Chapter 102: Personal Investigation
by xennovelChapter 102: Personal Investigation
Xiao Yu stared intently at the surveillance footage, fixating on the man who dumped the body.
Even though the video was blurry, his exceptionally pale skin was unmistakable.
Not Asian!
Grandi?
The white guy?
They pulled up the hotel’s surveillance footage to compare height and build.
It was confirmed – the foreign suspect was indeed Grandi!
The footage showed Grandi swiftly leaving the scene with a suitcase after dumping the body.
From his arrival and assessment of the surroundings to discarding the corpse, there was not a moment’s hesitation.
Xiao Yu took a deep breath.
He had a strong feeling that this wasn’t Grandi’s first time pulling such a stunt.
Too practiced!
Four lives lost?
Two prison guards, Yu Hongmei, Lu Jia…
Xiao Yu’s mind buzzed.
Yet he had uncovered a clue.
There were few cameras near the residential area, but plenty outside.
At 3 AM, no vehicles were coming or going.
Grandi appeared on camera carrying the suitcase with the corpse?
What does that imply?
He must have come on foot!
A corpse weighing over 65 kg is heavy.
Even with wheels, the suitcase would be too burdensome to haul far on foot.
That means your hideout must be somewhere in this area, right?
Xiao Yu chuckled, his laughter icily cold.
Countless police, armed police, and SWAT teams sealed off the area.
They began a thorough search of the three residential complexes!
The sweep lasted the entire day.
Although they didn’t locate the suspect, a nearby supermarket revealed a suspicious clue.
Someone had bought a huge stock of food and water.
That amount would easily sustain four or five people for a month.
Who in this town would purchase so much food and water?
Not even the most reclusive would risk such an act.
The supermarket had its own cameras, so the culprit deliberately avoided their view.
But one’s build can’t be faked.
It was still that white guy – Grandi!
‘You’re probably hiding around here…’ Xiao Yu sneered coldly.
Have some confidence – drop the ‘probably’!
National Security agents arrived; Wang Dong was absent.
There were five in total.
Leading the group was a middle-aged man with a cold, stern demeanor. Facing Xiao Yu, he extended his hand and smiled, “You must be Xiao Yu? I’ve heard much about you!”
Xiao Yu, his scalp tingling from the National Security’s reverence, shook his hand modestly and said, “Hello.”
He was frightened.
Anyone tagged by National Security had every reason to be scared!
“National Security Team 4, Shao Jiafu.”
After the middle-aged man introduced himself bluntly, he continued, “I need all the information you have on this case right now!”
No problem at all.
With a senior from National Security taking charge, Xiao Yu felt a slight relief.
All his fear had stemmed from a lack of firepower.
Now, our much-needed backup had arrived…
Within an hour, Shao Jiafu had reviewed all the records.
Midway through, he made a phone call. Standing aside, Xiao Yu overheard that, via National Security channels, the foreign identities of Joey and Grandi were being queried.
National Security really knows its stuff—so many flashy maneuvers! Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
Ordinary police wouldn’t have been able to manage; even local channels often fall short.
They’re only well-informed in their own little domain.
Another hour passed.
After hanging up his phone, Shao Jiafu turned to Xiao Yu and said, “Spy!”
Though he had his suspicions, Xiao Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
The system, as always, didn’t lie.
A fifteen-day deadline – truly terrifying!
He recalled the previous case.
That new drug cost five lives—it was outrageous.
Compared to a spy…
Everyone here is just a rookie!
“It should be a commercial or privately hired spy,”
Shao Jiafu coldly inquired, “Are you sure the person is within the sealed area?”
“Not sure,” Xiao Yu replied with a shake of his head.
Who could be certain in such a situation?
Shao Jiafu motioned for four of his team members to inspect the sealed area.
Three hours later, the four National Security agents returned, shaking their heads.
“Their methods are crude, but their ability to hide is impressive…”
Shao Jiafu smiled at Xiao Yu and said, “Wang Dong mentioned that you earned high praise from him.”
“Huh?”
Xiao Yu blinked, “What did Brother Wang say about me?”
“He said you are…”
Shao Jiafu solemnly stated, “Very intimidating!”
Xiao Yu: (￣□￣)
Me… intimidating?
Does Wang Dong have a warped idea of what ‘intimidating’ really means?
“Enough talk.”
Shao Jiafu fixed his odd gaze on Xiao Yu, “Before coming to Bincheng, Wang Dong told me to seek you out when difficulties arose.”
Why me? I’m a cop, not a miracle worker.
What’s with National Security? Are all of you like this?
They clearly treat me as nothing more than a tool!
Frustrated on the inside, Xiao Yu felt deeply dejected.
The case had been dragging on for four, nearly five days now.
There were only two days left before the superiors’ deadline to crack the case.
Another ten days remained before the system’s task deadline.
There literally was no time left…
……
Xiao Yu stepped into the sealed area.
He looked at the three residential complexes before him.
Where on earth could you be hiding?
It was inevitable that the police would conduct door-to-door searches.
Even vacant homes would have a locksmith called in for inspection.
In these extraordinary times, they could only offer apologies and promise compensation for any losses.
But…
A hundred officers and two hundred armed police had scoured the area all day without a trace.
If they were truly hiding here, it defied all logic.
Falcon’s Eye, Wangdie’s Nose, Wax Moth’s Ear – all three system skills were activated.
Xiao Yu conducted the search himself!
A standard residential complex typically has six to ten buildings.
One building, two buildings, three…
Xiao Yu, utterly exhausted, painstakingly searched through eleven buildings – and that was less than half.
He grabbed a quick takeout snack and resumed his search.
It wasn’t until he reached the 14th building, No. 113 Building,
Huh?
Xiao Yu’s eyes suddenly lit up.
He caught several faint scents.
Although they were very subtle, he could still distinguish them.
Got it!
Standing before the elevator, Xiao Yu fixed his gaze on its doors.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened, and he stepped inside.
The scent remained faint, almost imperceptible.
The residential building had eight floors.
On each floor, Xiao Yu stepped out to take a whiff.
But…
From the first to the eighth floor, the scent was nowhere to be detected.
How could that be?
Inside the elevator, Xiao Yu was stunned.
The scent was detectable in the corridors.
Even inside the elevator, it was noticeable.
Yet inside the floors, their scent was completely absent?
What the hell?
Or perhaps they deliberately entered this building and left a faint trace.
A misdirection?
Xiao Yu couldn’t figure it out.
Surely, he had overlooked something.
The next day.
He re-searched the remaining dozen-plus buildings.
Finally, Xiao Yu stood before Building 113.
So, you’re hiding in this building?