I Sent You to Take the College Entrance Exam, and You Ended Up Solving a Murder Case?! - Chapter 21

His expression turned serious the moment he saw those few words on the cover.

The air in the office seemed to freeze at that moment.

Liu Chengpei remained silent for a long time before taking off his glasses and rubbing his temples.

“Xiao Mo, do you know what you’re saying?”

His voice was a little hoarse.

“I know,” Chen Mo replied simply and firmly.

“You know?” Liu Chengpei’s voice suddenly rose.

“Did you know that this case was led by the Ministry and jointly handled by Sichuan and Yunnan provinces?”

“Do you know how many police officers we mobilized and how many outstanding comrades sacrificed in order to capture Fan Xiaotian?”

“Criminal investigation, special police, armed police… In our city of Shu alone, we’ve lost seven top officers! More than a dozen have been seriously injured!”

Liu Chengpei’s voice was filled with suppressed heartache.

“And in the end? In the end, he still managed to get away!”

“One person managed to outmaneuver the police forces of two provinces! And now you’re telling me you want to reopen the investigation?”

Liu Chengpei stared at Chen Mo, his eyes sharp as knives.

“What makes you think you can compete? Just because your newly rebuilt team, which barely has any members?”

“I don’t want my soldiers to be lost to these desperados again.”

Chen Mo’s expression remained unchanged when questioned by his superiors.

He simply looked at Liu Chengpei quietly and said, word by word, “Director Liu, I know you mean well.”

“But they cannot have died in vain.”

“The predecessors of Team Five cannot have died in vain.”

That last sentence struck Liu Chengpei’s heart like a boulder.

Liu Chengpei’s body jolted violently, his lips moved a few times, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

Yes, the October 23 case was significant for the entire Chengdu police force, especially for the Fifth Criminal Investigation Team.

It is a scar that will never heal.

In that operation, all five elite teams were deployed, but almost the entire force was wiped out.

The captain died on the spot, the vice-captain was seriously injured and disabled, and the backbone of the entire team was broken.

This is why Team Five remained silent for so long, only resuming recruitment after Chen Mo’s arrival.

Seeing that Liu Chengpei was softening, Chen Mo continued, “Director Liu, I didn’t act on impulse.”

“I’ve analyzed it, and Fan Xiaotian is an extremely arrogant person.”

“His ability to escape from the massive police operation of two provinces was the most glorious ‘achievement’ of his life.”

“The most dangerous place is the safest place.”

“I’m certain he hasn’t gone far; he’s very likely… still lurking in Shu City!”

Liu Chengpei put his glasses back on and scrutinized the young man in front of him.

In Chen Mo’s eyes, there was no youthful arrogance, only unwavering determination.

It was a look that… meant being willing to risk everything for one’s beliefs.

Just like myself back then.

They are just like those… fallen comrades.

After a long while, Liu Chengpei let out a long sigh.

“I can only give you twenty days at most.”

“Twenty days?” Chen Mo frowned slightly.

“Yes, twenty days.” Liu Chengpei’s tone left no room for doubt.

“If Fan Xiaotian’s exact whereabouts cannot be found in twenty days, the investigation must be terminated.”

“This case is too complicated; I can’t let you investigate it indefinitely.”

“Okay!” Chen Mo agreed without hesitation.

“I have only one request.”

“you say.”

“I need the highest level of authority from the Technical Investigation Department.”

Liu Chengpei gave him a deep look.

“Can.”

…

Nine o’clock in the morning.

Chen Mo returned to the office of the Fifth Criminal Investigation Team.

There were only two people in the huge office.

One was Su Chun, typing away at his computer in the corner, sporting dark circles under his eyes.

The other one is Jiang Xiaomiao, who is carefully watering the succulents on the windowsill with a small spray bottle.

“Captain, you’re back?” Jiang Xiaomiao immediately put down the watering can and stood up straight when she saw Chen Mo.

Su Chun also snapped out of his reverie in front of the computer, adjusted his glasses, and said, “Good morning, Captain.”

Chen Mo glanced around the empty office.

“Where are the others?”

“Captain Wu went to the Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Forensic Center to pick up an expert report for a case.”

“Brother Li and Lao Wang…didn’t you tell them to go home early yesterday? They probably haven’t arrived yet,” Jiang Xiaomiao replied softly.

Chen Mo nodded, his expression serious.

“Xiao Miao, Su Chun.”

“Here!” the two replied immediately.

“Notify all members of Team Five, including Wu Che.”

“A meeting will be held in the conference room in forty minutes. No one is allowed to be absent or late.”

“yes!”

Jiang Xiaomiao and Su Chun exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes.

This was the first time Chen Mo had issued an order in such a serious tone since taking office.

Something big is about to happen!

Thirty-five minutes later.

In the fifth team’s office, all the team members had returned, panting and looking tense.

Wu Che strode up to Chen Mo, stood at attention, and reported.

“Captain, Team Five should have seven members, and seven members are present. Everyone is here!”

Chen Mo nodded and uttered a few words expressionlessly.

“To the conference room.”

“Su Chun, turn on the projector.”

Su Chun immediately operated the computer, and a black and white ID photo instantly filled the entire screen.

The man in the photo has a buzz cut, a square face, sinister eyes, and a cold smile on his lips.

“Fan Xiaotian”.

“The main culprit in last year’s ‘10.23’ major armed resistance to arrest and attack on police officers case, an A-level wanted criminal.”

“With the approval of our superiors, starting today, our Fifth Team will officially restart the investigation into him.”

After he finished speaking, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the face on the screen, their expressions filled with shock.

“We only have twenty days.”

Chen Mo looked around at everyone, taking in the expressions on each of their faces.

“From now on, Su Chun, you are responsible for scanning and copying all the files, one copy for each person.”

“I demand that you do this within three days.”

“Memorize all of Fan Xiaotian’s information, including his height, weight, accent, and lifestyle habits, into your brain!”

“The operation will officially begin next Monday.”

Finally, there are two requirements.

Chen Mo’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

“First, absolute secrecy.”

“From this moment forward, no information about this case is to be uttered outside this meeting room!”

“You must keep this a secret from your family, friends, and all other colleagues!”

“second……”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of Wu Che, Jiang Xiaomiao, Su Chun, and everyone else.

“Starting this afternoon, everyone will go to the shooting range in batches to resume shooting training.”

“Clean your guns up.”

After the meeting, the members of Team Five did not leave immediately.

Instead, they surrounded Su Chun, waiting for him to distribute the newly scanned electronic files.

Everyone wore a complex expression.

Chen Mo ignored them and returned to his office alone, closing the door behind him.

He walked to the window and looked down at the bustling street below, but the face of Liu Chengpei, the director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, appeared in his mind.

“Xiao Chen, I know you want to vindicate Team Five and establish your authority within the team as soon as possible.”

“I approved this case for you despite the pressure.”

“However, we only have twenty days.”

“If there is no substantial progress after twenty days, the task force must be disbanded and the case files resealed.”

Liu Chengpei’s words still ring in my ears.

Twenty days.

To outsiders, this was almost an impossible task, or even a perfunctory effort.

But Chen Mo understood that this was Liu Chu supporting him in his own way.

If he wins, he will completely control all five teams, and his prestige will be unmatched.

If he loses… then it proves that Chen Mo is not qualified to sit in the position of captain.

This is not a perfunctory act; it’s a high-stakes gamble that will cost him his entire career.

…