Chapter 40: From Human Bones to Pig Bones

【Ding, case activation successful.】

【Police God case sign-in initiated.】

【Would the host like to sign-in?】

Xiao Yu snapped back to reality, his expression perplexed.

‘What’s with your style, system? Or have you degraded?’

The file he had opened was indeed a minor case. Neither in his past life nor in this one had it caught his attention. The reason it did now was its unresolved status for over four years.

Times had changed. The streets were laden with surveillance cameras, criminal investigation techniques were diverse, and high-tech equipment was in abundance.

More than four years without a breakthrough… this seemed illogical.

With the modern day’s investigative techniques, it was rare for a case to remain unsolved for more than six months. Cases dragging on for a year were almost unheard of. But a case that was unsolved for over four years was exceptionally unusual.

Moreover, the case itself wasn’t significant, something even a basic police station could typically handle. Yet, inexplicably, it had been dragged out for four years and ended up at the Criminal Investigation Division. Wasn’t that peculiar?

Was the system doling out perks?

Hardly.

A case that had baffled other investigators for so long won’t be straightforward. Never assume that you’re the only clever one and that the rest of the world was foolish. If that’s your line of thought, then the fool is undoubtedly you.

“Sign in,” Xiao Yu muttered, skepticism etched across his face.

【Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully checking into the case!】

【System reward: Driving Expertise!】

【System assignment: Investigate the grave robbery case!】

【Deadline for solving the case: Seven days!】

【Should the host complete the task within the stipulated time, an additional system skill will be awarded: Ears of the Wax Moth!】

【Failure to complete the task within the time limit will result in the retraction of the granted system abilities!】

【Countdown for the time-limited mission begins.】

As an array of driving skills–encompassing cars, tanks, airplanes, ships, and more–merged seamlessly into Xiao Yu’s mind and body, he was astounded. For the first time, he realized that his previous conception of ‘driving’ had been far too limited.

Wax Moth Ears… what’s that?

Xiao Yu pulled out his smartphone for a quick search. The Greater Wax Moth can hear frequencies up to 300 kHz, a hearing capacity unmatched by any other known animal.

First, it was the Falcon’s Eyes, then the King Butterfly’s Nose, and now the Wax Moth’s Ears?

‘The system really knows how to keep things interesting,’ Xiao Yu thought with a chuckle, turning his attention back to the case file displayed on his computer monitor.

The Grave Robbery Case.

This wasn’t just any theft of a body. The discrepancy came to light after the body had been cremated, and the family noticed something amiss.

The deceased had died in a car accident, and despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead. Following the issuance of a death certificate, the body was sent to the crematorium for cremation.

Originally, the procedure seemed unproblematic.

Interestingly, the deceased’s son was a medical student. During an occasion when he was transferring his father’s ashes to a new urn, he noticed the color of his late father’s ashes seemed off.

It’s well understood that ashes cannot be completely incinerated to leave no residue, some bone fragments are expected to remain.

Although both human and animal bones are reduced to inorganic matter upon cremation, leaving behind only inorganic salts, forensic methods can still differentiate between human and animal bone residues if any remain.

Shockingly, upon testing, the son discovered that what should have been his father’s ashes were, in fact, pig bone ashes.

Hard to believe, isn’t it?

Following a police report, an investigation was initiated. This could potentially involve grave robbery, making the case neither minor nor insignificant.

Classified under selective crimes, the maximum sentence could amount to less than three years.

The complication arose when the deceased’s family realized, half a year later, that the body might have been switched at the time of cremation.

The crematorium outright denied any wrongdoing and counterclaimed against the deceased’s family for extortion. Ironically, the family hadn’t extorted anything, not a single penny. They were solely after the truth, seeking to locate their loved one’s remains.

But how could this be investigated?

Although the crematorium was under surveillance, the cremation process itself wasn’t monitored in the mortuary. Moreover, police interrogations of the crematorium staff revealed no leads.

Thus, while the case might appear minor, it remained unsolved, turning into a cold case.

“I feel like I’m playing a game of Werewolf. This is getting interesting,” Xiao Yu leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed in thought.

Was it for financial gain?

Unlikely. The family hadn’t sought any money, just the truth, making the swapping of ashes improbable. Additionally, the family resided in the city, with no relatives in rural areas.

Considering the logistical challenges, how could such a swap even happen?

Excluding the possibility of the family’s involvement, it pointed towards the likelihood of the crematorium itself being involved in the body theft.

Another complication arose.

The investigation revealed, according to the case files, that although the mortuary lacked surveillance, the rest of the crematorium was monitored. Given the records of personnel and vehicle movements, the likelihood of an internal theft of the body was minimal.

In China, what benefit could possibly come from stealing a body?

Actually, there was a demand.

Certain medical and specialized institutions indeed engaged in the acquisition of corpses. While these transactions commanded high prices, they were conducted through legitimate channels.

What channels, exactly?

The deceased were those whose entire family could be seen on a single ID card, with no one to claim the body posthumously. Alternatively, if a deceased’s family agreed to donate the body, the government provided compensation.

Then, there were individuals who, of their own volition, choose to donate their bodies for research after passing away.

Outside of these contexts, any trade of corpses that involved financial transactions was criminal.

The penalties, however, were not particularly severe.

Xiao Yu got up, ready to visit the family and the crematorium first.

Merely theorizing was useless, he needed to examine the scene firsthand.