Chapter 965: The Killer’s Diary

Release Date: 2024-07-04 15:44:50
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Chen Shi took down each photo from the wall. Most had been crossed out, leaving only four or five still alive.

The deceased matched the cases Chen Shi had seen in the files, but he had one question: “Zhou Tiannan isn’t here.”

Tao Yueyue flipped through the stack of “Life Functions.” “He’s not in here either. Maybe he was a special case, or someone else killed him… Uncle Chen, doesn’t the smell in here seem unusual?”

Indeed, a mysterious stench filled the room, but there was no garbage on the floor. Chen Shi sniffed around, tracking the source of the smell. He opened the bedroom door, revealing a sparse room with a wire bed and a clothes rack with just a few garments. It was clear Lu Dahai lived frugally.

To the left of the door stood an old dresser with peeling paint. On the floor beside it were several white plastic bottles, exuding a chemical odor.

Chen Shi opened the dresser, his pupils contracting instinctively. Inside lay a decomposed corpse, down to the bones. From the tattered clothes, jewelry, and long hair, it appeared to be a woman. The body gave off both a foul odor and the smell of chemicals.

“It seems Lu Dahai bought chemicals to dissolve the body slowly into bones…”

“Uncle Chen, there’s a camera in the corner!” Tao Yueyue exclaimed.

Chen Shi turned and saw a camera mounted on the curtain rod, its red light blinking, indicating it was active. He cursed silently, having overlooked it in his search for the smell. He yanked the curtain down, pulled the plug on the camera, and found a laptop in a nearby box, still on, with the video feed broadcasting to a social media account. They might have alerted Lu Dahai.

“Take everything!” Chen Shi ordered.

“What about the body?” Tao Yueyue asked.

“Leave it for now. I’ll send someone else to deal with it later.”

They bagged the photos, documents, and laptop, and hurried out to find Lin Dongxue.

Lin Dongxue was still in the sales office. Seeing them rush in, she said, “I thought you’d be searching longer.”

“Something came up. We might have alerted Lu Dahai. I need to notify the station to track his phone signal,” Chen Shi explained.

“He’s the pusher, and we found ‘Life Functions’ in his place,” Tao Yueyue added excitedly.

“These two cases are really connected!” Lin Dongxue exclaimed.

Chen Shi was already on the phone, motioning for them to follow him to a nearby car. “Let’s get back to the station.”

“What if Lu Dahai comes back?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“I doubt he will.”

“Still, there’s a chance. I’ll stay here and keep watch.”

Chen Shi hesitated to leave her alone, but Lin Dongxue reassured him, “I have my gun. If you get a lead on Lu Dahai, I’ll join you right away.”

“Okay, but be careful!”

Chen Shi and Tao Yueyue returned to the station. On the way, Tao Yueyue rifled through the bag and found a notebook. “It’s the killer’s diary!”

“Read it to me.”

“There’s a lot. I’ll pick out the important parts… March 18th: My sentence ended, and I returned to Long’an. I wanted to visit my favorite noodle shop, but it was gone. I looked for a friend, only to find out he was killed in a fight. Standing on familiar yet foreign streets, I felt lost… Skipping this part…

“April 26th: I started anew. Unlike others, he didn’t scorn my past. He said I had my own brilliance. He showed me my ‘Life Function,’ making me realize my value.

“May 2nd: My first mission. I was nervous, watching a man get crushed under a truck. I felt deep guilt. The Observer came to comfort me, saying it was all worth it. We’re not like criminals who act out of selfishness; we have a noble mission to purify the city. I’ll do better next time.

“June 12th: The fourth person I killed. I felt calm. The police never suspected these accidents were murders. They maintain the mundane order, but they don’t understand ‘Life Functions’ or our purpose.

“June 19th: Fifth victim. I’m getting better at this. The Observer gave me living expenses. It’s not a reward; we’re not employer and employee. I trust and admire him, and he believes in me. Sitting alone, I see a light from within. I’m no longer the hopeless fool. I protect the city silently, even if misunderstood, feeling like a martyr.

“July 23rd: I met Juan. She brought color to my lonely life. I don’t care that she’s married, and she doesn’t mind my poverty… Will she come to the store today? I miss her.

“No date on this one… I can’t believe it! The Observer gave me Juan’s ‘Life Function.’ I begged him to spare her, but he said it’s inevitable. Her node advanced because of me. I wanted to run away with her, but I couldn’t. Not just because I’m poor, but because I lack the courage. The Observer says destiny is unchangeable.

“August 16th: I told Juan everything. She was horrified. I admitted to killing but saving more. She called me crazy! Am I? No, she wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t let her report me. I stopped her; she screamed. In my rage, I strangled her. When I let go, she was dead. I cried for a long time, apologizing to her body… Gross, I’m skipping this part… In my dreams, I see her. I’m sorry, Juan. You didn’t understand me. I had to eliminate you; it was your destiny. Don’t blame me!”

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