Chapter 52: Time to Bring Everything to Light

Xiao Yu was set on stirring the pot. Conducting a search of the entire crematorium single-handedly wasn’t feasible. Besides, the case was too significant for any one person to handle alone. Within half an hour, five police cars had arrived.

Zhao Changsheng led the team personally, with over twenty police officers in tow.

The display of force was overwhelming, sending shockwaves throughout the crematorium from top to bottom.

“I had received at least five calls before I got here, each caller a bigger fish than the last. Eventually, I just turned off my phone and made a run for it,” Zhao Changsheng, with a grave expression, informed Xiao Yu, “We’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

Size and height?

No, he meant their positions!

For Zhao Changsheng to mention big fish, they had to be at least at the bureau level. Higher than bureau level, and escalating?

Even Xiao Yu, ever composed, couldn’t suppress a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

He might be only six feet from a slap in the face, but he was ready to ‘pass the buck’ in 0.01 seconds.

So, no fear!

“It’s to be expected,” Xiao Yu said with a shrug. “Even though it’s a crematorium, it’s also a state-owned enterprise.”

Drawing on his skills as a keyboard warrior and the wisdom gleaned from dime novels, it was more than just trouble, it was practically gambling with his future career.

“It’s up to you now,” said Zhao Changsheng, cutting straight to the chase with a pat on Xiao Yu’s shoulder.

The advantage of having a brash personality was clear. Once they were set on a path, all pressures and obstacles be damned, solving the case would silence the critics and earn accolades.

But if they failed to uncover anything.

The consequences were unbearable.

“Alright!” Xiao Yu nodded in agreement.

If the leader was ready to face the onslaught head-on, the least he could do as a follower was charge forward.

Over twenty police officers conducted a comprehensive search of the entire crematorium, but the afternoon’s efforts turned up empty. Everyone was stunned, casting complex glances at the unflappable Xiao Yu.

Little brother, you’re not trying to lead us into a trap, are you? Don’t you realize if we don’t find anything, we’re all finished?

Zhao Changsheng was initially panicked too.

But being direct and impulsive didn’t mean being witless. One couldn’t be a Captain without some savvy. Seeing Xiao Yu’s calm demeanor, Zhao Changsheng felt a wave of calm wash over him.

Did the young detective have a strategy?

Indeed, Xiao Yu had a plan in mind, though he was reluctant to resort to it.

“Could we get a police dog?” Xiao Yu asked.

“It’s too urgent, it would take three to five days,” Zhao Changsheng responded with a shake of his head.

While some areas had specially trained police dogs, Bencheng City did not, necessitating a request from other cities.

Three to five days? By then, it would be too late.

“Let’s get some pig bones,” Xiao Yu suggested.

Everyone, “???”

Despite the confusion, a detective drove off and quickly returned with two pork femur bones.

The Monarch Butterfly’s Nose. Activated!

Xiao Yu casually inspected them before tossing them aside. He wouldn’t reveal the abilities and skills bestowed by the system, that would be foolish. But with the team unable to find anything, it was time for him to take action.

Why pig bones?

Xiao Yu suspected that the crematorium might be using pig bones as a substitute for human ashes. The perpetrator’s hiding spot for the bodies would likely contain pig bones.

The detectives resumed their search, gearing up for a third sweep. Zhao Changsheng, wearing an odd expression, stayed close to Xiao Yu.

They were all seasoned investigators. Xiao Yu’s request for pig bones surely had a purpose.

But soon, Zhao Changshan would understand Xiao Yu’s intentions.

Their first stop was the crematorium’s parking lot designated for the vehicles transporting the body. Coincidentally, two vehicles were parked there, each with an iron coffin placed on their cargo bed.

Climbing into one of the vehicles, Xiao Yu donned gloves and opened the first iron coffin to find it completely empty. However, the ‘Nose of the Monarch Butterfly’ alerted him that this coffin had recently contained pig bones, confirming his suspicion and the direction of his reasoning was correct.

Upon opening the iron coffin in the other vehicle, Xiao Yu’s eyes sparkled with discovery. Inside, he found a piece of flesh.

Zhao Changshan, noticing Xiao Yu’s pause, came over for a closer look.

“Huh?”

He was momentarily taken aback by the sight of the flesh residue, no bigger than a fingernail cap.

This wasn’t human flesh.

As a seasoned detective, Zhao Changshan had a keen eye for such details. Furthermore, bodies transported to the crematorium were never fresh. Yet, this piece of flesh was remarkably fresh.

An idea struck him as he recalled Xiao Yu’s request for pig bones.

Could it possibly be…

“Substituting the bodies with pig bones,” Xiao Yu observed, scrutinizing the flesh residue. “Then cremating the pig bones to provide the ashes to the families confirms our lead.”

Solving a case requires clues and, more importantly, evidence. Otherwise, what’s the point of speaking without solid proof?

Zhao Changshan breathed a sigh of relief. No amount of pressure could daunt him now.

He would have his defense ready. 

Let’s hear an explanation for why pork residues are found in coffins meant for transporting bodies. Don’t try to say you’ve been using a corpse’s coffin to haul meat back for consumption. Would anyone actually believe that?

Zhao Changshan promptly summoned two detectives. They were to secure the scene and he called for a forensic examination.

“First, secure everyone at the crematorium. However, this isn’t the end.”

With a twitch of his nose, Xiao Yu rose to his feet, his gaze ice-cold as he stared towards a certain direction, “It’s time to uncover their hiding spot.”