Los Angeles Police Department.
A large number of officers were waiting for Sheriff Dyson to return.
The atmosphere in the station was rather gloomy.
Not long ago, the bodies of a family had been discovered in a manor in the suburbs, not far from the city.
Judging from the scene and the manner of death, it was most likely another paranormal incident.
The officers here had dealt with no fewer than ten paranormal incidents. When they arrived at the crime scene and felt nothing out of the ordinary, they guessed that someone had already come to clean things up, and wanted to just go through the motions.
But unexpectedly, the higher-ups were placing great importance on this matter and ordered that they must get to the bottom of what happened.
“Even if it really was a ghost that did it, find its damn grave for me!”
The chief’s roaring voice in his office was heard clearly by every officer.
The officers exchanged glances and shrugged helplessly.
When it came to paranormal incidents, how could ordinary officers like them get involved?
But soon, they realized that this time the chief wasn’t losing his mind for no reason. The family that died had a background that was far from insignificant.
There were even rumors that if the killer wasn’t found, everyone below would suffer the consequences.
This morning, there was even news that the FBI was coming to assist with the investigation.
Everyone’s only hope was that Sheriff Dyson could invite that incredibly capable antique shop owner.
Who knew how much time had passed when a familiar figure appeared at the entrance of the police station.
All the officers turned their eyes toward the door at the same time. The anticipation in their eyes gradually faded, finally turning into a helpless sigh.
It was only Sheriff Dyson alone. That young man hadn’t come with him.
Dyson himself looked calm.
Su had taken his advice and gone traveling. That was a good thing.
The FBI had far more power than the police, and they could do outrageous things to solve a case.
If the two sides met, friction was absolutely bound to happen.
Once Su Fan made a move, there would be countless troubles. It was true that he could get out of it, but the antique shop would never be able to stay open again.
As for disciplinary action, he had already thought it through. He would take all the blame on himself.
He had been saved by Su more than once. Even if it meant a demotion, he accepted it.
After all, he had been alone all these years, with nothing to worry about.
With a lower position, he wouldn’t have to manage so many things, and could just go to the antique shop every day to drink tea. That wouldn’t be bad either.
Once he understood this, Dyson’s previously heavy mood actually became much lighter.
And it was precisely at this moment that there was movement at the entrance.
A group of professionals in suits walked into the police station and looked around.
“Which one of you is Sheriff Dyson?”
Dyson knew they hadn’t come with good intentions and stood up on his own.
“I am. Is there something you need?”
“Federal Bureau of Investigation. Regarding the recent manor massacre case, we need your cooperation in the investigation. Come with us now.”
Dyson thought to himself that it was just as he expected, but kept his expression unchanged and nodded, following the investigator’s footsteps.
The patrol officers didn’t speak, but they all cast pitying looks at Dyson’s back.
They didn’t know how many years it had been since they’d seen a chief so upright and unyielding, but it was precisely because of this that Dyson had become a thorn in many people’s sides.
This time, going with them, there was a high chance he’d be tortured into confessing and used as a scapegoat.
“Where’s Karl?”
Someone suddenly asked in confusion.
Karl was closest to the sheriff. It was impossible for him to just watch as the sheriff was taken away without saying anything.
“The sheriff sent him off to a farther area for patrol duty. He won’t be back for a while.”
Hearing this, the officers fell silent again.
It seemed the chief had planned this long ago.
…
Leaving the police station and getting into the private car, Dyson kept a stiff face and never once looked at the investigators around him.
Arrest first, present evidence later. The method of arrest was arbitrary.
In other words, whether they put on handcuffs directly or beat him first and then put on handcuffs depended entirely on the other party’s mood.
Since they had called him out, they must have investigated traces of Su Fan and thoroughly dug up his relationship with Su Fan.
He had already prepared himself mentally.
“No need to be so nervous. We just need your cooperation in the investigation.”
The investigator sitting beside Dyson spoke.
“Give us a rough description of the police department’s investigation process for the case and the conclusions you drew.”
Dyson nodded and truthfully told the other party about the conditions at the crime scene and the situation at the time.
“The Armitage family’s deaths were distributed across different corners of the manor villa.”
“In addition, we also discovered the bodies of two citizens who had been missing for many days.”
“The bodies were unrecognizable. The coroner couldn’t get much information, but it can be confirmed that the time of death should have been four days before they were discovered.”
“The scene was slightly disturbed. The person who reported the case is suspected not to have been the first discoverer.”
“…”
The investigator recorded everything throughout using the recording device in his hand.
After Dyson finished speaking, he stopped recording.
“According to our investigation, before the incident, the last person the Armitage family’s daughter, Rose, visited was the owner of an antique shop on Hollywood Boulevard.”
“And this owner has close dealings with you. Do you have anything to say about that?”
Here it comes.
Dyson’s heart tightened, but he still kept a straight face.
“I do know the antique shop owner you’re talking about, but he is a normal person.”
“What is a normal person?”
“Once you’ve seen the scene, you’ll understand. That kind of crime scene is simply not something a human being could accomplish.”
“As FBI investigators, you’ve come into contact with far more secrets than I have. I believe you can understand what I’m saying.”
As soon as Dyson finished speaking, he had already prepared himself to be intimidated, but unexpectedly, the investigator opposite him remained pleasant.
“I understand. Regarding related matters, please follow the confidentiality agreement.”
“Also, is there anything else you want to add about the case?”
“Next, we’re going to the crime scene to verify one by one what you’ve said, and to retrieve the relevant files from the police department for verification.”
Dyson was somewhat puzzled, but still nodded.
“I understand. There’s nothing else to add.”
Before long, the vehicle arrived at the manor where the murder had occurred.
The investigators really did only do what they said they would: gather evidence, and then withdraw.
As for Dyson, they only asked him a few questions during the process and did nothing out of line.
Afterward, they brought him back to the police station.
Even after getting out of the car, Dyson was still a bit dazed.
He couldn’t understand why the other party’s attitude was so good.
Could it be that federal investigators had all changed their temperaments now?
But there was no time to think about that, because he was immediately surrounded by a large number of officers.
At the same time, the investigators in the car also began to talk.
“No need to keep investigating?”
“Did your brain get filled with dog shit? If you want to die, then go ahead.”
The investigator who had previously been questioning the sheriff replied irritably.
“Is that person really that terrifying? Is the gap in combat ability so huge that it scares you this much?”
“Let me put it this way. The gap between you and him is bigger than the gap between a Chihuahua and you.”
“…Even if that’s true, can’t you say it more tactfully?”
“If you’d really seen him, you’d know I was still being conservative.”
The investigator recalled that day, the scene when their whole team had been deployed.
Adam, who was in charge of command, had been forced by that Asian young man to withdraw the team with just a few words.
And as the sniper, he had even seen through his scope that the other party turned his head toward his direction and revealed a meaningful smile.
Only now did he understand what level of existence “transcendent” truly was.
“Besides, this also involves a contest between big shots in the political world. It’s not something we can participate in.
A few thousand dollars a month, and you’re willing to throw your life away?”
Investigators sent to look into major political scandals often end up dead halfway through. It was not strange at all.
This kind of job, he couldn’t avoid fast enough.
“Risk dying to offend a transcendent, or turn a blind eye and sell Investigator Adam and the others a favor. You choose.”
What was there to even ask? Even a fool would know how to choose.
“…I understand.”
“If you understand, then pack it up!”
