Chapter 233: Shifting the Battlefield — Starting with the Eight Victims

Yu Dazhang did not consider himself a saint.

Against enemies, he could be ruthless and merciless, killing without hesitation.

Toward family and friends, he would be gentle.

But when faced with such injustice, he would never turn a blind eye.

Even if it meant quitting the police force, he would fight to the bitter end.

At the same time, he felt a sense of shame.

As a criminal police officer, facing wrongful and false cases — claiming it wasn't embarrassing would be a lie.

Right now, he felt his face burning hot.

"I will apply for the case to be reinvestigated."

Yu Dazhang looked at Liu Jinsong before him, his heart full of helplessness:

"If what you're saying is true, trust me, you'll regain your freedom very soon."

One of the conditions for a case reinvestigation is: the original investigation or trial contained major flaws.

Judging by the completeness of the current evidence chain, both the investigation and the trial have major problems.

It fully meets the conditions for reinvestigation.

"I believe you, I believe you," Liu Jinsong said gratefully:

"Thank you, truly thank you."

Now that Yu Dazhang had come across this case, the investigators from back then were destined for bad luck.

Still, their bad luck was well deserved.

Dereliction of duty, malfeasance, negligence — causing an eighteen-year-old youth to be imprisoned for sixteen years.

In Yu Dazhang's view, no punishment would be excessive for them.

He left the prison.

Yu Dazhang called Li Jun.

"Captain Li, I've met the man. The case has many doubts. I recommend reopening the investigation."

Reopening the investigation, including the subsequent series of work, did not require him to handle personally.

Yu Dazhang only needed to find new leads and evidence; the reinvestigation would naturally be taken over by others.

"Understood." Li Jun's voice was very calm, seemingly unsurprised:

"Send me the investigation materials later."

Li Jun couldn't make the call on this matter either; he too had to report upward.

But it could be foreseen that once the investigation was reopened, it would be handled through异地 trial —异地审理.

This would effectively prevent relationship networks from interfering with the case.

"Also, I'll have to trouble you to get the victims' information from colleagues at the provincial bureau."

Yu Dazhang said, choosing his words carefully:

"I mean, the information on the other eight victims besides the one from our district."

"It doesn't need to be too detailed — just basic information will do, so the provincial bureau colleagues don't get the wrong idea."

That remark carried a hint of bitterness.

But it was also a fact.

If Captain Li directly requested the investigation materials, the provincial bureau probably wouldn't hand them over either.

During a task force investigation, case details are confidential and must not be leaked.

There was indeed such a regulation.

But if only the victims' basic information was needed, that would be much easier.

"Alright." Li Jun agreed:

"Shouldn't be a big problem. I'll coordinate."

He had absolute trust in Yu Dazhang.

Moreover, he believed only Yu Dazhang could handle this kind of case well.

"For now, I won't be heading back."

Yu Dazhang thought for a moment, then said:

"I'll stay here in Province S for the time being. Once things are wrapped up, I'll head back."

Although he didn't have the victims' specific information, he still knew the locations where the cases had occurred.

All eight previous severed-finger cases had taken place within Province S.

So the victims were likely locals of Province S.

"Fine."

After agreeing, Li Jun added:

"If you need support, contact me anytime — any kind of support, no problem."

This was essentially giving Yu Dazhang a reassuring pill in advance.

No matter what you do, however you do it, the detachment will give its full support. Working under a leader like this, there's no need for a written pledge of loyalty.

That trust alone is enough to make one lay down one's life without hesitation.

After ending the call, Yu Dazhang sat in the car, gazing out the window, his eyes gradually losing focus.

Inferring from the known information, the suspect had the following two characteristics:

1. Possessed extremely strong counter-surveillance ability.

The fact that he thought to use stolen vehicles to commit the crime was enough on its own to prove the other party was very cunning and meticulous.

This is only what Yu Dazhang knows.

The people over in S Province investigated for several months without catching the person, which means the suspect has not exposed his identity to this day.

Not only that, the suspect has continued to commit crimes right under the noses of the investigators.

That kind of nerve and confidence is not something an ordinary person could possess.

2. Received training in the military.

Not a single error — read every word of the latest chapter in one go!

This point was discovered by Liu Miao.

It was precisely because Liu Miao had prior military service experience that he noticed how the suspect was different from the rest.

An active-duty soldier is impossible.

The military has strict disciplinary constraints and would not allow casual outings.

Moreover, judging by his skills, the training the suspect received was not of the most basic kind.

It looked more like a special branch such as a scout.

That kind of branch has even stricter discipline; one might not get a single leave to go out in several months.

Thinking of this, Yu Dazhang came back to himself and looked at Ma Jian sitting in the passenger seat:

"Ma-ge, let your family know, and don't go back yourself for the time being."

"Got it." Ma Jian answered, then got out of the car to make a phone call.

Yu Dazhang thought it over for a moment, took out his phone, and began calling in reinforcements.

The moment the call connected, a clear, crisp voice like that of a girl-next-door came through:

"Why are you calling me at this hour? Are you off work early today?"

"I've come over to S Province," Yu Dazhang explained:

"I'll be working here for a while, so I won't be going back for the time being."

Seeing Qu Tuotuo on the other end of the line fell silent for two seconds, then said unhappily:

"How long? Why didn't you say so earlier."

"You know the nature of my work too — I only just found out myself." Yu Dazhang said in a tone used to coax a child:

"It won't take more than a few days before I'm back."

Attitude matters, because the purpose of his making this call was to get Seeing Qu Tuotuo to pull strings through the back door.

"Oh, alright then." Seeing Qu Tuotuo answered, somewhat reluctantly:

"Take good care of yourself out there. Don't stay at some cheap little inn, and don't skimp on your meals."

Yu Dazhang felt a warmth in his heart.

Though touched, the real business still had to be handled.

"Um…"

He was a bit embarrassed to bring it up, hemming and hawing for half a line before getting it out:

"That Ye Zhiyu — I need to borrow him. Could you help him take a long leave?"

Saying this, he covered his face with one hand and added:

"The paid-vacation kind."

The request was a bit excessive; even over the phone he could feel his face burning.

"No problem, I'll head to the HR department right now." Seeing Qu Tuotuo agreed readily:

"This time we'll count it as a business trip for him, with all travel expenses on the company — and we'll throw yours in too while we're at it."

We can expense it too… Before Yu Dazhang could even say it, Seeing Qu Tuotuo had already hung up on the other end.

Having money is great; plenty of money, no worries.

What he considered a rather excessive request was, for Seeing Qu Tuotuo, simply nothing at all.

What a terrible phrase — "paid vacation."

Just call it an official business trip, straight up.

Salary keeps coming in, and travel expenses can be expensed — two birds with one stone.

One had to admit, in certain matters, Seeing Qu Tuotuo had a better way of handling things than Yu Dazhang.

About ten-odd minutes later, Ye Zhiyu's call came in.

"What do you mean I'm suddenly on a business trip? Qu-zong just came to the HR department and told me to report to you."

One could tell he seemed quite unwilling, his tone thick with grievance.

"Set off for Xicheng right now."

Yu Dazhang said in a tone that brooked no argument:

"Call me when you arrive, I'll come pick you up. You're going to be very busy this time."

(End of chapter)