He hasn’t been working at the police station for long—less than a year—but he’s already cracked quite a few cases, showing a rare talent for criminal investigation. Even the station chief and the head of the district’s criminal investigation team have praised him, saying he’s got what it takes to be a detective.

That’s how it is at the grassroots level: if you’ve got real skills, everyone respects you.

Otherwise, no matter how impressive your background or how powerful your connections, at best people will be polite to your face, but who knows how much they’re mocking you behind your back.

“Whoa, what’s going on here?”

James Carter walked up to Edward York, smiling as he asked.

James Carter was also a detective, about the same age as Edward York, but in charge of a different area. He was on duty tonight, and as soon as he got Edward York’s call, he rushed over with his team.

Seeing the mess of people sprawled all over the ground, James Carter was taken aback.

“These four guys tried to commit murder. I took them down.”

Edward York said simply, gesturing to James Carter to hand him a cigarette.

The rain was coming down harder and harder. The half pack of cigarettes in Edward York’s pocket had long since been soaked through, which really annoyed him.

He was a heavy smoker.

“Murder?”

James Carter was startled, his face turning serious as he handed Edward York a cigarette, his brows furrowing tightly.

“They didn’t know you were a cop?”

These days, there are plenty of murders, but not many people dare to kill a cop.

Edward York lit his cigarette under the eaves, grinned, and said, “Of course they knew. I even showed them my badge. These guys just aren’t afraid.”

“Damn, they’ve got guts… Were they after you specifically?”

As he spoke, James Carter kept glancing suspiciously at Grace Bennett.

What’s up with this woman?

He hadn’t heard that Edward York was dating anyone.

But from what Edward York just said, it didn’t sound like the thugs were after him specifically. Otherwise, why show his badge? Besides, even though Edward York was a detective, he hadn’t been transferred here that long, and the criminals from his cases were all still locked up. How could they be out so soon to cause him trouble?

Could it be they were after the woman behind Edward York?

Edward York shook his head, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and said, “Definitely not after me. I just happened to run into this… I think there’s more to this than meets the eye. Let’s cuff these guys and take them back to the station for questioning.”

“Alright, let’s take them back to the station first.”

James Carter nodded in agreement.

“Let’s move—cuff them up!”

This last command was directed at the auxiliary officers.

Actually, the auxiliary officers had been waiting for the order. Without instructions from their superiors, they couldn’t act on their own. As soon as James Carter spoke, they all responded in unison, each pulling out handcuffs from behind their backs and getting to work.

But soon, the auxiliary officers ran into trouble.

“Nine, this guy’s playing dead…”

He was talking about Blondie.

Blondie was the first one Edward York took down—a baton to the neck, sent him flying, and knocked his buddy down too. He’d been lying there ever since, not making a sound.

It had been over ten minutes, and he still hadn’t moved, not even reacting when the auxiliary officer tried to cuff him.

Edward York looked down at him, grinned, and said, “Don’t worry, he’s not dead. Just pinch his philtrum to wake him up.”

“Got it…”

The auxiliary officer replied, reaching out to pinch Blondie’s philtrum.

Auxiliary officers at grassroots police stations are jacks-of-all-trades—everyone knows these basic first-aid tricks. Sure enough, a pinch to the philtrum did the trick, and soon Blondie slowly came to. As soon as he saw the uniformed officers, he started struggling violently.

“Let me go! What are you trying to do?”

“We’re from the Bajian Police Station, so you’d better behave!”

How many of the auxiliary officers are pushovers?

One of them immediately slapped him hard across the face.

Blondie’s neck was already badly swollen from the baton strike, nearly split open. That slap pulled at his injury, and Blondie let out a pig-like scream.

“You—you’d better let me go right now! So what if you’re from the police station? Do you know who we work for? We’re with Henry. Henry Dawson, Boss Deng—ever heard of him?”

“You dare cross Henry? You must have a death wish!”

Chapter 5 Henry’s Men (Part 1)

Henry Dawson!

As soon as that name was mentioned, everyone froze for a moment.

Especially the auxiliary officer about to cuff Blondie, who hesitated and looked over at Edward York and James Carter, clearly hoping they’d make the call.

Anyone from Ping’an knows who Henry Dawson is.

In Ping’an City, Henry’s reputation is huge.

So huge that even the auxiliary officers are afraid.

“Nonsense!”

Edward York just laughed. He walked over slowly, stepping into the rain, came up to Blondie, squatted down, looked at him, took a deep drag on his cigarette, then spat the butt onto the ground. He raised his hand, grabbed Blondie’s hair, and yanked it back hard.

Caught off guard, Blondie cried out, his head snapping back.