Chapter 21: Detective Game

Somewhere in the Hotel,

inside a room with various electronic screens and equipment.

Chu Chenfeng carried the Black Suitcase, opened the door, and walked in. Ding Mo followed behind him.

Ding Mo looked around the place in confusion for a moment: "Where is this?"

Facing his question, Chu Chenfeng, who had already placed the Black Suitcase on the table, replied:

"This is the Security Room, or let me put it another way..."

"This is the place that controls the lights inside the Hotel."

Upon hearing this, Ding Mo's figure paused, and he looked toward him:

"Did you discover this when you went out earlier?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I actually didn't discover anything," Chu Chenfeng shook his head:

"The equipment here has long been broken; it's completely useless. The operation of the lights has nothing to do with this place."

"I see." Ding Mo felt a wave of disappointment.

He had thought he might find some locals of the Hotel and obtain some important information from them.

With his doubt resolved, Ding Mo, at Chu Chenfeng's gesture, sat down in front of the table, opposite Chu Chenfeng.

On the table between the two of them was the Black Suitcase.

"That is why we need to use this case." Chu Chenfeng pointed at it.

Chu Chenfeng had been carrying this case since the day before yesterday; what on earth was its use? Ding Mo stared at him, waiting quietly for what would come next.

Seeing this, Chu Chenfeng smiled.

"I have said it before, it is the key to how I have been able to survive 4 Tasks in the past."

"Because, it will provide us with a hint!"

As he spoke, without waiting for Ding Mo to ask more, Chu Chenfeng placed his hand on the case and began to mutter in a low voice:

"The key to this Task... the key to this Task..."

Speaking to a case as if chanting a spell—this situation made Ding Mo feel a sense of eeriness.

Could it be... that this case is alive?!

But didn't it come from the Prop Team?

After muttering a few sentences, Chu Chenfeng opened his eyes and pulled his hand away.

"Is it... that simple?" Ding Mo scratched his head.

An item that could obtain key information so easily?

"Of course not." Chu Chenfeng shook his head at these words, his gaze fixed on Ding Mo:

"Next, I need you to help me open the case."

"And then play a 'game'."

"A game?"

"That's right, this comes from the 'Pollution' on me!" Chu Chenfeng paused, then suddenly said:

"I assume you also understand that 'Pollution' doesn't necessarily only have a bad side."

Ding Mo nodded.

Some "Pollution" can be used as tools and weapons.

For example, the "Brainwashing Demon Melody" that was on Zhu Jie before could be used to manipulate others.

"And what is on me is this," Chu Chenfeng gestured toward the Black Suitcase:

"Every once in a while, I will receive a 'Black Suitcase' of this style."

"Or I can go online or go out on the street to buy one myself."

"After getting the case, I must open it and complete a detective game. If I successfully complete it, I will obtain a piece of key information I want to know,"

"For example: what the key to this Task is, or what the method to survive is!"

"But if the game fails..."

Chu Chenfeng's gaze intensified!

"The participant will die!"

As his voice fell, the air in the Security Room grew heavy.

"What!?" Ding Mo, having reacted, suddenly stood up, bracing himself against the table:

"Senior, I think we haven't reached the point of risking our lives yet!"

Although the situation had changed drastically, it hadn't reached this point, right!

Chu Chenfeng smiled upon hearing this, a smile that made the air feel a bit lighter.

"Don't be nervous, it's not just me alone, don't I have you here to help me?"

"Besides, even in the current situation, things aren't exactly optimistic, are they?"

"But, this..." Ding Mo was still hesitating.

It had to be said that the reward of obtaining "key information" was indeed very tempting.

If they could have known from the start that "only by showing true malice can the performance be completed," they could have been in absolute control! Occupying an absolute advantage!

But while the reward was tempting, the price of failure was even heavier—death was something no one could accept.

"You really can relax."

"No, if it's really going to kill us, why can you be so relaxed, Senior!"

"Because in this game, I have never failed."

"..."

Looking at Chu Chenfeng, who was staring at him with a smile that suggested he had victory in his grasp, Ding Mo couldn't help but be stunned.

That's right, if he had failed before, he should have died long ago.

In that case... Ding Mo felt a bit more relaxed in his heart.

After a long while, he sat down.

…………………………

Click.

In the quiet room, after a soft sound,

under Chu Chenfeng's instruction, Ding Mo opened the mechanical lock on the box, which contained a stack of pictures, transparent bags, and a small black notebook.

Among the pictures, one was of a corpse, and the other three were of 3 living people, all of whom appeared to be foreigners.

The rest of the photos were various shots of the layout inside a strange room.

"Look at that small black notebook." Chu Chenfeng held a piece of white paper and a pen, sitting opposite him, not even raising his head.

Ding Mo did as told.

Opening the notebook, what was recorded inside seemed to be a certain case:

【Case Brief:

July 1, 2020, 8:00 AM, this detective agency received a commission for a shooting case. According to the police description, in this case, all doors and windows at the crime scene were locked, there was only the deceased inside the room, and the surveillance footage of the only entrance and exit did not record any personnel.

The neighbors of the deceased kept claiming that around the time of the deceased's death (1:00 AM), they heard strange, intermittent singing coming from inside. Combined with the fact that the deceased liked the occult while alive, they believed this must be a supernatural event...

But as detectives, our duty is to crack the case and prove that this is absolutely! Absolutely not a supernatural event!】

A supernatural event?

Ding Mo read the information aloud to Chu Chenfeng, while the latter was scribbling something on the white paper.

He then continued to turn the pages while reading:

【Dennis (Deceased):

Deceased Information: Dennis, male, unmarried, 36 years old, owner of an electronic technology company.

Autopsy Report: Gunshot wound to the head, no other wounds on the surface of the body. A large amount of mixed alcohol was detected in the body, time of death approximately 1:00 AM.

Scene: The deceased was slumped over the desk in a resting position. On the desk were an Apple computer, an Apple phone, a needle printer/fax machine, a small mechanical safe, a pen holder, and a document rack.

The pistol was beside the desk and has been confirmed as the murder weapon; nothing was found on it except the deceased's fingerprints. Any means of entering or exiting the room other than the hallway have been ruled out.

Hallway Surveillance: 23:05, three "employees" from his company helped the drunk boss (the deceased) back to the room and placed him on an office desk. Then the three employees all left after 23:14. No one entered or exited until morning.

Habits: The deceased was very fond of the occult and had publicly organized employees at the company to hold a Ritual to pray to gods for the company's development. Various occult tools were found in his home, including candles, ritual silver daggers, grimoires, and essential oils, etc.; suspected of being a cult member.

】

Seeing this, Ding Mo understood what kind of game this was.

It really was a detective game; the goal was simple, which was to deduce who exactly the murderer was!

He thought to himself, and glanced at the photos on the side.

That photo of the corpse was likely the deceased "Dennis," with a bullet hole near his forehead. The three people in the other photos were highly likely his employees, the same three who helped him home.

If his guess was correct, the murderer was among these 3 people!

Turning another page, he indeed saw the information for the three employees!

As follows:

【Suspect "Rita":

Basic Information: Rita, female, 27, unmarried, company administrative secretary.

Known Information:

1. Often harassed by the deceased due to her beauty, but endured it for the high salary. It is reported that the deceased once tried to rape her, but did not succeed;

2. On the night of the incident, after leaving the deceased's home, she entered a coffee shop and did not leave until 1:05 AM;

3. Called the deceased at 1:00 AM on the night of the incident, stating it was for work needs, but the call did not go through;

4. Left the deceased's home at 23:05.

】

【Suspect "Ye Wen Yuan":

Basic Information: Employee with the surname Ye, female, 25, unmarried.

Known Information:

1. Last night, after taking the boss (the deceased) home, she was driven home by another company employee (Vaer), arriving home at 23:20 (relatively close to the boss's home).

2. Is in a secret relationship with Vaer, but kept it hidden due to company regulations. The two often had affairs at the company.

3. Received a remittance of 500,000 from the deceased a few days ago.

4. Before receiving the remittance, chat logs show she was suspected of having sexual relations with the deceased and was threatened by the deceased with a video recording of it.

5. Left the deceased's home at 23:10.

】

【Suspect "Vaer":

Basic Information: Vaer, male, 27, unmarried, senior technical engineer at the company.

Known Information:

1. Returned home after taking Ye Wen Yuan home; surveillance shows he arrived home at 23:30.

2. Owed a large sum of money due to gambling a while ago, which he just paid off.

3. Is an excellent employee of the company with outstanding performance and a high income.

4. Surveillance footage shows that after Vaer returned home, he did not leave until 8:00 AM.

5. Left the deceased's home at 23:14.

】

Ding Mo felt a bit of a headache looking at it.

As expected of the 3 "suspects,"

no matter who it is, they all look suspicious!