Chapter 308: The Psyche of Madness

K City, a certain district.

The rhythmic hum of rotor blades filled the air as an armed helicopter descended slowly onto a road outside a residential complex.

Whether this would cause any repercussions, Xiao Yu didn’t care.

What he did know was that if the events in Fang Shuoxin’s novel unfolded as described, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Little Yu’s death?

No, the potential destruction of an entire city.

Would such devastation really happen, or was it just an exaggeration?

Was 9/11 in Xiao Yu’s previous world an exaggeration? Was the United States a small country? Why did it happen anyway?

And now, after five consecutive crimes committed by a single individual, would it still seem far-fetched?

Stepping out of the helicopter, Xiao Yu and his team swiftly entered the residential complex and headed straight for a specific building.

They stopped in front of an apartment door.

“Do you really believe the scenes from Fang Shuoxin’s novel?”

Before coming to K City, Wang Dong had also thought that a criminal trying to destroy an entire city sounded absurd.

“I never believe anything anyone involved in a case says, especially male suspects,” Xiao Yu said calmly.

Wang Dong, “…”

“For instance,” Noticing Wang Dong’s puzzled expression, Xiao Yu chuckled. “No matter what state a man is in, awake or not, anything he says is as unreliable as pillow talk.”

Wang Dong, (￣□￣)

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

“Picture this.” With a serious expression, Xiao Yu continued, “An absolutely stunning woman stands naked before you. Outwardly, you might refuse, but your eyes… well, they’d betray you. Isn’t that true?”

Wang Dong couldn’t argue.

“Since the day I became a police officer, I’ve learned not to trust even my own eyes when investigating a case.” Xiao Yu extended a hand, knocking on the door as he spoke. “The only thing I trust is the final truth.”

Wang Dong pondered Xiao Yu’s words and nodded in agreement.

Indeed, even one’s own eyes could be deceived during an investigation. Until the truth was revealed, everything could be a lie.

The door opened, revealing an elderly couple with tear-streaked faces, their eyes swollen from crying.

“Yes? Who are you looking for?” the elderly man asked hesitantly.

“We’re police.”

Xiao Yu displayed his badge briefly.

To ordinary people, a police badge was far more reassuring than an investigator’s identification.

“Ah?” The elderly woman gasped. “Do you have news about our daughter?”

Two days earlier, the couple had filed a missing person report. Their daughter had been missing for over a day. She had disappeared along with her guide dog.

***

“Our daughter disappeared two days ago. She went missing along with her guide dog, Wangwang.”

“We reported it to the police, but they haven’t found any leads.”

“Yes, our daughter recently got a boyfriend.”

“We only heard about him from her, but we’ve never met him in person.”

“We even asked her back then if he was a normal, healthy man. Wouldn’t he find her being blind to be a burden?”

“But she said the man was very gentle, never minded her blindness, and took great care of her.”

“As her parents, we were still very worried. If he’s a normal, healthy young man, why would he choose to date a blind girl? Wouldn’t he fear being dragged down in the future?”

Xiao Yu listened silently as the elderly couple recounted bits and pieces about their blind daughter.

At one point, he gestured discreetly to Wang Dong.

Wang Dong understood instantly and stepped out to check the neighborhood’s surveillance and the city’s public cameras.

At the same time, the local armed police had already mobilized to seal off the city, to lock down all major exits.

Was such a large-scale operation necessary?

Of course. There was a potential threat to destroy a city.

Regardless of whether this seemed exaggerated or whether the suspect was capable of such destruction, preventative measures had to be taken. Through the conversation with the blind girl’s parents, Xiao Yu confirmed that nothing further could be learned from them.

The perpetrator’s approach to the blind girl had been meticulously planned, just like the plot of Fang Shuoxin’s novel.

How could one explain it?

It was as though the criminal had outlined a blueprint. This blueprint served as the framework for the entire novel.

Take the five previous cases as examples: the theft of lithography machine data, the murder of three thugs, the killing of a wealthy heir. Each was carefully premeditated and meticulously executed. Even the brothel where the trafficked women were controlled was likely a location scouted in advance.

By listing all these plans in a blueprint, the plot progressed along predetermined routes.

As for the overarching storyline? That would be the suspect’s ultimate goal.

“What’s his goal?” Wang Dong returned, frustrated after finding nothing in the surveillance footage. “How do we figure out what he’s trying to do?”

“Do you know what a madman might do?”

Xiao Yu’s tone was serious.

Wang Dong, “…”

‘Who the hell can guess a madman’s mind?’

“Does anything he’s done so far seem different from what a madman might do?”

Leaving the blind girl’s home, Xiao Yu’s gaze swept around as he spoke.

“A spree of crimes with no apparent logic, seemingly random cases with no clear connection. Don’t tell me his goal is to fight evil and promote justice. Even if that were true, no normal person would resort to murder. This isn’t about capability, it’s about the innate understanding of laws and rules that’s deeply rooted in people’s minds. Even bad people know the consequences of killing in this country. But this guy? He’s bold enough to commit crimes and kill without restraint. If he’s not insane, then what is he?”

Wang Dong nodded.

Indeed, even the smartest criminals understand the consequences of murder.

They go to great lengths to destroy evidence and hide the bodies.

But this case? The perpetrator had acted brazenly, killing and committing crimes with zero concern for being caught.

If not insanity, what else could explain it?

“He’s definitely still in this city.” Xiao Yu lit a cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. “Let’s dig for clues.”

Wang Dong didn’t want to feel like a tool, but he reluctantly asked, “Where do we start?”

“From the moment he fabricated that ridiculous love story, he left too many clues behind.” Xiao Yu sneered. “Brother Wang, as someone with experience, you should know, when it comes to relationships, people act most irrationally. Even if this love story is fake… trace the blind girl’s past movements. Look for the places she frequented most. Since the suspect created this story around her, he must have been investigating her routines. Check her routes. That’s where we’ll find his tracks.”

Wang Dong’s eyes lit up.

Exactly.

This was no different from a criminal casing the joint.

If he had scouted the girl’s routes, he must have appeared there at some point.

And once he left a trace, where could he run?