It was both scalding and spicy, making it somewhat uncomfortable for them, accustomed as they were to simple, mild, salty, and sweet flavors.

Daisy had an even stronger reaction.

She initially wanted to spit it out, but seeing Dean smiling at her from across the table, she clenched her teeth and swallowed it.

One bite, then another.

The allure of the spicy flavor began to emerge.

The more they ate, the spicier it became, and the spicier it became, the more they craved it.

Before their rears were metaphorically ablaze, no one would choose restraint in the face of such an overwhelming and satisfying urge to eat.

...

「The next day.」

Dean enjoyed a rare sleep-in, not sauntering into the central precinct, whistling, until ten in the morning.

When he reached his office door, just as he was about to enter...

CLICK.

The office door opened from the inside, and a bald head poked out.

It was the bald patrol officer, Hawk, who emerged with a surprised and peculiar expression.

Upon seeing Dean, Hawk paused. He was about to greet him but then seemed to recall something, and his gaze immediately darted to a... particular area on Dean.

Dean's face darkened. "Hawk, I must remind you, leering is a form of harassment. If you don't want an extra little tail growing in *that* region, avert your eyes!"

Hawk raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, I admit I was being a bit lewd, but it's not my fault. Harry and the others are acting so strangely! I heard from Harry's lover today that Harry... *broadened his horizons* last night and has been limping ever since.

I was curious, so I came to take a look. Turns out, it's not just Harry, but Daisy too, and even Carlo, the rookie in your squad... they're all..."

He trailed off, apparently unsure how to describe it. Instead, he grabbed his own butt cheeks, pulled them apart, and then mimicked walking with an exaggerated limp.

"That's pretty much how they look now."

Hawk gave Dean a lewd grin. "I asked Harry, but he wouldn't say much. Just that you guys had a team dinner last night. Dean, can you invite me next time? I might be old, but I'm pretty open-minded. I'd like to try out what you young folks are into."

Dean was speechless.

This lecherous bald guy! he thought.

He says 'dinner,' but his face screams, 'Did you guys have a Silver party last night? Form a little train?'

Rendered speechless, Dean pulled a discount coupon from the hot pot restaurant they'd visited last night out of his pocket. "You can take your colleagues to check out the atmosphere there first. Remember, you absolutely must order the extra-spicy level. You guys will definitely discover a whole new world!"

"Is it thrilling?" Hawk asked.

"Very thrilling. I guarantee that everyone, regardless of age or gender, will end up red-faced and drenched in sweat, but also incredibly exhilarated and unwilling to stop."

Listening to Dean's description, Hawk licked his lips and took the coupon. "Alright then, Dean! I had no idea Los Angeles had a place like this. As a local patrol officer, I feel it's my duty to take my colleagues and probe its... depths tonight!"

"Go on, then," Dean said, watching Hawk's departing figure with a wicked grin.

Hopefully, Hawk and his buddies bring their wives when they go for that 'gay' spicy hot pot, Dean mused. Otherwise, it'll probably lead to a slew of domestic suspicions and tragedies. After all, there are quite a few gay men around here.

...

It was another day of slacking off. The crew member Moress had mentioned, the one who was supposed to turn himself in, still hadn't shown up. But Dean wasn't worried. He was now dedicating more time to reading, broadening his knowledge base. Occasionally, he would chat privately with Little Mike via the messaging app Little Mike himself had developed, catching up on recent developments.

「Three o'clock in the afternoon.」

A notification finally chimed in Dean's mind: Experience Points credited.

The one turning himself in had arrived.

The cruise ship murder case was closed.

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