Chapter 493: Team Leader Xu Talking to a Cat?

In the afternoon, a young woman exuding an aura of "no shortage of money" hurried into the Police Station.

"Comrade police, I want to file a report! My precious son is missing! I suspect he was abducted and sold!"

"Abduction and sale?" Upon hearing that, officer Xiao Hu immediately became serious.

Normally, missing‑person cases can be reported at any time, but they require a full 48 hours before an investigation can be opened.

However, circumstances vary; not every case waits the 48 hours, and the Police will decide whether to open a case based on the specifics.

In situations like the woman's alleged human trafficking, an investigation can be opened immediately, without waiting forty‑eight hours.

"Right, abduction!" the woman said, pulling twenty thousand cash from her LV handbag: "Can you send someone to help me now? I'm anxious, I can pay!"

Xiao Hu, without a second thought, pushed the money back.

"We'll definitely help you find your son, no payment needed. Put the money away quickly; if the wrong people see it online, who knows how they'd judge us. We're police officers, serving the people without charge. What's your son's name, how old is he, and do you have a photo?"

"His name is DuoDuo, just turned one year old. Photo… let me see, I have it on my phone," the woman replied.

"I'm asking for his full name; what's his full name?"

"His full name is just DuoDuo," she said, pulling out the photo of her 'son'—a cat.

Xiao Hu: "..."

He actually took it seriously—good grief, after all that trouble the missing one turned out to be a cat; no wonder it's called DuoDuo!

Staring at the woman before him, Xiao Hu was at a loss for words.

"I thought you meant a person, and it's a cat that's missing..." Xiao Hu said helplessly.

"Never mind, there's nothing else right now. Do you know where your cat was lost? If you do, I can check the surveillance for you."

The Police have no obligation to locate cats or dogs; in such cases they may outright refuse, since a Police Station isn't a private detective agency that takes every job.

But there was nothing else to do, and the woman's attitude was reasonable; she didn't command Xiao Hu, so he decided to simply take a look for her.

Of course, it's only a quick check; if the cat is found or not is another matter. The Police won't waste resources on this, and merely reviewing the footage is already doing their duty.

"It was lost near the pet hospital just ahead, not far away."

Following the woman's description, the officer examined the nearby surveillance.

However, the roadside cameras had blind spots, and the cat's tiny size meant the footage didn't capture the animal at all.

"The cat is too small, and the cameras have blind spots; we didn't find it."

"What should I do? Can you dispatch a few people to look for it? I can pay," the woman said, pulling out more cash.

Xiao Hu declined again, pushing the money back.

Finding a cat isn't a police duty; they won't deploy officers for it, as it's a waste of resources, and money won't change that.

Seeing Xiao Hu refuse money and decline to send help, the woman became near‑teary, pleading desperately to the officer.

"Miss, it's not that I don't want to help; begging won't work. Sending people to find a cat is impossible—it wastes resources. I can at most check the footage, which you already saw, and it didn't capture your cat."

At that moment, Xu Mo, hearing the commotion outside, walked over.

Seeing the woman's reddened eyes, he couldn't help asking, "Xiao Hu, why did you make her cry?"

"Team Leader Xu, it's not my fault. This lady's cat is missing and she wants us to send a few people to look for it—what nonsense…"

As soon as he finished speaking, the woman who had been sobbing a moment ago had wiped away her tears, her face excited as she stared at Xu Mo.

"You're Xu Mo? I saw you on the Sky Eye Operation program! Can I take a photo with you?"

Xiao Hu: "..."

The woman really does change on a whim.

One second she was crying, the next she wants a photo?

"Sure." Xu Mo was taken aback by the request, but he still agreed.

The woman, delighted, pulled out her phone and took a picture with Xu Mo, then promptly posted it to her Moments, seeming in a very good mood.

But immediately after, the woman snapped back to tears, crying again with a rain‑like sob.

"Xu Mo, can you help me find the cat? I can pay; I have money. As long as you can find my son, I'll give you any amount you want."

She believed Xu Mo could definitely locate the cat, since his abilities were considerable; he mastered a myriad of techniques and could even outwit the Investigation Team men!

Xiao Hu, watching this, was even more bewildered.

Cry when told to cry, laugh when told to laugh… impressive.

In the past, Xu Mo would almost certainly refuse to find cats, as it was troublesome, time‑consuming, and labor‑intensive, with no guarantee of success.

But now, locating a cat is not difficult for Xu Mo, because he can communicate with small animals; he could issue a Bounty and let other creatures do the work.

"I'll give it a try," Xu Mo replied to the woman's plea: "You don't need to pay, but I need you to buy some cat canned food, okay?"

Hearing that, the woman was startled; she didn't understand why Xu Mo wanted cat food.

But she nodded, "I'll go to the pet hospital ahead right now and buy it!"

After the woman left, Xiao Hu wore a puzzled expression.

"Team Leader Xu, what do you need the cat food for?"

"You'll see in a moment."

In no time, the woman returned carrying a large bag of cat canned food.

"I don't know which kind you need, so I bought ten cans of every variety the store sells. Is this enough?"

"Enough." Xu Mo took the bag full of cat food and headed to the Police Station entrance.

Xiao Hu followed, curious about what mysterious item Xu Mo was selling in his gourd.

Xu Mo walked with the bag to the open area by the Police Station entrance, where a few stray cats lounged under a tree shade.

The next second, Xu Mo spoke to the cats.

"Come, come, dinner's ready—your favorite cat canned food… no fighting, anyone who sees gets a share… this isn't free; you have to do me a favor and help me find a cat…"

Xiao Hu: "???"

What is Team Leader Xu doing? Talking to cats?

Good grief, is this issuing a cat world bounty order?!

The key is whether these cats can understand his words?

The woman beside him also looked bewildered.

Like this…… can we find it?