Mad Detective
[Author: Kuang Hai Wang Hu]
[TL: Spades]
[PR: Blitz]
[QC: Lumi]
Chapter 03 — True Love Is Priceless, One Night Three Thousand
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Since it's a system, shouldn't there be some kind of interface or introduction?
Zhao Yu focused, probing his mind, but found nothing, no visuals, not even a replay of the earlier voice.
Frustrated, he smacked his head, but still, nothing happened.
What the hell is this?
The voice had spoken too fast for him to catch clearly. All he remembered was something about a "hexagram." Could this so-called Adventure System just be for drawing lots or fortune-telling?
If so, did I draw a good lot or a bad one?
Tch, tch…
Zhao Yu couldn't help but feel disappointed. If he really had a system, it was probably the most basic one in history.
He considered trying the cigarette again, but realized it had gone out during his coughing fit.
Sigh!
Digging through his memories, he discovered that this world's Zhao Yu was dirt poor. He lived in a dorm apartment, ate at the police station cafeteria, and his savings didn't even reach four digits.
Right now, his detective salary was his only source of income.
Pathetic!
Back when he was a gangster, he feasted on delicacies like abalone and shark fin daily. Though he didn't live in a mansion, he was surrounded by fiery women (while running nightclub security). Life was wild, carefree, and exhilarating.
By comparison, his old job seemed to pay better, but the constant fighting made it far riskier than being a cop. Plus, the underworld was full of backstabbers, and it was easy to get framed and killed, he was living proof of that!
Zhao Yu skimmed his memories and found this parallel world wasn't too different from his old one, just with some minor variations. In this city, which shared the same name as before, there were no familiar place names, people, gang hideouts, or any of his old lackeys and friends.
Even if there were, they wouldn't recognize him now. Because the current Zhao Yu was a cop!
Sigh!
Enough thinking!
Zhao Yu shifted his focus to the present. The taxi was nearing the city's infamous red-light district. Time to find some fun and enjoy himself first!
When the taxi stopped, Zhao Yu pocketed the driver's pack of cigarettes and lighter without asking. Seeing the meter read 29, he flashed his police badge.
"Major Crimes Unit, on duty. Thanks for your cooperation!" Zhao Yu said grimly. "I've noted your license plate. Expect a Good Citizen Award soon!"
Ignoring the driver's baffled look, he opened the door and strutted off.
According to his memories, the original Zhao Yu was a straight-laced guy who'd never set foot in a place like this. But the current Zhao Yu was a seasoned pro. He knew the real action wasn't at the front entrance.
So, he slipped into a secluded alley and soon spotted a small iron gate where several young men and women were queuing.
Despite the gate's rundown appearance, what lay behind it was undoubtedly a lavish, high-end venue.
Zhao Yu had no patience to wait in line. He marched straight to the entrance.
A burly staff member with a nose ring blocked his path. "Sir, this bar is members-only. Do you have a membership?"
"Scram!"
Zhao Yu spat a single word, saliva nearly hitting the guy's face. He shoved him aside and swaggered through the iron gate.
In Zhao Yu's worldview, certain rules didn't apply to him. The nose-ring guy, though beefy, didn't know Zhao Yu's background and could only watch as this brazen jerk disappeared from sight.
As expected, the place was a super-luxurious private bar, neon lights, opulent decor, and a throng of passionate, flamboyantly dressed young men and women shaking it on the dance floor, lost in the frenzy.
Zhao Yu knew bars like this weren't run by straight-laced businessmen but by powerful syndicates that controlled everything from ownership to operations. Back in his gangster days, he'd managed several venues like this and was right at home.
He also knew that in the shadowy VIP rooms, all sorts of illicit deals were going down. If he wanted to bust criminals, he could do it blindfolded.
But today, Zhao Yu was here for fun. He just wanted to relieve his pent-up testosterone. Scanning the room, he quickly locked onto a target.
At the bar counter, a stunning woman was slumped over. Dressed in a black-and-white casual blazer, she had a curvy figure, graceful posture, and an exceptionally alluring face.
Her cheeks were flushed, and several empty highball glasses sat before her, she'd clearly had a few.
Women like her were usually easy to approach. Zhao Yu silently rejoiced, feeling confident he'd score.
"Beauty, here alone?" He barely sat down before deploying a classic pickup line. "How about another drink? I know a cocktail recipe that'll blow your mind. Wanna try it?"
The woman gave him a hazy, playful look, hiccupped, and laughed. "Handsome, your opener's outdated! Heh… I'm no innocent girl. I don't do 'feelings.'"
Oh…
The moment she spoke, Zhao Yu got it. This gorgeous woman wasn't some sweet maiden, she was here for business.
Originally, Zhao Yu had hoped to charm a girl without spending a dime.
He considered switching targets but hesitated. For one, this woman was too striking, no one else in the bar came close. For another, everyone else seemed paired up, making it harder to hit on them.
Sigh!
Zhao Yu steeled himself. Fine, I'll spend a bit! It's for comfort, and to celebrate my successful transmigration!
So, he sat beside her and kept flirting. "Beauty, how much is your 'feelings' worth?"
"Hmph!" The woman snorted, bluntly raising three fingers. "True love is priceless, but one night's three thousand! Oh, and I don't go to your place or cheap motels. Four-star hotels or better, only those are up to my standards!"
"Holy crap!" Zhao Yu slammed the table. "That's robbery! Three thousand? Four-star hotel? Damn it… can't you give a discount?"
"Handsome, you seem like a pro!" she said, not even lifting her eyelids. "You know my price doesn't budge. If you can afford it, we leave now, and I guarantee satisfaction. If not, step aside and don't waste my time!"
"Damn it…"
Zhao Yu checked his memories and realized his bank account couldn't even cover a budget motel. Furious, he snapped, "Fine, I choose, to step aside!"
But as he moved away, someone must've overheard their exchange. A man in a designer suit, chewing gum, slapped a stack of cash on the bar and took Zhao Yu's spot.
"Let's go, babe!" he said, flashing the money. "I've got plenty to spare. Shangri-La tonight, three hundred rounds, how's that?"
The woman's vacant gaze lit up at the sight of the cash. She nodded coyly and left with the rich guy without a second thought.
She didn't even glance at Zhao Yu as they left. Fuming, Zhao Yu clenched his fists, glaring at the sleazy pair. Gold-digger, what a letdown!
But as he glared, he suddenly noticed someone at the side of the bar.
The figure wore a black trench coat and a baseball cap pulled low, the coat's collar turned up to cover most of their face, revealing only a pair of gloomy eyes.
Those eyes had been fixed on the gold-digging woman the whole time. Now that she'd left, the figure watched her departure intently, as if captivated.
Since the woman had walked past Zhao Yu, he ended up locking eyes with the stranger.
"What're you staring at!?"
Thinking the guy was mocking him, Zhao Yu flipped him the bird.
The trench-coated figure flinched as if startled, then hurriedly left the bar, vanishing in a blink.
Zhao Yu ordered the cheapest cocktail, hoping to quench his frustration, when a critical thought hit him.
Holy crap!
That trench-coat guy, could he be that, guy?