Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

"Officer... I didn't do anything! I really found it!"

The extra crouching in the corner nearly swallowed the bronze fragment in his hand when he saw Lu Jingyan approaching. He trembled as he raised his hands, the rusty fragment standing out starkly in the sunlight, exuding an ancient and worn aura.

Lu Jingyan didn't say anything, but simply put on gloves and took the fragment from his hand.

It was cold to the touch and heavy. As my fingertips traced the mottled rust, I could faintly feel an extremely weak yet real... electric current?

It wasn't static electricity; it was more like something breathing in its sleep.

"Found it?" Lu Jingyan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp.

"Really! It's right next to that new film studio construction site in the eastern suburbs, where they're still digging the foundation!" The extra was red-faced and terrified of being arrested as a tomb raider. "It looks like an antique, and I was thinking of using it as a prop or selling it as scrap... Officer Lu, does this count as trafficking in cultural relics? I haven't sold it yet!"

Lu Jingyan took out an evidence bag from his pocket and put the fragments inside.

"Whether it's a cultural relic or not is for the appraisal department to decide. Given the suspicious location where you picked it up, the item will be temporarily kept by the police."

He glanced at the extra who was so scared he almost wet his pants, and his tone softened slightly.

"Alright, stop squatting there. Don't go picking up random things at construction sites anymore. If you bring back a detonator, your act will be over."

After dismissing the extras, Lu Jingyan put the evidence bag into his inner pocket. For some reason, the inconspicuous fragment pressed against his chest made his heart beat a little faster.

An inexplicable premonition lingered in my mind.

However, that's not the focus right now.

Lu Jingyan turned around and continued his "inspection" of the film and television city.

What happened next made even the seasoned special investigation team leader, who was used to seeing big scenes, want to take out his phone and record it.

Not far ahead, a luxurious van was slowly approaching. The door was half open, and inside sat a certain rock veteran who had recently been making waves and was known for his "fiery temper."

This guy is known for being arrogant in the industry. He'll criticize anyone he doesn't like, and he always has two rows of bodyguards when he goes out.

However, the instant his gaze met Lu Jingyan's in mid-air—

"squeak--!"

The van braked suddenly, nearly rear-ending the car behind it.

Immediately afterwards, the veteran rocker, with an agility far beyond his years, tumbled and scrambled off the car. He ripped off his sunglasses, ignoring his disheveled hair, and from a distance of more than ten meters across the road, gave Lu Jingyan a deep ninety-degree bow.

"Hello, Officer Lu! Thank you for your hard work, Officer Lu!"

His voice was loud and clear, full of a will to survive.

Not only that, he turned around and yelled at his bodyguards and assistants, "What are you all standing there for? Can't you see Officer Lu is on duty? Get out of the way! Don't block the officer's view!"

The once domineering convoy suddenly became like a flock of sheep encountering their natural enemy, obediently slid along the wall, even lowering the engine noise to a minimum, for fear of disturbing this living devil.

Lu Jingyan: "..."

He pushed up his glasses, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

Isn't this reaction a bit excessive?

But this is just the beginning.

He continued walking forward, and each time he passed a film crew, it was as if he had pressed the mute button.

The director who was cursing shut up, the actors who were acting like divas stood up, and even the usually loud and boisterous production assistants became quiet and gentle, as if this were not a film set but a library.

On the set of a period drama, Lu Jingyan saw a familiar face.

That was a young actress who had been criticized before because of the "digital actress" incident. At this moment, she was wearing a heavy costume, holding a script in her hands, and even during a break, she was muttering to herself.

Seeing Lu Jingyan approach, the young actress froze, instinctively wanting to hide, but then seemed to remember something, and braced herself, standing still and loudly reciting her lines:

"Every citizen has a responsibility to their country and the world! Although I am a woman, I know that the law is strict and cannot be transgressed!"

After reciting it, she glanced cautiously at Lu Jingyan, her eyes filled with "please praise me" and "don't arrest me."

Lu Jingyan stopped and looked at her trembling appearance, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"You memorized it well."

He casually remarked, "Next time, remember to hold the script upright; reading it upside down can hurt your eyes."

The young actress looked down and her face instantly turned as red as a monkey's bottom. She hurriedly flipped the script over.

A suppressed chuckle rippled through the crowd, but no one dared to make a sound.

Along the way, wherever Lu Jingyan went, the streets were practically deserted.

When celebrities see him, they either take a detour, stand at attention and salute, or immediately begin to perform the role of "law-abiding citizen." Those once arrogant celebrities in the entertainment industry are as obedient as a group of primary school students in front of him.

This feeling is wonderful.

There was no sense of arrogance from wielding great power; instead, there was a sense of peace and security after everything had settled down.

"It seems these people have really learned their lesson."

Lu Jingyan stood at the exit of the film and television city and looked back.

The film studio still thrives under the setting sun, but the superficial, fake bubble filled with the stench of money and illegality has been completely burst.

Instead, there is a sense of order imbued with reverence.

"Good."

Lu Jingyan took a deep breath, the cool air seeping into his lungs.

"This is the entertainment industry I want."

There are no special privileges, no ignorance of the law, and no shady unspoken rules.

Although this "quiet" is based on fear, what does it matter to law enforcement officers if the outcome is good, and the process is a little "hardcore"?

He opened the car door and got into the unassuming Audi.

"It's time to call it a day."

Lu Jingyan started the car, pondering how to spend the next few days of his holiday.

The old man said he wanted to go fishing, so I'll go with him to clear his head; that newly opened escape room Su Xiaoxiao mentioned last time, maybe we can check out its fire safety (and have some fun while we're at it); and that bronze fragment I just found, I'll have to find time to have it appraised at the museum…

Life seems to be finally returning to normal.

However, just as he parked his car in the city bureau compound, before he even had a chance to turn off the engine...

Someone gently knocked on the car window.

"Knock knock".

Lu Jingyan lowered the car window and saw a familiar face, smiling like an old chrysanthemum.

Director Chen.

But what he was holding wasn't a thermos, but a red-headed document with the word "Top Secret" printed on the seal.

"Director?" Lu Jingyan's heart skipped a beat. That familiar premonition of wanting to work overtime instantly surged into his mind. "Judging from your expression... does that mean I don't get a day off again?"

"Ahem, Lu, you're quite enlightened."

Director Chen opened the car door, got into the passenger seat without any hesitation, and solemnly placed the document on the dashboard.

"It's definitely not going to be a vacation."

Director Chen's smile vanished, his expression becoming more serious than ever before, even revealing a hint of barely concealed excitement.

"The provincial department just sent an urgent telegram, specifically requesting your name."

"This time it's not some small-scale operation like catching celebrities or investigating tax evasion."

He pointed to the document, his voice low but each word like thunder:

"The higher authorities have decided to establish a province-wide 'cross-regional major case supervision team'."

"At the deputy division level, they are directly responsible to the provincial department and even have the authority to mobilize local troops to cooperate in operations when necessary."

Lu Jingyan's pupils suddenly contracted.

Mobilize the garrison?

Isn't this level of access a bit too much?

"and."

Director Chen took a deep breath and stared intently at Lu Jingyan.

"This supervisory team is not handling ordinary criminal cases."

"The document states that recently, various places in the province have frequently experienced some supernatural phenomena that cannot be explained by science."

"Ancient tombs have been disturbed, cultural relics have been stolen, and there have even been sightings of 'flying people'."

"The provincial department specifically requested you to be the team leader because they believe that only someone like you, who can even hand over the records to the state, can keep things under control..."

Director Chen paused, then uttered the last four words:

"Demons and monsters."