[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner":3,"chapter-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-146":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Nation's Forensic Medical Examiner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2326841,4551,"Chapter 146: The Suspect Outside the Line of Sight","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-146",146,"\u003Cp>Wang Zhong felt a surge of energy all over his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected Jiang Yuan to actually extract something from the footprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was only a level-1 trace evidence technician, he had been on the force for years and knew one thing clearly: if the perpetrator was definitively a suspect 193 centimeters tall, finding him wouldn’t be hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this cold homicide case might actually be solvable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought made Wang Zhong ecstatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past years, Ningtai County would dedicate one or two months each year to clearing a batch of cold cases, but for major homicides, the target was often just one case—and even that wasn’t always achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet all Jiang Yuan had done was stand beside him for a few minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True, the case hadn’t been officially solved yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even whether Wu Junhao could produce a list of suspects was still uncertain, but since this analysis came from Jiang Yuan, Wang Zhong trusted it completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wang Zhong’s mind, Jiang Yuan was now the embodiment of authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall we keep going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhong looked at Jiang Yuan with eager anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait for Captain Wu,” Jiang Yuan shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Wu Junhao returned with a suitable suspect, the entire cold homicide case file would be activated immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with Ningtai County’s resources, any major homicide cold case would require forming a dedicated task force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the task force began, you wouldn’t be allowed to handle anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if Jiang Yuan started examining other cases or opening new cold files now, it wouldn’t save time—it would only hinder his own team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cases must be solved one at a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially cases requiring reports, evidence collection, arrests, and interrogations—no matter how simple, they’d still demand intense effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solving a single cold homicide case means at least one suspect must be punished. Under modern judicial systems, sentencing a citizen to death or life imprisonment is never a decision made lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan returned to his office, turned on his computer, and quietly studied several old cases with footprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, although these cases had been solved through other means, the footprint evidence used later for comparison could still reveal a lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, many real-world cases can be solved from multiple angles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most criminals, even those with some counter-investigation awareness, can only manage to evade level-1 or level-2 techniques; against level-3 forensic technology, any trace left behind is dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a footprint analysis perspective: if you’re too tall, don’t commit crimes; if you’re too short, don’t commit crimes; if you’re too fat, don’t commit crimes; if you’re too thin… being too thin is fine; if you’re disabled, don’t commit crimes…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of this can be seen from footprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang! Bang-bang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The office door was knocked hard twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan and Wu Jun both turned to look—it was the burly Captain Wu Junhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two broad-shouldered men stood beside him; the three together blocked the doorway, with Wu Junhao’s body shielding it while the other two peered over his shoulders, making them look like a single man with three heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a three-headed ogre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain Wu,” Jiang Yuan rose and asked, “Have you identified a suitable suspect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have,” Wu Junhao said with grave seriousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold homicide case held near-sacred significance for any police officer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jun also looked over curiously—he still didn’t know what Jiang Yuan had done earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Junhao said in a low voice: “In my notebook, I recorded a suspect from Ningtai County—he was a high school student at County No. 3 High, on the basketball team. Two days before the murder, he had a conflict with the victim’s son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked the victim’s son who he’d had recent disputes with, and he gave me this name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But when we called him, we specifically asked his height—he said 188 centimeters. His father brought him in for questioning, and he seemed about that height.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he spoke, Wu Junhao’s expression grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This 188-centimeter suspect’s father was a civil servant in the county finance bureau and knew many police officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomatoes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the father and son came in for questioning, the father was smooth-talking and charming, and since his son’s height exceeded Chen Wenming’s 178–185 cm range, they were quickly dismissed together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Junhao continued: “This case originally focused on the victim’s network of relationships; later, the investigation shifted toward burglary or robbery turning into murder. We never considered the victim’s son’s circle…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this 188-centimeter teenager had merely flashed past investigators’ eyes without ever truly entering their field of view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Junhao looked at Jiang Yuan: “Does a height of 188 fit your judgment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan unexpectedly shook his head: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of Wu Junhao’s officers blurted out: “You don’t have to take responsibility—even if he’s not 193, we still need to question him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suspect the suspect lied about his height,” Jiang Yuan calmly interrupted. “He claims 188, but is actually 193. We can measure him on-site. He might claim he grew taller later, but if he were truly 188, that would reduce his suspicion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Makes sense,” Wu Junhao nodded. “Then let’s go check him. If he’s 193, I’ll bring him back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good,” Jiang Yuan gave a firm reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Junhao wasted no more words and turned to leave, saying as he walked: “Gather everyone—we’re going to measure that kid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three large men walked down the corridor, their footsteps shaking the hall as if thirteen men were marching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhong poked his head out of the office. Once they were gone, he whispered to Jiang Yuan: “You’re sure it’s him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll know when we bring him in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan returned to his office and called Colonel Huang Qiangmin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Huang Qiangmin had already received Wu Junhao’s report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send Lao Wu to measure him. Come with me to report to the director,” Huang Qiangmin was always decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan was slightly surprised and asked: “Don’t we wait until he’s brought in before reporting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The kid’s father works for the government—he’s been promoted these past few years. Let the director know ahead of time,” Huang Qiangmin’s lips tightened into a 180-degree line, looking stern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Homicide cases are entirely different—they involve human lives; no amount of caution is excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan quickly prepared for meeting leadership: drank water, used the restroom, tidied his clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, fully dressed, he went first to Colonel Huang’s office, then together to the director’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the modest office, the director sat silently studying the case file for two or three minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll know soon enough, right?” the director set down the file and spoke with a serious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin grunted in agreement, glancing at Jiang Yuan: “If the suspect’s height is confirmed at 193 centimeters, we must re-examine his background and classify him as a major suspect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t even need 193—1.9 meters already exceeds his claimed 1.88.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director sat calmly in his chair and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The key is the case itself. The suspect’s father and family connections don’t need excessive consideration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin expected this outcome, but hearing the director say it outright gave him peace of mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s wait together. Sit on the sofa—you’re probably right that Wu Junhao will arrive soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director’s expression shifted from stern to calm to gentle, gesturing for them to sit, then opened another file and began reading carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan and Huang Qiangmin exchanged glances; Huang the Colonel gave him a subtle 33.3-degree lip movement, signaling him to relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin exhaled in relief—he feared young officers might be too casual and pull out their phones to watch videos, which would be awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Huang Qiangmin’s phone rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up immediately, answered, and switched to speaker: “Captain Wu, I’m in the director’s office—give your report directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Wu Junhao replied, then organized his words: “I’ve measured the suspect’s height—exactly 193 centimeters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring him in, collect evidence on-site, and I’ll call the prosecutor’s office,” Huang Qiangmin’s face lit up with excitement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, everything regarding this homicide case had proceeded smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding the killer for the victim and bringing justice to the dead was a police officer’s duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And clearing one cold homicide case this year would make this year’s achievements explode!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director sat upright, nodded approvingly at Jiang Yuan, then said to Huang Qiangmin: “Immediately form a special task force and solidify the case.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1410,"2026-06-20T18:55:00.150Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0a97a26159176a692dbcfba1990390800cf1dd74fe4b73b9ded0ce09f1f5a2a8","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-147","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-145",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-cover.jpg"]