Chapter 262: Charred Bone Fragments

The case from two years ago seemed like a distant memory.

But in high-end restaurants and the hotel industry, two years isn't that long.

Moreover, sufficiently upscale restaurants and hotels often provide facial recognition services. While most such services rely on photos, if a guest is well-known or a regular, hotel staff can genuinely remember faces.

It's like Jiang Yuan and his father—walking down the street, no one recognizes them. But if they fly to their usual Aman or Four Seasons, familiar hotel staff will greet them and call out, "Mr. Jiang, welcome…"

Of course, this facial recognition service isn't guaranteed; some people naturally have low visibility, or some hotels and restaurants don't emphasize such training, so failing to recognize someone is normal.

But as a hidden perk of luxury hotels, facial recognition should be attempted whenever possible—it's an excellent way to attract repeat guests, since customers appreciate being recognized upon entry, avoiding unnecessary explanations, and receiving personalized services tailored to their habits: softer or firmer beds, softer or harder pillows, appropriate bed-making times, quieter rooms, or rooms with easier access.

The detectives had no better options, so they visited restaurant after restaurant and hotel after hotel.

Changyang City has no top-tier luxury hotels, but its flagship InterContinental and Wyndham hotels offer services slightly superior to their peers.

Beyond that, Changyang City has no shortage of high-end restaurants; under the involvement of Deputy Chief Yu Wenshu, all hotels and restaurants actively participated in facial recognition efforts. Client confidentiality meant nothing in the face of a criminal investigation.

After two days of relentless effort, a suspect emerged:

Li Sen, founder of Changyang Daisen Technology Co., Ltd.

In Changyang City, he was a top figure in the tech world; his company's website dominated Shannan Province, operating a portal site, game distribution, technical services, advertising production and agency, and investing in several well-known domestic internet companies—he was a favorite guest of government officials and a darling of local media.

Had it not been for three waitstaff recognizing Li Sen and Ruan Sijing, followed by secret investigations confirming Li Sen's fingerprints were found in Ruan Sijing's home, Yu Wenshu wouldn't have dared make the arrest.

Still, arrest he was—this company's social influence was smaller than that of Qinghe City's Jianyuan Pharmaceuticals.

Even so, the large conference room filled with more highly educated officers, who worked day and night for several days to solidify the evidence.

Jiang Yuan merely checked in daily, exchanged greetings, then waited for the investigation phase to end before visiting the high-end restaurants he hadn't yet visited.

Inside the Cold Case Task Force, there was busy quiet, but the provincial criminal investigation system was plunged into frenzied discussion.

Those with social bravado directly @Jiang Yuan:

Trace Evidence Li Rui: 【So Li Sen's been arrested? What happens to Daisen Technology?】

Before Jiang Yuan could reply, Wan Baoming, who was drifting through various groups, immediately spoke up:

Daily Slump: 【What can you do? The company can't possibly rely on just him.】

Trace Evidence Li Rui: 【No wonder it's the provincial capital—such a famous company, and the boss just arrests its leader.】

Daily Slump: 【His fingerprints and DNA were everywhere at the crime scene, and witnesses exist—so who else would you arrest?】

Liu Jinghui: 【Is it really this simple? Li Sen just killed someone and ran?】

Daily Slump: 【How's your health, Jinghui? Honestly, it's this simple—before, we had no DNA or fingerprint matches. Now that we know the victim's identity, arrest him. Likely an accidental killing.】

South-North Campaign: 【A 40-year-old dominant CEO and a 25-year-old female college student—no wonder everyone's talking; both men and women are intrigued.】

Liu Jinghui: 【How exactly was it accidental?】

Daily Slump: 【The case isn't over—I can't go into details. The prosecution probably charged him with causing death by accident. Li Sen's side will likely struggle, but I doubt he has much room to maneuver. The advantage of Jiang Yuan's cases is clear evidence—it's comfortable.】

Liu Jinghui: 【Side-eye. pg Are you implying something?】

As a master of deduction, Liu Jinghui's theories were often questioned due to insufficient evidence, and he occasionally faced issues with the chain of evidence.

In the past, Liu Jinghui frequently battled prosecutors over this; now he leaves it to colleagues, though he remains somewhat sensitive about it.

On his phone, Wan Baoming chuckled, put it down, and looked across the table at Jiang Yuan.

Standing at the storm's center, facing the storm's child—what a thrill.

"Dr. Jiang, shall we take on a new case next?" Wan Baoming asked softly.

"Huh? Can we take on a new case already?" Jiang Yuan put down the mobile game he was playing.

"It's about time—we're done here," Wan Baoming said, watching Jiang Yuan's expression and adding, "Chief Yu is just concerned for us—he wants us to finish Li Sen's case before moving on, so we don't get tangled between two cases and run into problems."

The Cold Case Task Force had barely hung its sign before pausing for two days over Li Sen's case; veteran Wan Baoming felt relieved, but worried Jiang Yuan, as a young man, might not understand.

Ordinary young people gradually learn through life's harsh lessons, but Jiang Yuan's skills are too outstanding for anyone to harshly "teach him a lesson"—so they had to patiently, carefully work on him.

Jiang Yuan sensed something, yet didn't quite sense it.

As a child, he ate meals at others' homes with his father, and he was very attuned to people's emotions. After growing up, when his family's home was demolished, he still ate at others' homes—but no longer needed to feel others' emotions.

Now, sitting in Changyang City's Criminal Investigation Brigade conference room, he felt as if he were in his own kitchen.

"It's a pity Li Sen won't get the death penalty," Jiang Yuan said, slightly disappointed.

"Li Sen deserves to die, but the law won't support it," Wan Baoming replied, still in his counseling tone, soothingly.

Tang Jia fumed: "If he'd called an ambulance immediately and helped bandage and compress her wound, she might still have made it to the hospital."

"The forensic report shows the blade pierced the abdominal artery directly—it would've been nearly impossible to save her," Wan Baoming paused, then added, "His failure to send her for medical help is certainly his fault; sentencing will reflect that."

Tang Jia didn't argue further, sighing: "When Ruan Sijing lay on that bed, she must have been utterly heartbroken. The man she loved refused to acknowledge their relationship even at her death, not even attempting to risk it once. No wonder she lay there so quietly…"

A middle-aged detective couldn't help muttering: "He's the founder of Daisen Technology—40, married, two kids. She's a 25-year-old grad student. What did she think this was? She got tricked into sex—what's there to cry about? Wash up, sleep, and tomorrow she's still a college girl. Why wait to die?"

Tang Jia snorted: "You men just don't understand."

"A dominant CEO, right?"

"It's romance," Tang Jia said, turning to Jiang Yuan. "Dr. Jiang, what do you think?"

"I want a case with a guaranteed death penalty," Jiang Yuan didn't answer directly, but spoke from his heart.

Tang Jia took it as agreement, her expression softening, voice rising: "The Fiery Flame Dr. Jiang."

"What?" Jiang Yuan didn't catch it.

Tang Jia smiled, lips pressed: "After the fingerprint campaign, someone said the most prolific killer in Changyang this year wasn't some deranged criminal—it was Jiang Yuan, the forensic doctor. AKA, The Fiery Flame."

It was clearly flattery—at least Jiang Yuan thought so.

Jiang Yuan couldn't help smiling.

Wan Baoming, listening to their exchange, raised an eyebrow and probed: "If you want a guaranteed death penalty case, arson and dismemberment cases top the list—but neither fits your current case selection criteria."

Jiang Yuan caught the implication: "Those cases aren't necessarily solvable—they're outside my strongest skills' range."

"True," Wan Baoming nodded. "But there's a recent arson case—the district has worked on it for half a month with no results. If they can't solve it soon, it'll become a cold case. Want to take a look?"

Jiang Yuan hesitated—dismemberment and arson cases were extremely hard to solve. Of course, recent cases were slightly easier than cold cases, but not necessarily.

Then he thought: he wasn't a real detective. If he could solve it, fine; if not, losing face didn't matter.

Maybe this was the perfect chance to shed his idol image.

Jiang Yuan said: "Let me see the case—see what help I can offer."

"Wait a moment—I'll get the files," Wan Baoming immediately called.

For the Criminal Investigation Brigade, pressure from recent cases was greater than from cold cases.

Cold cases were already settled; solving them brought great glory, boosted morale, and earned multiple combat points, leading to top rankings and praise from all levels of government and society.

But recent cases could also remain unsolved.

If a recent case went unsolved, it was a massive loss of face—combat rankings would strip all points for homicides, and criticism from government and society would pour in.

Simply put, if any recent case remained unsolved, even the most impressive cold case resolutions would be criticized.

Even though Changyang City was large, populous, and complex, superiors wouldn't listen to excuses.

Jiang Yuan now realized Wan Baoming's question wasn't coincidental—it was deliberate.

Even if Jiang Yuan refused now, in two more days, if the case still made no progress, Yu Wenshu and Wan Baoming would still come to him.

Nothing to be said—since the "homicides must be solved" slogan was raised, using all resources for saturation investigation became consensus.

When obstacles arose, Jiang Yuan—a resource this large—couldn't be ignored.

Soon, Deputy Chief Yu Wenshu arrived with Wan Baoming.

He kindly asked about Jiang Yuan's recent life and work, then shifted tone to personally explain: "This case occurred in Linan District. Two weeks ago, during routine patrols, staff from a luxury residential complex noticed a stray cat dragging charred bones from a trash bin. After closer inspection, they suspected human bones, called colleagues, then the property manager. Finally, they called the police."

"During this process, the bones were passed around, photographed, and posted online, causing some public impact."

"When police arrived, the scene—though a secondary one—was severely compromised. Later, the detective team thoroughly searched all trash bins in the complex and found bones in two more bins, totaling 14 pieces… Forensic analysis confirmed three of the bone fragments had a wavy fracture line along the outer side of the central area, identifying them as human skull fragments…"

Yu Wenshu recited all key details without consulting the case file.

All officers in the room heard three words looping in their minds—impossible to solve, impossible to solve, impossible to solve…

"So the only leads are these 14 charred bone fragments?" Jiang Yuan also realized.

"Correct. I've already had them brought for you." Yu Wenshu gestured, and someone placed a box on the table.

"Let's take a look," Jiang Yuan didn't hesitate—he had someone lay plastic sheeting on the table and put on gloves.

Yu Wenshu instantly relaxed. Though top forensic experts had already examined the evidence, Jiang Yuan's personal involvement still eased his pressure.

Recalling Wan Baoming's earlier words, Yu Wenshu said with a touch of ease: "If you want to be The Fiery Flame, burn this killer to ash."