Chapter 0001: Future Police

"Future police badge has been bound, officer number 577533."

A voice echoed in Brian Hall's mind as he fiddled with a police badge in his hand. He had obtained it by accident two days ago. It was a bit narrower than a regular badge and looked more unique.

"What's going on?" Brian Hall was confused.

"The future police badge was developed in 2170. It is a new type of police auxiliary equipment that can quickly impart knowledge and teach skills through brainwaves," the badge prompted in his mind.

"2170! That's a hundred and fifty years from now. How did it come back to the present?" Brian Hall exclaimed in surprise.

"An experimental accident caused the badge to travel through parallel space," the badge prompted.

Brian Hall found it unbelievable, but the prompt in his mind was undeniably real.

"Officer 577533 has received a welcome package," the badge prompted.

Skill: Footprint Identification.

Level: Advanced

Function: Can track the whereabouts and physical characteristics of criminal suspects based on footprints, sock prints, shoe prints, etc. found at the scene.

"Buzz..."

A buzzing filled his mind as a vast amount of knowledge and data flooded in, as if being poured directly into his brain.

Brian Hall felt as if a long time had passed. When he came to his senses again, he was still in the office of the Third Criminal Investigation Team.

The office was just as before, as if only a moment had passed, but his mind was now filled with extensive knowledge of footprint identification.

Brian Hall had learned about footprint identification before. It was a very complex criminal investigation skill, requiring a lot of observation, data, and experience to master.

There were only a handful of experts who could truly master this skill.

A man in his thirties, carrying a bag, walked into the office and saw Brian Hall staring blankly:

"Xiao Han, are you getting used to being transferred to our Third Team?"

Brian Hall turned his head. It was Paul Bennett, the leader of Group Two, Third Criminal Investigation Team.

"I'm doing well."

"You'll be busy now that you're in our criminal investigation team," Paul Bennett said.

"I'm prepared."

Previously, Brian Hall was a police officer at the local station and had only recently been transferred to the criminal investigation team.

"When you're young in this line of work, you have to be a detective. It's tough, but there are more opportunities to make achievements, and your future prospects will be broader," Paul Bennett said with the tone of someone experienced.

"Yes, I'll definitely learn from you, Captain Bennett, in the future," Brian Hall replied.

Paul Bennett also served as the deputy captain of the Third Criminal Investigation Team.

"Tap tap tap..." Footsteps sounded.

A female officer in her twenties hurried over. "Captain Bennett, there's been a theft at the Qindao Brewery!"

The female officer had short hair, delicate features, a tall figure, and a capable demeanor. She was Lily Turner from Group Two.

"Was anyone hurt?"

"No."

"How much property was lost?"

"A conservative estimate is over one million."

"Take David Thompson with you to the scene," Paul Bennett instructed.

"Yes."

...

Qindao Beer is the most well-known beer brand in the country and one of the pillar industries of Qindao City, with several breweries established in the city.

Half an hour later, the members of Group Two arrived at the suburban brewery.

This was a branch factory, not very large. At this time, police tape had already been set up, and officers from the local station were maintaining order.

After greeting the others, Paul Bennett led the three of them directly into the factory.

"This smell is intoxicating," David Thompson took a deep breath.

"If Captain Harris saw you drooling like this, your heart would be broken," Brian Hall joked.

Kevin Harris, captain of the Third Criminal Investigation Team.

David Thompson looked at him with disdain. The two were classmates from the police academy—who didn't know each other?

Paul Bennett glanced at the two of them. "No problem if you want to drink beer. Once we solve the case, you can have as much as you want."

Brian Hall and the other both gave awkward smiles and said no more. Anyone in the police knows the unspoken meaning: if the case isn't solved, you two better behave.

Paul Bennett walked up to a man in his forties with a square face and greeted him, "Mr. Clark."

"Captain Bennett, you're here," Mr. Clark extended his hand, and the two shook hands.

"What's the situation?" Paul Bennett asked.

"At five in the morning, the station received a call from the gatekeeper, John Baker, saying there had been a theft at the Qindao Brewery. We sent people over and found that the office building door and the finance room door on the second floor had been damaged. The safe was also pried open, and the loss was huge, so we reported it," Mr. Clark briefly explained.

"Any witnesses?"

"No."

"Was John Baker on duty last night?"

"Yes, but he didn't notice anything unusual," Mr. Clark replied.

"Lily Turner, go check the surveillance in the factory; David Thompson, interview the employees and see if there are any other leads; Brian Hall, come with me to the finance room," Paul Bennett instructed.

"Yes."

...

The office building had glass doors, which are easy to break. As long as you smash the glass near the lock, you can open the door.

The glass shards were scattered on the inside of the main entrance, indicating the glass was broken from the outside, consistent with a forced entry.

Brian Hall put on shoe covers, avoided the glass fragments, and observed as he went up to the finance room on the second floor.

The surveillance camera at the entrance of the finance room had already been destroyed.