Chapter 326: I

@@「A53 and B167.

「A33, A34, and B13.

「Put all the batons aside separately, keep the numbers orderly—I'll check them once.

「A11 and B208, each conduct a trace evidence test.

Jiang Yuan inspected the photo sets with ease, the evidence spread across the long conference table, continuously photographed, numbered, and documented.

In most cases, Jiang Yuan didn't need to open the evidence packaging or examine sealed items beforehand; this allowed him to confirm tool mark matches first, then verify with trace evidence.

Trace evidence testing is expensive—even in our own lab, each test costs several hundred yuan; do a few more, and you easily spend the price of an Audi, not even counting lab construction and maintenance.

To calculate the latter cost, use the judicial appraisal institute as a standard—they charge just over 1000 yuan per trace evidence test, similar to paternity testing—provided for reference.

No explanation needed: places like the Ningtai County Criminal Police Team, which treat secondhand Great Wall Pickups as treasures, won't use trace evidence unless it's a major case or homicide.

The Changyang City Criminal Police Detachment is much the same—burglary cases start at 3000 yuan, and anything over a hundred thousand is rare; using trace evidence here offers zero cost-effectiveness, only social value and crime deterrence.

This case was no different: several cases Jiang Yuan found were low-value minor offenses—car break-ins, warehouse thefts, stolen goods from passing trucks, diesel theft from large vehicles...

In summary, the parking lot security staff of Jianyuan Pharmaceuticals no longer satisfied with parking fees—they'd begun actively pursuing "income diversification."

"So many minor cases—many victims probably didn't even report them—we could arrest half these people," Tang Jia helped Jiang Yuan organize, gradually getting excited.

"Minor cases follow the same procedures," said the prosecutor invited to intervene early—he was a full prosecutor, leading a small team.

A full prosecutor is one with full case-handling authority; only full prosecutors can lead investigations, while others serve as assistants, and non-prosecutors are called judicial administrative staff.

Since full prosecutors are allocated by quota and often in short supply, they've been scarce since the system began. Yu Wenshu securing one for this case was major support.

If the suspects understood the stakes, their best move would be to plead guilty.

Jiang Yuan, now experienced, understood the game well; out of respect, he seriously told the nearby full prosecutor: "Prosecutor Liu, these pieces of evidence directly link to the cases—there'll be bigger ones ahead. For example, A80, A83, B263, and B288... this looks like a serious injury case."

The junior trace evidence officer hurried over with materials, laid them flat—and saw a blunt-force impact mark; in his right hand, a photo showed an axe.

"One item?" Prosecutor Liu brightened.

"Definitely the same item, but other evidence still needs securing," Jiang Yuan said.

"Excellent, excellent—this case alone is worth the trip," Prosecutor Liu nodded repeatedly.

Normally, three detectives spend several days on a minor case; even small cases require the same full procedure to build a complete evidence chain, consuming massive time.

Full prosecutors face the same: minor cases involve just as many steps, yet offer little satisfaction.

But full prosecutors wield greater power—they often offer suspended sentences or reduced penalties to guilty suspects to cut workload.

Ultimately, prosecutors and police alike prefer to crush criminals hard,

not give them gentle massages.

Prosecutor Liu pulled up the old case file, studied it a moment, then told Jiang Yuan: "The previous forensic conclusion was Grade Two Serious Injury; the victim's disability rating was insufficient—so the offender would likely get three to five years, a bit too light..."

Jiang Yuan silently handed him more photos.

Prosecutor Liu, like a student who'd just spotted a cheat sheet, exclaimed in delight: "More? Same person, or another?"

"Same offender—this time he used an iron bar, with edges. Likely Grade One Minor Injury. Also, rape," Jiang Yuan pointed to the bar's surface: "He struck the victim down, then raped him. This man is the most brutal among them."

Prosecutor Liu's brow furrowed: "Didn't realize there was such a major case here."

Jiang Yuan grunted: "He likes loitering near the national highway—his footprint spans not just Changyang City but nearby counties too. I've sent people to look."

"Serial rape?" Prosecutor Liu found it hard to believe. Though he'd handled many violent cases, this level of brutality was still shocking.

Jiang Yuan wasn't certain: "Based on his skill level, this isn't his first time—but earlier case coverage was insufficient. I plan to go back and check old unsolved cases for similar patterns."

"Good, good, good," Prosecutor Liu nodded repeatedly, then looked again at the file: "Find two more serious injury cases or one rape case—I can get him life imprisonment."

"I'll find you three—aim for the death penalty," Jiang Yuan replied casually; having handled many cold homicide cases, his goals had grown bolder.

Prosecutor Liu froze, then looked at Jiang Yuan's calm expression and gestures, and sighed: "Indeed, names may be wrong, but nicknames never lie."

"What?" Jiang Yuan hadn't heard.

"Nothing, you carry on," said Prosecutor Liu, a man in his forties, yet after spending time with Jiang Yuan, he couldn't shake a creeping chill.

All day, Jiang Yuan chased the trail of one security guard.

Criminals aren't born overnight—someone who can skillfully commit robbery, rape, and assault must have been in countless brawls; minor injuries happen easily.

But some always evade punishment through clever tricks.

This time, Jiang Yuan had caught his tail and was tracing it upward.

In modern society, mastering advanced criminal skills is hard. Most criminals can only level up through a single path—in other words, their crimes follow patterns.

A few skilled ones may have two or three patterns, but whether one or three, to investigators, it's still manageable.

Like most criminals, this parking lot guard escaped punishment mainly through luck.

Now, his luck had run out.

Impact marks, abrasion marks, puncture cuts, slicing cuts...

Those who favor weapons gain advantage during crimes—but during investigations, they leave clear signals.

It's still a matter of type: even among knives, there are many kinds, yet those who favor weapons usually stick to just a few.

Previously, Jiang Yuan focused only on cold homicide cases, ignoring ordinary serious crimes; now, tracing tool marks upward, he was grabbing both minor and serious injuries.

Evening.

Shen Yaoguo brought more Sichuan cuisine—the spicy kind.

"Let's eat first. It's humble, but the cafeteria wouldn't take much longer..." Yu Wenshu hadn't left either; today's scene was large and intriguing, with the special prosecutor present, so he stayed as host.

Prosecutor Liu waved dismissively: "This is already great—we sometimes pull all-nighters eating instant noodles."

"Today's even my hometown food."

"Glad you don't mind," Yu Wenshu chatted with the young officers nearby, making sure everyone felt included.

Work demands seriousness; meals demand warmth.

Jiang Yuan casually pushed the newly organized file toward Prosecutor Liu and began eating calmly.

Prosecutor Liu naturally picked it up to read. He didn't know the other police well—Jiang Yuan's cold case team was mostly young, few had handled major cases, so they'd never interacted with him before.

Everyone ate and rested, relaxed.

But Shen Yaoguo, a social butterfly, chatted with everyone, wandered around, then returned to see Prosecutor Liu's forehead slick with sweat; Shen smiled: "Prosecutor Liu, if it's too spicy, try pairing it with tofu pudding."

Prosecutor Liu: "Not too spicy—I'm from western Sichuan."

Shen laughed: "You're sweating buckets."

Prosecutor Liu wiped his brow—indeed, sweat everywhere—and shook his head: "I'm not sweating from the spice—I'm sweating from reading the files."

"Why?"

"Right now, we can demand the death penalty," Prosecutor Liu said abruptly—but everyone understood.

All turned to Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan scooped up a bowl of tofu pudding and said calmly: "It's not because I found many cases—it's because he committed many. You've seen the files—he deserves death."

Everyone looked at Prosecutor Liu.

Prosecutor Liu gave a deep, solemn "Mm."

Jiang Yuan added: "Then we should be able to break through him."

"Definitely—he didn't do all these alone," Prosecutor Liu guessed from the files: "If the accomplices in these major cases are just one or two people, we could get another death sentence."

"Good," Jiang Yuan piled several pieces of boiled pork into his rice, smiling contentedly.

The others, eating the same spicy Sichuan food, couldn't help thinking: Ningtai's Jiang Yuan—fierce as a raging flame...