Home / System / The Crime System /  I’m Penniless
 I’m Penniless
Author: Mirex bing
last update2025-04-02 23:00:29

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 kind of life did not sound bad at all!

Maybe it would be better to stick around for a bit, and not think about going back to his old business just yet.

Luke's first rental possibility was in a shopping district near the police station. The house was being advertised by a shopfront called Dalton Fruit Company.

The owner was a pale, fat man named James Dalton. He was highly personable and was often laughing. Seeing Luke arrive with the advertisement, he hurried forward and greeted him warmly.

As it turned out, James's fruit shop was located within a standalone three-story building. The first floor was the shop, the second was his own home, and the third floor was an open space spanning about sixty square meters. Conveniently, the man wanted to rent it out.

Luke looked around and decided he really liked this place. One, because it was convenient for traveling. Two, because there weren't any tandoor places or other food stands around to disturb his sleep at night. Lastly, the house was even furnished, allowing him to move in immediately.

The chubby James also suggestively told Luke that the neighboring shopfront was similar to his own, with a few college students living upstairs. "The students are like models, if you rent my room, you might even be able to take care of some of your…personal issues!"

Through the bars on the balcony, Luke indeed saw many feminine articles of clothing that were being hung dry on a drying rack.

'Wow! Nice place!' 

His eyes narrowed at the idea, his thoughts were decided. "The place I need is this place right here, right now!"

Luke asked for the price and was immediately shocked. The house was more than three-thousand dollars a month, and must be paid biannually. Right now, he wouldn't be able to pay that much!

"Any discount?" he asked.

James Dalton was also very straightforward and immediately nodded, "Then 3,980 dollars! If it's too much, you can also pay seasonally instead!"

"Holy Moly!" Luke immediately started cursing, "Is this place so expensive? Is this a robbery? I'll tell you now, as a policeman, I can arrest you now! Do you believe me?"

But James knew the rules, "There's nothing wrong with me renting out my property. Why would I be afraid of you? This is downtown–the perfect area. Not to mention the daily eye candy. My price is already dirt cheap! If you don't want it, fine, I've got a line waiting for it!"

"Jesus! Who the hell do you think you are? I don't want it, then!" Luke cursed angrily as he left the fruit shop, mumbling to himself, "If this were my previous life, I'd have already gotten a bunch of people and wrecked the shop! You'd have to pay me to live there!"

Hmph!

Luke left the shop angrily. His good mood had been killed by the stupid fatty. He walked into a cheeseburger stall and ate three cheeseburgers before he felt like he had let off some steam.

If that one wouldn't work, then he had to go to his backup. The other house was a boarding room for rent. To get there, Luke had to cross through the narrow gullies in the L.C. District.

This area looked just like his previous world. He had often brawled in these gullies, and knew the area like the back of his hand. Luke easily found a shortcut.

It was exactly noon, the residents were all preparing or eating their lunch. The gully was basically empty.

As he crossed through, Luke suddenly saw a suspicious shadow running through one of the gullies. He wasn't sure why, but he reflexively hid before whoever it was saw him.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Related Chapters

  • The Crime System   Caught in the Act

    Luke Sullivan noticed the kid wearing a dark green cap. The youngster was of average height and skinny, almost like a student. Yet they looked very nervous, as if doing something questionable.'Interesting!' Luke thought. He used to deal with these delinquents often and followed the kid out of curiosity. Despite the youngster being on high alert, constantly checking left and right, Luke was experienced in stealth and avoided all detection.Finally, he followed the kid into a dark corner. There was a tattooed man with dyed blonde hair waiting.The two exchanged no words when they met. The youngster immediately handed the other man some sort of black Game Card, while the blonde pulled out an envelope in exchange.'Huh!?' Luke watched from the sideline. Even an idiot could tell that the two must be making some sort of illegal deal! If he rushed out now, he could definitely catch them red-handed, adding more credit to his criminal catching record.But Luke was used to this sort of activit

  • The Crime System   Getting the House Rent

    Luke's mind reeled. "Wow... No way?" This had to be the second biggest coincidence in the world. He had just quarreled with the owner of Dalton Fruit Company, and now he'd caught his daughter red-handed in illegal activities. Surely, this couldn't be a mere chance!He couldn't help but attribute this to the Crime System. It had to be involved somehow."Mr. Policeman, sir?" The girl's voice snapped Luke back to reality. She stood obediently before him, too scared to run. "Please, can you let me go? The money... I mean, the stolen fee... I don't want it anymore!"An idea suddenly struck Luke. He hastily returned the envelope to her. "What do you mean you don't want it? Here, take it! It's fine, we're all friends here. No problem at all!""Oh... you..." The girl was shocked. "You know my dad?""Mm... you see," Luke thought quickly, changing tack. "I... I just rented your house! Now that I understand your situation, if it's to save your mother, I can turn a blind edge! Don't worry, carry

  • The Crime System   The Strange Detective

    It was 6:30 am in the morning, the sun just peeking over the horizon of New York, most of the city still shrouded in shadows. Luke Sullivan hadn't witnessed it himself, but he had been told about the scene at the 24-hour McDonald's on Banyan Street. Two middle schoolers were there, trying to catch up on their morning recitation while quickly devouring their chicken sandwiches.Suddenly, a woman stumbled in. She wore a brand-name windbreaker, but it was stained with blood. Her hair was a mess, and she was clearly exhausted. She nearly collapsed as she pushed open the heavy glass door, limping towards the students."H...H...Help..." she managed to call out weakly.The middle schoolers looked up and nearly screamed. They scrambled back, dropping their juice in shock. The woman was missing her right hand! At the end of her wrist was only an ugly, blood-soaked bandage.At 8 o'clock that morning, Luke was lounging in the giant bed of his new flat, feeling utterly content. The rent was still

  • The Crime System   The Maimed Case

    Luke Sullivan was startled awake by his phone ringing. "Hello? Officer Sullivan, where are you? How come you still haven't arrived? The entire unit's waiting on you!" came Bella's urgent voice."What's up? Go where?" he answered lazily."No way?" Bella sounded surprised. "Didn't you get the text? The Maimed Case! The whole team is at the office for a meeting! Hurry up and come... hurry..."The line shut off, and Luke now saw the phone notification. Due to a sudden case today, everyone was required to be at the police station at exactly 8:00 am for a meeting to analyze the situation. The entire team must be there.Looking at his watch, it was almost 8:30 am.Luke was rather agitated. Yesterday he hadn't gotten any sleep, today he finally got some shut eye, but how come there was another case out of nowhere? With a name like the "Maimed Case," too?At first, he was much too lazy to go. But after thinking about the name "Maimed Case," it sounded somewhat interesting. After much contempl

  • The Crime System   The Severed Maimed Mystery

    Detective Luke Sullivan watched as the team scattered, heading back to their desks. Bella Lane grabbed his arm and pulled him aside, her expression concerned."Luke, what's gotten into you lately? Have you lost your mind? This is the notorious Maimed Case! What were you thinking about making a bet like that?" she demanded."The Maimed Case? What's the big deal?" he said with a shrug.Luke searched his memory and found the relevant information. His mind drifted back to around this time last year. He was just a rookie detective then, but instead of working the case, he'd been assigned to help the forensics department set up their new equipment."What's the big deal?" Bella Lane threw up her hands in frustration. "Several officers lost their badges because of this case. If it was that simple to solve, we wouldn't still be talking about it!"Then it clicked for Luke. Last year, around late May, their city had been rocked by two incidents in what became known as the Maimed Case, causing wi

  • The Crime System   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

  • The Crime System   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

  • The Crime System   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

Latest Chapter

  • Hands of Justice

    Luke understood two things clearly as the pieces fell into place. One, Lila's drugged gun wasn't some off-the-shelf purchase. It had been specially prepared for this crime. She couldn't have been sure that Sophia Young would go into the grave alone, so the gun was her backup plan. Ironically, Luke ended up being the one who got shot in the end.The second realization was more chilling. For years, ever since that piano competition, Lila hadn't thought about severing hands in revenge, even though she felt robbed. It wasn't until last January when she learned her mother had a terminal illness that her resentment boiled over. Losing her mother's presence, already so fragile, shattered her last thread of patience. Devastated, she finally gave in to her thirst for vengeance.Luke sighed deeply and said, "You're so capable, Lila. But why would someone with your skills choose something so stupid for revenge? You could've tracked down those suspects and forced them to tell the truth! Whoever h

  • Fifteen Years of Festering Hatred

    Luke sat up instantly. Lila Davis? Wanting to see him? What could her angle possibly be? Despite himself, he was curious. There were still gaping holes in the story—mysteries left unsolved.After grabbing his coat, Luke made his way to the station.The interrogation room was just as oppressive as he remembered—dim corners soaked in shadow, with a single, merciless bulb spotlighting the prisoner. Luke had been here many times, but never on this side of the table.Lila Davis sat waiting, her arms strapped tightly to the interrogation chair. Her head drooped forward, long tangled hair hiding her face. When she heard Luke’s footsteps, she raised her head slowly.She wasn’t tall. Her face was sharply angled, her skin pale to the point of translucence. She barely looked thirty. If not for the crimes she had committed, she could have passed for an ordinary college student. Yet this woman had done the unthinkable—severing the hands of three victims."I heard you wanted to see me," Luke said,

  • How Luke did it

    Luke Sullivan hadn’t caught the culprit through sheer intellect. No, he had something far more valuable on his side—the Crime System’s gift: an invisible tracking device.When he was struck by the anesthetic dart and had hovered on the edge of unconsciousness, an idea had flashed through his mind like a lifeline. The tracking device. Summoning the last of his strength, Luke had managed to plant it on Lila Davis. The device had been nothing short of miraculous—completely invisible. She hadn’t noticed a thing.Later, when he regained consciousness, the Crime System had activated the radar in his mind, lighting up with Lila Davis’s exact location. That was how he had found her.Still, he hadn’t expected her to be so cunning. Lila had dug a hole in advance, creating an escape route for herself. As Luke stared at the grave she’d hidden in, he couldn’t help but wonder: what kind of willpower did it take to lie there in absolute silence for days? No ordinary person could endure such mental t

  • Finishing the Incomplete Mission

    Luke Sullivan was still drifting in a semi-conscious haze when the baritone voice of Vincent Parker sliced through the fog like nails on a chalkboard."You’re really something, Luke Sullivan! Such a major thing happened, and I’m the last to know! Do you even consider me your superior anymore?" Vincent’s booming indignation hammered at Luke’s skull. "Sure, I’m not the acting leader, but I’m still your superior! How dare you keep me in the dark? I’m no better than an outsider now! Let me tell you this—if the culprit isn’t caught, none of you will have a peaceful day!"Luke barely mustered the energy to curse Vincent out in his mind. The man’s voice was so obnoxious. Yet, as the anesthetic’s hold on his body slowly ebbed away, a more alarming realization struck him—he couldn’t move. His limbs felt leaden, like he’d been run over by a truck.“Miss Wendy, is Officer Sullivan alright?” a soft, worried voice asked. It was Bella Lane, and her concern was a welcome relief from the shouting.“D

  • The Close Attack

    Hanging up, Luke scrolled through the photos again, searching for anything he might've missed. Then it hit him—the jars under Lila Davis's bed. There was an empty spot, clearly meant for a fourth jar. His gut churned. That jar was for Sophia Young. But where was it now? If it wasn't at her place, had Lila Davis taken it with her?A thought struck him like lightning. Why was Sophia Young even in town? To repair her father's grave. If her flight landed on schedule, she'd likely have gone straight to the graveyard.The graveyard. A secluded spot with no cameras and no witnesses. The perfect place for Lila Davis to strike.Luke's hands tightened around the steering wheel as he sped off. The clock was ticking, and the pieces of this grim puzzle were falling into place. Time to stop a killer.He had never driven a police car before. He didn't even have a driver's license. But Luke Sullivan from his previous life? A different story altogether. Back then, he was a street king. Police stations

  • The Unknown Location

    Luke had barely flipped his phone open when Bella Lane's vivacious voice burst through the line. "Luke, what a coincidence! I was just about to call you!" she chirped. "Lily Xavier's private life is a mess. I just saw her go into a hotel with two guys!""What?" he stammered, thrown off guard. He had meant to tell her about what he'd just uncovered at Lila Davis's house, but this? This was unexpected.Before he could gather his thoughts, she cut him off with a laugh. "I'm joking! She's there for a conference. Relax! Kekeke…"Luke sighed, cutting her short to lay everything on the table about what he'd found. The dismembered hands, the chilling clues—everything. By the time he finished, Bella Lane was silent, her usual spunk replaced with stunned disbelief."L-Luke! What do we do next?" she stammered.Good question. What did they do next? Luke wasn't exactly a seasoned cop, and an earth-shattering case like this wasn't something they taught at the academy. He knew they had to lock down

  • The Ladder of Vengeance

    When Luke finally laid eyes on Lila Davis's detailed plan, it all clicked. The methodology was diabolically brilliant. If "vent" was the keyword for Mary Nelson's case, then for Yara Voss's case, it was undoubtedly "ladder." The revelation hit him like a sledgehammer. Lila Davis had used a retractable ladder to bridge the five-meter gap between the building next to Yara Voss's apartment and her home. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment crime; it was a masterclass in meticulous planning. Months earlier, Lila Davis had scouted the rooftop of the adjacent building, stockpiling food and water to sustain her. On May 23rd, after severing Mary Nelson's hand at the stadium, she didn't return home. Instead, she disappeared into the bustling morning work crowd and made her way to the neighboring building. From there, she ascended to the rooftop and hid. Her entry was ghostlike. She hadn't come through Yara Voss's building but the adjacent one, days in advance. When law enforcement reviewed s

  • A Real Mastermind

    Luke walked over to the bookshelf, his gut telling him this was where the answers lay. The books were arranged perfectly, categorized into literature, science, technology, and—interesting—medical science. His eyes stopped on a section labeled "Medical." Among the titles were books on anaesthesiology and human anatomy. Luke's heart raced. Could this be a clue to Lila Davis's connection to the Maimed Case? Reaching out for one of the books, he heard the old lady gasp. "Officer, why aren't you wearing gloves?"Luke stood in the dimly lit room, the faint smell of old books and lavender air freshener lingering. The elderly woman, with her worn expression and frail frame, watched him warily from the doorway. "I'm here to investigate, not to take evidence!" he said bluntly, waving off her protests. "Why would I need gloves? Don't worry, your daughter isn't a detective. She won't notice!"Ignoring her muttering objections, Luke grabbed a book from the neatly arranged shelf. The title read

  • The Secrets Behind Closed Doors

    "Do you know where your daughter is?" Luke asked Lila Davis's mother, trying to mask the uneasy feeling creeping up on him. Something about her story didn't sit right. "How can I find her?" The old lady shifted nervously, still preoccupied with her worry over the piano incident. "Officer, I've told you everything you asked. Why do you still need to find her?" "Nothing serious," he lied, flashing his badge for effect. "This is just routine. We're investigating the piano competition. There's a chance we might catch the culprit who hurt your daughter." Her furrowed brow relaxed slightly. "Oh… well, my daughter should be with the performance troupe—the one at the City Cultural Center. She mentioned going to the countryside with them tonight and wouldn't be back for four or five days." Luke felt his chest tighten. Out of town? The timing was too convenient. If Lila Davis was the mastermind behind the so-called Maimed Case, could this be her next move? "Ma'am, let me ask you this.

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App