Chapter 83 - Trapped
Wan Yi Jun's answer was unexpected. Well, it was weird that one of the top officers of the Imperial police force, who is known for his cold-blooded personality, is none other than someone who once wanted to become a pianist.
"I like wrestling." Ming Yue's sudden declaration, gathering everyone's attention to her.
"I used to work with a wrestler's place. Nowadays, I just wrestle in the kitchen with dough and batter." She said in a monotonous tone that instantly cracked up others,
"Oh, no worries, I can spar with you," Han Ze Min casually suggested.
"Say that after seeing her punches," Wan Yi Jun let out a chortle and haughtily tilted his head when he recalled his earlier interactions with Ming Yue, which clearly showed that she is a fighter.
"Oh really, then we have to spar." Han Ze Min repeated once again, just to hammer down the fact that he is interested in Ming Yue. However, even before everyone started to dwell on that conversation, Wan Yi Jun meddled in and stopped him by directing the question to the rest of the team members.
The conversation went through up and downs finally ended on a good note, restoring everyone's mind in peace.
But among them, Lao Yating was the only one who sat there without entirely engaging in the talks happening over there. His mind was still stuck on the investigation. None of the drama that happens before his eyes made no change in his chaotic brain.
However, the moment he learnt that Ming Yue is from Zhi Ruo, it immediately piqued his interest.
"Are you from Zhi Ruo in the dragon city?" He curiously asked,
"Yes, have you been there, officer?" Ming Yue casually replied while finishing the last bite of her pasta,
"No...I have met someone from Zhi Ruo," Lao Yating answered without giving much emphasis on the person's identity as he promised to the students who had given the statement.
"I have heard a lot about Dragon city, but...Zhi Ruo-" Bing Wen's words broke when he went into his thoughts.
"It's no wonder that you haven't met someone from Zhi Ruo. Only very few people could migrate from that barren land to other places for better opportunities."
"Barren land, like a desert with dunes and high temperature?" Bing Wen asked again with his eyes widened in surprise.
"Not really." Ming Yue corrected him with a faint smile, "Barren land, in the sense that it is a border island with no proper facilities or infrastructure. Fishing is the only income source for the people there. So most of the youngsters or those who can afford travelling to other places just leave the island."
"The people whom I met were two university students...orphans." Lao Yating pointed out in order to ask for more details from Ming Yue, who is from Zhi Ruo.
"Orphans are not a new thing in Zhi Ruo. Most of the kids born on the island lost their parents and family either due to lack any proper medical care or on the border dispute." She explained with a straight face that gradually made others think she was just another robot with no emotions.
"Mainland people often treat us pushovers or worse, illegal immigrants from Daisun who just steal your resources and jobs." Her bitter words hit the rest of the people in the room bit hard. Even if they grew up in poor households, they never had to face any such discrimination since they were all from the mainland.
"We are rather treated as outlaws." Ming Yue said as a matter of fact. However, soon as she finished, Lao Yating refuted her claim by quoting the example of the Zhi Ruo residents he had met earlier.
"Those kids were university students in one of the prestigious universities in the capital."
"May I know how do you know them, officer Lao?" Ming Yue asked in a crystal clear voice that reminded them of a sharp dagger that was too charming yet dangerous.
"They got themselves in a bit of trouble, and I was the one who interrogated them." Lao Yating blurted out without thinking twice, clearly informing everyone that he was indeed gathering information about the investigation. "They sounded suspicious, to be honest,"
"Yep, that's what I said." Ming Yue shrugged her shoulders as if she proved her claims correct before everyone, putting Lao Yating in a tight spot.
"Sir Lao, why are you ruining the mood?" Bing Wen tried to remind the other in a barely audible voice, "You can talk about the case all week, but not on this day."
"Shall I remind you that a police officer's work is 24/7?" Lao Yating shut his junior officer, who was acting out. Well, it was true that they took a day off to cool off their minds, but that doesn't mean they should not think about the case.
Bing Wen, who sensed that his senior was a bit frustrated, immediately became silent so that he won't create another argument at mealtime.
"I'm sorry...If I said anything to offend you." He quickly apologized.
"Do I need to apologize, too?" Ming Yue frankly asked, shocking everyone with her blunt honesty. "Did I hurt your feelings, officer Lao?"
"No, sister. Sir Lao is having a little bit trouble since we hit a dead-end in the recent case we investigated." Bing Wen attempted to turn down the smoke before it get changed into a flame. However, Ming Yue poured oil into the fire.
"That murder case on new year?" She nonchalantly inquired,
"Oh, you knew about it?" Bing Wen exclaimed and glanced at Wan Yi Jun as if he doubting his captain for sharing the case details with the so-called maid.
"It's all over in the news."
"Well, media houses don't know our struggle. They just spew nonsense." Lao Yating bitterly mumbled in a criticizing way.
"They spew nonsense because you kept people in darkness." Ming Yue refuted right away as if she had no control over her tongue.
"Even police officers are struggling in darkness, without any proper evidence. What does the media houses know about that? They create their own version of theories and mislead the public, like how they did to you." Lao Yating explained when he heard Ming Yue's accusation.
"Who pushed the police into darkness, ones who were supposed to give the clear picture to the public?" Though Ming Yue looked like a naive innocent girl, the words that came from her mouth sounded like a skilful journalist. However, little did the eagle team know that Ming Yue was urging them to spill the truth so that she can keep her brothers safe.
And fortunately or unfortunately she succeeded without any delay the moment Lao Yating poured out his thoughts on the heat of the moment.
"No matter how much evidence we collect, we always end up in the same place we started the victim was murdered due to personal vengeance. But even after interrogating everyone related to that victim, we still couldn't find anyone who would have hatred towards the victim."
It was only when he finished speaking, Lao Yating noticed that Ming Yue was carefully listening to the story. Even others looked alternatively at Ming Yue and Lao Yating as if they are watching a debate between two genius intellectuals unlike the earlier silly argument between Wan Yi Jun and Han Ze Min.
"Have you checked about the victim's past relationships?" Ming Yue asked after contemplating for a long minute.
"She doesn't have any past relationships."
"Who doesn't have a past relationship?" Ming Yue's voice was doused in humour as she glanced at Han Ze Min with her lips perched into a scoff,
"I'm damn sure that everyone here has a relationship that they erased from their lives. If you were capable enough you would have looked into it."
"We have checked everything. She doesn't even have a proper phone or a journal." Bing Wen supported Lao Yating by explaining whatever they have found so far. However, even before he would disclose the confidential details of the case to a civilian.
"Ming Yue, are we having this conversation at the dining table?" Wan Yi Jun tried to stop Ming Yue without any delay, and she, who understood what he was trying to say, immediately admitted her mistake.
She indeed stepped out of her boundaries, but it was worth it.
"No, sir. The whole point of having this meal is to get your minds relaxed,
so sorry for the inconvenience caused by me. Please have your lunch." Ming Yue bowed her head to express her apology.
"Captain's maid is wise...but quite fierce." Bing Wen unknowingly whispered into Han Ze Min's ears as if he was talking to a friend,
"Yes, she is." He agreed with a smile that clearly depicted that he was indeed fell for her,
However, Ming Yue on the other hand kept her face as untouched as possible and went head-on heads with Han Ze Min intending to make a bad impression.
"Officer Han, is there something on my face? You kept staring at me for a long time." Ming Yue monotonously inquired, shocking everyone else. But the reply from Han Ze Min just hit them like a bolt of huge lightning.
"Well, anything attractive tends to capture my attention very easily and sometimes I won't feel at peace unless I procure it."