Kowloon Jurisdiction.
Mong Kok.
Nightclub Bar.
Neon lights pulsed through the air, casting vibrant hues over the dancers swaying on stage. The atmosphere was thick with youthful energy and hormones as crowds of attractive men and women lost themselves to the rhythm on the dance floor.
The nineties were ushering in another golden era for Hong Kong. The economy had reached its zenith, and with that prosperity came a booming entertainment industry.
"Leo, congratulations! You're officially a top contender for Sergeant—actually, scratch that, you're the favorite to win the promotion!" a colleague shouted over the music, raising a glass.
"He's right," another added. "Regulations say you need four years of service to even sit for the Sergeant's exam, and you've barely been on the force for a year. But after cracking all those 'unsolvable' paranormal cases, the Superintendent has his eye on you. An accelerated promotion wouldn't surprise anyone at this point."
"Tsk, tsk. Brother Leo, you're a legend. The youngest Sergeant on the entire island? You've gotta look out for us common folk in the future!"
"You're my hero, Leo. All the rookies are talking about you."
"To the Star of the Police Force! Let's toast to Brother Leo!"
The younger officers looked at Leo with genuine admiration and respect.
Leo offered a modest smile and raised his glass. "Everyone has a shot. As long as you've got the guts to take risks and fight for it, anything is possible."
Leo wasn't just being polite; he knew the value of an edge. He was a transmigrator who had been reborn into this parallel version of Hong Kong. Born into a wealthy family, he was naturally gifted. While his parents had pressured him to pursue a career in finance or law, he had followed his gut and enrolled in the Police Academy instead.
After graduating at the top of his class, he joined the West Kowloon Regional Police Headquarters. Using fragmented memories of supernatural lore and investigative tropes from his past life, he had spent the last year cracking bizarre cases across seven different precincts.
His rise had been meteoric. In just twelve months, he had climbed from a Junior Officer to a Senior Constable. Now, he was on the verge of becoming the youngest Sergeant in Hong Kong's history. The only hurdles left were the technicality of his time in service and the promotional exams—the latter being a breeze for a top student like him.
The only thing missing was a "System" or some kind of "Golden Finger" to truly solidify his path.
As Leo set his glass down, his professional instincts flared. He glanced toward a distant booth and saw a yellow-haired punk surreptitiously slipping a powder into a girl's drink.
The girl was striking. Her skin was so fair it seemed to glow under the dim lights. She looked young, with a hint of baby fat still softening her features and short, neatly trimmed hair. She had a delicate, perky nose and exquisite features, but a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead betrayed her nervousness—likely her first time in a place like this.
Unaware of the danger, the girl picked up the glass and took a sip.
The punk grinned, leaning back to wait for the drug to take hold.
Leo's expression darkened. He had been having a great night, but doing this right in front of a cop? Did the guy think he was invisible?
"You've got some practiced hands there," Leo said, his voice cold as he suddenly appeared behind the punk. "I'm guessing this isn't your first time."
Standing nearly 1.8 meters tall, Leo's physical presence was immediate and intimidating.
The punk's face twisted in a sneer. "Mind your own business, loser! Is she your girl? No? Then get lost!"
He reached out to shove Leo, looking to teach the "pretty boy" a lesson. Nearby, Leo's colleagues noticed the commotion and stood up, their expressions hardening as they moved in.
By now, the drug was kicking in. The girl's fair cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and her large eyes grew hazy and longing. She shifted uncomfortably, her body feeling unnaturally warm.
Leo didn't waste words. He caught the punk's wrist, pivoted, and executed a perfect shoulder throw.
CRASH!
The man was slammed into the floor with a bone-jarring thud.
The girl gasped, covering her mouth in shock as she stared at Leo.
"Miss, are you feeling hot?" Leo asked. "That guy just tampered with your drink."
"What?" The girl's eyes went wide, and she immediately turned her glare toward the groaning punk. "You creep! You're dead! My uncle is a policeman! I'm calling him right now to lock you up!"
Leo raised an eyebrow. A police family member?
She was dressed in a loose floral Western-style dress that showed off her smooth calves. As the drug took hold, her breathing quickened, her chest heaving as a rosy flush spread across her neck and face.
The girl fumbled for her phone. The punk, hearing the word "police," realized he had messed with the wrong crowd. Panicking, he pulled a switchblade from his pocket.
"Damn it! Think you're a hero?" he spat. "I don't care who your uncle is! If I sleep with you, you'll like it. I thought you were just some club girl looking for a good time!"
He lunged forward, the blade aimed straight for Leo's chest.
"Leo, watch out!"
"Drop it, you idiot! You're attacking an officer!"
The punk froze for a split second. This guy was a cop too? But the adrenaline had already taken over. He gritted his teeth and drove the knife forward.
Leo didn't even flinch. He snapped his leg up in a lightning-fast axe kick, his heel connecting squarely with the punk's forehead.
THWACK.
The punk's head bounced off the floor. His body twitched once before he went limp.
"I'm fine," Leo said, brushing off his sleeves. "Sean, call the guys on duty. Have them bring handcuffs. Drugging a civilian and attempted murder of a police officer—that's enough to put him away for a long time."
He looked around the room. "And tell them to toss this place. The management is getting sloppy."
The bar manager came scurrying over, bowing and apologizing profusely, looking like he wanted to throttle the unconscious punk himself. Leo ignored him; having the badge certainly made things simpler.
"Th-thank you..."
The girl spoke softly, her legs pressed together as she looked at Leo with a mix of gratitude and intense embarrassment.
"The drug he gave you is an aphrodisiac," Leo explained. "It's not safe for you to take a taxi alone. You should call your family to pick you up."
"Ah... about that..." She looked down, biting her lip. "I snuck out without telling my uncle. If he finds out I was here, he'll kill me. Officer... could you possibly give me a ride? I'll pay for the gas, I promise!"
She sighed, imagining her uncle's stern, square face. He was old-fashioned and strict; if he knew she had almost been assaulted, she'd be grounded until the next century.
"Go for it, Leo!" one of his colleagues teased. "A beautiful lady asks for a ride, you don't say no."
"Exactly. Besides, we're all 'family' here. Who knows? We might know her uncle."
"By the way, Miss," Sean asked, grinning. "What's your uncle's name? Maybe we've worked with him."