Meanwhile, not far outside the classroom.
Caitlyn Kiramman. To most people, this name was entirely unfamiliar.
But if one were to mention her surname alone—Kiramman—there was not a single soul in Piltover who did not know it.
This was because House Kiramman was one of Piltover's oldest merchant families. The current head of the family, Madam Kiramman—Caitlyn's mother—was one of the standing councilors who wielded the highest authority on the Piltover Council.
Therefore, no matter who it was—whether they knew her or not—upon seeing Caitlyn, they would respectfully address her as:
"Miss Kiramman."
"Do not call me 'Kiramman'," Caitlyn said, furrowing her brows slightly. "Sir, you can just call me Caitlyn."
She was currently wearing a standard Piltovan Enforcer uniform: a wide-brimmed blue hat, an Enforcer dress, a leather utility belt, slip-resistant fiber gloves, a rifle, a pistol, and combat boots. She was fully equipped.
Her smooth, long blue hair was tied into a simple ponytail, the braid resting casually over her shoulder, further highlighting her capable and heroic demeanor.
Yes, Caitlyn's job was an Enforcer.
Even though she was born a noble lady of Piltover.
However, her dream was to be an ordinary Piltovan Enforcer—upholding the law, practicing justice, punishing evil, and protecting the people.
This was Caitlyn's dream.
But as the daughter of a Piltover Councilor, bearing the surname of House Kiramman, even if she truly became an "ordinary" Enforcer, she could never actually be ordinary.
After Caitlyn became an Enforcer, the entire precinct protected her like a fragile treasure, absolutely terrified of assigning her any dangerous tasks lest she suffer even the slightest scratch.
This time, she had finally managed to fight for a proper field assignment. Yet, once the operation began, her colleagues treated her like a Nexus that needed defending—
They would rather abandon the search for the suspect than fail to dedicate a massive detail of personnel to guard Caitlyn.
"We are colleagues, and you are even my superior. I hope you can treat me like an ordinary rookie. Assign me whatever work needs to be done, and please do not give me this kind of special treatment."
Looking at the large group of "bodyguards" surrounding her, Caitlyn could not help but speak to the leading veteran officer in utter exasperation.
"Understood, Miss Kira—Caitlyn."
The veteran officer nodded attentively.
Although the address had changed, his fawning attitude remained exactly the same.
"We guarantee you will have the chance to take the field personally this time, allowing you to experience the thrill of catching a criminal with your own hands!"
Caitlyn was speechless.
"Sir, are you treating me like a tourist here on a hunting safari?"
"No, no, no... of course not."
The veteran officer said this, yet he did not withdraw a single ounce of the protective detail.
Several Enforcers, including himself, continued to surround Caitlyn tightly. Their attitudes were resolute and self-righteous, acting just like League of Legends players sacrificing their lives to block a Caitlyn ultimate for their teammate.
Caitlyn felt even more helpless.
"Forget it. Sir, you should just brief me on the target of this operation."
Caitlyn peered past the human wall of her teammates, observing her surroundings.
In truth, there was not much to observe.
This was the campus of the University of Piltover, specifically the highly important Academy of Hextech.
It was hard to imagine what kind of villain would run off to a place like this.
"It is a Zaunite apprentice named Levi."
Like a tutorial fairy in a video game, the veteran officer considerately introduced the details of the mission to Caitlyn.
"Levi, male, nineteen years old, Zaunite. He obtained his apprentice qualifications two years ago and came to work in Piltover. He is currently employed at the Ivern Hextech Audio Factory in the industrial district."
"His household consists of two people: himself and his younger sister. His sister is named Lina, female, eighteen years old, a student at the University of Piltover's Academy of Hextech."
"We received a citizen's report this morning stating that Levi assaulted a Piltovan citizen in the streets, causing severe injuries and committing robbery. Furthermore, he is in illegal possession of contraband items such as Shimmer potions."
"According to reliable intelligence, the suspect is currently highly likely to be with his sister, hiding within the campus of the University of Piltover."
"Here are photographs of him and his sister."
Saying this, the veteran officer directly pulled out the photos of both the suspect and his family member.
The mission intelligence was so overly detailed that it was only one step short of turning on an auto-pathing guide for Boss Caitlyn.
"Wait," Caitlyn said, sharply noticing something fishy.
"Sir, where did you get all this intelligence?"
"Since the victimized citizen just reported the crime this morning, and it is only noon right now... how did the precinct manage to gather such detailed intelligence in such a short amount of time?"
"Not only do you have photos of the suspect's family, but you have also pinpointed their hiding spot?"
"Does investigating these clues not require time?"
"Well..." The veteran officer's expression suddenly became rather subtle. "I am not entirely sure myself."
"All this intelligence was handed directly to me by Sheriff Marcus. I suppose... I suppose it came from an enthusiastic citizen's tip?"
"Is that so?" Caitlyn furrowed her brows in suspicion.
The veteran officer clearly did not want to dwell on the topic. He immediately and seamlessly changed the subject, advising her with a sincere tone.
"In short, Miss Caitlyn."
"The target of this operation is a Zaunite, and he is suspected of possessing contraband like Shimmer potions. You absolutely must be careful, careful, and careful again. Whatever you do, do not separate from our unit."
"If you see him, draw your gun and aim immediately. Do not hesitate."
"If you get the chance, use grappling techniques to pin him to the ground right away. Remember, you must lock his hands behind his back and press your knee against his neck!"
"Do not listen to him if he yells about not being able to breathe or gasping for air. Even if he cannot breathe, you keep him pinned down!"
"And before that, if he makes any sudden movements—like reaching into his pockets, putting his hands behind his back, or reaching behind a door—"
"Then do not hesitate at all. Shoot to kill immediately!"
"Understood." Caitlyn nodded solemnly.
Zaunites were inherently dangerous creatures. One had to be extremely cautious when encountering them.
Shoot whenever possible.
Even if they were knocked down, fire a few more shots to be sure.
It was best to empty the entire magazine before stepping forward to check.
This was the bloody experience earnestly imparted to every Enforcer by their seniors upon joining the force.
Every year, many green Piltovan Enforcers tragically died in the line of duty because their soft-heartedness and hesitation gave those wicked Zaunites an opportunity to counterattack.
"Every Zaunite is a demon."
"Even if they are not, you must treat them as if they are. Otherwise, the one who dies will be you!"
The veteran officer poured his heart out as he passed this experience on to Caitlyn.
It sounded like discrimination.
Yet, during her time as an Enforcer, Caitlyn found herself increasingly agreeing with such extreme rhetoric, though she did not know why.
Because she had indeed seen that nearly eighty percent of criminals were Zaunites. The ones destroying Piltover's public order were Zaunites.
Zaunites truly seemed to be born criminals.
Evil, barbaric, lazy, and idle—smashing, looting, and burning at every given opportunity.
Although she always felt there was something slightly wrong with this logic, it was never a mistake to be on guard against Zaunites.
"I understand. I will definitely be careful."
Caitlyn nodded earnestly.
And Levi, the Zaunite youth who looked quite handsome and clean-cut in the photograph, unknowingly transformed in her eyes into something as vicious and terrifying as a wild wolf after this mental preparation.
She quietly tightened her grip on her rifle.
If she saw the suspect, she absolutely would not hold back.
At that moment, a colleague came running over hurriedly from nearby.
"Sir! Miss Caitlyn! We found the suspect!"
"Where is he?"
"Are there students around?"
In Caitlyn's imagination, a heinous thug like Levi, who dared to commit violence in the streets, must be hiding in some dark corner right now, staring at those students like a starving wolf.
At the slightest sign of trouble, he would directly take the students hostage. If he was even more extreme, he might cruelly take the lives of several innocent students, dragging them down to perish alongside him.
Therefore, Caitlyn specifically asked, "Are there many students around him? Is there a possibility they have been taken hostage?"
"Uh, well..."
"He is right in the classroom, and there are quite a few students. The classroom is completely full."
"What?!" The air instantly grew tense.
Was there even a place to hide in a classroom?
Could Levi have already taken the students hostage, preparing to openly confront the Enforcers?
Thus, Caitlyn immediately asked,
"What is he doing in the classroom?"
"Have all those students been taken hostage?"
"No." The reporting Enforcer wore a bizarre expression. "Although I did not hear what they were talking about, the suspect seems to be..."
"Giving a lecture to the students on the podium?"
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