North American Detective: I am Proficient in All Kinds of Gun Quick Draws
Chapter 36 ’Lucifer’ Game Organization, The New Discovery of the Panel_1

Chapter 36: Chapter 36 ’Lucifer’ Game Organization, The New Discovery of the Panel_1

Anthony hesitated upon hearing Dean’s request. "Detective Dean, I can agree to your request, but you need to sign a non-disclosure agreement."

"Okay, I’ll wait for you at the hospital!" Dean agreed.

The call ended.

Dean looked at Lawrence. "Buddy, you’ve been a cop for over a decade and even have an ex-wife with close ties to the police force. Haven’t you heard anything about this game organization?"

Lawrence rolled his eyes. "The biggest trouble I’ve encountered in my years as a cop was getting into a gunfight with a bunch of stoned idiots. I haven’t had your kind of luck, stumbling into a case that requires signing an NDA with the FBI right off the bat."

It turned out that, aside from certain classified secrets, only events that could cause public panic would lead agencies like the FBI to place them under a confidentiality order.

This meant the game organization was big trouble.

Things are getting interesting...

After listening to Lawrence’s explanation, although Dean felt another layer of trouble descend upon him, he no longer had the negative, evasive attitude he’d harbored back in Las Vegas.

Only after one has truly confronted the abyss can one understand the terror and trouble lurking in the shadows. Essentially, he was a man who disliked trouble.

However, things were different now. When solving cases could earn him Experience Points and improve himself, Dean’s mindset began to shift.

Looking on the bright side, this unknown criminal organization isn’t just trouble; it’s also a huge dungeon of Experience Points! Besides, the FBI is taking the lead this time. I’m not the main force.

Lawrence had intended to wait with Dean for the FBI agents, but Dean, fixated on the Experience Points from the serial home invasion and homicide case, urged him to go capture the fugitive Kaz.

Not long after Lawrence left, Anthony and Captain Monet also drove to the hospital.

When the two of them entered the room, Dean was squinting, enjoying the sponge bath given by the enthusiastic young nurse.

This was typically the job of an orderly.

But young American nurses, when faced with a handsome, well-built young detective, found it difficult to remain composed.

"Oho, it seems we’ve come at an inopportune time," a peculiar little old man teased Dean with a raised eyebrow. "You look even more handsome than in your photos. I hope we haven’t disturbed your pleasant time in the ward."

Monet, a man with bushy eyebrows and large eyes, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, smiling as he watched the nurse hurry away.

"Indeed, not the best time."

Dean sighed, covered his stirring ’big gun,’ and looked at the little old man. "Agent Anthony?"

"Yes."

Anthony, around fifty, had an ordinary appearance, save for his slightly sunken eyes that glinted with an uncontainable sharpness.

Through the gap in his tie, Dean noticed a dark brown scar on Anthony’s throat. This was probably the main reason for Anthony’s hoarse voice.

Overall, Anthony made a good first impression on Dean. He was certainly much better than Cheston En, whose face still showed juvenile innocence and who clearly didn’t recognize his own limitations.

While Dean was sizing him up, Anthony had already finished observing Dean.

Anthony’s first impression of Dean was: Dangerous!

The moment he had entered the room, Anthony felt a sixth sense, as if he were being targeted. Dean’s gaze, like a scalpel, had quickly scanned all the places where Anthony might conceal a weapon.

This is a trait found only in the rare few who live in darkness: always ready to kill, always ready to be killed...

Anthony noted this internally without a change in expression. He took out a piece of paper that still smelled faintly of ink. "Detective Dean, our time is limited. Sign this non-disclosure agreement, and I will tell you what we know about the ’Lucifer’ game organization."

Dean’s injuries were confined to his limb joints, so simple actions like signing his name weren’t affected.

Seeing Dean’s signature, Anthony mentally added another note: His handwriting has drastically changed from his police academy records, even accounting for the injury! Even if his hand was injured, the letters might look worse, but his fundamental writing habits shouldn’t change. This is highly unusual!

Dean didn’t realize that Anthony had already picked up on details that most people wouldn’t notice. He only felt that Anthony’s occasional glances made him somewhat uncomfortable.

He frowned slightly and reminded him, "Agent Anthony, the non-disclosure agreement has been signed."

"Good, Detective Dean. From this moment on, our conversation falls under the terms of this agreement. If you disclose any of this information to a third party, you will bear the full consequences!" Anthony declared solemnly, stowing the agreement away.

After Dean nodded, he continued.

"The Lucifer Game Organization’s origins are tied to the formation of the dark web.

"Initially, the organization was called ’Forbidden Fruit’ and was just a small website peddling sensational videos. They would collect various gory, pornographic, and violent videos to sell to those interested. Some of these videos were real, others were fake. But due to the public’s craving for the bizarre, there was never a shortage of paying customers.

"This continued until 1989, when the successor, Lucifer, emerged!"

When mentioning Lucifer, Anthony took a deep breath, his old face wrinkling even more. "This is a very cunning and extremist individual. He believes that people are born sinful, and only the threat of death can purify the filth within the human heart. Thus, he proposed the ’Purification Game’!

"He first proposed the concept of the ’Purification Game’ on a dedicated dark website. It allowed ’visitors’ to select suitable targets for purification. Then, those who wanted to participate personally would choose a codename and become an ’Angel Envoy’—a player—to carry out the ’purification’ in the real world.

"This thrill of direct participation captivated many who were mired in darkness, individuals unsatisfied with the superficial stimulation of mere videos, turning them into Lucifer’s devout followers. They would offer criminal suggestions on a dedicated forum.

"Finally, Lucifer himself would select the Angel Envoys and purification targets, then broadcast the entire ’purification process’ to all members."

Dean interrupted, "Haven’t you infiltrated them?"

To outsiders, the dark web was a mysterious place. But for Dean, a former Sweeper, surfing the dark web was no different from ordinary web browsing, except that most of its content involved crime. It was the cesspool hidden beneath the world’s glittering facade, concealing all of humanity’s negativity and darkness!

"We’ve tried, but to no avail." Anthony spread his hands. "In the Lucifer Game Organization, players are divided into four tiers: Elders, Angel Envoys, members, and visitors, each with its own exclusive communication channels.

"Their selection of purification targets is also random. Targets might be recommended by members or visitors; no one knows for sure until the purification is complete. The identity of the Angel Envoy responsible for each purification is also never certain. It could be a visitor or member eager to join, or perhaps a criminal whose identity was exposed on the dark web and was subsequently coerced into participating.

"What’s more troublesome," Anthony continued, "is that many real-world professionals are involved. They plot and strategize for the crimes. They might even offer suggestions and rewards to the Angel Envoy players for a ’purification’ they found satisfactory, arranging specialized training for them.

"Meanwhile, each tier within the Lucifer Game Organization communicates using codenames, settles funds with Virtual Coins, and even has access to a special supply of untraceable SIM cards...

"The biggest ’fish’ we’ve managed to catch are, at most, at the Angel Envoy tier. As for the Elders and Lucifer at the very top, we know nothing beyond their codenames. We only know that Elders are selected from people in the real world. They never participate directly in the purification rites; they only oversee the Purification Game remotely..."

After listening to Anthony’s introduction, Dean was somewhat speechless.

The Lucifer Game Organization was established in 1989; it was now 2000. This meant that for all these years, the FBI department responsible for this criminal organization had been stuck on the periphery, unable to even penetrate its management layer.

Bill might actually be a big fish, Dean mused.

Thinking this, Dean said gravely, "Can you tell me which tiers Bill and that Kaz belong to?"

"Bill, codenamed Butcher, is one of the thirteen Elders of the Lucifer Game Organization. Kaz is the new Angel Envoy he selected. Kaz’s real name is Amodeo. He was just a high school student from a well-to-do family who stumbled onto the dark web. He became addicted to those purification videos and was eventually noticed by Bill. Bill contacted him and arranged this Purification Game."

"So, I made a great contribution?"

"Yes. Butcher, also known as Bill, appeared on the organization’s list of Elders three years ago; he was the last of the thirteen. We found a lot of useful information on his computer. You’ve indeed made a significant contribution!" Anthony affirmed.

Monet, who had been standing by silently, added, "This also means trouble. Bill is the first Elder in this game organization to be captured and killed. We’re not sure if they’ll seek revenge on you."

The public didn’t know the details of how Dean killed Bill, but the news had already spread throughout the Los Angeles bureau within a single day. It was hard to guarantee there weren’t others like Bill within their ranks.

When you see too much darkness, it’s easy to be consumed by it. Moreover, many precincts in the United States had organizations similar to gangs... In this country, being a police officer is just a profession. The line between right and wrong can be blurry, and it’s often far from noble.

Dean remained silent for a moment. After omitting some personal details, he carefully explained the events of the case from beginning to end.

Before leaving, Anthony invited Dean once more. "You possess a certain ’trait’; you might consider joining the FBI. We can offer you a much broader platform, and your family will also be protected!"

"NO!"

Before Dean could speak, Monet angrily shooed Anthony away.

Still not entirely reassured, Monet made a special trip back to tell him, "Dean, rest assured, I have reported your contributions to the Chief. If you have any other requests, you can also tell me."

Talent like his is rare, Monet thought. Dean had played a crucial role in two consecutive cases. Monet now realized Dean was his lucky star!

Hearing Monet’s unabashed attempt to recruit him, Dean thought for a moment and tested the waters, asking, "Captain, the previous copycat wife-murder case at the hotel and this current serial home invasion and homicide case... they’re pretty much wrapped up, right?"

"Technically, we still need to follow procedure, and Kaz is still at large," Monet said, assuming Dean was inquiring about his reward. He then assured him, "But in reality, the cases can effectively be declared closed. So you don’t have to worry about your contributions being overlooked."

Almost at the exact moment Monet confirmed this, Dean heard two DING sounds in his head!