You're a US police officer, what are you thinking about going back to the East for?

after a while.

"Wait, Officer Torres, it's just a routine security check."

"What? The arrow is already on the bowstring and you're telling me to stop?"

"Hey, be serious, Officer Torres. We need to do a risk assessment first."

"Before our ship officially enters port, as a meticulous law enforcement officer, I need to confirm that there are no invasive species in the cargo hold, right?"

"For example, some kind of microorganism that causes the lower body to catch fire or grow strange cauliflower-like growths?"

"……ha?"

The air froze for a second.

"Leon Vance! Fuck you!"

"Was your mouth blessed in the morgue?"

"You have the nerve to say that to me? But you, are you some kind of walking petri dish?"

"If you dare infect me with anything, I swear I'll wipe out your whole family... ah!"

"Shh—don't get excited. Wait, what's with this reaction?"

"Shut up, it hurts! You damn...uh..."

"etc…"

"Wow, really? The original plastic wrap is still on?"

"..."

"Shut up! I do what I want! Fuck you... Ah!!"

"You muscle-bound idiot... I'm going to file a complaint against you with the union... This is workplace bullying... This is excessive force... Ah!"

"Complaint invalid. This is a special duty period. I am your boss, and I have an obligation to guide newcomers in practical skills."

"Slow down! Are you deaf... ugh... you bastard... damn it... ah..."

……

The following morning, in the corridor of the Seattle West Precinct

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, illuminating the floor and clearly showing the dust particles floating in the air.

Lyon, dressed in a brand-new uniform, looked energetic and vibrant, as if he had just absorbed a burst of vitality.

Mia, walking next to him, was a complete tragedy.

How to describe the way she walked today...?

Quite strange

With each step she took, her eyebrows twitched, her thighs instinctively squeezed together, and she dared not fully straighten her knees. She walked cautiously, even with a slight limp.

If you didn't see her face, you'd think she'd just finished a 50-kilometer trail running race with heavy packs, and she'd run it in ill-fitting shoes.

Looking at her face, it's even worse.

Two heavy dark circles, so prominent they couldn't be covered by foundation, hung beneath his eyes. His gaze was unfocused, and he exuded a lifeless aura, as if his soul had been drained away.

Good morning, Officer Torres.

Leon turned his head, looked at her, a wicked smile that was incredibly irritating, and said in a low voice...

"It seems our special training last night was very effective; your lower body core strength must have been greatly improved."

Mia slowly turned her head, staring intently at him. Her lips moved, and she silently uttered a word that started with "F".

Just then, a vibrant voice, utterly oblivious to the situation, interrupted.

"Hey! Mia!"

Harold was walking out of the office at the other end, carrying a large stack of documents.

Upon seeing Mia, his eyes lit up, and he immediately moved closer.

Good morning! You look... well, not so good?

Harold looked Mia up and down, his gaze finally settling on her slightly awkward legs. A look of sudden realization and concern immediately crossed his face.

"Oh my god, what happened to your leg? Did you twist your ankle yesterday because you trained too hard at the shooting range?"

"I knew it! Sergeant Danfoss praised you yesterday for being a workaholic."

"You must have been secretly practicing extra, right? Do you need me to get you an ice pack?"

The kid's tone was full of that sense of shared feeling that "we are all passionate and good young people".

Mia glanced at Leon, clearly intending for him to step in and smooth things over.

Leon noticed her gaze, but instead of speaking, he stood aside with his arms crossed, raising an eyebrow with interest, showing no intention of helping.

Seeing this, Mia could only glare at Ang, stop in her tracks, and take a deep breath.

She's aching all over, especially her inner thighs which are burning, and coupled with severe sleep deprivation, she's on the verge of exploding with morning grumpiness.

Harold

Instead of answering the silly question about a "sprain," she pulled out a pack of Marlboros and expertly flicked out one.

Smoking was prohibited in the corridor, so she didn't light the cigarette directly; instead, she simply put it in her mouth, instantly shattering her upright "good girl newcomer" posture.

She leaned against the wall, crossed her arms, her eyelids half-closed, and looked at Harold with the kind of look one would give someone mentally challenged:

"First of all, I didn't sprain my ankle. It's just... an occupational hazard, you know?"

"Secondly, all I want to do right now is go to that damn office, report for duty, and then find a corner to catch up on some sleep."

"If you really want to help, go get me a triple espresso, stop asking me all sorts of questions."

"Also, don't look at me like that. This is just how I am."

Harold's smile froze.

Looking at the woman before him, cigarette dangling from her lips, a颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of listlessness, apathy, and apathy) aura emanating from her, he felt shattered, as if some beautiful ideal within him had crumbled into pieces.

Is this... is this still the Mia who stood at attention and was scolded by Danfoss just a few days ago, with clear eyes and full of energy?

This is clearly a female delinquent who was just released from a drug rehabilitation center!

"I... um... Sergeant Danfoss called me..."

Harold stammered out an excuse, grabbed the documents, and fled, glancing back twice as he left.

"puff……"

Looking at Harold's disheveled figure, Leon finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He moved closer to Mia, looking at her still-present roguish demeanor, and asked with amusement:

"What's going on, Officer Torres? What kind of spell did you cast on this kid?"

"The way he looked just now was like the despair of someone who discovers their online crush is actually a burly man in real life."

Mia took the cigarette out of her mouth, tucked it behind her ear, rolled her eyes, and continued to shuffle forward with awkward steps, saying irritably:

"It's all because of Danfoss."

"In order to avoid trouble from him, I can only resort to the same tactics I used with you before, and act even more proactive and more like a champion of justice than Harold."

"As a result, we used too much force."

Mia sighed, her face filled with regret.

"That idiot Harold actually believed it. He really thought I was some hot-blooded girl who was going to dedicate my youth to the Seattle Police Department."

"I'm exhausted."

"Alright, stop complaining."

Leon reached out and steadied her back, pushing her towards the branch chief's office.

"Go and get the transfer order right away."

……

The West District Police Station, the chief's office, is tastefully decorated, with a subtle blend of sandalwood and expensive coffee scents, a stark contrast to the sweaty, pungent police station lobby outside—a world apart.

Behind the heavy mahogany desk, Victoria Sterling held a cup of espresso, staring expressionlessly through the rising steam at the ever-present FBI agent, Hayes, standing before her.

Hayes was wearing a more sophisticated suit today, but the arrogance typical of federal agents on his face remained unchanged.

"Chief Sterling, as I told that barbarian Hobbs on that damn rainy night, this isn't just some street thugs playing house."