At the end, he added a note: "Jiang, the family of the victim in case number 3 will inquire about the progress every Wednesday. Remember to prepare new clues."

This discovery made Jiang An's mouth involuntarily curl up.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang An had already efficiently tidied up his office.

He rubbed his slightly aching temples, ready to enjoy a moment of tranquility.

He prepared to brew a cup of tea, to savor a brief moment in the life of a detective.

Suddenly, the sound of a phone ringing pierced the air.

The name "Wan" kept flashing on the phone screen.

Jiang An's heart sank suddenly, the brows that had just been relaxed instantly turned into a knot.

He slowly put down the teabag in his hand and slid to answer the call.

"Hello, Wan, what's the matter?"

Jiang An deliberately maintained a calm tone, but the voice from the other end of the phone made his expression even heavier.

Wan's voice sounded as if something was pressing on it, each word was heavy: "The new official's first fire is really going to burn."

Jiang An's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

He instinctively looked out the window, the afterglow of the sunset casting a tint over the entire city.

"Wan, this is no joking matter."

His voice lowered unconsciously.

"I just finished tidying up my office, haven't even warmed my chair yet, don't tell me a case has come up."

The sound of flipping through papers came from the other end, Wan seemed to be checking some documents.

"It's indeed a case."

His tone turned more serious, "Just received an emergency report from the West District police station, last night, there was a fire in an old residential building in their jurisdiction."

"The fire brigade fought through the night to control the blaze, but while clearing the scene..."

Wan paused, "a severely charred body was found."

Jiang An's pupils suddenly contracted.

As the newly appointed captain of the criminal investigation team, he was well aware of the implications.

Ordinary fire incidents can be handled by the fire department, but once a body is involved, especially with potential criminal implications, the public security criminal investigation department must intervene.

His brain was already in overdrive, various possibilities flickering through like a carousel.

"Is the scene secured?"

Jiang An's voice had returned to professional calmness.

"The police station has cordoned off the area, the scene is secured."

"Good." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Jiang An quickly stood up, grabbing the coat hanging on the coat rack.

"Notify all members of the scene investigation team, forensic team, and investigation team to gather with full equipment, five minutes downstairs."

"Also, have the information team colleagues immediately retrieve all surveillance footage from the surrounding area of the crime scene, focusing on suspicious persons entering and leaving before and after the fire."

"Understood, Mr. Jiang. I'll arrange it now."

Wan answered crisply and decisively.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang An stood by the window taking a deep breath.

He gently smoothed out the creases on his coat, his gaze sharp and determined.

This seemingly ordinary fire death could very well be the first real test of his criminal investigation career.

Five minutes later, at the gate of the Jiangcheng City Public Security Bureau courtyard.

Two black business police cars were neatly parked by the cordon, the low rumbling of their engines distinctly audible in the morning air.

A dozen officers in uniform walked briskly out of the office building, their expressions solemn, almost no conversations among them, only the crisp sound of their shoes striking the cement ground.

"Move out!"

An hour later, the convoy arrived at the crime scene in the West District.

This was an old residential area, the narrow alleys forcing the police cars to slow down and proceed cautiously.

Even before reaching the destination, the air was already permeated with the acrid smell of burnt materials.

As soon as the vehicles stopped, Mr. Chen from the West District police station jogged over to greet them.

The old officer, nearly fifty, had beads of sweat on his forehead, his uniform collar damp with sweat.

Unlike when they first met three months ago, now there was no trace of disdain in his eyes.

—Despite the fact that this new criminal investigation captain was young enough to be his son.

"Mr. Jiang!"

Mr. Chen saluted formally, his voice loud enough to turn the heads of several officers nearby.

Jiang An nodded slightly, his gaze past Mr. Chen, directed straight at the scorched self-built building not far away.

His expression remained calm, but the furrow in his brow deepened: "What's the situation on site?"

Though the young superior's questioning was almost abrupt, Mr. Chen maintained a professional demeanor: "Mr. Jiang, we initially controlled the fire."

"The fire department found a male body in the living room, completely charred."

"Facial features?"

"Unidentifiable."

Mr. Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead, "But the deceased wore a metal watch on his left wrist, preliminary confirmation by the family suggests it's the homeowner, Li Jianguo himself."

Jiang An's gaze sharpened: "Family situation?"

"A family of four."

"Besides Li Jianguo, there's his wife Zhang Li and two daughters, aged 4 and 10 respectively."

Mr. Chen flipped through his notebook, "But strangely, we only found this one body at the scene."

"Whereabouts of the other three?"

"Investigating with full effort."

Mr. Chen's voice lowered.

"Li Jianguo's parents live in a suburban county, they typically contact him once a week. We've sent someone to bring them for body identification."

Jiang An was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to his officers and said, "Everyone take note, ensure absolute safety before entering the scene."

"Mr. Chen, has the fire department conducted a hazardous materials check?"

"The check has been conducted, Mr. Jiang."