The driver saw Luo Luo's harmless appearance and his powerfully disarming smile. His guard dropped significantly. The two sat in the car, gazing in the direction of the bank. After about five minutes, "You… you… you said it was fine… a SWAT vehicle even showed up!"
Inside the bank, the female staff member was sent flying, landing on the floor. Her face was as swollen as if blown by a gust of wind. The moment the alarm sounded, a middle-aged man in a suit came running out in a panic, accompanied by over a dozen security guards.
"What's going on?" The man appeared and gave Chu Tian a deep look. Chu Tian had expected him to question him first. Instead, he addressed the woman first.
"Director Jin, it's him… he harassed me first and then hit me… I suspect he's here to rob the bank!" the woman said, covering her face. As soon as the words "rob the bank" were uttered, all the security guards became alert. Some even drew their firearms.
Chu Tian knew that the firearms carried by the bank's security were not loaded with real bullets but with rubber projectiles. They could hurt badly but were not lethal. The man called Director Jin adjusted his glasses and stared intently at the female staff member for a full ten seconds before shifting his gaze to Chu Tian.
"Sir, may I ask what you are here to do?" the man asked in a very calm voice. This struck Chu Tian as peculiar; the man's composure was unlike that of an ordinary person.
"I'm here to make a deposit…" Chu Tian replied plainly.
"Oh? Then why did you have a conflict with Miss Cheng?" Director Jin asked, his expression unchanged and his tone towards Chu Tian quite gentle.
"Heh…" Chu Tian raised his wrist. The security guards flinched back in alarm.
"Don't move…" someone shouted. However, Chu Tian paid them no mind. He lightly pressed a button on the wrist-worn, watch-like Shattered Star Central Control System.
[Beep… Recording function activated!]
Moments later, all the onlookers turned their attention to the woman. Even the security guards looked embarrassed, and those holding firearms lowered them.
"Miss Cheng, what do you say?" Director Jin adjusted his glasses again, staring at the bank employee.
"I…" The woman couldn't believe that someone would carry a recording device to a bank. Faced with irrefutable evidence, she couldn't deny anything. However, her ability to change the subject was remarkable.
"I apologize for my words, but… he hit me. How do we account for that?" This woman truly wouldn't give up until she was cornered.
"You saw me hitting someone? Did no one else see it?" Chu Tian spread his hands.
"You… fine, we have a comprehensive, no-blind-spot surveillance system here. I don't believe the cameras won't show it." Seeing Chu Tian's innocent demeanor, the woman became enraged. If this man hadn't hit her, did she slap herself?
"I want to check the surveillance…" the woman continued to shout.
"Apologies, you do not have the authority to view our bank's surveillance system. Furthermore, I already reviewed it before your actions. This gentleman was indeed standing still and did not move!" Director Jin stated calmly.
"Impossible… I don't have the authority, fine… I'll find Vice Manager Fu to check!" The woman said this and took out her phone.
"Heh, Vice Manager? Why not just find the main manager directly!" Chu Tian scoffed. Director Jin paid no attention to the woman. Suddenly, sirens wailed outside. Four SWAT vehicles sped to the bank entrance. A stream of riot police rushed in. However, upon entering, they froze. Weren't they told there was a bank robbery? How was it so peaceful here? A group of security guards surrounded one person, but that person was in casual wear, around twenty years old, and unarmed… not at all like a robber!
Chu Tian's gaze was naturally drawn to the commotion. Seeing the special police enter, he noticed one of them and his eyes widened slightly. The officer also saw Chu Tian and paused. The next moment, he waved his hand. Although Chu Tian didn't understand the gesture, seeing the special police immediately put away their weapons and stand at attention, he knew what it meant.
"You again…" The captain's expression held a hint of a wry smile.
"Captain Zhang? Long time no see!" Chu Tian also managed a wry smile. This was the person who had led the special police response when he had heavily injured two esper-users at a noodle shop while investigating Qin Yao's disappearance. Because it was in a busy area, it had quickly alerted law enforcement. The special police unit that responded was led by this man. At the time, he had mentioned he was also from the Zhang family, so Chu Tian naturally remembered him.
"I don't have the surname Zhang. I'm only from the outer branch of the Zhang family. My surname is Lin, and my given name is Bei!" Lin Bei stepped forward and spoke to Chu Tian, then turned to look at the five security guards lying on the ground and the swollen-faced woman. After making a phone call, the woman had calmed down. He didn't know what was said on the other end, but her expression was grim, and she shot Chu Tian a resentful look. Seeing that the special police captain had a familiar relationship with Chu Tian, she angrily threw her phone to the ground, smashing it to pieces.
"Jin Rilai, how dare you frame me…" After saying this, she turned and left.
"I didn't frame you. I was just on a video call with Manager Fu and Elder Fu!" Jin Rilai pulled out his phone from his chest pocket, where it had been protruding. "Manager Fu, I'll handle this situation first and then chat with you later!" Jin Rilai looked at the phone screen, a slight curve to his lips. Chu Tian saw an elderly man with an unpleasant expression on the video screen. Without a word, the man ended the video call.
"Alright, apologies, our employee made a mistake and caused you trouble!" Jin Rilai first said with a smile to Lin Bei.
"It was indeed troublesome…" Lin Bei glanced at Chu Tian, who awkwardly rubbed his nose.
"Since there's nothing else, we'll be leaving!" Lin Bei clearly didn't want to linger and turned, making a gesture. The special police retreated in an orderly fashion.
"Don't go, don't go, you might be needed later!" Chu Tian reached out and placed a hand on Lin Bei's shoulder. Lin Bei's body stiffened. *Bang, bang, bang…* Three successive thuds sounded from within him. However, only he could hear them; no one else did. Chu Tian felt three forces surge from under his palm, colliding with his hand three times. Yet, Chu Tian's hand, holding Lin Bei's shoulder lightly, did not budge. Lin Bei's eyes flickered as he slowly turned around.
"Is there something else?"
"Yes, I said I'm here to deposit money, but I have quite a lot. I'm not sure if this bank has a vault! If not, you might need to arrange for an escort!" Chu Tian said calmly.
"Quite a lot?" Lin Bei frowned, while Jin Rilai's eyes flickered.
"Mm, see that car? I'm not sure how much is inside. You'll need to help count it!" Chu Tian said, pointing outside through the floor-to-ceiling window.