Chapter 1001: Chapter 27 Jason: Someone Gave Me an Offer to Compete That I Couldn’t Refuse_2

“And they’re even giving me the rank of Superintendent, which is quite a breakthrough from the ‘inherent circle.'”

Ryosuke chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Then, the officer’s smile turned inexplicably strange.

It was a sneer.

Mixed with sadness.

“I used to try hard to get promoted to Superintendent, but the rank of Superintendent was my limit; most likely, I’d become one upon retirement, but meanwhile? No chance.”

“After all, I am not a top graduate like Urashima.”

“And now?”

“I’ve reached it effortlessly.”

“But I don’t feel joyful.”

Saying so, Ryosuke lowered his head.

“That’s being overly sentimental!”

Jason commented.

“Hmm?”

Ryosuke looked at Jason, puzzled.

He never expected Jason to comfort him; he just instinctively wanted to vent his feelings to someone.

The people around weren’t appropriate.

Urashima?

Although a nice guy, some things were destined not to be told to Urashima.

“Do you think that something not earned by your own efforts is not a true achievement?”

“Do you feel that by doing so, you won’t be recognized, that you’re as wretched as those parasites you disdain in your heart?”

“But have you ever considered that everything that happened yesterday was obtained by risking your life?”

“Don’t tell me the gunshot wound on your arm is just for show.”

“Talk about being sentimental.”

Jason judged once more.

Ryosuke wanted to rebut, but after opening his mouth, he found himself unable to say anything.

Because what Jason said was the truth.

How could he argue?

Seeing Ryosuke’s expression, Jason’s mouth curved into a smirk.

When Jason first met Ryosuke, he could clearly sense an aura similar to the residents of Nightless City, in other words, this guy was likely not a good person.

But as they interacted more, Jason was certain Ryosuke was a man of principles.

That is, the aura Ryosuke emitted similar to the residents of Nightless City was only towards certain specific groups.

For example: criminals.

Undoubtedly, such a person is upright.

A good person.

Someone who could be considered a reliable acquaintance.

So, Jason didn’t mind spending more words on him.

Definitely not because Ryosuke treated him to a meal when they first met.

“Let’s talk business.”

“Do you still remember Yan Xia?”

“That fugitive, I personally arrested him, but during the transfer, he escaped–I can’t fathom how a bastard with 20 kilograms of shackles managed to kill the transporters and escape from the search grid of more than five hundred police officers.”

Ryosuke said this through gritted teeth.

Yan Xia was dead.

But the matter was far from over.

Jason quickly grasped Ryosuke’s implication.

“Are you suggesting there’s a mole?”

Jason inquired.

“Yes.”

“When I investigated afterward, I faced layers of obstacles, and moreover, I was almost framed as an accomplice of Yan Xia.”

“Given these circumstances, I can’t pretend like nothing happened–I hope to continue the investigation, as a member of the Zero Section, and then, I need your help.”

Ryosuke shrugged, looking like he couldn’t bear the slander.

But Jason could see that when Ryosuke spoke of defamation, his eyes involuntarily glanced at Urashima in the distance, full of vigor.

This wasn’t about being unable to bear his own slander.

It was clearly out of concern that young people like Urashima might suffer similar harm.

Really insincere, these middle-aged men!

Jason sighed inwardly.

The older people get, the less they reveal their true feelings.

As children, if we wanted something, we’d say it.

But as we age, even if we want something, we tend to hold back.

Because that’s growing up.

Some say it’s maturing.

But is it really so?

For example, are two people who love each other deeply really grown-up or mature if they can’t tell each other “I love you”?

Not really.

It’s just about saving face.

It’s the reluctance to be the first to yield.

Or perhaps, it’s just about wanting to win.

The self-restraint in life isn’t about competing to win or lose, it requires mutual concession, understanding, and tolerance.

Think back to when we were kids; why was everyone so pure?

Because of the tolerance of parents!

Parents granted us the right to innocence!

At this moment, in Ryosuke’s look toward Urashima, Jason saw something akin to a fatherly concern.

“Okay.”

“But, I like equivalent exchange.”

“If you come across any bizarre cases, please contact me–as a matter of commission, depending on the situation.”

Jason nodded.

“Of course, that itself is Task Force Zero’s responsibility.”

“By the time I became an agent for Task Force Zero, you had already become my special liaison, and I will contact you for matters that cannot be resolved by conventional means.”

“Also, aren’t you going to ask if I need any help?”

Ryosuke curiously looked at Jason.

He never knew Jason would place such trust in him.

As for equivalent exchange?

To Ryosuke, it didn’t seem like an equivalent exchange at all.

Because, that itself is his duty.

“It’s nothing but providing cover.”

Jason said, waving his hand dismissively and no longer paying attention to Ryosuke, and headed down the steps with strides.

Watching Jason’s figure from behind, Ryosuke shrugged his shoulders again.

This time, however, it wasn’t out of helplessness.

But out of habit.

The habit when good things come his way.

“This guy.”

Ryosuke muttered and then stepped forward to grab Shimura Tetsuya.

“Check on that Sato.”

“Contact the others to temporarily seal the scene.”

Ryosuke instructed Urashima.

“Yes, sir.”

Urashima saluted and responded.

…

After passing through the police tape set up by the officers, Jason and Hui Lijing returned to the car.

Seeing the sun setting in the west, Jason couldn’t help but ask.

“Is there any food street or snack street nearby?”

He had arranged to meet with the Monk from Tongshou Temple in the evening.

There was still quite a bit of time left.

Jason thought that this time must be put to good use.

“Of course.”

“I’ll lead the way.”

Hui Lijing nodded, her face showing considerable interest.

As a female detective who had always dreamed of being a barista, she naturally had an appetite for food, and having just completed a commission, it was naturally time to treat herself well.

“The commission is complete.”

“The commission fee will be delivered to the Polar Bear Cafe in three days.”

“A total of 2000 yuan, according to the previous division ratio, Jason, you get 1800, and I 200.”

“So, we try to keep food expenses within this budget.”

Hui Lijing had witnessed Jason’s appetite.

She didn’t dare to suggest treating him.

She didn’t want to go bankrupt.

As for using the money left by Hui Lixiang?

She didn’t want to do that either.

Better to leave that money for Hui Lixiang!

What if she encountered an emergency and urgently needed the money?

She must ask the Monk from the Tongshou Temple during dinner if he knew of her whereabouts.

“Okay.”

Jason did not oppose Hui Lijing’s suggestion.

Under financial limitations, tasting unlimited delicacies was his dream.

When funds are insufficient?

Naturally, it’s time to save.

However, such commissions were quite generous.

They were beyond his expectations.

“Such commissions, apart from the client, some detectives also contribute a fund–they are mostly not short of money, but each one of them is curious.”

“If it were a normal case, they would have swarmed in already.”

Seeing Jason’s confusion, Hui Lijing explained.

Then, the female detective started the car.

“Let’s go, snack street!”

Hui Lijing stepped on the accelerator.

The car smoothly entered the road, and then began to accelerate.

The snack street was quite far from the school where the incident occurred.

Only after a full half-hour did Jason and Hui Lijing arrive at their destination.

‘Foodie Paradise’!

A huge signboard, full of colorful lights, stood at the entrance of the snack street.

Many restaurant staff were distributing their respective promotional flyers.

To such flyers, Jason was always receptive.

He accepted each one, looking over them carefully.

Not to select.

Food cannot be omitted.

He was just planning where to start eating from.

And at that moment–

“Sir, hello, would you like to participate in an eating contest?”