Enforcer Manual
Chapter 47: Death Negotiating Expert_1

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Death Negotiating Expert_1

Following the conclusion of the all-hands meeting, the establishment of the new department sparked widespread discussion among all the Law Enforcers. There were those who welcomed the change with delight, and others who viewed it with apprehension.

Members of the Logistics department couldn’t help but express their grief, for the departure of Song Lan seemed to signal the end of office snacks. As practitioners of the Way of the Salty Fish, they knew how busy this new department could be.

For a long period of time, having snacks while working had become a crucial part of their work life. The loss of snacks would also take away much of the joy from movies and games.

Amidst the lamentations of the Logistics team, Song Lan, carrying his packed possessions, strode towards his new office.

The Psychiatry department was designed to be a small, elite team. Including Song Lan as the new department head, it boasted only three members. Hence, they were given a medium-sized meeting room as their new office, making it the smallest department within the Law Enforcement Manor.

Standing in front of the door to his new office, Song Lan took several deep breaths to calm his nerves.

For him, a new world was waiting behind this door.

What lay ahead for him in this new world?

With that mindset, Song Lan pushed open the grand door.

Three seconds later, the door to the meeting room closed again.

Clearly, he must have taken a wrong turn.

Backing out, Song Lan took a closer look at the sign next to the meeting room:

"Psychiatry Department"

The label that once read "Meeting Room" had been replaced. The five characters spelling "Psychiatry Department" stung Song Lan’s eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he had no choice but to once again push open the door.

This time, a pair of eyes full of death and uncertainty fixed their gaze onto him, like they could pierce through a person’s soul.

The man, sitting reclined on a swivel chair, was stubbly and had dishevelled black hair. His black suit was wrinkled. If one were to ignore the sharp gaze, their first impression might be that of a man having a difficult life and currently facing unemployment.

However, the first thing that popped into Song Lan’s mind was the man’s nickname:

"Negotiating Expert of Death"

Unquestionably the literary negotiator of the law enforcement department in District 17, he, along with Captain Doug, held the title of the crime-killer.

He gained such a title because all negotiations he had conducted since joining eventually ended in the criminals’ death. Though he always managed to save the hostages, they were often left with indelible psychological trauma.

Over time, this man earned his illustrious nickname.

Even Song Lan, who usually didn’t pay much attention to gossip, had heard more than once that if it wasn’t for this man’s short tenureship, he would have likely been promoted to department head.

Still, the "Negotiating Expert of Death" held high prestige among the law enforcers in District 17. Many officers privately praised Director Lu, Captain Doug, and this Negotiating Expert as the trio who rid District 17 of darkness and brought justice back to the area.

Song Lan hadn’t expected the expert Lu Xiang mentioned to be this man.

Would this count as an abuse of power, reassigning an elite who was actively fighting on the frontline of crime to their department?

Was he about to get scolded?

After all, this man was already the star performer in a real power department and the prime candidate for the next department head.

"Hello, Chief Song."

The man broke the suffocating silence in the office.

"Hello... Negotiating Expert of Death."

"You can just call me Roger."

True to the Negotiating Expert of Death, even his name was unusual!

This was Song Lan’s first time hearing the real name of this master negotiator.

He managed a smile, "Don’t be upset just yet, there must have been some misunderstanding. I’ll go see Director Lu right away."

"Coming to this department was my request."

Roger seemed to read Song Lan’s thoughts and explained.

"What?"

Song Lan was stunned, then started to doubt whether Roger had been conned, "Let me clarify first. Our department is an internal one, established to address our colleagues’ psychological and emotional issues. We won’t be dealing directly with criminals."

"That’s precisely why I requested to move to this department from Director Lu."

What’s happening? Song Lan’s mind was swirling with questions. He could not comprehend the situation at all. Had Roger also attained spiritual enlightenment after a mission and decided to leave everything behind to follow the Way of the Salty Fish?

Roger continued, "I firmly believe that this is the department where I belong."

To relieve the problems of his colleagues and apply his lifetime knowledge to guide those living in darkness out of the abyss.

That was also why he rejected the opportunity to go to the core region and obediently stayed in District 17 to become a Law Enforcer.

"Chief Song, why do you think this city is filled with evil?"

Before Song Lan could respond, Roger posed another soul-searching question.

True to his title as Negotiating Expert, he managed to control the conversation effortlessly within a few sentences. Listening to their conversation, it seemed like Roger was the department head, not Song Lan.

"I’d like to hear more."

However, Song Lan wasn’t a pushover. He politely defused his opponent’s offensive with four words.

After uttering those four words, he pulled his office supplies towards his desk and started setting up his office tools.

For individuals who liked to control conversations and give lengthy speeches, Song Lan only had one strategy - let them talk whilst he went about his tasks, responding occasionally with "yes", "oh", "indeed" to show politeness. And just like that, the conversation would flow smoothly.

So whatever topic Roger brought up next, even if it was about mysteries at the end of the universe, Song Lan would use his clever countermeasures to stay in control.

As expected, Roger began his monologue, "In my view, that’s because the people of District 17 were born into evil. The chronic high unemployment rate, the ubiquitous disappearances, and the high price bounties on criminals on the borders... although District 17 falls under the jurisdiction of the United Government in name, the laws of the United Government have long been abandoned here.

"After joining the law enforcement, I studied the crime records of District 17 multiple times. The incorrigible criminals are just a small part. Most people have only committed crimes in order to survive. Thus, unless the citizens’ survival problems can be addressed at the root, the evil here will never disappear.

"However, an individual’s ability is limited. I can’t change the United Government’s attitude towards the border, but I hope to give a helping hand to those who are deep in the abyss, offering them an opportunity to return to their human nature."