Chapter 234: Haunted Mansion Conspiracy

Chapter 234: Haunted Mansion

By simulating a criminal’s mindset, Xiao Yu discovered something?

Why claim that the criminal is in Bincheng?

Because the suspect is Peng Junlong!

That’s just normal reasoning.

Back then, why did ‘Second Brother’ and ‘Third Brother’ have Peng Junlong join in on their activities?

Did they even let Peng Junlong know about those three hideouts?

Isn’t that odd?

If they had recruited him, it would have made sense.

The problem is, even after spending so much time with him, ‘Second Brother’ and ‘Third Brother’ never recruited him.

They simply ceased contact.

Aren’t they fools?

Weren’t they worried that one day Peng Junlong might get into trouble and snitch on them?

After much thought,

Xiao Yu could only think of one possibility.

‘Second Brother’ and ‘Third Brother’ deliberately let Peng Junlong know all this.

Perhaps they anticipated that Peng Junlong would eventually meet with misfortune.

Maybe the villa murder and framing incident was purposely orchestrated by ‘Second Brother’ and ‘Third Brother’.

To prevent their own crimes from being exposed one day, they set up… a decoy.

And what was the purpose of this decoy?

It was to have Peng Junlong lead the police to those three criminal hideouts!

One on a Small Island; the other two in different provinces and cities.

What can be deduced from this?

They were shifting the police’s attention elsewhere.

Moreover, they blatantly ignored the exposure of those three hideouts.

Their ultimate goal was to get the police to overlook Bincheng.

And they succeeded!

Ever since Xiao Yu took on this case,

from Yu Shaoyang’s surrender, from Wang Mei’s murder, from tracing the villa, from finding Peng Junlong, from locating the Small Island to the second hideout… all clues were planted externally.

Both the police and National Security completely ignored Bincheng.

This is a classic case of… the darkest spot right under the lamp!

“The case began in Bincheng,”

Stepping out of the airport, Xiao Yu’s face turned grim. “Second Brother Li Haibo and Third Brother Zheng Hao are locals. Everyone overlooked that fact—even I forgot. Our focus was solely on what they wanted us to see.”

“We’ve already wasted too much time finding the second hideout. Searching for a third would just delay us further.”

“I can even imagine that once Peng Junlong falls, they’ll be alerted and have already gone into hiding.”

“It’s very likely they’re already planning an escape. In this country, they wouldn’t have a safe haven anymore.”

“And if they don’t escape abroad, they’ll hide in a place no ordinary person would ever think of!”

A place no one would ever imagine (acbh)?

Wang Dong asked in confusion, “What kind of place could that be?”

Outside the airport.

The Criminal Investigation Team’s squad cars had long been parked outside.

Xiao Yu and the others quickly boarded.

Inside the vehicle,

“There’s one more thing,”

Xiao Yu said coldly, “Why are there only ‘Second Brother’ and ‘Third Brother’? Isn’t it odd? Without a boss, who then is the first?”

“Could it be that…” Wang Dong’s heart skipped a beat.

“That’s exactly what worries me most,”

Xiao Yu nodded. “Maybe these so-called ‘Second Brother’ and ‘Third Brother’ are nothing more than henchmen.”

“That could be troublesome,” Wang Dong said gravely.

“No, if that’s the case, the matter actually becomes simpler.”

Xiao Yu shook his head.

“What do you mean?” Wang Dong asked, puzzled.

“Assuming that’s true, there would be only one motive…”

Xiao Yu sneered, “Money!”

Using twisted, brutal, and murderous methods… all for money!

However,

‘Second Brother’ Li Haibo and ‘Third Brother’ Zheng Hao are indeed two perverts.

If there really were a boss…

Xiao Yu still couldn’t deduce what kind of person he might be,

because there wasn’t any criminal process for him to analyze.

“First, we need to locate Second Brother Li Haibo and Third Brother Zheng Hao,”

Xiao Yu ordered, “Issue a citywide manhunt, set rewards, put up notices, activate the Tianyan Surveillance Camera, and focus on all major docks.”

Hiding in a city isn’t easy for ordinary people.

They aren’t spies or agents with special disguises.

At best, they can only resort to costume changes or makeup.

But even that leaves traces.

Their build, physique, and general appearance can’t be altered.

That ‘Second Brother’ even sporting a Seven-Colored Dragon tattoo on his back.

A police reward works; money really can move mountains.

Then… on the fourth day, the police received a tip.

A citizen reported that yesterday at a barbecue stall in a theme park, he saw someone’s T-shirt with a faint Seven-Colored Dragon tattoo on the back.

Since the person was wearing a T-shirt, it was impossible to confirm if the back actually bore the Seven-Colored Dragon.

But one thing was peculiar: the two people eating barbecue.

They were clearly men in their thirties, yet they had makeup on.

Nowadays, it’s not unusual for men to wear makeup.

BB cream, eyebrow tint, even eye shadow and lipstick.

Yet both men were very well-built.

It’s rare for robust men in their thirties to wear makeup, unless they are performers.

Xiao Yu and Wang Dong immediately arrived at the scene—a theme park in a tourist area.

They met with the informant and then questioned the barbecue stall owner.

They showed photos for identification.

Finally, it was confirmed that it was indeed ‘Second Brother’ Li Haibo and ‘Third Brother’ Zheng Hao…

“I never expected this,”

Xiao Yu gazed at the theme park ahead, “They’d hide here?”

“Yes, who would have thought?”

Two criminals hiding in a theme park? Incredible.

“Shall we shut it down?”

Wang Dong coldly eyed the park.

“No need,”

Xiao Yu headed toward the park, “Just have our people secure the entrances and exits.”

“Alright,”

Wang Dong didn’t hesitate and followed.

He now felt a certain blind loyalty toward his junior.

Even if it made him seem undignified.

But really, what’s the big deal?

……

Many know that in theme parks, some attractions are outsourced.

This not only saves on construction, maintenance, and manpower but also allows the park to collect revenue effortlessly.

What’s not to like?

After a long search, Xiao Yu and Wang Dong thoroughly scoured the theme park.

They finally stood before the Haunted Mansion, staring at its locked door.

Haunted Mansion?

Nowadays, most theme park haunted houses rarely operate.

Even when they do, they’re only available to adults.

This theme park’s haunted mansion had been closed for years.

The park didn’t mind at all.

Every year, as long as you pay, it’s your choice whether to open it or not.

Is this the place?

If criminals are hiding here, how did they manage to lock it from the outside?

There was a gap in the door, just enough to stick an arm through and lock it from outside.

Moreover, Xiao Yu even detected a human scent on the lock.

If the haunted mansion had been closed long-term, that scent would have long faded.

So, someone must be inside!

Under Wang Dong’s dumbfounded gaze, Xiao Yu showcased his lock-picking skills.

Stepping into the haunted mansion, he was met with complete darkness.

Amid the dim light, a sinister aura pervaded the space.

For people like Xiao Yu and Wang Dong, whose mental resilience was exceptional, entering the haunted mansion made every muscle tense!

In an instant, their bodies tensed up completely.