In one corner of the coal pile, there were signs of recent digging.

Brian Hall found a shovel and dug a few times, soon unearthing a backpack.

Opening it, he found it stuffed with red banknotes, as well as tools used in the crime—hats, gloves, a flashlight, and so on.

A rough count showed over 300,000 yuan in cash, plus a check for 800,000 yuan, matching the property stolen from the Qindao Brewery.

“Charles Miller, we’ve found all the stolen goods. What do you have to say for yourself?” Paul Bennett questioned sternly.

“This was dug out from Old Zhao’s coal pile, not mine,” Charles Miller argued.

“Joan Brooks, take a look—does this bag belong to your family?”

Joan Brooks looked extremely nervous. She walked forward cautiously, glanced at it, and shivered, “No, no, I’ve never seen it before.”

“There are fingerprints left on this flashlight. Once we test them, we’ll naturally find the suspect. Denying it is useless,” said Brian Hall.

“Arrest him!” Paul Bennett waved his hand.

David Thompson and James Reed immediately moved in and restrained Charles Miller.

“Let go of my Old Lin…” Joan Brooks tried to intervene, but was stopped by Lily Turner.

“Take good care of the child,” Charles Miller sighed.

“What are you standing around for? Take him away!”

……

Back at the police station.

The forensics department compared the fingerprints collected from the flashlight with those of Charles Miller, and they matched perfectly.

Charles Miller’s suspicion was confirmed.

Even with zero confession, the case could be closed.

Charles Miller also knew there was no chance of escape. Faced with solid evidence, he confessed during the first round of interrogation.

……

The case being solved today was largely thanks to Brian Hall.

Everyone recognized and acknowledged his contribution.

He was sure to get the top merit.

Brian Hall didn’t participate in the interrogation—after all, you have to leave some credit for others.

If you take all the credit for yourself, who would want to partner with you in the future?

Just as Brian Hall was about to take a lunch break, a prompt sounded in his mind: “Congratulations, Officer 577533, for successfully solving your first criminal case.”

“Skill proficiency +2, merit points +5.”

“Would you like to use merit points to exchange for a new skill?” the police badge prompted.

Brian Hall didn’t answer immediately. After thinking for a long time, he said, “Exchange.”

“Officer 577533, which new skill would you like to exchange for?”

“Micro-expression analysis,” said Brian Hall.

Skill: Micro-expression analysis.

Function: By observing subtle facial expressions and body movements, determine a person’s true feelings and emotions.

Skill: Micro-expression analysis.

Entry level: requires 100 merit points.

Advanced: requires 500 merit points.

Expert: requires 1,000 merit points.

“What’s the use of skill proficiency?” Brian Hall asked.

“When upgrading a skill, proficiency can offset merit points,” the police badge prompted.

“I only have seven merit points in total right now, not enough to exchange for a new skill,” said Brian Hall.

“Installment payments are available.”

“It works like that?” Brian Hall was surprised.

“This is the trend of future society.”

Brian Hall “……”

“If I want to exchange for entry-level micro-expression analysis, how long would the installment payments last?”

“Ten merit points or skill proficiency per month, 120 merit points per year,” the police badge prompted.

“Why is it 20 points more?”

“Interest.”

Brian Hall “……”

After some thought, Brian Hall decided to learn it. Micro-expression analysis would be very useful, allowing him to judge the truthfulness of suspects’ statements through their expressions and body language.

“I want to learn entry-level micro-expression analysis.”

“Buzz…”

A buzzing filled Brian Hall’s mind, and a flood of knowledge and data about micro-expression analysis poured in, as if being directly infused into his brain.

Its complexity far exceeded that of footprint identification.

Brian Hall felt as if a long time had passed before he came back to his senses.

“Ding-dong, congratulations Officer 577533, you have learned a new skill,” the police badge prompted.

Officer 577533

Skills: Footprint Identification (Advanced), Micro-expression Analysis (Entry Level)

Merit points: +7

Footprint Identification: Proficiency +3

……

Having learned a new skill, Brian Hall wanted to test it out and called over David Thompson.

“David Thompson, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

Brian Hall stared at him, “Who do you think is better looking, you or me?”

“Brother Bin, what made you ask such a profound question?”

“Just asking,” Brian Hall shrugged.

“Isn’t it obvious? Of course I’m better looking!” David Thompson subconsciously touched his neck.

Everyone has their own little habits when lying.

Touching the neck is a classic mechanical reaction.

“Haha…” Brian Hall laughed heartily to himself, thinking, this skill really works.

……

Qindao Branch, not far from the seaside.

After work in the evening, Paul Bennett treated everyone, and several officers from Team 2 went to the seaside for some street food.

They first ordered a bucket of fresh draft beer, then peanuts, mantis shrimp, mussels, scallops, octopus, oysters, lamb skewers, and more.

“Pour the drinks, pour the drinks,” Paul Bennett said cheerfully, calling everyone over: