Kō Kiran's eyes lingered on Anshin with hopeful light. She truly wanted her brother to eat those dumplings.
"Alright. Come with me."
The siblings' faces lit up with joy. They had not expected this. They knew the rules—outsiders were never allowed to visit someone under interrogation. But this officer was actually letting them in?
"Thank you, officer, thank you so much…"
The brother and sister bowed their heads in gratitude.
Anshin nodded. These humble people, if given a hand in their lowest moments, might not go on to commit so many extreme deeds later. In the original story, it was Anshin's help in Kikkyō's weakest days that left him with a shred of humanity. For years afterward, he treated Anshin differently from the rest.
"Here's what we'll do. I'll take the dumplings to him. You wait here in the reception room. This is against the rules, so don't say a word to anyone."
The siblings sat down, their hearts overwhelmed with thanks.
"I have dumplings from the unit as well. He can eat yours and mine. Even if you aren't in the same room, it's still like you spent New Year's Eve together. And don't worry—your brother's case is minor. He'll be out in a few days."
Anshin wasn't the kind of man to wield authority just to lord it over the weak. He despised that sort of person, and he swore he would never become one.
"Thank you… thank you…"
The two of them cried, touched to the core.
For Kō Kiran, this was the most desperate moment in her family's life. On the very night meant for reunion, her brother had been beaten and detained. They could not even share a holiday meal. At seventeen, she was still just a university girl. Kindness shown in hardship etched itself into memory forever. Looking at Anshin now—this young officer extending a hand in their darkest hour—planted a seed deep in her heart.
…
"Here," Anshin said, handing a container over. "These are the dumplings your family brought."
In the interrogation room, he passed them to Kō Kikkyō and explained.
Seiji's eyes went red. "Thank you, Officer An."
Rishō frowned. At this stage, he was still as stubbornly upright as Anshin, though time would change him.
"Anshin, you're breaking regulations. If anyone finds out, you'll face discipline!"
Anshin only smiled faintly. "Relax. It's nothing. Only we three know. I turned off the recorder. It's New Year's Eve. Let him have a meal. Ordinary people have it hard enough."
His words shook Seiji to the core. It had been so long since anyone had shown him such kindness.
"Officer An, Happy New Year!" he said, lifting a dumpling in gratitude.
"Happy New Year," Anshin replied.
…
After Seiji signed the required forms, Anshin quietly opened his system.
For subduing the fugitive earlier, he had received ten attribute points and three skill points. He split the ten points: four into Constitution, three into Agility, three into Strength.
He added one skill point into Advanced Police Combat, and the other two into Basic Driving, raising it to Advanced.
The system panel now displayed:
[Strength: 17Constitution: 14Agility: 19Skills: Divine Handgun Mastery; Divine Police Combat; Advanced Vehicle Driving (skills ranked: Beginner, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Divine)]
A surge of power coursed through his body. His strength and agility were nearly double that of an ordinary human. His once-lean frame now bore sharp muscles. Even his features looked more handsome in the mirror.
"This upgrade feels incredible…"
His stamina, recovery, and resilience had all risen sharply. He felt unstoppable.
"Time to hunt bigger cases. The more criminals I catch, the faster I grow. Xu Jiang, Uncle Tai, Bai Jiangbo… all running syndicates. Even Tō Shōryū and Tō Shōko collect protection money. Let's see how many points I can reap."
He was itching to act.
At that moment, a knock came at the restroom door.
"Anshin, what's taking so long? Someone's looking for you," Rishō called.
Someone else? At this hour?
Perplexed, Anshin followed him out—only for a slim figure to rush at him. With his reflexes, he could have felled the attacker with a single punch, but he didn't move.
Because he recognized her.
Mengyoku.
She punched him lightly on the chest, her eyes flashing.
"Anshin, do you have a death wish!?"