Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 577 Crimes Committed in Advance

"Let's talk about what happened next, Boss Nie. How did you determine it was a serial murder case back then?"

After confirming that there were no more valuable clues in the case from twenty years ago, Li Yiduo continued to question Nie Guoqiang about the entire course of the case while recording details and what he considered key in his notebook.

"The second case occurred five years after the first. By then, the country had already developed the concept of a tourism economy, and Wudong Mountain, the site of the incident, had become one of the first popular national-level tourist attractions due to its former status as a religious holy site. Then, in October of that year, a tourist went missing after illegally climbing a wild mountain off-track. Local authorities quickly organized a search and rescue operation, eventually finding the tourist's body in a steep ravine. The police analyzed and dissected the body, finding axe marks on the back of his head, concluding that he had been attacked and maliciously pushed off a cliff to his death, but this was not connected to the case five years prior. Five years later, decades before this year, the third case occurred! The same axe blow to the back of the head, the same fall and body disposal, which led the police to connect it to the second case. And then... suspicion began to fall on the case from ten years ago..."

At this point, Nie Guoqiang sighed and said, "Twenty years ago, two people died; fifteen years ago, one died; ten years ago, one died. The same blow to the back of the head followed by a push off a cliff—there are too many things that cannot be simply attributed to coincidence. The police, through analysis of case files and on-site investigations, determined it was the same person. However, the murders all took place in remote, mountainous areas, the bodies weren't discovered promptly, and many traces were destroyed, making it difficult to obtain sufficient clues. Furthermore, the long interval between the two cases, coupled with issues with forensic techniques and the capabilities of the investigators, turned this case into a cold case. Until…"

"Until five years ago, the fourth case occurred?"

Li Siyu couldn't help but interject, even shuddering as she spoke. What kind of twisted person could do something like this?! Killing someone every five years—what was he thinking?

Nie Guoqiang nodded.

"Yes! Five years ago, the fourth case occurred. Also in those mountains, three tourists, lured by unlicensed guides, ignored warning signs and the advice of their hostel owner, and ventured into the wilderness to explore, subsequently disappearing. Three days later, the hostel owner reported it to the police, drawing their attention. The same five-year period, the same October, the same group of unauthorized outsiders… By the time the police found the four, another three days had passed. All four were dead, killed in almost identical attacks and falls. However, this time, the police determined from the injuries found on the four victims that it was not the work of the same person."

"The perpetrator wasn't alone this time? That makes sense! Four targets! No matter how skilled a fighter is, to deliberately create the same manner of death, they need help. Serial murders have turned into organized crime?"

Li Yiduo gasped.

One serial killer alone is terrifying enough. And now he has accomplices? And with four people dead this time, what kind of chaos will they cause next?
"This matter immediately attracted the attention of the police, and a special task force was quickly established to launch a vigorous investigation. However, the perpetrator's motives were clear; he only committed the crime once every five years, and was likely very well hidden in the meantime, so much so that all investigations yielded nothing. Even a thorough search of all the villages and people surrounding the crime scene failed to find a specific target. The police even considered the case as a ritualistic crime, and given the religious nature of the crime scene, they screened all possible related people in the vicinity, but still found nothing. The case remained at a standstill until this year, when the five-year period came to an end again..."

Nie Guoqiang glanced at the cat lying on Li Siyu's lap through the rearview mirror. It seemed oblivious to their interaction, its eyes closed and dozing. However, Nie Guoqiang clearly saw Mimi's ears twitching, indicating that it was not entirely at peace with itself.

Lin Ge's mind was naturally far from calm.

Whether analyzed from the perspective of this brutal serial murder case, the difficulty of the case in which the killer has not been found after so many years, or the pressure on the police, this case is too terrifying.

Killing someone every five years? What kind of psychopath is that?!

Is this place haunted? Knowing full well that a serial killer exists, why do those stupid tourists still insist on venturing into the deep mountains and forests, courting their own deaths?
What's so great about traveling in the middle of nowhere?
Those so-called backpackers, appreciating the country's beautiful landscapes is fine, but why do they have to do things that are too thrilling?

Now look what's happened! He's risked his life and even had to come all this way to avoid the trouble.

And that murderer... is he insane?
Is killing fun?

"Boss Nie, you just said that cases have already occurred this year? It's not even October yet, so why do you conclude that this victim case and the serial killings were committed by the same person?"

Li Yiduo spoke again.

"A sneak attack on the back of the head, striking the victim until they were incapacitated, before pushing them off a cliff. This time, the victims were two tourists from Jinhua City, who, like others, ignored warnings and insisted on going to places outside the planned route. The serial killer acted ahead of schedule, catching the local police, who were preparing for the October operation, off guard. When the victims were found, only several irregular shoe prints and drops of their own blood were discovered at the scene. However, this case was different from the previous ones. One of the victims had already been attacked to death, and the body was disposed of after death. The other victim was also pushed off the cliff after assisting the killer in disposing of the body..."

As Nie Guoqiang spoke, he slowly applied the brakes and arrived at the highway toll station.

"The perpetrator has become the same person again! And the behavior pattern is different from the previous cases. Is it a copycat crime? Or... has the perpetrator changed?"

Li Yiduo's eyes lit up.

"Experts deduced that this was a case of inherited crime! The first, second, and third cases, which began twenty years ago, were committed by one person. Then, in the fourth murder five years ago, he found an accomplice or successor to teach and carry out this brutal crime against four targets. Now, it's uncertain whether the original perpetrator is dead, old, or retired from the criminal world. However, based on the autopsy investigation of the victim in the case five years ago, it can be determined that this year's case was committed by one of the perpetrators of the four deaths five years ago. This person is younger and inflicted more severe injuries, which led to the immediate death of one victim this year, requiring a ritualistic approach involving moving the body to create the scene. Local police found the primary crime scene on another mountain through a search, but the analysis of the perpetrator remains stalled."

Under the toll station office building behind the highway toll station, Xie Changjun, Liu Yuan, and several Chu City police officers finally met Nie Guoqiang and Lin Ge and answered Li Yiduo's questions.

They will not enter Chu City, but will instead depart directly from the highway exit to Baiyan City in Chu Province, where the incident occurred.

From Zhang City to Chu City and then to Baiyan City, it's almost a straight line, with Chu City right in the middle. This is why the Chu City police are waiting for Lin Ge and his group here; they will do everything they can to help solve this serial murder case as support.

Xie Changjun was busy in Chu City with other cases, but now he had to cooperate in solving the case as a local police officer in the victim's jurisdiction.

He has traveled back and forth between Chu City and Baiyan City many times in the past few days. He is handling both cases simultaneously with an auxiliary police officer, working extremely hard just to seek justice for the victims.

The heinous nature of this case needs no further elaboration. Five crimes committed over twenty years, resulting in ten victims—the perpetrator's actions are utterly appalling. While killing only once every five years may seem insignificant compared to the frequency of serious crimes in China, the panic caused by these aimless, random killings, the threat to the public, and the possibility of the perpetrator becoming more aggressive all made it impossible for the police to continue to let the case go unpunished.

Baiyan City is not far from Chu City. This time, it only took a little over an hour on the highway for four police cars to arrive at the Wudongshan Scenic Area in Baiyan City and enter the nearby scenic area police station. More than ten police officers were already waiting at the gate, looking extremely haggard from the pressure of the case. Whether it was to shift blame or to request backup, the arrival of the reinforcements greatly excited the officers. They shook hands with everyone, constantly expressing their gratitude and pleas. Even Lin Ge, the cat, couldn't escape their attention; a barrage of flattering words pierced his ears.

"The surrounding area is already in an uproar!"

The deputy director of the Baiyan City Public Security Bureau was a middle-aged, bald man with a head so thick it could practically fill a light bulb, named Yue Qisheng. Before even entering the conference room after receiving everyone, he couldn't help but complain to Liu Yuan, "It's the internet age now; anything even slightly significant can't be hidden. The murder of two victims, coupled with the locals' vague understanding of a serial killer case, caused a sensation online as soon as a few people mentioned it. Right now, many people online are talking about this serial killer case, about the incompetence of the Baiyan City police. We're under immense pressure! You could say it was an ordinary case, but this case..."

"They only make a move once every five years, which shows how careful they are in their preparations. We can't possibly keep an eye on the entire Wudong Mountain area every second. It's regrettable that this happened, but there's no need to blame ourselves entirely. The police are capable of solving cases, but they can't be prophets. Nobody knows when the criminals will strike. We can't possibly send people to patrol the vast Wudong Mountain range day and night, can we? Director Yue, we've really put you through this."

Liu Yuan, in his capacity as a leader, patted Yue Qisheng on the shoulder with a smile, a mixture of sympathy and helplessness in his expression.

The public criticized the police for not solving the case quickly and for not arresting the murderer; but the police are not omnipotent, and things are easier said than done.

Even if the entire Wudong Mountain is turned into a restricted area and no one is allowed to enter, none of these victims entered the desolate mountain without their own knowledge. They don't care about their own safety, so what can the police do?

The Wudong Mountain range stretches for hundreds of miles, with countless desolate paths and nearly a hundred towns and villages of varying sizes, inhabited by countless people. Are we really going to drive them all away just for one case?
Even if you disperse the crowd, the murderer can still be hiding among them! What's the point of trying to find a lost sword by marking the boat? Everything is just empty talk until the person is caught!
"As for catching him... of course we want to catch that damn bastard! But it's too difficult! The incident occurred in the middle of nowhere, there were no witnesses or surveillance cameras, and several days had already passed since the body was discovered. Many pieces of evidence and clues had already been destroyed. We're like a skilled cook without rice to cook! We originally planned to carry out a large-scale manhunt in October, but who would have thought that the murderer would act ahead of schedule!"

Yue Qisheng was furious and slammed his fist on the conference room table.

His head was completely bald, and he could barely keep his police cap on. His roar caused the cap to tilt and obscure his eyes, but he didn't seem to care, simply adjusting it slightly before continuing his rant.

Lingo noticed his hat being frequently moved, and his attention was momentarily diverted.

"Hehe... Director Yue, don't be in such a hurry! The fact that the criminal is no longer following the rules and details is a good thing for solving the case. This means that this crime is different from the past and is most likely an impulsive crime with insufficient preparation. In other words, this year's murderer is different from the one from last year in terms of both personality and behavior. This kind of person is more likely to leave clues, and maybe if we are lucky, he has already left enough clues to find him at the scene of the crime."

Liu Yuan calmly comforted Yue Qisheng, his words also serving as a way of convincing himself.

As he spoke, he pointed to the only cat in the world qualified to sit in the case study conference room, and then smiled at Yue Qisheng, "As long as there are clues, we can get opportunities. Look, I even invited the best police cat in Zhangzhou City to come here! To be honest, you've all heard about Mimi's abilities; and I've personally witnessed its investigative methods! They're truly miraculous! This time, the criminal deliberately revealed a flaw, which might become our opportunity. By the way! The provincial department has already asked experts to create an identity profile for this criminal, and the current assessment is that he is a middle-aged man between thirty and forty years old. Let's start our investigation in this direction."

Thirty to forty years old?

The local police officers in the conference room were all stunned. How was this determined?
"It boils down to the location of the crimes, the religious nature of the case, the ritualistic aspect, and the possible lineage of the perpetrators. Combined with the forensic findings, this deduction makes some sense."

Liu Yuan briefly explained his analysis of the perpetrator, which, to be honest, even he felt was somewhat far-fetched. One can only say that a professional criminal psychology expert's thinking is different from that of ordinary people; heaven knows why he could make such a seemingly reasonable yet purely speculative judgment. However, considering the forensic doctor's analysis of the victim's injury location, angle, and force, as well as the traces at the scene, the probability that the perpetrator was a middle-aged person is indeed very high.

This makes the case quite absurd. Can murderers really have their own lineages? Did the killer from back then grow old and pass on this 'sacred' task to his successor?
“We will investigate in this direction. Men aged 30 to 40, whose fathers are still alive or were alive at least five years ago, are likely to live in the vicinity of the incident site. Hmm... the scope is very large, but we will do our best to investigate thoroughly.”

Yue Qisheng nodded and placed his police cap on the table.

Lin Ge lowered his head regretfully.

"Besides, there's the crime scene! Apparently, no valuable clues were found at the primary murder scene?"

Liu Yuan glanced at Mimi, who had started yawning and spacing out again, then looked out the window. "It's still early. How about we go back to the scene now? Let Mimi wander around and see if she can find anything we've overlooked."

"The municipal bureau has already dispatched police dogs to search the surrounding area, and found nothing unusual."

Yue Qisheng glanced at the very ordinary cat opposite him, which had no manners whatsoever and seemed to be nothing but laziness. He began to wonder if its reputation was just a publicity stunt.

Of course, he wasn't doubting Lin Ge's abilities; he just felt that a cat, no matter how amazing, had its limits. What difference could there be between a police cat and a police dog? The scene had already been searched by professional investigators with police dogs; to miss anything would be a slap in the face to their own people.
Let's go take a look!

Liu Yuan wasn't angry. He simply reiterated his point and then looked at Nie Guoqiang and Xie Changjun, "We've been staying on the mountain for the past few days. We've been especially thorough in our examination of the place where the body was dumped. I still feel that the murderer went to such lengths to move the body there and then dump it; there must be some special reason. Even if it was just because the mountain was steep, why choose that place instead of other cliffs? Was it a coincidence, or was it just a preconceived notion?"

"If religious beliefs are involved, it is best to ask a professional to help discuss it and see if there are any special aspects that we have overlooked."

Xie Changjun nodded with a smile.

Ignoring Yue Qisheng's grim expression, Nie Guoqiang pondered for a moment and said, "There's still one important thing we haven't figured out: the motive for the murder! Do you think it's possible that the killer chose to kill prematurely this time because the victim accidentally discovered something important? It's unlikely that someone with the guts to kill multiple times would simply act impulsively and violate the rules of murder. After all, this isn't the first time he's done this! If he was personally involved in the case five years ago, he should understand the consequences of being convicted of murder. This time, he not only chose to move and dispose of the body but also unexpectedly killed the person on the spot, unlike in past cases. Is there some special reason for this? I think the investigation of the crime scene shouldn't just focus on the traces; perhaps we should also consider looking back twenty years to see if there's anything hidden at the scene..."

(End of this chapter)