Reincarnated Mercenary on Duty

After the breakfast both departed for the station.

Frank and James walked into the bustling Daeton Police Department. The familiar hum of ringing phones, hurried footsteps, and chatter greeted them as they passed through the main hall.

James strutted confidently, clearly enjoying the newfound attention. "James! Nice work out there!" one officer called out.

Another clapped him on the back. "Heard about the takedown! You're a star now, James!"

James grinned, soaking in the praise. Frank followed closely, smirking at his partner's moment in the spotlight.

"James, Chief Layla wants to see you in her office," an officer informed him.

James froze mid-step, and a sly grin crept across Frank's face. "Oh, the chief wants to see you in her cabin, huh?"

"Yeah," James said, scratching the back of his head, trying to suppress a grin.

Frank leaned in, his voice dropping to a mock-whisper. "You sure she's not just calling you in to... you know, personally congratulate you? Maybe she's got some... 'special commendation' in mind?"

James chuckled nervously. "Oh, stop it."

"Don't pretend you haven't noticed. I mean, those heels? That pencil skirt? You're a hero now, man—she might finally make her move!" Frank added with a waggle of his eyebrows.

James burst out laughing. "You're the worst, Frank."

"Hey, I'm just saying. If she offers you a 'private commendation ceremony,' make sure to give me the details later," Frank quipped as James started walking toward the chief's office, shaking his head with a grin.

As James disappeared into Chief Layla's cabin, Frank headed to his desk. His seat was directly across from Zoey, who was typing away on her computer.

She glanced up as he sat down, her gaze immediately drawn to his outfit. "Nice suit," she commented, a hint of appreciation in her tone.

Frank adjusted his collar with a smirk. "Thanks. Figured I'd dress the part of a cop who takes down gangsters."

Zoey chuckled. "You didn't even make it into the paper, and you're already acting like a star."

"Gotta start somewhere," Frank replied, leaning back in his chair.

Zoey leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Speaking of stars, James is the talk of the department today. Bet his ego's big enough to fill this whole building."

"Don't worry," Frank said with a smirk. "I'll keep him grounded. You know, with my usual charm and sarcasm."

Zoey shook her head, amused. "Anyway, enough about James. I actually wanted to talk to you about something."

Frank raised a brow. "Oh? What's up?"

"There's a homicide case that's been stuck for days," Zoey said, her tone turning serious. "No leads, no clues. I've been trying to piece it together, but it's like hitting a brick wall. Thought maybe you could help."

Frank leaned forward, intrigued. "A tough case, huh? Well, I'd be happy to help... for purely professional reasons, of course."

Zoey gave him a knowing look. "Sure. Professional."

Frank grinned. "Hey, I just think teamwork makes the dream work. Besides, maybe I can impress you with my skills."

Before Zoey could respond, the system's voice echoed in Frank's head: [Too bad, Frank. You'll have to hold off on impressing her. If you don't act soon, another homicide case is going to pop up.]

Frank blinked, the system's words pulling his thoughts in a completely different direction. He straightened in his chair, his playful demeanor fading slightly as he tried to process the unexpected warning.

Frank's demeanor shifted sharply, the playful air replaced with a focused intensity. He turned to Zoey. "Sorry, Zoey. I've got a case of my own to handle. But I promise, once it's done, I'll help you out."

Zoey tilted her head slightly, catching the shift in his demeanor. "Alright," she said softly, her eyes narrowing. "If you need anything, just let me know, okay?"

"Thanks," Frank replied with a nod, his focus already elsewhere.

He turned to his desk and powered on his PC. Pretending to scroll through files on the screen, his eyes focused instead on the system window hovering in front of him.

[Name: Liza]

[Age: 24]

[Gender: Female]

[Unique ID: 5523 2001 23]

"Alright, let's see what we've got here," Frank muttered. He typed the unique ID into the police database. Within seconds, a file appeared on the screen. The profile picture was of a young woman with a bright smile, her dark hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders.

Frank's eyes scanned the information, his brow furrowing as he read:

Name: Liza McAllister

Date of Birth: August 15, 1999

Age (at the time of disappearance): 19

Current Age (if alive): 24

Last Known Address: 204 Maple Crescent, Midtown District, Daeton City

Family: Robert McAllister (Father), Karen McAllister (Mother)

Case Details:

Reported Missing: June 22, 2017

Last Seen: Campus library, Velmara University, 8:45 PM

Witnesses: None

Status: Case closed as "Presumed Deceased" after one year of investigation with no further leads.

Frank's jaw tightened as he read the final line.

"Presumed deceased," he muttered under his breath. "You'd think someone would at least double-check before writing her off."

[The database is wrong,] the system's voice echoed calmly in his mind. [If her name came up, it means she's alive. Remember, she went missing—she wasn't confirmed dead.]

Frank exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "Seven years is a long time," he said, his voice low. "How am I supposed to find her with this?"

The system hesitated before responding. [Since this is a special case, I'll give you a hint: 140 Golden Vineyard Road.]

Frank raised an eyebrow. "A street address? That's all you've got for me?"

[That's all you need. From here on, it's up to you. And just so you know, I won't be available until this case is resolved,] the system said with finality before going silent.

Frank stared at the empty space where the system window had been. "Stupid system," he muttered under his breath, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Zoey glanced up from her desk, catching his muttering. "Everything okay over there?"

Frank forced a smile. "Yeah, just chasing down a lead. Nothing too exciting."

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, but she didn't press further.

Frank grabbed a notepad from his desk and scribbled down the address: 140 Golden Vineyard Road. Folding the paper neatly, he slipped it into his pocket and stood up.

"You're leaving?" Zoey asked, her tone curious.

"Got a lead to check out," Frank replied, keeping it vague. "I'll be back later."

Without waiting for her response, he left the department. Outside, the city buzzed with morning activity, the streets filled with commuters and the distant hum of traffic.