CHAPTER 442: CHAPTER 271 NEW JOB_3

Previously, for some inexplicable reason, the Lucifer Game Organization had dispatched individuals to bomb the FBI’s Los Angeles branch, resulting in the deaths of over a dozen FBI employees.

Cheston En, as the sole surviving FBI agent from that branch, was taken back to headquarters for questioning once his injuries had somewhat healed.

Dean hadn’t expected Amon to bring this guy before him again.

This guy, Dean mused, always seems to turn misfortune into fortune every time he encounters adversity, latching onto a new powerful backer in the end! Though he certainly wears them out...

Upon seeing Dean, Cheston En’s expression turned delighted and ingratiating, though he didn’t speak.

"Alright, Dean, it seems you really do know this guy," Amon said, taking over the conversation. "In fact, I brought him to meet you because it’s related to your upcoming arrangements."

He waved his hand.

Cheston En, ever observant, moved to the side, simultaneously scanning the surroundings to prevent any outsiders from approaching.

With no unwanted company present, Amon pulled a document from his coat.

"I don’t know who you’ve antagonized, Dean, but as Mr. Anthony’s student, I don’t want you involved in dangerous activities. So, although I used the pretext of a terrorist plane attack to get you out of that mess in Los Angeles, it would be best for you to keep a low profile for now under the guise of an FBI agent."

Dean accepted the document. It was a reassignment order from the FBI’s operations division, appointing him as a senior agent in charge of cold cases across various states in the United States.

This type of assignment was typically reserved for well-connected individuals as a form of semi-retirement. The FBI generally only handled complex, interstate serial murder cases, and the cold cases on their books were mostly unsolvable. Consequently, even if one produced no results in this position year after year, no one would be tactless enough to complain.

To a certain extent, Amon was truly looking out for Dean. After all, Dean had previously helped Amon become the director of DHS, and in return, Amon had helped eliminate some problems for Dean’s Mafia family in New York.

Amon didn’t owe Dean anything. This was purely an investment in their relationship, made because Amon believed in Dean’s future potential.

Naturally, Dean wouldn’t refuse Amon’s gesture of goodwill. "Thank you, Amon. I’ll keep this in mind."

"I trust your character!" Amon declared, then gestured to Cheston En, who stood guard behind him. "By the way, this fellow provided me with some crucial intelligence, which has given me more leverage within the FBI. So, I helped him resolve his troubles. The issue is, he originally wanted to leave the FBI and join your detective squad, but then you..."

Dean: "..."

So that was it.

He had, indeed, previously considered taking Cheston En under his wing to develop some informants within the FBI. But he definitely didn’t want to bring Cheston En truly into his fold! This guy was a jinx! Just like Ross, whose current whereabouts were unknown, he seemed to carry some sort of karmic curse. Ross jinxed himself! Cheston En, on the other hand, jinxed his superiors! This guy always managed to turn disaster into fortune when faced with danger, but his bosses and colleagues often didn’t even end up with intact bodies. Dean had suffered because of Ross before. He had no desire to test his own luck again. But... Amon had just done him a significant favor; refusing outright wouldn’t be appropriate... This was tricky.

Dean shot an irritated glance at Cheston En.

Coincidentally, Cheston En was also looking at Dean.

Their eyes met.

Dean’s gaze was menacing.

Cheston En, however, adopted a pitiful expression, like an abandoned puppy hoping a kind soul would take it in.

Sigh...

With an inward sigh, Dean nodded at Amon. "Alright, having this FBI member around might actually save me a lot of trouble."

Amon was extremely busy. He held dual directorships at DHS and the FBI. However, since DHS had only recently been established and its framework was still incomplete, Amon had little time to waste on minor matters.

After resolving Dean’s situation, he departed hastily by helicopter.

Dean, too, needed to start planning his new life.

After the panel upgrade, ordinary cases would hardly provide him with Experience Points anymore. And the Experience Points required for each subsequent level grew progressively higher.

So, this sudden departure from the Los Angeles Police Detective Bureau to investigate the FBI’s cold cases across various states was, in a way, a boon for Dean.

But first, he needed to deal with Cheston En.

In a temporary, sparsely furnished office, Cheston En obsequiously handed Dean his new credentials. Before Dean could speak, Cheston En proactively apologized, "I’m sorry, Agent Dean. There was something I concealed from you regarding the FBI branch bombing."

"Oh?" Dean idly waved his new agent ID, but mentally, he gave Cheston En a thumbs-up.

He did want to know what intelligence Cheston En had provided Amon. This guy was sharp; no wonder he always managed to latch onto powerful backers so quickly.

Seeing Dean’s impassive expression, Cheston En couldn’t discern his thoughts and continued nervously, "Actually, during the bombing, I didn’t lose consciousness immediately. The perpetrators were my former instructors from the FBI special training camp. They’ve joined an organization called Lucifer. They orchestrated the bombing to eliminate the branch personnel and seize control of the Los Angeles branch. I managed to escape this time because Supervisor Amon is investigating that organization and helped me out."

So that’s how it was!

Dean stroked his chin. During the previous Toy Killer case, one of Lucifer’s Elders, Gemini Dog, had been involved. He had only killed one of them; the other, a woman, must have been the FBI instructor Cheston En mentioned. That explained the unexpected surge of Experience Points he’d received when the bombing occurred.

He thought of the Toy Killer who had escaped. For some reason, a hunch surfaced—he would encounter her again soon! And his entanglement with the Lucifer Game Organization was far from over!

"Alright, Cheston En, I’m not interested in that. Let’s talk about the new job," Dean said, stowing his FBI agent ID and rapping his knuckles on the desk.

He was currently at an FBI special training campground, which served as a temporary office. Here, he could get food, lodging, use the firing range, resupply a certain amount of ammunition, and access their intelligence support.

But his actual work in the future would mostly involve roaming across the various states of the United States.

Therefore, before departing, Dean had to select a target case and replenish his supplies.

Cheston En hadn’t wasted his year in the FBI.

Hearing Dean’s words, he skillfully turned on the computer on the desk, entered his login credentials for the internal network, and with a few quick operations, pulled up a list of case numbers.

"Agent Dean, these are some of the cases located closest to us. You can use them for reference."

This kid, admittedly, is quite useful, Dean thought. But then again, he jinxes his bosses.

The flicker of appreciation in Dean’s heart instantly vanished. He glared at Cheston En. "Got it. Go get me a cup of coffee, and while you’re at it, wash the clothes I changed out of!"

Cheston En: "..."

Was it his imagination? Cheston wondered. Dean’s attitude towards him now seemed inexplicably harsher than when he was a detective chief.

He retreated, feeling somewhat wronged.

One must suffer the most to become the ’top dog’ among sycophants. He would endure!

Once the irksome fellow had left, Dean settled down and began to sift through the cold cases, one by one.