2025-04-02 22:52:32As Luke Sullivan woke up from sleep, he rolled up his sleeves, expecting to see the tribal designs that once covered his arms. Instead, he was greeted by unblemished skin. "Where are my tattoos?!" he exclaimed, bewildered.
Raising his head, he found himself in a brightly lit office divided into cubicles. The chaotic scene around him was a far cry from his last memory - awaiting lethal injection on death row in a prison. Phones rang incessantly, papers flew, and harried workers rushed through the corridors with panic etched on their faces.
A middle-aged man in a navy blue uniform appeared, calling for attention. "Everyone, gather 'round! Detective Priscillia will brief us on the York Assault Cases. We're moving out tonight, so listen carefully!"
As the detectives gathered around a whiteboard covered in notes and pictures, Luke remained seated, still in shock. He touched his right ear - perfectly intact! It should have been split in two during a prison yard fight. He desperately wanted a mirror to see his face.
His eyes fell on a photo on the desk. It showed a young, handsome man in a police uniform - and he looked exactly like Luke! Memories flooded his mind as realization dawned. Had he experienced the legendary... rebirth?
He could clearly remember his past life as Luke Sullivan, the feared enforcer for the Ninefold Brotherhood in New York. Everyone knew him as "Sullivan the Serpent." But now, new memories told him he was Detective Luke Sullivan of the New York Special Crimes Unit.
The contrast made his head spin. From a hardened criminal to a police detective? How was this possible?
Luke ran a hand through his hair - no longer the closely cropped style he maintained for intimidation, but long and thick. As he grappled with his new reality, Detective Priscillia began her briefing on the York Assault cases.
His new memories identified her as the brilliant team leader of the Special Crimes Unit. Despite her youth, she had an impressive track record and was highly regarded by the brass.
As she detailed the assaults, Luke found himself torn between his old instincts and his new role. Part of him analyzed the case like a seasoned criminal, while another part thought like the police detective he now was.
Suddenly, the man in the navy uniform - Vincent Parker - turned to him. "Hey, rookie! We're pulling an all-nighter. Go get us some coffee, will you?"
Luke bristled at his tone. In his past life, no one would have dared speak to him like that. But the Luke of this world was now a timid newcomer, often pushed around by his seniors.
As he stood up, ready to put Vincent Parker in his place, a soft voice interrupted. "I-I'll do it, sir!"
A young woman with thick glasses and a long braid stepped forward. Bella Lane, his mind supplied - a new intern with an obvious crush on him.
As she scurried off to make coffee, Luke sat back down, realizing this wasn't the time or place to assert himself. He needed to understand his new situation first.
His mind raced back to his execution. He had been framed for a murder he didn't commit - roughing up a real estate developer on orders from higher-ups had somehow turned into a murder charge. The injustice of it all made his blood boil.
As Bella returned with the coffee, giving him an extra-sweet cup with a shy smile, Luke forced himself to focus on the present. Captain Jake Sheldon was now speaking, assigning tasks to the teams.
When he finished, Luke surprised everyone - including himself - by speaking up. "Hold on, I'm out!"
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Crime System The Breaking Point
All eyes turned to Luke as he pointed at himself. "I'm not feeling well, so I'm taking a personal day. You all can enjoy your stakeout without me."His words instantly made the entire office deathly silent. The group of investigators who were ready to start working all froze in place, staring at him in disbelief. Luke could see in their eyes that they thought he must have lost his mind. Captain Jake Sheldon was the head of the Special Crimes Unit. The investigation plan had already been set in motion, yet here he was, suddenly asking for the day off? Not only that, but to say it so brazenly - how stupid could he be?Luke knew that even if it really was some kind of emergency, there was no need to bother Captain Jake about it; usually just letting a Section Chief know would suffice. To ask for leave from the Captain himself as he had done was like slapping him in the face. And of course, hearing his disrespectful tone, Captain Jake's expression darkened immediately."Hey..." Vice Capta
The Crime System Getting the Crime system
Throwing the police station into chaos gave Luke Sullivan immense satisfaction, but the confusion in his mind didn't stop.He wasn't sure how he had crossed over into such a normal world. Not only that, what happened to the former Luke whose body he had taken? In this situation, was it possession or reincarnation?The new memories told him that the Luke Sullivan of this world had the same birthday as him, was born in a small town, had elderly parents, and came from humble beginnings.They had the same starting point, but as they grew up, they walked two completely different paths in life.One chose to fight and die in the streets, becoming a gang enforcer; the other excelled in school and graduated from New York University, becoming a respected member of society, and then a police officer.The irony wasn't lost on him. Before, he was always running from the cops, but now his role had completely reversed. Now he was a cop himself."Don't tell me. I'll have to chase down other gangsters
The Crime System A Cop's Second Life
Luke found himself in a bewildering situation. His mind raced, searching for some kind of introduction to this so-called Crime System, but there was nothing. Even the strange voice that had spoken to him moments ago had vanished from his memory.Frustrated, he slapped his head repeatedly, hoping for something to change. "What the hell is this!" he exclaimed.The voice had spoken too quickly for him to catch everything, but he remembered a few words related to the lottery. He wondered if this Crime System was just some kind of lottery system. Had he won the jackpot, or was it the complete opposite?Luke couldn't help feeling disappointed. Even if he had won some sort of system, it was probably the easiest one to win in history.Attempting to smoke, he realized his cigarette had gone out during his violent coughing fit earlier. With a heavy sigh, he delved back into his memories, discovering that the Luke Sullivan of this world was in dire financial straits – living in the police barrac
The Crime System Price of Venom in the Shadows
Luke Sullivan looked at the woman contemplatively as she smiled and hiccuped, "Sorry handsome, your pick-up line was wasted! Haha, I'm not just some pure and pretty face. I'm not here for a date!"Oh...As soon as she opened her mouth, Luke understood. This woman wasn't some innocent drunk girl – she was here for business.Originally, he was just here to pick up a pretty girl, with no intention to pay for it.Luke thought about changing his target, but felt somewhat bitter. Firstly, she simply stood out too much; no other girls could match her looks. Secondly, everyone else was already paired up, making it hard to engage other women in conversation.Ah!Luke made his decision – as long as it felt good, what's some money! He'd consider it a celebration for successfully crossing over!So, he sat right beside her, continuing the conversation. "Hey beautiful, so those feelings of yours, how much are they?""Ha!" She laughed coldly, readily putting up three fingers, "True love? Priceless.
The Crime System Catching the York Criminal
Having come to that thought, Luke could no longer sit around. He figured even if he was wrong, he still had to take a look. He put down his beer glass and quickly went in the direction where the male with the designer clothes had run off to.The bar exit was a plain, small steel door, similar to the entrance. Luke rushed out and immediately emerged into a narrow, dark alley.It was already 10:00pm at night, and the alley was deathly quiet. He looked both ways. Using the moonlight, Luke quickly saw the shadow of someone fleeing past on his right."Huh?" He paused for a moment, even more suspicious now. He quickly ran in that direction.Chasing and being chased were both his previous specialties. Not only was Luke fast, but he was also light on his feet, and there was no sound in his pursuit.The shadow had disappeared to another small and dark alley. The alley headed straight towards the parking lot.When Luke walked past a green dumpster, he suddenly saw someone on the ground. It was
The Crime System The First Reward
Luke Sullivan heard the word "reward money" and recalled the investigation unit's rule. Officers who caught criminals would be awarded prize money based on the situation, which would also be recorded in their records, helping with promotions or exams later on.'There's money to be made catching criminals? Good! Good!' The side of Luke's mouth tilted up, and he threw a glance at Vincent. Vincent was unhappy to begin with. Seeing Luke taunt him, he crossed his arms, no longer speaking."The culprit's baton was modified by himself. The voltage goes up to 30,000 volts which can instantly knock a person out!" Detective Priscillia continued, "The culprit's name is unknown. We only know that he is a high school student, but he could've dropped out. Due to the injury, the culprit is currently in the emergency room while under surveillance, and currently cannot be questioned. Mr. Sullivan, your attack was a little too strong!""What? Too strong? You've already said it! A 30,000 volt. How could
The Crime System What is this Crime System About?
"What the...?" Confused by this sudden explanation, Luke quickly selected the orb again, causing the voice to repeat the description of the Invisibility Eavesdropper device."Detective Sullivan, I added two sugars to your coffee, just how you like it!" Bella called out, mistaking his distant expression for simple enjoyment of his drink.Her voice yanked him back to reality, and the bustling noise of the precinct suddenly felt overwhelming. He needed somewhere quiet to process what was happening. Ignoring Vincent's usual griping and Priscilla's presence, Luke stood up and headed for the door.As he stepped out, he ran straight into Captain Jake Sheldon. They'd never been particularly close, so Luke ducked his head and tried to slip past him.To his surprise, Captain Sheldon blocked his path and asked, "Sullivan, weren't you supposed to be taking a personal day? How'd you end up catching our thief instead?" His expression turned serious. "Level with me here. How did you know they'd show
The Crime System I’m Penniless
Some hours later, Luke found himself truly penniless. He didn't even have money to buy data on his phone and had to look up house rental information on a computer instead.Among the mass of advertisements, he randomly picked a few that were near the police station. Showing no regard for work hours, he threw on his jacket and left the workplace.As for Dawson's investigation, Luke didn't have high expectations. If just a few of his words could solve a cold case that had been plaguing the Special Crimes Unit for ten years, it would really be the joke of the century!Executed by lethal injection but having escaped death and crossed over, and then obtaining the technical, so-called Crime System had put Luke in a great mood. As he strolled down the street, the sun beamed upon him warmly as he walked with an extra spring in his step.He started realizing that being a crime detective might not be so bad. Catching criminals and getting rewards, not to mention some special privileges. That kin
Latest Chapter
A Case of Revenge
Luke stood there for a long moment, watching their backs fade down the hall. He didn't want that future. He had to see this through—prove to himself and everyone else that he was capable of more than cold case limbo. No way would he end up like Aaron and Adam, grumbling and giving up.He had made up his mind: he would go toe-to-toe with Priscillia and Team B, holding nothing back. Seated at his desk, Luke focused intently, listening in on every move they made, so absorbed that he'd forget even the most basic necessities, like bathroom breaks.Just as he suspected, Priscillia and her team zeroed in on Aaron Dawson and Adam Mercer's latest piece of evidence. They quickly honed in on the source of the one-sided film, a type of specialty material rarely imported. Within a matter of hours, they had already traced it to every recent buyer in the area. The entire team seemed to mobilize for the task under Priscillia's lead, investigating each buyer with impressive speed.But when the results
The Glimpse for Evidence
After an entire afternoon of digging through leads, dead ends, and desperate hunches, Aaron Dawson and Adam Mercer finally figured out why the cameras had failed to capture the BMW's driver. The forensic department, after reexamining the footage, had found a small but crucial clue—a thin layer of glue residue on the BMW's windshield. Something had definitely been stuck on the inside, likely some kind of one-way glass sticker.Apparently, this special type of one-way film had been imported, usually reserved for magicians in their grand illusion acts. It allowed the driver to see out while concealing the inside to any outside observer—much more opaque than any standard tint. The whole setup had been flawlessly planned out by the culprit. But as Luke knew too well, the more a criminal tried to execute the perfect crime, the more evidence they left behind."If you ask me…" Adam Mercer muttered, lowering his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was in earshot. He lit a cigarette, the
The Bug in the Bureau
Luke Sullivan smirked as he observed the fierce competition playing out in the Special Crimes Unit. While it might have looked peaceful on the surface, he knew better – underneath was a battleground of ambition and pride.The unit's structure was simple: two teams handling separate cases unless something big came along that required joint effort. Team A and Team B, always trying to outdo each other. The higher case-solving rate meant not just bragging rights, but a significantly fatter annual bonus.Luke watched as everyone pushed themselves to the limit, desperate to surpass the other team. The competition had been neck-and-neck for years until Priscillia took over as Team B's leader. She turned everything upside down with her experience and leadership skills, leaving Team A eating dust.Last year, Team B investigators had walked away with an extra $700 bonus. Their smug faces had been unbearable to Luke. This year, they'd been even more relentless, widening the gap further.Poor Ray
The Lone Detective's Problem
Luke stood there, facing Detective Priscillia in the precinct's Special Crimes Unit office. Her arms were crossed, and she looked mildly annoyed. He could feel the eyes of many detectives from the unit on them, clearly interested in the commotion."I didn't mean it like that," Luke tried to explain. "I just felt that since the criminal cut off Lisa's hand without leaving any evidence, he must have planned this ahead of time! So he must've stalked Lisa for a long time. I feel like we shouldn't just focus on surveillance near the time the crime was committed, but also..."Priscillia cut him off immediately. "Alright, alright," she said, not letting him finish. "Luke! I already know that you and Vincent have that bet! You're rushing the case since you don't want to lose! But... I hope you can understand, solving a case isn't about winning a bet or even justice - it's about responsibility! Responsibility, do you understand?"She pointed at the few officers in front of their computer scree
My Suspicion
Luke sat on his balcony, contemplating the Maimed Case that had been troubling him. After a night of intense research, he had realized that using the current case as a launchpad might be the key to solving the previous two cases that the police had already thoroughly investigated. He planned to ask Team Leader Priscilla for additional information when he arrived at work, as she was in charge of the Maimed Case.Having woken up too early, Luke had plenty of time before work. Following one of his small habits, he took a bottle of iced tea onto his third-floor balcony to think. The space was about 600 square feet, and he sat in a patio chair, sipping his drink while enjoying the warm sunlight pouring in from the east. The golden glow on his face gave him a sense of satisfaction.A loud noise suddenly came from the neighboring balcony, which was separated from his by an anti-theft net. A tall, long-haired woman appeared, looking young—perhaps a little over twenty. She was holding the newe
The Invisible Culprit
Around 5 PM that evening, the completion message suddenly activated in Luke's mind, informing him that today's adventure had concluded. The completion rate was eighty-seven percent, earning him another invisibility device.Upon accessing the item and obtaining it, he saw it was yet another invisible tracking device, the same as the last one."What's this? Why couldn't it have been something new or exciting?" he thought to himself.Despite feeling somewhat disappointed, Luke finally had time to ponder the Crime System. Up until now, he had used it three times. While he didn't fully understand the rules, he had learned certain things about it.He pulled out his notebook and began analyzing the information he had recorded.First, the Crime System could only be activated once a day, with the ending time unknown. He estimated the ending time was tied to the completion rate - the faster he finished the adventure, the sooner it ended.Secondly, the adventure was random and didn't align with
Angela’s Strangeness
"Thought you could outrun me?" Luke Sullivan growled, adding a firm slap before collapsing beside the thief, his muscles screaming from the wild ride. The horse, finally calm, stood watching them with what looked like amusement.With the thief subdued and the chaos settling, Luke sat there catching his breath, wondering how he'd ended up in this crazy situation—all because of a woman named Angela Grant.The precinct was absolute bedlam. Street vendors from the alley packed the place, demanding compensation for their destroyed merchandise. The horse stood proudly outside, while inside, Luke found himself surrounded by the thief, Bella Lane, Angela—the purse owner—and a growing crowd of angry citizens. The desk sergeants were struggling to maintain order as complaints filled the air like a swarm of angry hornets.Luke's mind kept drifting between worry about the impending disciplinary action and thoughts of Angela. The moment he entered the station, he couldn't take his eyes off her. Wh
The Relentless Pursuit
Luke Sullivan's life had a way of throwing shocks at him. Now he stood staring at Angela, the victim of the purse-snatching case he was working. Seeing her made his heart skip a beat, even though he knew it couldn't be the same person. She wore a pink sundress, her hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. More sophisticated now, but still carrying that same grace that turned heads. Even in distress, she maintained a composure that commanded respect."Stop! Thief!" Angela yelled, her eyes meeting Luke's briefly, doubt flickering across her face.That snapped him into action. "Angela's bag was stolen? Not on my watch!" Luke took off after the thief, but the culprit had a good head start. The crowded downtown streets were packed with cars, bikes, and pedestrians. He needed an edge.Then he saw it. A police horse!"What the—?" Luke muttered.Without thinking twice, he grabbed the reins from the horse and swung himself up. "Hyah!" he urged the horse forward. But the stubborn animal wouldn't b
Getting into Investigation
Then it hit him. "That's it! Finally! Hahaha..." Luke Sullivan shouted, his mind racing with new insights into the case.He was in an unusually good mood as he squeezed onto the packed city bus with Bella Lane. They'd been assigned to the same unit in Special Crimes, which was seriously short-handed due to the Maimed Case investigation. Though she was technically support staff, Bella Lane seemed thrilled to be partnered with him - her not-so-secret crush. Meanwhile, Luke was practically bouncing off the walls, humming and chattering away, momentarily forgetting about his bet with Vincent Parker.That morning, he'd managed to restart his Crime System. Before even hitting the bathroom, he'd lit up a cigarette, only to start coughing violently on the first drag. That's when he heard it: "Crime System engaged. Welcome. Enhance your destiny."He'd scrambled to write down what he could remember in his pocket notebook, managing only fragments like 'land' and 'water'. Though he couldn't fully