“Abide by the law, do not commit crimes. Article 10 of Section 1 of the Inspector’s Handbook requires me to be very friendly to you.”

Ethan White: “……”

Jason Brooks held his breath, braced himself, and led his team forward. He carefully took the climbing rope from Ethan White’s hands and dragged the three robbers—whose condition was impossible to tell—onto the riot van.

Another search and rescue team quickly entered the passenger plane, preparing to sweep the cabin and rescue the injured.

“On behalf of the Shenhai City Inspectorate, I thank Mr. White for your contribution to the city’s safety.” Brian Sullivan bowed politely. “Welcome back to the country. Your luggage has been collected, and the Inspectorate will arrange a car to escort you from the airport.”

A bulletproof sedan slowly pulled up beside them. Brian Sullivan opened the car door and made a “please” gesture.

Very good, very friendly.

Ethan White stroked his chin and got into the car. Brian Sullivan was about to close the door when Ethan White suddenly stopped him with a hand: “Wait, that Inspector’s Handbook of yours… can I take a look at it?”

The two of them looked at each other through the car window. Ethan White’s face was full of barely contained curiosity.

“Each handbook is different depending on the inspector’s personality.” Brian Sullivan replied coolly. “Mine is long and boring. I hope only I know what’s inside.”

Bang!

The car door closed, and the vehicle slowly drove away.

Watching Brian Sullivan’s figure recede in the rearview mirror, Ethan White finally couldn’t hold back. He opened his mobile banking app and asked the driver, “Brother.”

“Please speak, Mr. White.”

“I have a private job, cash paid daily, one million. Interested?”

“……” The driver turned around in disbelief, moved. “Brother White, money isn’t important. I mainly admire your character—no matter what it is, I’ll do it, through fire and water. Just say the word!”

Ethan White encouragingly patted his shoulder. “Steal Inspector Sullivan’s handbook and lend it to me. How soon can you get it done?”

The car fell into silence.

The driver spoke slowly: “Bro, a job that could wipe out my whole family is a different price.”

The sun was setting in the west. People came and went on the tarmac. Passengers were being checked and escorted off the plane by the Inspectorate staff, many so unsteady they could barely stand, trembling as they supported each other.

“Waa—waa—” A little girl, about four or five years old, got lost in the chaos, her face red from crying, and ran headlong into Brian Sullivan’s leg.

“……”

Brian Sullivan was silent. He bent down, patted her head, and picked her up.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” A young woman, guided by staff, rushed over, repeatedly thanking him, and nervously took the little girl from Brian Sullivan’s arms.

“Inspector.” Jason Brooks hurried over and whispered, “The Central Inspectorate just called. They want you to make a statement about the hijacking. The car is waiting outside.”

—The Central Inspectorate’s troublemaking for Shenhai City had been going on for a long time, ever since Brian Sullivan’s first day on the job.

Brian Sullivan nodded but didn’t move immediately. He quietly watched the circle of weeping, overjoyed passengers not far away, and suddenly asked, “How are the injured?”

“Only the captain and co-pilot were seriously hurt. They lost a lot of blood, but their condition is stable. Miraculously, neither is in life-threatening danger.”

“…That guy surnamed Bai probably has some kind of healing ability,” Brian Sullivan said softly.

Healing was a rare type of ability, with odds of appearing on Earth as slim as one in a thousand. But since Ethan White was an even rarer S-class, it wasn’t surprising he had all sorts of odd powers.

Jason Brooks thoughtfully stroked his chin. “Didn’t expect an S-class to suddenly show up in Shenhai City. Since Brother Foster died, this is the first time I’ve seen a living S-class…”

He caught Brian Sullivan’s look and shivered. “Sorry, senior! I didn’t mean it!”

Brian Sullivan’s black eyes were cold and expressionless as he stared at him, saying nothing.

“……” Jason Brooks met his gaze, nervous, and finally couldn’t help but whisper, “Se… senior, if our Inspectorate had an S-class on staff, the Central Inspectorate people wouldn’t dare mess with us anymore. Will you try to recruit him?”

Brian Sullivan looked away, turned, and walked across the tarmac toward the black car in the distance.

“No.” He answered coldly. “My birthday wish every year is for evolvers to stay far away from my life.”

“—Eh?!” Jason Brooks was dumbfounded. “Inclu—including me? Senior! Senior—”

As dusk fell, city lights began to twinkle in the distance.

The vast metropolis was gradually shrouded in night. At the edge of the deep blue sky, two or three stars flickered faintly.

9 p.m., news channel.

“Today, an attempted hijacking occurred at our city’s airport. It has been confirmed that the three hijackers were the same robbers who recently robbed a Shenhai City bank. All have now been apprehended…”

In an abandoned hospital room, an old television flickered with a dim glow.

The images changed constantly: passengers and their families sobbing in each other’s arms. Amid the reporters’ cameras, a black bulletproof car with a license plate of six ones slowly drove away from the airport.

In the back seat, a man in a black suit and white shirt sat, his profile calm and expressionless. But in just a fleeting moment, the car window rolled up.