Lake's Story

"What do you mean, the NYPD?"

"I'll tell you."

"Cases the FBI doesn't have the authority to investigate, we, the NYPD, do!"

"Cases the CIA wouldn't dare to investigate, we, the NYPD, dare to!"

"Cases the Department of Homeland Security wouldn't dare to handle, we, the NYPD, do!"

"By the charter of our citizens, we fear no restrictions!"

"As long as it's on New York soil, within the jurisdiction of the NYPD, at any time, for any case, the NYPD holds absolute priority. This is the right granted to New York by the Constitution, and the right granted to us by the eight million citizens of New York."

"Loyalty unto death!"

"This is our motto, and it's what you need to engrave in your hearts from this moment on."

At the opening ceremony for the new intake of the New York Police Academy, countless young rookies stared with their mouths agape at the impeccably dressed, handsome man on stage, his short blonde hair and gold-rimmed glasses accentuating his good looks as he spoke. Their mouths hung open, unable to close for a long time.

So…

Our NYPD is this awesome?

Why did we never know before?

Several academy leaders, seated in the front row, exchanged glances. Then, looking at Lake, who was on stage spewing rhetoric and intentionally or unintentionally belittling other law enforcement departments, their eyes flickered.

"Svel!"

"Dean?"

"The NYPD… is there no one else?"

"Everyone else has been dispatched to investigate that case at the World Trade Center. This Detective Lake Edwin is a detective in the Third Homicide and Major Crimes Investigation Unit. That's why the department recommended him."

"Homicide and Major Crimes? Are you sure? If he's a detective, with such a major incident happening in New York last month, why wasn't he sent out to investigate?"

"Uh…"

Svel, the director of the academy office, who was being questioned by the academy dean, fell silent for a moment. He glanced at Lake, who was speaking on stage with such righteous fervor and glory, and quietly said to the dean beside him, "This Detective Lake Edwin was reported last month for accepting illicit funds. Internal Affairs is investigating him, so he's been temporarily suspended from field duty."

Upon hearing this, the dean also looked at Lake on stage, completely dumbfounded. "……"

A detective who is under investigation for accepting illicit funds is up at the Police Academy's opening ceremony, pontificating about the history and glory of the NYPD.

Is this…

Appropriate?

Lake felt it was perfectly appropriate.

He was completely framed.

What do you mean, accepting illicit funds?

Making deals with criminals in your capacity as a detective and then accepting money, that's called accepting illicit funds.

Excuse me.

Lake never did that; he prefers to double-cross criminals!

Accepting illicit funds?

Accepting illicit funds only gets you a portion of the criminal's money, but when you double-cross them, you can take all of the criminal's money.

What?

This is even worse, and the nature of it is more heinous?

Ha.

My soul isn't from New York. What does the morality and nature of this place have to do with me? After finally getting a second life, Lake's principle is just one thing.

Live it up!

As long as I don't die from living it up, I'll live it up to the fullest.

Besides.

Living a life by the book, with the meager salary of the NYPD, I wouldn't even have enough to buy a lottery ticket in a year if I didn't eat or drink.

Freedom in the USA, gunfights every day.

Violence is the theme and romance here.

Who would come here if not for the thrill? If you're talking about stability and harmony, nowhere can compare to our great China!

Soon.

Around eleven in the morning.

After Lake concluded his lengthy speech, amidst the applause of three hundred rookie police officers, he shook hands with the Police Academy Dean who came on stage and then made a successful exit.

As he was leaving, Lake felt the Dean's expression was a bit strange.

But…

Again, what's it to me!

Stepping out of the academy gates, Lake glanced back at the sign for the police academy. He pulled out a cigarette, casually placed it in his mouth, lit it, and exhaled a smoke ring before walking towards the blue Chevrolet parked at the entrance.

Get in the car.

Close the door.

Smoke.

Lake started the car, smoking as he one-handedly maneuvered it out of the parking spot and drove towards the NYPD.

Yes.

Lake wasn't a local, nor was he even from this world.

Although this place was also called Earth, it was completely different from the planet Lake originally came from.

This Earth's New York had Stark Industries. Did his previous Earth have it?

Yes.

In comics or movies.

Yes.

This was the Marvel Universe, or, as Lake preferred to call it, the American Variety Universe.

Thirty years ago.

Lake arrived.

He was an orphan.

And then...

Lake grew up as planned, with a foster family that was barely acceptable. He finished high school through the free K-12 compulsory education. After graduating high school, Lake joined the army, not for any other reason than to be able to attend college for free later.

Since Lake was an orphan, after finishing high school, there were only three ways to continue to university.

The first was to have excellent academic results and directly receive a full scholarship from a university. Not only could he attend university for free, but he could even get money each month. This was for the academic elites, called "earning money by studying."

The second way was family support or student loans from various banks. After graduation, he would have to diligently repay the loans for over a decade, living frugally. This was called "paying money to study."

Moreover...

Although the family that adopted Lake wasn't bad, they weren't his biological parents. And their own daughter also needed money, so Lake felt awkward asking them for it.

Lake chose the third path, the "freebie" path.

Join the army.

After retiring from the army, he could attend university for free and without an entrance exam, even choosing an Ivy League school. However, this "free" attendance wasn't without conditions. The basis of this freeness was that he could successfully graduate from university. If not, unfortunately, it wouldn't be free, and he would have to pay the full tuition fees.

Fortunately.

Although Lake couldn't be called an academic elite, he was okay in other aspects. At the very least, he could manage to graduate.

After that, upon graduation, Lake went to the NYPD. With his Ivy League diploma, he successfully started as a detective and had now worked his way up to the position of inspector.

No choice.

Lake needed money. Considering all the other factors, Lake felt that only law enforcement agencies could satisfy him.

He had a cheat.

Lake didn't know the characteristics of other transmigration cheat systems, but he could guarantee that his own cheat system was produced by some Penguin Group.

And it was produced by Penguin in the year 3030.

"Pay-to-win can make you a god."

Yes.

This was the name of Lake's cheat system, simple, direct, easy to understand, and very clear.

This cheat system had only one function.

Gacha.

Pay-to-win gacha.

One draw for every one hundred thousand US dollars. No cheating, no upper limit. As long as you have money, it can make you... and the range of prizes included everything from firearms and ammunition to the stars and the sea, capable of anything.

This was why Lake suspected that the production date of this cheat system was 3030.

Good heavens.

One draw for every hundred thousand US dollars.

Did they think this was Zimbabwean currency?

It was estimated that by the year 3030, the exchange rate of US dollars to RMB would have fallen to the point where one hundred thousand US dollars could only be exchanged for ten RMB.

But right now?

To be honest.

When Lake learned about this gacha function, he didn't know whether to cry or feel immensely proud of his country's strength.

PS: New book uploaded, please collect and recommend.

PS: I'm still writing "Alliance," but I'll upload it directly after finishing the ending. "Old Mi" feels like "Alliance" is cursing me. When "Alliance" was about to be put on the shelves, something happened at "Old Mi's" house. When "Alliance" was halfway through, "Old Mi" himself had an accident. After finally being discharged from the hospital, he uploaded a chapter, but the hospital was sealed off the next day. "Old Mi" dared not upload it, so after "Alliance" is finished, "Old Mi" will upload it all at once.

"Alliance" is still being written, but it will be uploaded after some time.