Adrian's car hummed along the city streets, the morning sun already climbing above the skyline. He gripped the steering wheel, mind racing with the new lead. The System's interface hovered at the edge of his vision, quietly tracking his progress.
Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up in front of the Bean Delivered Headquarters—a squat, functional building with a row of delivery trucks parked out front. Adrian didn't want to waste time. He stepped out, flashed his badge at the security guard, and asked, "Is Franco here?"
The guard's eyes widened. "One moment, sir." He hurried inside, and within minutes, a burly man in a Bean Delivered polo shirt emerged, wiping his hands on a rag.
"Detective Cross?" Franco asked, voice gruff but polite.
Adrian nodded. "I need your help. I'm investigating a missing person case. I need to see the dashcam footage from one of your trucks—October 28, between six and seven in the evening."
Franco's brow furrowed, but he nodded. "Follow me."
They walked past the rows of trucks to a white delivery van, its paint flecked with road dust. Franco unlocked the door and climbed inside, Adrian following. The dashcam system was mounted on the dashboard, a small screen displaying the date and time.
Franco scrolled through the footage, fast-forwarding to the requested window. Adrian leaned in, eyes scanning every frame. At 6:20 PM, a white van with the logo "Ammo Company" pulled up to the Voss Company drop-off zone. A bulky man, face partially obscured by a cap, stepped out and disappeared inside the building.
Adrian's pulse quickened. Ten minutes later, the man reappeared, pushing a large box on a trolley. The box was big enough to fit a person—big enough to fit Eleanor Voss.
He watched as the man loaded the box into the van, slammed the doors shut, and drove off. The footage was clear, the logo unmistakable.
[Side Quest Complete: Dashcam Footage Retrieval. Reward: 15 Crime Points]
Adrian allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. The System chimed softly, and a notification appeared:
[Crime Points: 15]
Franco, who had been watching Adrian's reaction, cleared his throat. "Detective, if you don't mind me asking… why are you looking into the Ammo Company van?"
Adrian kept his tone neutral. "Business matter. Just following a lead."
Franco's expression darkened. "Be careful, man. Ammo Company's owned by Raphael DiAmmo. He's… well, let's just say he's not someone you want to cross. Word is, he's got connections everywhere. Mafia, politicians, you name it."
Adrian nodded, understanding the warning. He knew all about Raphael DiAmmo—one of the city's most notorious crime lords. Ammo Company had been at the center of one of Adrian's failed cases, a case that Harlan Kane had swooped in to solve, earning more praise and leaving Adrian with another black mark on his record.
"Thanks for the heads up, Franco," Adrian said, pocketing the USB drive with the footage. "I appreciate it."
Franco gave him a sympathetic look. "Just… watch your back, Detective."
Adrian didn't waste any more time. He thanked Franco again, then got back in his car and set the GPS for the Ammo Company Delivery Headquarters. The drive took nearly an hour, the city giving way to industrial warehouses and empty lots as dusk settled in.
By the time Adrian arrived, night had fallen. The Ammo Company depot was a fortress of concrete and steel, floodlights casting harsh shadows across the lot. Adrian parked a block away, surveying the building. The System's interface flickered.
[Warning: Possible danger detected. Proceed with caution.]
Adrian took a deep breath, steeling himself. He approached the building, moving quietly along the fence. The place seemed deserted—no guards, no workers, just the distant hum of machinery.
He slipped through a gap in the fence, heart pounding. As he crept toward the loading bay, a shadow detached itself from the darkness and lunged at him.
Adrian barely had time to react. The System's voice rang out:
[Opponent Detected. Strength: 11. Adrian's Strength: 10.]
Adrian staggered back, blocking a punch. The man was big, muscles straining under his jacket. Adrian felt the difference immediately—one point of strength, but it was enough to put him on the defensive.
He remembered the System's mechanics. "System, convert 15 Crime Points to Strength," he whispered.
[Confirmed. 15 Crime Points converted to 3 Strength. New Strength: 13.]
Adrian felt a surge of energy, his muscles tightening, reflexes sharpening. The next punch he blocked with ease, countering with a quick jab to the man's ribs. He ducked a wild swing, then landed a solid right hook to the jaw. The man staggered, and Adrian pressed the advantage, using his boxing skills to wear him down.
[Skill Activated: Boxing Lv. 1]
A flurry of precise blows, and the man crumpled to the ground. Adrian quickly tied his hands with a zip tie from his pocket, breathing hard.
The man groaned, struggling against the restraints. "Let me go, man. I was just doing my job."
Adrian crouched beside him, voice cold. "Who sent you? What were you doing at the Voss Company building?"
The man glared, but Adrian's presence was intimidating, his eyes hard. The System's interface flickered.
[Skill Activated: Intimidation Lv. 1]
[Skill Activated: Intuition Lv. 1]
The man's resolve cracked. "Alright, alright! I was hired to grab the girl—Eleanor Voss. But I didn't keep her. Someone from here took her off my hands. I don't know who, I swear!"
Adrian pressed. "Where did they take her? Who gave the order?"
The man shook his head. "I don't know. All I know is, it's DiAmmo. Raphael DiAmmo runs everything here. If anyone knows where she is, it's him."
Adrian's mind raced. DiAmmo. The name was a curse in the city's underworld. If he was involved, this case was even bigger than Adrian had feared.
He pulled out his phone and called Chief Huggins. The line crackled, then the Chief's gruff voice answered. "Cross? You better have something for me."
"I do," Adrian said. "I've apprehended a suspect involved in Eleanor Voss's abduction. He claims she was handed over to someone at Ammo Company—possibly Raphael DiAmmohimself. I need backup to secure the suspect."
There was a pause, then Huggins replied, "Good work, Cross. I'll send a team. Don't do anything stupid."
Adrian hung up, relief flooding through him. The System chimed:
[Case Update: Progress reported to Chief Huggins. Reward: 60 Crime Points]
Adrian's stats updated, the Crime Points tallying up. He glanced at the unconscious man, then at the darkened depot.
He'd made progress, but the real danger was just beginning.
Exhausted, Adrian left the suspect for the arriving officers, then drove home. The city lights blurred past his window, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope.
He was no longer just the Detective of No Success. He was a player in a deadly game—and he was finally starting to win.