Chapter 191: Mystery in the Train Theft Case

Chapter 191: There’s Something Off

It began as an ordinary train theft case.

Yet an unexpected twist emerged when the stolen item reappeared.

Three puzzling points surfaced.

1. Why did the missing item show up again?

2. If it was truly stolen, did the thief return it?

3. Why did the entire family of three commit suicide?

A simple theft case quickly transformed into a baffling mystery.

On one level, the theft was linked to a suicide.

On another, it was connected to a homicide.

If the family supposedly took their own lives, how could it possibly be a homicide?

Does a suicide always turn out to be just that?

What if a murder was disguised as a suicide?

Otherwise, how can we explain the stolen item’s reappearance?

In the end, the railway police handed the case over.

Any case that might involve loss of life is never trivial.

If there’s even a 590 possibility, it must be thoroughly examined.

Ultimately, the Criminal Investigation Team took over the investigation.

The incident dated back six years.

The files revealed that after half a year of probing, no clues had been found.

The case was tentatively marked as unresolved and archived.

Xiao Yu pulled his eyes away from the computer case file and fell into thought.

Without a clear train of thought, he had dismissed his earlier doubts once they were refuted.

There are simply too many such cases; the department cannot devote its full attention to every one of them.

The country employs roughly two million police officers—about twenty thousand in the courts and prosecutor’s offices, over forty thousand prison guards, and roughly fifty thousand in security.

Of the remaining officers, one-quarter are civilian staff.

Fewer than one million serve as frontline officers.

According to big data, there are approximately 0.7 homicide cases per 100,000 people each year.

Similarly, there are 1.4 criminal cases per 50,000 people annually.

Each year, nearly 70,000 people lose their lives in criminal cases.

Considering these numbers, it’s easy to imagine how busy the frontline must be.

Even so…

The annual case clearance rate still holds above 95%.

What, do they expect a 100% solve rate?

Give me a break.

A 95% clearance rate is nothing short of miraculous—truly one of a kind in the world!

After spending the morning buried in case files…

It was noon.

Several team leaders and instructors headed out for lunch together.

Amid subtle jokes and light banter, they congratulated the instructor.

With a radiant smile, Zhou Tinghu confidently declared, “Don’t worry—even if he gets promoted, he won’t leave our team. At most, he’ll just get an upgrade.”

Having served as an instructor in the Criminal Investigation Team for nine years, his loyalty ran deep.

He had planned to spend his retirement within the team.

But ever since Xiao Yu joined, everyone began reaping the rewards.

They all started riding on his successes.

What exactly does ‘upgraded’ mean?

It implies a rank higher than the official post—a common scenario for sidelined personnel.

Usually, it’s those who have been disciplined or are on the verge of retirement.

At his age, Zhou Tinghu had little room left for advancement.

A transfer to a higher position would be meaningless; he’d rather remain where he’s comfortable.

But such matters aren’t his to decide—they require orders from above.

However…

Zhou Tinghu looked over at Xiao Yu, who was quietly eating, and said, “Xiao Yu, please pass a message to Da Ju.”

Xiao Yu nodded, “Sure thing.”

“It’s nothing major—just a small courtesy.”

It was simply a matter of everyday office etiquette.

Moreover, the Criminal Investigation Team is like one big family—if someone asks for a small favor, they gladly oblige.

Xiao Yu pulled out his phone and, right in front of everyone, dialed the phone of Yun Xiangguo at the City Bureau.

“What’s up?”

When Yun Xiangguo answered, he tried to sound casual, though his heart was pounding.

In the past, whenever Xiao Yu called, it was always about a case.

There were never any small cases!

Who wants to have their jurisdiction constantly rocked by major incidents?

Isn’t that just absurd!

Yun Xiangguo had practically grown to fear Xiao Yu’s calls.

The psychological impact was enormous—like living in a three-bedroom apartment full of worries!

“No worries, it was just a call to the boss,”

Xiao Yu said with a smile, adopting the tone of a subordinate.

“Don’t try to play coy—I don’t even know you?”

Relieved that it wasn’t about a case, Yun Xiangguo laughed, “So, what is it?”

“Haha, nothing escapes you, boss.”

Xiao Yu added, “Our instructor might soon be up for a promotion, but he doesn’t want to leave. We need you to put in a good word.”

“That’s all?”

Yun Xiangguo chuckled in disbelief, “Aren’t I already a has-been, Da Ju?”

Such matters really didn’t require his intervention…

But if he did speak, it would indeed be a minor issue.

“Not at all.”

Xiao Yu grinned, “By the way, boss, I’ve got some premium cigarettes—should I have Gaiming drop off a pack for you?”

“The top-tier… special supply?”

Yun Xiangguo instantly caught on and mockingly replied, “Get out of here… Alright, have it sent over tomorrow.”

“You got it.”

After ending the call, Xiao Yu nodded at Zhou Tinghu.

Back at the lunch table…

The glances from the team leaders and instructors toward Xiao Yu were laden with complexity.

Not many could talk to the top boss at the City Bureau as boldly as Xiao Yu did.

What makes him so impressive?

His abilities are nothing short of phenomenal!

If Xiao Yu hadn’t been so reluctant to leave the Criminal Investigation Team…

He’d probably already been recruited to the City Bureau under Da Ju.

At the very least, he would have been managing a department as a division chief.

However, compared to National Security’s talent poaching, the City Bureau’s pool was simply too small.

Everyone wondered when Xiao Yu might make his exit.

Perhaps the day he leaves, he’ll head straight for Capital City.

For Bincheng, keeping him is nothing more than a pipe dream.

In the end, his final destination would be National Security.

At minimum, he’d hold a role akin to that of Wang Dong.

Isn’t that perfectly ordinary?

Absolutely natural.

They know their place. Even someone like Wang Dong—the leader of a major team—remains a subordinate around Xiao Yu, always following his command.

They’re just in their twenties.

In retrospect, when they were in their early twenties, none of them were even full-fledged officers.

The disparity was so vast that they wouldn’t dare dream of such heights…

After lunch, Xiao Yu returned to his desk and resumed sifting through the case files.

Strangely, he kept circling back to that train theft case.

It was almost as if something about the case was drawing him in.

Then…

【Ding! Case Triggered Successfully.】

【The God of Police Case Check-In has started.】

【Would you like to check in, host?】

Xiao Yu: …

He blinked.

His expression turned serious as he fixed his gaze on the case file.

When the system initiates a check-in, forget about minor cases.

Something is definitely off!

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yu murmured to himself.

Check in…