Chapter 42: Trials and Rewards

Lin Tiansheng held the case file, slapped it against his palm, and chuckled. "Understood... Easy money where you pick it up on the street never falls to me. Licking blood off the blade and putting a gun to my head—those are the jobs that always land on my desk. Leading the charge, making a name for yourself, is it really that easy? I figured as much. Let's do it! An assignment from the higher-ups—even if they ordered me to clear out the British Commonwealth Queen's shit-bucket, I'd still do it!"

Pi Zhibang wore a playful, lewd expression and giggled in a low voice. "Damn it, that kind of good stuff isn't coming your way. If it were, I'd take it first."

"Remember to handle the case brilliantly, heavily crush the arrogance of the Number Gang, and show the underworld folks just how sharp the Five Poisons Detective is. A comeback isn't just about being swaggering in the police force; you've got to make waves in the underworld too!"

"Arresting Whiskers Yung is small potatoes. It's not like we're chopping off his head and hanging it from a streetlamp. Only by cutting off the Ngai Group's biggest financial lifeline can one truly make a name across the jianghu, Inspector Lin."

Lin Tiansheng remained noncommittal, spreading his hands. "Still the same old question: it's a major case, so what's the reward?"

Pi Zhibang could do nothing with him, muttering curses, "You old fox, truly heartless. You want benefits just for handling a case."

"Making it sound like I owe you a favor."

"There isn't a single cent of cash, but if you handle it well, Superintendent Cho guarantees everyone will give you full support. He'll even send you to shoot the cover of the next issue of *Police Focus*."

Lin Tiansheng didn't hesitate any longer, standing at attention and saluting. "Yes, Sir!"

It was very simple: the old guards within the faction had already concentrated their forces, reached a consensus, and decided to support him. But before formally throwing their weight behind him, another test was needed.

In the first two cases, Lin Tiansheng had already proven his valor. Breaking ties with Uncle Deng was also proof of his determination. The only thing he hadn't proven yet was his understanding of "new-era police-criminal relations" following the police reforms.

Deep thinking involved an understanding of social relations and tested one's political scent. Superficial analysis could also reveal whether Lin Tiansheng had wasted his three years guarding the water reservoirs.

Many things were seen much more clearly and transparently by the inspectors who had been stepping up the management ladder in the police force all along.

Whether Lin Tiansheng was still as "unable to tell black from white" as before, or "neither black nor white," or "strictly black versus white" could be seen through the process of handling this case.

It wasn't about whether he himself was crooked—all bloody cops are crooked, and how else could you become the standard-bearer for the old guard? The crucial point was how to deal with the triads and where to place them...

For a political faction to harbor the vision of restoring its former glory, its ideology had to be aligned first. Only when ideologies were aligned could actions truly converge.

This couldn't be achieved merely by relying on Lok Gor's reputation, because Lok Gor himself had first aligned his ambitions with everyone else before gaining the help of his followers and spreading his wings.

The successors—apart from those who successfully succeeded, there were also those who fell along the path of succession. This group of people needed him, which was why a successor even existed.

When Superintendent Cho picked this case for him, there was undoubtedly pressure from the gweilos and various political games at play, but there had to be deep-seated considerations as well. Because in politics, every understandable hint was an explicit command.

Since Lin Tiansheng could see through it, it couldn't be empty air.

If he could handle even this kind of case well, most future cases wouldn't defeat him. It would prove his professional competence was rock-solid, and if he ever fell, it would only be in the political arena.

Everyone was willing to place bets beneath the political gambling table, but they would never place them on a good-for-nothing whose professional competence was rubbish.

Seeing Lin Tiansheng turn to leave, Pi Zhibang spoke up, "This case carries heavy weight. The few guys in your squad aren't enough. The men from Chen Sheng's and Shi Zhanpeng's two squads are assigned to you. I've already spoken with them; they'll follow your orders."

"Thanks, Inspector Pi," Lin Tiansheng said, turning back to express his gratitude without any real surprise. Tapping the file against his thigh, he walked back to his workstation.

A major case naturally required reinforcements. Adding twenty men at once meant the department was lending its full support.

In the short term, Lin Tiansheng's practical authority within his squad had greatly increased, making it much smoother to deal with punks.

Ma Delong kept his eyes open and immediately stepped forward, asking, "Brother Sheng, did Inspector Pi hand over a case?"

Lin Tiansheng placed the documents on the desk, lit a cigarette, and said, "Ah Chung, take the files to be copied—one for each person. Everyone take a look first and think about how to tackle it. Get it done within a month; if it takes too long, we won't have a chance to get on *Police Focus*."

He Li, who had just returned to the team, took the materials and spoke up, "I'll do it, Boss."

Yun Zhai sat nearby, still unaccustomed to the life of the Regional Crime Unit, remaining silent most of the time. Still, the combination of "two sergeants plus the rank-and-file" was finally complete.

During the printing pause, Gao Zichong's eyes lit up as he asked, "Sir, we can get on *Police Focus*?"

*Police Focus* was a television program launched in 1973, precisely the year before police corruption was exposed and the famous gweilo "Godber" was taken down. From its inception, it carried a strong political flavor, aiming to build a bridge between the police and the public, elevate the police force's image, and utilize public opinion to urge reform.

Over seven years, it had gained widespread influence among the common people, broadcasting numerous major criminal and anti-corruption cases. It was hosted jointly by a police officer and an entertainer.

Every month, there was also the *Police Focus* print publication.

Police officers who could appear on the show with a positive image were often promoted and faced a bright future. Since Lin Tiansheng had just been promoted a rank and hadn't even passed his probationary period, it was impossible for him to jump straight to senior inspector. After handling a major case, appearing on *Police Focus* to gain exposure would give him a platform to expand his fame and make the gweilos think twice before suppressing him further, gradually pulling him out of the dangerous eye of the storm.

Moreover, it would enhance his personal image and lay the groundwork for further promotion—considered the promised reward from the old guard!

As long as he could handle the Ngai Group, the process of "grooming him" would begin.

If Inspector Lin could be promoted another rank in the future, men under his command like Zhang Jinrong, Ma Delong, and Gao Zichong would also have a chance to move up.

The career advancement path for policemen heavily relied on one's superiors.

One had to know that senior sergeants and station sergeants belonged to the same rank seniority; theoretically, both could be directly recommended for promotion to inspector.

The rank-and-file were willing to risk their lives precisely because of the hope of promotion.

Lin Tiansheng said, "Want to get on *Police Focus*? Be careful when you're working. Make sure you come back alive first."

"Hehe, following Inspector Lin, with Mazu protecting us, nothing will go wrong," Gao Zichong said cheerfully. Although following Inspector Lin carried high risks, the opportunities were indeed greater than what ordinary people had.

He Li took the case files back to his workstation and distributed them to those present. Everyone sat at their desks, opening the files and studying them closely.

Although the case files were quite thick, they primarily consisted of criminal profiles involving several fierce figures from the Ngai Group, including "Ng Sik-kwan" (nicknamed the Big Smuggler), Yim Tung-kwai (nicknamed "Sunflower Kid"), as well as "Ah Chung," "Knife-boy Tung," and others. Among them, the "Big Smuggler" was the big man they had encountered at the disco, paired with another of Whiskers Yung's protégés, "Little Master," who were known as Whiskers Yung's left and right arms.

Zhang Jinrong put down the file. "So that big guy was called the Big Smuggler. I thought his name was just Big Guy. If I'd known, we should've dragged him back to the station for interrogation."

Lin Tiansheng took a takeaway box of char siu rice handed over by an officer and spoke, "It's not that simple. The last guy who managed the arms business for Whiskers Yung, 'Little Mute,' was brought in for questioning by the Criminal Investigation Division. While detained in Lai Chi Kok, he swallowed razor blades and couldn't be saved, which cut off all our clues. Punks wanting to make money and climb the ranks are everywhere; if one dies, they'll just find another."

"To really strike them, we have to find their piers and warehouses, wipe them out in one fell swoop, and seal off all their escape routes!"