What? You're a notorious bandit? What a coincidence, me too!

The lights in the criminal investigation team's office were blindingly bright, and amidst the swirling smoke, several written records lay scattered on the table.

Young police officer Li, who had just come out of the interrogation room, tugged at his collar and gulped down a mouthful of cold water.

"Captain Zhao, this case is closed. You know, we've only been on duty for half an hour, and the robbers have come to us on their own initiative. This is truly the first time something like this has ever happened."

Criminal police captain Zhao Weidong, with a cigarette between his fingers, looked at the statements of Lin Chang'an and the other two, his brows furrowing slightly.

In his fifteen years of practice, he had handled hundreds of criminal cases, but he had never encountered anything like this before.

However, his keen intuition told him that there was something strange about this case.

Zhao Weidong flicked his cigarette ash, his voice deep and powerful, "It's not that simple."

Old Wang, the veteran police officer next to him, came over and said, "The chain of evidence is closed. Pan Hong and Da Long confessed that they coerced Lin Chang'an to drive."

Lin Chang'an did not get out of the car or touch the stolen goods throughout the entire process. Later, while they were dividing the loot, he tied up the man and brought him over.

The three men's testimonies were identical.

Zhao Weidong stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, picked up the injury reports for the two men, and said:

"Pan Hong was shot once in the right shoulder and once in the thigh, both penetrating wounds. Ballistic analysis shows that the shooting angle was tricky, avoiding vital organs but enough to incapacitate the opponent."

Da Long suffered a comminuted fracture of his left arm, an abrasion to his right ear, and permanent hearing loss.

He paused, tossed down the file, and said in a more serious tone, "Does it make sense that two armed robbers with multiple prior convictions were subdued and seriously injured by a fitter from a machine tool factory?"

Xiao Li scratched his head: "Taking advantage of the infighting over the spoils, Lin Chang'an grabbed a gun to fight back. The situation was urgent at the time, and it's possible for someone to do that when they're emotionally charged."

"But the space inside the van is cramped. Even if he grabs the gun and fights back, can he escape unscathed?" Zhao Weidong's gaze swept over Lin Chang'an's statement, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"And his confession."

He opened the transcript and ran his fingertip across it.

"He spoke clearly and logically, explaining every detail from being coerced to how he observed the opportunity and how he tied people up, but without any emotional fluctuation."

After experiencing such a major event, a person should either be filled with fear or anger. Even if they try to appear calm, their eyes should still show emotion. But what about him?

Zhao Weidong recalled the scene in the interrogation room.

Lin Chang'an sat casually in the chair, his eyes as calm as a bottomless lake.

He remained calm and composed when faced with questions.

That composure beyond his years made Zhao Weidong, who had seen countless people, feel uneasy.

"So calm!"

Zhao Weidong said in a serious tone: "Twenty-five years old, with a history of fighting and brawling, he should be an impulsive and reckless person."

But just now in the interrogation room, he answered flawlessly, and even turned around and talked to me about "meritorious service". Is that normal?

Any ordinary person who had gone through such a life-or-death ordeal would be trembling with fear, but he spoke as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

Xiao Li was taken aback: "Could it be... that he has a strong mentality?"

"Having good mental fortitude and being numb are two different things."

Zhao Weidong shook his head. "The way he looked at me showed no fear whatsoever, and even a hint of indifference, as if he already knew what I would ask and had already thought of how to answer it."

As he spoke, he picked up the testimonies of the other two men.

"Furthermore, generally speaking, there will always be subtle differences in the testimonies of two accomplices, either they are shifting blame to each other or there are contradictions in the details."

The testimonies of Pan Hong and Da Long were surprisingly consistent, especially their descriptions of Lin Chang'an's expressions, actions, and even words when he was coerced—they were so precise, like a copy-paste, as if they had memorized a script beforehand.

Zhao Weidong lit another cigarette: "They seem to be deliberately protecting Lin Chang'an and taking all the blame upon themselves."

"Team Leader Zhao, you're right."

Old Wang spread his hands and said, "But there is no direct evidence at the scene that Lin Chang'an participated in the robbery. Pan Hong and Da Long's testimonies both point to him being coerced, and he himself has no criminal record."

The law is about the chain of evidence, and now all the evidence proves that he is innocent, and even meritorious...

That statement hit the nail on the head.

Zhao Weidong waved his hand; he naturally understood this.

Procedurally speaking, this case can be closed.

Lin Chang'an was coerced, had no intention of committing a crime, did not actually participate in the crime, and even took the initiative to subdue the robber and hand him over to the police station. This constitutes a major meritorious service. Not only does it not constitute a crime, but it should also be commended.

Zhao Weidong rubbed his temples.

Just then, the red secure phone on the table suddenly rang urgently, and the sharp ringtone made Zhao Weidong's face turn serious.

He answered the phone immediately, his tone instantly turning serious: "This is Zhao Weidong, captain of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Team... Okay... I understand!"

After hanging up the phone, he grabbed his police uniform jacket from the back of the chair and said to Xiao Li and Lao Wang with a serious expression:

"Lin Chang'an's case was handled according to procedure—no criminal facts were found, no case was filed, and he was released. However, his contact information and address were kept so that the local police could keep an eye on him."

There is now a more urgent task.

An urgent notice just issued by the provincial department indicates that the suspect in the Yuzhou serial murder case has apparently fled to our city!

"What?!"

Xiao Li and Lao Wang exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

This Yuzhou serial murder case is well-known in the criminal investigation system. The suspect traveled to four provinces over three years and committed 26 shocking murders, robberies, and rapes.

He is ruthless and has extremely strong counter-surveillance capabilities; he is an A-level wanted criminal under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Security.

The suspect's crimes had already shocked the entire country, earning him the nickname "the most notorious bandit in Yuzhou" among the public. The Ministry of Public Security had issued multiple documents demanding a full-scale manhunt.

"The provincial department has faxed over the latest information, instructing the technical department to compile the suspect's latest arrest warrant, physical characteristics, and modus operandi!"

As Zhao Weidong strode quickly toward the conference room, he gave instructions in a deep voice.

"An emergency meeting will be held in ten minutes. All personnel on field duty will be notified to return to their posts immediately."

"yes!"

........................

As Lin Chang'an walked out of the police station, a hazy orange hue was already tinged on the western horizon.

He looked up at his phone; it was 6:35.

More than seven hours have passed since he entered the police station, faster than he expected. He had originally thought it would take at least 24 hours before he was released.

The air was still a bit damp after the rain. He clutched his phone as he arrived at the bus stop and dialed Fang Qingzhu's number.

"Feed? Chang'an?" The voice on the other end of the phone was a little excited, but also contained a hint of barely perceptible grievance.

"You finally called! Did something happen to you?!"

Lin Chang'an's Adam's apple bobbed; the woman's concern warmed his heart. "Nothing happened. Where are you now?"

"I'm at your house," Fang Qingzhu said.

"Then wait for me, I'll go back now, wait for me."

Lin Chang'an hung up the phone, patted his pockets, and found that he only had about two hundred yuan on him.

But he still waved down a taxi; he wanted to see his woman immediately.

Thirty minutes later, the car stopped next to a courtyard in a suburban area.

Lin Chang'an saw a woman standing at his doorstep from afar, looking out.

The woman, wearing a floral dress and with her hair in a high ponytail, stood on a rock with her hands behind her back.

Lin Chang'an jumped out of the car and ran towards the woman. Amid her gasp, he pulled her into his arms.

Fang Qingzhu struggled a few times, but seeing that the other party had no intention of letting go, she had no choice but to let the man wrap her up tightly.

After a while, Fang Qingzhu stepped on Lin Chang'an's foot and said aggrievedly, "I specially asked the store for leave today, but I waited for you all day, and my leave was ruined."

Lin Chang'an stroked the woman's long hair and gently patted her back, his voice full of apology: "I'm sorry, it was my fault. I won't do it again, okay?"

"Nobody would believe you." Fang Qingzhu snorted, turned around, and didn't want to talk to the other person.

"Are you angry?" Lin Chang'an wrapped his arms around Fang Qingzhu's waist, feeling a sweet warmth in his heart as he saw the woman pouting.

Suddenly he picked her up and strode towards home.

"Lin Chang'an, what are you doing?" Fang Qingzhu struggled and shouted.

Lin Chang'an bit the woman's earlobe and whispered in her ear, "I want to do it..."

"rogue!"