After leaving Jesse’s apartment building, Mike didn’t head back immediately.
He circled the nearby streets a few times to confirm he wasn’t being followed before walking toward the block where Old Joseph lived.
When he rang Old Joseph’s doorbell again, the old man’s voice sounded a bit confused.
“Who is it?”
“Mr.
Joseph, it’s me again—Officer Mike.”
The door opened.
Old Joseph looked at Mike, who had returned so soon, with a puzzled expression.
Mike didn’t go inside; he simply handed the silver-plated pocket watch to the old man at the doorway.
“Is this the one?”
Old Joseph froze.
His hands trembled as he reached out to take the watch.
He carefully opened the cover, and when he saw the familiar photo inside, his eyes turned red.
“It’s it!
Mary…”
The old man clutched the watch tightly and said emotionally, “Thank you…
thank you, Officer!
God bless you!
I thought I’d never see it again!”
“It’s our job, Mr.
Joseph,” Mike said calmly.
“Just be more careful when you go out from now on.”
“I will!
I’m never taking it out of the house again!” The old man nodded repeatedly.
Mike didn’t linger.
After saying his goodbyes, he turned and left.
As he walked down the stairs, the system notification chimed in his mind:
[Ding!]
[Side Quest: “The Lost Pocket Watch” Completed.]
[Evaluation: B.
Successfully recovered the quest item and delivered it to the owner.]
[Rewards Issued: 50 Points, Old Joseph’s favorability, slight increase in precinct reputation.]
[Current Points: 50.]
Even though the evaluation was only a B, points were points.
Having finished the side quest, Mike felt a sense of relief.
Back at his own apartment, he threw the jacket—which still carried the scent of Jesse’s room—into the washing machine and took a shower.
He spent the rest of the afternoon studying the system shop.
Mike didn’t have high expectations for what he could buy with such a small amount of points, but what interested him more was that the system shop, which hadn’t changed for days, had finally updated with the completion of the side quest.
The originally grayed-out skill card [Basic Stealth (30-minute limit)] had regained its soft, inviting glow, becoming selectable once again.
However, the 30-minute limit had changed to a 15-minute limit.
“So it’s not really a new skill card then!”
Feeling a bit disappointed, Mike took a sip of beer, leaned back on the sofa, and continued looking down the list.
In the spot where the grayed-out item card [Desert Eagle (Infinite Ammo)] used to be, a new item had appeared: [Lockpicking Tools].
The image on the card was an open black leather pouch containing a row of various small metal tools.
Some looked like ear-picks, others like multi-functional knives—about five in total.
[Note: Its greatest advantage is that it can be stored in the System Space.]
Mike shook his head, unimpressed.
The note was spot on; that was indeed the only advantage this card had.
You could buy these things online for a few dozen dollars.
Although the point cost wasn’t high, it was a terrible deal for him right now.
[Attribute Point: Strength +0.5]
This one was very user-friendly; it could adjust its strengthening effect based on the points available.
Finally, there was a new attribute card:
[Attribute Point: Agility +0.5]
Mike was a bit tempted.
After all, among his basic physical attributes, agility was his weak point.
But after some hesitation, he suppressed the urge and didn’t redeem it yet.
What if he encountered a situation that required more strength in the near future?
On his second day off, the weather was nice.
Mike took the initiative to call Sarah and arranged to meet at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Since their relationship had restarted, things were actually more harmonious than before.
Now, while there was less sweet talk, there was more unspoken understanding.
After walking for a while, they found a Mexican restaurant with a view of the river.
The food was average, but the scenery was great.
The East River sparkled under the sunlight, and the Lower Manhattan skyline was clearly visible on the opposite bank.
“What are you looking at?” Sarah followed Mike’s gaze, took a spoonful of soup, and sipped it.
“Nothing, just spacing out.”
Mike pulled his gaze back.
He couldn’t tell Sarah that every time he saw the Stark Industries building, he was thinking about how dangerous this world was and how he could accumulate strength as quickly as possible.
Sarah shrugged and didn’t dig deeper, turning instead to complain once more about how boring her desk job was.
“I told you, at least it’s not dangerous.
It’s actually pretty good…
but if you’re interested, I can take you to the range on our next day off.”
“Mhm, okay,” Sarah nodded.
“If you ever run into danger in the future, you’ll be able to protect yourself,” Mike said.
Sarah rolled her eyes.
“No matter how stupid a gang is, they won’t attack a police station, especially the NYPD.
But I really should get some practice.
I’ve seen quite a few homicide cases these past few days.
Ugh, never mind, let’s not talk about it.”
Sarah grimaced, looking like she couldn’t stand it.
Clearly, she had been a bit rattled by her work.
After eating, the two walked along the riverbank.
After a while, Sarah said she wanted to visit a nearby up-and-coming arts district.
Mike wasn’t very interested, but he didn’t object.
The arts district was converted from old factories and warehouses.
The streets were relatively narrow, and the walls were covered in graffiti.
In front of a magic-themed vintage shop, Sarah was drawn to a strange-looking necklace and went inside.
Mike waited by the window.
He happened to glance toward the park and suddenly froze.
By an old bookstore, at the entrance of an alley, a familiar figure slipped out, acting shiftily.
It was a thin young man wearing a conspicuous, old green jacket.
His hair was greasy, and his eyes darted around nervously.
Mike recognized him immediately: Jesse!
That idiot hadn’t even worn a hat to cover himself.
Jesse looked left and right, clutching his bulging jacket pocket, and lowered his head as he quickly merged into the sparse crowd on the street.
Shortly after, a bearded man followed him out of the alley.
He wore a gray hoodie with the hood pulled up, looking alert and haggard.
He glanced in the direction Jesse had gone, then warily checked the surveillance cameras on the street corner before turning to cross the street and quickly entering the park.
Mike understood immediately.
To satisfy his addiction, Jesse was no longer content with petty theft; he was getting involved in drug dealing.
[Ding!]
[Detected that the host has discovered an important clue.
Plot Quest “Drug Nest Cleanup” updated.]
[Targets possess two locations of activity.
Jesse’s residential community is the primary hiding spot; the warehouse in the Arts District (inside the alley by the park) is the packaging and trading point.
Surveillance and simple alarm devices may be present.
It is recommended to clear the warehouse first to obtain a higher quest completion evaluation and additional rewards.]
[Quest Requirement: Eliminate the drug trafficking ring, seize the contraband, and pocket the illicit funds.]
[Quest Reward: Points ??, increase in patrol officer reputation, attention from the Detective Bureau and ESU.]
[Time Limit: 200 hours.]
Jesse, that minor character from a side quest, had unexpectedly led to information for a main quest.
After reading all the prompts, Mike breathed a sigh of relief.
The time limit was very reasonable.
If the situation was complicated and required a lot of time, he could at least handle it during his next rotation of days off.
“What are you looking at?” A fair, slender hand waved in front of Mike’s face.
Sarah’s voice came from behind him.
Mike suppressed his emotions and turned to see her holding a paper shopping bag.
“Nothing.
Just saw a familiar junkie who looks like he just finished a deal.
I didn’t realize they’d become this bold…
mmm…”
Before Mike could finish, he felt a warm arm hook around his neck, and his words were muffled by something soft. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Sarah then let him go and smiled.
“Come on!
Even if we aren’t ‘dating’ dating, you’re off duty.
Hmm, let me think…
let’s go to my place.”
“Huh?
This early?” Mike was startled.
Sarah shot him a look of dissatisfaction.
“You said you didn’t want to meet on a weekend night!
But I don’t want to go to your apartment.”
Mike shrugged.
“Sorry, my bad.
And you’re right, I’m starting to hate that apartment too.
I’m looking for a new place.
I actually have something to do tonight, but it’s not meeting another woman, I promise you that.”
“Uh-huh!
But I’m meeting another woman, haha!
Look at that face—are you jealous?”
Mike gave her a speechless glare.
Sarah giggled.
“Alright, I’m not gay, you know that.
It’s a girls’ night.
But who knows how far things will go…
if I call you tonight for help, you better come rescue me.
Maybe I’m being ‘violated’ by those bitches…”
“Stop, stop, stop!
As long as it’s not a man, I don’t mind.
Oh, and if you want to find a girlfriend, you can invite me along.”
Sarah fiercely flipped him the bird and said, “Let’s go.
My roommate isn’t home today.
It’s the perfect time to go to my place.
You’re in for a surprise, Muggle boy!”
A short while later, inside Sarah’s apartment, Mike soon found out where the surprise came from.
It turned out that in the vintage shop, this girl hadn’t just bought a necklace.
She had also bought two sets of wizard robes—one normal and one “battle-damaged” version.
An hour later, on the pink bed.
Sarah’s mind was still reeling; she had paid the price for her provocation.
Mike got up with shaky legs.
A moment ago, in his excitement, he had almost spent all 50 of his system points to buy Strength.
After a long while, when Mike was already dressed, Sarah finally snapped out of it and cursed, “You bastard!
I’m not a ragdoll!
You’re an animal!”
Mike was also feeling a bit of regret.
He had gone a bit too hard just now; after resting for a bit, his whole body felt sore.
But he still talked tough.
” I’ll take that as a compliment, Miss Wizard.”
Back at his own apartment, Mike drank a can of coffee and crashed on his bed.
When the sky began to darken, he woke up feeling refreshed, changed his clothes, and headed out.
He drove to the vicinity of Brooklyn Bridge Park, then walked to the park, pretending to listen to music as he strolled along the river.
He quickly discovered that he couldn’t see the so-called “warehouse” from this direction; he could only see the alley where they dealt or traded.
After thinking it over, he drove around to the back of the arts district and found a parking spot far away on another street.
He got out and walked.
Mike observed the terrain and traffic of the area from different directions, mentally planning several entry and exit routes.
Once night fell, Mike drove to a busier neighborhood.
After parking his car, he took a taxi back.
He had to go through all this trouble because if he left his car there after dark, there was a high probability it wouldn’t be there when he returned.
Changing into dark casual clothes, sticking on a fake beard, and putting on a baseball cap, he approached the arts district again.
This time, it was a close-range inspection to confirm the specific location of the warehouse and the security situation.
Late at night, the daytime bustle of the arts district faded away.
Perhaps because he had rested well, Mike’s footsteps were light as he circled to the back of the bookstore building.
Behind it was another relatively narrow but equally quiet street.
Unfortunately, the gates to the buildings and courtyards were all tightly shut.
Mike kept moving, continuing through the alley as he calculated the likely position of the warehouse.