Chapter 26: Coincidence?

As soon as that vivid red prompt appeared, Lin Qing instantly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, snapping back to full awareness.

Order Level dropped by 0.6 levels??

And it was blood-red, indicating this was a danger targeted specifically at him!

The amount the Order Level drops depends on the magnitude of the danger he encounters.

For instance, when the fugitive caught at the bar earlier, and the tower-like burly man beside the camel, generated killing intent toward him, the Order Level only dropped by 0.2 levels.

But now it has dropped by 0.6 levels! Could it be...

Someone has been secretly monitoring the patrol situation, and upon discovering he intended to move that wardrobe, generated killing intent toward him? It seems there truly must be some secret hidden behind that row of wardrobes! A mechanism? A secret door? This Red Oak Boxing Gym is indeed suspicious.

Perhaps there really is a great merit...

However—

"With my current strength, can I handle a 0.6-level danger?"

In that instant, this thought flashed through Lin Qing's mind.

After a slight hesitation, he released the hand prepared to move that row of wardrobes, muttering, "Looking at the size of this wardrobe, it couldn't possibly fit a person..."

Immediately, Lin Qing maintained his composure, glanced at the other corners of the locker room, and then turned to walk out of this locker room.

【Current Order Level increased by 0.6 levels】

The next moment, a line of small green characters floated before his eyes.

Lin Qing breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Indeed, someone was secretly observing him, and upon discovering he had no intention of moving that row of wardrobes, withdrew their killing intent.

Although his current strength is passable, he is still unclear about what exactly a 0.6-level danger entails.

Even with a gun, he had no confidence.

Matters without confidence, where the potential gain is unknown, cannot be risked.

"There is a great merit, but also a great crisis; the current me might not be able to handle it. I need sufficient strength..."

Lin Qing took a deep breath, glanced at Teng Feiyu who was still searching carefully not far away, and inwardly sighed helplessly: "They are perhaps taking me too seriously. Such a dangerous merit, they dare let me participate? Or perhaps... they don't understand the situation very well either?"

"Team Leader."

At this moment, Zhao Jiayi walked over and said somewhat timidly, "Did you find anything?"

"No." Lin Qing shook his head.

"Oh, the only place I haven't checked on my end is that locker room behind you." Zhao Jiayi said, "I'll go take a look."

Seeing she was about to walk toward that problematic locker room, Lin Qing frowned slightly, immediately reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, shaking his head as he said, "No need to look. I have already checked it; there is no problem."

Zhao Jiayi turned to look at him, opened her mouth as if to speak but stopped, then nodded anyway, "Okay."

"The search is nearly complete; it's time to withdraw."

Lin Qing immediately picked up his work phone and issued the command to withdraw the team.

Although he didn't think someone with Zhao Jiayi's small build could move that row of large wardrobes, it was better to be safe.

If they really provoked an enemy hidden in the darkness, the outcome would be unpredictable.

Since he knew the merit was hidden within this Red Oak Boxing Gym, there was no rush to claim it until his strength was sufficient in the future.

He still had considerable room for improvement.

In a short while, both Team Two and Team Seven had assembled.

"Team Leader, are we not continuing the search?" Teng Feiyu couldn't help but ask.

"It's just an ordinary boxing gym; haven't we all checked it already?"

Lin Qing said calmly, "No need to waste time. There is still enough time tonight; we can go search the area near Zhao Jiayi's residence."

Before Teng Feiyu could say anything else, he led the people out of the boxing gym.

The person in charge smiled politely, "Everyone, take care on your way out."

After the patrol officers departed, the person in charge turned and quickly walked into a rest room. After closing the door, he immediately tapped rhythmically on a spot on one of the walls.

The wall slowly recessed, revealing a delicate, small display screen. On the screen was a middle-aged man with a cold, sinister temperament.

"Mr. Qi, how is it down there? I heard the entrance at Qingtai Hotel was also checked." The person in charge asked somewhat nervously.

"It's fine."

The middle-aged man with the cold, sinister temperament said, "We received the news in advance and made preparations long ago. However... just now, I thought that young Patrol Bureau officer had discovered the entrance and almost prepared to eliminate him."

"The entrance is so secret; the soundproofing and disguise are both perfect. How could he possibly discover it?" The person in charge shook his head.

"Exactly... it was probably just a coincidence."

Zhao Jiayi lives at Times Square on Xin'an Road, which is not far away.

In a short while, two patrol cars drove to the vicinity of Times Square and stopped by the roadside.

"Where should we start the search?"

Lin Qing looked at Zhao Jiayi and asked, "I checked the bureau's files; there is nothing suspicious near your home. Where do you want to search?"

Zhao Jiayi thought for a moment and said, "Is there no place that might be illegal?"

"There is, but there is no need to search it." Lin Qing shook his head.

"Where?" Zhao Jiayi asked in confusion.

"A bathhouse." Lin Qing said, "The others are either shopping malls or kindergartens; the only place open at night is the bathhouse."

"Uh..."

Zhao Jiayi hesitated, "Then let's just casually check the bathhouse."

Han Ying, sitting beside her, couldn't help but chuckle, "Jiayi, you are truly cutely naive."

Lin Qing shook his head slightly, sent a message to Team Leader Han, then input the address into the patrol car and drove toward that bathhouse.

……

Soon, the entire patrol team arrived near the bathhouse.

A colleague from Group Two, familiar with Lin Qing, couldn't help but tease: "Is Team Leader Lin planning to treat us to a foot massage to reward us?"

Standing at the entrance of the bathhouse named Junlan, Lin Qing took a look and asked, "Is this legitimate?"

A male colleague from Group Two shook his head and said, "I've been here; it's very legitimate."

"As long as it's legitimate, that's good."

Lin Qing said casually: "Everyone, put in some effort. Verify the identities of the guests and staff at this bathhouse, and then we can wrap up."

"Tsk... I thought you were treating us to a foot massage..."

"No fun, no fun..."

"Let's find a place to get some late-night snacks later."

After chatting for a few moments, the entire patrol team headed toward the bathhouse.

This search mission was too simple, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.

Just then—

"Hmm?"

For some reason, Lin Qing suddenly felt an inexplicable palpitation; a sense of unease instinctively arose in his heart. At this moment, this seemingly ordinary bathhouse before his eyes gave him the feeling of a cave hiding a fierce beast.

This feeling seemed to come from the subconscious, just like when he was at the Red Oak Boxing Gym a moment ago, when he inexplicably suspected that row of lockers had a problem.

Danger? Lin Qing felt somewhat strange, but he couldn't afford to think too much about it, so he immediately said in a deep voice: "Everyone be careful; don't let your guard down."

……

This bathhouse wasn't large. After asking the front desk and the manager, the patrol team, as usual, split into pairs of two and began checking rooms one by one.

Since they were checking Zhao Jiayi's residence, Lin Qing took Zhao Jiayi with him and, working as a pair, began verifying the identities of the guests one by one.

Even if they encountered sleeping guests, they had to wake them up to perform facial recognition.

"Team Leader, there's a small room over there."

Zhao Jiayi suddenly pointed to a rather narrow room at the corner.

"Let's go take a look."

Lin Qing nodded slightly, but the sense of unease in his heart became even more obvious.

Pushing the door open, he saw that on the two sofas in this small room, two guests were indeed lying down.

Both had their backs to him and seemed to be asleep.

"Wake up."

Lin Qing narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "Patrol. Get up for facial recognition."

The next moment—

【Current Order Level decreased by 0.2 levels】

【Current Order Level decreased by 0.2 levels】

Two consecutive lines of bright red notifications appeared before his eyes in sequence.

(End of this chapter)