Chapter 9: How exactly can you let them go?

"Good! Very good!" Liao Zong trembled with anger, slammed the table, and said, "Let's see if you little red bastard really dare to overturn the heavens!"

He turned to the nearby officer and shouted, "Lao Li! Go get the keys!"

The officer surnamed Li, although frightened in his heart, still steeled himself and walked toward the desk under Liao Zong's angry glare.

"Pa!"

A crisp sound.

Lin Yu's baton whipped like lightning onto the officer's shoulder. Before the officer could react, Lin Yu kicked him, sending him flying over two meters away.

"Ouch!"

The officer fell to the ground, clutching his shoulder and wailing.

The detention room fell into deathly silence once again. Everyone was intimidated by Lin Yu's thunderous tactics. This wasn't just a matter of not giving face; he really dared to use force!

【Ding! The host proved his resolve with concrete action, gaining 50 points of Determination!】

【Current Determination: 200 points】

"You……." Liao Zong pointed at Lin Yu, his fingers trembling, "You're rebelling! You really are rebelling!"

Lin Yu snorted coldly, returned to stand by the desk, and said, "Liao Zong, I mean what I say. Anyone who dares to move this key, I'll break their hand! If you don't believe me, feel free to send someone else to try."

"Pa!"

Liao Zong suddenly drew his sidearm and pointed it at Lin Yu, saying, "Well then! Let's see just how much guts you little red bastard have!"

Lin Yu not only didn't retreat, he smiled. He swiftly drew his own sidearm, and with a "click" released the safety.

"Liao Zong," Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of mockery, "you'd better think this through. I'm just a lowly officer—if I die, I die. But you're a Deputy Chief Inspector; is trading lives with me worth it?"

"Bang!"

Lin Yu suddenly raised his hand and fired a shot at the ceiling. The huge gunshot echoed in the detention room, and dust rained down.

Everyone was terrified out of their wits by that shot. Hua Yuan collapsed straight into his chair, Wang Zhong turned deathly pale, and even Yamamoto Ichiro in the holding cell instinctively shrank back.

"You……." Liao Zong's hand shook, "You're really crazy!"

"Crazy?" Lin Yu sneered, gun aimed at Liao Zong, "Liao Zong, you wanted to release them, right? Come on, the keys are right there. But……"

His gaze turned even colder: "You'd better think first—is your life worth this key?"

The detention room fell dead silent, the air seeming to freeze. Everyone held their breath, watching this heart‑stopping scene. No one could have imagined things would come to this.

A mere patrol officer daring to face off against a Deputy Chief Inspector with guns! It's outright madness!

Liao Zong's hand gripping the gun trembled, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

Going gun‑to‑gun with this madman? He's spent years in the detention room and never seen anything like this. This kid is completely reckless—if it really came to a fight……

Should we have someone subdue him? Liao Zong glanced at the surrounding officers; everyone was shrinking back. These guys usually swagger about, but when the crunch comes, each is cowardlier than the last. Besides, this madman really dares to fire—what if he hurts someone……

Most importantly, a high‑ranking Deputy Chief Inspector like myself being forced into this situation by a lowly officer—if this gets out, where can I put my old face?

Thinking this, Liao Zong forced himself to take a deep breath.

"Cough……." He slowly lowered his gun, trying to soften his tone, "Xiao Lin, I know you're a person of principle……"

Lin Yu snorted coldly, his gun barrel unmoving.

"Well then," Liao Zong continued, forcing a smile, "tell me, what would it take for you to release them? I'll give you a way out……"

"How? Is Liao Zong scared?" Lin Yu mocked.

Liao Zong suppressed his anger: "I'm considering your youthful vigor……"

"Youthful vigor?" Lin Yu cut him off: "Liao Zong, I'm simple—rules are rules. If you want to release them, have the Health Union Association post bail!"

Liao Zong's face flushed then paled. This kid is dead set on seeing this through to the end!

But right now, he truly can't do anything about this madman. If this gets out, a Deputy Chief Inspector being held at gunpoint by a patrol officer would utterly ruin his reputation.

In the detention room, everyone held their breath, watching this bizarre standoff. No one had expected things to develop like this.

"Xiao Lin," Liao Zong said earnestly, "you know even the Public Administration Bureau has gotten involved. My face……"

"Rules are rules." Lin Yu coldly cut him off, "Liao Zong, if you think rules can be trampled at will, then we'll do this the hard way."

He waved his gun and asked, "What do you think?"

Liao Zong's beard quivered with rage, but seeing Lin Yu's mad gaze, he knew today's affair couldn't be settled peacefully.

"Good! Very good!" Liao Zong gritted his teeth, "I'll notify the Health Union Association right now to have them post bail after twelve hours of detention tomorrow!"

Having said that, he gave Lin Yu a fierce glare and swept out.

The farce finally came to an end.

Lin Yu holstered his sidearm, a cold smile curling his lips. Having come to this point, Liao Zong will absolutely not tolerate him. At the latest, tomorrow's notice of his dismissal will be issued.

But……

He glanced at Yamamoto Ichiro in the holding cell, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Tonight, there's still time to properly "entertain" this Japanese dwarf.

"Everyone, get back to your own duties!" Lin Yu snapped, looking around coldly.

Only then did everyone snap out of their daze and scatter. Yet every glance at Lin Yu had changed—this young man truly dared to go head‑to‑head with a Deputy Chief Inspector!

Wang Zhong wanted to say something, glanced at Lin Yu, then sighed and walked away silently.

Lin Yu sat back down in his chair, fingers lightly tapping the desk. He knew his days in the detention room were over.

But so what? In an age where might makes right, someone has to stand up and uphold the most basic principles.

As for that Japanese dwarf…… He glanced at the clock on the wall, and his smile grew even colder.

Tonight, there's plenty of time to have a good "chat" with you!

Night had deepened, and the people in the detention room began to leave in shifts for the change of duty.

Lin Yu dragged a chair over and sat in front of the holding cell, idly playing with his baton. After today's uproar, everyone's look at him had changed.

The duty room's light was dim, casting his shadow long. People trickled off the night shift, yet no one dared approach him. Even colleagues who usually got along with him deliberately avoided him today, not daring to utter a word.

In their eyes lay fear, incomprehension, and a hint of awe. Who could have imagined that this usually gentle, polite young man would today commit such a mad act?

Daring to go gun-to-gun with Chief Liao? That's practically asking to die!

Thud thud thud......

Lin Yu rhythmically struck his baton, his gaze icy as he fixed on Yamamoto Ichiro in the detention room. The Easterner also didn't dare to be arrogant anymore, shrinking in the corner, watching him warily.

Lin Yu......

A hand rested on his shoulder. It was Wang Zhong.

The old police chief sighed, at a loss for words. He looked at the disciple he had personally brought up, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Uncle Wang, Lin Yu didn't turn his head, "Go back."

Wang Zhong let out another sigh: "What's the point......"

Lin Yu did not answer.

Wang Zhong stood for a moment, then finally patted his shoulder, turned and left. His footsteps echoed in the empty hall, fading away.

Only Lin Yu and that Easterner remained in the detention office.

The duty room's light was dim, casting long shadows on the ground. The baton in Lin Yu's hand continued to tap lightly, like some kind of ominous countdown.