Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 1834: Old Friend

After half an hour of touring the facilities in the Star Hero Agency, looking through what he could make use of in the coming days, Ning finally left the building.

Melly offered to drive him to his destination, but Ning let her stay and do her work. Someone else drove him to the station.

Walking into the homicide division, a few officers greeted him, but other than that, there was nothing different at all. Ning was a little surprised. He had expected things to be quite different.

He was happy they weren’t.

Mira was at her desk working, but neither Larissa nor Jack was anywhere to be seen.

”Hey! What’s up? A new case?” he asked.

”Oh! Hey, Sir Valen,” Mira quickly greeted. ”Yeah, a Minotaur male was found dead in the sewer. Locals have identified him as a regular in a nearby bar. Apparently, some fights took place there last night, and he was one of the ones involved. Detective Larissa and Jack are going around questioning the others.”

Ning raised an eyebrow. ”Any idea who might have killed him?” he asked.

”Our suspects are two male Drows who fought him last night, and a female Vampire who might’ve been involved somehow. No one managed to identify her, so we’re waiting,” Mira said.

”Any camera footage?” Ning asked.

”Still waiting on those as well. I should be getting them anytime soon,” she said, slowly turning toward him. ”We called you several times, but it said you were out of reach.”

”Yes, I was,” Ning said with a sigh. She clearly wasn’t aware of what had happened, so it would be better if he let her know before she found out elsewhere. But before that...

Ning looked toward the captain’s office. ”I have something to talk to the chief about. Be back in a bit.”

Mira nodded before looking up. ”Sir Valen!” she called out.

Ning paused and turned around.

”Did your registration go well?” she asked.

Ning smiled. ”You’ll find out soon.”

Ragnar, the Orc, sat at his desk with some paperwork before him when Ning knocked on his door. He absentmindedly shouted, ”Come in!” and Ning entered.

Ragnar looked up. ”Oh, Valen. You’re not with Larissa?” he asked.

”Was busy. Missed her call. She’s out by herself, but it should be fine. Doesn’t sound like a case that needs much detecting,” Ning said, surprised at how efficiently he was talking to this ’old friend’ of his.

It was another matter to talk to him while he was the chief in front of others, but here, alone, this man was one of his closest friends from back when he was still a detective. These were the times when his implanted memories came in handy the most.

”So, what do you want to talk about?” Ragnar asked.

”I went to the DPA today and got my powers tested,” Ning said.

The orc paused. ”Right, right! I forgot you have powers now. Have I congratulated you yet? Congratulations,” he said. ”It’ll be nice to have people with powers around me. I wouldn’t have to worry about my people as much in the line of duty.”

”About that,” Ning said. ”Remember when you told me that I would only have to work here for a while before I decided whether I truly wanted to come back as a detective or not?”

The chief’s face grew somber. ”Yes. Have you made the decision?”

Ning nodded. ”I don’t want to return. At least, not fully. I want to continue working as a counselor instead, helping other detectives while I do so.”

The chief refrained from speaking for a moment, letting Ning’s words linger. ”May I ask why? You would do much better as a detective, after all.”

”Because I won’t have the time to become a full detective now,” Ning said.

”Won’t have the time?” the chief asked.

”I registered my power today, and it came back Rank 9.”

The orc’s expressionless face showed a clear sign of shock as it struggled to wrestle with the understanding of what Ning had just said. He replayed the words over and over again until he finally sucked in a deep breath as reality hit him like a truck.

”Rank 9?” he shouted, quickly standing from his chair. ”Are you serious?”

Ning nodded. ”I’ve already talked to a hero agency and will be joining them. But I’ve asked them to make it so that I can still help out the Limaro PD. I should’ve asked you first, but I got carried away when everyone started blasting my phone with calls and messages.”

The chief stood transfixed by what he was hearing.

”You... you want to be a counselor?” he asked.

”Yes. That is, if you want me to.”

”Of course!” the chief shouted. ”Why the hell would I not? I’d be stupid not to.”

The chief sat back down, a palm to his forehead as he started giggling like a child. ”But seriously. Rank 9?” he asked.

Ning nodded. ”I got lucky.”

”Hah! If awakening to a Rank 9 power counts as being lucky, then I don’t think there’s anyone else with luck in this world. What happened to you is nothing short of a miracle.”

Ning shrugged.

The chief took a deep breath, calming himself. The smile still lingered on his face, but it had a tinge of sadness to it.

”Alya would be so happy for you,” he said.

Ning found himself feeling slightly melancholic upon hearing the name of his dead wife in his planted memories. The image of her silver hair and pointed ears was ever-present in his thoughts.

”I’m sure she would,” he said softly.

The orc got up from his seat and walked over to Ning, towering over him by nearly two heads, and gave a one-armed hug. He then slapped him on the back.

”Welcome back,” he said. ”You may not have returned as a detective as I had hoped, but you have still returned to living your life, and I cannot be happier for you, old friend.”