Chapter 130: Second-Class Personal Merit

The next morning.

Yu Dazhang had just opened his eyes when he saw Li Mingzhao standing by the bed, staring at him.

"Leader, what are you..."

He was startled and quickly sat up from the bed.

"You slept like the dead," Li Mingzhao said in a teasing tone:

"You have no vigilance at all. If I wanted to take your life, you would have been dead many times over."

For some reason, he just wanted to curb this fatty's arrogance.

By rights, given his status, he shouldn't be holding a grudge against a small detective, but the fatty before him was simply too slick.

When accepting the mission, this bastard had demanded that he be protected no matter what happened.

Yet the very next day, he killed everyone.

Not a single one left!

Well, one was shot dead by Ye Lin.

But that was only because she feared he was in danger.

Li Mingzhao even suspected Yu Dazhang had deliberately approached those three just to provoke them into attacking, so he could take the opportunity to kill them.

If that were the case, it would be terrifying.

People with great power often have great courage; without proper restraint, they easily cross the line.

"Ah~~~~~~" Yu Dazhang yawned and stretched:

"Leader, you really know how to joke. What vigilance is needed sleeping at the Municipal Bureau? Is there any place safer than this?"

It was clear he had slept very well last night; he probably didn't sleep as soundly at home as he did here.

After putting away the camp bed, Yu Dazhang went to wash his face. When he returned, he saw Li Mingzhao sitting on the sofa waiting for him.

"That inspector last night was arranged by you, wasn't it?"

Yu Dazhang went straight to the point as soon as he sat down; although he used a question, his tone was affirmative.

Li Mingzhao did not deny it, but smiled and asked in return:

"Do you want to hear his evaluation of you?"

"He certainly didn't say anything good about me," Yu Dazhang said self-mockingly.

Yesterday, he had only suspected the inspector had a problem.

But the moment he saw Li Mingzhao today, he immediately confirmed this thought.

There were too many loopholes; an inspector still needs evidence to interrogate, yet that person yesterday had spent almost the entire time probing.

Now he could be certain that person wasn't even an inspector.

Li Mingzhao mimicked that person's manner and commented:

"Just a thorn."

Speaking ill of someone behind their back is wrong... Yu Dazhang asked:

"Why do this?"

He couldn't fathom why the State Security would treat him this way; he had clearly completed the mission as required.

Besides, he had only promised to find people, not specified they had to be alive.

"You should have left one alive."

Li Mingzhao's voice was calm, but his tone carried an anger he couldn't hide:

"You killed him because you didn't trust us. You thought he would escape punishment. You underestimated the State Security."

"Pressuring you was a lesson; I cannot let you run wild."

Safe... Hearing these words, Yu Dazhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Mingzhao's words had two layers of meaning.

First, the inspector last night was someone he had brought in to scare Yu Dazhang.

It was actually a test as well.

If Yu Dazhang had pulled Ye Lin out as a shield last night, or handed over a colleague to take the blame, the next step would likely have been to make the act real.

Second, after the State Security review, no one would pursue Yu Dazhang further.

If reviews had levels, the State Security's level was certainly the highest.

Continuing the investigation would be questioning the State Security.

Yu Dazhang understood clearly that last night's incident was actually Li Mingzhao fulfilling his promise to protect him.

With the State Security's intervention last night, anyone wanting to move against him would first have to pass the State Security's hurdle.

"Leader..." Yu Dazhang lowered his head, his voice revealing reluctance:

"I'm a bit disgusted with this world. It's really dirty."

Li Mingzhao looked at the depressed fatty before him, sighed, and after a moment of silence, spoke softly:

"It's not the world that is dirty, but human hearts. That is why we need people like us to remove those filthy things."

Five days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Yu Dazhang had just started work when Li Jun called him to the office.

"Here is your service pistol back."

Normally, he should have received his service pistol back after psychological counseling, but since Yu Dazhang had killed two more people, the time was delayed.

As soon as Yu Dazhang put away his service pistol, Li Jun took out a small box and two certificates.

"Here."

What is this? Yu Dazhang took it and opened the box first.

Second-Class Merit Medal!

He gently stroked the golden, shimmering medal with his hand, excitement flashing in his eyes, his heart pounding wildly.

It is a symbol of honor and professional recognition.

It represents the outstanding contributions made by the recipient in maintaining social order and combating crime.

Of course, besides honor, there are more practical benefits.

According to relevant regulations, police officers who receive a Second-Class Merit or higher may be promoted in rank ahead of schedule.

Please... you... collect 6... 9... book....!

Or it serves as an important reference during promotion or rank advancement.

Priority is given to promotion under equal conditions.

This is not only a privilege but also an incentive.

"This, this is for which case?" Yu Dazhang asked excitedly, his speech even stuttering.

Li Jun, who had been smiling at him, immediately stopped smiling upon hearing this.

He almost forgot; this fat man didn't just solve one big case.

"The human trafficking case is closed; we are now in the accountability phase. The merit was reported long ago and approved just yesterday."

Li Jun was being too conservative.

In fact, the human trafficking case is far from over; the pursuit of fugitives continues, and the accountability has only just begun.

Twenty-four years without being discovered; is that normal?

Within the system, a full investigation must be launched from the start; all past and present leaders of Fenglin Town are involved, and even the retired must be found and investigated.

So many people died, and the number of those sold away is countless.

In the face of human lives, you claim innocence?

First, the crime of dereliction of duty has already been established.

When someone earns merit, naturally, someone else will be punished.

Yu Dazhang closed the box, then opened the certificate again, reading it twice.

If the occasion were appropriate, he would surely have read it ten times over.

Li Jun looked at him with a strange expression:

"You... are really very happy?"

What does that mean? Yu Dazhang didn't understand.

A personal Second-Class Merit!

Shouldn't I be happy?

As a squadron leader, don't you know what this represents?

"I am more than just happy." Yu Dazhang's smile was impossible to suppress, his eyes squinting into a single slit:

"If allowed, I would love to set off two strings of firecrackers right at the entrance of the branch bureau."

He spoke from the heart.

In his past life, after working for over ten years, he never earned a Second-Class Merit, yet in this life, he obtained it so easily.

To him, it truly felt like a dream.

"Don't get too excited first." Li Jun chose his words carefully, trying to make his tone sound calm:

"When we submitted the application, we reported you for a First-Class Merit."

"Such special cases are rare; in our view, the First-Class Merit was certain to be approved."

"It is estimated that considering your seniority and your conduct during the case, the merit was downgraded in the end."

"Actually, a Second-Class Merit is very good, so don't have..."

He was afraid Yu Dazhang would feel resentful.

This fat man is sharp; even if he doesn't say anything now, he will definitely realize it later.

"Captain Li, Captain Li, stop talking." Yu Dazhang quickly interrupted:

"I am already overwhelmed with gratitude; if a First-Class Merit came down, my heart couldn't take it."

He heard it; Li Jun was explaining.

First, the bureau absolutely recognizes you, but the higher-ups suppressed it; we had no choice.

One must be content.

Moreover, Yu Dazhang never even thought he could earn merit.

Back then on the mountain, he caused Seven deaths, three heavy burdens.

Under such circumstances, receiving a Second-Class Merit is already the best possible outcome for him.

What more could one ask for?

(End of Chapter)