Chapter 49: The Protective Captain

Outside the charnel house, three veteran detectives stood before Xiao Yu, awaiting his instructions. Xiao Yu’s expression was icy as he held his phone, on a call.

Who was on the line? 

A civilian deputy director from the police system. Xiao Yu didn’t know him personally but was surprised that he had his mobile number and was calling him during an investigation, clearly showing the call’s purpose was to intervene.

“Apologies, but you should direct your concerns to our captain,” Xiao Yu responded with a chill in his voice. “If the captain says so, we’ll cease our investigation immediately.”

With that, he promptly ended the call.

Was this the crematorium manager’s doing, tapping into his networks in a bid for self-preservation? 

The more they resisted, the more intrigued and determined Xiao Yu became.

However, some individuals are like QR codes. You don’t know what they are until you scan them. 

Regardless of whether you’re a civilian officer or even my superior, what difference does it make?

Guo Qiang had warned him yesterday about the substantial resistance this case might face. Xiao Yu had pondered over the consequences and prepared accordingly.

Would the captain really call him off?

To stop causing trouble?

Despite their brief acquaintance, Xiao Yu had discerned that the captain was a man of integrity, with a straightforward and somewhat impulsive character.

How best to describe him?

He wasn’t the most tactful and bore a straightforward, almost rash, demeanor. Pushed into a corner, Zhao Changshan’s response would be as blunt as, “If you’re my brother, come and fight alongside me.”

He excelled in cracking cases but fumbled when it came to scheming. These were two different areas of expertise.

Unexpectedly to Xiao Yu, Zhao Changshan actually called him.

“Captain, what’s up?” Xiao Yu asked, his expression a mix of emotions.

Had he misjudged?

“Just focus on your case. As your captain, I’ll shoulder any issues. As long as I’m alive, no one can mess with us. Hanging up now,” Zhao Changshan ended the call abruptly.

Xiao Yu’s eyes gleamed with excitement, his blood racing. He admired this kind of leader. So fiercely protective!

“Brother Li, check this manager out,” Xiao Yu directed one of the detectives. “You know what to look for, right?”

“Got it!” The detective flashed a grin and departed.

What else could there be to investigate?

Sources of income, lifestyle, and the presence of large, unexplained assets.

Guo Qiang exchanged a knowing glance with another detective, both smiling. It seemed the manager was really courting disaster, and they could sense that Xiao Yu was genuinely angry.

Typically, detectives like them wouldn’t handle such matters since they usually fell under the jurisdiction of economic investigations. Engaging with it meant they were prepared to delve deep, leaving no stone unturned.

Pressured by someone, eh? Looking to create obstacles? 

They’d neutralize the threat first, leaving no room for games.

***

“Brother Liu, pull up the surveillance footage,” Xiao Yu directed another detective.

“Understood.” The detective moved to comply.

These two team members, one named Li Xin, aged 37, a third-level police supervisor, and the other Liu Hongqiao, aged 35, a first-level police inspector, were just like Guo Qiang. They were seasoned detectives within the Criminal Investigation Brigade with exceptional case-solving skills. 

It was evident they were specifically chosen by the captains and advisors to work alongside him.

Xiao Yu’s capabilities were well recognized, and pairing him with three seasoned members was a strategic move. The strength of this team was unmistakably formidable.

The Criminal Investigation Brigade aimed to establish an internal ‘major case team’ dedicated to tackling sudden, significant cases in the future.

Regardless of whether Xiao Yu would ascend to the rank of police inspector or become a section officer upon his return from the provincial office, he would stay the leader of this team due to his exceptional abilities.

Once preparations were concluded, Xiao Yu and Guo Qiang conducted an inspection within the crematorium but encountered no suspicious elements, which they found peculiarly unsettling.

The manager’s actions undoubtedly raised suspicions, as did those of the employees. It was clear that the crematorium harbored issues that were far from minor.

What type of individual exhibits nervousness upon seeing the police?

Would someone innocent exhibit such guilt?

Without any leads, Xiao Yu refrained from summoning anyone for questioning. After all, without knowing the specific nature of the alleged crime, what questions could he possibly ask?

Upon entering the small funeral parlor within the crematorium, Xiao Yu paused. His attention was drawn to a staff member explaining to a family member about the cremation process.

“Apologies, our standard cremation furnace is currently undergoing maintenance. The management has decided that, for the time being, we will only utilize the environmentally friendly cremation furnace,” explained the staff member, smiling reassuringly.

“Would it be very expensive?” a family member asked.

“Rest assured, there will be no extra charge. It’s billed at the standard cremation rate,” the staff member assured.

The family agreed.

Such dialogue seemed normal, but was there any underlying issue?

Why did Xiao Yu take notice?

Because, he had just spent time in the charnel house, observing a cremation firsthand.

Why wasn’t there an urgent repair on the broken cremator? Why weren’t any maintenance personnel seen? Offering families the use of the more expensive green cremator without extra charges? Was the crematorium acting out of sheer benevolence?

The explanations offered by the crematorium staff, while seemingly rational and normal, were laced with inconsistencies.

Where did the problem lie?

Xiao Yu went back to the charnel house and questioned an employee, “How long has the standard cremator been out of order?”

“Uh?” The question seemed to catch the employee off-guard, causing him to respond nervously, “It broke down this morning.”

Broke down this morning? What a coincidence. Why the nervousness over a breakdown?

Just as Xiao Yu was about to probe further.

Liu Hongqiao, who had gone to retrieve the crematorium’s surveillance footage, returned, “Boss, there’s an issue.”

Really?

Xiao Yu’s eyes sparkled as he took the tablet handed over by Liu Hongqiao.

He started to watch a segment of the surveillance video.