We agreed on the twelve zodiac animals, but you've transformed into the Monkey King?

French Concession Police Station, Chief's Office.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the blinds, dividing the interior into a series of interwoven bars of light and shadow.

Wen Xiao sank into the large leather chair, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose for the first time ever. He leaned back in the genuine leather chair that originally belonged to Pierre, holding in his hands a thick, dark red leather-covered original French edition of the Napoleonic Code.

If you ignored the dense bullet holes on the wall, he would look more like an elegant scholar than the butcher who massacred this place last night.

Even though he couldn't understand French at all.

The office door was open.

In the corridor outside, dozens of Chinese detectives stood in a silent queue. In their eyes, Detective Wen was the hero who had "turned the tide" during the turmoil last night and even tried to "rescue" Chief Inspector Pierre. Although the rescue failed, he brought back his letter of appointment and became the new maintainer of order in the French Concession.

Wen Xiao's fingers slowly turned a page of the book, his tone gentle:

"Article 10 of the Napoleonic Code states that anyone who endangers national security or colludes with foreign invaders... Gentlemen, could someone please translate this for me? What crime would this be in the French Concession?"

Baldy Zhao walked in, his belly protruding, and closed the door behind him. "Detective Wen, you're a cultured man. But in this Shanghai, they don't recognize foreign books, they only recognize cash." He slammed a heavy black cloth bag onto the desk with a thud.

"Detective, the laws of France are too far away, but the 'wealth' of Shanghai is closer." Baldy Zhao lowered his voice, unzipped his jacket, and inside were ten neatly arranged gold bars and several share certificates for opium dens.

"This is the 'tea money' that the brothers chipped in. When Director Pierre was in office, we believed in 'coexistence' here. You sit in your seat, we guard our source of income, and everyone gets rich so that the French Concession can be stable." Baldy Zhao grinned from ear to ear.

"The opium dens on Xiafei Road and the pumping stations at Shiliupu, you get the lion's share. You work for Falun Dafa, and we'll protect your money-making opportunities down here. Zhang Sulin, the boss, will also remember your kindness."

Wen Xiao finally looked up from the pages of the book.

The lenses of his gold-rimmed glasses reflected a cold light as he looked at Baldy Zhao, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Detective Zhao, have you been here too long? Have you forgotten whether this is the French police station or Zhang Sulin's Green Gate branch?"

Zhao the Bald's smile froze: "Detective, what you're saying... I don't understand."

"It's okay if you don't understand, the Code will teach you." Wen Xiao closed the book with a soft "snap".

"Who knows the laws of the police station?" Wen Xiao asked the doorway.

The corridor outside was deathly silent. The seasoned detectives who had been eavesdropping knew that Baldy Zhao had walked right into a trap, and they all lowered their heads, afraid of being called out by this living devil.

After all, Zhao the Bald had been around here for nearly ten years and was deeply entrenched in the community; no one wanted to hand him that knife at this time.

"Reporting, Inspector!"

A clear, decisive voice broke through the hesitant crowd.

The door was pushed open, and a sharp-eyed young man strode in.

He didn't even glance at the gold bars on the ground, but gave Wen Xiao a standard military salute, the sound of his boots clashing loudly and crisply.

"This humble servant is Meng Huai! Formerly a third-class patrol officer in the West District, well-versed in legal matters!"

Wen Xiao turned around and sized up the young man.

"Alright, Meng Huai." Wen Xiao pointed to Zhao the Bald, who was sprawled on the ground. "According to the law, how should we punish someone who betrays their own people and colludes with outsiders?"

"Strip him from public office and confiscate his property. If he is involved in treason, throw him into the dungeon, dead or alive." Meng Huai's gaze swept over Zhao the Bald, revealing a kind of indifference as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Wen Xiao! Don't push your luck!" Baldy Zhao suddenly drew his gun. "Back when I was running rampant in the concession..."

"Article Eight of the Code," Wen Xiao's voice remained gentle, without even raising his head, "Those who resist the law shall be killed without exception."

"Bang!"

A crisp gunshot rang out.

The Browning in Meng Huai's hand was still smoking when Zhao Tuzi's kneecap shattered instantly. He screamed and knelt on the ground, the gun in his hand flying far away.

"Meng Huai, are you crazy! I'm your former boss!"

"The detective is the only rule." Meng Huai walked forward coldly, kicked the gun on the ground, and pulled out heavy iron handcuffs, locking them directly onto Zhao the Bald's wrists.

Wen Xiao then slowly stood up. He walked to Zhao the Bald, who was kneeling and wailing, and patted Zhao the Bald's fat face with the thick copy of the Napoleonic Code, speaking gently:

"Detective Zhao, I was there when Pierre died the night before last. He was much more adept at begging for mercy than you are."

Zhao the Bald's pupils instantly shrank to the size of pinpoints. He stared at Wen Xiao, trembling.

"You...you killed him..."

"Take him away." Wen Xiao interrupted his terror. "Don't let him die too quickly. I want to hear the names of all of Zhang Sulin's hidden sentries in the concession."

"yes!"

Meng Huai strode forward, grabbed Zhao the Bald by the collar, and slapped him twice across the face, silencing Zhao the Bald's curses.

Then, Zhao the Bald was dragged out of the room by Meng Huai like a dead pig, leaving a long trail of blood on the floor.

Having witnessed Zhao the Bald's fate, the police officers were all terrified and dared not even breathe loudly.

Wen Xiao walked to the office door, opened the "Law Code" in his hand, and addressed everyone in a loud voice:

"From this day forward, in accordance with the instructions of His Majesty Napoleon, there will be only three rules."

"First, the sale and use of opium are strictly prohibited within the French Concession."

"Second, all protection fees for Chinese shops will be halved. Anyone who dares to extort money from a shop in private will be sent to the dungeon to keep Detective Zhao company."

"Thirdly, my words are the bible of this police station. Loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty."

Damn it, did Napoleon say that?!

"Did you understand?"

"Understood, Detective!" Dozens of Chinese police officers had no choice but to grit their teeth and shout in unison.

Wen Xiao looked at Meng Huai: "Meng Huai, take your men and take over the dungeon and armory. From now on, you will be my adjutant."

"This humble officer will certainly not fail the detective's great kindness!" Meng Huai bowed deeply.

Just then, the phone started ringing incessantly.

Meng Huai answered the phone, listened for a couple of sentences, and his expression changed drastically: "Detective! The Chinese military police have stopped Gong Hexiang's men at the intersection of Nanshi Road! Lu Yongxiang's men have set up machine guns and are saying our people are rebels and want to execute them on the spot!"

After hearing this, Wen Xiao ripped off the gold-rimmed glasses from the bridge of his nose.

"Clatter".

He smashed the copy of the Napoleonic Code into the wastepaper basket next to his desk.

"I've finished reading the book."

He grabbed his dark black wool coat, flicked it sharply, and draped it neatly over his shoulders.

"Meng Huai, open the armory. Bring out all the newly arrived Thomson rifles."

"Detective, crossing the border with heavy firepower could lead to war!" Meng Huai, though ambitious, gasped in shock.

"Does Lu Yongxiang think that just because I put on this Western-style skin, I've become a dog that won't bite?"

"Get the car ready! Let's head to the Chinese-controlled area and snatch people!"

The wailing of sirens shattered the tranquility of the French Concession. Dozens of black police cars roared out.

A flock of bloodthirsty black crows swooped down on the Chinese territory!