Grade-D Investigator

"Chen Miao, this is Chen Guokun. He shares your surname. He's the investigator from the Emergency Affairs Administration I told you about."

Zhong Cai introduced him to Chen Miao.

Looking at the stern middle-aged man before him, Chen Miao nodded.

"Hello, I'm Chen Miao, a funeral rites specialist at Tianmen Funeral Home."

At the mention of Tianmen Funeral Home, Chen Guokun asked, "Were you the one who left Tang Rui that message?"

"Yes. I was afraid something might go wrong."

Chen Miao offered a brief explanation.

Chen Guokun nodded, then turned to Zhong Cai.

"What happened this time?"

Zhong Cai recounted everything he had seen and heard from beginning to end, including Happiness Residential Complex, the Funeral Home, and the jars in the hidden room.

Upon hearing about Happiness Residential Complex, Chen Guokun immediately stepped outside and instructed the people who had come with him, "Send someone to Happiness Residential Complex."

Only after his subordinates began contacting others did Chen Guokun come back inside.

"So far, apart from Happiness Residential Complex, this incident hasn't had much of an impact. But since it involves casualties, both of you will still have to come with me."

Chen Guokun looked at Chen Miao as he said this.

"No problem."

Zhong Cai agreed, then explained to Chen Miao, "Standard procedure. You can take this opportunity to get your own paperwork done too. If anything comes up in the future, you'll be able to contact Captain Chen directly."

Chen Guokun glanced at Zhong Cai upon hearing that.

After these independent "practitioners" registered with the Emergency Affairs Administration, most were assigned to the Administration office responsible for their area.

But if an investigator with the Emergency Affairs Administration thought highly of someone and knew them well, that person could be assigned directly to the investigator.

In that case, everything the person did would be closely tied to that investigator from the Emergency Affairs Administration.

If the person helped the Emergency Affairs Administration resolve a problem, the investigator would receive the corresponding contribution credit.

But by the same token, if the person caused trouble with damaging consequences or endangered public safety, the investigator responsible would also be punished.

They would share both the glory and the consequences.

What Zhong Cai meant was that he wanted Chen Miao assigned to Chen Guokun.

However, Chen Guokun had no such intention.

Although he and Zhong Cai knew each other well, they weren't close enough for him to do whatever Zhong Cai suggested.

Besides, Chen Miao was still so young!

Youth meant a lack of experience. It meant restlessness and impulsiveness.

Chen Guokun preferred dealing with people like Zhong Cai. Even if they earned him no credit, at least they wouldn't drag him down.

"Let's go, then. Someone will take over here."

Zhong Cai nodded and walked out of the shop with Chen Miao.

Just as Chen Miao headed toward his own car, a hand pressed down on his shoulder.

Feeling the force of that hand, Chen Miao turned to look at Chen Guokun.

"Mr. Chen, please ride in our car."

Chen Guokun spoke without expression.

Chen Miao met his gaze, then nodded.

Soon, Chen Miao and Zhong Cai were driven to an area behind the Tianmen County police station, where they were separated and taken to different rooms.

Fortunately, it wasn't an interrogation room, and there was tea.

About ten minutes later, Chen Guokun came in and sat opposite Chen Miao.

As he leafed through the copy of If Eyes Deceive You that Chen Miao carried with him, he asked Chen Miao to recount what had happened.

"...In other words, there had already been supernatural incidents at Tianmen Funeral Home before this, and the previous cold storage attendant died in one?"

Chen Guokun asked.

"That seems to be the case."

"Do you think that had anything to do with Zhong Fa?"

Chen Guokun looked at Chen Miao and continued questioning him.

"I don't know about what happened to Old Wang, but the incident with the twins afterward was probably Zhong Fa's doing."

"What makes you think that?"

"I saw Zhong Fa when I was at the twins' home. Not long after that, something went wrong with their bodies at the Funeral Home. If it weren't for what happened today, I might never have connected the twins' case to Zhong Fa."

Chen Miao spoke slowly.

"So there's no concrete evidence, and this is all just your own speculation?"

Chen Miao glanced at Chen Guokun and nodded.

"Yes."

"All right. Understood."

After writing a few things in his notebook, Chen Guokun suddenly asked another question.

"Could you explain why you were able to detect the problem with Li Shilei's body in advance, but not the problem with Qian Xiaomei's?"

"If you possess that ability, I believe the previous cold storage attendant shouldn't have died."

Chen Miao frowned.

"Are you saying I deliberately caused Old Wang's death?"

Chen Guokun looked at Chen Miao and said, "No. I'm just trying to clear up my doubts. That day, Wang Tao asked you to help watch the cold storage room. You agreed, but you never actually went."

"Why was that?"

Chen Miao fell silent. Once again, he found that people were harder to deal with than ghosts.

"The incident with Old Wang was the first time I used my ability. Before that, I never knew my skills actually worked. It wasn't until after Old Wang died that the director ordered me to watch the cold storage room."

"When I noticed something strange in there, I instinctively used my skills. That was how I happened to resolve the problem with Qian Xiaomei."

"After that experience, I paid much closer attention to what happened at the Funeral Home, especially to the bodies in cold storage. So when I discovered something wrong with the twins' bodies, I sent Tang Rui away and dealt with it."

"There was never any conflict between Old Wang and me. You can ask anyone at the Funeral Home about that."

Chen Miao quietly looked at Chen Guokun.

Chen Guokun set down his notebook and pen, handed the book back to Chen Miao, and extended his hand.

"That's all for now regarding this incident. If anything else comes up, we'll still need your cooperation."

"Thank you for your contribution to Tianmen County. If you ever encounter something that can't be resolved through ordinary means, you can come to me or any investigator from the Emergency Affairs Administration. Within the limits of our authority, we can spare you some unnecessary trouble."

Chen Miao paused in surprise, then stood and shook Chen Guokun's hand.

"Can I leave now?"

"Yes. Here's my card."

Chen Miao took the card. It bore only a few simple lines.

[Emergency Affairs Administration]

[Name: Chen Guokun]

[Rank: Grade-D Investigator]

[Contact: 138****5678]

After slipping the card into his pocket, Chen Miao picked up his book and Peach Wood Sword Blank, then turned to leave.

Once Chen Miao had left, someone came in through the door.

"No issues?"

Chen Guokun asked Tong Yu.

"None. While he was speaking, his aura was yellow. He was wary of you, but it didn't fluctuate or change."

Chen Guokun nodded and said no more.

This colleague of his wasn't particularly good in a fight, but Chen Guokun trusted his ability to read people, whether living or dead.

"He's such a promising prospect. You're not going to put him under your supervision?"

Chen Guokun shook his head.

"He's still too young."

Tong Yu shrugged and said no more.

Meanwhile.

Chen Miao took a taxi back to the vicinity of Zhong Fa's shop, then drove his own car back to the Funeral Home.

Before he could even catch his breath, Elder Uncle called.