Chapter 37: Entering the Deputy Director's Line of Sight

"Any interest in joining the SWAT detachment?"

Luo Jingwu did not beat around the bush and said it directly.

The others also looked at Han Ling. A sharpshooter joining the team was something they would welcome with open arms.

Han Ling hesitated. "This..."

SWAT detachment? He did not have much interest in it.

Luo Jingwu did not intend to get an immediate answer. He said, "Han Ling, a future in the SWAT detachment is definitely better than one at a local police station. That’s obvious, isn’t it? Go back and think about it carefully. Don’t waste your talent."

Han Ling nodded. "Alright, I’ll go back and think about it."

Joining the SWAT detachment was not a simple process. When the time came that he truly had to make a choice, he could still politely decline. Right now, in front of so many people, he could not afford to disrespect the detachment commander.

Luo Jingwu was pleased and patted Han Ling on the shoulder. "I look forward to us becoming colleagues. You should head back. There is plenty of time, and there will be many opportunities to meet in the future."

Han Ling left.

The SWAT officers at the outdoor shooting range had not yet dispersed.

"Commander Luo, I get the feeling he doesn't want to come," the police training instructor said, sharing his assessment.

Luo Jingwu was puzzled. "Really? I felt like he was quite keen... Well, whether he wants to or not, he has to come. I'll find someone to ask tomorrow."

Han Ling returned to the police station.

Zhu Yue asked about the situation. Han Ling only said that he had passed the assessment, without mentioning his scores.

"Passing is enough. I knew you could do it. Come on, there’s a case; no time to rest," Zhu Yue said.

...

The next morning.

Luo Jingwu arrived at the Wanglou Police Station. He did not see Han Ling, and upon asking, he learned that he had gone out on a call. The criminal investigation team was usually busy, so he went directly to the station chief's office.

"Commander Luo?"

Tao Guowei rarely saw the SWAT detachment commander in person, so he hurriedly treated him with courtesy, brewing his best tea.

Luo Jingwu smiled. "Chief Tao, I’m truly sorry for coming by without giving you a heads-up."

Tao Guowei replied, "Commander Luo, you're too polite. We're all on the same side, so there's no need to be formal. What brings you here today?"

Luo Jingwu was a straightforward man. He spoke up, "Yesterday, Han Ling from your station participated in the firearms qualification assessment. He hit a perfect score in both rounds—a true champion marksman. I was thinking, could it be possible to..."

"What? A perfect score?!" Tao Guowei was startled. "He didn't mention that."

"He didn't?" Luo Jingwu found it strange. "He's that low-key?"

Scoring perfect marks on both rounds was something one could brag about for a lifetime. To think he hadn't even mentioned it upon returning to the station!

Tao Guowei poured tea for Luo Jingwu. "He only said he passed the assessment, not his scores... This kid, why keep a perfect score under wraps?"

Assessment results were not publicly posted, but such explosive results were different. Perhaps Han Ling's name would appear on the bulletin board.

By extension, the Wanglou Police Station would also gain prestige. This was no mere rookie; he was a treasure. Thinking that Han Ling might be transferred to the bureau within a year or two, Tao Guowei felt a twinge of regret.

At this moment, the purpose of Luo Jingwu's visit seemed... basically clear.

"Humility is a good thing," Luo Jingwu smiled. "Chief Tao, sharpshooters are rare. I was thinking of transferring him to our SWAT detachment. Before going to the municipal bureau to talk to the leadership, I thought I should come by and tell you first, to avoid any misunderstandings."

"Uh." Tao Guowei opened his mouth.

Luo Jingwu asked, "What's wrong? It's fine, Chief Tao, please speak your mind."

Tao Guowei gave a wry smile. "Commander Luo, you're a step too late. This... Han Ling, he... the Criminal Investigation Brigade has already laid claim to him."

Luo Jingwu froze. "What do you mean, 'laid claim'?"

Tao Guowei explained briefly, essentially saying that Han Ling had demonstrated outstanding professional ability during his work, and the bureau was interested in him.

After listening, Luo Jingwu frowned and fell silent.

"How about... you two discuss it yourselves?" Tao Guowei suggested tentatively. He had realized that no matter where he was transferred, it wouldn't be to the Wanglou Police Station anyway. Let them fight over it; he couldn't control it.

"Alright... I suppose. You go ahead and get back to work, Chief Tao."

Luo Jingwu took his leave and quickly headed to the municipal bureau.

He knocked on the door of the deputy director in charge and found two people inside. Zheng Hongyi was also there.

The deputy director in charge of the SWAT detachment was not Zheng Hongyi, but Qu Guanfeng.

The SWAT detachment and the Criminal Investigation Brigade had completely different functional roles and professional domains, so the requirements for their supervising deputy directors were also different. Criminal investigation valued extensive experience in handling cases, while SWAT valued military prowess and tactical command.

One was an "Investigator," the other a "Commander." One had to have the ability to bear sustained high pressure, while the other had to have the ability to bear instantaneous high pressure.

Qu Guanfeng had a dark complexion, and compared to Zheng Hongyi, the decisiveness and toughness on his face were more pronounced.

"Luo Jingwu? What are you here for?" The two were chatting; Qu Guanfeng flicked the ash from his cigarette and asked.

Seeing Zheng Hongyi there, Luo Jingwu hesitated.

"Speak your mind," Qu Guanfeng urged. "Old Zheng isn't an outsider."

Luo Jingwu cleared his throat and said, "Director Qu, I have something to report. I wanted to see if we could poach someone from the local police station for the SWAT detachment."

Hearing this, Qu Guanfeng was displeased. "Are you bored? Who is it? A relative of yours?"

"No, no, of course not," Luo Jingwu quickly denied, then recounted what happened yesterday, emphasizing the speed at which the candidate fired.

"Oh?" Qu Guanfeng became serious and extinguished his cigarette. "Five-second rapid fire, perfect score; fifteen-second precision fire, perfect score; rifle precision fire, perfect score?"

Luo Jingwu nodded. "Yes."

Qu Guanfeng's interest was instantly piqued. He hurriedly asked, "What’s his name? Which station?"

Luo Jingwu: "Han Ling, Wanglou Police Station. A rookie this year, he has already been confirmed as a permanent officer ahead of schedule and has been awarded a third-class individual merit."

Qu Guanfeng had a vague impression and was trying to recall when Zheng Hongyi, sitting opposite, spoke up: "I remember him. That kid who ran out of the film base fire. During the murder case in Gu'an District, he spotted the suspect at a glance while on perimeter duty and won a third-class individual merit."

Qu Guanfeng turned his head. "Such an outstanding policeman, and you leave him at a local station?"

Zheng Hongyi smiled. "We didn't know at the time. He earned it through his own efforts. I couldn't just transfer him right after the drill. I heard the Gu'an Branch is currently evaluating him and preparing to pull him into the Criminal Investigation Brigade soon."

Qu Guanfeng understood. "It seems you aren't exactly paying much attention to him either. How about giving him to the SWAT detachment?"

Zheng Hongyi looked at him. "I wasn't paying attention before, but I am now. His talent for criminal investigation is still waiting to be developed, and local stations have few opportunities to handle major cases. Let's observe him for a while longer; there's no rush. Accurate marksmanship is also very important for criminal investigators, especially when encountering violent criminals or emergency hostage situations."

When violent crimes occurred, the SWAT detachment would intervene, but the situation was often fluid when criminal police were handling cases, and there was often no time to wait for SWAT support. In such moments, the value of a criminal investigator with pinpoint marksmanship became evident.

Qu Guanfeng’s face darkened slightly as he glared at Luo Jingwu. Could he not have mentioned poaching someone in secret?

Luo Jingwu smiled sheepishly and lowered his head. How was he supposed to know both of them would be here? Besides... you were the one who told me to speak.

"Then what should we do?" Qu Guanfeng asked.

Zheng Hongyi found this strange. "What do you mean 'what should we do'? Han Ling is a member of the criminal investigation team at Wanglou Police Station. If he performs well, he will go to the branch's Criminal Investigation Brigade for training, and in the future, he might go to the Criminal Investigation Detachment to handle major cases across the entire city and county. No matter where he goes, he's doing criminal investigation. That's a strange question to ask."

Qu Guanfeng thought to himself: *Damn it.*