The Three Kingdoms, once again the Three Kingdoms!

But this time, the protagonist is not that all-conquering Fatty Dong. Alright, I admit it, among the Three Kingdoms I only love Cao Cao, and I really dislike that Liu the Imperial Uncle and Sun Zhongmou...

This book tells the story of a little Cao thief.

Not Cao Pi, not Cao Zhi, and not Cao Anmin...

It has the same hot-blooded spirit as Evil Han, but will try to add some new elements. No longer just about vying for supremacy—actually, hoping for a son to become a dragon is quite interesting too.

A bit satisfying, a bit light, maybe even a bit over the top...

I hope everyone will like this book, and like the little Cao thief!

Just as the saying goes: The rolling Yangtze River flows east, washing away all the heroes. Right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing in the blink of an eye. The green hills remain, as many times the sun sets red.

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In 2011, Brian Carter poured his heart into creating the story of a little Cao thief.

Volume One

Chapter 01: Don’t Be a Hero in Your Next Life

“Eric Bennett, what are you doing here so late?”

David Clark asked the young man beside him with a cheerful smile, casually pushed open the car door, then got out, stretching lazily to loosen up his somewhat tired body.

Twenty-six-year-old David Clark was a criminal investigator at the X City Police Department.

A few days ago, he had just cracked a drug case and successfully shot and killed a drug lord hiding in X City, earning commendation from the provincial department.

Speaking of this case, it was rather bizarre.

Originally, it was just an ordinary suicide case, but a criminal investigator noticed some clues, which led to the uncovering of a series of murders. During the investigation, the criminal investigator was attacked, which made David Clark extremely angry. After taking over the case, despite facing numerous obstacles, he never gave up, and even in the end, after being suspended for investigation, David Clark stubbornly continued to pursue the case...

Even he hadn’t expected that the truth would turn out to be...

A renowned entrepreneur, famous throughout the province, turned out to be a major drug lord; and behind this, an enormous corruption and bribery case was uncovered!

Nearly half of X City’s political and legal system was implicated.

Countless officials were brought down, including many high-ranking provincial and city leaders.

This was also the largest drug trafficking and corruption case solved in Central Plains Province since the founding of the country...

The entire case took two full years to crack. In those two years, David Clark faced countless life-and-death trials and endured immense pain. Now, with the case finally solved, David Clark felt an incredible sense of relief. Standing by the Xionger River Reservoir, gazing at the shimmering water under the moonlight, his heart was filled with pride, but also a faint, indescribable sadness.

Suddenly, David Clark felt a twinge of warning in his heart.

After countless brushes with death over the past two years, he had developed an instinctive sensitivity to danger.

Almost reflexively, he dove to the side, but just as he did, a gunshot rang out behind him, and a bullet struck him in the back, knocking him to the ground.

Although he reacted, it all happened too suddenly!

David Clark fell to the ground, clutching his chest, blood seeping through his fingers. He looked up, eyes full of disbelief, staring at the young man who had just stepped out of the police car. The young man held a pistol, its dark muzzle still wafting a thin trail of smoke...

“Eric Bennett, you...”

David Clark couldn’t believe it—his closest comrade, his most capable partner, had actually shot him.

In the moonlight, the young man’s face was expressionless as he quietly watched David Clark.

“Mr. Clark, I warned you before, stop investigating... This case isn’t as simple as you think. But you wouldn’t listen, insisting on digging deeper no matter what. And what’s the result? I’m telling you, this case isn’t over. Those who got exposed are just a bunch of insignificant scapegoats... You ruined someone’s plans—how could they possibly let it go?”

In an instant, David Clark seemed to understand everything!

Over the past two years, he had skirted the edge of death countless times... There were several times he wondered how the other side kept finding him.

He’d thought there was a mole, and indeed, they had eventually uncovered one.

But he never imagined that the biggest mole was actually...

All the doubts he’d never figured out over the past two years suddenly became clear!

“Eric Bennett, you too...”

“Don’t blame me. I have a wife and child, and I love them very much. Mr. Clark, to be honest, I really admire you—your persistence, your so-called sense of justice... But so what? The case looks like it’s solved, but you’ve ended up all alone. I’m sorry about your parents. But if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not knowing how to adapt, for not seeing the world for what it is... Mr. Clark, good people don’t live long. If you want to be a hero, you’re destined for a bad end.”

As Eric Bennett spoke, he raised the gun at David Clark again.

“In your next life, don’t try to be a hero!”

Bang!

As Eric Bennett finished speaking, a gunshot echoed over the Xionger River Reservoir, lingering for a long time...

Several days later, David Clark’s body was found in the reservoir!