Chapter 54: Heaven’s Witness

To what depths of depravity can humans sink?

This remains an eternal mystery. Virtually every heinous act imaginable has been perpetrated by humans.

The desecration of the deceased’s remains not only crossed a moral line but shattered the very essence of humanity.

The seething anger and palpable outrage of the detectives on the scene spoke volumes about the depth of their fury.

As Xiao Yu descended through the opened manhole, he entered a lengthy passageway leading directly beneath the mortuary’s cremation furnace. Within this underground corridor, a small storage room housed another large freezer, brimming with pig bones.

A comprehensive chain of clues swiftly took shape in Xiao Yu’s mind.

His deductions had been spot-on from the start.

The crematorium’s scheme to swap out human remains, substituting them with pig bones for cremation and handing the ashes over to unsuspecting families, was audaciously straightforward.

Their brazen confidence hinged on the assumption that families would not verify the ashes of their loved ones.

The entirety of the operation was laid bare, clear, and undisputed.

Case closed?

No, far from it.

What was the motive behind the crematorium’s theft of corpses? 

Where were all those bodies taken?

Based on a report from four years ago, their criminal activities had been ongoing for a long time.

Just how many bodies had they swapped?

And where were these bodies transported?

The magnitude of the case was overwhelming. So significant, it was earth-shattering.

In a nation with a rich and ancient heritage, the saying “the deceased should be revered” was far from a mere platitude.

When Zhao Changshan briefed the higher-ups, suggesting the case might involve up to thousands of deceased bodies, the actual number pending further interrogation, the city bureau’s leadership was stunned.

Thousands of dead bodies?

How is that possible? No, how could these criminals be so bold?

Shaken, the city bureau escalated the report to the provincial level.

And then it ascended to the ears of heaven.

This case touched on the remains of thousands, the departed. But remember, whether in life or death, they were still human beings.

Due to the grave nature of the case, the city bureau’s top officials personally arrived on the scene.

Shortly thereafter, the armed police force was deployed, encircling the entire crematorium. While termed a siege, it effectively meant barring any non-essential access and completely sealing off any news leaks.

Imagine the ramifications if word of this got out.

Evening.

Personnel from the provincial department arrived.

Midnight.

Delegates from the capital reached the site.

National Security took action.

Xiao Yu stayed remarkably composed in the presence of the five National Security officers. The theft of thousands of bodies was too shocking for them not to intervene.

With so many leaders converging, Xiao Yu lacked even the standing to be at the forefront. Even his superior, Zhao Changshan retreated to the sidelines.

Such is human nature, only after recklessness comes the realization of fear.

Zhao Changshan, leading the case investigation with bravado, now felt the weight of fear after the enormity of the case was unveiled. He had served as a police officer his entire career, encountering several high-profile cases, yet he had never faced a case of this magnitude.

The investigation’s next steps seemed baffling, leaving everyone uncertain about how to proceed.

One pressing question loomed over them all. How did these individuals manage to steal so many bodies, and what did they do with them?

The crematorium manager began to speak.

Did anyone really expect a case like this to be handled with polite questioning?

Not a chance!

When Xiao Yu encountered the previously somewhat arrogant manager again, the man was merely a shell of his former self, trembling on the interrogation chair, visibly disturbed. It was unclear what methods of interrogation were used. But after the National Security officers were through with him, he was transformed into this.

“Smuggling corpses?”

Xiao Yu’s gaze turned icy, disbelief etched across his face as he faced the National Security personnel, “It’s smuggling?!”

Smuggling corpses sounded almost like a grim joke. But it was far from it.

Given the rarity and value of human remains in each country, every body was considered invaluable. At its peak, a corpse could fetch over 100,000 US dollars internationally.

Cases involving the trade of human remains were numerous. Thus, smuggling corpses, shockingly, was not uncommon. 

Sometimes the profit margins could surpass those of drug trafficking, with significantly lesser legal repercussions.

The existence of such a lucrative yet perilously low-risk illicit trade begs the question, would anyone engage in it?

The answer was glaringly obvious.

“Mm.”

The National Security officer glanced at Xiao Yu, offering a gentle smile. This man, in his forties, with his nondescript appearance, ordinary dress, and modest height, carried an aura of benevolence. Lost in a crowd, he would draw no second glances.

Xiao Yu was well aware of the irony that the most unassuming figures could wield significant power. Unremarkable yet serving as a National Security officer, his presence hinted at an underlying exceptionality.

“You’ve summoned me because…?” Xiao Yu hesitated slightly.

Though he had uncovered the case, it remained unsolved. But given the magnitude of this investigation, Xiao Yu humbly recognized it had escalated beyond his reach, not merely as self-deprecation.

Even Zhao Changshan, the head of the Criminal Investigation Division, lacked the authority to proceed.

The case was now in the hands of National Security.