As soon as the words were spoken, the entire team erupted into thunderous applause.

Zhang Wenjun and another captain personally handed flowers to the three of them.

Although Li Ruilin spoke those four words with a usual tone, as if having a casual chat, it was this sense of familiarity that made Gu Ji and his companions feel as if they had truly come home.

"Mmm..."

Gao Bo accepted the flowers, trying hard to keep his mouth shut, but ultimately couldn’t hold back.

A young man who wasn’t afraid even when surrounded by a dozen knife-wielding attackers at a funeral fight was now moved to tears by the word "homecoming."

Even Gu Ji couldn’t help but have tears in his eyes.

At this moment;

All three of them had just one thought:

This Japan mission was damn worth it!!

"Thank you, Mr. Li! Thank you, Zhang Zhong, thank you, everyone!"

"These are all things we should do. From the 9.17 case, to the 10.16 case, to the Japan overseas operation, I’m sure you all understand the special nature and confidentiality of these series of cases; therefore, your merits won’t be publicly awarded at the public security conference like before."

Li Ruilin lifted his hand, gripping Gu Ji’s shoulder firmly, shifting his tone: 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Don’t worry about it. The rewards and honors you deserve won’t be shortchanged. Once the action report is done and the state security wraps up the case, Mr. Wei and I will personally give you medals, at least a second-class merit!"

"No, Mr. Li, sobbing, thank you..."

Gao Bo was already crying uncontrollably.

"Alright, aren’t you a grown-up? Crying like a baby, aren’t you ashamed, get on the car!" Zhang Wenjun suddenly kicked towards Gao Bo and Gu Ji.

"Yes!"

Gu Ji straightened his back, bid farewell to Li Ruilin and Wu Kang, and then followed Zhang Wenjun back to the team.

Once inside the car, Gao Bo’s nose was still twitching. He wiped his eyes with a tissue, looked through the car window, and upon seeing the familiar airport road and landmark skyscrapers as they entered the city, he couldn’t help but sigh, "Ningzhou is still the best!"

Zhang Wenjun slightly turned his head from the passenger seat but did not engage Gao Bo further. Instead, he said gravely:

"When we return to the team, hurry up and write the report. Leaders might come to query this afternoon, be prepared."

"Alright, Zhang Zhong."

Gu Ji was a bit puzzled by the latter half of his words but first responded.

Could it be because of the incident of him killing the criminal?

Back at the Ningjiang District SWAT team.

Upon entering the second floor of the SWAT colleagues’ office area, Lu Jicai greeted them with a wide grin, quietly whispering in their ears, "Congratulations on returning, Mr. Gu, Mr. Gao!"

"What do you mean, Mr. Gao? Mr. Lu, you shouldn’t flatter us."

Gao Bo placed the bouquet on the desk, modestly waving his hand.

Saying this, another colleague moved his office chair over with a slide, laughing and adding, "Mr. Lu is right, we all heard about what you guys did in Japan, you were unstoppable, even more badass than the highest police agency in Japan, the SAT SWAT!"

"This is a glory for the country! By the way, there’s something you might not know yet, right?"

"Know what?"

Gu Ji was bewildered by the colleagues’ endless praises, leaving him on cloud nine.

Lu Jicai took a sip of water with a mysterious expression.

"While you were not in Ningzhou, the SWAT circles almost spread the news that the city’s Dragon and Tiger Assault Team is gearing up for major actions. Captain Fu Tengfei of the third squadron is transferred to the anti-drug unit, they might restructure, and our Zhang Zhong has already been appointed as the captain, you two are likely to be transferred with Zhang Zhong!"

"Really?"

Upon hearing this news, Gao Bo’s eyes immediately widened.

Lu Jicai slammed the cup lid heavily.

"When I, Lu Jicai, say something, how could it be false? You’re still probationary officers and about to be transferred to the city’s elite counterterrorism SWAT team, your future is unlimited, carry out a few tasks in the Dragon Tiger, earn more credits, and by the time you’re thirty-seven or eight for a lateral move, you’d start as a deputy district commissioner. By then, I might not be retired yet and will rely on Mr. Gu and Mr. Gao!"

"Don’t say that, Mr. Lu, we’re just following the organization’s arrangements."

Gao Bo was initially somewhat skeptical.

After all, theoretically speaking, one would usually need to wait until the end of the probationary period to transfer, and the Dragon and Tiger Assault Team is a city-run SWAT team, directly under the city bureau’s jurisdiction, serving as a national public security SWAT demonstration team, a state-level counterterrorism SWAT team. Though its organizational size is similar to their district-level SWAT team, it often executes provincial, cross-regional inspections, and even international missions under the Ministry of Public Security, with missions and personnel of entirely different levels.

They were merely two probationary patrol SWAT officers, could they keep up with the Dragon Tiger’s pace?

But when the two of them exchanged glances,

Gao Bo suddenly recalled the previous conversation in the hotel with Gu Ji and Wu Kang: the state intent on accelerating the training of elite newcomers.

Perhaps, it’s truly possible!

Around ten o’clock, Gu Ji and Gao Bo handed over the summary report of the Japan overseas operation to Zhang Wenjun.

At noon, after work, they headed to the cafeteria, where a delicious aroma welcomed them, stirring up the hunger in their bellies. As if the squad leader specifically instructed, today’s meal was exceptionally good, with Beijing-style shredded pork, squirrel fish, and duck blood soup.

Japanese food might be okay occasionally, but after a while, Xia Kingdom’s cuisine was what truly suited their palates.

"Ah—!"

"Gurgle, ugh..."

In a dark, damp basement, amid wretched screams, a yellowed tungsten filament bulb flickered slightly. A tall, thin man was bound to a long table, a towel covering his face, as water continuously sprayed on him from a hose, subjecting him to the torture of waterboarding.