Chapter 198: Human Skin Wax Figure

Chapter 198: Human Skin Wax Figure

Criminal Investigation Team, Conference Room.

Inside, darkness reigned, punctuated only by the soft sound of breathing and the faint scent of a man’s sweat.

Beyond these hints, nothing was visible, and an eerie silence prevailed.

The only source of light emanated from a luminous screen at the front of the room.

Even at a movie, audiences wouldn’t fall into such an oppressive hush as in this room.

Suddenly, a voice began to speak slowly.

“In criminal psychology, there’s a phenomenon where some individuals, influenced by both their upbringing and environment, develop a mindset that sees ordinary people as nothing more than insects.”

“These individuals consider themselves to be on a higher plane. They take pride in measuring others by the breadth of their vision, the depth of their insights, and the profundity of their thinking.”

“Outwardly, they seem friendly. Yet when they hear the simplistic opinions of ordinary folks, a look of disdain flashes within them.”

“Gradually, these people cease to regard regular individuals as peers. Their gaze towards ordinary people is no different than how they view common livestock.”

“To them, ordinary people are not only objects of amusement but mere playthings for their entertainment!”

Xiao Yu stood by the luminous screen, shifting his gaze from the photos projected onto the wall towards the dark conference room.

He watched as light pierced through the smoke lingering in the room, and with a casual wave of his hand,

turned on the lights.

Wang Dong, Zhao Changshan, Zhou Tinghu… Da Ju from the City Bureau, Yun Xiangguo, and even a boss from the Provincial Department.

Even with the lights on, they remained deathly silent.

It was as if aside from their breathing, they only knew how to silently smoke.

Perhaps the ghastly photos, flickering like a slideshow, had already begun to unnerve them.

In that moment, they could no longer hide the shock and chill that seared through their hearts.

Yet, all eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yu…

“You might be wondering why I’m saying all this and how it connects to the case before us.”

Drawing a box of Special Edition Cigarettes from his pocket, Xiao Yu lit one, took a gentle drag, and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke. “Perhaps you’ve only focused on the gruesome state of the victims in the photos and overlooked the environment, the instruments, and even the attire of the perpetrator…”

As he joined in the smoking, the room quickly filled with thick, choking smoke.

Yet his words instilled a deep sense of foreboding and a touch of shame among those present.

Indeed, their attention had been fixated solely on the victims in the photos, ignoring other crucial details.

But such focus is natural.

When you witness a murder right before your eyes, your eyes will naturally be drawn to both the assailant and the victim.

Who has the mind to examine the surroundings?

“Now, let me label the nine victims from numbers 1 to 9.”

Xiao Yu put out his cigarette, flicking ash into the tray. “Starting with victim number 1 — apart from the victim’s appearance in the photos, I noticed something peculiar about the surroundings.”

“First, the floor is metallic, as are the walls. With the naked eye, this metal appears to be made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy. In fact, it seems the entire room is constructed from this alloy.”

“Magnesium-aluminum alloy costs between 15 and 70 yuan per kilogram, depending on the manufacturing process. But to build a room entirely out of it would be prohibitively expensive, even more so than a modest two-bedroom apartment.”

“Second, the metal bed on which the victim initially lay is also made of this alloy. Even the special human support frame used to suspend the victim is custom-made from it. Such custom items are rarely available off-the-shelf and always come at a high price.”

“Third, consider the perpetrator himself. His surgical gown is no ordinary one; it’s a bespoke piece crafted by specialized foreign manufacturers, and it comes with a hefty price tag.”

“Fourth, the murder weapons — the scalpel, the surgical forceps, and other specialized surgical tools — are all custom-made. You might not understand, but a complete set can run from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan.”

“Fifth, the method used shows that this was not his first time. He’s highly skilled in surgery, possessing an intimate knowledge of human anatomy. His hands remained remarkably steady while skin was being peeled off — a testament to his extraordinary composure.”

At this point, Xiao Yu paused and scanned the room. “You’re all veteran investigators. What do these five pieces of evidence tell you?”

The conference room remained silent.

After a long while,

Wang Dong, having lost count of how many cigarettes he’d smoked, spoke gravely, “Everything — the custom-made items, his surgical expertise, his wealth…”

Zhao Changshan then interjected coldly, “The channels for custom orders, the healthcare sector, and the typical locations for such items.”

Others began to voice their theories and clues.

“Ha!”

Xiao Yu shook his head with a wry smile. “Have you forgotten the most crucial point?”

The room responded with puzzled looks.

“The filming!”

Xiao Yu continued, “From the angles in the photos, the sequence of the shots, and the entire process of the murder, it’s clear that everything was recorded. The photos are merely stills from a full-length video. Now, the question is, why would the perpetrator record every moment of his crime? What was his motive? Was it for his own gratification? Or perhaps to sell the photos… No, it wasn’t for profit — it was a reckless dare.”

Wang Dong shook his head. “Could it simply be a perverse obsession?”

Scholar Zhou Tinghu offered a different perspective, “The fact that the killer sewed the human skin onto a wax figure… Could he be crafting a human skin wax figure?”

“Then here’s the crux of the matter.”

A boss from the Provincial Department spoke gravely, “Creating a human skin wax figure, then recording the entire process — why go to such lengths?”

“I think I understand,” Zhao Changshan exclaimed.

“He first flayed living victims and then transformed their skin into a wax figure. By recording every detail of the process, he’s not only showcasing his work… But also sending a message.”

“That’s right. The creation of the human skin wax figure was most likely intended either as a gift or for sale to a select few.”

By then, Xiao Yu lowered his head and let out a low, chilling laugh.

“He was demonstrating his craftsmanship, or rather… his art!”