There was no rivalry, just a pure clash of deductions.
That was why Arthur didn't think it was a big deal.
Others might have considered his behavior cold and unfeeling, that he had cast Sarah's emotions aside. He would have just scoffed, saying they were the ones who were shortsighted, blinded by shallow appearances, not just once but twice.
Sarah spoke up for justice, because an accusation should not be so easily made. Arthur wasn't angry because anything that isn't the truth will always be challenged, just as he himself constantly deduces and eliminates hypotheses.
"I understand, Sarah."
He spoke, breaking the frozen atmosphere.
Sarah had also regained her composure. She replied.
"I also apologize for my outburst just now. I shouldn't have called you crazy."
Seeing this, Arthur instinctively smiled. A small weight was lifted from his heart, as if something had been set free.
"Alright, you two."
Holand clapped his hands twice, drawing the attention of the two talented young people toward him.
Although he had anticipated this scene, when it actually happened, Holand couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Absolute rationality is the sharpest sword to expose crime, but this sword can cause more damage than necessary, both to others and to itself. That's why a scabbard exists. The scabbard is the outer shell of the sword. Although it has the same shape as the sword, it is not sharp and is not used for attack but for protection—to protect the blade from external impacts and to protect fragile things from the impact of the blade. It is the embodiment of the light of humanity wrapping around the cold gray of reason.
Arthur had always been alone, but now, he had someone to protect him. Even if he was a sword fighting crime until he was exhausted, he would not be lonely.
At the same time, Sarah also needed a sword like Arthur to guide her, so she could reach the justice she longed for.
That was Holand's true purpose in bringing them together. It wasn't just to help Arthur or Sarah, but what he wanted most was for those who needed each other to find each other.
"Arthur, Sarah."
"Although I know what I'm about to say is not very appropriate, since we are in the middle of a serious unsolved case… you two have both done very well."
"I have met many people in the legal profession. They are judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and even police officers like us. Most of them view the law as a tool used to manifest absolute order, where emotions have no place. But… they are all wrong."
"Our law, our system, is here to protect people. No matter how cold the law may seem, its origin still comes from human morality, from right and wrong. Always remember this."
"Arthur, don't rush to conclusions even if the suspect fits the profile you've created. But I also won't force you to rule out that possibility. Just… please conduct the investigation a bit more gently, okay?"
"And Sarah… you did great today. Just keep it up. But try not to cuss at work."
"Well, I have things to do now. You two handle the rest."
With that, Holand stood up, adjusted his coat, waved goodbye to the two investigators, and left the investigation room, leaving Arthur and Sarah looking at each other, not knowing what to say.
"I didn't think the boss would be so… philosophical."
Sarah was indeed a little surprised, but she also couldn't help but feel lucky.
Having a superior like that was truly a blessing for them.
Arthur shrugged, completely agreeing with her opinion.
...
To "make up" for Sarah, this time Arthur generously invited her out for a late dinner, not at some fancy restaurant, of course, but at a fast-food joint three blocks away from the police station.
Sarah's mood naturally improved a lot. She didn't mind being treated to fast food; on the contrary, eating at a restaurant made her feel stifled.
So, the police department's investigating duo walked into the somewhat empty fast-food restaurant late at night, ordered a large meal, and began to devour it.
While eating, Sarah occasionally looked up at Arthur, then looked back down. Her eyes and facial muscles squinted slightly, and at the same time, her movements slowed down a beat.
Arthur observed these expressions and realized that Sarah must have been hesitating about something. So, he spoke first.
"Is there something you want to say to me, Sarah?"
"Oh…"
Sarah pursed her lips. She looked up again, only to see Arthur's calm, unruffled face.
Finally, she spoke.
"Actually… I'm quite curious. Arthur, you said you were a psychologist, but why are you in the police force now? I mean… compared to being an investigator, being a psychologist is a lot easier and you make more money…"
This was what Sarah was curious about. From a few of Holand's words plus some past revelations from Arthur himself, Sarah had a decent understanding of her colleague.
However, the biggest question that had always lingered in Sarah's mind was, what pushed Arthur into the job of an investigator?
And as soon as the question was asked, Sarah saw a very different Arthur appear.
He fell silent, but it wasn't the contemplative silence of a man at work; it was a mix of memory, bewilderment, and emotional trauma, to the point where even Arthur himself didn't know how to face it other than with silence.
Sarah didn't possess Arthur's ability to read people, but in this moment, she felt as if he was a person who was broken from the inside, little by little.
"Sarah, do you know about the Pentagram Murder case?"
"Pentagram… Murder?"
Hearing Arthur's quiet words, Sarah rummaged through her memory, and there really was such a serious case.
Three years ago, there was a major case where a woman and a little girl, a mother and daughter, were killed in a disgusting, brutal, and inhumane way. Both had their noses cut off, their eyes gouged out, their ears cut off, their tongues cut out, and all of their skin was peeled off.
At that time, Sarah hadn't officially joined the force yet, but she had heard that many senior police officers had quit after the case or were severely traumatized.