Chapter 264: The Lion

Jiang Yuan currently possesses Level 3 Forensic Anthropology and Level 3 Forensic Clinical Science.

Compared to forensic specialists of the same level, his abilities have a slight advantage: his knowledge system is exceptionally complete.

Anything within the scope of Level 3 Forensic Anthropology, he knows. Anything within the scope of Level 3 Forensic Clinical Science, he does not miss.

This is, in fact, extremely overpowered.

In other words, if a test were created based on Level 3 Forensic Anthropology, Jiang Yuan could easily score 100 points.

But in reality, most people—even expert forensic specialists—are somewhat specialized.

For example, Zhang Fengtian, the top forensic specialist in Shan Province, may also have Level 3 Forensic Anthropology, but if given a Level 2 exam, he would score full marks; for a Level 3 exam, he might score only 80 or 90.

There are always certain highly specific, obscure, or niche details he has never studied in depth.

This does not significantly affect daily work.

Criminal cases never have only one path. To some, a case may have only one clue—or none at all; to others, it may have multiple.

Ordinary detectives arriving at a crime scene look for DNA, fingerprints, surveillance, phones, and if all else fails, eyewitnesses; very few pay attention to footprints, and even fewer notice the shape of bloodstains rather than the blood itself.

But for Jiang Yuan, all of these are within his range—he can break through from any weak point he chooses.

In other words, the suspect must notice and conceal every single one of these elements to possibly evade punishment.

Similarly, for Zhang Fengtian, the top forensic specialist in Shan Province, though his technical methods are numerous, it does not mean he must master all related knowledge—especially obscure topics like bone shrinkage rates, which still lack definitive conclusions. Even if he immediately began searching papers, consulting experts, and making calls, he could not fully clarify it within days.

As for which shrinkage rate to choose, he could only form a rough estimate, never a precise conclusion.

In other words, even if Zhang Fengtian tried to fill this knowledge gap by starting from bone shrinkage rates, he would first waste several days, and his conclusion would still be probabilistic—meaning errors remain possible.

Like Jiang Yuan, in such cases, Yu Wenshu must still make the final decision.

Even then, he can only provide an approximate age, gender, and height of the victim…

As a well-established forensic expert, Zhang Fengtian likely would not choose this path.

Jiang Yuan doesn't care.

He has gained some minor fame, but he has no idol complex, nor should he.

Sitting in the corner of the conference room, Jiang Yuan first measured every bone fragment with a ruler.

Shrinkage rates fluctuated by only one or two percentage points; using previous measurements would risk error, and that would be frustrating.

Jiang Yuan measured several times himself, recorded the data, then analyzed the degree of carbonization or vitrification of each fragment.

Carbonization occurs at 800 degrees, vitrification at 1000 degrees—but both values exceed existing literature and typical household furnace temperatures.

Jiang Yuan sketched briefly on the diagram and estimated a 17% value for the vitrified bone fragments.

Then he estimated a 15% value for the carbonized fragments.

By working backward, he could derive the original length and width of the fresh bone.

Then, applying regression equations, he could determine the victim's height.

As for gender, it depended on several key features.

In summary, this entire calculation required three estimations; even a slight deviation could lead to vastly different results.

Jiang Yuan increasingly understood Zhang Fengtian's conservatism, but in criminal investigations, fear of error makes action impossible.

Most of the time in criminal work is spent trial-and-error—just like those reviewing surveillance or analyzing fingerprints, who repeatedly hit dead ends before switching to harder paths.

Forensic Anthropology is no different.

If you estimate wrong, start over.

Even so, Jiang Yuan worked meticulously to minimize error as much as possible.

…

Others in the conference room could see Jiang Yuan's work state.

At this point, Case 513 was essentially over; with nothing else to do, everyone turned to studying the current case.

Those skilled at making PowerPoint presentations were comfortable—even with minimal evidence, they could still create slides.

Officers with nothing to do simply went outside to lift weights.

Changyang City Bureau had better facilities: the office building had a gym, and exercise—even private coaching—was free; you just had to show up.

Jiang Yuan turned the burned bone fragments over and over in his hands.

On his notebook, he gradually listed the values:

Gender: Female.

Height: 165–172 cm.

Age: 22–25 years.

When Jiang Yuan wrote the final entry, the conference room was nearly empty.

"Go rest at the guesthouse," Jiang Yuan sent a text to Branch Chief Yu Wenshu, then called out to Wei Zhenguo.

Wei Zhenguo rubbed his eyes, checked his watch, and laughed: "Past dinner time? Did I fall asleep?"

"No snoring," Jiang Yuan reassured him.

"Figured out the bones?" Wei Zhenguo noticed Jiang Yuan had packed away the evidence box.

Jiang Yuan nodded. "Not sure if it's useful—wait and see what the frontline team finds."

"You don't think it'll help?" Wei Zhenguo knew Jiang Yuan too well to miss his hints.

Jiang Yuan gave a slight nod. "It's a current case, but the body was discovered 15 days after the crime. Burning a corpse takes time—getting it to this state likely took several days."

"So you're looking for someone who disappeared 20 days ago?"

"Yeah. At least." Jiang Yuan nodded. This information was still too scant, even though he'd worked so hard to get it.

Jiang Yuan left the police station; Yu Wenshu replied with a simple "OK," nothing more.

Jiang Yuan showed it to Wei Zhenguo. "Go rest. We'll review the screening results tomorrow."

The next day.

When Jiang Yuan and Wei Zhenguo and others arrived at the office after eating, they saw a crowd in front of the branch building, drumming and cheering, with something bouncing around.

Getting closer, they confirmed: it was a lion dance, and facing the lion was Yu Wenshu.

"Jiang Yuan, come here," Yu Wenshu waved him over.

Jiang Yuan: "What's up?"

"These lion dancers are from Ruan Sijing's family," Yu Wenshu said. "Every year during holidays, especially Chinese New Year, they take their lion dance team on tour to perform. Now that Ruan Sijing's case is solved, her family came straight here with the lion head."

Jiang Yuan hesitated. "The case hasn't been judged yet."

Yu Wenshu said: "For many families, knowing who did it is enough."

As Jiang Yuan stood stunned, the lion charged forward, shaking its head toward him.

Without thinking, Jiang Yuan reached out and touched the lion's head.

The lion head stopped moving, letting Jiang Yuan stroke it.