Capturing the Suspect

The day's commotion left Duke somewhat exhausted, yet under the nourishing effect of that energy within him, his whole body felt tingly, as though soaked in warm water, dispelling his fatigue. He couldn't help but let out a soft groan; fortunately, he wasn't at school at the moment, or he would surely be misunderstood.

"This really is an awakened ability!" Duke felt his energy recovering, his Force value inside him having slightly decreased. He was convinced he had just used an awakened ability.

Duke sat for a while before chuckling self-deprecatingly. He realized he had been able to refine an awakened ability from a corpse. This was truly an unimaginable feat.

"This, never imagined." Duke murmured to himself. He originally thought that extracting Force crystals from corpses was already incredible enough, but he never imagined he could obtain an "awakened ability" from the deceased.

It must be noted that awakened abilities were diverse, though they could roughly be categorized into combat, lifestyle, and support abilities. Yet, the awakened abilities each person could comprehend were unique.

Most awakened individuals could only comprehend skills matching their awakened attributes. For instance, combat-type awakened individuals like Alexander might comprehend skills that enhanced their physical qualities or defensive capabilities.

However, the awakened ability Duke had just used clearly fell under the support category. He had used the "Recovery of Qi" ability, which consumed Force to restore a substantial amount of physical strength.

Duke began to imagine a scene where various awakened abilities were hanging on the giant tree within him. Although it was a fantasy, as awakened individuals' corpses were not easily found, this idea still excited him.

However, Duke didn't feel tired. He took out the premium raw stone Alexander had given him and continued to absorb energy. Although the speed was slower than directly refining the crystals, he was still gradually improving.

The night was already deep, most areas had fallen into tranquility, yet the lights on HQ Avenue still burned brightly. This place was home to J City's top tycoons.

Within a snow-white mansion, Greg, dressed in a deep green robe, held a seductive beauty in his arms as he listened to his subordinate, Dirk's, report.

Hearing Dirk's detailed account of today's interrogation of Duke, Greg nodded in satisfaction. 

"Once the storm blows over, find an opportunity to take him down." he said coldly.

"Yes."

The two continued their conversation. Just then, the grand entrance of the mansion was suddenly pushed open.

"Greg, apologies for the intrusion. I'm Captain Alexander of the Enforcement Bureau. We suspect you're connected to the infected individuals from the slums of Sector C. Please cooperate with our investigation." A disheveled, shabbily dressed man barged into the room, standing on Greg's carpet.

Greg's eyebrow slightly arched, his gaze shifting to his subordinate Dirk. It was evident he found this situation perplexing. Greg understood that the two suspected infected individuals he had encountered at the casino were unlikely to be unknown to the Enforcement Bureau. Yet, he also believed that they couldn't possess any substantial evidence; otherwise, he would have been arrested long ago.

"Captain Alexander, is there something urgent that can't wait until tomorrow to discuss? Is it really necessary to make such a grand entrance?" Greg inquired calmly. He knew the Enforcement Bureau's tactics well, but he wasn't easily intimidated. 

"I'm afraid not." Alexander chuckled heartily, casually seating himself on the leather sofa across from Greg and popping a few sun grapes into his mouth, the juices splattering about.

"Greg, you hold a certain status, so there's no need to play these tricks anymore. You understand, dealing with matters related to the infected is no trivial affair. I'm forced into this too. If I'm mistaken, I'll personally come and apologize to you, how about that?" Alexander spoke firmly.

Greg lightly stroked his chin, showing no emotion on his face. He glanced at Alexander and the seven or eight law enforcement officers waiting at the door, then took a deep breath. He realized that the situation might be more serious than he had thought. Alexander wasn't just putting on a show; he genuinely possessed some substantial information.

After a brief thought, Greg nodded. "Alright, I'll go with you. Can I make a phone call first?" He made a request. Alexander made a casual gesture of agreement.

Not long after, with a grim expression, Dirk watched as Greg got into the Enforcement Bureau's car. He then dialed a number on his phone. Because Alexander was present, there were things that couldn't be said face to face, and he needed to further explain the situation.

"A captain from the Enforcement Bureau dares to come and arrest Greg," someone sighed from the sidelines.

Before Alexander, the captains of other law enforcement teams in J City had close ties to Greg, and some were even like brothers. Even the upper echelons of the Enforcement Bureau had given him some face.

But Alexander was different from them. He had never established any connection with Greg, to the point that no one would vouch for him. For Alexander, this was his advantage.

Looking at Greg inside the car, composed and expressionless, Alexander also restrained his casual smile. He knew this opponent wasn't so easily dealt with. Although he now held some leverage, it wasn't direct evidence. He was waiting for Greg's counterattack. Although this might disrupt his plans, only when Greg made a move could he continue searching along the leads.

"Impressive, Greg. You're able to remain so calm after getting into this car. You truly are unique," the car bumped along as Alexander gazed at Greg.

This man was different from past members of the Enforcement Bureau. He lacked the air of someone within the system and instead seemed more like a streetwise boss. But Alexander knew that this might just be a disguise for Greg. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to target J City's business magnates so quickly.

Furthermore, Greg had never heard of any businessman having a good relationship with Alexander. Everyone had a low opinion of this man, thinking his emotional intelligence was lacking, that he would stubbornly cling to his plans. Now Greg understood that those evaluations were mistaken.

"I'm a legitimate businessman, naturally, I wouldn't be afraid," Greg smiled faintly, then fell silent, unwilling to reveal any meaning in his words.

About ten minutes later, as the car had just arrived at the entrance of the Enforcement Bureau, they saw two cars already parked there. Several mature, experienced middle-aged men were waiting.

Alexander looked at one of them and squinted his eyes slightly. The higher the level of the people arriving, the stronger the sense of foreboding he felt within.

"District Head Alvin, coming all the way here this late, I apologize for the inconvenience," as he got out of the car, Alexander's expression had already turned into a playful smile.