Doctor will never die in a hellish situation.

Miss Swire understood the principle of giving a slap on the wrist and then offering a treat all too well. She immediately offered to treat everyone to lunch, but it was rather strange to be eating at a street food stall in a car like that.

But when it comes to Swire, it seems quite normal. I heard that when she was working on a case, she ate instant noodles with her team members for several days in a row. She is indeed different from those pampered rich princesses.

"Before I took over the financial audit of the Guard Bureau, could you believe that most of the lower-ranking officers couldn't even afford to come to a place like this every week for a treat?" Swire greeted the owner and ordered two servings of roast meat rice.

"Is that so?" Qin Duanyu raised an eyebrow. No wonder many police officers bowed to Shi Huaiya along the way. It wasn't flattery of someone in a high position, but genuine respect.

The stinginess of scrutinizing even a mop that cost a few dollars more expensive has resulted in steadily increasing wages and subsidies for everyone. Perhaps this is why Swire enjoys a prestige among grassroots police officers that is no less than that of Chen.

Watching the little tiger arguing with the owner over a few missing pieces of roast meat, Qin Duanyu felt a deep respect for him, and the pile of tedious documents didn't seem so daunting anymore.

“Of course, I also have my own selfish reasons for doing this.” Looking at the extra pieces of meat on her plate with satisfaction, Swire said proudly, “All the shops on this street belong to me. I was losing a lot of money because I couldn’t rent them out, but now I’m making a fortune!”

The frequent presence of police officers has not only boosted business on the food street, but also made it much safer than other streets. Even gangsters don't dare to come here to collect protection money, so businesses are naturally more willing to operate here.

This virtuous cycle has led to increasingly higher and higher rents for shops here.

Looking at the happy Swire, for some reason, her image overlapped with that of a rabbit that whispered in Qin Duanyu's ear every day.

Well, I shouldn't have had any unrealistic illusions about capitalists after all.

Chapter 64, Section 67: There's a Traitor

Busy days always seem to fly by...bullshit!

Back in Rhodes Island, at least there was a cute girl helping me out, and I could even give her a kiss when I was free. What's in this Major Crimes Unit office?

Chen, my longing for you grows stronger every day.

Sipping the rich and aromatic Syracuse coffee and enjoying the special desserts from Lateran, Qin Duanyu felt bitter inside.

Even though he knew the saying "he who eats another's food is bound to him" and "he who takes another's money is bound to him," he just couldn't control himself; it was just too tempting.

"Doctor, something's not right with you. Have you been too tired these past few days?" Just as Qin Duanyu was eating and drinking with tears in his eyes, a concerned voice came from behind him.

"It's nothing, it's just that my eyes are a little blurry. I'll rest for a bit and then I'll start working!" Smelling the expensive Clive Kristin No. 1 perfume, Qin Duanyu knew who had arrived without even needing to use her God's-eye view.

"Perfect timing, there's a case here that requires your skills, let's go for a walk and clear our minds." Swire was a little curious, how could the Doctor have burned out so much energy after only a week's worth of work?

In order to better trick the Doctor into working, she provided food worth nearly 10,000 LMD. It would be a huge loss if she didn't make enough money. It's better to let the Doctor catch his breath.

"Okay!" Qin Duanyu agreed without hesitation, as if she had grasped a lifeline.

"The intelligence is all here. Take a look and get a feel for the situation." She tossed a document into Qin Duanyu's hands.

Theft?

These kinds of things are usually handled by the local police station and the officers, right? Could it be that the property stolen was from the Swire family? He curiously turned to the first page: The Lungmen Third Research Institute was hacked yesterday, and a large amount of experimental data and a prototype machine were stolen.

Sure enough, a theft case that warrants the involvement of the Major Crimes Unit is no small matter.

As a research institute specializing in heavy machinery and automated robots, most of the machinery used by Lungmen employs patented technologies from the Third Research Institute, including auxiliary surveillance robots and drones for the Guard Bureau.

If the data falls into the wrong hands and subsequently compromises the Guardian's equipment, the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, this theft should not be closely related to the Reunion Movement, since a bomb-proof robot being prototyped by the research institute was also stolen at the same time. This kind of equipment, which has not yet been mass-produced, has little practical value, but many research institutions are willing to pay a lot of money for the technology it contains.

Therefore, it seems more like the work of a business competitor.

Since the Third Research Institute is affiliated with Longmen, it is naturally a key official institution that receives significant support. Stealing their stuff and selling it would be tantamount to infringing on the interests of a bunch of big shots, who would be eager to find the culprit and skin him alive.

No wonder Swire not only recalled several team members, but also planned to take Qin Duanyu with him personally.

……

More than an hour later, in front of the Third Research Institute located in the inner city, the BMW 7 Series was parked on the side of the road. Members of the Major Crimes Unit, who had been waiting there, led Swire and the others to the scene.

Besides Qin Duanyu and Shi Huaiya, Texas, who was responsible for protecting him today, was also in the car. Even though she repeatedly explained that they were only going to investigate a theft case, the girl still followed along out of concern.

After all, Qin Duanyu had encountered a life-threatening situation the last time she went out with Superintendent Chen. What if Superintendent Longmen also had a curse that caused two people to encounter danger when they went out?

Fortunately, Qin Duanyu had become familiar with the people in the Major Crimes Unit, and since Swire hadn't said anything, he didn't pry into Texas's identity.

The stolen laboratory was located on the third floor of the research institute. The entire floor has now been completely sealed off. Because it was discovered early enough, the scene was not damaged.

"Texas, what do you think?" After circling around, Qin Duanyu, imitating a famous detective from a certain TV series, asked with his hands behind his back.

Something seems off. If a primary school student becomes a detective and a lot of people die wherever he goes, wouldn't the entire research institute be in danger if a PhD becomes a detective?

“I have made a discovery…” Texas hesitated for a moment, glancing at Swire.

Penguin Logistics is indeed responsible for delivering things, but it delivers more than just ordinary goods. If you want money, it can deliver a bullet to someone's head. Delivering items from someone else's vault to their employer is also within its business scope.

Although she wasn't exactly a top-tier thief, she certainly had a lot of experience in this area. But saying it in front of a policeman really gave off a provocative vibe, like "I am the thief, come and arrest me."

"Don't worry, I'm not that boring rice noodle roll dragon. I have no interest in meddlesome things." Swire smiled and waved her hand, signaling Texas to continue.

"...The perpetrator's methods were very clumsy, and he seemed very nervous throughout the process, not at all like a seasoned corporate spy. However, he was also very familiar with the research institute's security system and did not trigger any alarms." Texas pointed to the computer's USB port, which was covered with fine scratches.

It was clear that the thief was panicking like a complete novice, poking around wildly before finally finding the right spot.

A novice committing a crime for the first time, who was also very familiar with the research institute, could easily deduce a conclusion.

There's a mole within the research institute!

“All the researchers involved in the study, as well as those who went to the third floor before the incident, have been questioned by the police. We can go and see their statements first…” Swire was speaking when he was interrupted by a deep voice.

"Who are you?" A heavily armored man blocked their way, his stun baton flashing blue light. "You just triggered an alarm. I suspect you are involved in the theft. Please give up your futile resistance."

The man's name tag read "Joseph," and his position was captain of the security team.

“Swire, the head of the Major Crimes Unit, is here to investigate this theft.” Swire, slightly annoyed by the interruption, flashed her badge. “Any questions, Captain Joseph? If not, continue your work. Make sure no ‘unauthorized personnel’ enter the scene.”

"So it's Miss Swire. Of course I've heard of the Tiger of the Major Crimes Unit." Even after being mocked, Joseph's expression remained unchanged. Instead, he carefully examined Swire's identification documents, as cautiously as if he were appraising an antique.

"Sir, please also show your police ID..."

"The doctor is our assistant in the Major Crimes Unit, a talent personally recommended by Chief Wei," Swire said somewhat impatiently, even invoking Wei Yanwu's reputation as a powerful figure.

We're here to investigate the people in the research institute, and you, a security captain, dare to ask us all sorts of questions? Believe me, we'll arrest you as a suspect first, or at the very least, charge you with obstructing official business.

"And what about this young lady?"

"Assistant's assistant."

"you……"

There are four updates today, and two have already been delivered. I'll continue this afternoon or evening, and I'll also add a silly little skit for everyone.

Chapter 65, Section 68: Xiao Tou Doesn't Count as a Cheat

Although the atmosphere was a bit tense, a fight ultimately didn't break out.

No matter how much Swire provoked him, Joseph didn't dare to make a move. Even if he were working at Tengyang Group, he wouldn't dare to be charged with assaulting a police officer.

"Joseph, what are you doing? Apologize to the officers right now!" A lean, middle-aged man in a white coat arrived, accompanied by several officers from the Major Crimes Unit and researchers, and immediately began to reprimand him.

With his round ears and long, thin tail, it's easy to tell from his features that he is a Zalak.

Joseph, a man who looked like a heavy armored squad leader, acted like a child who had done something wrong, letting the man, who was not even as tall as his chest, scold him. In the end, he reluctantly bowed to Qin Duanyu and the others.

“Miss Swire, please forgive Joseph’s rudeness. Is there anything else you need? I will do my best to fulfill it.” The man turned around, his expression becoming obsequious, completely devoid of his previous arrogance, and more like a lackey of a young lady.

That's right, it's the kind of stepping stone that's commonly used in wish-fulfillment novels to make the protagonist show off.

If Qin Duanyu hadn't read the materials beforehand, she would have found it hard to imagine that this slightly sleazy, middle-aged man, who completely subverted the image of an intellectual, was actually Zhou Wenjie, the director of the Third Research Institute.

Perhaps it's true that appearances can be deceiving. Although this guy used a lot of scheming to climb to the position of director, his research ability is outstanding, and he has led his team to produce a lot of results.

In particular, the idea of ​​mass-producing automatic robotic vacuum cleaners, which have become popular among wealthy families in recent years, and the solution to minimize costs, all came from Zhou Wenjie.

He's good at making money, capable, and knows how to flatter—that's the secret to Zhou Wenjie's rapid rise. Normally, given his position, he wouldn't need to be so subservient to a police superintendent; at least they could be on equal footing.

However, the theft at the research institute was a serious matter, and the stolen prototype was part of a project he led. Incidentally, the Swire family was one of his major financial backers.

“Anyone who didn’t have an alibi last night will be subject to further questioning and will not be allowed to leave the research institute until the police give them permission. We will also search your residences once the search warrant is issued,” Swire said after reviewing the statements and selecting a few.

“Miss Swire, could it be that this theft wasn’t committed by outside corporate spies?” Zhou Wenjie asked doubtfully. From Swire’s words, it seemed that she suspected the theft was done by an insider.

But in the backyard of the research institute, there were two rows of clear footprints. The one that came in was deep, and the one that came out was shallow. He had checked it with several groups of police officers, and no matter how he thought about it, he believed that it was the trace left by the thief.

He hacked into the nearby surveillance cameras, climbed over the wall into the research institute from the backyard, took the security passage all the way to the third floor, then broke through the access control to sneak in, stole the data and prototype, and returned the way he came – a perfect criminal route.

"That was just a smokescreen, designed to distract the police and make the investigation more difficult," Qin Duanyu said. "If you were the suspect, would you deliberately leave such obvious traces?"

“What this gentleman says makes sense; I was overthinking it.” Zhou Wenjie’s expression changed, but seeing the masked man and Swire standing together, seemingly on good terms, he could only awkwardly agree.

"If it weren't for this road, how would the thief have sneaked into the research institute?" Joseph suddenly asked after a long silence.

Besides the main entrance, which is covered with security cameras, the only other way to access the research institute is through the security passage at the back of the building. But I doubt any thief would dare to be so brazen as to walk right through the main entrance. Do they really think the security team is useless?

"Look, this is it!" Qin Duanyu led everyone to a corner of the laboratory and pointed to a section of the ceiling.

Is this person out of their mind?

The researchers frowned. What could be on the ceiling? It was just a thick wall. Could a thief really break through the concrete without alerting anyone?

"Quickly, bring the ladder and pry it open!" After a moment's thought, Swire ordered several of his men to get to work.

The heavy ceiling was quickly pushed open, revealing rough and dirty walls. Looking at the opening at an angle, it was not difficult to find a latticed passage, the dark opening leading to who-knows-where.

“This is… an old ventilation shaft?” a researcher blurted out, then looked at Zhou Wenjie with some fear.

In truth, this is all Zhou Wenjie's fault.

He knew exactly how to swindle research funding. The dilapidated building obviously wouldn't reassure the big investors, so after he took office as director, the institute underwent several renovations, and the equipment purchased, regardless of its performance, always looked particularly high-end.

They got the money, but the electricians and plumbers were driven crazy. The various pipes and lines were a complicated mess, and no one had the time to sort them out. They would only deal with it while cursing and swearing when something went wrong.

This abandoned ventilation duct can probably only be found on the earliest building design drawings. Although it is not yet clear where it leads, it can certainly bypass most of the security measures.

"How do you know so much about the research institute..." Joseph wanted to ask more, but Zhou Wenjie interrupted him.

"Joseph, the theft of the laboratory was your dereliction of duty. Instead of reflecting on your mistakes, why are you making such a fuss here!" Watching the skinny Zhou Wenjie scold Joseph and even try to hit him with his cane, it felt like a ridiculous scene where someone jumped up and hit Joseph on the knee.

"Look here and you'll see. Don't you think there's too much dust on the ground?" Qin Duanyu had no interest in this farce. Zhou Wenjie was so agitated because he was afraid of being held accountable by the police.

He reached out and wiped his hand on the floor; sure enough, the white glove was covered with a layer of gray.

There may be many roads!