Friedrichshafen Airport, Bavaria, Germany. 11 p.m.
This was a small business jet, with about 10 seats. Inside the cabin, two soft light strips ran along the ceiling, illuminating the small space with a warm, gentle glow. The milky-white light from above bathed the beige leather seats and the mahogany furniture, while the deep blue carpet, patterned with fern-like designs, added a touch of elegance. Though it couldn't be called luxurious, the jet's interior was well-equipped and complete with everything one might need. However, strangely enough, Song Jie didn't see a single person.
"Where is everyone?" Before Song Jie could turn around to ask, the door behind him had already closed, and someone outside pounded heavily on the aircraft door.
"What's going on?" Song Jie quickly craned his neck to peer out through the small window in the door, trying to figure out what was happening.
"Do you want to get off the plane, or do you want to go to London?" a clear female voice called from behind his head.
A bewildered Song Jie turned around to see a young woman standing behind him. He felt a sudden brightness in front of his eyes. The woman was about 1.7 meters tall, in her early twenties, dressed in a navy blue Workwear style uniform. Her chestnut-colored hair was tied back into a ponytail, with two locks of bangs hanging softly on either side of her forehead. Her fair face had well-defined features, a high, delicate nose, and slightly chubby cheeks that gave her an air of youthful charm. Her lips were naturally full, and her chin curved elegantly, combining softness with striking contours. Her large, deep, and lively eyes, resembling a pair of blue-green "cat's eyes," sparkled with intelligence and spirit, adding a hint of boldness to her otherwise gentle appearance. Without a word, her captivating aura seemed to sweep over Song Jie like a fragrant breeze, momentarily stunning him and making him forget where he was.
"If I were you, I'd find a seat right away. We're about to take off!" The woman's firm tone jolted Song Jie out of his daze.
"Are you a flight attendant?" he quickly asked, regaining his composure.
"If you're heading to London for a vacation, I can get you a flight attendant. But if you're going to solve a case, I'm your partner—Bavarian Police Officer Eva Herzog."
"But I told the officer in charge earlier that I wanted the best…" Song Jie's face showed a mix of confusion and surprise. " Why had they assigned such a young woman to handle this case? "
"I am the best!" Eva Herzog responded, dropping the hand she had initially extended for a handshake, crossing her arms over her chest, and sitting down in a nearby seat.
Song Jie's outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air, and he thought to himself, "Great, my big mouth just offended someone right off the bat."
"I just finished briefing the pilots on the route. If everything goes smoothly, we'll arrive at London Stansted Airport in 1 hour and 40 minutes," Eva said as she fastened her seatbelt.
"Why not Heathrow? Isn't Heathrow the largest airport in London?" Song Jie asked, puzzled.
"Dr. Song, I could ask you a thousand questions too, and we'll have plenty of time to exchange information. But for now, please take your seat. We're taking off." Before Eva had even finished speaking, the cabin was already filled with the rumbling sound of the turbofan engines.
"Why do all the Bavarian cops I've met tonight have such terrible tempers and such a sense of urgency? It's like we were sworn enemies in a past life. Just my luck." Song Jie already felt a cloud hanging over the mission ahead. The sound in his ears wasn't just the engine roaring—it felt like a lion inside him was roaring with frustration.
The powerful roar of the plane's engines filled the cabin as it lifted off, climbing steadily until it reached a cruising altitude of 15,000 meters. However, the awkward atmosphere inside the cabin showed no signs of dissipating, unlike the thinning air outside.
"Alright, Dr. Song, regarding the Lindau auction heist, I need more information. Please tell me everything you know," Eva Herzog broke the silence, taking the lead and cutting through the tension.
"Hold on. I don't think I'm here to be interrogated. I can't accept your attitude. " Song Jie finally seized the chance to voice his dissatisfaction, spreading his hands in frustration.
"If you want to recover the Buddha head and catch the perpetrators, you'll need to cooperate with me." Eva Herzog retorted, her brow furrowed in disdain.
"I do want to cooperate, but not in this manner," Song Jie said firmly.
"What manner would you prefer?" Eva Herzog shot back, matching his tone with equal intensity.
"I want to cooperate on equal terms. I'm not your suspect!"
"Oh, Mensch! Ridiculous! If you want to recover the Buddha head, you'll have to listen to me. I'm the police, I'm the professional. You're only here to assist me." Eva Herzog said, pressing her fingers to her forehead, closing her eyes, and shaking her head as if exasperated by Song Jie's words.
"How do you know I'm not professional? The stolen artifact is a Chinese cultural relic. I'm an expert in this field. " Song Jie retorted, feeling offended. No one had ever questioned his expertise before.
"My mission is to retrieve the stolen item and apprehend the criminals. This sudden incident forced me to break my vacation at Lake Constance. Right now, I'm on duty, not here to listen to a lecture from you. And let's be clear—we don't have much time!" Eva Herzog opened her eyes and leaned forward, fixing Song Jie with a sharp, piercing gaze.
"Wait a minute. Back at the airport, your superior also mentioned that we didn't have much time. What does that mean? Why don't we have much time? Exactly how much time do we have?" As he asked, Song Jie felt like they had finally gotten to the heart of the matter, and he sensed an impending major challenge.
"24 hours. If we don't find it within 24 hours, the artifact will be smuggled through certain ways and disappear forever, becoming untraceable. You'll never get the Buddha head back. And, of course, my reputation and that of the Bavarian police will be in ruins. Can you accept that?" Eva Herzog's tone was laced with reproach as she delivered the critical information, her dissatisfaction evident.
"How much time do we have left?" Song Jie asked urgently.
Eva Herzog glanced at the military watch on her wrist and said coldly, "22 hours."