Los ojos de Asura

Capítulo 9

“I think…” Luo Fei pondered, “...if there are any hidden details in this case—including what role Yuan Zhibang played in the investigation—the person who knows the most about these issues should be the person who was in charge of the case at the time, and also the person who wrote this file…”

At this point, Luo Fei's voice noticeably softened. The name was already on his lips, but he was held back by certain emotions.

Respect, admiration, and even a touch of awe made it difficult for Luo Fei to utter those two words easily.

Director Song's gaze lingered on the title page of the file. He had already seen those two words, and an indescribable expression appeared in his eyes as well.

Even though he held the high position of provincial bureau chief and exuded an aura of authority, Director Song couldn't help but feel awe when he saw those two words.

Because those two words represent a legend, a legend in the provincial police force, and even in the national police force.

Ding Ke.

After a long silence, Director Song finally looked up at Luo Fei and sighed softly, "Do you want to see him?"

Luo Fei nodded: "He can tell me those answers—why the records in the files are so brief; why Yuan Zhibang, who is a trainee, appears among the investigators; why Eumenides is investigating this case eighteen years later—these are all questions that need his answers."

“I understand what you mean…” Director Song smiled bitterly, “but the police in the entire provincial capital have been looking for him for ten years.”

"What?" Luo Fei's eyes widened, his surprise evident. "He...he's missing?"

Director Song chuckled and, instead of answering, asked, "How much do you know about him?"

Luo Fei took a deep breath, and when he was about to say that name, he had to maintain a solemn expression: "Ding Ke, back then all my colleagues in the police force and the police academy knew this name. When I was studying at the police academy, he was a visiting professor in our criminal investigation major, and also the captain of the provincial capital's criminal investigation team. At that time, he already had twenty years of police experience, and he was a legend in the field of criminal investigation because he held a record that no one has been able to break to this day—a 100% case-solving rate for all the cases he handled."

Director Song sighed again, a sigh filled with emotion and admiration. When Ding Ke was the captain of the provincial capital's criminal police team, he was just a criminal police officer in a district police station. At that time, in his mind, Ding Ke was practically a god-like figure.

It's important to understand that even for homicide cases, achieving a clearance rate of over 90% is already quite difficult. The remaining cases are the most challenging to solve, and each subsequent breakthrough requires several times the investment. From this perspective, achieving a 100% clearance rate is virtually impossible.

This is similar to an excellent shooting athlete. Shooting a bullseye might not be difficult for him; he might even score many bullseyes in a single competition. However, expecting him to hit the bullseye with every single shot throughout his entire career is an impossible task.

Ding Ke accomplished something incredibly difficult. He even single-handedly boosted the province's crime-solving rate. During his years as a criminal police officer in the provincial capital, the provincial public security department consistently ranked first in relevant indicators in the national system's internal assessments.

Yet, this very person retired from the police force at the peak of his career.

When Luo Fei mentioned this past event, his tone was full of regret: "In April 1984, Ding Ke fell seriously ill due to years of overwork in handling cases and had to retire from his position as captain of the criminal police. This serious illness also made him tired of his career as a criminal police officer. He went through the procedures for medical retirement and was unwilling to continue working in the police force even after he recovered."

"He fell ill right before the April 18th massacre," Director Song added, continuing Luo Fei's words. "If he had continued to serve as the captain of the provincial capital's criminal investigation team, that massacre probably wouldn't have dragged on until today."

Yes, Luo Fei was willing to agree with this hypothesis. If a legendary figure like Ding Ke had been in charge back then, even a genius like Yuan Zhibang would have had a hard time becoming his opponent.

"So where did Ding Ke go after that?" Luo Fei finally couldn't help but ask. "I left the provincial capital after graduation, so I don't know much about what happened after that."

"After he recovered from his illness and left his post, he lived a secluded life in the countryside, quietly recuperating. However, the police could still find him through various means. Sometimes, when there were difficult cases, his former subordinates and colleagues would ask him for help. Although he himself didn't like to get involved in these mundane matters anymore, he still helped the police solve many major cases over the years. But every time the investigators came to thank him, he would say, 'Don't look for me again next time. If you come again, I'll hide somewhere no one can find me.' At the time, everyone took this as a joke, but unexpectedly, this joke one day became a reality." Director Song sighed and reminisced for a while before continuing, "That was in 1992, exactly ten years ago. Another sensational case occurred in the provincial capital, which you should have heard of."

"Is it the 119 dismemberment case?" Luo Fei's brows twitched suddenly. It was the most sensational case from ten years ago.

"Yes." Director Song's gaze sharpened, as if recalling the case from years ago, his voice becoming low and somber. "The brutality and horror of that case were so intense that even some of the detectives handling the case back then found it unbearable... Sigh, I won't go into details now. When the 119 incident occurred, I had just been transferred to the city's criminal investigation team. At that time, the entire provincial capital's police force was mobilized, almost sifting through the entire city, but we couldn't find a trace of the perpetrator. Later, we had no choice but to seek help from Ding Ke again—but this time we couldn't find him anymore. According to his family, after the murder, Ding Ke anticipated that the police would come looking for him sooner or later, so to avoid harassment, he went into hiding early on. Even his closest son didn't know where he was hiding."

"So he just disappeared like that? The police never saw him again?" Although he had already guessed the outcome, Luo Fei still asked a few more questions, quite unwilling to give up.

"It's been ten years. Whenever a major case occurs, someone always thinks of him, but we've searched for him many times without success. It seems he's determined not to get involved in police affairs anymore."

Luo Fei frowned in disappointment: "But why would he do this? Is it because of a serious illness?"

"He's tired... His illness might just be an excuse. Of course, there could be other reasons—who can really say for sure except himself?"

Luo Fei paused for a moment, then turned his thoughts back to his investigation.

“It will be difficult to find him then… but we should be able to find the others, right?” Luo Fei said, flipping the file to the last page and pointing to the signature column of the investigators. In any case, his current goal was to find the eyewitnesses of the hostage incident from back then, so as to find out more detailed information related to that case.

"Okay." Director Song nodded. "I'll send someone to handle this. These people aren't in the system anymore—it's been eighteen years, and there have been too many personnel changes. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."

"Okay, thank you, Director!" Luo Fei stood up and saluted. After receiving a return salute from his superior, he quickly left the room. Someone was already waiting for him in the corridor outside.

"Captain Luo, you've finally come out!" the man said, his voice lowered, but his excitement was palpable. Even the messy strands of hair on his forehead seemed to bounce as he spoke.

Luo Fei recognized the person as Zeng Rihua, and the other man's emotions also affected him.

"What's going on?" he asked in a low, excited voice.

“I know why he was interested in that file. I also know who he is!”

"What?" The news came too suddenly, so suddenly that Luo Fei found it hard to accept.

“Eumenides! I’m talking about Eumenides!” Zeng Rihua emphasized again.

Luo Fei glared at Zeng Rihua, then grinned and said quickly, "Let's go to the conference room!"

Ten minutes later, all the members of the task force gathered in the criminal investigation team's conference room. Zeng Rihua was presenting everyone with the significant analytical findings he had just obtained.

A black and white photograph appeared on the projector screen. The photo had low resolution and yellowish, blurry edges, clearly an old object from many years ago. The photograph depicted a group of children, both boys and girls, ranging in age from four or five to over ten.

“This photo was taken in 1986 at an orphanage in this city,” Zeng Rihua began to explain. “The children in the photo were all orphans living in the orphanage at the time. The reason I’m showing you this photo is because one of the children in it went missing a year later.”

Everyone vaguely guessed what Zeng Rihua was going to say, and their ears perked up. Their action was very timely, because Zeng Rihua immediately dropped even more exciting information.

"Based on historical records and recent on-site investigations, we can now confirm that the missing orphan is named Wen Chengyu, and his biological father is Wen Hongbing, the suspect who was shot and killed by the police in the 130 hostage crisis."

Everyone could hear the hidden meaning behind this message. Everyone showed expressions of joy, while Zeng Rihua wore a smug expression, his gaze shifting between Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun.

Luo Fei was just as excited as everyone else, but he forced himself to calm down and asked, "Is this information reliable?"

"Absolutely reliable."

“Wen Chengyu…” Luo Fei pronounced the name slowly and deliberately, then asked in a deep voice, “Which of these children is him?”

Zeng Rihua moved the laser pointer in his hand, and the red beam stopped at a certain spot on the photo, drawing everyone's attention.

He was a little boy, about seven or eight years old, one of the younger ones in the group of orphans taking photos. Therefore, he stood in the front row, on the left side. The boy had regular features, but no particularly distinctive physical characteristics. The only striking thing was his unique demeanor. Among a group of children, some laughing and some languid, he stood tall, his expression displaying a seriousness beyond his years. He seemed to be deep in thought, something his companions clearly couldn't understand.

If he were just an ordinary boy, his first impression would be that he is intelligent and sensible. He should be a son who understands his parents' hard work, an older brother who can protect his younger sister, and a student who can listen to his teachers' teachings... Everyone who sees him would have high hopes for his future.

But now, looking at the photos, everyone has a different feeling. These renowned police elites deeply feel the pressure a child brings them, because they know that the child is Eumenides, a cold-blooded, cruel killer, as precise as a clock and as tough as steel.

The hall fell silent, an atmosphere that deepened the gloom in everyone's hearts. After a moment, Mu Jianyun's voice suddenly rang out: "As you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes back at you."

The female lecturer's pleasant voice now sounded eerie. Zeng Rihua, who was fiddling with the laser pointer in his hand, looked up uncomfortably, frowned, and asked, "What?"

"The philosopher's quote comes from the 18th-century German Nietzsche." Mu Jianyun glanced at Zeng Rihua, seemingly quite dissatisfied with the latter's lack of humanities knowledge.

"Hey, philosophy?" Zeng Rihua gave a teasing look, but couldn't help glancing at the photo a few more times. Wen Chengyu in the photo seemed to be looking back at him, his sharp gaze seemingly able to pierce through more than a decade of time.

That guy has probably figured us out already. Thinking of this, Zeng Rihua grinned and said with a wry smile, "Sometimes, the words of philosophers do have some meaning."

"Teacher Mu only said half of it; Nietzsche's original words had a first half." Luo Fei finished his eye contact with the boy and completed Nietzsche's original words, "—Whoever fights these monsters needs to understand the process by which they did not become monsters. And as you look into the abyss, the abyss is also looking back at you."

Mu Jianyun smiled slightly at Luo Fei, feeling as if she had found a kindred spirit. Then she continued, "What kind of experiences you have will shape what kind of monster you become. What kind of monster will this boy be now? Captain Luo, perhaps you can tell us."

"Me?" This time, Luo Fei did not immediately understand what the other party meant.

“When Wen Chengyu met Yuan Zhibang, he was just a little boy whose personality had not yet been formed. His later growth was entirely under Yuan Zhibang’s conscious control. You are the person here who knows Yuan Zhibang best, and you also know Yuan Zhibang’s purpose in raising this boy. So you should be able to describe what kind of ‘monster’ Yuan Zhibang would mold him into.”

“Yes… if I could put myself in Yuan Zhibang’s shoes…” Luo Fei narrowed his eyes, beginning the pretense of role reversal, “…I need an assassin, an invisible assassin—he must possess exceptionally sharp thinking, a calm mind, an innate vigilance and composure, extraordinary learning ability and a thirst for exploration, excitement and challenges that excite him, tenacity, adherence to principles, and once he sets a goal, nothing can stop him…”

While Luo Fei continued to ponder, Mu Jianyun asked again, "What about his social life and daily routine? What should he do?"

“Hmm…” Luo Fei pondered, “...He cannot let anyone get to know him, but he will not have any social barriers. When he appears in front of strangers, he must be approachable and even charming. He may have one or more legitimate identities to adapt to the requirements of different occasions. He cannot enjoy ordinary human emotions, nor can he be obsessed with any external things. At any time, no one and nothing can hold him back.”

Everyone listened intently to Luo Fei's analysis, nodding in agreement from time to time. Mu Jianyun listened most attentively, and after Luo Fei finished speaking, she said thoughtfully, "Perhaps I can add something..."

Luo Fei immediately nodded to her: "Please speak." His tone was both encouraging and expectant.

"He might be fond of food or music... and recently, he might develop unusual feelings for someone."

After Mu Jianyun said this, the other attendees all showed expressions of confusion. If Luo Fei's previous analysis was a reasonable deduction based entirely on Eumenides' characteristics, then Mu Jianyun's statement seemed to contain too much conjecture.

Luo Fei frowned as well, continuing to look at the other person and wait for them to continue.

Mu Jianyun and Luo Fei looked at each other, and she smiled and said, "I analyzed it based on your conclusion. You told us that Eumenides is a person who is intelligent, sensitive, and knowledgeable. Such a person is easily interested in something beautiful; however, he cannot have friends, cannot participate in public activities, and this interest cannot hinder his daily activities. Therefore, he can only seek out very private hobbies that he can enjoy alone and quickly. His life is tense and lonely, and this rhythm also needs to be relaxed and adjusted. Considering these two aspects, I think food and music can meet his needs. In fact, if I were Yuan Zhibang, I would consciously cultivate his hobbies in these two areas during Eumenides' growth to safely release his desires."

After listening to the other party's explanation, which made a lot of sense, Luo Fei's brows gradually relaxed, and he continued to ask, "Then what about developing feelings for someone?"

"Humans have emotional needs. Eumenides, however, had to suppress these needs. But this suppression didn't make the needs disappear; it only made them stronger in the space where they could be released. You can imagine how deep the emotional bond must have been between Eumenides and Yuan Zhibang over the years, because the latter was the only person to whom he could release his emotions. Now that Yuan Zhibang is dead, Eumenides has nowhere to place his emotions, and he will desperately need a new emotional target."

As Mu Jianyun explained, the previous confusion of the crowd dissipated like fog. Zeng Rihua excitedly spun the laser pointer faster and faster, cheering repeatedly, "That makes sense! That makes sense! Brilliant! Brilliant!"

“But developing emotional connections with strangers is a very dangerous thing for Eumenides.” Luo Fei remained calm, clicking his tongue slightly, showing a hint of doubt. “He should be well aware of this, and Yuan Zhibang must have repeatedly warned him about it before he died.”

“Emotions are the most primal human instincts and will not disappear because of subjective control,” Mu Jianyun replied confidently. “However, because of the situation you mentioned, Eumenides will be selective about the objects of his affections.”

"Oh? What kind of person would he choose?"

"It's probably a woman; the probability is over 95%."

"Why?"

"First of all, it's human nature. The remaining five percent is because Eumenides might also be gay."

Luo Fei and the others smiled knowingly, and a rare relaxed atmosphere appeared in the meeting room.

“Secondly, and very importantly—” Mu Jianyun began, and everyone immediately fell silent again, “Women are safer for Eumenides. If we were to further refine this woman’s characteristics, she should be very weak, so weak that she could not possibly pose any threat to Eumenides. At the same time, she would likely have similar experiences to Eumenides in some way, so that Eumenides would have the desire to get close to her, and they could resonate with each other and have an emotional exchange.”

Luo Fei crossed his arms and lowered his head to savor Mu Jianyun's analysis. After fully digesting and absorbing the other party's line of thought, he looked up again and gently praised, "Very good."

Mu Jianyun smiled slightly and happily accepted the other party's praise.

At this moment, Luo Fei turned his gaze to Zeng Rihua: "Alright, now continue with your findings."

Zeng Rihua chuckled and stopped twirling his pen. He scratched his head with the pen tip, trying to reorganize his thoughts, which had been interrupted by Mu Jianyun. Some dandruff drifted down and settled on his police uniform shoulder.

Sitting next to him, Mu Jianyun seemed afraid of being contaminated. She turned her body to the side and glared at Zeng Rihua with a pout.

Zeng Rihua quickly stopped scratching his head and frantically tried to brush the dandruff off his shoulders.

"Alright." Mu Jianyun reached out and slapped the other person's arm, lowering his voice as he said, "Let's get down to business, everyone's waiting."

Zeng Rihua forced a smile: "Um... Wen Chengyu, according to what I know so far..." He flipped to a page of prepared information, then composed himself, and his words finally became coherent, "He was born on January 30, 1978, blood type O. His father, Wen Hongbing, due to an economic dispute, took hostages with explosives on January 30, 1984, and was shot dead by the police; in June of the same year, his mother, Zhang Cuiping, also passed away in the provincial capital's People's Hospital. Wen Chengyu was subsequently sent to live in the city's orphanage. Because he did not know about his father's death, he was unwilling to accept his orphan status. This caused him to be ostracized by the other children in the orphanage, and his life was not happy. On January 30, 1987, nine-year-old Wen Hongbing went missing during an outing and has not been seen since."

"Both are January 30th?" Luo Fei immediately reacted. "Even his birthday?"

“Yes.” Zeng Rihua put down the documents and adjusted his glasses. “This actually explains some things.”

"Okay, please continue."

"It can now be basically confirmed that this Wen Chengyu is indeed the Eumenides we are looking for. He was born in 1978 and is currently 24 years old. On his sixth birthday, his father was shot and killed by the police. Yuan Zhibang was also one of the participants in this operation, but Wen Chengyu was unaware of this. Three years later, on the same day in 1987, Yuan Zhibang, having recovered from his injuries and been discharged from the hospital, found Wen Chengyu and began to train him to be his successor. These are the facts we found in historical records."

Below is my analysis:

First, Wen Chengyu stole the files of Case 130 in order to track down his father's whereabouts. He was unaware that his father had been shot dead by the police, but he remembered something special happening on January 30th, which was his birthday, so he had a deep impression of that date.

Secondly, Yuan Zhibang never revealed his previous identity to Wen Chengyu. Similarly, although he knew all the details of the 130 case, he never told Wen Chengyu any related information.

Third, after Yuan Zhibang's death, Wen Chengyu learned through the media that Yuan had once worked for the police. This reminded him of certain events, and he realized he should look for his father's whereabouts in the police records.

After delivering this long speech, Zeng Rihua looked at his colleagues around him. They were all nodding in thought, and no one spoke for the time being. However, judging from their expressions, no one disagreed with his analysis.

It was Luo Fei who broke the silence first: "If that's the case, then Wen Chengyu already knows about his biological father's death. How will he react?"