The Genius System Without Equal

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Although he had many questions and no answers, the two cases seemed to be related to some degree. It was very likely that he would be able to track the suspect down. He would be able to crack the case if only he could find the black SUV without car number plates and ascertain its owner. But first of all, he would have to make contact with the Asou family to get a feel of the situation. After all, they were the primary lead right now.

On the second day, Miyazaki Ronjin got into the department at almost 9 am.

He was wearing a gray sweater with the same jacket that he wore the night before, and he looked like a country bumpkin. Besides the pungent smoke from his cigarette, there was also an unpleasant smell emanating from his clothes. He was wearing unwashed clothes, and the odor was overpowering.

Miyazaki Ronjin frowned when he saw that Xiao Luo was in casual clothes. “We’re about to meet the police department captain, Mr. Xiao. Are you not going to change into your uniform?” he said.

Xiao Luo frowned and replied, “Why would I have to?”

He was not a real police officer. So, he was not in the habit of wearing a uniform.

“So that you look formal,” Miyazaki Ronjin replied.

“Then why aren’t you wearing yours?” Xiao Luo asked the man.

“I—”

Miyazaki Ronjin was about to say that as he was close to retirement, the people in the police department would ignore him anyway. He did not think it’d matter if he wore his uniform or not. However, he chose to keep his mouth shut. He slowly puffed out a thick column of smoke, and something akin to admiration gleamed in his eyes as he looked at Xiao Luo. He patted the man’s shoulder and chuckled but said nothing else.

…

…

The police department building was situated close to an intersection. It was a 20-plus floor tall building, and there were about a dozen police cruisers parked neatly in the yard outside of it. This is Dongjing, after all—the capital city and the largest city of Ri Nation. And the police department building was impressive and befitting of its status.

Xiao Luo followed Miyazaki Ronjin and Kimura Akino into the building, where they took the lift up to the 15th floor. They walked through another long, well-lit corridor before they reached the captain’s office.

Knock, knock.

Kimura Akino cautiously tapped on the door, as if he was afraid that knocking it too loudly would be discourteous.

“That’s not how you knock on a door, Akino. You’re knocking it too gently, and it won’t get the captain’s attention. It also makes it clear that you’re not confident and that you’re not one to call the shots.”

Miyazaki Ronjin chided like the veteran he was. “Move aside, I’ll do it!”

He shoved Kimura Akino aside and knocked firmly on the door—so hard it seemed it’d bring the door down.

Xiao Luo was a little shocked, but then a slight smile crept on his face. Miyazaki Ronjin was an elite police officer, no doubt about that, he thought. He could tell a lot about someone’s personality just by the way a person knocked on a door. This level of observation was a result of experience acquired through the years.

His sturdy door knock said a lot about Miyazaki Ronjin’s personality. It was clear that such a man was used to taking responsibility and had a high confidence level.

If it was a series of short and quick raps, it indicated that he was tense or nervous and indicated his level of anxiety.

If there was a rhythm to the knock, it inspired a sense of steadiness, reflecting on his down-to-earth personality. if the knock was listless, it suggested he had a lot on his mind and was seeking advice on something he could not figure out on his own.

If the door knock was slow and measured, it meant the person was vain.

“Come in!”

An authoritative and steady voice boomed from the room. Miyazaki Ronjin pushed the door open and walked in.

Xiao Luo and Kimura Akino followed right behind him into the room. A man, about as old as Miyazaki Ronjin, who was sitting behind the desk. He was wearing a pair of round-framed glasses. He had a salt-and-pepper shade of hair but looked rather spirited in his demeanor. He was a little on the lean side of average. He donned the light blue police uniform, and the five stars on his epaulet told them his rank—the Chief of Police.

Besides the chief, there was a female police officer in the room as well.

She had a bob cut hairstyle, and her hair was dyed in a light brown color, with see-through bangs covering her forehead. She had a neat and tidy appearance. Her facial features were well-defined, making her look classy, and her appearance was easy on the eye.

“Mr. Ronjin, why aren’t you in uniform?”

The chief frowned, displeased with Miyazaki Ronjin. “You’re a senior. Don’t you think you should set an example for the juniors? Even if you’re about to retire, you’ll still have to give it your all until your very last day. Besides, you’ve been assigned the case of the missing Hua nationals. If you don’t do a good job, I won’t be able to give you a bonus for your pension, no matter how much I want to.”

Miyazaki Ronjin was a veteran, and he listened to the chief’s rebuke without a change in his expression, like still water. Instead of acknowledging, he immediately introduced Xiao Luo. “Chief, this is Sergeant 1st Class Xiao Han from Hua Nation.”

The chief took a more formal demeanor when he heard this. He stood up and came around the table, asking stiffly in Mandarin, “Are you, Mr. Xiao Han?”

Xiao Luo replied, “Yes, I’m Xiao Han.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Welcome.”

The chief immediately clasped Xiao Luo’s hand in both of his and had a warm smile on his face. “I’m Tanaka Hiroshi. Welcome to Dongjing. I didn’t think your spoken Japanese would be this good, Mr. Xiao. It looks like we won’t be needing an interpreter to help us communicate after all,” he said.

Xiao Luo nodded with a smile to acknowledge the man. In all honesty, he was not particularly fond of the Ri Nation people. It was not surprising, with the deep-seated hatred Xiao Luo carried within him. So every time he greeted a Ri national, his smile was forced and not at all sincere.

Tanaka Hiroshi turned to Kimura Akino and said, “Akino, go call the heads of the public division and major crimes division. I have to introduce them to Mr. Xiao.”

Miyazaki Ronjin spoke up suddenly. “Why is there a need to introduce them to him? He’s here to supervise the investigation of the missing Hua nationals. All he has to do is solve the case as quickly as possible. Is there a need for him to know so many people?”

Tanaka Hiroshi was enraged. “What’s with you, Ronjin? Why are you so indifferent about this? You come into my office and lecture me, and you’re even smoking here! Are you not taking me seriously as your chief?” he scowled.

“I wouldn’t dare. How could I not take you seriously?” Miyazaki Ronjin responded. He then lowered his head and put out his cigarette.

Tanaka Hiroshi looked at him in frustration and said, “I joined the force the same year you did, and yet you’re still a sergeant, still resting on the laurels of your past glories. What do I do with you?” When he turned to Xiao Luo, he was all smiles, and he said, “How embarrassing that you had to hear this, Mr. Xiao. Ronjin’s conduct is sometimes a little questionable, but there’s no doubt that he’s excellent at solving cases. And the other three divisions will be helping him as well. I believe the case of missing people from your country will be solved in no time at all. I am confident that they will be rescued unharmed.”

Xiao Luo frowned. He could not help thinking that this chief was simply waffling. In kidnapping cases, every second of delay would only increase the risk of harm to the victims. Did he not know that? No matter how comforting his words were, they could not compare to affirmative action. If they had no leads, could they not just mobilize all of their officers and do a carpet sweep of Dongjing?

At that moment, the female officer stood up and extended her hand out to Xiao Luo. She introduced herself, “Hello, Mr. Xiao Han, I’m in charge of the third division. My name is Asou Shuyao.”

Asou Shuyao? From the Asou Clan?Xiao Luo immediately felt anxious as he stared at her. dubiously Still, he proceeded to shake her hand politely. “Hello,” he said.