Chapter 164: Married for 20 Years, Daughter 22 Years Old

Roan looked away from the computer screen and smiled as he replied:

"I was just thinking about what to do over the next two days."

Following the crackdown on the Brent Hughes case, the bonuses had yet to be disbursed due to the intervention of the Financial Crimes Unit.

As for the Seaside Pit Serial Murders, since the case was solved just today, the bounties and bonuses would undoubtedly not be issued until next week, especially with tomorrow and the day after being the weekend.

The workweek had already passed, and the FBI did not work on Saturdays and Sundays.

Upon hearing Roan's words, the other three snapped out of their thoughts and their faces instantly lit up with joy. Mona and Lacey immediately huddled together and began whispering to each other.

Considering that Mona never went shopping with anyone else, not even another woman, Roan guessed that what she and Lacey were discussing was most likely related to cosmetics.

This was because Lacey had once again miraculously produced a large assortment of makeup products.

Roan was quite envious of this skill for concealing items.

Yet, without a pocket dimension tucked against his chest, there was no way for him to learn it even if he wanted to.

"Are you coming to my place tomorrow?"

Ryder, sitting nearby, pushed his coffee mug aside, patted his chest, and extended an invitation to Roan for a barbecue party.

Every two weeks, Ryder and Ivana would host a grand barbecue party over the weekend, inviting friends and family.

"Uhm..."

Recalling the last time he got drunk and woke up the next day with a lingering headache, only for Ivana to suggest he drink a bit more hair of the dog, Roan felt a thick mass of black lines appear across his forehead.

The hospitality style of Texans was simply too rustic, and Roan was still struggling to adapt to it.

Still, having food and drinks was better than lying dead at home like a corpse. After a moment of thought, Roan prepared to accept, when August suddenly pushed open the door to the squad leader's office and stepped out, shouting with his signature booming voice:

"Everyone, I plan to surprise my wife tomorrow by throwing an anniversary party! Anyone who has free time absolutely must come!"

"What?"

"An anniversary?"

Hearing this news, the agents of Special Investigation Squad Five let out simultaneous cries of astonishment.

Seeing this, August patted his large belly and smiled, explaining that tomorrow happened to be their twentieth wedding anniversary, and since their daughter was already twenty-two years old, it was the perfect time to host a celebration party.

Lacey, Ryder, and the others all smiled and promised to attend on time, while Roan nodded in agreement.

However... married for twenty years, and a twenty-two-year-old daughter.

Standing nearby and scratching his head, Roan found this math problem a bit too difficult; he wasn't particularly good at calculating it.

***

The next day, evening.

Roan arrived at August's house right on time.

August's daughter was named Lula. To be honest, before coming here, Roan had harbored some other thoughts regarding her parentage.

Yet, upon catching sight of Lula's face... well, Lula had a lovely personality, and at a single glance, she was undeniably August's biological daughter.

Pregnancy before marriage did not seem to be much of an issue among Black families.

At the very least, the father hadn't run away.

After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, Roan found the atmosphere slightly awkward.

Everyone else had brought their significant others.

Lacey included.

She had brought along a new girlfriend she had picked up from goodness knows where.

The other invited guests had also brought their respective wives, children, girlfriends, and boyfriends.

It seemed that attending an anniversary party without bringing a personal date just felt a bit strange.

Just as Roan picked up a drink and prepared to walk over to Mona for a chat, August's wife, Cyrine, approached him.

Cyrine was exceptionally enthusiastic toward Roan. She walked over to him alongside August and took the initiative to start a conversation.

No, it would be more accurate to say that Cyrine was the only one actively chatting with Roan.

She first praised Roan for his handsome appearance, and then launched into a series of transparent, probing remarks, asking whether Roan had a girlfriend and what his private life was like.

She also mentioned that her daughter Lula was still single, and asked how Roan felt about her daughter, and so on.

Roan felt rather awkward, August looked equally embarrassed, Lacey covered her mouth nearby with a stifled chuckle, and Mona wore a look of utter speechlessness.

On one hand, August felt that his wife was being a bit impolite; on the other hand, August had a very clear and realistic awareness of his daughter's appearance.

Cough, cough.

August used a series of subtle gestures to warn his wife, but they seemed to have little effect. Fortunately, the arrival of new guests diverted everyone's attention.

It was Squad Leader Dillon from the Organized Crime Unit, Agent Norton, and an unfamiliar young man.

Seeing Dillon walk into the room, August hurriedly strode forward to greet him, pulling the man into a tight hug and forcefully slapping him on the back:

"Good evening, you old bastard!"

Seeing this, Dillon refused to show any weakness, letting out a hearty laugh as he reciprocated by forcefully slapping August's back:

"Happy anniversary, August!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The loud, muffled echoing sounds generated by the two men slapping each other's backs caused a forest of black lines to sprout across the foreheads of everyone present.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Roan slipped away from Cyrine and walked over to Agent Norton to strike up a conversation.

"Good evening, Norton."

"Good evening, Roan."

Taking the drink handed to him by the other man, Norton looked at Roan's handsome face and felt a deep sense of emotion as they chatted.

Ever since they first met through the undercover serial murder case, Agent Norton had recognized that Roan was an extraordinary talent, and the thought of poaching Roan into their Organized Crime Unit had crossed his mind.

However, after he voiced his intentions, Squad Leader Dillon ultimately chose to decline because of August.

Agent Norton had felt deeply regretful about this. Once the order came down from leadership, it naturally became inappropriate for him to try and poach Roan privately behind the scenes.

Nevertheless, Norton still chose to maintain a good relationship with Roan, occasionally inviting him out for activities like fishing.

Though Roan had muttered something about forgetting his helmet that day and had simply spent the entire time watching him fish.

After the fishing incident wrapped up, Norton had been tied up dealing with a gang starting trouble and hadn't contacted Roan for a while.

By the time he finally finished his busy work and looked up to invite Roan out for a drink, he had actually heard the news that Roan had been promoted from a regular agent to a senior agent!

Hearing this news, Norton's immediate reaction had been disbelief.

Not to mention that it hadn't been very long since Roan transitioned from a probationary agent to a full agent; when he, Norton, had been promoted from a regular agent to his current position as a senior agent, it had taken him a full several years!

Why on earth had Roan caught up to his rank so quickly?

Through various channels, Norton found out that during this period, Roan had solved the Bank Serial Robberies, the Federal Prosecutors' Office Entrance Bombing, the Press Conference Bombing, the Park River Male Corpse Case, and just yesterday, the Seaside Pit Serial Murders.

Although he did not know the specific details and contents of these cases, upon seeing the sheer quantity of them, Agent Norton had fallen into a stunned silence.

And then, he had felt an overwhelming urge to barge into the squad leader's office and beat Dillon up.

The Organized Crime Unit faced ruthless, vicious, and cunning gang criminals every single day. Agents like Roan, who possessed both brains and combat prowess, were precisely the kind of talent they desperately needed.

Why had Dillon rejected him earlier? Why hadn't he snatched Roan away from August's grasp?

Thoughts were just thoughts, though; Norton still didn't dare to actually tear Dillon apart with his bare hands, leaving him with no choice but to wear a gloomy expression and sigh silently.

In reality, Squad Leader Dillon was harboring immense regret as well, wishing he could travel back in time to slap himself across the face.

He actually knew a bit more than Norton did, such as the matter concerning Madame Heloise of the CIA who had failed her resurrection match.

However, since Roan had already been promoted to a senior agent, and August guarded Roan as closely as a dragon guarding its treasure, Dillon had no way to poach Roan even if he wanted to.

In short, it could be summed up in a single word: Regret!

Roan was oblivious to the thoughts of Norton and Dillon, and even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.

Wasn't it wonderful to work under a gorgeous and capable supervisor like Verenice?

Why would he ever want to change departments?

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries with Norton, Roan shifted his gaze toward the unfamiliar young man standing beside him.

Ever since entering August's house, this young man had kept his eyes fixed directly on him.

Roan clinked his glass against Norton's and asked:

"Would you mind introducing this agent beside you?"