Wilshire Police Station.
As Locke locked the Glock 17 into the gun cabinet, he turned to David and asked, "You're really not coming, huh?"
After LAPD work hours, if it's the department-issued firearm, it needs to be stored at the station, unless there are special circumstances preventing it from being taken home.
However, if it's a personally bought firearm, it's not subject to this rule.
David scratched his head hesitantly, his face filled with reluctance. Finally, he shook his head and said, "I have a heart condition, Katherine won't let me drink..."
Locke nodded knowingly at David and chuckled, "Well, you said it yourself! Seems like Katherine has you under tight control! David, do you know what you'd be called in China?"
"You have no idea. This comes from love from family!"
David looked smug and curious, "What's that?"
"Daughter slave!"
Locke said it once in Chinese and then repeated it in English, "daughterslave!"
David mimicked the Chinese pronunciation in a strange tone and then nodded, "Yes, daughterslave!"
He patted Locke's shoulder, "Locke, this is the first time I've heard you speak Chinese. I just remembered you're of Chinese descent, so from now on, if we encounter Asians, I'll leave the communication to you..."
Locke was taken aback and rolled his eyes, "Dude, not all Asians are Chinese..."
Indeed, Locke Lee used to not speak Chinese. Even though he majored in Chinese at CSU, he hardly spoke it, and communication with his father, Lee Bo, was mostly in English.
This was one of the conflicts between Lee Bo and Marianne. Lee Bo felt that Locke was completely Westernized by Marianne and his family's teachings, forgetting his Chinese identity.
After joining the football team in high school, he became a hotheaded troublemaker, frequently getting into fights and often being called to the principal's office, which further disappointed Lee Bo. Marianne, on the other hand, was very tolerant of this behavior, deepening their differences in education.
Locke suddenly thought of a way to improve the relationship between Lee Bo and Marianne and couldn't help but smile, waving to David and preparing to change clothes.
David stopped him, "Locke, you're in good shape. Keep it up and don't worry about things that haven't happened yet..."
Locke thumped his chest with his fist, "I'm the top tough guy of Wilshire. How could I be scared of such things..."
Since he wanted to enjoy a brand new life, he let Locke Lee's personality become the dominant one, while he automatically became the secondary one.
David reminded him again, "Don't drink too much later. You have your swearing-in ceremony tomorrow morning..."
"Got it! Say hi to Katherine for me!"
Locke didn't look back, waving his hand as he walked away.
"You wish! Get lost, you brat..."
In the changing room, after changing clothes, Locke didn't immediately leave. Instead, he stared at the panel, somewhat absent-minded.
[Light of Justice - Vigilante System 2.0]
Host: Locke Lee / rocklee
Strength: 9 (Human peak 20)
Speed: 10 (Human peak 20)
Endurance: 9 (Human peak 20)
Mental: 11 (Human peak 20)
Mastered Skills: Pistol (L2 Mastery↑), Rifle (L1 Proficiency↑), Comprehensive Combat (L2 Mastery↑), Car Driving (L3 Master↑ for 20 years), Chinese (L3 Master↑), Football (L2 Mastery), Mating (L2 Mastery), Swimming (L3 Master↑), Housekeeping (L3 Master), Trace Analysis (L3 Master), Makeup (L3 Master), Forensics (L3 Master), Microexpression Analysis (L2 Mastery), Chemistry (L2 Mastery), Biology (L2 Mastery), Toxicology (L2 Mastery), Sketching (L2 Mastery), French (L2 Proficiency), Japanese (L2 Proficiency), Art Appreciation (L2 Mastery), Computer (L2 Mastery), Cooking (L2 Mastery), Lock Picking (L2 Mastery), Spanish (L1 Proficiency)
Justice Value: 500
Attribute Points: None
Holding Cards
Experience Card: None
Function Card: Dodging Card
Skill Card: None
He had solved several cases today, including two deaths in the afternoon's drug lab case, but the panel showed no change whatsoever.
Combining this with the lack of rewards from previous minor cases, Locke concluded that civil cases wouldn't yield any rewards unless he killed the criminals himself.
Or perhaps, it was related to his level of involvement.
In the afternoon drug lab case, he had just been a bystander, with very low involvement. However, this needed further verification.
But one thing was certain, if he wanted rewards, he had to kill the criminals.
No wonder it was called the Vigilante System, was the system requiring him to kill?
"Knock... Knock..."
"Locke, you're not trying to skip out, are you!"
"Coming!"
Soon, Locke, dressed in his new clothes, walked with Nathan, Randy, Elsa, Thaddeus, and Captain Mona, towards the Sky Bar near the police station.
Since they were going to drink, none of them drove.
Locke also invited Captain Jones, but he declined.
As for the big boss, Anna Davis, he didn't even consider it.
The Sky Bar was just a street away from the Wilshire Police Station, a regular haunt for officers after work. It had been renovated last year, with better ambiance, a dance floor, entertainment areas, a lounge, and a long bar counter.
As they arrived at the bar, Locke saw many other colleagues from the station. After exchanging greetings, he went straight to the bar owner, Old John.
An elderly Irish man with graying hair and beard, the main specialty of the Sky Bar was Irish whiskey.
Old John was wiping glasses when he saw Locke and chuckled, "Locke lad, heard you're finishing your internship early, congratulations! Let me buy you a drink later!"
"Thank you..."
Locke gestured with his finger around, "John, I'm buying tonight!"
Old John gave Locke a thumbs-up, "Kid, I have high hopes for you!"
When Locke returned to his booth with Nathan and the others, he heard Old John's booming voice, "The brave warriors of Wilshire, tonight the handsome Locke lad will treat you all, enjoy yourselves! To Locke!"
As Old John's voice fell, cheers erupted in the bar, and Wilshire's officers scattered around the bar raised their glasses.
"To Locke..."
"Cheers to Locke..."
"Locke, welcome to LAPD..."
"Locke, well done!"
"Locke, I admit you're better looking than me..."
"..."
In their booth, Randy, Nathan, Elsa, Thaddeus, and Captain Mona all raised their glasses to Locke again, congratulating him on officially joining LAPD.
Setting down his glass, Locke asked the rookie Thaddeus, "Why haven't I seen Officer Elvin?"
Thaddeus Martin was the most prominent figure among the rookies this time. He was a handsome young black man, and his father was the chief of internal affairs for the Western Division, Inspector Philip Martin.
Elvin was Thaddeus's training officer.
Thaddeus looked hesitant and glanced at Captain Mona, but he still confessed, "Officer Elvin and I have differences in law enforcement. I feel he's biased against black people..."
The atmosphere in the booth immediately turned serious, especially Captain Mona, who looked stern and said, "Thaddeus, this is a serious accusation. You're in your probationary period, and I believe you should obey your training officer's instructions. While Elvin's enforcement attitude is indeed strict, I haven't heard of any discriminatory behavior towards people of color..."
Thaddeus lowered his head, avoiding Captain Mona's gaze, and quickly replied, "Sorry, Captain Mona, I will adjust my attitude..."
Locke raised an eyebrow, subconsciously looking at Randy Casco, realizing he had a look of hesitation, remembering David's warning.
David had subtly mentioned that Officer Elvin liked to play games, and he shouldn't get too close to him.