Chapter 69: How Was It Done?

Winter 2019, Night

In City G, an emergency call was made, prompting patrol officers to rush to a reported location. 

In a residential community’s fitness area, they found a male victim dead, his death scene markedly gruesome. Surveillance footage was immediately retrieved by the police.

Summer 2020, Night

In City A, the police were dispatched…

Spring 2021, Night

In City X, the police were dispatched…

Winter 2022

On the fifteenth night of the first lunar month, a chilling incident occurred in City K. The police responded to the scene where they were met with a horrifying sight. The deceased had been eating his own intestines at the time of death, causing many officers to vomit on the spot.

The incident was swiftly classified and a gag order was issued. The national security quickly took over the investigation.

A couple of these suicide cases might be dismissed as coincidences. But one each year, amounting to five consecutive cases? Was that still a coincidence?

Each of the five incidents involved death scenes that escalated in severity, strangeness, terror, and bloodiness. It was suspected to be a homicide.

Anyone with a sound mind would know that suicide was an unlikely explanation. It was unfathomable for humans to inflict such cruelty upon themselves.

In response to this case, the National Security Bureau launched an extensive cross-provincial investigation. Yet, they were met with dead ends and no progress. The case’s sheer bizarreness was beyond comprehension.

Two days ago, National Security uncovered a significant clue–suspected drug residues were found in the bodies of the five victims. However, the exact nature of the substance had yet to be determined.

Forensic experts unable to identify it? 

It suggested that the drug was not yet available on the market. It could be an unknown drug or still in an experimental phase.

The precise purpose and composition of the drug found in the victims’ bodies remain unclear, pending further laboratory tests and experiments.

Nevertheless, a top forensic expert within the National Security had asserted with certainty that no known drug could completely override a person’s control, obliterate their pain receptors, and drive them to self-mutilate to such an extreme.

This was not the stuff of science fiction movies. With current medical technology, such effects were simply unachievable.

Faced with this case, even the powerful National Security was at a loss.

Xiao Yu looked away from the tablet and fell into deep thought. Indeed, the case itself was beyond ordinary understanding. Even if a criminal had the intention, how could they control a person to self-mutilate, to consume their own flesh and blood until death? 

‘Teach me, how is it done?’

Xiao Yu shook his head. He couldn’t fathom it because two issues remained unresolved.

First: How could someone numb the entire human body’s pain receptors while still allowing normal movement?

Second: By what method could one control another person to self-mutilate to the point of death?

The more he thought about it, the more his thoughts drifted towards the paranormal. Only the supernatural seemed capable of such feats.

Was that even possible?

With no one to share his thoughts, Xiao Yu felt overwhelmed by his frustrations.

[Ding, case trigger successfully.]

[Police God case check-in initiated.]

[Would the host like to check in?]

Xiao Yu, “…”

‘Is the system trying to set me up?’ 

He had a bad feeling about this.

Could this case even be taken on? Was National Security not capable enough? They themselves were clueless.

“If National Security couldn’t solve a case, what makes you think I can?”

Xiao Yu had always been aware of his own limits, but he felt like the system was doing this on purpose. He felt offended, chilled to the bone.

After pondering deeply, Xiao Yu gritted his teeth and decided, “Sign in!”

He had no choice. Being a normal person, he wondered what abilities the system would grant and what skills he might receive after solving the case. The system seemed to be tempting him again with lofty promises.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully signing in to the case.]

[System reward: Expert Psychologist ability granted.]

[System task assigned: Investigate a mysterious murder case.]

[Deadline for solving the case: 10 days.]

[If the host completes the task within the time limit, an additional system skill will be granted: Speed of the Leopard.]

[If the host fails the task within the time limit, any system abilities granted to the host will be revoked.]

[Countdown for the task begins now.]

The familiar sensation of memories forcefully inserted into his brain surged like a tidal wave. Countless pieces of psychological knowledge were indelibly imprinted in his mind and body.

Xiao Yu was ecstatic.

Psychology?

This was a skill he had long desired to master in both his lives. Until now, his understanding of criminal psychology had been quite superficial. He hadn’t expected the system to be so generously lavish.

Just as Xiao Yu was caught up in his excitement, suddenly, a pair of hands appeared from behind him, wrapping around his neck.

Xiao Yu tensed up.

What was it like to be watching a horror film, completely absorbed, and at the peak of terror someone embraced you from behind?

Xiao Yu broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, his reflexes were sharp. He smelled the familiar scent and felt the familiar, soft body against his.

The reaching hand suddenly stopped.

“I can’t sleep alone,” Mu Qingwu’s sultry, gentle voice whispered gently.

Xiao Yu turned around, lifted his sister in his arms, and walked toward the bedroom.