CHAPTER 91: 87 CHAPTER HIGH-INTENSITY GUNFIGHT (×), TERRORIST ATTACK (√)_1

[Skill Acquired: Akaz School - Psychological Analysis L1]

[Note: Akaz School - Psychological Analysis is a prerequisite for Akaz School - Mind Reading Technique. Collecting Akaz School - Microexpression Analysis allows synthesis of the special skill: Akaz School - Mind Reading Technique.]

At the moment the skill formed, Dean’s thoughts, which had just begun to take shape in his mind, became clear and cohesive, bringing him a moment of realization.

The essence of psychological analysis stems from ample information. Microexpressions, a subject deduced from psychological analysis, serve as one of the collectors of this information!

Next, Dean just needed to learn microexpression analysis and synthesize the two skills into the Mind Reading Technique.

Then, with sufficient information, he would be able to guess a target’s psychological activities relatively easily. Even without enough information, he could still make a simple analysis of their psychological state and the truthfulness of their speech.

This skill would likely be of great help to his case-solving.

Because most ordinary criminal cases had a motive.

Thus, the perpetrator would invariably have some connection with the victim: an acquaintance, relative, colleague, and so on.

Once Dean mastered the Mind Reading Technique, he could easily identify suspects in such common cases and then conduct targeted investigations.

I’ve struck it rich!

Dean took a deep breath and tried to observe Anthony before him.

Microexpression analysis is a subject crystallized from a certain level of research in ’psychological analysis.’

He hadn’t studied it before.

But now, with the skill, he could make rudimentary inferences about a target’s internal state using their expressions, actions, tone of voice, and so on.

This look, however, yielded nothing.

It was only then that Dean realized something. Anthony appeared to be joking like an ordinary person, but the muscle movements in his face, his tone of voice, and its frequency were all too stable and deliberate. He was like a robot wearing a mask!

Noticing Dean’s gaze, Anthony’s face bore a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. "Did you notice anything?"

Dean said sincerely, "I can only tell that you’re disguising yourself, old man. Beyond that, I’ve got nothing!"

"It seems your psychological analysis has already reached an elementary level—much faster than I expected!" Anthony looked pleased, yet somewhat conflicted.

He had originally planned to take advantage of the time Dean was digesting this lesson to send Carol to the Commonwealth for specialized training.

Such highly intelligent and warped geniuses were very dangerous.

Anthony wasn’t at ease letting someone else escort her.

But Dean’s comprehension ability exceeded his expectations.

After pondering for a moment, Anthony looked apologetic. "Dean, once you’ve grasped the basic ’psychological analysis logic,’ I should teach you ’microexpression analysis’ next. However, Carol is very dangerous, and I must keep an eye on her at all times. Only after I’ve sent her away can I free up the energy to continue instructing you."

This speech was like a bucket of cold water poured on Dean’s fiery enthusiasm.

Damn! Looks like I’m falling out of favor!

Seeing the change in Dean’s expression, Anthony, somewhat amused, reassured him, "Don’t worry. I’ll have someone give you the materials for ’Microexpression Analysis.’ You can study on your own for now. Once I’m done with Carol’s situation, I’ll take you for practical training."

"Alright then." Dean reluctantly accepted Anthony’s proposal.

That day, Dean received a package.

Inside the package was a book of over two hundred pages.

The densely packed text and illustrations in the book made Dean’s scalp tingle and his eyes grow heavy with sleep.

「In the following days.」

Dean was listless. His handsome face even sported two dark circles under his eyes, making him look like a wan, sleep-deprived young man.

「This Friday.」

Dean irritably tossed aside the hefty book. I’m really not some kind of genius!

In his previous life, he’d been a comparatively quick learner. But the things he’d learned—shooting handguns, using blowguns, concocting simple chemical toxins, disposing of bodies, erasing traces, or staging accidental deaths—had never been so tedious.

Just then, Harry and Lawrence, who had been observing him for several days, approached. "Buddy, you should’ve chucked that damn book long ago! Today’s Friday, and it’s payday! We’ve got to go have some fun tonight!"

At the mention of ’fun,’ Dean, who hadn’t indulged in days, perked up.

He slapped the table. "Let’s go!"

As the workday neared its end, Daisy brought everyone their paychecks.

Dean received his salary—fifty-three thousand US dollars!

In that amount, a part was the bonus Monet had promised last time, another part was a donation from the insurance company as a thank you, and the actual salary was only a little over three thousand dollars.

Because of Dean, everyone in the Fourth Squad received at least over ten thousand dollars in salary and bonuses, equivalent to two months’ pay from before.

Everyone was well aware of this. So even Robert, the simpleton, enthusiastically greeted Dean, offering to buy him a drink.

Soon, the small evening gathering for the three of them turned into a collective celebration for the entire Fourth Squad.

In this cheerful atmosphere, the phone on Daisy’s desk rang, shattering the festive mood.

This desk phone was connected to the command center. Its ringing meant a homicide had occurred within the Fourth Squad’s jurisdiction!

Lawrence looked annoyed. "Damn it! This can’t spoil our fun!"

Harry had promised him that he would introduce him to some Latin beauties tonight!

Daisy shrugged helplessly. "Guys, it looks like our get-together tonight is off."

She stepped forward and picked up the phone.

Everyone crowded around, hoping it wouldn’t be a thorny case.

The next moment, Daisy turned pale at what she heard. She hung up the phone and immediately dialed Captain Monet’s number on her cell phone.

Seeing this, a chill ran down everyone’s spine. Captain Monet and Vice-Captain Old Hunter were currently in a meeting in the Commissioner’s office. Daisy wouldn’t react like this unless it was a major case.

Indeed, as soon as the call connected, Daisy spoke urgently, "Captain, you need to come back now! There’s been an intense gunfight at Lincoln Farm—rocket-propelled grenades and vehicle-mounted machine guns were used! The Fourth Squad needs you to authorize heavy weaponry!"

At that, not only did Lawrence and the others look distressed, but even Dean, who had remained relatively calm, felt the corners of his mouth twitch.

Damn it. Land of the free, indeed.

Seeing Daisy nodding continuously, Dean immediately pulled Lawrence and the others aside. He whispered, "Guys, trust me, this will definitely be classified as a terrorist attack. When it happens, we stay back. Leave everything to the SWAT team."

The SWAT team was a special law enforcement unit in Los Angeles for combating violence and terrorism. They were not only well-equipped, but their members were also essentially special forces within the police department.

Hearing Dean’s words, everyone nodded in agreement.

No one wanted to face heavily armed terrorists head-on for the sake of a few thousand dollars’ salary.

Because everyone looked so grim, Dean didn’t notice Harry’s particularly strong reaction when ’Lincoln Farm’ was mentioned...

This guy knows something!

「Meanwhile,」

Monet and Old Hunter hurried back to the office, leading everyone to the special armory to collect weapons they rarely touched: tear gas, flashbangs, grenade launchers, thermal imagers...

Robert, who had retired less than a year ago, even picked up an M249 machine gun and kissed it eagerly, as if seeing his long-lost girlfriend.

Not to mention the rifles, bulletproof vests, and similar gear.

Before long, armed with an array of weapons, they jumped into the Detective Bureau’s exclusive police cars. They joined the stream of police vehicles from other precincts, speeding towards Lincoln Farm in the suburbs.

Dean noticed several police helicopters and one fearless media helicopter flying overhead, also heading towards Lincoln Farm.

Another big news story was unfolding.