Chen Shao still wore that same annoying, mask-like, squinty-eyed smile as he said:

“Everyone is up quite early.”

Lin Han walked to the door.

“Mr. Chen has arrived quite early as well.”

Chen Shao smiled, then took a stack of documents from the subordinate behind him.

“The procedures Team Leader Lin mentioned last night have been prepared. The Director’s signature, reasons for transfer, receiving personnel, custody procedures, and subsequent investigation arrangements are all here.”

He handed the documents to Lin Han, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

“Please look them over, Team Leader Lin.”

But the scene he had imagined—Lin Han taking the documents, flipping through them page by page, and finally being forced to accept reality with difficulty—did not happen.

Lin Han simply held the documents and flipped through a few pages at random.

Then he closed them.

“The procedures look fine. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Shao’s temple twitched slightly, his teeth clenched tight.

He nearly lost his composure, roaring inwardly—

“No problems?

Just a couple of glances and there are no problems?

Who was it that insisted on procedures last night?”

In order to ensure this document was flawless, he had stayed up all night studying every single SAVE regulation. He had spent the early morning running between various departments without even eating breakfast, securing a set of certifications that could even be described as exceeding requirements.

And yet, this was how he was treated…

A ridiculous sense of resentment suddenly welled up in Chen Shao’s heart.

He even felt as if he had prepared a thirty-thousand-word speech for a grand debate, only to step onto the stage and speak with great eloquence for ages, only for his opponent’s response to be, “Yeah, sure, whatever you say.”

Lin Han, of course, had no idea about the complex and somewhat twisted state of Chen Shao’s mind at this moment.

He simply set the document aside and said in a calm tone:

“Don’t take it personally, Manager Chen. We’re just following procedure.”

Chen Shao nearly choked.

Hearing those words come out of Lin Han’s mouth was infuriating no matter how you sliced it.

Lin Han continued, “Since the documents have been brought over, the suspect and the evidence can naturally be transferred to the X City Branch.”

As he spoke, he signaled for Tang Xiaoman to bring out the drug.

Chen Shao froze for a moment. He was dazed even as he took the small vial containing the pale gold liquid.

…He was really being this cooperative?

Then what the hell was he being so stubborn about last night?!

He had originally thought Lin Han would keep making excuses, and he had even prepared three different sets of counter-arguments.

As it turned out, the other man had actually just agreed.

It gave him the powerless sensation of throwing a punch into a pile of cotton.

“You…”

Chen Shao’s expression shifted several times, and he could no longer maintain his smile.

After standing there blankly with the vial for who knew how long, Chen Shao finally felt he had found the reason. It suddenly occurred to him—

It seemed they hadn’t managed to interrogate anything truly useful last night and had completely given up.

“That’s more like it…”

“This is how it should be.”

X City had originally planned to host them for a while before sending them back the way they came. These guys simply couldn’t tell good from bad; they had to run headfirst into a wall before finally realizing that reality isn’t some detective role-play game.

In the end, he had overthought things and overestimated them.

He had expected them to come up with some kind of countermeasure, but it seemed they were at their wit’s end.

At this thought, Chen Shao even felt a bit bored; the opposition had collapsed before he had even exerted his full strength.

What was this? The lonely chill of being unsurpassed at the summit?

Thinking this, the smile returned to Chen Shao’s face, becoming significantly more genuine.

“Then I thank you for your cooperation, Team Leader Lin.”

Before long, Chen Shao’s subordinates brought out the two people being held in the next room.

The drug dealer was clearly not in a good state; his eyes were unfocused, and he needed someone to support him just to walk.

The boy who bought the drugs was in even worse shape, muttering something under his breath as he was led out.

Chen Shao’s brow furrowed slightly.

Why did these two look like they’d had the life scared out of them?

These guys from W City… they didn’t actually use some kind of extreme methods, did they?

He grew suspicious, but he didn’t let it show on his face.

If they really had used torture, things would be even easier to handle.

When the time came, he wouldn’t even need to do much. With just a little push from him, SAVE’s internal regulations would be enough to give this group a serious run for their money.

Thinking of this, Chen Shao’s mood improved even further.

He smiled at Lin Han and said, “Then I’ll take them back first to handle the handover. I won’t disturb you any longer.”

“X City is a city with a long history. Although things have been a bit turbulent lately, there are still many sights worth seeing. If you want to relax outside of work, you should take a walk around.”

He spoke meaningfully.

“If you need anything, feel free to contact me at any time.”

“We will.”

With that, Chen Shao cupped his hands in a parting gesture and left with his men.

When he reached the elevator, he glanced back.

Lin Han stood at the doorway, his expression showing not a hint of resentment.

For some reason, a slight feeling of unease suddenly surfaced in Chen Shao’s heart.

But he quickly suppressed the doubt.

Without local assistance or sufficient evidence, there was nothing they could do.

The elevator descended.

Soon, Chen Shao and his group reached the hotel entrance.

At the same time, a grey-haired man walked in from outside, backlit by the morning sun.

The man looked to be about fifty years old, wearing a well-tailored black bespoke suit and spotless white gloves. His grey hair was neatly tied back, his beard was trimmed, and his face was lean with deep-set eyes. His demeanor was restrained and composed.

A silver pocket watch chain was pinned to his chest. His appearance was like a handsome old man straight off a movie set, while his poised and impeccable mannerisms were like those of a butler from some ancient manor.

His steps were light, so light they were almost silent.

Yet the moment he passed by Chen Shao, Chen Shao’s entire body suddenly tensed.

It was like a herbivore on a narrow mountain path, brushing past a fierce beast.

There was no killing intent.

No physical contact.

Not even a stray glance.

Yet the weak animal was terrified into trembling by the predatory aura that belonged only to a beast.

Chen Shao’s back was instantly drenched in cold sweat!

He stood rooted to the spot, only coming to his senses after a long moment.

He whipped his head around, but the grey-haired man had already vanished.

People came and went in the hotel lobby; everything was as usual.

It was as if that suffocating aura from just now had been nothing but an illusion.

His subordinate asked in confusion, “Are you alright?”

Chen Shao raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

“It’s nothing,” he said, yet he couldn’t help but glance back into the hotel.

That man… who was he?

Upstairs in the hotel.

Lin Han was just about to close the door when a set of steady footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.

He looked up to see a gray-haired man standing in the corridor.

The moment Lin Han saw him, a hint of instinctive alarm flared in his heart.

“You…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Han’s pupils suddenly constricted.

As if shrinking the very earth beneath his feet, the gray-haired man had somehow reached the doorway.

And Lin Han hadn’t even been able to track the man’s movements!

The gray-haired man didn’t look at Lin Han, nor did he spare a glance for anyone else in the room.

His gaze swept across the interior before finally settling on Shen Qingshu, who was sitting on the sofa reading. He then bowed his head slightly, his movements elegant and deferential.

“Miss.”

“I have brought the invitation you requested last night.”