Xu Jin Lin met Officer Chen in the briefing room, where he was already flipping through a case file while talking animatedly with two other officers. When he noticed her enter, he stood up quickly and saluted her, his eyes lighting up with genuine enthusiasm.
"Captain Xu, it's an honor to meet you," he said, his tone brimming with excitement. "I've heard so much about you."
"Officer Chen, nice to meet you as well," she replied with a nod, her voice calm and measured.
He gestured for her to sit as he introduced the rest of the team: Officer Liu, a sharp-eyed woman in her early 30s who had a no-nonsense demeanor, and Officer Zhang, a burly man with a quiet but observant nature.
"Captain Xu," Officer Chen began as they all settled into their seats, "I have to say, I didn't expect someone with your reputation to be so young. My older brother went to the same military academy as you, and he talked about you all the time. He said you were like a legendary figure there."
Xu Jin Lin raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Legendary might be an overstatement," she said modestly.
"No, no, I'm serious," Chen insisted, leaning forward eagerly. "You're the only student in academy history to complete the four-year program in one year. And then, you became the youngest captain in the special corps! My brother used to say you were like a machine—calm, precise, and unstoppable."
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Your brother exaggerates. I just focused on the tasks given to me."
"Focused? You broke academy records! And the survival training simulation? My brother said no one even came close to matching your time," Chen continued, his enthusiasm infectious.
Officer Liu cleared her throat, giving Chen a pointed look. "Chen, I think Captain Xu would prefer if we focused on the case rather than her biography."
"Right, right," Chen said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry, Captain Xu. I'm just a bit of an army enthusiast. It's not every day I get to work with someone like you."
"It's fine," Xu Jin Lin replied, her tone light. "But let's focus on the task at hand. What can you tell me about the case?"
Chen nodded, immediately shifting into a more professional demeanor. "We're dealing with a string of high-profile robberies in the Orchid District," he explained. "The targets are wealthy households, and the perpetrators seem to have an inside source. They're incredibly organized, leaving almost no evidence behind."
Officer Liu added, "We suspect they're using advanced tech to bypass security systems. The way they move suggests military-style coordination."
Xu Jin Lin frowned, her mind already piecing together the information. "How many incidents so far?"
"Seven in total," Officer Zhang answered, his deep voice rumbling. "No casualties, but the financial losses are staggering. They're not just taking money and jewelry—they're targeting sensitive documents and art pieces, too."
"Art and documents?" Jin Lin repeated, narrowing her eyes. "That's not typical for a robbery. It sounds more like industrial espionage."
"That's what we're thinking," Liu said. "But we haven't been able to pin down a clear motive or find any solid leads."
Jin Lin tapped her fingers on the table, her gaze distant as she thought. "What about surveillance footage? Witnesses?"
"Nothing useful," Chen replied. "The cameras were either disabled or they avoided them completely. And the witnesses only saw shadows—if anything."
She leaned back in her chair, her mind working through the possibilities. "They're professionals," she said finally. "Possibly with military training. We'll need to approach this from multiple angles."
"Let's start by reviewing the scene of the most recent robbery. I want to see the layout for myself and get a sense of how they're operating."
The team quickly gathered their equipment and prepared to head out. As they moved toward the parking lot, Chen fell into step beside Jin Lin.
"Captain Xu," he said hesitantly, "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but... it's nice to have someone with your experience here. I think we can learn a lot from you."
She glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. "We're a team," she said simply. "I'll do my part, but I'm counting on all of you to do yours as well."
Chen grinned. "You can count on us, Captain."
They arrived at the crime scene—a sprawling mansion surrounded by tall iron gates and manicured gardens. Despite its grandeur, the place felt hollow, as though the recent robbery had stripped it of its dignity. Jin Lin took a deep breath, her sharp eyes scanning the perimeter as they stepped inside.
"Let's see what we're dealing with," she said, her voice steady and resolute. The team followed her lead, each of them silently inspired by the presence of the calm and composed captain now standing at the helm.