Chapter 22: The Arson Case Solved

Lu Jianguo. In Haizhou City, you might not know who the Mayor is.

But there is no one who doesn't know who Lu Jianguo, the Chairman of Qiangsheng Group, is.

The deeds of this legendary figure could be described as household knowledge; the story of a fishmonger building a hundred-billion-dollar business empire is something even TV dramas wouldn't dare to depict.

Wang Kai knew Lu Jianguo not for any other reason, but because this man donated tens of millions in funding to the Haizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau every year.

Lu Chuan was actually his grandson.

In truth, this information was in Lu Chuan's file, but they weren't in the Personnel Department, so they hadn't seen it.

When it came to the political vetting for entering the police force, it wasn't their responsibility to handle it.

Early the next morning.

"Little Lu, do you have a girlfriend?"

Yang Sen's eyes seemed to be glowing with a golden light as he looked at Lu Chuan, as if he were looking at gold.

Lu Chuan shook his head honestly. "I just graduated, so I don't have one yet."

Yang Sen nodded with satisfaction. "If you don't, do you want me to introduce you to someone?"

In the Criminal Investigation Detachment, most bachelors only escaped their single status through introductions from their seniors.

In terms of looks and height, Lu Chuan could be described as standing out from the crowd; otherwise, Song Yaoyao wouldn't have ignored the dance students in her own academy to pursue him back then.

The reason no one had introduced anyone to him yet was mainly because everyone was observing.

Yang Sen was the first to strike.

Lu Chuan didn't mind; having graduated, it was natural to start dating.

"I have a niece, she's quite..."

Before he could finish, Old Bai interrupted him: "Old Yang, your niece just got divorced, right? Is it appropriate for you to introduce her like this?"

Lu Chuan looked at Yang Sen with a hint of horror. The other man immediately retorted, "They only registered the divorce; they never even had a wedding!"

Lu Chuan: "..."

"Little Lu, do you want to consider it?"

"Old Yang, I've just graduated. My energy should be focused on my professional duties. There's no time to consider romantic matters yet!"

Lu Chuan refused with righteous indignation; this was a non-negotiable issue.

"Sigh," Yang Sen let out a sigh. "My niece weighs one hundred and eighty jin (90kg). She's very blessed, she has a 'prosperous husband' face..."

One hundred and eighty jin...

There was indeed no need to consider it.

"By the way, how is the South Suburb arson case going?" Old Bai, being a man of conscience, looked at Lu Chuan while holding his teacup. "Did you help them collect fingerprints yesterday?"

"Yes," Lu Chuan nodded. "The fingerprint collection was quite complete. They can do the comparison themselves, but whether these fingerprints will be useful..."

*Ding!*

"Basic Task Completed: The host inspected the South Suburb arson scene, extracted four sets of burnt fingerprints, and assisted Action Group Two in solving the South Suburb arson case."

As Lu Chuan was speaking, the system's notification for completing the basic task rang out.

Task completed meant the arson case had been solved.

"They should be somewhat useful," Lu Chuan changed his tone. "After all, they were extracted from the point of origin. There's a high probability they were left by the suspect."

"Were those fingerprints burnt?"

"They were all post-fire. I used some special methods; it was a bit of luck."

Old Bai didn't press for details, but Yang Sen, who was beside him, clicked his tongue. "To be able to extract burnt fingerprints and even let the rough guys like Old Ren use them directly for comparison..."

"Little Lu, this skill of yours is stronger than all of us old guys combined."

"Brother Yang, it was just luck. Besides, I studied this in university and have some insights. I didn't expect it to come in handy this time."

Old Bai stood up and patted Lu Chuan on the shoulder. "Don't be overly modest. Being able to collect burnt fingerprints from an arson scene puts your level at the very top of the Haizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"We know exactly what Old Ren and his lot are capable of. If they can use the fingerprints you extracted directly, then this..."

Haha!

As Old Bai was speaking, the office door opened, and a hearty laugh rang out. "Who's talking bad about me?"

The newcomer was Ren Qiang, the leader of Action Group Two. "Old Bai, this habit of talking behind people's backs isn't good."

Old Bai curled his lip. "Am I wrong? After all these years, do I not know what you're capable of?"

"Don't come looking for me the next time you need to compare fingerprints."

There it was—one sentence, and he was cornered.

"If I don't look for you, who else should I look for!"

Ren Qiang didn't just come alone; he didn't come empty-handed either.

Two bottles of Luzhou Laojiao were placed on the table.

"Didn't I give you alcohol yesterday?"

Liu Guodong had just finished the morning meeting and walked into the office.

"Haha, this is a separate reward."

Ren Qiang's face was so wrinkled with laughter that he looked like a Shar Pei. "Our Forensic Identification Department really is on another level."

"The fingerprints Little Lu helped collect at the scene yesterday were indeed left by the killer. We did the comparison overnight and identified the suspect."

"In fact, we just picked him up."

Just picked him up?

No wonder Qin Yong hadn't mentioned that the case was solved during the morning meeting.

Liu Guodong glanced at the Laojiao on the table. "Old Ren, the arson case is solved, and all you give is two bottles of Laojiao... isn't that a bit stingy?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Qiang's expression immediately collapsed. "Old Liu, there's no reward for this case. I paid for this out of my own pocket."

After saying that, he gave a mysterious smile. "However, I have some good news. Do you want to hear it?"

"Don't play coy. Spit it out."

The two had been colleagues for many years and were close privately, so they spoke very casually.

"I just heard that the reward for the Zhang Wen homicide case is about to be issued."

Reward?

Liu Guodong and the other three were momentarily stunned, exchanging glances.

There were clear regulations regarding rewards for homicide cases.

Not just in the Haizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, but all public security bureaus provided very generous rewards for homicide cases.

Homicide cases were one of the most important assessment targets for police stations, criminal investigation detachments, and criminal police squads.

For example, in the Haizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, a police station that had no homicides occur would be issued a 100,000 yuan bonus.

If a homicide occurred and was solved, 50,000 yuan would be issued.

If it wasn't solved...

There was no money, no cash, no promotion—nothing.

The investigation of the Zhang Wen homicide had been quite rapid, but the review process for homicide cases involved multiple mechanisms.

The Criminal Investigation Detachment solves the case, secures the evidence, and maps out the criminal chain, then reports it.

The Haizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau would then organize experts to conduct a second round of review on all procedural materials.

After that, it had to be reported to the Provincial Department for the record.

And that wasn't even counting the review by the judicial authorities.

It had to undergo multiple verifications just within the public security system.

Therefore, it wasn't considered slow that the rewards for the Zhang Wen case were being issued a month later.

"Is there a Third-Class Merit?"

Generally speaking, solving a homicide could earn a Third-Class Merit.

However, it wasn't necessarily for an individual; it could also be a collective merit.

"I heard that the higher-ups are quite satisfied with our detachment's work lately. Director Song praised us in several meetings."

After saying this, Ren Qiang glanced at Lu Chuan. "Especially the case at the Outlet Walking Street; the higher-ups are very satisfied with our work."

Liu Guodong and the other two looked toward Lu Chuan.