Chapter 2: 2. Chapter 2: Catching the First Criminal

Chapter 2: Catching the First Criminal

At the entrance of Tianxin Shopping Plaza, a man riding an electric scooter through the streets with an expression of fury and a kitchen knife in hand was spotted and intercepted by traffic police. Upon being stopped, the man dismounted and, without a word, swung the knife, hacking several times at the officer. Bright red blood flowed from the wounds, and the officer collapsed, heavily injured.

This sudden turn of events happened in a mere instant; those standing nearby didn't even have time to react. Holding the blood-stained knife, the man quickly grabbed another man nearby as a hostage.

"Ahhh! Help!" the sturdy man being held cried out in terror.

Who could have imagined that just going out to buy a pack of cigarettes would put his life on the line!

Is it too late to throw that pack of cigarettes in his pocket away!

Only then did the passersby realize what was happening. Fearful screams rang out continuously, and the scene descended into chaos.

Some called emergency services and the police, but facing the man who was waving his knife and shouting for everyone to back away, no one dared to step forward. They could only pray that the police and an ambulance would arrive quickly.

It wasn't until the ambulance arrived that the crowd worked together to carry the officer into the vehicle.

The police arrived shortly after, but due to the criminal's weapon and the hostage, they hesitated to advance, only able to surround the perpetrator.

By the time Jiang Ning arrived, she saw this exact scene of a standoff.

Seeing the pool of bright red blood on the ground, the motive for this crime flashed through Jiang Ning's mind the moment she saw the criminal.

The criminal, Wang Qiang, had been domesticating his wife for years. When his wife finally gathered the courage to divorce him, instead of repenting, he flew into a rage, suspecting her of having an affair.

Specifically, after a "friend" sent him a photo of his wife laughing with another man, Wang Qiang immediately grabbed a kitchen knife and rode out aimlessly. After being intercepted by the traffic police, he vented his pent-up rage directly on the officer, hacking him into a critical condition.

Jiang Ning was livid: "What a piece of trash!"

If it weren't for the fact that he was holding a hostage, Jiang Ning would have driven her car straight into that scum to send him flying!

She stepped toward the criminal while asking the System in her mind: "If I die because I'm catching this piece of trash, does it count as a work-related injury?"

The System used its gentlest voice to say the most heartless words: [It counts toward the Host's mortality rate.]

Hearing this reply, Jiang Ning added another person to the list of people she wanted to run over with her car.

Jiang Ning took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing her emotions.

While everyone else was retreating, only Jiang Ning was walking forward.

This unconventional way of moving quickly drew the attention of both the police and Wang Qiang. Wang Qiang glared, watching Jiang Ning warily: "What are you doing! Take one more step and I'll slash his face!"

As he spoke, the knife that was pressed against the man's neck moved directly against his face.

The man, weighing over eighty kilograms, trembled violently with fear: "B-big brother, please calm down. I have no grudge against you. I have elderly parents and young children; if something happens to me, my whole family will collapse! I beg you, let me go."

A nearby police officer immediately stepped forward to pull Jiang Ning back: "It's dangerous here. Uninvolved personnel, please step back immediately."

Jiang Ning stood obediently in place and said to Wang Qiang, "Big brother, don't be afraid. I'm not here to stop you from killing; I'm here to join you."

!!!!!!

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire scene was stunned.

Listen to that—is that even human speech?!

Some passersby even looked at Jiang Ning with eyes full of anger and contempt.

Was she Criminal Number Two?!

Someone held up their phone high, aiming the camera at Jiang Ning.

Even Wang Qiang, holding the knife, failed to react for a moment. His brain stalled as he looked at the girl ten meters away: "What did you say?"

"I said, I'm here to join you." Jiang Ning raised her hand to wipe away a non-existent tear, looking fragile and vulnerable: "I just got out of the hospital. I have terminal cancer and I don't want to live anymore. I was just worrying about finding a place to die, so please, take me hostage."

"I've had no family since I was a child; everyone on my household register is dead. Now that I have this disease, I don't plan on living either. Are you trying to escape? Look, that big brother over there definitely won't cooperate with you, but I will."

"I'll help you run. Once you're safe, you can kill me to celebrate, okay?"

Jiang Ning used the softest, most gentle tone to say the cruelest things to herself.

Her appearance was deceptive. She was wearing hospital patient clothes, having been unconscious in the hospital for over a month, surviving only on IV drips. Her face was thin, and the loose striped hospital clothes hung hollowly on her, adding a layer of credibility to her words.

Forget the police officer standing beside her; even the crowd behind her saw their gaze shift from anger to sympathy and pity.

Only the System in her mind: [...]

The image of Jiang Ning's indiscriminate madness and attacks on the Huo family in the villa was still fresh in its mind. It hadn't realized that its Host actually had two faces.

Wang Qiang frowned: "Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course, who would joke about their family?" Jiang Ning nodded decisively, her tone serious: "If I'm lying, if my family is still alive, then I curse them all to be struck by lightning, to be hit by cars when they go out, to choke to death on food, or to die while using the toilet—basically, to die horribly! Now do you believe me?"

System: [...] *Feels the Host's malice toward the Huo family.*

The hostage Wang Qiang was currently holding was someone he had grabbed on impulse after injuring the officer. Who knew his luck would be so bad that the only person standing nearby was this large, heavy man.

Having held the man for so long, his hands were already numb and weak. Trying to force this man to cooperate in an escape was impossible.

If he swapped the hostage for that little girl over there... she would be much easier to control.

Most importantly, she was willing to assist him in running!

Even though there were so many police officers watching, he didn't know if he could escape. But, what if!

Wang Qiang barely considered it before saying, "Fine, come here."

The man being held felt a surge of joy, looking at Jiang Ning as if she were a savior descended from heaven.

Conversely, the passersby and police behind her urged her not to go, telling her it was too dangerous.

Jiang Ning lowered her eyes, looking as if she had lost all hope in the world, her voice soft and weak: "Thank you, but the doctor said I only have three months left to live. If I can save a life within my limited time, it will be worth dying for."

A police officer reached out to stop her. Even if Jiang Ning was willing, as officers, they could not stand by and watch a civilian take such a risk. Unexpectedly, before his hand could even touch her, Jiang Ning seemed to shift slightly, swiftly dodging his grasp.

The officer froze. By the time he tried to grab her again, she was already several steps away.

Watching Jiang Ning's unsteady steps as she slowly approached the criminal, one of the passersby who had just been cursing her in her heart slapped themselves!

*How could you! She's such a kind girl, and you cursed her!*

Wang Qiang hadn't originally lowered his guard against Jiang Ning, but seeing her so frail, people would believe she might collapse unconscious at any second!

The vigilance in Wang Qiang's heart lowered slightly. When Jiang Ning reached him, he moved the knife away from the hostage's neck and reached out to grab her.

But he didn't know that this was exactly the opportunity Jiang Ning was waiting for!

The fragile expression on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, commanding gaze. Jiang Ning reached out and pulled the man who had been forced into being a hostage toward her, while simultaneously lifting her leg with immense momentum, kicking him three inches below the abdomen.

She looked slender and weak, but her kick was incredibly fast and fierce.

Before Wang Qiang could even react, he felt a sharp pain in his lower abdomen. He couldn't help but let out an "Ah!" as he stumbled back several steps, clutching himself. The kitchen knife fell to the ground, landing right on his foot. Already trembling from pain, a mask of agony instantly appeared on Wang Qiang's face.

Jiang Ning's move was truly unexpected. Not just Wang Qiang, but even the other men present couldn't help but feel a phantom twitch in their own lower bodies, their expressions carrying a sense of unspeakable pain as if they were empathizing with him.

Jiang Ning stepped forward, kicked the knife away, grabbed Wang Qiang by the collar to force his head down, and proceeded to slap him repeatedly.

"Attacking a police officer in the street and taking an innocent civilian hostage—you domestic abuser, how do you have so much energy!"

"Did you really think I'd just let you kill me? Do you have any idea how hard it is for me just to stay alive!"

The sound of the slaps was deafening.

Jiang Ning no longer had to restrain her inner rage.

If she didn't vent her anger in time, she might develop a terminal illness!

After finishing, Jiang Ning looked at Wang Qiang with disgust.

"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Wang Qiang reached out to grab Jiang Ning. Jiang Ning pursed her lips and struck with a heavy blow, kicking Wang Qiang in the side of the waist, sending him flying three meters away.

This entire sequence of events happened in just a few seconds.

Forget the nearby crowd and police; even the hostage brother in close proximity didn't have time to react.

After Wang Qiang was kicked away, the police rushed forward, pinned him down, and rewarded him with a pair of silver handcuffs.

Someone let out a "Wow!", and only then did the crowd realize what had happened, breaking into spontaneous applause.

This girl is so fierce... but so likable!

Today was truly an eye-opener!

[Host task completed. Reward: 3 days of life, Merit +3.]

As the System's voice rang out, Jiang Ning noticed that the screen displaying her life countdown had changed; her remaining time went from 1 hour and 39 minutes to 3 days, 1 hour, and 39 minutes.

She knew what "life points" were, but what was "merit"?

Just as Jiang Ning was about to ask, a police officer approached her, asking with concern, "Are you okay? Is your body alright?"

Jiang Ning raised her right hand, the one she had just used to slap him. "It feels a bit sore, but it's fine. I'll be okay after some rest."

Police Officer: "...Mm, thank you for your hard work."

The young girl before him looked to be about 1.6 meters tall, giving the first impression of being thin, soft, pure, and harmless. Yet, that swift kick of hers had sent the criminal flying.

The criminal looked to be in his forties, over 1.7 meters tall, and weighed at least 75 kilograms. Even for "professionals" like them, kicking someone that far would be difficult, yet this young girl had actually done it.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would believe it!

The massive contrast left them in a daze.

The officer said, "The criminal can be said to have been caught thanks to you. We might need to trouble you to come to the station to give a statement."

Jiang Ning had completed the task issued by the System, and her life had increased by three days. She was currently in the best of moods.

Jiang Ning nodded. "Sure, no problem."

The man who had just been rescued by Jiang Ning also regained his senses. He hurried forward to thank her, curiously asking how she had such strength to kick a man flying.

The crowd also seemed to want to surround her.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning, a person with social anxiety, quickly followed the police into the patrol car.

(End of Chapter)