Chapter 12: A Cunning Discovery

Crack!

With a mighty swing, the heavy hammer shattered the drainage pipe below, bursting it wide open…

Clang!

From the fractured elbow joint, a metal wrench about the size of a small arm fell out.

Lowering his hammer, Xiao Yu looked up at the drainage pipe that shot straight to the rooftop.

Smart move!

After the murder, the killer tossed the weapon into the drainage pipe, perfectly lodging it at the bend.

How many would have thought the murder weapon was hidden here?

This isn’t to say the police are incompetent—it’s just that the culprit is incredibly clever and devious!

Guo Qiang shifted his gaze from the wrench on the ground to Xiao Yu.

His expression changed.

That look was no longer one of a senior watching over a junior, but rather the look of a peer—a colleague’s recognition!

“You’ve made a breakthrough.”

Guo Qiang said gravely, “A major breakthrough!”

“Ha!”

Xiao Yu shook his head with a bitter smile. “It’s useless. If the killer could hide the weapon here, his cunning is such that he wouldn’t leave a fingerprint either.”

Within fifteen minutes, two police cars arrived with six detectives on scene, including the team chief and two deputy chiefs.

The murder weapon was sent for analysis. Team Chief Zhao Changsheng patted Xiao Yu on the shoulder and said, “If you crack the case, you’ll be promoted after a year. I’m telling you, if it’s solved, you’ll get full credit.”

A solved murder case at this level should at least earn a team third-class honor.

And if luck’s on your side, even an individual third-class honor isn’t out of the question.

The murder weapon is critical evidence.

Catching the criminal without any physical evidence is like trying to pin a case on thin air. Convicting someone without evidence is nearly impossible.

After all, we operate in a society governed by law; police work demands concrete proof.

As always, no unit in our force turns down talent.

An intern on his first day at the team managed to find the murder weapon that had eluded everyone, which speaks volumes.

Such talent must be seized immediately and given proper incentives—if not, they might be snatched away by another unit.

I’m not joking!

After the one-year probation, most rookie officers either get encouraged to leave or remain stuck in their training unit.

But there are special cases.

When a rookie performs exceptionally, other units will definitely notice and might even try to recruit them.

Sounds unbelievable?

It really is true.

The police system is pretty similar to the military.

Before new recruits even get assigned to a platoon, standout performers are sometimes ‘pre-selected.’

Ordinary police units—even peers—don’t stand a chance when someone tries to poach talent.

Imagine if it came from a higher authority.

If a command unit or even the provincial department comes knocking, could you really refuse?

“Team, that’s enough,”

Xiao Yu interjected with a cheerful tone, “Our team is right next door to my place!”

What does that mean?

Living close means everything’s easier—of course, he wouldn’t leave!

“Haha!”

The team chief and his two deputies burst out laughing. Their glances at Xiao Yu took on a new, admiring quality.

That afternoon, Old Guo remarked that Xiao Yu was no ordinary kid—a sentiment they had all doubted at first.

Now it was clear: not only was he exceptional, but his way with words set him leagues apart from most young officers.

Recall when Xiao Yu reported for duty with a dazzling record of achievements from the police academy.

And here he was, a young man who had managed to locate the murder weapon.

Damn, our Criminal Investigation Team might have just struck gold!

However, the jubilation of the three chiefs was short-lived.

The forensic report on the weapon came back.

It was confirmed as the murder weapon, but it had no fingerprints at all.

Xiao Yu hit the nail on the head!

All the veteran detectives’ faces darkened.

Just as Xiao Yu said, the killer was exceedingly sly.

To hide a weapon in such a spot and leave no trace was only possible with meticulous planning.

Criminals with brains and those without are worlds apart.

Police headaches peak with cases of intelligent crime—the added complexity makes solving them a nightmare.

Just when everyone was stumped, Xiao Yu spoke up.

“Even the cleverest plans have a blind spot.”

Xiao Yu said in a cold tone, “No matter how flawless the plan is, the killer forgot one thing: clues aren’t just found at the scene. They can be traced back to the victim’s past.”

The room fell silent in confusion.

Searching the victim’s past for clues?

The victim was dead. Every lead had been pursued. What more could there be?

“Back at the academy, one of my teachers used to say that those who think too highly of their own cleverness are the most foolish of all.”

Xiao Yu continued with his insights, “Smart people often overcomplicate things; their schemes become their downfall. In plotting so meticulously, they add layers of complexity, overlooking the basic motive behind the crime. What reason drove them to kill the victim?”

His words sparked a sudden clarity among the veteran investigators.

Yes indeed.

Since the murderer was this ingenious, the planning certainly spanned a significant time.

The motive for murder stemmed from events in the victim’s past—actions that must have provoked the killer over time.

It’s clear we can’t yet identify the murderer.

But we can investigate the victim’s history; understanding what he did might reveal the long-planned motive behind this murder.

A smile slowly returned to everyone’s face as all eyes turned toward Xiao Yu.

Especially the team chiefs, whose gazes burned with excitement.

It was as if a normal guy had just caught sight of a breathtaking beauty stripped bare in a room.

This kid is definitely one of ours in the Criminal Investigation Team.

Anyone who tries to snatch him away will be met with force!