NIGHT Chapter 1
This is a fan translation and is therefore not totally reliable for re-translation, so please translate directly from the RAWs, to which I also provide the link. The translator’s first language is not english, so expect errors. Do not hesitate to comment for correction/typos/mistakes. Please do NOT upload on NU over me.
Please do not upload or share my work outside of this site. I’ve put time and effort into each translation, and I ask that you respect my wishes by reading them only here on ADammen Translations.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
☆
Case One: The Phantom Sniper
Chapter 1: You're under arrest
------------------
"Apologies for my tardiness."
The person who entered the room moved with a steady, measured gait. The sound of his leather shoes against the carpet echoed softly in the quiet room, his calm demeanor at odds with the words of apology he offered. A delay of over thirty minutes for a psychological evaluation crucial to one’s career, only someone like Officer He Yixun, a man who had received numerous commendations, would dare to do such a thing. The consultant wasn’t surprised in the slightest. With a gentle smile, she nodded and said, "It’s fine. Shall we begin?"
The reclining chair could lean back to a comfortably relaxed angle, but after He Yixun sat down, his shoulders had never touched the backrest. Instead, he crossed his legs, his fingers clasped together and resting on his knee. His posture was one of efficiency and discipline, more like someone attending a meeting than undergoing an evaluation.
Time had already run out for a gradual start, and the subject before her was hardly the type to cooperate. The consultant skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point, "That day, what had been on your mind when you decided to pull the trigger?"
"The hostage was in danger," replied He Yixun.
In the office of the hospital, his memories flashed back to the despairing patient, the doctor who was held hostage, and the panicked crowd.
It was as though time rewound to that controversial afternoon.
"But it later turned out the criminal hadn’t disengaged the safety on his weapon," the consultant stated flatly, carefully observing He Yixun’s reaction. "He held the doctor hostage simply because he wanted fair treatment since he had waited so long for an organ transplant, only to have his place cut by someone from the privileged class. The reason he raised the gun at the police might have been out of despair. Without the surgery, he was facing certain death, so he figured he might as well end it at the hands of the police."
"That’s just your assumption," He Yixun responded, his tone devoid of emotion. His tone sounded more like a detached observer than someone who had actually shot the criminal. "Maybe he just wanted to take everyone down with him, but with his mind in turmoil he forgot to disengage the safety."
"Have you followed what the public opinion was on the matter?" the consultant asked.
"I don’t care," He Yixun answered, exactly as she expected.
Whether the criminal truly intended to harm the hostage or attack the police, public opinion was nearly unanimous. Whoever the tragic party was would always be the one garnering sympathy. The citizens ignored the darker possibilities and tended to view the criminal as a pitiful man who didn’t deserve to die, with the belief that He Yixun should not have taken his life. The aftermath of this was of course, predictable, which leaned to growing resentment toward the privileged classes, and increasing criticism of He Yixun and the police as a whole.
But judging by He Yixun’s demeanor, he didn’t seem overly concerned about it.
"You are aware that the results of this psychological evaluation will affect your position, correct?" the consultant reminded him, stressing the significance of the assessment.
"My judgment at the time was sound," He Yixun responded, ending the conversation bluntly. He glanced at his watch. "Do you have any further questions?"
A normal person, even with just a 1% chance of having wrongfully killed someone, would be wracked with inner turmoil, unable to sit still. But He Yixun was no ordinary man.
On one hand, in the face of overwhelming criticism, He Yixun remained utterly at ease; this signaled that he wouldn't let it affect his mental state or interfere with his daily work. On the other hand, his demeanor bordered on cold-bloodedness, a far cry from what one would expect from a typical human being.
There seemed to be little point in continuing the conversation.
However, the consultant couldn't help but notice that, ever since sitting down, He Yixun's gaze would occasionally flicker toward the pen holder on her desk. "It seems you have a particular interest in my pen holder," the consultant remarked.
The pen holder was a modular design, composed of two cylindrical sections. One held several signature pens, while the other contained smaller tools like scissors and a ruler.
"You've placed your pens incorrectly," He Yixun observed, leaning forward to extract a mismatched signature pen from the tool section. He then placed it into the correct cylinder and adjusted the angle of all the pens so they were aligned neatly.
"Done," he said. After making these adjustments, he stood up. "I still have work to do. Let’s end here."
------------------.
Things have been turbulent in Bincheng lately.
With the upcoming mayoral election, campaign banners were plastered all over the streets. Unlike previous elections, this year's two candidates had turned their political rivalry into something personal, which had caused deep divisions among their supporters.
Strangers, wary of provoking heated arguments, did their best to avoid discussing their stances. He Yixun had left the consultant’s office early, claiming work commitments. It genuinely wasn’t an excuse.
Tonight, the incumbent mayor, Lin Mei, was scheduled to give a campaign speech at Central Square. But before the speech even began, a crowd of protesters had already gathered, demanding that Lin Mei take responsibility for her lax stance on the entertainment industry, which had long been a breeding ground for crime.
In the police command vehicle parked at the edge of the square, Chen Zhen, from the technical communications team, spun in his chair, idly squeezing a handgrip ball. Boredom overcame him, and he decided to poke fun at He Yixun, who sat nearby. "He Sir1, I heard you finished your psychological evaluation in just ten minutes."
He Yixun didn’t even flinch, his eyes glued to the surveillance footage. His focus was so absolute, it was as if he were a machine on duty.
Chen Zhen continued, "Aren’t you worried the boss will give you hell?"
By "the boss," he meant the police chief, He Yixun’s direct superior, who had mandated the psychological evaluation. This time, He Yixun’s gaze flickered over to Chen Zhen, though he still didn’t seem interested in making small talk. "If you're bored, go out on patrol."
"It’s probably quiet tonight," Chen Zhen said lazily, leaning back in his chair. He tossed the handgrip ball into the air. "Those protesters are just sitting there. There shouldn’t be any conflicts."
Although Lin Mei had yet to arrive, her supporters had already taken the center of the square. The protesters sat quietly on the outer edges, holding signs like “Stop letting crime spread through Bincheng” and “Gun and drugs should be kept away from minors.” No one seemed intent on stirring up trouble.
From a distance, it appeared that the two factions were keeping to themselves, the atmosphere not at all tense. If the speech ended like this, it would mean an early finish for the day.
But that also meant the boredom would continue.
"By the way, He Sir," Chen Zhen suddenly turned his chair to face He Yixun with a look of genuine curiosity, and then said, "You know I support you firing that shot, but aren’t you curious about how the public sees you? Maybe you should go on patrol for a bit."
Bincheng was well aware of this star superintendent, so if He Yixun were to show up in the crowd, it would certainly cause quite a stir. But then, a sharp, murderous glance cut through the air in response. Chen Zhen quickly shrank back, his neck retracting as he hurriedly slid his chair aside with quick, light steps.
Before long, Lin Mei appeared on the podium, her presence commanding as she donned her signature fuchsia suit.
The protesters on the outskirts stood up in unison, raising their signs high and chanting slogans like "Lin Mei, step down," "Bincheng doesn't need a mayor like you," and "You and your son are murderers!"
The protests surged one after another, but Lin Mei didn’t even flinch, her expression unmoved. It was as though she had shielded herself from the noise, only acknowledging her supporters as she began her speech, unfazed by the chaos around her.
"...Over the years, Bincheng's economic development has been undeniable. Who brought in more tourists? Who created more jobs? Governing a city requires strategic foresight, not just prettified ideals. I deeply regret the unfortunate incident involving Prosecutor Li..." she continued.
At the mention of Prosecutor Li, the crowd erupted in boos. Li was none other than Lin Mei's opponent in the election, the former prosecutor Li Menglan.
Li Menglan, a single mother who had raised her son alone, had recently suffered a devastating loss when her son tragically fell off the "Lucky Number", a casino cruise ship, and drowned. She vowed to crack down on the entertainment industry, which she blamed for the tragedy.
"...Here, I promise that, if I am re-elected, I will strike a balance between economic growth and public safety, limiting the entertainment industry's expansion to some degree, and providing an answer to all citizens," Lin Mei concluded.
Just as she spoke these words, the sky, which had been clear and starry, suddenly darkened, clouds swirling in an ominous blanket. A thick, purple lightning bolt struck from the heavens, startling everyone.
"A liar gets struck by thunder!" a protester shouted, immediately realizing what had happened. "Even heaven can't stand her lies!"
"Yes! She's lying!" another shouted. "She’ll pay for this!"
The rainstorm, which was forecasted to start at midnight, seemed to have arrived ahead of schedule. A fierce wind kicked up, swirling fallen leaves in the air. People were blown around, their eyes squinting against the gusts, and all they could hear was the deafening roar of thunder overhead.
In an instant, large raindrops began to fall, hitting the command vehicle with sharp, rhythmic sounds that drowned out the shouts from both factions in the square. Chen Zhen, who had been watching the scene for a while, couldn’t help but ask He Yixun, "Is what she said true? Is she really planning to target the entertainment industry?"
It wasn’t surprising that Chen Zhen had such a question. Lin Mei had close ties with entertainment industry bosses, and her ex-husband, He Maohu, was the president of Bincheng's Chamber of Commerce and the owner of the "Lucky Number" cruise ship.
"If she doesn't make a move soon, Li Menglan's support rate will surpass hers," He Yixun replied.
"To quell public anger, she's going after her financial backers?" Chen Zhen clicked his tongue. "She's ruthless. She doesn't even fear the backlash from the big players."
He Yixun didn’t seem particularly bothered by it. Politicians were adept at weighing the pros and cons, and Lin Mei’s actions were clearly calculated. However, just as He Yixun picked up the walkie-talkie, preparing to give orders to his team, the surveillance footage revealed something strange. A piece of shattered wood suddenly shot up from the podium, flying past Lin Mei's face at breakneck speed.
Lin Mei instinctively turned her head to avoid the debris. The moment she realized what had hit the podium, she immediately crouched down, seeking cover. At the same time, the crowd below, now aware of the danger, dropped to their knees in panic, letting out terrified screams.
A voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, "There’s a sniper!"
The next bullet arrived almost simultaneously.
Lin Mei's campaign secretary shoved her to the ground, and all of her bodyguards rushed forward, forming a human shield to block the sniper's line of sight. At this point, it was hard to tell whether the people fleeing were supporters or protesters. The square descended into chaos as everyone scrambled to escape. "Confirm the sniper’s location!" He Yixun barked, his voice steady as ever, while he stepped out of the command vehicle with long strides.
Moving against the crowd would definitely draw attention. Many recognized He Yixun, but whether they were too busy escaping or simply intimidated by the sight of him, no one dared to confront him. They merely glanced at him before continuing their frantic dash toward safety. Looking back at the podium, Lin Mei, protected by her bodyguards, had been escorted away from the scene. Her campaign secretary was clutching his arm, though it was unclear if he had fallen or been hit by a bullet.
The once-crowded square quickly became eerily empty, making a lone figure stand out.
A young man looked as though he had just crawled out of a chimney, his face smeared with soot, wearing a filthy white sweater. Amid the scattering crowd, he stood motionless, as if certain the bullet wouldn’t find its mark on him.
In a sudden, almost imperceptible motion, his gaze drifted toward a distant tower, an office building standing nearly 800 meters away. In the bizarre context of this scene, his behavior felt undeniably out of place.
He Yixun, ever vigilant, followed the man’s line of sight, and in that instant, he knew. The building, with its precise vantage point, was an ideal sniping position. Without a word, he picked up the walkie-talkie, his voice cool and commanding. "Team One, check the office building southeast of us."
In a seamless movement, he advanced toward the suspicious figure, his steps silent, calculated, like a predator drawn to its prey. A figure so oddly composed, covered in soot and grime, at the heart of a site of the attack made He Yixun reasonably suspect that the man might be carrying a bomb. He took every care with his steps, careful not to alert the man, but it was as though the man had a sixth sense. In one swift motion, his gaze snapped back, locking onto He Yixun’s.
Their eyes met, and He Yixun involuntarily paused for a heartbeat. From his years of experience dealing with criminals, this man seemed unnaturally handsome. Despite the grime that clung to his face, there was no mistaking the alabaster of his skin, the precise symmetry of his features and his eyebrows that was just the right amount of volume and shade. His dark eyes, endless pools of ink, held an unsettling stillness, a captivating force that seemed to freeze anyone who met his gaze.
In the midst of such chaos, to remain so composed, He Yixun’s intuition told him this man was anything but ordinary.
Before the man could even have time to react, He Yixun moved with military precision, closing the distance and twisting the man’s arm behind his back. He deftly swept his hands across the man’s chest and waist in search of weapons or explosives.
Fortunately, there was no bomb.
But the calm of the man’s gaze faltered for just a fraction of a second. His expression, once serene, shifted to one of sheer disbelief as he snapped his head toward He Yixun. "What are you doing?!"
But the absence of a bomb didn’t mean the danger had passed. He Yixun’s grip tightened, and his fingers slid toward the man’s pockets. "ID."
"Who the hell are you?" The man struggled against the restraint, his voice sharp and furious. "Let go of me!"
He Yixun paused for a moment.
The fact that this man didn’t recognize him, despite being at Lin Mei’s speech, was highly suspicious.
Just then, the walkie-talkie crackled with a report from an officer. "Sniper position confirmed in the office building southeast of the square. The suspect has fled."
He Yixun’s instincts were proven right.
Without another moment’s hesitation, he decisively skipped the ID check and reached for his handcuffs from his waist, then snapping them onto the man’s wrists. "You’re under arrest."
Xu Pei, who had been in utter confusion from the start, found himself even more baffled. Putting aside everything else, what on earth was this pheromone-less, impotent alpha trying to do?
All translations on ADammen Translations are by Abo Dammen. Please don’t repost, retranslate, or turn them into EPUBs/PDFs, read only on this site.
------------------
Author’s Feed
Important Notice:
- This is not a criminal investigation or suspense story; it is a strictly logical reasoning mystery story. No spoilers allowed! Please refrain from spoilers in the comments or the bullet screen!
- There are a total of five cases throughout the story, with the plot and romance starting smoothly from the beginning, 5/5. The romantic storyline progresses without any major drama.
1 Chen Zhen is saying indeed saying 贺sir in the raws, so will be keeping this mode of address.
Comments
Post a Comment