Chapter 419: Reduced Manpower

The next morning, Chen Shi picked up Lin Dongxue and instead of heading straight to the station, they went to a Cantonese tea restaurant. Chen Shi ordered a variety of dim sum: shrimp dumplings, crystal buns, egg tarts, and fish congee.

Lin Dongxue asked, “Why the leisurely breakfast today?”

Pouring tea, Chen Shi replied, “Guess.”

“You must be exhausted.”

Chen Shi chuckled, “Yes, I am. To be honest, I’m feeling a bit deflated. I thought I’d hand over the killer to the police, you’d do a swift investigation, find the evidence, and wrap up the case. I didn’t expect such an opponent.”

He shook his head, “Rich people are tough to deal with.”

“If you’re not up for it, let the task force handle it. We haven’t even identified the victim, found the rest of the body, or located the missing cleaning lady. Investigating all this is exhausting and doesn’t suit your style.”

“Am I really that laid-back?”

“Everyone sees you as a genius who guides us when we’re lost.”

Chen Shi gave a wry smile, “Sudden insights are based on thorough investigations. There are no real detectives, just different experiences and ways of thinking.”

“We don’t have your kind of mind.”

Lin Dongxue checked her phone. There was no news about Luo Zuyu being taken to the police station yesterday. The public was still buzzing about other celebrity gossip. This incident made her realize that the scandals exposed in the entertainment industry were just the tip of the iceberg.

Their breakfast arrived, and Chen Shi ate heartily, feeling rejuvenated. He planned to continue the investigation with renewed energy, determined to uncover the truth.

After breakfast, they arrived at the station. The meeting room was packed. Lin Dongxue thought she was late, but then Lin Qiupu entered and said, “Put the Luo Zuyu case on hold.”

“What?” Lin Dongxue was incredulous. “Why?”

“I’ll explain in the meeting room.”

“No, explain now. Is it pressure from above? Public opinion?”

“What are you thinking?” Lin Qiupu frowned. “When the police stop investigating a case suddenly, it’s usually because something bigger has come up. Last night, a gang’s gun transport vehicle was crashed, and dozens of firearms are missing. They could be anywhere in the city, and a shooting could happen anytime. The chief immediately ordered the formation of a task force, putting everything else on hold.”

Lin Dongxue was speechless. Why now?

Chen Shi said, “I’m not joining any gun hunt.”

Lin Qiupu mocked, “You think it’s beneath you?”

“I hate leaving things unfinished. Besides, I’m not a cop. Why should I follow your orders? I’ll continue investigating the Luo Zuyu case alone if I have to.”

Lin Qiupu sighed, “What’s more important, the dead or those who might die?”

“Goodbye!”

Chen Shi turned to leave. Lin Dongxue looked at Lin Qiupu, who reluctantly said, “Go after him!”

Chen Shi heard this, turned back, and said, “I need Dongxue and Xiaodong. Legal testimony requires at least two officers. Take everyone else.”

“Are you pushing your luck?”

Chen Shi walked back, “I found out some things about Luo Zuyu. He was involved in a missing girl case before, but lack of evidence cleared him. I believe this isn’t his first crime. If we stop now, he might really get away with it. He has a team covering for him, making him fearless. This might be our only chance to stop him. Do you think other cities’ police will do better?”

Lin Qiupu considered this, then reluctantly agreed, “Fine, but you only get these two. No more help; we’re shorthanded.”

“Thanks!” Chen Shi said, clasping his hands in gratitude.

“But on one condition: after the Luo Zuyu case, you help with the gun case.”

“I’ll try.”

“No, give me a definite answer.”

“Alright, I will!”

While the task force met, Chen Shi, Lin Dongxue, and Xu Xiaodong sat in an empty office. Lin Dongxue complained, “Why do we, as detectives, have to search for guns? And why pull two teams off cases?”

Xu Xiaodong explained, “The suspect left a note saying they mailed the guns to random people. That’s the real issue. Ordinary citizens might now have guns, and who knows how many will die!”

“No way!” Lin Dongxue was shocked.

Chen Shi asked, “What else did the note say?”

“There was a symbol, a butterfly with a skull. We don’t know what it means.”

“Ghost Butterfly!?”

“Chen, what’s that?”

Chen Shi’s mind raced. The Ghost Butterfly resurfacing and staging an unprecedented incident simultaneously with the Luo Zuyu case couldn’t be a coincidence. Was it a deliberate distraction?

Xu Xiaodong pressed, “Chen, what’s the Ghost Butterfly?”

“I’ll explain later. For now, let’s focus on our case. It’s just the three of us now, so we’ll each have to work ten times harder!”

“Ah!” Xu Xiaodong exclaimed.

Lin Dongxue hit Xu Xiaodong, “Stop whining. It’s up to us now.”

Chen Shi placed a USB drive on the table, “I picked this up in Luo Zuyu’s room yesterday.”

“Isn’t that stealing?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Just found it on the floor… Let’s see what’s on it.”

Chen Shi plugged the USB into the computer. It contained only one audio file. He played it. It was a song. Xu Xiaodong tapped his foot to the rhythm, “Not bad. What’s it called?”

“Phones have a song search function,” Lin Dongxue suggested.

“Let’s try it.”

Xu Xiaodong tried, but it couldn’t identify the song. Chen Shi smiled, “It’s probably an unreleased song by Luo Zuyu.”

“Sounds good. It’s fully produced,” Xu Xiaodong noted.

“We should return this. No need to give them an excuse.”

“Next time. We’ll use it as a reason for another visit,” Chen Shi said. “Now, help me make some calls. Let’s dig into this guy’s background!”