Chapter 367: Need for Safety

Liu Jinghui hurried to the funeral parlor.

He didn't show up when they made the arrest, because he wasn't interested. To him, the investigation and deduction phase was the most intriguing; once Jiang Yuan had already found the killer and pinpointed them step by step through surveillance footage, watching how they were apprehended held zero excitement for Liu Jinghui.

He'd solved too many cases and arrested too many suspects; this one small murderer—a naive kid hired to kill—wasn't worth his attention either way.

But when this 35-year-old man, far from young, alone at 3 a. . eating hot pot, with exceptional balance, some professional skill, and a willingness to be hired for murder, leapt from the fourth floor and chose decisively to land headfirst, Liu Jinghui instantly became interested.

It's not easy: nowadays, unless someone is depressed, unpaid, in debt to microloans or banks, or simultaneously scammed for money and sex, they usually don't commit suicide.

Of course, at 35, being fired is possible… but the business of being hired to kill isn't that cutthroat…

【Honestly, I've been using Huanyuan App to read novels and keep up with updates lately—it switches sources, offers multiple voice options, and works on both Android and iOS.】

In short, suicide is rarely a normal choice for criminals.

Even those killers who treat human life as worthless still cherish their own lives immensely.

Cops often see murderers sobbing uncontrollably; their tears are never truly born of remorse.

"Any clues?" Liu Jinghui knocked on the autopsy room door and saw the body already opened.

Performing two autopsies in quick succession was slightly taxing for Jiang Yuan and Wu Jun.

Jiang Yuan straightened his back, relaxed slightly, then said: "The bladder capacity is down to only thirty to forty milliliters, the testes are slightly atrophied, the nasal mucosa is severely damaged and has undergone metamorphosis. Also, the oral gums are severely atrophied—he's likely been using drugs for years: K powder, ice, that sort of thing. Toxicology is being expedited."

"Both are party drugs. Ningtai County doesn't seem to have any famous entertainment venues," Liu Jinghui, familiar with basic drugs, remarked.

K powder is mainly ketamine, usually mixed with ecstasy, used primarily to enhance parties and nightclubs. Ice has a broader range of use—it's a stimulant; Germany invented it for warfare, and Gunderman and Rommel's rapid advances, their troops marching for days on end, relied entirely on this stuff.

Nowadays, ice is primarily used to enhance sexual performance—it allows users to have sex for hours without feeling hungry or having an appetite, making weight loss effortless, a perfect "happy weight-loss method," though the usual consequences are loss of sexual function and kidney damage.

Of course, ordinary drug users don't distinguish so clearly; they often just take whatever they get. Mixing ketamine and ice is also common, and the function is clear: first get high, then have sex—seamless transition.

"Was any drug paraphernalia found at the scene?" Liu Jinghui didn't wait for Jiang Yuan's answer and pressed further.

Jiang Yuan shook his head. "Both are inhaled nasally—they don't require special equipment."

"What about the remaining drugs?"

"We didn't find any. Maybe he brought it and used it all up, or maybe… he bought some locally." Jiang Yuan hesitated slightly.

Ningtai County's drug enforcement has always been decent, but this is another field entirely, and Jiang Yuan lacks deep research or familiarity with it.

"A drug addict being hired to kill isn't surprising—it explains why he'd agree to it," Liu Jinghui paused, then said slowly: "But now, the true motive behind the murder, the mastermind's motive, becomes even harder to uncover."

Wu Jun said: "Technically, we could close the case. The victim was killed by a drug addict, who then committed suicide. The mastermind is only speculation—there's no evidence proving the addict was paid. We don't need to mention it."

"But what about the addict's motive? Without explaining that, the case won't hold," Liu Jinghui said. "Even if prosecutors don't ask, the court will."

"Love triangle? A gay lover turned violent from heartbreak?" Wu Jun guessed vaguely, then added: "Killing at 3 a. . in a bar—could it have been a transaction?"

"I'm worried about that too," Liu Jinghui said. "Two dead, drugs involved—run toxicology tests on the bar owner and all staff."

As he spoke, Liu Jinghui pulled out his phone and called Huang Qiangmin.

Jiang Yuan continued the autopsy, preparing wax blocks. The body yielded many findings—gastritis, enteritis, pancreatitis, rheumatic heart disease, multiple fractures, and so on.

But none of it mattered. This man committed suicide, and he did it in broad daylight. Even if we're looking for a mastermind, the body itself offers little to go on.

After all, his employer only gave him money—they didn't touch his body. No physical contact means the autopsy can't reveal anything about the employer…

Just as the autopsy neared completion, Huang Qiangmin called back: "Chief Liu, we've tested the bar owner and staff. One bartender tested positive."

Liu Jinghui immediately asked: "What did he use?"

"K powder and ice," Huang Qiangmin replied, his tone heavy.

Nowadays, drug varieties are numerous, especially new synthetic ones—chaotic and varied. People using the same drug aren't just sharing tastes; they likely share the same source, or even used it together.

"Damn, that's the link between the two victims," Liu Jinghui said, hanging up, suddenly excited.

As the saying goes, even the cleverest housewife can't cook without rice. Even a master detective needs clues to work with.

Liu Jinghui's mind immediately began racing.

"It seems both victims are tied to drugs," Liu Jinghui mused. "The first victim was excessively wealthy; the second was a drug user who could fight. Why did they meet in a bar?"

"Drug deal?" Wu Jun chimed in.

Liu Jinghui shook his head. "At 3 a. ., in someone else's bar, in the heart of the city with cameras everywhere? Too bold, too stupid."

"The key question: Did victim one know victim two intended to harm him? If he knew, why did he show up at the bar?" Jiang Yuan added.

Liu Jinghui grunted. "And a deal wouldn't involve just two people. We now know victim two was alone—if it were a drug deal, he wouldn't show up alone with the goods… Wait, let me ask someone."

Liu Jinghui wasn't familiar with this area—he immediately called for advice.

The provincial bureau had a senior officer specializing in drug enforcement; seeing a colleague ask, he patiently explained.

Modern drug trafficking has its unique traits and similarities—this is routine knowledge for officers handling drug cases.

Liu Jinghui turned on speakerphone so Jiang Yuan and Wu Jun could hear too.

The three men and one corpse all listened intently.

When he finished, Liu Jinghui pondered and said: "So now, can I conclude our case truly involves drugs?"

"Possibly. But it's probably not a drug deal—I suspect it's drug transportation."

"Transportation?"

"Yes. Ningtai isn't a consumption hub, but it could easily be a transit route."

"But the county is covered in cameras…"

"Some drug couriers need safer environments even more than ordinary people. They can't afford armed escorts…"

Liu Jinghui and Jiang Yuan exchanged glances. Logistics transport does require a safe, unobstructed environment—it made sense.