Team Supervisor’s Office.

“Good morning, Chief.”

Luo An knocked on the door and entered the office, finding Potante Byrne in conversation. Chenier and Winslow had been transferred to the Special Investigation Team in such a short time, thanks to Potante Byrne’s assistance.

Potante Byrne looked at Luo An with a smile growing broader at the sight of him.

A few days ago, Potante Byrne and Luo An had just held a press conference for the [Los Angeles Council Chairman Physical Division Case], a serial murder case involving over a dozen victims that alarmed the citizens of Los Angeles.

All major media outlets frantically reported on it, and now, just leaving the building and buying a newspaper on the streets of Los Angeles, one could see photos of both Potante Byrne and Luo An Greenwood.

The Mayor of Los Angeles, the new Council Chairman, and even the Governor of California all expressed their opinions on the case, calling Potante Byrne to give their praise and encouragement.

Distant Vireness also praised Luo An over the phone, and Mr. Clement took the time to call Luo An too, praising his excellent work and even inviting Luo An to have a meal at his house during Christmas vacation.

Luo An accepted the invitation, aware that this was Mr. Clement’s way of winning hearts. But he didn’t mind, knowing that only those of high value were deemed worth his attention, and even more so, this would smooth Luo An’s path forward.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Just as Potante Byrne and Luo An were having a cheerful conversation, there was a sudden knock on the Team Supervisor’s Office door, and it was Group Leader Morton York who entered.

“Good morning, Chief.”

After entering the room, Morton York exchanged brief pleasantries without any chit-chat and turned his gaze directly to Luo An, who was sitting, and said:

“I have a case I’d like Group Leader Luo An’s assistance with.”

Luo An: ?

Morton York did not hide the fact that the case he referred to was a missing person case.

Ordinary missing person cases do not require FBI intervention, and even if the FBI does intervene, the experienced Morton York is more than capable of handling it.

However, this case was different. The missing person was related to Morton York, and according to FBI internal regulations, Morton York could not handle this case himself.

At the end, Morton York apologized again for previous matters and earnestly begged Luo An for help.

Next to him, Team Supervisor Potante Byrne remained silent, aware of the previous friction between Luo An and Morton York. With Luo An’s recent performance, Potante Byrne’s attitude towards Luo An had started to tilt in his favor, and he highly respected Luo An’s personal stance.

Under Morton York’s anxious gaze, Luo An glanced over the basic information of the case, chuckled after a few seconds of silence, and looked up, saying:

“OK, I can take on this case, but I also have a favor to ask of Group Leader Morton.”

What Luo An wanted Morton York to do was similar to what John Rodriguez was tasked with: clarifying the exact situation of Los Angeles’s underworld.

Morton York had been in Los Angeles for a long time and was definitely knowledgeable about Los Angeles’s underworld.

By comparing the information gathered by John Rodriguez to the information provided by Morton York, Luo An would be able to roughly ascertain the true situation of Los Angeles’s underworld.

“No problem!”

Morton York agreed immediately, having observed Luo An’s conduct over time and regretting his past actions while also working to foster good relations with Luo An.

Having assisted Luo An in a few cases before and seeing his current attitude and behavior, Luo An chose to undertake this case.

After briefly chatting with Potante Byrne, just as Morton York handed over all the information on the missing person case, Luo An took these documents and returned to the Special Investigation Team.

Special Investigation Team, Work Area.

Reesi, Michelle, and Mona were chatting with the newcomers Winslow and Chenier. Winslow was alright, appearing fierce but speaking kindly, whereas Chenier seemed a bit cold–not disliking Reesi and others, but just not fond of speaking, a bit subdued overall.

“Good morning, agents!”

Pushing open the door of the Special Investigation Team, Luo An smiled and waved the folder in his hand, saying:

“Let’s hold off on the trip down memory lane. Christmas is still a while away, but we’ve received a new ‘gift’ ahead of schedule.”

“Hopefully, we don’t get this kind of gift on Christmas Day.”

Reesi swiveled her chair back to the original position and muttered under her breath, while Mona directly asked:

“What case is it this time?”

“A disappearance case, the missing person this time is a military officer.”

Luo An handed a folder to Michelle, who distributed it to the agents. Luo An then turned to pin the missing person’s photo on the whiteboard and introduced:

“Petduo Osan, 45 years old this year, a colonel in the Federation Navy.

He went missing around 11:30 last night and until now it has been…”

Luo An glanced at the clock, then continued:

“Ten hours.”

“A navy officer missing?”

Looking at the folder in her hands, Reesi scratched her head:

“Could it be terrorists seeking revenge?”

“It could also be that he had done something and now his identity is exposed and someone has come for him.”

Luo An casually countered with another guess, then knocked on the whiteboard and loudly said:

“Everyone, the missing person is a navy officer, and he surely has a lot of information in his head, which is probably what the kidnappers are after.

48 hours is the golden window for kidnapping cases, we must find him within this timeframe.

Mona, Michelle, you two stay with the Special Investigation Team and look up Petduo Osan’s financial status, emotional condition, and recent whereabouts via computer.

Reesi, Winslow, you two go to the naval base where Petduo Osan was stationed and see if there are any clues.

Chenier, you come with me, we’ll go to the last place Petduo Osan was seen yesterday and see what the witnesses have to say.”

“OK!”

“No problem!”

Upon receiving their orders, the agents set to work. Two SUVs drove out of the parking lot heading in two different directions rapidly.

The Federation Army is different from many countries’ militaries; firstly, around every major city in the federation territory, there are military bases established by the Federation Navy, and this is also true for some international cities.

Secondly, the management of the Federation Army is quite lax, whether soldiers or officers, unless they commit an offense, they all have some time to leave the base and have fun.

The last known location of Petduo Osan before his disappearance was a bar in North Los Angeles.

Petduo Osan’s car was parked undamaged at a street corner diagonally opposite the bar, and there were no nearby surveillance cameras. Luo An and Chenier didn’t find any clues there, so they pushed open the bar’s door.

“I know him, he was here last night, but I didn’t realize he was a navy officer… but now that I think about it, he does fit the image of a navy officer.”

The bar owner, a plump middle-aged woman, looked at the photo of Petduo Osan that Luo An showed, put down the glass in her hand, and chuckled:

“This guy always came here with a woman, or picked one up at the bar, and after having a few drinks, he’d take her straight to a nearby motel.”

“OK.”

Luo An made no comment on Petduo Osan’s personal lifestyle and asked:

“Was there anything unusual here last night?”

“Indeed, there was something.”