[Cruise Ship X Death Investigation, Experience Points +300]

[Level 18 (900/3400)]

As expected.

This case yielded few Experience Points.

The next level up seemed an eternity away.

Although it was somewhat dull, this was the norm for solving cases.

Moress, for some reason, didn't want me to delve further into the investigation of George's death. In exchange, she provided me with clues to another case. The problem was, this case was still in the planning stages and hadn't officially begun...

Dean paused to think for a moment before refocusing his attention on the book in his hands.

Reading is a good habit.

It can help one cultivate a refined and intellectual character.

There is truth to that.

Although Dean didn't feel a significant improvement in his own demeanor, his thorough study of various subjects and his ability to draw connections during this period meant it wasn't an exaggeration to call himself a cultured ruffian.

...

Two weeks flew by like flowing water. During that time, Dean led his small squad on several police outings, but they were mostly headless murder cases.

What are headless murder cases?

Cases with no clues, no motive, and sometimes, even the victim's legal identity was hard to determine. Such cases, even for Dean, were extremely difficult to crack; one could invest significant effort and still end up with nothing.

He wasn't a stubborn man.

In Los Angeles County, the average number of deaths per year was over six hundred thousand; of course, natural causes like old age and illness accounted for the vast majority. The number of unnatural deaths, according to statistics, was only around two to three thousand annually. Averaging it out, that meant about three to four people died by misadventure each day. Most of these cases became mere statistics, lacking the 'value' to be solved (the cost-benefit ratio for solving them was too low).

Dean wasn't exactly slacking off. But with those headless cases, if no clues emerged within three days, he would simply archive them and forward them to Lawrence. He would then spend his days reading or occasionally gather everyone in the evening to "look after" the 'dream chasers' flocking to the big city.

...

It was the end of March, and Dean had the next day off. He put down his book, glanced at a chat icon—a small open umbrella—on his computer screen, and smiled knowingly. This was his and Little Mike's exclusive chat software.

During this period, he often discussed academic matters with Little Mike, and their closeness visibly grew. But these weren't the crucial points. The crucial thing was that Little Mike had finally created the anti-surveillance tool Dean had longed for to evade the Lucifer Game Organization's monitoring!

Why did he continue to act as if he knew nothing after being so repulsed by the organization? Caution was one reason. Lack of counter-surveillance measures was another!

Take *The Fallen Hero* game, for instance. It was almost certainly the handiwork of the Lucifer Game Organization. It seemed that even before Dean arrived in this world, the organization had been trying, through various channels, to gather talent and transform itself from an online 'platform' into a comprehensive online and offline entity.

Considering their scale, and without absolute certainty, Dean wouldn't confront them as recklessly as he had before. The more he learned, the more he realized how deep the Lucifer Game Organization's waters ran.

It was more like a 'trash can' for the human psyche, attracting countless individuals of unknown identities. Linked overtly and covertly through the internet, they vented their desires and hidden aspects of themselves. This network also formed an employment platform that many could not establish independently in reality. On this virtual platform, life, emotions, even one's time, became valued commodities.

Perhaps that sounded a bit abstruse. In essence, the powerful and influential needed a 'trash can' to satisfy their various unmentionable quirks. Meanwhile, those struggling at different societal levels could use this 'trash can' to acquire relatively safe wealth and achieve things in reality they couldn't manage on their own.

Mutual benefit—that was the key reason this organization had remained stable until now!

Sometimes, Dean would also think that this organization was fundamentally indestructible. All he could do, while ensuring his own safety, was to sever whichever of its tentacles provoked him...

...

「Little Mike's residence.」

After enjoying a nutritious meal meticulously prepared by the maids with Little Mike, Dean accompanied him to his underground laboratory. Compared to before, Little Mike's physical condition had improved slightly, but only slightly. Without a significant breakthrough, his prognosis was not optimistic.

WHIRR.

The smart electric wheelchair, under Little Mike's control, deftly navigated the corridors, leading Dean to a new area.

"This is my new lab for 'intelligence' research," Little Mike explained.

Dean surveyed the small room, which was filled with electronic instruments, feeling somewhat puzzled. "I remember this used to be where you researched weapons," he said. "Who helped you change it to this?"

"The servants!" Little Mike said with a knowing chuckle. "Since they arrived, my psychological research has advanced significantly. I've basically figured them out and even selected a few for 'nurturing.' They're quite reliable now."

Hearing this, Dean fell silent.

Such was the terrifying nature of a genius.

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