Chapter 211: Fifty-Three Cameras

‘This doesn’t make sense. For a case like this, why would the system give a 20-day time limit?’ Xiao Yu’s mind was racing, trying to analyze the situation.

But the system wasn’t giving him any time to think. Like a tidal wave, an influx of knowledge flooded into Xiao Yu’s brain, forcibly instilling itself. All this knowledge revolved around how to disguise oneself, using techniques and experience to change personal appearance.

Basically, it was like a mix of undercover work and disguise.

This kind of skill was quite technical, the kind of thing you’d give to spies or special agents. But here he was, a cop—not exactly undercover material. 

What was the use of this?

Feeling frustrated, Xiao Yu didn’t think too much about that Flea Jump ability either. He was more focused on the 20-day time limit the system had given him.

Twenty days!

Ten days was the norm for major series cases, right? But twenty days? That was overkill for any major case.

And yet, here he was, dealing with what seemed like just a suspected murder and dismemberment case.

‘System, what the hell? You’re giving me 20 days for this?’

Xiao Yu’s gut was churning. He realized this case had to be more complicated than it seemed.

Why else would he think that? The last case, the human skin wax figure one, involved fifteen victims. Even that only had a ten-day limit.

“Chief, what’s wrong?” Guo Qiang asked, noticing Xiao Yu’s troubled expression. “You don’t look too good. Are you okay?”

‘No kidding, if I looked fine right now, something would be seriously wrong.’ 

Xiao Yu shook his head, turning his gaze toward the suspect, Yu Shaoyang, strapped into the interrogation chair. Internally, he was cursing, ‘What the hell have you done? What kind of horrible things are you hiding?!’

But… he had a feeling.

Yu Shaoyang was probably an idiot.

Why the insult?

Because… did he really commit murder?

***

In Bencheng, in a coastal villa community, Xiao Yu now stood inside a villa, surveying the messy bedroom.

What did a villa look like after three years of being unoccupied?

Snow-white bed linens had turned a dull, grayish-brown, speckled with mold.

“We’ve already checked the scene. Aside from some traces of… well, you know, there’s nothing to suggest any kind of struggle or fight.” Guo Qiang’s expression was odd as he continued, “We also inspected the kitchen. There’s no evidence of any dismemberment. You know, because of the nature of flesh and blood, no matter how thoroughly you clean, there’d be traces left in the corners or in the drains. But there’s nothing.”

Xiao Yu didn’t say anything. He walked out of the bedroom, down to the first floor, and into the villa’s kitchen. 

The kitchen had a single knife rack with all the knives neatly in place, not a single one missing.

“The kitchen tools and knives were examined, and only minor traces of use were found. One set of fingerprints belonged to Yu Shaoyang, and the other to Wang Mei. This was confirmed by comparing the fingerprints found in the bedroom,” Guo Qiang explained, looking visibly frustrated. “Apart from the traces left by Yu Shaoyang and Wang Mei, no evidence of a third person entering or leaving the villa was found. So…”

So what?

Even Guo Qiang was now starting to suspect that Yu Shaoyang might have actually killed Wang Mei. But if Wang Mei wasn’t dead, where had she been for the past three years?

Xiao Yu was just as eager to find out.

Why was Yu Shaoyang so adamant that he had killed Wang Mei?

Using his Eagle Eye ability, Xiao Yu scanned the kitchen.

The result… nothing. He couldn’t find any trace that this was the primary crime scene.

Was Yu Shaoyang lying?

No, his demeanor didn’t suggest he was lying at all.

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment, then continued to inspect the villa. He went from inside to outside, and then back again. Until, suddenly, he lifted his head and looked at a specific corner of the villa.

Huh?

He noticed a small hole in the corner of the villa’s wall, with some wires sticking out.

Power cables?!

The wires were very thin, hidden within the small hole, making them hard to notice without close inspection.

Especially under the scrutiny of his Eagle Eye, he noticed some residue of adhesive material on the corner of the wall.

A light?

Or something else?

Guo Qiang fetched a ladder, and Xiao Yu climbed up to take a closer look. After a moment, he smirked coldly.

A camera!

Yes, those were the wires for a camera.

The wires were so thin because they didn’t need much power—just enough to transmit data and power simultaneously.

But where was the camera?

Even though Xiao Yu couldn’t determine exactly when the camera had been removed based on the remaining traces, a professional could analyze the adhesive residue and the degree of wire weathering to make an educated guess.

Xiao Yu continued to search the entire villa.

To his shock, he discovered that the villa, both inside and out, had a total of fifty-three possible locations where cameras had been installed.

What the hell?

Even for security, you wouldn’t need that many cameras. And not only that, but who installs cameras in the bathroom, shower, kitchen, and bedroom? Are you sure this was for security and not to satisfy some twisted fetish?

Even a pervert wouldn’t go to these lengths.

Xiao Yu noticed another problem with the arrangement of these cameras.

If all fifty-three cameras had been installed in the past, then anyone who entered the villa would have been monitored wherever they went. There would be absolutely no privacy.

Xiao Yu immediately headed to the detention center to interrogate the suspect, Yu Shaoyang. He asked just one question, “When you and Wang Mei lived in the villa, how many cameras were installed?”

“Cameras? What cameras?” Yu Shaoyang looked confused, his expression puzzled. “There were cameras in the villa?”

Xiao Yu turned and left.

He had lived there since seven years ago, starting from his third year in university, and then for two more years after graduation, yet he had never noticed any cameras?

So, this means…  

Did Wang Mei know about the cameras in the villa?

Another thing to consider was when the cameras were removed. Were they taken out seven years ago, or sometime within those seven years?

Soon, the experts provided an answer.

Based on the adhesive residue and the weathering of the camera wires, they confirmed that the cameras were removed between three to four years ago.

Xiao Yu smirked coldly.

Half an hour later, a report with the villa owner’s details was placed in front of him.

Deng Hua, male, 34 years old, originally from Bencheng, living abroad with a family visit visa, citizenship unchanged.

Xiao Yu took out his phone and dialed Wang Dong’s number.

“Brother Wang, I need you to check someone for me!”