10:30 AM, Special Investigation Squad Office Area.

"Luo An, I don't think I've seen this Deputy Group Leader Paul around this building before?"

Seeing Mona looking at him with confusion, Reesi, Chenier, and Winslow also looked puzzled. Luo An smiled and replied:

"This Deputy Group Leader Paul has always worked in the mafia and illicit trading sectors. He spends most of his time in plain clothes mingling with the underworld crowd, and rarely comes to this building to work."

In many enforcement departments within the Federation Government, there's a group of people like this: they are violent, heavy drinkers, foul-mouthed, more gangster-like than the gangsters, more criminal than the criminals, yet they work for the Federation Government, so they're considered 'good people.'

Deputy Group Leader Paul's job is precisely this. He navigates between the black and white worlds, often indifferent to which methods he uses, as long as the task gets done.

Winslow, Mona, and Chenier, upon hearing Luo An's explanation, frowned immediately.

They weren't exactly prejudiced against Deputy Group Leader Paul, knowing that such work between the lines is fraught with danger and uncertainty.

They were rather dissatisfied with the FBI for having such work content, because it puts Paul and others' lives on the line to carry out tasks.

Reesi, however, calmly nodded, crossing her arms, and said:

"When I worked in the intelligence department, I interacted with these agents.

At the time, my superior even invited me, suggesting my skills were quite exceptional, and hoped I'd join them."

Chenier turned incredulously to Reesi, then heaved a sigh of relief, reaching out to pat Reesi on the shoulder:

"Good thing you didn't accept."

"I certainly didn't agree, and I even kicked that old guy in the lower body."

Reesi chuckled, spreading her hands, said:

"Then I got transferred to the Fifth Investigation Group for 'insubordination,' where I met Luo An and Mona, and successfully reached the pinnacle of a case-solving and money-making career."

"..."

Everyone looked speechlessly at Reesi, while Winslow, with a head full of black lines, complained:

"In that case, you should thank that ill-intentioned superior."

Reesi, with interest, lifted her foot and laughed:

"There'll be a chance in the future."

Mona waved her hand to interrupt Reesi, turning to Luo An and whispered:

"This Deputy Group Leader Paul, are you sure he won't... uh, go too far with the rules?"

Given Luo An's earlier introduction, Mona was now a bit worried that when the door of the interrogation room opened, it might be covered in red inside.

Luo An calmly smiled:

"No, Deputy Group Leader Paul knows the limits."

A few days ago, the matter of the investigation department's funding increasing by ten percent this year had spread throughout the FBI Washington Headquarters.

After some mutual inquiries, almost everyone knew about the decisive role played by a man named Group Leader Luo An Greenwood in this matter.

Almost overnight, all grassroots agents of the investigation department and their team leaders knew the name Luo An Greenwood, as well as his appearance.

The next day when Luo An went to work, from the entrance to the elevator in those few short steps, no less than ten agents greeted him with smiles, and a few agents claimed to have accidentally bought too many breakfasts, gifting several to Luo An for free.

In the long period afterwards, leaving the office area during the day to head to the restroom, all the agents encountered in the halls greeted Luo An with smiles.

If not for the fact that it's quite inconvenient to greet people within the restroom, Luo An felt that even when resolving internal disputes, there might be someone to chat with him.

During the handling of the Balloon case, when the Special Investigation Squad encountered difficulties, many agents or team leaders from other investigation squads, upon learning of Luo An's difficulties, actively came to chat, bringing along some leads.

Some leads were useful, some weren't, but they indeed sped up the case-solving progress of the Special Investigation Squad.

Luo An expressed gratitude for this, socializing with these team leaders after work, during which he befriend Deputy Group Leader Paul through other group leaders.

Deputy Group Leader Paul and others, who have been working in the field, were also beneficiaries of the increased funding for this case. In return, he was very willing to help Luo An solve some minor issues, and actively offered to chat with that trader.

After hearing Luo An's explanation, Winslow, Chenier, and Mona exchanged looks, only to stick out their thumbs robustly to Luo An.

As for Reesi, she rolled her eyes, tugged Mona's arm and pulled her aside, whispering mysteriously:

"I've heard over the past few days that many female agents have been discussing Luo An behind his back, and I've heard he's not married, so they're quite excited..."

After hearing Reesi's gossip, Mona's expression remained calm, and she asked:

"Are those women bigger than me?"

Reesi was taken aback, glanced down, and said with a peculiar expression:

"Most of them aren't, though there are a few who are exceptionally endowed."

Mona continued to ask:

"Are their legs longer than mine?"

Reesi thought carefully and shook her head.

Mona chuckled, full of disdain, patted Reesi's shoulder, and calmly sat back at her workstation.

Reesi: "..."

Luo An, Chenier, and Winslow didn't mind Reesi and Mona's whispers, and as the two walked aside, the interrogation room door also opened from within, prompting the three to quickly move over.

"Mission accomplished."

Deputy Group Leader Paul exited the interrogation room, smiling as he said:

"That kid Youen has already confessed his boss, and pointed out the boss's hiding spot, trading habits, trading places, etc. The rest of the task should be simple for you guys."

"Thanks for your hard work, Paul, really appreciate it."

Luo An laughed, reaching out to hug Deputy Group Leader Paul, and after briefly chatting, Luo An took him aside and whispered:

"I heard, Paul, that your wife is pregnant?"

"That's right."

Paul nodded, his face filled with happiness as he replied:

"We went to the hospital for an examination, it's a girl."

"Congratulations, congratulations."

Luo An smiled, patting Paul's shoulder, and then whispered:

"Are you planning to continue fieldwork after your daughter is born?"

Deputy Group Leader Paul, now forty, due to the nature of his work, finally has a daughter with his wife; continuing to walk the line between black and white is extremely dangerous for him and his family.

Deputy Group Leader Paul understood the implication in Luo An's words, a flash of excitement appeared in his eyes, and he lowered his voice to ask:

"Group Leader Luo An, do you have a way to help me get out of fieldwork?"

"No."

Luo An shook his head, causing the excitement in Deputy Group Leader Paul's eyes to disappear instantly, just as he was about to speak, Luo An continued:

"But I have a way to help you accumulate merits for a promotion."

The reason why Paul is still a Deputy Group Leader at forty is primarily because his supporter is of low status, and many merits are inconvenient for him to claim, or are even taken away by others.

Luo An isn't from that department, so he can't assist Paul in transferring, but he has the ability to help Paul acquire the credit that rightfully belongs to him.

Some people, out of respect for Luo An and his backers, wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for Paul. Coupled with Paul's own ample qualifications, he can naturally get promoted, leave the fieldwork, and sit in the office.

Afterwards, Luo An won't just get a friend from another department, and the information Paul has gathered over the years of navigating black and white can aid Luo An in handling other cases in the future.

With thoughts racing through his mind, the smile on Luo An's face grew sunnier, and he patted Paul's shoulder, speaking softly and slowly with him.