"Future police badge bound. Officer ID: 577533."
A voice echoed in Han Bin's mind as he fiddled with a police badge in his hand—an unusual one he had stumbled upon a few days ago. It was slimmer and more refined than a standard badge.
"What's going on?" Han Bin was baffled.
"This badge was developed in the year 2170 as a new type of police assistant tool. It can transfer knowledge directly through brainwaves, enabling rapid skill acquisition," the voice explained.
"2170? That's 150 years in the future! How did it end up here in the present?" Han Bin exclaimed in disbelief.
"There was an experimental accident that caused the badge to travel across parallel dimensions," the voice clarified.
Despite how incredible it all sounded, the voice in his mind was very real.
"Officer 577533, welcome package granted," the voice added.
[Skill: Footprint Analysis]
[Level: Advanced]
[Function: Enables tracking of suspects and deducing physical features based on footprints, sock prints, shoe prints, etc.]
Bzzzzz…
A hum rang in Han Bin's mind as a torrent of knowledge and data surged in like a dam bursting.
What felt like an eternity passed, but when Han Bin returned to his senses, he was still sitting in the office of the Criminal Investigation Team 3.
Everything appeared unchanged, as though only a moment had passed—yet his mind was now filled with high-level knowledge of footprint analysis.
Han Bin knew this was a highly specialized forensic skill requiring years of study, field experience, and data collection. Very few experts truly mastered it.
Just then, a man in his thirties carrying a bag walked into the office and noticed Han Bin spacing out.
"Hey Han, how are you adjusting to Team 3?" he asked.
Han Bin turned and saw Zeng Ping, the leader of Group 2 in the Criminal Investigation Team.
"Pretty well," Han Bin replied.
"Good, because things get busy around here." Zeng Ping grinned.
"I'm ready for it."
Han Bin had recently transferred from the local police station to the criminal division.
"Being a detective when you're young is tough, but it gives you more chances to distinguish yourself. It'll open more doors for your future," Zeng Ping said with the tone of an experienced officer.
"Yes, I'll be sure to learn a lot from you, Team Leader Zeng."
Zeng Ping also served as the vice-captain of Criminal Investigation Team 3.
Thump-thump-thump… Footsteps approached.
A tall, sharp-looking woman in her twenties with short hair and a composed demeanor walked in quickly. This was Tian Li, also from Group 2.
"Team Leader Zeng, there's been a burglary at the Qindao Brewery!" she announced.
"Anyone hurt?"
"No injuries."
"How much was stolen?"
"Preliminary estimate: over a million yuan."
"Take Li Hui and head to the scene," Zeng Ping ordered.
"Yes, sir."
….
Qindao Brewery was one of the most well-known beer brands in the country and a major industry in Qindao City, with multiple production plants across the region.
Thirty minutes later, Group 2 arrived at a suburban branch of the brewery.
This particular plant wasn't very large. By the time they got there, the local precinct had already cordoned off the scene.
After exchanging greetings, Zeng Ping led his team inside.
"Man, that smell's intoxicating," Li Hui inhaled deeply.
"If the captain caught you drooling like this, you'd be in trouble," Han Bin joked.
Their captain was Zheng Kaixuan.
Li Hui scoffed. "We were classmates at the academy—who doesn't know who?"
Zeng Ping gave the two a glance. "Solve the case, and you'll get all the beer you want."
Both men chuckled awkwardly, understanding the unspoken rule: no drinks until the case is closed.
Zeng Ping approached a square-faced man in his forties. "Director Liu."
"Team Leader Zeng, glad you came," Liu replied, shaking his hand.
"What's the situation?"
"At 5 a.m., we got a call from security guard Zhou Jianguo reporting a break-in at the brewery. We arrived and found the office and second-floor finance room doors damaged. The safe had been forced open. The loss is significant, so we reported it up the chain."
"Any witnesses?"
"No."
"Zhou Jianguo was on duty last night?"
"Yes, but he says he didn't notice anything unusual."
"Tian Li, check the surveillance footage. Li Hui, talk to the employees—see if anyone knows anything. Han Bin, you're with me to the finance room," Zeng Ping directed.
"Yes, sir."
The office building had a glass door—easy to break into. The shattered glass lay inside, indicating it had been broken from the outside.
Han Bin put on shoe covers and carefully stepped around the glass as he followed Zeng Ping up to the finance room on the second floor.
The surveillance camera at the door had been destroyed.
The door to the finance room had been pried open. The small room, around 15 square meters, contained an open safe with only a few documents left inside. A crowbar was left on the floor.
Han Bin picked up the crowbar with gloved hands. "Nothing unique about this—it's a common tool."
Zeng Ping nodded. "Could find dozens of these on any construction site."
He squatted to examine the safe. "Lots of pry marks. Looks like it took time—probably an amateur."
Han Bin frowned. "Forcing a safe makes noise. How did Zhou Jianguo not notice?"
"Let's go ask him," Zeng Ping said.
….
Security Office
Zeng Ping and Han Bin entered the small guardhouse. It had a desk, bed, cabinet, and some clutter. An elderly man around 60 sat on the bed.
Seeing the two officers, Zhou Jianguo stood up. "Officers!"
Zeng Ping gave a small nod and stepped in. His foot crunched—he looked down.
Peanut shells.
"Sorry, haven't cleaned up yet," Zhou said, embarrassed.
Zeng Ping sniffed. A faint smell of alcohol lingered. "Peanuts and alcohol, huh?"
Han Bin caught the hint and searched the room. He found a half-empty bottle of Erguotou (a strong Chinese liquor) under the bed.
"Had a bit to drink last night, didn't you?" Han Bin asked, shaking the bottle.
"Just a little, just a little," Zhou laughed awkwardly.
"Drinking white liquor in a beer factory? Tsk," Zeng Ping teased.
"I used to drink beer, but I'm old now—too many bathroom trips."
"You didn't hear anything last night?"
"No, only noticed the broken office door when I woke up this morning."
"How long have you worked here?"
"Seven, eight years."
"Any previous incidents?"
"No, never."
"If anything else comes to mind, let us know," Han Bin said.
"Will do."
After the brief chat with little useful intel, they left.
"You think the guard's suspicious?" Han Bin asked.
"The office is almost 100 meters away. He's old, probably hard of hearing, and had been drinking," Zeng Ping replied. "But we can't completely rule him out."
"Not exactly a model guard."
"For 2,000 yuan a month? He's just here to hold the gate, not catch thieves," Zeng Ping said dryly.
Tian Li approached. "Team Leader, there are five surveillance cameras total. The ones at the entrance, parking lot, and factory didn't catch anything. The ones at the office door and finance room were destroyed."
Zeng Ping thought for a moment. "Any other rooms in the building targeted?"
"No."
"This suspect knew exactly where the cameras were and went straight for the finance room. Likely an insider," Han Bin said.
"Team Leader, we found some footprints!" Li Hui called out from near the fence.
They went to an open area that used to be a garden but had gone to seed. In the dirt, a trail of footprints was clearly visible, heading toward the fence.
"Li Hui, you think these belong to the suspect?" Tian Li asked.
Li Hui shrugged. "I sure didn't climb over that wall."
Tian Li rolled her eyes.
"No sign of the suspect on the entrance footage—they must've come over the wall."
Han Bin studied the footprints. The knowledge of footprint analysis surged forward like a master chef spotting prime ingredients...
(End of Chapter)
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[Translator's Note:- Sorry for going Hiatus, I had to travel to another city for an internship and couldn't translate the other novels. This one will not be like that. I have already translated 142 chapters of this novel. So please, If you like this comment and review this.]