Chapter 57: Report on the Actual Situation

Lu Chuan currently possessed a total of three junior skills.

These were Junior Crime Scene Photography, Junior Footprint Analysis, and Junior Fingerprint Identification and Analysis.

"Eye of Truth" was a passive ability, a reward from the system's Newbie Gift Pack, and had no possibility of being upgraded.

Both Fingerprint Collection and Bone Identification and Analysis were intermediate skills.

Therefore, for this Skill Upgrade Card, Lu Chuan could only apply it to Crime Scene Photography, Footprint Analysis, or Fingerprint Identification and Analysis.

All three skills were of great help to him.

Although Crime Scene Photography seemed to be the least useful for solving cases among the skills, Lu Chuan had discovered critical issues through crime scene photos during the Zhang Wen murder case.

If he hadn't obtained this skill back then, the photos he took might not have been as comprehensive, and the clue regarding the cigarette ash might have been missed.

Junior Footprint Analysis had also contributed significantly to several of Lu Chuan's cases.

As for Fingerprint Identification and Analysis, it could be described as one of the most frequently used skills in the daily operations of the forensics office.

Any one of these three junior skills would undergo a qualitative change once upgraded to the intermediate level.

Having experienced the benefits of Intermediate Fingerprint Collection and Intermediate Bone Identification and Analysis, Lu Chuan held great expectations for his upcoming upgrade.

After a moment of thought, Lu Chuan finally decided to upgrade the Junior Fingerprint Identification and Analysis skill.

After all, compared to footprints, fingerprint identification was much more common.

Crime scene photography was not used very often unless there was a homicide.

"Select upgrade for Junior Fingerprint Identification and Analysis!"

As the thought settled in his mind, streaks of colored light raced through Lu Chuan's consciousness.

In fingerprint identification analysis, the most important step was not the comparison, but the preprocessing of the fingerprints.

Compared to the junior skill, the intermediate skill offered a much wider array of preprocessing methods and would be significantly faster.

Junior Fingerprint Identification and Analysis had given Lu Chuan abilities roughly equivalent to, or perhaps slightly higher than, those of Liu Guodong and the others.

Lu Chuan estimated that with the intermediate skill, he would likely reach the level of a provincial department expert.

Of course, without practical application, he couldn't be certain; he was merely speculating by comparing it to the intermediate Bone Identification and Analysis skill.

The work at the scene concluded quickly after Liu Guodong and the others arrived to provide support.

The suspect, Tian Yongjiang, and the rescued hostage, Liang Qi, also completed the transfer procedures in the afternoon, being handed over to the Tianzhou City Criminal Investigation Detachment.

The case originally belonged to them, and the injured officer was also from the Tianzhou Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Therefore, following protocol, the subsequent investigation would be handled by the Tianzhou Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Once all the work at the scene was finished, a weary Lu Chuan climbed into the ten-year-old Land Cruiser.

"Lu Chuan, what was that all about with Tian Yongjiang?"

While withdrawing from the scene, Zhang Hui had shared a car with Lu Chuan.

Hearing Zhang Hui speak, Lu Chuan finally snapped out of it: "Brother Hui, I haven't even thanked you for saving my life yet!"

The encounter with Tian Yongjiang at noon and being seen through by the suspect had indeed put immense pressure on Lu Chuan.

He was not a frontline criminal investigator and had not yet taken the relevant exams for a firearm permit.

Consequently, Lu Chuan was not carrying a gun.

In truth, even if he had been carrying one, it would have been difficult to use effectively at such a close distance.

The investigators from the Tianzhou Criminal Investigation Detachment were veterans; although they weren't carrying guns because they were operating outside their jurisdiction, their strength was no less than Zhang Hui's. Yet, they were still seriously injured when the suspect unexpectedly burst through the door with a knife.

Fortunately, they were treated in time, and since the suspect was in a hurry to escape, he didn't deliver a finishing blow. The man was out of danger now; otherwise, things would have turned into a major disaster.

Inside the car, Zhang Hui's expression was grim. "Lu Chuan, I told you before we left not to act on your own. Why didn't you listen?"

After Zhang Hui escorted Chen Qing away, he happened to run into police officers from the Huilongshan Police Station who were assisting with street patrols.

He was also worried that something might go wrong with Lu Chuan, as this was his first time participating in an investigation.

So, he had rushed back immediately.

Who would have thought that his fears would come true?

The moment Zhang Hui returned, he saw Tian Yongjiang charging at Lu Chuan with a knife.

At that moment, he had almost drawn his gun and fired.

To be honest, Lu Chuan had been left with no choice.

He had originally followed Zhang Hui's instructions, hiding over a hundred meters away from the warehouse and monitoring the area with his peripheral vision.

Who could have guessed he would run into Tian Yongjiang asking to borrow a light?

Lu Chuan briefly explained the process: "He said I smoke Chunghwa cigarettes, so it's impossible for me to come to a place like this to find women; he said I'm handsome, so it's impossible for me to lack women..."

Zhang Hui's mouth hung open. This was...

It was indeed a bit of a misunderstanding.

However, regardless of the circumstances, if Lu Chuan hadn't acted, Tian Yongjiang likely wouldn't have attacked proactively.

"Xiao Lu," Zhang Hui's tone softened, and his form of address changed from "Lu Chuan" to "Xiao Lu." "No matter what, you shouldn't have taken the initiative to act."

"I know you were considering that the suspect was alone, with no hostage to leverage, and that it was a rare opportunity for an arrest."

"But all of that is predicated on your own safety being guaranteed."

"The colleague from the Tianzhou Criminal Investigation Detachment was injured precisely because of a lapse in caution."

"Captain Qin and Brother Qi entrusted you to me because they didn't want anything to happen to you. I can't help you hide this; I have to report it."

Five years of work experience had allowed Zhang Hui to witness many things.

In reality, only Lu Chuan and Zhang Hui knew the full details of the arrest of Tian Yongjiang.

One could say that if Zhang Hui didn't speak up, no one would ever know about Lu Chuan's unauthorized action.

But some things cannot be concealed.

If he helped Lu Chuan cover it up this time, Lu Chuan wouldn't learn his lesson.

It might happen again next time.

And by then, Zhang Hui might not be there to show up in time.

Lu Chuan might pay a heavy price.

Some mistakes cannot be corrected simply by having the subjective will to change.

Lu Chuan hadn't expected Zhang Hui to analyze his thoughts so accurately.

For a moment, he was stunned.

Seeing this, Zhang Hui sighed. "Xiao Lu, I know you don't understand why I'm doing this."

"But some things, once they actually happen, it's too late."

Four years ago, when Zhang Hui had only been on the force for a year, a roommate of his who worked at a grassroots police station was seriously injured while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect due to acting on his own.

Although his life was saved, his spleen had to be removed, and he could never work on the front lines again.

Coming back to his senses, Lu Chuan knew Zhang Hui had misunderstood him. "Brother Hui, you've got it wrong. I was just thinking about how you knew what I was thinking when I caught Tian Yongjiang."

"I was thinking about the situation with the hostage, Liang Qi..."

"Don't worry, Brother Hui. Even if you didn't report it, I would have had to."

"I'll treat you to dinner tonight to thank you for saving my life!"

Seeing Lu Chuan's sincere expression, Zhang Hui patted him on the shoulder. "No need for dinner. As long as you think this way, don't feel like I'm stealing your credit."

"Brother Hui, what kind of person do you take me for? If it weren't for you this time, I might have been finished."

"We must eat tonight. Let's invite Team Leader Ren and my master as well..."