Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Wait a minute…” After his initial shock, Zhao Yu quickly took out a pen and a piece of paper, then said, “Excuse me, I just had an operation, where I was place under general anesthesia. So, my brain isn’t working well just now.”
Then, he wrote something on a piece of paper and asked Jiang Ke, “When did Laogua die?”
“Hmm…” Jiang Ke thought for a moment, then said, “It was the spring before graduation, in April of 2002.”
After hearing this, Zhao Yu and Cui Lizhu looked at each other before Zhao Yu said, “The Devil Case happened between August 2002 and February 2003!”
“Oh… So…” Jiang Ke thought for a moment, then said, “Han Kuan killed Laogua before the Devil Case happened. So, Han Kuan may have nothing to do with the Devil Case? Or, the person who guided Han Kuan was very clever. Maybe… When he learned that Han Kuan killed Laogua, he committed the Devil Case? Is that possible?”
Zhao Yu frowned and thought hard for a moment. However, the anesthetics’ effects were still impacting him, which made it difficult for him to concentrate.
Jiang Ke was also thinking carefully. “Has Han Kuan ever been to Beiqian?” he asked.
Seeing Zhao Yu and Cui Lizhu staring at each other, Jiang Ke understood everything immediately. He frowned and asked, “So… You don’t know that either? Well… Where is Han Kuan now? Is he dead… Or… Being kept by you?”
“What do you think?” Zhao Yu did not want Jiang Ke to know too much, so he asked his own question instead of answering his. “Do you think that Han Kuan had the chance to go to Beiqian at that time?”
“How could I know?” Jiang Ke shook his head, then said, “At that time, according to our school’s tradition, their last school year, students go to the factory to practice their skills!”
He paused for a moment, then continued to explain, “Since students are sent to the oil school by the local oil factories, they naturally go back to these oil factories to intern, which is time that can be counted as a year of work experience! Did Han Kuan go back to Golden City? Isn’t he working at the oil factory?”
“No. He is a freelance writer now!” Zhao Yu said. “He specializes in crime fiction novels! But… It seems that he isn’t famous at all, as you didn’t even know that!”
“Writer? Writing crime stories? Are you kidding? Jiang Ke was surprised and sighed. “Murderers write crime stories… This idea is really creative, hey? If I write a memoir, can it also be a hit on the market?”
When Zhao Yu didn’t reply, Jiang Ke then said, “Officer Zhao, you just keep Han Kuan. Don’t let him leave. Aren’t there ghosts in the Devil Case? Let me tell you… If Han Kuan is not the murderer, he must have had at least something to do with this! Do you know what he drew on his manuscripts that Laogua tore up?”
What? Jiang Ke’s words instantly attracted Zhao Yu’s and others’ attention.
“Ghosts! All kinds of ghosts!” Jiang Ke said loudly. “I know there is some problem with him. The things he drew would make anyone feel uncomfortable! Do you think that others…”
Before Jiang Ke had finished his question, Cui Lizhu, at Zhao Yu’s suggestion, handed the demon picture on her mobile phone to Jiang Ke. This demon picture was the one that they had found in Zhang Jingru’s documents.
“Yes.” Jiang Ke nodded. “That’s it! There’s a horn on its head! Han Kuan’s drawing is even more horrible than this!”
Hearing this, Zhao Yu and Cui Lizhu felt a tremor in their hearts and chills ran up their spines. Zhao Yu frowned heavily. It now seemed that Han Kuan was related to the demon picture, as was Zhang Jingru! This made Zhao Yu wonder… Is this couple responsible for the Devil Case?
Jiang Ke sighed thoughtfully, then said, “Now, I’d like to know what Han Kuan wrote about in his novels. How come all of these geniuses lived in our dormitory? Our principal used to say that our school never had any famous graduates. Originally, I thought I could be first one! But, I didn’t realize that Han Kuan was much more talented than me. Who would have known that such a mute would strike it big?”
Zhao Yu suddenly thought of something and reminded Jiang Ke, “The year that the Devil Case happened, SARS broke out! In fact, the timing coincides exactly! Do you remember where Han Kuan was during that period of time?”
“SARS…” Jiang Ke repeated the word as he thought. “Yes! I remember that year, and after that summer, I never saw Han Kuan again. When I went back to the dormitory to pick up my stuff, Han Kuan’s stuff was already gone! Um… But… I do remember that SARS didn’t have a huge impact in Yaoming.”
Jiang Ke then said, “At that time, some students who had planned to return home changed their minds. Maybe they were worried that the SARS outbreak in their hometowns would be more serious than at school. As to Han Kuan… I really don’t know. By the way, Cui Xiaolong may know more, as he is much more of a social person than me. You should go and ask him about it!”
After hearing this, Zhao Yu suddenly felt confused as he thought… Jiang Ke doesn’t know yet that I killed Cui Xiaolong? But, yesterday, when the big tank truck appeared, Jiang Ke and Cui Xiaolong were both there!
How could he possibly not know that Cui Xiaolong is dead? Is it because Cui Xiaolong’s body was covered in sludge at that time? Did he not see it? Or, before he had time to check Cui Xiaolong’s situation, maybe that was when he saw me and fought with me?
“Hmm…” After thinking through all of the scenarios, Jiang Ke seemed to understand something, and his face turned grave in an instant. “Xiaolong… He…”
“Cui Xiaolong refused to say anything!” At this time, Officer Wang quickly spoke up and finished Zhao Yu’s sentence for him. “If all of the criminals are willing to cooperate with us like you are, it’ll save us a lot of time!”
“Hmm…” Upon hearing this, the corners of Jiang Ke’s mouth rose slightly, revealing a cold smile that made everyone present shudder. It seemed that he was now aware that Cui Xiaolong had died.
“Alright! Anyway, thank you for the information!” Zhao Yu knew that the conversation with Jiang Ke should be over now, so he patted the armrest of the wheelchair and said, “As you said, I owe you a favor. If the Devil Case is solved by the help of your information and leads, I’ll put in a good word for you. But, whether it helps or not depends on how many bad things you have done before now.”
“Well, I appreciate it regardless.” Jiang Ke smiled indifferently, then asked gloomily, “Officer Zhao, how about taking my advice?”
Zhao Yu stared closely at Jiang Ke and saw an indescribable slyness in his eyes. Jiang Ke then said in a calm and composed voice, “Those people in high positions are the most likely to be attacked. I’ve seen a lot of outstanding people like you be taken down for this very reason. At the end of the day, things for such people do not end well! So, you’d better be cautious in the future.”
Although Jiang Ke said that this was advice, it sounded like more of a threat to Zhao Yu. “Well, thank you. I’ll take your words into consideration!” Zhao Yu nodded and smiled, then said without any change in his facial expression, “Well… I hope you don’t make trouble for yourself here.”
After saying that, Zhao Yu patted the armrest of the wheelchair and Cui Lizhu pushed him out of the interrogation room. As soon as the door of the interrogation room was closed, Zhao Yu immediately pulled a long face and turned to address Officer Wang.
He said, “Officer Wang, ask the bureau chief to send more forces here… Professional ones! Remember that you don’t need to keep your eyes on him 24/7, as the most important thing is to get rid of outside threats! Do you understand?”
Officer Wang dabbed the sweat from his forehead and asked, “Do you think that Jiang Ke will attempt to escape?”
“I don’t know, but I hope you won’t let him if he does try!” Zhao Yu shook his head and sighed. “If Jiang Ke manages to escape, it would mean big trouble for us! Anyway, just do you best.”
