.

Zhou Fengxu promptly established the plan. "Ren, Yizu, and Uncle Zhong, converge on the vehicle from three different locations. I'll contact the vehicle impoundment center's manager."

"Roger that, sir!"

The trio responded in unison.

Shi Boren discarded his bowl of oden into the trash can, ready to spring into action.

Everyone was well aware of Chu Yuening's abilities. If she could save Brother Xu's companion with a single talisman, how could she possibly miscalculate someone's location?

Energized and even slightly excited, they were now even more confident in dealing with Ma Zhengqi, especially after Ning Ning's calculations.

"I'll go with you," Chu Yuening said, biting into her bread and blinking. "I can help with the calculations too."

Zhou Fengxu had initially intended to decline, but meeting her clear gaze, he changed his mind. "Ren, you and Ning Ning will go in one direction."

"No problem," Shi Boren immediately signaled with an 'OK' sign.

The four of them sprang into action swiftly.

Shi Boren escorted Chu Yuening through the northern entrance of the vehicle impoundment center.

Upon entering, Chu Yuening saw countless cars and motorcycles neatly parked, and she exclaimed in surprise, "How did all these vehicles get in here?"

Shi Boren, equally attentive, pondered for a moment before explaining, "They were brought in due to hit-and-runs, running red lights, various traffic violations, or even abandoned cars or those with unpaid parking fees."

As he spoke, his gaze scanned the crowd intently, wary of missing any crucial detail.

One by one, he examined the people passing by.

In the midst of his task, he didn't forget to remind Ning Ning, "Crime-solving is the job of the police, Ning Ning. It's already remarkable that you've calculated the location. Find a place to rest for now."