Chapter 36 Bounty

Chapter 36: Wanted

At the early morning station checkpoint, a considerable line had already formed. The inspector, who had arrived at the last minute, yawned as he took his post, checking documents impatiently.

It wasn't even tourist season, but lately, for some reason, there were an unusually large number of people. Every time he came to work, the line was already long.

Fortunately, his colleague was stationed nearby, and the two of them could chat and gripe about work while doing their jobs.

The teenager who handed over his ID and ticket wore black-rimmed glasses and carried a backpack. He had a delicate face and dressed plainly, looking unremarkable, like a student. But his posture was remarkably good, his back straighter than most people's.

Going to District 26—how shabby, he thought to himself.

Work was boring, and commenting on passengers was one of their few pleasures.

"Tch, another one going to District 26," he remarked casually, in a slightly irritated tone. "Why are so many people heading there lately?"

The colleague responsible for luggage inspection chuckled, his voice pitched just loud enough for both him and the student to hear: "What else could it be? They can't get an employment card. Even in the capital, they only earn half of what others do."

The student, openly mocked, looked unfazed, as if accustomed to it. He remained calm and composed, waiting patiently for the inspector to return his documents.

The inspector paused, as if remembering something, then sneered and added without any regard for whether the person being discussed could hear him clearly: "Poor people belong in the slums. What's the point of lingering here? They should have gone back a long time ago."

"A student, huh? What's your major?" the inspector asked with a grin, looking at Zhu Shinian.

"..." the student replied.

The inspector paused slightly, clearly surprised, then raised an eyebrow.

"Criminal investigation?" he repeated, a hint of something unreadable in his smile. "What use is that...? Can you find work in District 26?"

"It should be useful," the student said, seeming slightly caught off guard, as if he himself wasn't very confident in his answer.

The two inspectors exchanged a smile of hidden meaning. District 26—what use was criminal investigation there? There weren't even many cameras on the streets.

Even if you came, you couldn't figure out who stole that lost silver coin.

"...Don't just chat," one of them urged in a mock-serious tone. "There are so many people behind us. You've been checking this one student for so long—anyone would think you're checking a wanted criminal."

"Why are you carrying a gun? Show me your gun license."

The student, apparently unaware that only licensed dealers and officials could demand his permit, obediently rummaged through his bag to find it.

"What's the gun for? Did you study criminology so you can avoid the police and commit robbery and murder?"

The student was taken aback, as if genuinely stung by the accusation: "No, a classmate gave it to me as a souvenir..."

"...Alright, alright, stop looking," the inspector waved his hand, finally returning his documents. "It seems like I'm picking on you on purpose."

The student nodded in relief, took his documents, and even said thank you before leaving.

"Passengers boarding train A1608 bound for District 26, please note: Train A1608 is about to depart. Five minutes before departure, please do not cross the yellow line or run on the platform, and do not cross the tracks."

That seemed to be the student's train. He tucked away his documents and hurried toward the platform.

With a long whistle, the train arrived at the station. It was nearly full, and the platform was teeming with people.

At this hour, the sun hadn't fully risen yet, but the sky was already bright. He glanced back at the capital's station one last time, then followed the crowd without a trace of reluctance onto the train to District 26.

Imperial Capital Police Headquarters.

.......

The long conference table in the meeting room was rarely fully occupied, and the atmosphere was thick with tension.

The chief of police closed the folder in his hands, his tone official but carried a touch of flattery: "Major General Gu, we understand how you feel."

"But... multiple fingerprints of Colonel Zhu were found on the deceased. His characteristics match the offender profile and the autopsy report with over ninety percent certainty."

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully to avoid angering Gu Zhen.

"Of course... what you just said is reasonable. Colonel Zhu has always been loyal to the empire, with a long record of service, and there's no clear motive."

"But based on the evidence we have now, he is indeed the murderer. According to your statement, if there are any hidden circumstances, we will certainly investigate them. When the case goes to court, we'll speak well of Colonel Zhu. After all, the law is the law—we have to arrest him first and proceed with legal justice."

"Officers above the rank of Lieutenant Colonel are not to be convicted or stripped of rank without trial," Gu Zhen said from the head of the long table, his gaze sweeping coolly across the room. "If a military officer commits such a crime, it falls on me to handle it. I will find him myself, but your police force has no right to treat him like a common criminal..."

"Enough!"

Before Gu Zhen could finish, a violent cough erupted from the side of the table.

Gu Liancheng sat in a wheelchair to the right of the main seat. His health was visibly worse, and his face was terribly pallid.

For an alliance partner to be killed openly in the heavily guarded Gu Estate was like having his face trampled into the dirt.

He had always said that Zhu Shinian's approach to Gu Zhen was with a hidden purpose. That wretched lackey from District 26—he had known from the start that he was no good.

"I told you a long time ago that Zhu Shinian was no good..."

Mid-sentence, he started coughing violently again. No one in the room dared to rush him, so they waited in silence.

"Now that the evidence is here, you still insist he's not a criminal. You say you'll personally bring him back."

"Gu Zhen, you're shielding him. Or are you planning to run away together?"

That comment went too far. The room fell into a heavy silence.

Several police officers exchanged subtle meaningful glances. The situation was turning dangerous.

Just then, the door to the meeting room was pushed open from the outside.

The creaking sound was especially sharp in the silent room.

Everyone's gaze turned simultaneously.

Jiang Huaiyan stood at the door, dressed in civilian dress. His face was unusually pale, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't closed his eyes all night.

He stood there, first glancing at Gu Zhen, then shifting his gaze to the long table.

"General Gu is just anxious. Don't blame Major General Gu for his words."

His voice was a bit hoarse. Everyone knew that he had just lost his omega father to murder, so they felt natural sympathy and guilt toward him. Naturally, no one dared to say anything to contradict or upset him.

"The Major General certainly doesn't want to believe this happened," he continued. "Colonel Zhu had nothing to gain from killing my father. Perhaps let Major General Gu investigate this matter. I trust General Gu."

For the first time, someone in that vast conference room spoke in his defense. Even though he and Jiang Huaiyan had never gotten along, so Gu Zhen felt a rare flicker of gratitude.

Then it quickly occurred to him: Ning Ye was dead. Another potential threat was eliminated with Ning Ye's death. It was only natural for Jiang Huaiyan to welcome that.

It would have been hypocritical and deliberately troublesome for Jiang Huaiyan to oppose him now.

"Xiao Jiang, this has nothing to do with you," Gu Liancheng said, forcing himself up from the wheelchair with a grip on the armrests, as he saw Jiang Huaiyan. "Grandfather will give you an explanation for this."

"Zhu Shinian is currently the prime suspect in Governor Ning's murder and has been out of contact for over ten hours." Gu Liancheng swept his gaze across the conference room. "This case is extremely appalling. The suspect may still be armed, posing a serious threat to the Empire and society, and causing public panic."

"Whoever brings him back," Gu Liancheng's voice was flat, "dead or alive, will be promoted two ranks."

It was a blatant bounty.

The people in the conference room were stunned. A promotion of two ranks—only a few hundred people in the Empire's entire history had received such an honor, and most of them were junior officers below the rank of Major.

In this room, even the lowest-ranking officer here was a Lieutenant Colonel or a police detachment commander.

How many people spend their entire careers as Lieutenant Colonels or Colonels, only to retire without ever making Major General?

"Commander Gu, what do you mean by this?" Gu Zhen said coldly. "Openly disrupting the Empire's military rank system?"

"I'm putting this out there," he continued. "Anyone who takes a step out of this room is going against me."

The police chief's face changed color instantly, clearly not expecting Gu Zhen to push things to this extreme.

He didn't understand why the Gu family's grandfather and grandson had suddenly turned against each other so sharply. He had long heard that even within powerful clans, harmony was not guaranteed—this was probably just another twisted power struggle between Gu Liancheng and Gu Zhen.

"Commander Gu, Major General Gu," the chief said, visibly sweating, "please, both of you calm down..."

"Against you?" Gu Liancheng repeated coldly. "Do you really think you can run everything? I haven't died yet, Gu Zhen."

No one else in the room dared speak. The two-rank promotion Gu Liancheng promised was certainly tempting, but he was clearly short on time, and such a promise might never be fulfilled.

On the other hand, offending Gu Zhen, who would soon command the Empire's military, was a very real threat.

"Commander," a man who had been sitting in the corner suddenly stood up and spoke. "I'm willing to go bring him back."

Gu Zhen turned his head. He remembered this man—Li Qianxu, a direct subordinate of Zhu Shinian. During the handling of the Central Square incident, this man had reacted sharply, and Gu Zhen had even praised him.

He had been hauled in early that morning from the Military Department's Second Group office like a criminal, questioned as someone connected to the suspect, and released only after confirming he knew nothing. To show due seriousness, they had simply pulled him into this meeting.

"Colonel Zhu was my superior. For him to commit such a grave mistake, our team bears responsibility."

"...My group is willing to atone for our fault by bringing him back."

Author's note: