Chapter 96: The Money-Sucking Online Game (Third Update)

The community auntie said, “A lot of people witnessed it at the time. Do you need me to find someone to explain the situation?”

“No need… Where did he go afterward?”

“He left the neighborhood. On such a cold day, soaking wet, and he didn’t even go home to change clothes. At his age, isn’t he afraid of getting arthritis?”

“See, I don’t need to ask anyone else. Just asking you is enough… Thank you!”

“It’s nothing, officer. How did Old Lu die?”

“I can’t disclose that right now, but I’ll let you know later. Can I get your contact information?”

After exchanging contact details, the auntie left. Chen Shi sent the contact information of Lu Jianye and his wife to Lin Dongxue and then called her. “Dongxue, check the husband’s income and see if there are any savings. Also, call his wife to get more information.”

“Why don’t you call yourself? Saving on phone bills?”

“It’s not that. Explaining the situation and comforting her will take time, and I can’t afford to waste even a second right now.”

“Got it,” Lin Dongxue replied, disinterestedly.

“Thanks, I’ll treat you to dinner later!”

“Not interested.”

After hanging up, Tao Yueyue looked at Chen Shi skeptically and said, “You like the lady you just called.”

“Kids shouldn’t meddle in adults’ business!”

“I know! You don’t smile when you call others, but you smiled when you called her.”

“Nonsense, I smile at everyone.”

“Not as sincerely.”

Chen Shi gave up. “Alright, stop making things up, okay?”

“I know, keep your secrets,” Tao Yueyue said, winking playfully.

It was already 8 PM, and time was tight. Chen Shi left the neighborhood and went straight to a nearby internet cafe. He asked the owner if a man named Lu Jianye had been there last night. The owner checked and said, “Yes, he logged in at seven last night.”

“How long did he stay?”

“Two hours exactly.”

“What did he do?”

“How could I possibly know that? Why are you asking these questions? Are you a cop?”

Chen Shi showed his “badge,” and the owner immediately became nervous. “All our users register with ID cards, no minors here.”

“I’m not here for that. Give me a machine.”

Tao Yueyue pointed to the shelf behind the counter. “Uncle Chen, I want a Coke.”

“One Coke and a bottle of water.”

The owner poked his head out and saw the little girl. “Why bring a kid here? Kids can’t come in. What if the police come to check…”

“I am the police!”

“Right, right. I forgot,” the owner said with a forced smile.

Chen Shi logged in and played some music while leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head. Tao Yueyue knelt on the chair next to him, sipping her Coke through a straw. “Uncle Chen, why aren’t you investigating?”

“I’m taking a break.”

“Will you win your bet?”

“Waiting is an essential part of investigating.”

“Can I wait to go back to school too?”

“No.”

Tao Yueyue scrunched her nose and made a face.

Lin Dongxue called. “I can’t reach Lu Jianye’s wife. As for his financial situation, his monthly income is around forty thousand, probably his salary… that’s quite high! Two years ago, he sold a BMW, and a year ago, he sold his house. His credit card is maxed out, and all the money went to an account with Shengshi Electronics.”

“Any patterns?”

“Patterns? Let me see. He transferred about thirty thousand a month, sometimes up to a hundred thousand, and even one transaction of a million… my god!”

Chen Shi typed furiously on the computer. “Shengshi Electronics is the agent for the online game ‘Jianghu Zongheng.’ This guy is a game addict.”

“A game addict? You mean he sold his car and house to play games? Why is it so noisy there?”

“I’m in an internet cafe.”

“You already guessed it?”

“Yes, I guessed… seeing his family situation and his son taking the computer, I had a hunch. Just need to confirm which game.”

“A man in his fifties, successful in his career, yet addicted to games? I thought only kids got addicted.”

“Game addiction knows no age. This is a crucial point in the case. Anyway, I need to investigate now.”

“By the way, Captain Peng is already at the neighborhood.”

“Ask him to leave my car keys with security. I’ll pick them up later.”

Chen Shi hung up and started registering on ‘Jianghu Zongheng.’ Tao Yueyue asked, “Do you think that uncle was killed by someone from the game?”

“Not necessarily, but it’s related.”

Chen Shi was taking a gamble. Among all the clues, he felt this one was the most likely motive for murder.

After creating a new character, the screen was filled with flashy graphics, system messages, and incomprehensible skill bars. Tao Yueyue said, “So boring. Not as fun as Pokémon.”

“This game sells a sense of accomplishment, not gameplay. Spend a bit of money, and you can buy ultimate achievements.”

“Adults are so hard to understand.”

After completing a beginner task, the system prompted that for fifteen yuan, he could buy a “Soaring Pack” and skip to level twenty. Chen Shi cursed, “Damn it!”

“Don’t swear.”

This method wouldn’t work; he needed to explore too many maps to find clues, which was inefficient.

He called Lin Dongxue again, who complained, “I guess I won’t finish my snail noodles today.”

“I’ll treat you to shark fin soup when this is over… Contact the game company for me. Their game uses real-name registration. Find out Lu Jianye’s in-game character, his last login time, and any recent transfers of items or equipment.”

“Will they cooperate?”

“Just say you’re a homicide detective. It works wonders.”

“Like you’ve tried before.”

Lin Dongxue laughed and hung up. Tao Yueyue grinned. “You two have an unspoken understanding… Are you secretly in love, like in TV dramas?”

“How do you know so many idioms?”

“From watching TV… You didn’t answer my question.”

“I have the right to remain silent.”

“Silence means yes.”

Chen Shi chuckled. This little girl was too much. He even considered sending her to a boarding school.

While waiting, Chen Shi noticed many system messages in the game about people obtaining rare items and defeating others. He said, “Do you know why so many people play these poorly designed games?”

“Achievement!”

“Precisely, it’s a form of gambling, with mechanisms that release dopamine, creating pleasure and making it hard to stop.”

Tao Yueyue blinked, half understanding, and asked, “What’s dopamine?”

“It’s a reward from your brain to encourage you to do something. But what’s good for your brain isn’t always good for your body. Like drinking Coke and eating burgers makes you happy because your brain thinks you should consume more calories, but getting fat isn’t good. So, you enjoy Coke not because it tastes good but because your brain tricks you.”

Tao Yueyue looked at her half-empty Coke bottle. “Got it.”

She handed it to Chen Shi. “I won’t drink it anymore.”