Drapeau fantôme

Chapitre 39

Searching for clues among items left at crime scenes is a common criminal investigation method used by the police. Theoretically, every item left behind can be traced back to its origin. Then, by tracing the flow of similar items from their source, the activity range of the item's user can be roughly determined. Luo Fei used this method to solve a murder case in Longzhou. The victim was found in a large suitcase and dumped in the wild. Luo Fei took the suitcase to the local luggage market, sketched the characteristics of customers who had recently purchased the suitcase, and ultimately apprehended the murderer based on the sketches.

Unfortunately, this method still wouldn't work for the "112 Dismemberment Case." Huang Jieyuan told Luo Fei dejectedly, "We tried this approach back then, but it quickly stalled. First, the plastic bags used to hold the meat slices were too common; you could find them in almost any market or grocery store in the city, and they were free. The travel bags used to hold the head and internal organs, and the bed sheets used to wrap the clothes, were not only ordinary but also very old, at least five years old. Tracing the origin and whereabouts of these items five years ago was virtually impossible."

Hearing Huang Jieyuan's words, Luo Fei had no choice but to shake his head and give up. He squinted and sighed, "This guy... his every move is truly impeccable."

"That's true. He seemed very familiar with the police investigation procedures, so he implemented highly targeted preventative measures at every stage. I led the task force in a months-long, tireless effort, but we still came up empty-handed." Huang Jieyuan paused here, his gaze lingering on Luo Fei's face, before continuing, "Under these circumstances, I had no choice but to swallow my pride and seek help from Ding Ke, who had retired many years ago."

Upon hearing the name "Ding Ke," not only did Luo Fei's spirits lift, but even Mu Jianyun, who had been suffering in agony, suddenly regained his composure. Regardless of how sensational and bizarre the 112 dismemberment case was, the two men's purpose in visiting was to find out Ding Ke's whereabouts. According to rumors, Ding Ke had also been forced into hiding by the 112 case. What was the truth? They needed the former captain of the criminal investigation team to provide the answer.

"Ding Ke..." Luo Fei murmured with a sigh, "He had already been out of the police force for eight years by then, right? I heard he helped you a lot during that time?"

"Yes," Huang Jieyuan readily admitted. "After all, he was still my mentor. So whenever I encountered difficulties with a case, I inevitably had to go to him. At that time, he had already retired to the suburbs, spending his days planting flowers and raising birds, living a very leisurely life. Although he was old, he was more energetic than when he was in the criminal investigation team. However, he didn't like me going to him. In his words, every time I went, he would expend several days' worth of energy and effort, which was practically like shortening his lifespan."

Luo Fei shook his head with a wry smile. Indeed, the intensity of criminal investigation work is not something that ordinary people can handle. Once you get involved in a case, you can forget about taking a break until the day the perpetrator is brought to justice.

"So what was the result when you went to see him this time?" Mu Jianyun didn't care about these irrelevant questions; he just wanted to know the outcome urgently.

"As usual, he complained about me again. But despite his complaints, he still listened to my detailed explanation of the case. Then he told me to come back to him in two weeks. Hey, two weeks! He's never mentioned such a long time before!"

Hearing Huang Jieyuan's感慨 (sentiments/remarks), Mu Jianyun was somewhat puzzled: "Is there any particular significance to this timing?"

"This timeframe represents the number of days he needs to solve the case. As you know, I've seen him many times over the past eight years. Each time, he does the same thing: after listening to my account of the case, he tells me a time to come back. This time can be as short as one or two days, or as long as three to five days, but it never exceeds a week. When I come back, he'll give me a few pointers on the most crucial parts of the case. Although it's just a few words, I know they're the essence of his hard work over the past few days. When I try to solve the case based on his guidance, the stalemate immediately resolves itself, without exception."

"Oh." Mu Jianyun nodded: This method of investigation is truly legendary. Then she sighed, "The fact that they've set a two-week timeframe means Ding Ke also knows that this dismemberment case is far more difficult than any previous case!"

The Fate of the Death Sentence (21)

Huang Jieyuan remained silent, as if this was a fact that did not need to be discussed.

Then Luo Fei asked, "What's the situation like in half a month?"

With this question, both Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun showed great anticipation in their eyes. Who wouldn't want to hear Ding Ke's opinion on this bloody and thorny case?

Huang Jieyuan looked up at the two of them, his expression somber. Then he said with a bitter smile, "What happened next—you already know."

Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun were taken aback at first, but they quickly realized what was going on.

"You haven't seen Ding Ke again?" Luo Fei asked, guessing.

"Yes—" Huang Jieyuan sighed softly, "When I finally managed to endure half a month and went to find Ding Ke again, he had already moved away. Nobody knows where he went, and he didn't leave any contact information for anyone."

It was full of hope, but ultimately that hope burst like a soap bubble. Mu Jianyun understood the dejected state Huang Jieyuan must have felt back then, but she still couldn't help but remind him, "It seems like he's deliberately avoiding you."

Huang Jieyuan pursed his lips, which could be considered a reluctant acquiescence.

"Is it because he also has no solution to this case?" Mu Jianyun asked, determined to get to the bottom of it.

"I don't know, I've never seen him again." Huang Jieyuan's attitude was somewhat evasive, but after a moment's hesitation, he added helplessly, "That possibility... is probably the most likely."

Indeed, what other explanation could there be? If Ding Ke was simply tired of the tedious work of investigation, he could have easily refused Huang Jieyuan the first time he visited. His disappearance after making a promise can only mean that he couldn't keep it, right?

Luo Fei also showed some disappointment. Not only was he disappointed by the delay in Case 112, but also by Ding Ke's manner of leaving. As a renowned legend in the police force, even if he couldn't fulfill his promise, he should have at least given those who had high expectations an explanation. To simply break his promise and leave felt somewhat irresponsible.

However, judging from Ding Ke's handling of the "47 Robbery Case," this approach seems to be in line with his personality. When faced with problems he cannot solve, he does not force himself; avoidance is always his preferred choice.

Perhaps this is also due to the burden of reputation. Such a major case naturally becomes the focus of everyone's attention in the police force. Once you step forward, there is no turning back. In this situation, a single failure will be remembered by everyone, enough to erase the halo of victory accumulated over the previous decades.

The saying "the higher you climb, the colder it gets" perfectly captures this meaning. When you've become the embodiment of victory in the eyes of others, victory no longer holds much significance for you; people's only concern is: when will you fail?

Therefore, you become extremely afraid of failure. When challenges arise again, you no longer have the courage to face them honestly. At this point, avoidance becomes your helpless choice.

Ding Ke was perhaps simply repeating the inevitable path a hero takes after reaching the pinnacle. And with his retreat, there was even less reason for him to return. No wonder he remained untraceable for a decade. Perhaps as long as the "112 Dismemberment Case" remains unsolved, Ding Ke's name will only exist as a legend sealed in people's memories.

If that's the case, when will the truth about Wen Hongbing's death be revealed? Is using this incident as a clue to trace Eumenides a dead end?

Luo Fei became increasingly frustrated as he thought about it. He rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the pressure in his mind.

Mu Jianyun's attention, however, remained focused on the previous topic. She sighed helplessly, "Even Ding Ke is like this... so what progress will there be in this case?"

Huang Jieyuan shook his head with a self-deprecating smile: "In fact, after losing Ding Ke's help, I was basically in despair. But as the captain of the criminal investigation team, I had to persevere, even if it was a dead end. In the following months, I led my team to search almost the entire provincial capital like a sieve, but as I had expected, we didn't even catch a hair on that guy's head. This continued until the end of 1992, when the organization, in order to quell public discontent, dismissed me from my position as captain of the criminal investigation team."

Mu Jianyun looked at Huang Jieyuan with sympathy. This handling of the situation really felt like finding a scapegoat. But then again, with such a significant social impact, shouldn't an explanation be found? If the murderer can't be found, the police captain can't escape responsibility. After all, in that position, you have to bear the corresponding responsibility.

Huang Jieyuan understood Mu Jianyun's emotions. He smiled slightly, his expression quite complicated: "Being dismissed from my post at the time was a relief for me—I was simply overwhelmed by that case. But for a police officer, such a thing is undoubtedly the greatest disgrace. I felt I couldn't stay in the criminal investigation team any longer, so I resigned not long after and became the civilian you see now."

Mu Jianyun responded to Huang Jieyuan with a smile, as if she also understood what he was thinking.

"It seems you're also running away, but you're different from Ding Ke. Even though you're no longer a detective, you've never forgotten the '112 Dismemberment Case.' The police have even archived the case, but you're still relentlessly searching for the killer. You've never given up—" She looked directly into his eyes, "—Am I right?"

As if some kind of spirit had been suddenly awakened, Huang Jieyuan's eyes shone brightly, revealing a resolute and sharp light. You would never find such a light on the face of a common merchant. Then, gritting his teeth, he said, word by word, "Whoever inflicted this shame upon me, I will make them erase it themselves. Don't say ten years, even twenty or thirty years, I will never let them go!"

Luo Fei looked up at the man before him, nearing fifty—his body had become somewhat plump, and a few gray hairs were appearing at his temples, yet the fighting spirit within him still burned fiercely. Luo Fei felt his own blood begin to heat up. Yes, being knocked down was not terrible; as long as you still had the courage to fight, the hope of victory still lingered ahead of you!

Whether it's the horrific monster of the "112 Dismemberment Case" or the cold-blooded killer Eumenides, you must face such an opponent who never gives up!

"Looks like the performance has already started." Mu Jianyun suddenly changed the subject, but then she quickly returned to the beginning, "Is this performance also your way of finding the murderer?"

Huang Jieyuan smiled knowingly. Otherwise, why would he have invited these two police experts to his bar in the middle of the night?

Luo Fei turned to look at the monitor screen and saw that the bar lobby was already packed with people. A strangely dressed singer was singing on the center stage, while the patrons around him were dancing wildly in the flickering lights.

"This isn't the official performance yet." As he spoke, Huang Jieyuan glanced at his watch; it was nearly 2 a.m. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "How about this, since this is your first time here, I'll take you to the venue so you can see it more clearly."

He stood up from the sofa as he spoke. Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun followed suit without hesitation. Although they didn't know what the performance was like, watching it up close would undoubtedly give them a better understanding of its intricacies than watching it from the monitoring room.

So the three of them walked out of the private room one after another. As soon as the soundproof door of the private room was opened, a deafening sound surged out.

For Luo Fei, it was music he had never experienced before. Every note was incredibly powerful, exploding through the air like a series of shockwaves. When those shockwaves struck your eardrums, it felt like being pounded by a heavy hammer, making your heart pound wildly. The singer's hoarse voice, hysterical, mingled with the music, sounded less like singing and more like the dying howl of a wild beast.

Luo Fei was momentarily overwhelmed. He frowned, wanting to say something but then gave up. Because in such a cacophony of noise, even if he strained his voice, it would be difficult for his companions to hear him.

Once they reached the first floor, the noise intensified, making Luo Fei feel as if he were being tossed into the air. He turned to look at Mu Jianyun behind him, only to see her pressing her delicate hand to her chest, clearly also uncomfortable with the environment.

However, the patrons around the stage were in a completely different state. Holding various fine wines, they swayed wildly to the music, thoroughly intoxicated. At the same time, their eyes gleamed with a strong desire, as if they were anticipating something.

Huang Jieyuan led Luo Mu and the other man towards the center of the bar. The area around the stage was already packed with people, but the young manager appeared before them at the right moment. Huang Jieyuan didn't need to say anything; he just nodded slightly, and the young man immediately understood and left. A short while later, he returned with three or five burly security guards. Without a word, the guards went over and squeezed through the crowd, using their bodies to create a path.

Huang Jie led the way, following Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun along the human tunnel to the heart of the circle. There, a glass wall, taller than a person, kept the patrons about three meters away from the stage. However, there was a door on the front of the wall. The lead security guard opened the door and let Luo Fei and the other two inside the glass wall. Here, they didn't have to suffer from the crowds, and their view was unobstructed. Many patrons on the outside cast envious glances, wondering who these three "distinguished guests" were.

Just as Luo Fei and his two companions stood still, the rock singer on stage finished his performance. The deafening music and noise ceased. Taking advantage of this rare moment of quiet, Huang Jieyuan said in a deep voice, "It's about to start." His words had barely left his lips when two sharp "dong-dong" sounds rang out, and the clock in the bar struck two in the morning. The patrons outside stirred, a sense of excitement rapidly building within them.

The music resumed, seemingly adding fuel to the already fervent emotions of the drinkers. This time, however, the music was even stranger and more powerful than before; it was almost otherworldly, lacking beautiful melodies and often consisting of the deafening clang of metal striking and rubbing together. Yet, these sounds were undeniably meticulously arranged, forming a symphony that seemed to originate from the depths of hell. The heavy notes spread like thick, dark clouds, obscuring the sunlight from the listener's heart, leaving only a suffocating sense of despair and fear.

Luo Fei knew little about music, yet the notes seemed to permeate his very being. Whenever the music reached its climax, the arteries in his temples and wrists throbbed violently, as if they might burst under the pressure at any moment. Somewhat horrified by the music's immense power, he closed his eyes, trying to focus his mind and control his body's rhythm. Gradually, the notes seemed to disappear, and strange images suddenly appeared before his eyes.

He witnessed a gruesome scene of carnage: shredded corpses flew through the air, along with boiled heads and entrails. On the victim's dismembered face, a strange smile faintly lingered, while murky tears clearly streamed from the corners of her eyes. Just as Luo Fei tried to get a closer look, the victim's eyelids suddenly opened, revealing a pair of eyes filled with black blood.

Luo Fei felt his heart pounding wildly, almost making him scream. Just then, someone grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of that illusory world of flying blood and flesh.

Luo Fei opened his eyes, the maddening music once again assaulting his eardrums, making him unbearably irritated. The person gripping his wrist was Mu Jianyun, who was looking at him with concern, his eyes shining like stars. This gaze brought Luo Fei back to reality, and the fear subsided considerably. Only then did he realize that his forehead was drenched in sweat in an instant.

Mu Jianyun pointed to his eyes, then shook his head. Luo Fei immediately understood: it was because he had closed his eyes that his thoughts were completely captivated by the music, leading to the terrifying hallucination. So he learned his lesson and stopped trying to fight the music, instead focusing his attention on the real world around him.

The patrons were nearly delirious, shouting in unison to the music, "Come out! Come out!" like a pack of hungry wolves howling.

Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun exchanged a glance, knowing that they were calling for the "performance" arranged by Huang Jieyuan. So the two of them immediately turned their gaze to the stage not far away, because that was where all the drinkers' eyes were focused.

Finally, amidst the fervent anticipation of the crowd, the lead actress gracefully stepped onto the stage. She was a strikingly beautiful, tall woman, dressed entirely in black—from her tight leather jacket and pants to her tall leather boots, and even the bat mask on her face. This black attire accentuated her snow-white skin, exuding a seductive aura, while simultaneously creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere, much like the music itself.

The woman danced and twirled on the stage, further inflaming the emotions of the patrons below. They drank heavily, chanting repeatedly, "Come out! Come out!"

Then a character walked out from backstage. This time it was a muscular man. He was shirtless, with a black mask over his head, only his eyes glaring fiercely out, clearly playing the role of an executioner.

Upon seeing the executioner, the woman began to flinch in terror on the stage. He caught up and seized her. Then, in a frenzy, the executioner tore at the woman's leather clothes, quickly stripping her naked. The woman was left only with black underwear and leather boots; she struggled weakly, her eyes flashing with terror behind the bat mask.

Mu Jianyun felt uncomfortable from the lewd scene and turned her face slightly away. Just then, she suddenly felt someone touching her arm, and when she turned her head, she saw Luo Fei.

Luo Fei gestured towards the outer edge of the curtain wall behind him, and Mu Jianyun quickly looked in the direction he indicated. There, he saw the same burly security guards squeeze into the crowd again. They seemed to have identified a target, and the group moved in a circle, eventually surrounding a customer.

He was a short man, appearing to be in his thirties, with a stout build and a face full of fat. He was engrossed in the "wonderful" performance on stage, but his size limited his view significantly. Amidst the shouts of the surrounding crowd, he tried to squeeze to the front of the circle, but those in front wouldn't let him pass. However, the situation changed when the security guards arrived. They subtly used their strong bodies to create a path for the man. The man didn't realize it was intentional; he simply followed the guards instinctively, unknowingly ending up on the outer edge of the curtain wall. The security guards then positioned themselves around him, separating him from the other patrons.

The patrons were all in a frenzy, oblivious to the change unfolding around them. Aside from Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun, the executioner on the stage also noticed. When he saw the shorter man had been separated, he brandished the leather pants he had ripped from the woman, grinning maliciously as he walked towards the edge of the stage.

The spectators outside the glass wall seemed to receive some kind of signal, frantically trying to squeeze to the front. Then, the executioner swung his arm, tossing the leather pants into the crowd below. The crowd screamed and tried to grab them, but only one person was lucky; the leather pants landed squarely in the hands of the short man surrounded by security guards.

The surrounding drinkers murmured envious admiration and regretful sighs. But Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun knew perfectly well that it was all pre-arranged, and the short man was already the "pre-selected" lucky one.

The man himself was clearly unaware of this. When he snatched the leather pants, he shouted excitedly as if he had won the lottery, and then he brought the pants to his mouth and nose, lewdly inhaling the lingering scent of the woman.

Mu Jianyun spat out two words with utter contempt: "Disgusting." Although Luo Fei couldn't hear her words, he could guess what she meant from her expression. Turning to look at Huang Jieyuan, he saw the latter nod slightly, his expression very serious, as if indicating that he should continue watching attentively.

The live show on stage had reached its climax. After the executioner threw the leather pants off the stage, a long rope appeared out of nowhere. The rope was dyed a bright red, and as it danced, it resembled flowing blood. This crimson color reflected in the eyes of the patrons, making their eyes turn blood red as well, gleaming with a wolf-like glint.

The woman lay curled up at the executioner's feet, too weak to resist. The executioner stretched out the red rope with both hands, then began to bind her body, starting from her neck, wrapping it around her body in circles. The woman struggled and twisted in agony, but was ultimately bound tightly.

The executioner yanked hard on the remaining rope, digging it deep into the woman's fair skin. From below, the bright red rope resembled the cruel bloodstains covering her body. Luo Fei suddenly felt uneasy, as this scene involuntarily reminded him of the dismemberment case they had just discussed. A thought flashed through his mind: Was this executioner subtly imitating the dismemberment process of the perpetrator in the 112 case?

The executioner tied the rope around the woman's wrists behind her back. At that moment, the music in the room was punctuated by the woman's faint moans, moans that sounded extremely painful, like the dying gasps of someone on the verge of death, sending chills down the spine. But the onlookers, sipping their drinks, derived even greater pleasure from these moans; their breathing quickened, their blood practically boiling with the music.

Just then, two more men emerged from backstage. They were also shirtless and looked menacing. The two of them were pushing a large glass box, which lay horizontally on a trolley. The box was about a meter long and half a meter high, and it was completely transparent, like a huge fish tank.

Two men pushed a glass case to the center of the stage, then opened the lid and struck several violent poses to the music. When the music subsided, they retreated backstage.

And so the executioner once again became the protagonist of the performance. He stepped forward, picked up the woman, carried her around the stage, and then shoved her into the glass box. As if to match the violent scene, a cloud of smoke rose around the stage. When the smoke cleared, the executioner appeared out of nowhere, producing a pile of gleaming swords. As they were thrown onto the stage, they clashed together, reflecting a sinister light.

Luo Fei was startled. Based on his years of experience as a criminal police officer, he could tell that these swords and knives were all "real" weapons with sharpened edges! With such things brought onto the stage, what kind of bloody and violent scenes would appear in the performance?

The patrons, however, were unfazed; in fact, they had come specifically for the bloodshed and violence! When the gleaming swords were drawn, they erupted in thunderous cheers. The bar erupted in chaos and uproar!

The executioner closed the glass box again, and the woman became a prisoner within. Then he picked up a longsword, raised it high above his head, and displayed its menacing sharpness to the crowd. The music stopped abruptly, and the noisy spectators held their breath, their bloodshot eyes wide, staring like a pack of hungry wolves at the pale, tender prey on the stage.

The woman was curled up behind the glass, her buttocks and breasts high, her whole body twisted into an alluring pose. The red rope, white flesh, black mask and underwear—the contrasting colors were so striking that it made one dizzy.

"What...are they going to do?" Even though he knew beforehand that this was just a "performance," Mu Jianyun still nudged Huang Jieyuan and asked nervously.

Huang Jieyuan put his right index finger to his lips in a "shh" gesture, then gently instructed, "Don't speak, the most crucial moment has arrived!"

Mu Jianyun turned to look at Luo Fei again, only to find that the latter was also staring intently at the stage. She could only purse her lips helplessly and turn her attention back to the performance.

At that moment, the executioner pressed the tip of his longsword against the box. After a moment of preparation, he suddenly exerted force, and the tip of the sword pierced through the glass and went inside!

Mu Jianyun's heart tightened, and she involuntarily let out an "Ah!", but no one could hear her cry. At the same time, the woman inside the glass box also let out a shrill scream, and with that scream, the long sword that had pierced the box was deeply embedded in the woman's bare breasts, and blood immediately gushed out along the blade.

There seemed to be a microphone connected to an audio track inside the box. The amplified screams echoed throughout the room, creating a shocking effect against the backdrop of blood. The patrons shuddered, their faces displaying a mixture of tension and excitement.

The music resumed, its rhythm growing increasingly chaotic and frenzied. Amidst the metallic scraping, the low howls of wild beasts could be faintly heard, interspersed with women's ambiguous moans and plaintive sobs, enough to ignite the primal desires and bloodthirsty impulses within the men. The wolves watching from below licked their lips, savoring the sweet, bloody scent in the air. They were on the verge of utter madness!

Any normal woman would feel apprehensive in such a situation, and Mu Jianyun was no exception. She looked around, her face pale. Luo Fei noticed her change and positioned himself slightly behind and to the side of her, shielding her from the hungry gazes of the surrounding wolves. This subtle gesture made Mu Jianyun feel much safer, and she gave him a faint smile in gratitude.

The executioner on the stage drew his longsword and raised it high above his head with his right hand. Fresh blood dripped from the blade onto his bare chest, further highlighting his ferocious and terrifying aura.

The drinkers became wild; they had been looking forward to something for so long that they could hardly contain their excitement!

The executioner knew this atmosphere all too well, and now he was about to ignite this final, fierce flame. He took two steps forward, waving his left arm at the patrons below, as if beckoning them to rush onto the stage. Provoked like this, their already swelled animalistic instincts finally erupted completely. The crowd surged forward wildly, each person's eyes blazing with lust—a lustful, bloodthirsty lust, a lust permeated with the scent of death!

However, the curtain wall in front of the stage blocked the wolves' path. Only the short man from before, surrounded by security guards, passed through the door in the curtain wall. He waved his leather pants gleefully, because the club's performance rules clearly stated that these leather pants were the only "pass" for patrons to get onto the stage.

Luo Fei and the others watched the short man pass by. His eyes were fixed on the glass box on the stage, as if it were the ultimate outlet for his desires. To the accompaniment of oppressive, chaotic music, he slowly climbed onto the stage and stood before the glass box.