97. No extra charge for close friends and family.

"Although the developers of this 'healing' game are fond of bizarre crossovers, surely they wouldn't go so far as to create some sort of male-female pair for a painting, much like the peculiar obsessions of a certain monkey."

Chen Sheng set aside the file in his hand and walked straight out the door toward the Police Chief's office. If he suspected that painting was a 'Delusionary Painting,' then why not just go straight to the source?

The police headquarters building had three floors, and the Chief’s office was on the top level. As Chen Sheng climbed the stairs, he encountered a familiar face.

Yan Shidong—the "archiving tool NPC," the "police colleague NPC," or perhaps the "two-faced tool NPC." One had to admit, he was a man of many hats.

He was the one who "welcomed novice players," the "secret mastermind behind the early game," the one in charge of "early game save points," and the one who "allegedly issued early quests." Yan Shidong was essentially a jack-of-all-trades.

Without hesitation, Chen Sheng summoned his "precious."

He slipped a noose around Yan Shidong's neck. However, Chen Sheng didn't trigger his "novice equipment" just yet.

Upon seeing Chen Sheng, Yan Shidong froze. He stood there, looking somewhat awkward and hesitant, clearly not knowing how to start the conversation. After all, he was the one who had issued the arrest warrant.

That was easy enough to find out.

At the time, he had assumed "Chen Jueshen" was a dead man walking. Who could have guessed that someone from the Xu family would take an interest in him? Although that person’s reputation was questionable, their words carried weight that even the high-ranking police commissioners couldn't ignore, let alone the local Chief.

But soon enough, Yan Shidong spoke up. "Ah-Chen, I'm so glad you're okay!"

As he spoke, Yan Shidong put on an excited expression, moving in to embrace Chen Sheng. Watching this "NPC" change his face, Chen Sheng was inwardly shocked by how shameless the character design was—it was likely modeled after one of the game's own developers.

So, he played along, putting on an equally excited expression and returning the enthusiastic hug. "Hahaha, indeed! I didn't think I'd be able to come back alive either!"

"Ah-Chen, those who survive a great disaster are destined for good fortune. With your return, I'm sure you'll be promoted soon. Don't mind your current rank as a junior officer; in the Spirit Investigation Unit, promotions are easy. It won't be long before you're a senior officer, and when that time comes, you'll have to look out for me!" Yan Shidong sounded even more touched than Chen Sheng, as if he were the one who had been cleared of a warrant and restored to his post.

Hearing this, Chen Sheng felt a strange sensation. It felt far too real, just like talking to an old veteran of the bureaucracy.

He felt a flicker of mischief and deliberately said, "Hahaha, don't worry! Once I'm a senior officer, I'll definitely look out for you! But come to think of it, with your uncle watching over you, do you really need me?"

He was teasing Yan Shidong on purpose. In the real world, one could never tease an official like that, especially one in a law enforcement agency. To do so would surely land one in a cell. The charge of "creating a public disturbance" was practically a core attribute of a "multi-functional NPC" like Yan Shidong.

Opportunity knocked, and it wouldn't wait. Chen Sheng’s mind was flooded with the image of a fly rubbing its hands together.

"..."

Yan Shidong was choked by the comment. He was speechless, thinking, *That was just polite small talk—why is this kid taking it seriously?* If senior officer positions were that easy to come by, he wouldn't have needed his uncle’s constant intervention, and even then, he still had to find other ways to climb the ladder.

But hearing Chen Sheng’s words, Yan Shidong felt a surge of relief. Chen Sheng’s feigned dim-wittedness made Yan Shidong believe that "Chen Jueshen" was still unaware of the arrest warrant and still considered him a close friend.

He immediately buttered him up. "Ah-Chen, with the Xu family as your backers, a senior officer position won't be your limit. In time, it's inevitable that you'll be transferred to head a police department yourself!"

"Really? You sound so sure. How long until I can become the Police Chief?"

"This..." Yan Shidong froze. He had expected a polite, "I’ll take your word for it," not this. He desperately wanted to spout a few colorful curses. An ordinary person would be lucky to reach mid-level officer status in eight lifetimes—let alone Chief! Even with the Xu family's backing, someone like "Chen Jueshen" would never become Chief, no matter how great his merits!

Yan Shidong knew this clearly; if anyone had a chance, it would be him! He held his tongue, deciding not to tell "Chen Jueshen." When "Chen Jueshen" eventually realized this himself, the despair would be all the more profound.

Yan Shidong plastered a smile on his face and said dismissively, "With your talent, Ah-Chen, it will only take three or five years!" It was a lie, a pure fabrication to lead him on.

"No way? Three or five years! Is it really that long?" Chen Sheng looked genuinely surprised. He didn't need to act; from the perspective of a 'Fourth Calamity' player, having to spend three to five years of game time just to become a Chief was indeed a long time.

This comment choked Yan Shidong once more. Seeing Chen Sheng take it so seriously, he inwardly sneered, wanting to end the conversation—stupidity, after all, was contagious.

Just as he was looking for an excuse to leave, Chen Sheng asked, "By the way, where did you put that 'Delusionary Painting' I brought in? I need it for something."

Hearing this, the impatient Yan Shidong didn't care why he needed it. "After you brought it in, it’s been with my uncle."

That was the truth. It was a cursed item; he didn't dare look at it, let alone touch it.

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng didn't hesitate. He immediately had his "precious" hoist Yan Shidong into the air.

Yan Shidong’s eyes bulged. He kicked and struggled wildly, but he couldn't make a sound or break free. Within a single breath, he was left dangling in mid-air, his life signs extinguished, a mere corpse.

"Brother Yan, we met as if we were old friends and conversed so happily. We should have talked by candlelight and enjoyed wine together, but alas, fortune shifts. The heavens have their cycles, so... rest in peace!"

Chen Sheng cast a look of disgust at the hanged man, then put on a frightened expression and hurried away. Because he had been hanged and died so suddenly, Yan Shidong looked ghastly, like a vengeful ghost. Of course, Chen Sheng wasn't actually scared; he was just setting the scene.

After all, he was, in a manner of speaking, a dear friend and comrade...