Chapter 222: Killing to Silence?

Inside Zhou Family Fort, in front of a seemingly ordinary residential building, hundreds of people stood obediently like frightened birds, trembling like a flock of quails, their faces filled with expressions of panic and unease.

Surrounding them, more than twenty guards armed with loaded guns stood at the ready.

Yet, one only needed to pay a little attention to notice that not only were the people being surrounded, but even the guards responsible for the perimeter were all looking flustered, their eyes revealing an undisguised fear.

The reason was simple: Wang had died, and he had died right inside this most ordinary of residential buildings.

It was heard that Wang's state of death was extremely miserable; to a large extent, this was a deliberate homicide.

One must know that Wang was an important figure in the Wang Family, and the significance behind him went without saying.

If that powerful Awakened adult were to learn that his own younger brother had died so inexplicably here, the consequences would be simply unimaginable.

I fear that even if that adult were to fly into a rage and have everyone in the entire Zhou Family Fort buried with his brother, no one would dare to utter a single word of complaint.

On the third floor of the residential building, a room was permeated with a nauseating stench of decay, a smell so thick it felt as if it could make one vomit up their own bile.

Inside the room lay two already rotting corpses, one male and one female.

Zhang Yun stood in the room, staring at the face of the male corpse, his complexion instantly turning as pale as paper.

Although the corpse had already rotted and become distorted, relying on their many years of acquaintance, he recognized at a glance that this was indeed Wang Dezhi.

Just two or three days ago, when a subordinate brought documents for him to sign, they had mentioned being unable to find Wang.

Later, he had someone inquire and learned that after Wang Dezhi returned to the fort, he had gone straight to the residential area and had not allowed anyone to follow him.

At the time, he hadn't taken it to heart, thinking the other party had just gone to do something to relax and pass the time; after all, such situations were relatively common.

But as the days passed, by the third day, there was still no sign of Wang Dezhi. A sense of foreboding gradually welled up in his heart, so he hurriedly sent people to search everywhere in the fort.

Just at this moment, news came from a certain residential building that someone had smelled the stench of decay, and he immediately brought men to investigate.

This sight was like a bolt from the blue, making him feel as if the world were spinning.

Wang Dezhi had actually died? And he had died so suspiciously; a man and a woman alone in a room, only for both to end up dead.

So, who exactly was the murderer? And why would they commit such a vicious act?

"Captain."

Just as Zhang Yun's thoughts were in turmoil, a man wearing square-rimmed glasses and white gloves walked over quickly.

He pointed to the female corpse on the ground and analyzed methodically: "Judging from the current situation, she likely died at the hands of Wang.

Look, Wang's fingerprints are left on her neck. As for Wang, he was in all likelihood killed by a third party.

Before killing Wang, the murderer seemed to have interrogated him; this can be inferred from Wang's shattered lower legs and his severed fingers.

Finally, the murderer must have obtained the answer they wanted, and to leave no future trouble, they silenced the witness.

Additionally, all the items on Wang's person have vanished.

Judging from the slight traces left on the table, the murderer first placed the items on the table and then took them all away; I must say, this murderer acts very cautiously."

"So, the murderer did this for money?" Zhang Yun's pupils shrank sharply after hearing this.

Yet, deep down, he felt something was not quite right, though for a moment he couldn't say exactly what it was.

"Judging solely from the conditions presented at the scene, that possibility does indeed exist, but other reasons cannot be ruled out," the man replied cautiously.

The few people nearby heard this, their hearts filled with both anger and fear.

What they were angry about was that this murderer was too bold; how could they dare to target Wang Dezhi?

What they feared was that if that adult with extraordinary power in Yongan City were to learn that his own younger brother had died so miserably, they didn't know to what extent he would be enraged, and the entire Zhou Family Fort would likely suffer a catastrophic disaster because of it.

"Clack, clack, clack." A burst of footsteps broke the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the room.

"Captain," another guard walked in hurriedly, holding a few sheets of paper, his expression somewhat strange as he said, "The information on this household has been investigated clearly; please take a look."

Zhang Yun hurriedly took the file to check, and instantly, his pupils dilated sharply.

The file recorded: Head of Household: Su Jie. Younger Brother: Su Chungui. Wife: Liao Qi.

These three names seemed familiar in his memory, as if he had heard them somewhere before.

Suddenly, he realized with a start: wasn't this Su Chungui a member of the Guard Team?

It was said that he had witnessed a group of people kill some horse bandits, and, coveting that batch of captured mounts, he had called a few people to go and rob them, but ever since he left, he had never returned.

The memories in Zhang Yun's mind flashed by like a slideshow, and the cause and effect of this matter gradually became clear.

The person who told him this news was Yao Wen, and Yao Wen said a woman had informed him of this.

This woman? His gaze suddenly turned as sharp as a hawk's as he cast it toward the female corpse on the ground, a flash of insight striking his mind.

"It's her!"

"Captain, what is it?"

"Did you find something?"

Seeing Zhang Yun's reaction, the people around him hurriedly asked with excitement.

At this critical juncture, only by finding the murderer as quickly as possible could they possibly appease that adult's fury.

If the Captain really had made a discovery, that would be for the best.

Zhang Yun's brows were tightly furrowed, as if he had fallen into deep thought, seemingly not hearing the inquiries of those around him at all.

Although he had now figured out the identities of these people, what connection did this matter have with Wang Dezhi?

And why would Wang Dezhi appear here?

"Could it be?" A bold guess suddenly popped into his mind.

Could it be that Yao Wen, after being rejected by him, turned around and went to find Wang Dezhi?

Given Yao Wen's mercenary personality, this possibility did indeed exist.

"Call Yao Wen to me," he ordered immediately.

"Yes." After receiving the order, the man holding the file ran out quickly.

Not long after, he ran back, panting, and said with a blank expression: "Captain, Yao Wen has already left the Guard Team."

"What?" Zhang Yun couldn't help but be stunned.

"When did this happen?"

"Just two or three days ago."

"Do you know where he is staying? Find him and bring him to me immediately."

"Yes." The man acknowledged the order and left once more.

"Captain, have you discovered some important clue?" someone nearby asked, unable to suppress their curiosity.

"It cannot be confirmed yet." Zhang Yun shook his head helplessly.

He felt that the matter before him was like a dense fog, intricate and complex, leaving one unable to make heads or tails of it.

The atmosphere inside the room became increasingly heavy and oppressive; everyone could feel an invisible pressure weighing on their hearts like a giant boulder.

Just as everyone was waiting anxiously, a burst of hurried footsteps approached from afar.