“So, what have you been up to these days?” Sergeant Fu asked, while stirring his matcha tte in the cup, “I’ve heard all kinds of rumors, it seemed that things are quite busy at the 17th Preo doubt you’re skipping on a bunch of things ing to meet with me?”

  “It’s okay, because this is also teically an iigative visit, so we’re not missing anything.” Brian Sai scratched his head. “We’re actually here - ”

  “Nonsense! Nonsense!” Mick immediately cut Brian Sai off: “It’s always fun to e visit you and che you, Uncle Fu! You know I’m still quite hung up on your cop stories from when I was a little. And I’m sure as I progress with my career there’s some more wisdom and experience I could gain from you!”

  “Of course, anytime, Little Mick.” Sergeant Fu ughed out loud, though, at least to Brian Sai there was very little actual joy in this ugh.

  “So - how - uh, how's aunty? And how are the kids?” Mick asked while taking a sip of the matcha tte: “Ooh! Wow, this is some good tea. Very bitter - and - this strange fragrant and sweet aftertaste - is that rose honey?”

  “You still know your stuff! I’m impressed.” Sergeant Fu opened his eyes a bit wider and smiled: “I always knew you’ve got good taste. You know, I still maintain that if you get tired of the life on the force, you open a shop. Even if, you know, not here, you find some pce else. Or maybe expand the territory and export the good stuff to the South-Eastern District, huh? If you survive there you eve some iment from those big fat golden handbags.”

  “Eh, well, I’d love to, but I love aore.” Mick shrugged aly nudged Brian Sai: “You know, following people like Detective Cai aive Sai here kinda ruined my taste for aovies. All I watch are rom-s now.”

  Sergeant Fu ughed out loud again, this time with slightly menuinity.

  “Oh, and speaking of which, I came here actually to seek advi something and to pick your brains on the puzzle of a case we are looking into.” Mick finished half his atcha tte: “So, you help us? Uncle Fu?”

  “Um, sure, what do you need?” Sergeant Fu finished his drink, then asked.

  “ we have one more round of matcha tte please?” Brian Sai waved at a waitress on the side.

  “Thank you! You shouldn’t have.” Sergeant Fu appeared pleased, but showed no signs of refusal: “So, Mick, what do you need?”

  “Well, it’s more of an old tale. We’re looking into a strange case, that seemed to have certain es to some very old records. You’re one of the most experienced and knowledgeable detectives I know, so I think I’ll have to ask you instead of bumping my head around randomly.”

  “Of course. Shoot.”

  “And I’ll try to expin if you want more details. But I’ve gotta tell you, our Captain forbids us from telling anyone else. So - maybe I ’t share too much with you.”

  “No problem. Just go ahead.”

  “What you tell me about the death of Yixiang Zhuge, Sister Zhu, the infamous trafficker?” Mick weighed her words carefully and asked.

  Sergeant Fu paused, then narrowed his eyes at Mid Brian Sai.

  After a long while, this matcha loving sergeant put down his freshly brewed new cup, his facial expression no longer cheery as before, and his tone no lht: “How did this even e up? What kind of case are you looking into?”

  “I’m sorry, but I ’t divulge too much.” Mick shook his head: “I’m sure you’d uand.”

  Sergeant Fu did not answer. Instead, he looked down at his cup, did not respond at all. Mick looked at Brian Sai with an inquiring look on his face. As someone who did not know that the 17th Prect is actually taking their iigations into paranormal angles, Mick was actually quite fused about the reason as to why they were not allowed to share muformation about ongoing iigations with other officers or aside of the prect, even for asking help from encies.

  “But here’s a little thing we share.” Brian Sai spoke up all of a sudden: “Since yht up Detective Cai earlier. We’re actually helping him on the case. I am not sure if you’ve heard, but previously we had arrested a suspected kidnapper. After following some trails, we suspect that they might be using some remaining pipelines and es left by her. So - we would like to know if such a thing is possible. Because - because - ” he stammered, for he did not really have a good excuse for now and Sergeant Fu was clearly showing some signs of disbelief.

  “And we’re fag some pressure from the unity collective. Because - ” Mick scratched his jaw and interjected: “Because - the area of the crime might spill over the South-Eastern District. And they’ve been kinda hounding us to hand over the case if we ot find out anything…” While speaking, Mick “actally” dropped his small envelope with the talisman given to him by Marcus oable while pulling up his phone: “Oh shoot. Sorry! Sorry - I didn’t mean to ruin it for you - ”

  “Ruin it for me? What do you mean?” Sergeant Fu’s eyes opened slightly at the talisma he still maintained his calm.

  “Nothing - just - ” Mick smiled, then pushed the envelope over: “I was trying to give this to you as your anniversary present for aunty. I know you don’t really believe this, but I know aunty does - ”

  “Hrm, you know this wouldn’t work? And it may t as bribery?” Sergeant Fu’s voice did not sound as stern and steadfast as he appeared.

  “But - this thing ’t really sell, it?” Mick shrugged: “I got it from a friend, also a detective, he told me it was good quality stuff gifted to him as well. He has a few spares, so he gave me ohinking I might like it.”

  “Okay - okay.” Sergeant Fu hesitated t for a few more seds before taking the envelope and putting it into his back pants pocket: “Okay - okay - I think - I think the captain wouldn’t mind if I told you this, but - okay, let me ask you this: how do you think she died?”

  “Lynched by a group of angry South-Eastern mob, I heard.” Mick weighed his words.

  Sergeant Fu nodded with a mysterious smile. “But that’s not all, is it? For one, how could someone who had evaded both the city and the unity collective for more than a decade, be caught so casually by a bunch of know-nothing ignorant mob?”

  Thank you very muy patrons:

  mant06

  Jonathan

  Your support means a lot to me!

  Also I am going to take a break during the holidays for week and the week before Christmas. Hope you guys enjoy the holiday seasons!