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

Three days later, in the auditorium of the Jinghai Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Red flags flutter and police badges gleam.

A high-level conferment ceremony was being held here. Leaders from the provincial and municipal departments were all present on the stage, while the audience below was filled with elite officers and key personnel from the Jinghai City police force. All eyes were focused on the same point.

Lu Jingyan.

He was now dressed in a brand-new police uniform. The dark blue fabric fit him perfectly, making his already tall and imposing figure appear even more dashing. Several brand-new medals hung on his chest, and a silver four-pointed star on his epaulettes gleamed under the spotlight.

Second-level police inspector.

Section Chief Level.

It usually takes an average person ten or even twenty years to go from a trainee police officer to a branch captain. But he did it in just a few months.

This promotion speed is faster than a rocket, a miracle unprecedented in the Jinghai police force and unlikely to be repeated.

"Next, please welcome Comrade Lu Jingyan, the youngest branch captain in the history of Jinghai City, to the stage to speak!"

Director Chen presided over the meeting personally, his voice loud and clear, filled with heartfelt pride and honor.

"Clap clap clap clap—!"

Thunderous applause erupted instantly.

Lu Jingyan walked steadily to the podium. He didn't bring a prepared speech; instead, he gave a standard police salute to the faces below the stage, which held expressions of admiration, envy, or jealousy.

"Thank you for your trust, leaders, and thank you for your support, comrades."

His voice, transmitted clearly through the microphone, resonated throughout the auditorium, carrying an undeniable power within its calm tone.

"I don't want to say those platitudes about thanking CCTV and MTV. I just want to take this opportunity to reiterate the responsibilities of our special investigation team, which is also my personal commitment as Lu Jingyan."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, his eyes so sharp they seemed to see right through people.

"In the past, the world of Jinghai City belonged to the so-called wealthy and powerful. They made the rules, they enjoyed privileges, and they treated the law as a plaything."

"But from this day forward, those days are gone forever."

"I don't care if you're a CEO worth hundreds of billions or a second-generation heir with powerful connections. I also don't care if you're a top influencer with millions of fans or a revered master."

Lu Jingyan's voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, resounding and powerful!

"As long as I'm wearing this police uniform!"

"As long as the Special Investigations Unit exists!"

"In Jinghai, no one is above the law!"

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by the extremely domineering declaration in those words.

This is hardly an inaugural speech.

This is clearly a declaration of war against all lawbreakers in the city!

After a brief silence, thunderous applause erupted. Countless young police officers stood up excitedly, clapping so hard their hands turned red.

That was so exciting!

These are the kind of people's police officers they aspire to be!

Lu Zhenhua, sitting in the first row of the family seats, looked at his son on the stage, who seemed to be shining, and his eyes welled up with tears.

He trembled with excitement, grabbing Lu Mingze's hand beside him, his voice choked with emotion: "See? See! That's my son! My son, Lu Zhenhua's son! He's even more impressive than when I rang the bell at our company's IPO! Our Lu family is... this is like our ancestors' graves are emitting auspicious smoke!"

Lu Mingze also looked proud, even though his hand was about to be crushed by his father.

Looking at his brother on the stage, who seemed to have no regard for his family, he suddenly felt that the five days he had spent in detention a few days ago were... worth it!

That's so damn prestigious!

……

The atmosphere at the celebration banquet following the conferment ceremony was extremely enthusiastic.

Lu Jingyan was undoubtedly the focus of the entire event.

Countless people came over with wine glasses to offer their toasts, some genuinely admiring him, others hoping to build a relationship. But without exception, Lu Jingyan turned them all down with the excuse that "during duty, tea is served in place of wine."

He was like a rock that wouldn't budge, remaining unmoved no matter how turbulent the social interactions around him became.

Just as the banquet atmosphere reached its climax, Lei Ting, already quite drunk, started arm wrestling with Zhao Tiezhu.

A young civilian police officer, carrying a folder, hurriedly squeezed in.

"Captain Lu! Captain Lu!"

The police officer ran to Lu Jingyan's side, lowered his voice, and said with a serious expression, "The provincial department just faxed over an urgent request for assistance. Director Chen wants you to come over immediately."

Lu Jingyan frowned slightly.

A case that can get the provincial department to use the word "urgent" is definitely not a small matter.

He put down his teacup, greeted the people around him, and strode towards the temporary command room backstage.

In the command center, Director Chen and Lei Ting (who had sobered up considerably) were sitting around a table, both looking extremely grim.

"Chief, what's wrong?"

"See for yourself."

Director Chen pushed the document over.

Lu Jingyan picked up the document, glanced at it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

That was a notice for assistance in the investigation of a "special rectification campaign in the entertainment industry".

The document listed numerous illegal activities by several celebrities who had recently been active in Jinghai City, with a wide variety of charges—drug-related offenses, money laundering, tax evasion, organizing prostitution… It was truly shocking.

What Lu Jingyan cared about most was the name at the very top of the list.

[Target: Xiao Huohuo.]

[Identity: Top-tier heartthrob, newly crowned Best Actor.]

[Suspected crimes: group drug use, attempted rape, and large-scale money laundering using overseas foundations.]

Xiao Huohuo?

Lu Jingyan remembered this name.

In the original book's memory, this guy was also someone with a "protagonist halo." He came from humble beginnings, became a sensation with a web series, and then his career took off. Not only did he thrive in the entertainment industry, but he was also surrounded by beautiful women, and he even had a complicated and tragic love affair with the young lady of a reclusive family.

"This Xiao Huohuo has a very powerful background."

Director Chen lit a cigarette, his expression grave. "His backer is the well-known 'Huayi Media' in Beijing's elite circles. The waters of this company run deeper than the moat around Jinghai. The provincial department is hesitant to act rashly and hasn't found a suitable breakthrough."

"So, they want us to be the 'breakthrough point'?" Lu Jingyan understood instantly.

"That's right."

Lei Ting chimed in, his tone laced with anger, "These bastards are just trying to get you to take on the toughest challenge because you've been riding high lately, daring to go head-to-head with the 'Dragon Group' and the 'God of War'!"

"A tough nut to crack?"

Lu Jingyan smiled.

He gently placed the document on the table, his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, gleaming with a hunter's excitement.

"What I like most is gnawing on tough bones."

He looked at the top-tier heartthrob with a bright, sunny smile on his face in the document, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"A bunch of actors who act lawlessly because of their fans and capital, do they really think they're a privileged class?"

"Illiteracy is not scary, ignorance of the law is scary."

Lu Jingyan picked up the walkie-talkie on the table and pressed the public channel of the special investigation team.

"Everyone, the victory celebration is over."

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every member of the partying team.

"Put down your beer and skewers."

"Our next 'performance' has been delivered to our doorstep."