Zhe stepped up to the service window and handed over Xiao Luo's photo along with her basic information.
His voice was earnest.
"This child's name is Xiao Luo. She's been diagnosed with cancer. She ran away from home because she didn't want to become a burden to her adoptive parents. She's currently hospitalized at Central Hospital. Could I ask you to contact her parents as soon as possible? Right now... she really needs them."
He explained everything he knew in detail, then left his contact information on the registration form. The staff member told him that they would notify him immediately if any news came in.
After finishing the report, Zhe was about to say goodbye to Xiao Li and her mother and leave, but the two of them called out to stop him.
"Please wait!"
Xiao Li's mother stepped forward quickly, determination in her eyes.
"About the special medicine... my husband works in the R&D division of Melopede Biotech. He was involved in the development of that medicine before. He's a very kind man, so maybe... maybe we can help somehow."
At that point, her voice suddenly caught.
"But... he hasn't come home in a week, and I can't get in touch with him at all." She hugged her daughter tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly. "He mentioned before that their company had recently been developing some kind of... human-enhancement drug, but it sounded like the experiments were dangerous... I'm really worried..."
Zhe's heart sank.
Melopede Biotech. Special medicine. A missing researcher.
Those clues all seemed to point toward some terrible truth.
But right now, this might also be Xiao Luo's only hope.
At that moment, Zhu Yuan, returning after delivering the files, happened to overhear the conversation.
Looking at the mother and daughter clinging to each other, and thinking of the other young girl still fighting illness in the hospital, her eyes instantly hardened with resolve.
"I'll take charge of this case."
She stepped forward, her voice clear and firm.
First she gave Zhe a small nod, then crouched down to Xiao Li's eye level.
"Little one, don't worry. I promise you—I'll find your father."
She stood back up and briskly opened her police terminal.
"Ma'am, now please tell me everything about your husband. His name, position, last known location..."
There was something about her crisp professionalism that naturally inspired trust.
Xiao Li's mother wiped away her tears, hope rekindling in her expression.
"His name is Shi Yueyu. He's the chief researcher in the biomedical division of Melopede Biotech..."
Once all the key information had been recorded, Zhu Yuan straightened her back and gave Zhe, Xiao Li, and her mother a formal officer's salute.
"Please rest assured. The Public Security Bureau will pursue this matter to the end. If there are any developments, I guarantee you'll be notified immediately."
After saying goodbye to Zhu Yuan at the bureau, Zhe crouched down so that his eyes were level with Xiao Li's and gently took her little hand.
"Big brother will help too."
Then he looked up at the still-anxious mother.
"Please trust me. We'll make sure your family is reunited."
"Xiao Li believes in big brother," the child said with perfect seriousness. "Because big brother saved me. Big brother is a real hero."
The innocent words of a child could be surprisingly powerful encouragement.
When Zhe returned to the hospital, Nicole had already been waiting in the hallway outside the room for quite some time.
The two of them quickly found a quiet corner and exchanged what they had learned.
"I found out about the Melopede family and Shi Yueyu," Nicole said in a low voice, her gaze sharp. "He's a medical genius. When he was younger, the special medicine he developed could have benefited the public—but the Melopede family monopolized it for profit." She let out a cold snort. "Now that their family business is being crushed by the TOPS Group, they're desperately trying to turn things around by developing some so-called 'human-enhancement drug' through human experimentation."
Zhe immediately caught the key point.
"Human experimentation?"
"Exactly."
Nicole nodded.
"Shi Yueyu still has a conscience, so he opposed this kind of bottom-line-breaking research. And the result? He knew too much, so now he's being held under house arrest in Melopede Biotech's industrial district."
The two of them met each other's eyes.
Neither needed to say it aloud.
Finding Shi Yueyu would not only mean getting the special medicine needed to save Xiao Luo—
it would also be the key to bringing down the Melopede family.
Meanwhile, inside the Public Security Bureau, Qingyi rubbed at her aching temples and looked at her troublesome junior.
"We haven't even finished cleaning up the mess from the Nightmare incident, and now you've gone and taken on another case?"
Zhu Yuan stood ramrod straight, her gaze unwavering.
"Senior, if I turned a blind eye to something like this, then the badge on my chest would be shamed."
"...Sigh."
Qingyi let out a long breath. In the end, she relented.
With practiced ease, she pulled up an encrypted database.
"Fine. You are my junior, after all."
The screen lit up, displaying a top-secret file marked Provided by Mousey.
"There really have been reports recently that the Melopede family is conducting illegal human experiments. But the Public Security Bureau still doesn't have the decisive evidence. Finding Shi Yueyu won't just reunite Xiao Li's family—it's also the best chance we have to uproot the Melopede family entirely."
She shut off the screen, her expression turning serious.
"But for now, the evidence isn't enough. We can't make this public. This operation..." Her eyes swept across Zhu Yuan's resolute face. "Will be just the two of us."
Night deepened, and city lights came on one after another.
The moon was hidden behind thick clouds, and the outline of the abandoned industrial district crouched in the dark like some giant sleeping beast.
Nicole and Zhe were both dressed in specially made black infiltration gear, with tactical visors covering most of their faces.
Behind them, Rin remotely controlled Eous through a secure link, the little machine body darting through the shadows with nimble movements, pale green light glinting in its electronic eyes.
"Nicole, don't forget—this operation counts as an official commission. Afterwards, not a single denny of commission fees can be missing," Rin said through the encrypted channel in a thoroughly businesslike tone.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Nicole muttered softly. "You're even stingier than I am."
But beneath the mask, the corners of her mouth were already curling upward.
"And if I really can't pay it back, then I'll just have to and Zhe..."
"Nicole, what did you just say?" Zhe asked, adjusting his tactical visor and turning his head in confusion.
"Nothing! You blockhead!"
Nicole gave a light huff and efficiently checked her gear.
"Target: Shi Yueyu. Mission begins now!"
"Hey, why are you stealing my line?"
At the same time, on the other side of the industrial district, two agile figures silently vaulted over the perimeter wall.
Qingyi landed neatly, a little dust sticking to her tactical gloves. She brushed it off lightly and glanced at the partner beside her, who looked eager for action.
"Junior, relax a little. With the way you look right now, you don't seem like you're here to rescue someone—you look like you're here to start a fight."
Zhu Yuan tightened her grip on the K22 Pacifier, eyes blazing.
"Senior, being ready at all times to serve the people is my creed!"
"Then could you maybe spare a little sympathy for this old lady being forced to work overtime?"
Qingyi shook her head helplessly, then turned serious.
"Remember, the mission objective is rescuing Shi Yueyu. Don't create unnecessary trouble."
The night was deep, and danger lurked everywhere in the abandoned industrial complex.
Two separate teams, each carrying their own convictions and goals, advanced like twin blades, silently thrusting toward the enemy's heart.
A covert operation of night—one involving life, justice, and family—had officially begun.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 175)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 119)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter79)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter125)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 60
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 40
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 73
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 55
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 66
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 64
The Way the Umamusume Look at 63
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 55
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 45
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 31
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 31
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 31
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