Chapter 102: Free Money, You Don't Want It?
"No need to bother,"
Chuck called to her. "Turn on your computer."
"What for?"
Detective Amy Santiago was puzzled, but she followed Chuck's instructions, sat down, and opened her laptop.
"Pull up all the local lotteries,"
Chuck instructed.
Detective Amy Santiago began searching, confused, "Dr. Wolfe, what are you doing?"
"Helping you narrow down your targets and save time,"
Chuck said, his eyes focused on the search results.
"Are you saying you can figure out which lottery has vulnerabilities just by looking at them?"
This was the NYPD's 99th Precinct's Detective Squad. The detectives stationed here were all highly capable. They had been watching the show, but now that several of them were also lottery players, they perked up and gathered around.
The mention of money had their full attention.
Being a detective was just a job, and the pay wasn't great. Who hasn't dreamed of striking it rich?
"Yes,"
Chuck replied calmly, continuing to quickly scan the information.
Since the victim was presumably killed over lottery winnings, it meant there was indeed a vulnerability in a local lottery system. Finding it would be easy for Chuck.
"Why are you ruling out all of these?"
Jake questioned. "Is it because these companies hired professionals to design them, so there won't be any flaws? That's just theory. Reality often doesn't match theory. Everyone makes mistakes."
"I don't."
Chuck immediately eliminated a large number of lottery games.
"...Don't tell me you're the designer these companies hired?"
Jake was speechless.
"I'm a consultant for the American Gaming Association,"
Chuck said casually. "I only handle reviews."
"Consultant for the American Gaming Association?"
Jake was confused. "Then why are only these companies' lotteries excluded? What about the others? Aren't these companies members of the gaming association?"
In the United States, industry associations are extremely powerful. It's virtually impossible for any industry to operate without association membership.
"Consultants for the American Gaming Association are paid with the agreement not to play lottery games, and the gaming industry association covers the basic fee,"
Chuck said calmly. "Some companies pay extra for individual security audits of their game designs. They have to pay additional fees to prevent vulnerabilities in their lotteries from being exploited and causing massive losses."
"..."
The onlookers were stunned.
"Are you saying you've also exploited lottery vulnerabilities to make money?"
Detective Amy Santiago's eyes widened.
"Free money, you don't want it?"
Chuck looked at her like she was crazy.
"..."
Detective Amy Santiago was speechless.
Of course! How could she not want it!
If she had the ability, she would definitely make bank from this perfectly legal money.
"Wait, isn't the real point that he not only exploited vulnerabilities to make money from lotteries, but did it to such an extent that the entire gaming industry association had to pay him to stop playing?"
A veteran detective complained, "Why don't they just ban you from playing?"
Chuck gave him a look that questioned his intelligence.
The veteran detective paused, then gave an awkward smile.
Unlike a casino, lotteries can be purchased remotely, allowing tickets to be bought online or at any retailer without entering a specific venue. There's no way to set up a blacklist and deny access like at a casino.
The entire Detective Squad office suddenly fell silent, and the way they looked at Chuck was completely different.
Previously, Chuck was just a consultant who was good with math. Most detectives were high school athletes who couldn't afford college and chose law enforcement. "Nerds" like Chuck were once targets of mockery and even bullying, so their attitude toward Chuck was often dismissive and condescending.
But now, everything was different.
Chuck suddenly radiated a dazzling aura.
It was the glow of Benjamin Franklin, blessed with green!
Forcing the Gaming Association to pay him money, even getting them to pay extra for Chuck's help. This method of making money was beyond their wildest dreams.
"This one!"
Chuck ignored their amazement. He ran a consulting firm, and being paid to serve as a consultant was perfectly normal business. Nothing surprising about it. He focused on a newly released scratch-off lottery ticket and pointed.
"What's the vulnerability?"
a detective, a seasoned lottery player, couldn't help but ask.
Chuck explained the mathematical flaws, while Detective Amy Santiago began calling the company to check recent winning records.
The person who answered said it was confidential business information, requiring supervisor approval and asking for patience.
Such companies are notorious for their bureaucracy. Detective Amy Santiago identified herself as NYPD again, but received the same runaround: "Need supervisor approval, please hold."
Chuck simply gave his name. The staff member, momentarily stunned, offered to contact their legal department immediately, and soon they received a fax with all the requested information.
"Got it."
With this focused investigation, they quickly identified a suspect through surveillance footage.
Jake and his partner, Detective Amy Santiago, coordinated with ESU and rushed to the convenience store, with Chuck following.
Despite the element of surprise, a beloved American tradition unfolded at the arrest scene. The suspect's reflexes were not only incredibly fast, but his combat skills were beyond imagination. A single counterattack even overwhelmed an entire ESU team.
Finally, after the NYPD emptied several magazines and the suspect's ammunition was completely depleted, the cornered suspect tactically surrendered.
Facing the NYPD's traditional (aggressive) arrest methods, whose faces were grim from the intense firefight, the burly man with a military buzz cut sneered, his expression saying, "Is that all you got? Bring it!"
Then he spotted Chuck.
"Do you know me?"
Chuck walked up to him.
The burly man with the buzz cut just smirked and was led away without saying a word.
"He's obsessed with lotteries, is it weird that he knows you?"
Jake quipped. "You're a legend in the lottery world."
"I'm a legend in many fields, but not everyone knows me,"
Chuck looked at him.
"..."
Jake, previously unaware of Chuck's other legendary status, was speechless.
"Seems like this case is more complicated than we thought."
Detective Amy Santiago looked at the bullet casings scattered across the floor with lingering fear.
How could a killer with such combat abilities target a victim who was just a math nerd?
Chuck nodded in agreement. Besides the initial look that showed the buzz cut man clearly recognized him, he couldn't read any other micro-expressions.
Who could render Chuck's micro-expression analysis ineffective?
Mostly sociopaths!
And the fact that such a psychopath clearly knew him was definitely not good news.
(End of Chapter)
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Power Stone or Review!
P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)