"Check out that sound."
Instantly, the three of them were on high alert.
Their eyes locked on the bushes near the exit ahead.
Clearly, this was another undercover detective who had spotted someone acting suspicious and sent out a heads-up.
Seconds later, in their line of sight, a burly man appeared. He was wearing an oversized black T-shirt, loud, colorful beach shorts, and beat-up flip-flops, sporting a simple, somewhat uneven buzz cut.
He didn't even bother to scan his surroundings before he bent down to pick up a cigarette pack from the bushes.
Then, something totally unexpected happened.
This stocky buzz-cut guy just opened the cigarette pack, took a quick look inside, and stuffed it into his chest pocket.
He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his bulging pocket.
He took one out, put it in his mouth, lit it up, and took a deep drag, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.
Then he pulled out his phone, looking like he was about to make a call.
But, the hand holding the phone was missing a pinky, chopped off by some sharp tool, the wound still fresh and gruesome.
There was also a huge, newly healed scar on the back of his hand!
Instead of leaving immediately, this guy...
...stood there without a hint of fear, smoking and making his call.
Meanwhile, a hushed voice came through the earpiece again.
"Lucas, what's the play?"
"I think we can wrap this up now, both targets are in place."
Lucas didn't respond immediately, puzzled by the man's bizarre behavior.
Ethan was also watching intently from a distance.
His brain was racing, his extensive experience with simulated crimes helping him to quickly analyze every detail.
Something's off here!
Normally, drug users are scared of getting caught during a deal, afraid of being caught red-handed and unable to wiggle out of it.
But not this burly guy.
After getting his hands on the drugs, he just stands there smoking and making a call!
There are only three explanations for this.
Either this guy is a newbie to drugs, totally unaware of the government's crackdown on narcotics!
But someone able to buy 5 ounces of heroin isn't a newbie!
The second possibility is...
This guy's addiction kicked in, and he couldn't wait to get home to use, deciding to shoot up right there at the pickup spot.
But this guy just checked the purity and then took out his own cigarettes, so that's not it either.
So the third possibility is...
This guy is a desperate criminal, beyond the reach of the police, likely involved in major crimes!
Since getting caught could mean facing the death penalty.
This has made him completely numb, living by the idea that every extra day is a win, so naturally, he wouldn't fear the cops.
The most crucial thing is...
This guy definitely has an accomplice, and it was that accomplice who had him buy the heroin. Otherwise, he wouldn't be making a call right away to report in!
From the injuries on his pinky and the back of his hand, you can tell.
About ten days ago, this guy got into a knife fight with someone, resulting in his pinky being chopped off and a gash on the back of his hand!
Also.
The fact that he didn't seek medical treatment has left him with these gruesome wounds.
His buzz cut is uneven, not like something you'd get at a professional barber.
The ill-fitting clothes, beach shorts, and worn-out flip-flops suggest he's been having a rough time lately.
Or rather, he hasn't even had the chance or time to take care of his appearance!
There's a good chance that...
A wanted criminal has drifted into Gotham!
From the brand of cigarettes this burly guy is smoking...
It's not a brand commonly found or easily bought in Gotham, but rather American Spirit, which is quite popular in the western regions!
His smoking is practiced, showing he's a long-time smoker.
Old smokers.
They usually stick to their favorite brand of cigarettes and wouldn't normally switch.
Based on a hundred thousand crime simulations.
Ethan can deeply understand the mindset of a true desperado.
If caught, it's either a long prison sentence or even the death penalty.
Might as well enjoy his favorite things while he can, before getting caught.
Cigarettes might seem trivial.
But to a desperado, they're a crucial psychological comfort!
In the simulations of crimes in his dreams.
Ethan can't count how many times, due to immense psychological pressure, these habitual small details have been exposed, leading to capture and the failure of the crime!
So now he can roughly deduce...
This burly man is likely a major fugitive who has drifted from the western regions to Gotham, with crimes committed within this month!
Just as Ethan finally sorted out his thoughts.
Although Lucas felt something was off, he couldn't pinpoint the problem and finally gave up on digging deeper.
Pressing the earpiece by his ear, he frowned and began, "Let's not wait any longer, let's start wrapping this up..."
Before he could finish.
Ethan quickly interrupted him, urgently saying, "Wait!"
"I suspect this man is a fugitive from the western regions who has drifted into Gotham, and he has at least one accomplice. Let's not close the net yet!"
This statement made Lucas pause, then he quickly responded, "Christopher, Andrew, hold off! Don't make a move yet!"
"Don't let this guy out of sight, I need to further confirm his identity, wait for my command!"
After saying this.
Lucas stared at Ethan with a puzzled and confused look.
Seemingly eager to hear...
Exactly why Ethan judged this man to be a fugitive, and moreover, an important one from the western regions!
But right now, Ethan wasn't in the mood to explain.
He turned to Miles behind him and commanded.
"Miles."
"Check the list of fugitives issued in the western regions over the past month, see if there's anyone who looks like this guy?"
"Just focus on the face, the hairstyle might have changed!"
Although Miles was also puzzled.
He has always strictly followed Ethan's commands over the years.
He immediately took out his phone.
Logged into the police internal tracking system, and filtered out the fugitives from the western regions over the past month.
In less than thirty seconds.
Miles glanced at his phone, then compared it to the man in front, and suddenly exclaimed.
"Holy crap! Federal fugitive!"
"And he's got three homicides on his record!!!"