[Ding!]
[Please claim your new player gift pack as soon as possible.]
The lights in the electromagnetic shielding room were intensely bright, and the temperature was frigid, causing Ethan Cole to be overwhelmed by panic.
The virtual translation text that had continuously appeared before him over the past few days made Ethan wonder if something was wrong with his brain.
As a graduate of the National Police University and a staunch believer in scientific rationalism, Ethan was extremely curious about this phenomenon—but at the same time, he was highly cautious.
For an aspiring police officer, maintaining mental clarity was paramount, and Ethan did not want to waver during crucial moments.
Therefore, he decided to undergo a head MRI scan.
"Alright, let's begin," said a friendly young medical technician as he fitted earplugs and the scanner coil onto Ethan's head.
The examination commenced.
"Clang… clang… thrum… thrum…"
The room was incredibly noisy, extremely cold, and filled with a powerful magnetic field.
In that narrow space, time seemed to move agonizingly slowly. Ethan felt like he was enduring endless mental torture.
Fortunately, the examination results finally came back, declaring Ethan completely normal—no brain abnormalities were found.
Ethan sighed in relief. If it wasn't a medical issue, then there was nothing to fear.
Could this be some kind of mysterious system, like those often found in online novels? he thought. I've read stories like that.
Shortly after, he stood in an empty hospital corridor, intending to investigate the strange virtual system that had been bothering him for the past few days. With full concentration, he used his mind to open the floating starter pack before him.
"You have obtained: Advanced Logical Reasoning."
"Intensive training in logical reasoning skills will enhance your ability to uncover the truth."
A gentle yet mechanical female voice continuously echoed in Ethan's mind.
Ethan certainly understood that logical reasoning is the process of inferring specific outcomes based on objective facts, valid conclusions, experimental results, and personal experience and intuition.
"But… what exactly is the advanced level?" Ethan muttered doubtfully.
"Skill levels are divided into: beginner, expert, master, and perfect. The master level is the third tier," the system voice replied calmly.
"And what about deductive reasoning?" Ethan frowned. "Syllogisms, major premises, minor premises, and conclusions—are they all included?"
A few seconds later, the voice returned.
"All forms of reasoning are provided by the detective system. The final right of interpretation rests entirely with the system."
After hearing the answer, Ethan realized that the advanced logical reasoning ability he now possessed was of extremely high quality—enough to be utilized in real life.
Having studied deduction for years at the police academy, Ethan didn't know if this unexpected gift would truly be useful. He didn't hold excessive hope.
Ultimately, reasoning still depended on the human mind.
...
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the Metropolitan Police Station – Rosewood Precinct, London, was filled with a flurry of activity.
Police recruits from various parts of England arrived in pairs, trios, or small groups. They wore the uniforms of their respective academies, their faces showing both excitement and tension.
For them, four years of strict police academy discipline felt like finally achieving freedom—like an eagle released into the vast sky.
The probationary assignment marked the official start of their careers as law enforcement officers.
"Why aren't you at the assembly point yet?"
The cold voice belonged to Lucy Bennett, a Police Inspector Grade Three who had graduated two years before Ethan. But when she turned and saw Ethan, her expression softened, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Good luck, junior," she said briefly.
"Thank you, Senior," Ethan replied politely, nodding.
Seeing Lucy—with her shoulder-length hair and tall, athletic build—immediately lifted Ethan's mood.
Ethan had been known for his good looks since childhood. Among the thirty-two police recruits, he always stood out and unconsciously attracted the attention of many young female officers.
"I have to admit, the senior female officers at Rosewood are genuinely beautiful," whispered Daniel Wright, who was standing next to him. "It's nothing like I imagined."
"It's clearly different," Kevin Hartley chuckled. "You'll realize that long hair and a ponytail are the true standards of beauty around here."
"Were there any women in your cohort?" asked Marcus Young, standing straight. "I heard the forensics department is all men?"
"Haha, never mind," Daniel sighed bitterly, then laughed. "After years at the academy, every woman in the cafeteria looks as beautiful as a flower. Is my aesthetic taste ruined?"
"Don't speak carelessly," another colleague interjected jokingly. "She could be your future mother-in-law."
"Stop your chatter." Lucy held up a list of names and looked at the recruits. "Those of you wearing the probationary badge, step forward and line up."
The crowd immediately formed two neat lines.
The first year in the police force is a probationary period. The probationary badge with two stripes is not an official rank. Usually, rank determination occurs after a minimum three-month evaluation period.
Currently, the shortage of police personnel is very serious. Even junior administrative positions are almost never vacant.
It should be noted that the minimum educational requirement to take the civil service exam in the UK is a higher education diploma.
"Everyone ready," Lucy said, sweeping her gaze across the group. But when her eyes returned to Ethan—the unofficial icon of their cohort—her gaze lingered momentarily.
During her years of service at the Rosewood Precinct, Lucy had seen many talented police officers.
There were certainly handsome, tall, and strong ones—but she had almost never encountered someone with an aura as calm and sharp as Ethan's.
Lucy Bennett's eyes almost welled up. Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly looked away to hide her reaction.
Then, following established procedure, they began introducing the organizational structure of the Rosewood Police Station while walking down the building's hallway.
The forty-four police recruits would subsequently be placed in various positions to undergo rotational training.
Of course, Lucy did not know the specifics of how the budget and resources would be allocated to each unit.
After arriving at the conference room, Deputy Chief Inspector George Lawson—a Police Inspector Grade Two—took over the briefing.
He is a former military officer who currently serves as the Head of the Rosewood Police Station, the leader of the Criminal Investigation Unit, and the chief of operations. He has served in the police force for over eighteen years.
In the next year or two, George Lawson is almost certain to be promoted to Chief Inspector. Yet, whenever the new officer deployment period arrives, he always makes time to come in person, observe the recruits, assess their abilities, and encourage them in his own way.
At that moment, he frowned and first delivered some opening remarks in a calm yet firm tone.
He then began to explain the basic conditions of the Rosewood Police Station's jurisdictional area in London.