Chapter 25: Burn, Middle-Schooler Soul!

Arriving at the meeting room, everyone took their seats and turned to look at Yu Dazhang standing before the conference table.

Now they no longer cared whether Yu Dazhang was a probationary officer.

What intrigued them was what new clues this fatty might reveal.

Had he discovered something at the crime scene just now?

We’ve all read the crime scene report—so many seasoned detectives saw nothing wrong, yet you went there once and found new clues?

Are you kidding?

Are we all just eating our wages while the tech team does the real work?

Before entering the room, they had already decided: if the fatty tried to bluff them with useless nonsense, they’d give him a proper scolding.

Youngsters don’t know their place—they must be made to understand what they’re truly supposed to do.

“Speak.”

Lu Zhongxin spoke first:

“Keep it brief. Stick to the useful parts.”

Yu Dazhang paused, quickly organizing his thoughts in his mind, then spoke slowly:

“The autopsy report shows the victim, Zhang Yan, struggled violently before death.”

“But I found no signs of struggle at the crime scene.”

“The bed was neat—even not a single wrinkle.”

“I considered the possibility that Kong Lingjie killed Zhang Yan, then replaced the bedsheet and tidied the room.”

“But that possibility is extremely low.”

“If Kong Lingjie truly had that level of psychological control, he wouldn’t have hidden in a cheap motel.”

Here, Yu Dazhang stopped and observed the reactions of those in the room.

As expected, everyone—including Lu Zhongxin—had been drawn into his logic.

Especially Qian Cheng, whose gaze toward Yu Dazhang had changed.

From initial disdain, it had turned to awe—he was no longer casual.

He finally understood what “should have been there, but wasn’t” meant.

Yes, after violent struggle, traces must remain—but those traces were absent.

“What does that prove?” another team member asked.

You guys really don’t want to use your brains at all… Yu Dazhang mentally grumbled.

“Not done yet. Listen to another clue first.”

Yu Dazhang’s words nearly fried everyone’s CPU.

He found more clues?!

He’d only been out for a few minutes—after accounting for travel time, he barely spent any time at the scene.

How did he manage that?

Is he in cahoots with the suspect?

Everyone’s thoughts varied, but their anticipation was the same: they all wanted to hear what new clues this fatty had.

Yu Dazhang was pleased with their expressions.

This was the real sense of accomplishment.

Under everyone’s gaze, Yu Dazhang turned to Qian Cheng:

“This clue was discovered together with Brother Qian.”

Wait, what’s my part in this? Qian Cheng was utterly baffled.

Oh right—that black spot!

He was about to stand up when Yu Dazhang beat him to it:

“The footprints at the scene were collected by Brother Qian’s tech team.”

“Ah yes, yes, yes.” Qian Cheng finally realized—he wasn’t talking about the black spot.

How many clues had this fatty found?!

But since Yu Dazhang mentioned it, he could only continue:

“Based on the earlier crime scene inspection, all footprints inside were from one person—likely the suspect, Kong Lingjie.”

“The exact match results will be ready tomorrow, and one footprint by the door has already been confirmed as the landlord’s.”

After speaking, Qian Cheng turned his attention back to Yu Dazhang.

He could only report what had been examined—he had no idea why Yu Dazhang brought this up.

“Now do you all understand?” Yu Dazhang looked confidently at everyone.

What the hell?

Everyone exchanged glances, all reading the same confusion on each other’s faces.

What does footprint collection by the tech team have to do with you? You didn’t even find them. Why mention this?

And even if you did, what does it prove?

Understand what exactly?

“Kidnapping!” Yu Dazhang blurted out, exasperated by their expressions.

Even Lu Zhongxin couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Just spit it out already. Why are you dragging it out?”

Seeing his Master speak, Yu Dazhang reluctantly explained:

“Zhang Yan’s body had only one external injury—the strangulation mark on her neck.”

“Since we assume she was strangled to death inside the rental apartment, she was unharmed before entering.”

“That means the victim was conscious and mobile before her death.”

“Then I ask you—all of you—why are there no footprints of Zhang Yan inside the apartment?”

“Did she float in?!”

Please... please... collect... 6... 9... books... !

After these words, the meeting room fell silent.

Everyone wore expressions of deep thought.

“Maybe the killer carried her in—perhaps even hugged her.”

Lu Zhongxin, as usual, reacted faster than the others.

“Master…” Yu Dazhang made a pained face:

“Why would the killer do that?”

“If he already kidnapped her and she was subdued, why carry her?”

“If it were us, we’d never let a kidnapped person out of our sight.”

“Especially not when she’s fully capable of walking.”

Lu Zhongxin’s face flushed, but he pressed on:

“What about carrying her in your arms?”

“Even less likely!” Yu Dazhang nearly overturned the table.

He realized his Master was too eager for quick results—how could he ask such a brainless question?

“Even young lovers today don’t do the princess carry anymore, let alone kidnappers—can you even imagine that scene?”

Everyone shook their heads.

They also shot skeptical glances at Lu Zhongxin.

“Just give us the conclusion,” Lu Zhongxin muttered, uncomfortable under their stares.

It wasn’t that Yu Dazhang was deliberately stalling—he had to explain the situation thoroughly and make everyone internalize it.

Otherwise, stating the conclusion outright would lack persuasiveness.

Seeing his goal achieved, he casually pulled over a chair and placed one foot on it.

“The officer whose body may have grown fat, but whose mind is top-tier—capable of solving any mystery.”

Yu Dazhang pointed at everyone:

“The cunning frog keeps touching your belly!”

What nonsense… Lu Zhongxin slammed his fist on the table in fury:

“Yu Dazhang!! Get serious! Put your foot down!!”

Lu Zhongxin had been entirely focused on his disciple, expecting the answer any moment.

Instead, he got this.

This disciple was perfect in every way—except his eccentric personality.

Yu Dazhang was also frustrated.

Don’t you guys watch Detective Conan?

A case revelation without an opening monologue has no soul~

Finding new clues had lifted his spirits, indirectly awakening his chuunibyou soul.

After being scolded by his Master in front of everyone, Yu Dazhang dared not joke anymore.

“No signs of struggle. No victim’s footprints. Why?”

He put his foot down but kept his posture, raising one finger:

There is only one truth...

The rental apartment is not the first crime scene!

(End of Chapter)