Of the dozens of district police stations scattered across the capital, hardly any criminal investigation team could match the performance of the Riverside District.
Some criminal units handled fewer cases over several years than the Riverside District solved in just one quarter—and their clearance rates were alarming.
Officers with self-awareness usually requested transfers to general security units, routine patrol, or even community police stations to handle administrative duties.
In this way, their youthful enthusiasm slowly faded away in the routine of ordinary work.
However, the problems currently facing the Riverside District were also significant: the increasing number of migrant workers within their jurisdiction, as well as various social conflicts arising from the massive renovation project of old residential areas in East London.
If it weren't for these issues, George Lawson was certain he could display exemplary case reports on the honor board every year.
Unfortunately, the problems emerging during the construction of the New South Thames Urban Zone weren't confined to a single district—they were structural issues facing the entire city of London. Difficult to overcome, but they still had to be resolved.
As a veteran of the Riverside District, George Lawson had witnessed firsthand the changes in his area of responsibility over the years and deeply understood the conditions on the ground.
This was the first time he had met a police candidate like Ethan Cole—someone who indirectly gave him renewed confidence in the future of his work.
"Ethan Cole, you really never interned with a criminal investigation team?" George Lawson asked again, still sounding doubtful.
"Yes," Ethan replied curtly.
"Good work, Ethan. Keep up this performance going forward."
"Understood." Ethan nodded once more.
George Lawson didn't know whether to laugh or be annoyed.
He thought to himself that this young man was truly still naive. He hadn't even mastered the art of small talk—just two words from start to finish.
In this regard, Ethan was clearly different from Ryan Miller.
At least back then, when Ryan received praise, he would offer standard lines, such as thanking his superiors, calling it his duty, and promising to continue serving the police force.
While it sounds stiff now, just a few years ago, that kind of answer—even if slightly sycophantic—was still considered safe and wouldn't cause trouble.
Declaring loyalty in front of a superior often leaves a deep impression and can even pave the way to a better position.
It must sometimes be acknowledged that the starting point of a career largely determines the upper limit of a person's development. For aspiring police officers starting at the bottom, this is like standing at a crossroads in life.
Some people shoot up quickly in their careers, others stagnate, and still others eventually leave the police force to enter the business world.
Everyone puts forth different efforts, and the results are never the same.
Starting from a higher position means gaining more exposure to cases and training, increasing the likelihood of advancing further in one's career compared to those who start from the bottom.
This is the true meaning of the term "winning at the starting line"—the gap created from the very first job in a police career.
Just then, a small silver-white box suddenly materialized in Ethan Cole's consciousness. Its beautiful form slowly became clear before him.
> "Novice Mission: 'Test Your Skills' complete.
You receive one Novice Treasure Chest."
The gentle, mechanical female voice sounded again.
"So… this means the mission is finished?"
Ethan's eyes sparkled, a wave of excitement sweeping through his chest.
He had initially expected the task to be extremely difficult, but having completed it, he realized that the difficulty was meaningless when faced with determination.
The small, silver-white box continued to float before his eyes.
Ethan worried that opening the treasure chest now would attract attention. Therefore, he decided to wait until the area was quiet, then open it slowly and examine its contents privately.
"Ethan Cole," George Lawson asked with a smile, "which unit would you like to intern with? You can tell me your preference directly."
George Lawson's statement was actually a form of respect for Ethan's choice.
After all, for aspiring police officers, rotational placements during the internship period are generally determined by the superiors.
Earlier, Ryan Miller had also stated that probationary officers with outstanding performance would receive priority during the official police recruitment process.
Ethan, on the other hand, was clearly far ahead of the other participants.
This made many aspiring officers envious, but no one dared to show it.
Everyone had just witnessed Ethan's performance. They fully understood the law of survival of the fittest and winner takes all—and the Metropolitan London Police Force certainly needed such rare talent.
George Lawson looked at him with a meaningful smile.
Lucy Bennett looked at him with a meaningful smile.
Ryan Miller also looked at him with a meaningful smile.
"I want to go… I'll go—"
Just as Ethan was about to speak, a notification sound rang in his mind again.
Novice Mission: Solve the Case
Mission Objective: Uncover ten cases involving victims
Reward: Memory (Specialization)
Time Limit: Ten days
Seeing that series of prompts, Ethan genuinely wanted to curse.
Would any sane person issue a mission like this?
Even if his reasoning skills were strong, solving ten cases in ten days? Was this a children's game?
Regardless of whether there were enough cases available, even if there were, would he actually be given the opportunity to handle them?
Ten cases in ten days meant an average of one case per day. That was almost impossible.
Ethan had originally intended to join Criminal Investigation Team Two at the Rosewood Precinct Police Station, but now he began to hesitate—even if he were accepted, could he handle that pressure?
Furthermore, Criminal Investigation Team Two had strict standards for handling cases. Generally, they only opened an investigation if the value of the loss exceeded £5,000.
If a major case arises that the Riverside District cannot handle, it is transferred to the metropolitan area office or even to the central unit of the London Police for further investigation.
Naturally, these standards vary across different jurisdictions. At least, that's how the rules work in London.
If Ethan insists on joining Criminal Investigation Team Two, he would have to settle for joining the general case handling unit. That would make it easier for him to obtain cases that don't fall under the high-priority category.
Ethan had done his research before coming here. Based on the information he gathered, the First and Second Criminal Investigation Teams in the Riverside District handle serious criminal cases within their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Third Criminal Investigation Team, despite its prestigious-sounding name, actually only handles minor public order cases.
They frequently collaborate with neighborhood security units and Sector Patrol Teams One and Two, managing various administrative duties and minor reports. Consequently, this team is considered the most "low-profile" among the three investigation teams.