Chapter 14: An External Special Consultant
Zang’ao and Opal had found the buried body. The little tit had uncovered crucial evidence. Now only Diamond hadn’t returned yet.
Lin Jiangye went back to Shang Fuyan’s car. The man stood beside it, leaning on the window frame with both hands and peering inside.
“About your ability… can it be disclosed?”
Revealing something to the police in an emergency and publicly explaining it in full were two very different matters.
Lin Jiangye stroked Zang’ao’s soft fur and thought for a long while, unable to give a definite answer.
Shang Fuyan watched him carefully, sensing the hesitation and guardedness radiating from him.
Strangely, he felt relieved.
At least Lin Jiangye hadn’t fabricated an excuse. He had chosen silence instead of deception.
“I understand,” Shang Fuyan said.
Lin Jiangye shot him a sideways glance, wondering what that meant.
“I won’t tell them directly. If the chief asks, I’ll just say you can help. Whether you choose to help—that’s your decision. If we can persuade you, great. If not, we’ll keep trying.”
Solving cases was the police’s duty. They couldn’t coerce an unrelated civilian just for efficiency.
Even Shang Fuyan had merely tempted him through his interests.
That statement alone raised Lin Jiangye’s impression of him considerably.
Then Shang Fuyan handed him a business card.
“Call this number later. Say I recommended you. They’ll help with the raven.”
Before Lin Jiangye could respond, Shang Fuyan continued, still braced against the window.
“I’ve sent you the contact for the private restaurant. Mention my name anytime. They don’t do delivery, but you can hire a courier.”
Delivery fees were steep—but insignificant for Lin Jiangye.
He watched the arrangements unfold in silence. Just as Shang Fuyan was about to leave, Lin Jiangye spoke abruptly.
“I don’t want to be restrained.”
Shang Fuyan paused, immediately understanding.
It wasn’t just about money or position.
It was about freedom.
Police had rules. Even during arrests, they couldn’t assault suspects excessively without facing disciplinary action.
And Lin Jiangye’s methods?
He was already holding back by not leaving people half-dead.
In a real emergency, could he afford restraint?
After thinking briefly, Shang Fuyan proposed:
“How about becoming an external special consultant? Fewer restrictions. You’ll have access to relevant case information. If you accumulate enough merit, you can even apply for a firearm.”
No monthly salary. No official benefits. Just case bonuses.
Shang Fuyan met his gaze steadily.
“If you need anything, come to me. We’d be partners, wouldn’t we?”
Partners.
The word made Lin Jiangye’s eyes flicker.
He had grown up alone. Even in the orphanage, he had no real friends. In another world, his companions had been animals.
He quickly suppressed the unfamiliar emotion.
“Let’s talk after this case ends. If I’m applying as a consultant, I’d better prove my ability first.”
The drug case had been an act of justice. This one would truly display his capabilities.
Meanwhile, back at the abandoned orphanage, Chief Zhou and Li Wei discussed him.
“Chief Zhou, do you believe it?” Li Wei asked vaguely.
“Does Shang Fuyan seem like someone who’d lie about this?” she countered with a faint smile.
“Besides, does it matter? As long as he helps. In the end, what solves cases is evidence.”
If true, great. If false, it would be exposed soon enough.
Li Wei sighed.
He wanted it to be true.
If someone like that existed, even the most remote crime scene might still yield witnesses.
“Still… how does someone even get such an ability? Family from a beast-taming sect?” a younger officer joked.
As they laughed, a sharp caw cut through the air.
“Diamond’s back!” Lin Jiangye jumped out to catch the large crow.
“Caw! Caw!”
[Human! I found a witness dog!]
Lin Jiangye blinked.
Witness… what?
Then barking sounded.
Moments later, a pack of stray dogs appeared—thirteen in total.
His gaze settled on the leader.
A German Shepherd.
Different from the others. The posture, the discipline—it had clearly been trained before.
The pack kept its distance. Lin Jiangye approached with cat and crows, crouching to meet the shepherd’s eyes.
“You saw them evacuate?”
The shepherd studied him.
Some officers also sensed something unusual.
“That German Shepherd… was it trained?”
The dog stepped back slightly and nodded.
[Yes. I saw them leave. I know where some went.]
“I.”
That single word confirmed it.
High intelligence.
“Will you take me to them? Name your price.”
Lin Jiangye glanced at the other strays. Unkempt, but not emaciated.
The shepherd stepped closer and sniffed him.
[Are you human?]
“…?”
[Seems like it. So you mutated?]
“…?”
This dog wasn’t just intelligent. It was practically enlightened.
“Why do you think that?”
[Ordinary humans don’t understand me. Or crows. Or command them.]
Fair reasoning.
“You knew they were traffickers. That’s why you tracked them.”
“And you returned because you expected police.”
The shepherd lay down, muscles visibly relaxing.
[Correct. When they fled in panic, I knew the police were onto them. So I followed with my pack.]
“Your price?”
[I want homes for my pack.]
Lin Jiangye was surprised.
He had expected something related to the strays—but adoption?
That would take time.
Then the shepherd added:
[I know every stray in Yue City. They can help locate other traffickers. For that, I only require food.]
“Deal.”
