Chapter 298: The Sword of Damocles

In the interrogation room, Lin Qiupu glared at the pale-faced young man. The thought that this person had nearly killed Lin Dongxue fueled his anger, but he forced himself to remain calm and maintain the composure of an interrogator.

Before the interrogation began, they had done extensive homework, searching Wang Sunxu’s temporary residence. Evidence suggested that the murders earlier this year, attributed to “Zhou Xiao,” were actually committed by Wang Sunxu. Although he had destroyed his hard drive, recovered fragments showed he had been communicating with someone using a self-coded chat software. The content was unclear, but the police suspected that the person who had been advising Wang Sunxu and had rescued him that day was the fugitive Zhou Xiao.

Wang Sunxu and Zhou Xiao seemed to have a mentor-student relationship. Or, as Chen Shi speculated, “Zhou Xiao” might be a persona created by a small team of criminals. Regardless, it was clear that Wang Sunxu, given his age, experience, and methods, was not a core member of this group.

Even so, capturing Wang Sunxu was a significant breakthrough.

“Name!” Lin Qiupu demanded.

“…” Wang Sunxu smirked silently.

“Name!” Lin Qiupu repeated.

“…”

“Wang Sunxu, you won’t get away with staying silent here.”

“…”

No matter what Lin Qiupu said, Wang Sunxu remained mute. Outside the interrogation room, the hall was crowded with people. Only Lin Dongxue was absent. She had just recovered and, despite wanting to be there, Chen Shi convinced her to rest at home.

Mainly, he didn’t want her to see him in handcuffs.

A day earlier, Peng Sijue had autopsied Sun Shu’s body. Sun Shu had died from cyanide poisoning en route to the hospital. The poison had been placed in his capsules before the police had started protecting him.

Chen Shi visited Peng Sijue, not out of concern for this, but because he needed to talk. For the past few days, nightmares of being handcuffed haunted him. Yet, he had resolved not to run away this time.

Peng Sijue offered him a cup of coffee, trying to comfort him. “You don’t need to worry so much. Even if Wang Sunxu talks, it’s just his word. He has no proof… There’s DNA evidence that verifies your ‘identity.’ That’s the only time I’ve lied in my career.”

“You don’t understand. Lin Qiupu has already been suspicious. He just needs a direction. Once Wang Sunxu talks, Lin Qiupu will dig until he uncovers everything. My secret will be out.”

“Do you think he will talk?”

“Why wouldn’t he? If I were him, I’d drag down a hated cop with me.”

At this moment, Chen Shi’s palms were sweaty. The surrounding officers were all watching Wang Sunxu in the interrogation room. At any moment, those eyes could turn to him, filled with shock and confusion.

Aside from smirking, Wang Sunxu hadn’t moved his lips. The interrogation had lasted half an hour, and the notebook remained blank. Lin Qiupu had never encountered such a stubborn suspect. He decided to try a psychological approach.

“Wang Sunxu, you killed Teacher Xu. He once cared for you, but he used you. I know you hate him deeply. But think about it, Zhou Xiao is just another Teacher Xu. They’re essentially the same!”

Wang Sunxu’s smirk faded. He said, “You don’t understand anything.”

Hearing him speak, the officers outside felt a surge of excitement. Lin Qiupu’s interrogation skills were indeed impressive.

“I don’t understand? You can’t see the forest for the trees. Zhou Xiao used you to kill in his name. He’s using you. Now you’re here, what has he done for you?”

“He’s my mentor. He gave my life meaning. Something you shallow cops will never understand.”

“What did he teach you? Let this shallow cop hear it!”

Wang Sunxu smirked again and fell silent for two more hours. Eventually, Lin Qiupu gave up and ordered him to be taken away. As he was led out, Wang Sunxu looked towards the one-way mirror, as if making eye contact with Chen Shi behind it, and smiled. “By the way, the cop who arrested me is standing outside, right?”

“So what?”

“I know a secret about him!”

Chen Shi closed his eyes. The moment he dreaded had arrived. A hand rested on his shoulder. He turned to see Peng Sijue’s comforting gaze.

“What do you want to say?” Lin Qiupu asked, staring into his eyes.

“He slept with your sister!” Wang Sunxu laughed hysterically.

“Take him away!” Lin Qiupu snapped.

As Wang Sunxu was led away, he shot Chen Shi a meaningful look. Chen Shi stared back in disbelief.

Wang Sunxu was under strict guard. It took considerable effort for Chen Shi to get a chance to speak with him alone. Late that night, Chen Shi brought some food and drinks to the detention room. Wang Sunxu sat on the floor, folding paper boats from toilet paper.

Without looking up, Wang Sunxu said, “You’re not here to thank me, are you?”

“I’m curious. You had such a good chance to drag me down. Why didn’t you take it?”

“Maybe one day, I’ll want a hamburger in prison, and then I’ll reveal it. Until then, let this Sword of Damocles hang over your head. What better torture than making you live in fear, losing sleep, and breaking down! Besides, I don’t want you to leave the game early. My friends still want to play with you. A game without an opponent would be so boring.”

“You’ll meet your friends in prison someday.”

Wang Sunxu laughed. “You hunt us, analyze us, but you don’t understand us. You don’t know why we kill, why we choose to be rebels.”

“The world owes you?”

Wang Sunxu laughed again, pressing his face against the bars. “Because the world is fake. The rules are fake. Watching you uphold and obey them is laughable. Stay in this fake world, with your fake face, struggling like a maggot!”

Chen Shi was slightly shaken. Was this person mentally unstable?

He said, “Even if you play mad, you’re still going to prison. Don’t expect to go to a mental hospital.”

Wang Sunxu wore a look of disdain, as if he had seen through everything. Chen Shi understood that his so-called mentor had instilled him with madness. Abandoning reason made him extremely dangerous.

“How many of you are there?”

Wang Sunxu slowly raised one finger, his eyes burning with fanatical determination.

“He is a god. You cannot defeat him.”