Chapter 25: Reporting an Unnatural Death

By late autumn, Han Ling had been working at the Wanglou Police Station for six months—exactly half a year.

The approval from the sub-bureau had finally arrived. After a comprehensive evaluation of his performance, they agreed to the station’s request for his early official appointment. With this, Han Ling transitioned from a probationary officer to a formal police officer, holding the rank of Third-Class Police Inspector.

The Wanglou Police Station placed great importance on ceremony and held a simple promotion event for Han Ling, attended by the station chief, the political instructor, and several deputy chiefs. Colleagues from the criminal investigation unit who were available also made time to attend, and with others from different units joining in, the atmosphere was lively.

A promotion and investiture is a pivotal moment in any career. Furthermore, the fact that Han Ling managed to secure an early appointment in just six months truly exceeded everyone’s expectations. Early appointments are notoriously difficult; in previous years, the ratio across Qingchang was roughly 80 to 1, meaning only one out of eighty probationary officers could achieve such a feat.

Personal capability, opportunity, and the favor of superiors—all three are indispensable. Han Ling’s professional competence was evident to all; he was impeccable and exceptionally talented. His participation had significantly boosted the efficiency of the criminal investigation unit when handling routine criminal cases. It was, by all logic, an unusual level of performance for a rookie, yet the facts were undeniable. It could only be attributed to Han Ling’s innate, extraordinary gift for criminal investigation. It was no wonder that Team Leader Zhu and the station chief were so satisfied with him. Keeping him at a local station almost felt like a waste of talent; perhaps he would truly find his value in the criminal investigation detachment.

The solemn oath of office, combined with the applause of his colleagues and leaders, gave Han Ling a sense of belonging, melting some of the indifference deep within his heart. One personality, two drastically different lives—a rare experience indeed.

Back at the office, Zhu Yue once again congratulated Han Ling and brought up the matter of registering for his firearms license. According to official regulations, probationary officers could apply for a firearms license, though some regions provided standardized training and assessments for new recruits, while some cities had specific internal rules. In Qingchang, it was mandated that an officer must be officially appointed before applying for a firearms license. The security environment in Qingchang was relatively complex, requiring frequent use of weapons, and probationary officers were more prone to complications when handling them. A certain incident had led to this specific regulation.

"A firearms license?" It had been six months, and Han Ling had almost forgotten about it. For some reason, his expression turned slightly peculiar. *Do I even need to take the test?*

"What, no confidence?" Zhu Yue laughed. "It’s been a long time since graduation, so that’s normal. Just practice and get your feel back; I believe you’ll be fine."

The police academy had firearms training courses—mandatory subjects primarily focused on pistols and rifles. Han Ling coughed lightly. "It’s fine, it’s fine. I think... I’ll have no problem with the test."

Zhu Yue said, "It’s up to you. You can either apply early or wait for the unified new-recruit assessment in six months. According to past trends, about ten new officers in all of Qingchang qualify for early appointment each year, and some choose to apply for their firearms license early rather than waiting for the year-end unified assessment. Others who need to retake the test sign up as well."

Han Ling nodded. "Then I’ll apply. How long does it take?"

Zhu Yue replied, "It goes up the chain of command to the provincial department. It should take about fifteen working days to process, and the assessment... probably by the end of the year."

Han Ling gave a faint acknowledgment. Winter was cold, and outdoor firearms use could affect stability, but Qingchang certainly had indoor ranges.

"Come, sit. I’ll find the application form for you; fill it out now." Zhu Yue turned to his desk and gestured for Han Ling to sit. After rummaging through a drawer, he pulled out a form and handed it to him.

Han Ling took the form and picked up a pen. Zhu Yue picked up his teacup. "Write carefully and don't make any mistakes. If it gets sent back, you’ll have to go through the whole process again—a waste of time. If that happens a few times, the provincial department might just reject you outright." As he spoke, he blew the tea leaves floating on the surface.

Han Ling scanned the content; it was all standard factual information, so he began to write his name. He had just finished the character "Han" and hadn't yet started the "Ling" when the sound of urgent footsteps echoed from outside.

A colleague from the criminal investigation unit pushed open the door and shouted, "Team Leader! The command center just received a report: an unnatural death on the second floor of a shop on Jiaguan Street!"

"Pfft!" Zhu Yue spat out the tea he had just sipped and jumped to his feet. "Let’s go! Han Ling, stop writing!"

Without waiting for a response, he rushed out of the office. Han Ling dropped his pen and followed. This was his first time responding to an unnatural death report since joining the force. Since the command center classified it as an "unnatural death," the reporter must have clearly described the scene, confirming that the person was already dead. Regarding such cases, the command center would ask for exhaustive details, as the line between serious injury and death was often thin.

Accident, suicide, or homicide? The Wanglou Station criminal investigation unit had dealt with attempted suicides with no criminal elements and various accidents, but they hadn't handled a homicide recently. Were there no murders in Qingchang? Of course there were. The Gu'an Public Security Sub-bureau oversaw thirty-two stations, and the Qingchang Municipal Public Security Bureau oversaw eight sub-bureaus. Across all stations, there were over a hundred. It was simply a matter of probability; the Wanglou Station’s jurisdiction just hadn't encountered one yet, or perhaps a homicide had occurred but remained undiscovered.

A call went out, and the entire criminal investigation unit assembled. Until the situation on-site was clarified, all other non-urgent matters were set aside. Deputy Chief Zhao led the team. An unnatural death was a serious matter; he had to be present. What if someone had been murdered?

Soon, several police cars sped out of the station, sirens blaring as they rushed toward Jiaguan Street, an eight-minute drive away. Along the way, Han Ling sat quietly in the car, watching the cityscape blur past the window, his mind drifting again.

Upon arriving, the team disembarked and proceeded on foot. Jiaguan Street was a pedestrian zone with bollards, making it inaccessible to vehicles. The criminal investigation unit wasn't the first to arrive; the patrol and prevention unit, being the closest, had already secured the scene and was maintaining order. The patrol unit was the core of the station’s rapid response, patrolling the city and dispatched by the command center based on proximity; they could reach a location within a minute. No other police force could arrive that quickly unless they happened to be passing by.

A large crowd had gathered—local shop owners and pedestrians, likely drawn by the reporter’s earlier distress. Han Ling and his colleagues pushed through to clear a path. The shop in question sold seafood—vacuum-packed, long-shelf-life products typically used as gifts.

"Who reported the incident?" Deputy Chief Zhao asked, looking toward a man sitting at the shop’s entrance. The man was pale, clearly terrified, his eyes vacant and unfocused, as if in a trance.

"Chief Zhao, he reported it. He said his wife was killed," a patrol officer replied.

*His wife was killed?!*

Deputy Chief Zhao’s expression darkened. He signaled to Zhu Yue, who immediately entered the shop alone. In principle, when responding to an unnatural death indoors, the fewer officers who enter to verify the scene, the better, to prevent contamination that would hinder the investigation. If a death or a comatose victim were confirmed, it would be reported immediately to the sub-bureau. The criminal investigation detachment of the sub-bureau would then become the primary agency for the case.