As Merry stormed off toward the front of the room, a high-ranking detective, a tall, broad-shouldered man with perfectly styled dark hair and sharp, chiseled features,approached her. He wore a sleek, tailored suit with a badge indicating his senior status pinned to his chest. His eyes, a piercing blue, were fixed on her as he made his move.
"Detective Merry, right?" he asked smoothly, his voice low and confident. "I've heard a lot about your recent work, impressive stuff."
Merry, still fuming from her encounter with James, managed a polite nod. "Thanks," she muttered, trying not to engage too much.
But the detective wasn't deterred. He smiled warmly, stepping a bit closer. "You've got talent. Not many can handle cases the way you do, especially with that sharp mind of yours. I've been meaning to reach out to you, maybe we could work together on a case sometime?"
Merry raised an eyebrow, catching the compliment but sensing something else behind his words. She kept her distance, forcing a small smile. "I appreciate that, but I'm good with my team."
The detective, undeterred, flashed a charming grin. "Well, if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me." He glanced over at James and Ben, his smile faltering for a moment before focusing back on Merry. "Just think about it."
Merry nodded politely but felt uneasy, sensing his attempt to get closer.
Merry forced a polite smile, replying, "I'll think about it. Thank you for your offer."
The high-ranking detective, still not backing off, leaned in just slightly, his tone friendly yet calculated. "You're welcome, Merry. I'm curious, though, what got you into this line of work? Not everyone can handle the pressure like you can."
Merry hesitated for a moment, but the detective's easy charm seemed to draw her in. "I guess… I've always had a strong sense of justice," she admitted, her voice softening a bit. "I wanted to make a difference, to be in a position where I could really help people."
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's admirable. I can see why you're doing so well. Most people don't have that kind of drive."
Merry, feeling slightly more comfortable, continued, "It's challenging, but it's worth it. Every case we solve feels like a step in the right direction, you know?"
The detective smiled, clearly enjoying the conversation. "I know exactly what you mean. It's rare to meet someone who's both driven and as talented as you. We could use more people like you around here."
Merry glanced at him, sensing the flattery but unsure how to respond. She nodded again, keeping her tone professional. "Thanks. I just try to do my best."
While Merry and the high-ranking detective were talking, James stood at the back of the room, his eyes fixed on Merry, not looking anywhere else. His gaze lingered, almost as if he was lost in thought.
Ben, noticing James's expression, raised an eyebrow. 'What's he staring at like that? With those daydreaming eyes?' he thought. Curious, Ben waved a hand in front of James's face. "Hey, are you good? You look like you're daydreaming."
James snapped back to reality. "Nothing… I was just thinking about something," he said quickly, trying to divert Ben's curiosity. "When's this ceremony starting, anyway?"
Just as James finished speaking, the doors at the front of the hall swung open. The High Council of the FDA entered, flanked by several bodyguards, their presence commanding attention as the room fell silent. An anchor stood at the podium and began the ceremony.
"Welcome, everyone, to the rank promotion ceremony. Will now begin calling up the teams."
One by one, team leaders and their members were called to the stage to receive their new rank badges. The first to be called was Team Zenith, a Tier B team known for their exceptional detective work on corporate fraud cases. Next, Team Viper, a Tier C team, followed, their reputation built around high-profile murder cases. The room buzzed with excitement and anticipation as more teams were announced.
Each group walked up to the stage, receiving their badges amidst applause from the crowd. James, now back in focus, watched quietly as the ceremony continued, waiting for their team's
As the ceremony progressed, the anchor's voice echoed through the hall. "And next, we have Team Honor"
James, Merry, Marcus, and Ben exchanged glances before rising from their seats. With measured steps, they made their way to the stage. The buzz of whispers followed them, especially with all the attention James had drawn recently.
They were handed their Tier C badges, marking their promotion from Tier D. The sleek, silver emblem gleamed under the lights as each of them received theirs. Marcus gave a proud nod to the council members as they acknowledged the team's hard work.
'Not bad,' James thought, holding his badge in his hand. He glanced at Merry, who seemed genuinely pleased, though trying to keep her usual composed demeanor. Ben flashed a grin as he held up his badge for a second before pocketing it.
After the ceremony, the team returned to their office at the FDA. Ben and Merry were in high spirits, still riding the excitement of their promotion to Tier C.
Ben, practically bouncing as they entered, grinned widely. "Man, I can't wait to put this new rank to good use! We're climbing the ladder faster than anyone else!"
Merry, smiling but more composed, nodded. "Feels good. We've worked hard for this."
Meanwhile, James strolled in, his hands casually in his pockets, looking as indifferent as ever. He tossed his badge onto the desk, not showing much excitement. 'It's just a title,' he thought to himself, leaning back in his chair. His relaxed demeanor was a stark contrast to the energy of the others.
Just as they were settling in, the door swung open, and Tom, their superior, stepped in with someone behind him. "Team, I'd like to introduce someone," he said, motioning for the person to step forward.
A young woman entered the room. She had striking long, chestnut-brown hair, which cascaded down her back in soft waves. Her bright green eyes were sharp, yet there was a warmth to them. She wore a sleek, black suit that gave off a professional yet approachable vibe. Her posture was confident but not overbearing.
"This is Detective Lily Kessler," Tom continued. "She's been with another team, but they had some injuries in their last case, and they're on leave for a bit. So, Lily will be working with you all for the next few days."
Lily smiled politely at the group. "Looking forward to working with you all," she said, her voice calm but carrying a quiet strength.
Marcus stepped forward, extending his hand with a welcoming smile. "Nice to meet you, Lily. We're glad to have you on board for the time being."
Ben, always the friendly one, gave her a wide grin. "Welcome to Team Shadowstrike! Don't worry, we're not as intimidating as the name sounds."
Merry offered a polite nod. "Looking forward to working with you, Lily."
Lily shook Marcus's hand and smiled at the others. "Thanks, I'm excited to see how you guys operate."
Just then, Tom cleared his throat. "There isn't an extra desk available at the moment, so for now, Lily, you'll sit beside Merry." He gestured toward the empty chair next to her.
Merry gave a small, friendly shrug. "No problem, we'll make it work."
Lily nodded, moving over to take her seat. "Thanks, I'll try not to get in your way."
As Lily settled in, Marcus glanced around at the team. "Alright, let's get back to work. We'll ease into things while Lily gets familiar with our setup."
As the team got back to work, Lily couldn't help but steal a few glances at James. She had heard about him, how he solved cases quickly, with a reputation for being sharp and intuitive. There was an air of mystery around him that intrigued her.
Finally, she spoke up. "I've heard a lot about you, James. Solving cases in record time… It's pretty impressive."
James, who rarely showed interest in compliments, gave a slight nod and replied with a casual "Thanks." After a brief pause, he added, "How about some coffee? We could grab it for everyone and talk, get to know each other better." His voice was calm, but there was a faint hint of curiosity.
Before Lily could respond, Merry, who had been watching the exchange with a flicker of irritation in her eyes, quickly jumped in. "Oh, don't worry about it. Lily and I can go grab the coffee. Right, Lily?" She shot a sharp glance at James, clearly trying to sideline him.
But James smirked slightly. "Actually, Merry, I think it'd be good for Lily to get a feel for the area. Besides, I already know where the best coffee spots are."
Lily, catching the subtle tension but intrigued by James, hesitated for a moment. Then she smiled. "Sure, I'd like that. Let's go."
Merry crossed her arms, frowning slightly, but couldn't find a way to argue back without making it obvious. James had somehow convinced Lily, and with that, the two stood up to head out.