The thunderous applause once again shook not just China, but every corner of the world. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though a righteous light, blessed by Apollo, the sun god, had illuminated every blade of grass and tree on Earth, purifying the darkness within everyone's hearts and ushering in an era of prosperity and peace.
At the closing ceremony, Liu Yuning also ascended the stage. All eyes turned to her as she took the microphone from my hand. As my wife, it was her turn to deliver the concluding remarks.
"As He Sheng has said, if we stand united and each contribute our part, the Polaris World Criminal Organization will undoubtedly be weakened, conquered, and eventually eradicated. You have all attended this profoundly significant speech today, and I believe you have deeply felt the warmth of righteousness. I am confident that the valorous light He Sheng spoke of will resonate deeply, inspiring global citizens to join us in dismantling the Polaris World Criminal Organization. Though this path is long and arduous, we will not falter. We stand at the forefront, ready to charge forward on the path of justice, at any cost, forging a future filled with light and hope for all!"
The applause from the audience this time seemed to warp the very air around us. Tens of thousands of international guests, their palms red and swollen, refused to cease their clapping. Tears welled up in their eyes as they gazed at my wife and me on stage. Hand in hand, we bowed deeply and respectfully to everyone in attendance.
Soft, fluffy white clouds drifted across the sky. In the vast, azure expanse, the sun shone brightly, casting a hopeful and warm smile upon the world.
The members of the Punishment Squad, at this moment, once again looked up at the sun, their faces filled with infinite aspiration and hope for the future.
My name is He Sheng. I am the leader of the Punishment Squad, and formerly a forensic investigator. My ancestors, however, were great coroners, forgotten by time.
My story continued after the commendation ceremony, and in truth, it was only just beginning.
September 13, 2022, 12:38 PM.
As I descended the stairs of the courtyard house, He Xin had already prepared lunch for me. She had recently taken up cooking, and her skills were impressive. Liu Yuning, you see, was far busier than us, handling all sorts of ordinary cases. My wife and I only took on cases that were bizarre, major, or severe. While we ate our sumptuous meal beneath the dappled shade of willow leaves in the courtyard, I noticed that He Xin's cooking was slowly surpassing Yuning's.
She truly was a genius. Whatever she set her mind to, she excelled at.
Having a daughter like her was indeed a blessing from three lifetimes. After the meal, I had planned to read in my room, but He Xin pulled me along, insisting I help with chores.
I was speechless. There were two things I detested most: wasting time aimlessly outdoors, and doing housework.
However, since He Xin was so enthusiastically asking for my "help," I reluctantly agreed. As we began cleaning the courtyard, my phone suddenly rang. To my surprise, it was about that child's condition.
We rushed to the hospital. Tai Qiaotong was already sobbing uncontrollably, her child having been rushed back into the emergency room. Doctors and nurses bustled to and fro. Liu Yuning, He Xin, and I were all there. None of us wanted anything to happen to the child. He was only a few months old. If he were to leave us now, we wouldn't know how we would cope.
We had no idea how long the emergency surgery would last. Every second felt like an eternity.
Tai Qiaotong briefly regained consciousness, but facing the harsh reality, she fainted again. He Xin stayed by her side. Lu Chusheng, for reasons unknown, also arrived, followed by other members of the Punishment Squad.
They had come to the hospital as well.
Everyone waited outside the operating room, afraid to leave, as if even a slight shift in their posture could lead to a change in circumstances, leaving them unable to react in time.
Inwardly, I prayed, clutching Liu Yuning's hand.
If Liu Yuning had gone through something like this child, I would have been devastated. Years would pass, and I would still recall her period of unconsciousness, and everything this child had endured.
Two weeks later, Tai Qiaotong had vanished. The last time I had contacted her was when we left the hospital. Time truly flew; I felt as though I were living in a dream.
That day, I returned to the provincial department. Due to my recent, ahem, promotion, I was now second only to the highest authority within the provincial department. The specific title, I need not mention.
I was astonished myself, having risen from a mere forensic investigator to the leader of the Punishment Squad, now wielding even greater power.
According to Director Zhang, individuals like myself needed to rally more police forces to assist the Punishment Squad in solving cases. I could now mobilize a force of roughly 150,000 officers. If Director Zhang gave the word, nearly 200,000 police officers in this province would be at my disposal.
The People's Republic of China, the police force of a single province could approach 200,000. Taking Zhejiang Province as an example, Zhejiang has over 70,000 police officers and 110,000 auxiliary police. The Provincial Public Security Department has 18 branches, including public security, criminal investigation, economic investigation, anti-drug, counter-terrorism, special police, cyber security, traffic police, highway traffic police, legal affairs, customs anti-smuggling, exit and entry, and aviation police.
The number of police officers in each province varies; it is determined by each provincial Public Security Department.
Indeed, I remain the leader of the Punishment Squad, theoretically holding two positions concurrently.
"Deputy Director He, with your current position, you don't need to be running around with us anymore!"
"That's right, Father. It's beneath your dignity!"
"Sigh, if only I could be like you someday. Sigh, sigh, envy, jealousy, and hate."
The last remark, I knew, was whispered by Gao Mingqiang. His leg had never healed and would likely confine him to a wheelchair for life. However, he didn't seem disheartened. On the contrary, he had matured considerably over the years.