Chapter 103: A Cure for Mischief

Chapter 103: A Cure for Mischief

He entered Building 113 once again.

The scent had grown almost undetectable.

Maybe someday, even with Xiao Yu’s ‘Wangdie’s Nose’, he wouldn’t be able to detect it.

Apart from his confusion over the system and his time travel, he still held an unyielding belief in science.

He couldn’t believe someone could actually teleport or vanish into thin air!

The entire building was surrounded by National Security and the police.

Everyone was puzzled.

How could Xiao Yu be so sure that the suspect was hiding here?

Building 113 was searched meticulously once more, with special attention given to the central unit.

One unit had eight floors, three apartments per floor – 24 in all.

There were no clues, no signs, not even a trace of the scent.

Xiao Yu’s scalp practically exploded with frustration.

Had it really… vanished?

If not here, where else could they hide?

When searching a building, what places are usually overlooked?

They checked the residences, corridors, emergency routes, elevator shafts, even the roof… What else was there?

There shouldn’t be any… Wait a minute?

Xiao Yu’s expression grew increasingly bizarre.

Could it be… the elevator shaft?

How could anyone possibly hide there?

Soon, the elevator shaft was pried open.

The nearly vanished scent suddenly wafted in again.

Damn it…

Xiao Yu, baffled, peered into the shaft.

Aren’t you all about science?

Could someone really hide in here?

Ordinary elevators aren’t built for storage like commercial ones; every shaft’s space is designed to be just enough.

While moving up and down, aside from the entry door, there’s only a two-foot to one-meter gap on the sides and rear.

So, how on earth can someone hide?

And stay hidden for days on end?

Sure, you might manage food and drink, but what about… taking care of business or even sleeping?

Strangely, that elusive scent was emanating from inside the shaft.

And that wasn’t all.

Inside the shaft, aside from steel cables, a guiderail, and a safety ladder, there was nothing else.

The aura was clearly there, yet no one was around?

As the elevator ascended to the top, Xiao Yu climbed into the shaft.

Still, his faith in science held strong!

Following the safety ladder, he began a slow descent from the seventh floor.

With every step, the scent grew stronger.

The gleam in his eyes turned increasingly cold.

Until he reached the first floor.

Holding a flashlight, Xiao Yu examined the bottom of the shaft.

A shock-absorbing layer?

Many people weren’t familiar with it.

But nowadays, most elevators are equipped with one.

It prevents sudden malfunctions that could cause a deadly drop.

This shock absorber even offers a 30% chance to save a life by cushioning the fall.

So here’s an interesting twist.

Building 113 was an old structure, built over thirty years ago.

Elevators in those days, in mid-rise buildings, never had such installations.

And if they did, it was only added later.

The installation process wasn’t exactly trivial.

Usually, unscrupulous property managers wouldn’t spend the money to install such features for residents.

Yet in this very community, in this unit, and in this elevator shaft, one was present?

Letting go, Xiao Yu jumped down.

Bang!

His feet landed squarely on the shock-absorbing layer.

It felt as solid as concrete… How could that be?

Squinting, Xiao Yu crouched with his flashlight, intently examining until he found a square iron plate, roughly two feet on each side, hidden in a corner!

The plate resembled a square manhole cover—easily overlooked if one didn’t pay close attention to its seams.

A stronger scent flickered in and out from beneath it.

Instead of excitement, Xiao Yu felt a surge of anxiety.

Are you demons?!

If it weren’t for his ‘Wangdie’s Nose’—his uncanny sense of smell—

could he possibly pinpoint such a location?

Who would have thought someone could hide in such a spot?

No guessing needed; Xiao Yu knew that beneath that plate lay a cellar or hidden chamber of some sort.

And such a place had likely been there far longer than a few days or even a year.

Moreover, with Shao Jiafu—the leader of National Security’s Group Four—confirming the suspect as a spy,

could this be the spy’s secret hideout?!

With a cold demeanor, Xiao Yu climbed out of the elevator on the first floor.

“Found it~~?”

Judging by his expression, Shao Jiafu looked stunned and incredulous.

Damn… he was about to curse: ‘What the hell are you?’

Wang Dong had once warned them that Xiao Yu was terrifying.

Before arriving in Bincheng, Wang Dong had even said to consult Xiao Yu for any problems.

And this little guy was indeed a force to be reckoned with!

Nodding, Xiao Yu pointed to the shaft. “It must be down there—but they might be armed!”

At least one gun for sure!

During their escape, Ma Hexuan and Lu Jia had snatched a police firearm.

As for whether the spy was armed?

He wasn’t sure!

So Xiao Yu dared not act rashly; personal heroics weren’t an option.

With no idea how many people—and guns—were below, it was too risky to go down.

That would be courting his own death!

Such matters required professionals.

For instance:

A SWAT team, on standby, began planning their entry.

They had tried opening the plate from the outside, but it wouldn’t budge.

To gain entry, the plate had to be cut open.

Once again,

the police know just how to handle misfits.

Cutting equipment was swiftly brought in.

Operation commenced!

For a full half hour, they carefully cut the plate into a perfect square.

Two SWAT members used specialized breaching tools to pound on the plate.

Boom!

The plate shattered and fell, producing a resounding clatter from below.

Soon after!

Bang… gunfire erupted!

Thankfully, the SWAT team had anticipated this.

As bullets fired, sparks flew wildly through the shaft.

One SWAT member pulled out an object resembling a grenade.

He removed its safety pin, released the lever, and tossed it down.

Boom!

The explosion reverberated.

It wasn’t a grenade, but a stun grenade!

A stun grenade is a specialized military weapon.

Its purpose isn’t to kill; it emits a blinding flash and a deafening noise upon detonation.

The intense light temporarily blinds, while the powerful shockwave robs one of hearing and sensation.

It even disrupts organs and the nervous system.

Rendering victims temporarily incapable of movement…

And regarding such a device, Xiao Yu’s verdict was: ‘Awesome!’

At the exact moment the stun grenade detonated, one SWAT member leaped down.

He attempted to charge into the tiny two-foot square opening.

Following close were a second and a third SWAT member…

A series of roars and wails echoed.

“Report: Area secure!”

At that call, Xiao Yu let out a sigh of relief.

But then the next announcement made his mind go blank.

“Report: Only one foreign criminal suspect found below!”

One SWAT member shouted.

One?

How could there be just one?

Xiao Yu’s face turned cold.

This was bad… They had been tricked!

He remembered that white man and Lu Jia’s corpse.

Why had they suddenly shown up of all times?

Was it a deliberate attempt to lure them in?

No, they must have been hiding here from the start; otherwise, no scent would have been left.

Or did they leave on purpose so that the white man could intentionally lead us here?

Damn, what a show-off.

Furious inside, Xiao Yu smirked.

The more they tried, the more excited he became!