How come the celestial technique I stole is so powerful?!
Chapter 34 - 34 34 Capturing People in the Internet Cafe

34: Chapter 34: Capturing People in the Internet Cafe 34: Chapter 34: Capturing People in the Internet Cafe The bag was in the evidence room next door, and Lin Xiaosu went in.

He didn’t open the bag, he didn’t even pick it up.

After a glance and a sniff, he had completed the first part of his case.

Next, it was time to visit the place where the bag was found.

Miao Ruolan stayed behind to organize the documents needed for the opening of their Detective Agency.

Lin Xiaosu, Zhou Mei, and Officer Sun Yang headed to where the bag was found.

The bag was found at the Yishui waterfront.

Yishui River, which flows through the city, used to be like a stinking ditch with businesses crowding both sides, and domestic sewage and garbage were carelessly discarded into it.

This became a major focus for Secretary Luo after he took office; he demolished numerous houses along the banks, cleaned up the riverbed, built embankments, planted green trees, and even constructed a water dam downstream.

Once filled with water, the Yishui River shimmered, and green willows lined its banks—it had transformed into a park with water and beaches.

Everyone referred to it as the Yishui waterfront.

When criticism against Secretary Luo was at its peak, the Yishui waterfront became a focal point of attacks.

Rumors said Secretary Luo loved women, often bringing female staff to the Yishui waterfront to “discuss work”.

This rumor was quickly dismissed by the public.

As the head of the county, he could discuss work anywhere—why would he need to do it so openly?

Although the credibility of Luo’s “discussing work” lost plausibility, the suitability of Yishui waterfront for young couples was an undeniable fact.

In the city center, it was an oasis of peace.

With weeping willows lined up, the site where one could enjoy the clear waves by day and listen to cicadas by night had indeed a flavor of romance.

In such a location, which had been designated for leisure from the beginning, naturally there were no cameras installed.

Therefore, Red Pavilion, where the leather bag was found, was a blind spot for surveillance.

Now it was early May.

As they reached the riverside embankment, the intense sun suddenly softened.

Lin Xiaosu took a breath of fresh air, brushed aside the two willow branches hanging by the entrance of the Red Pavilion, and entered.

Outside the Red Pavilion, Officer Sun leaned in close to Zhou Mei’s ear, his voice very low, “Sister Zhou, we’ve checked this place several times already–is there really something we missed?”

He was new to the job, and Zhou Mei was essentially his training officer.

He dared not question her decisions, but that didn’t mean he was completely convinced.

After all, he was a high achiever at the police academy.

He excelled in Criminal Investigation Science and Exploration Science.

The concept of someone, not academically trained in this field, wanting to open a Detective Agency in a county town was bizarre.

If they could find any oversights among these top service providers and thereby solve such cases, it would be nothing short of a fairytale.

Zhou Mei’s beautiful eyes shifted, “Indeed, you’ve checked two times, with eyes wide as copper bells, but have you ever used your sense of smell?”

“Smell?

We haven’t, but police dogs were deployed.

However, the contents of that bag were sealed too tightly; the dogs couldn’t smell anything before it was opened, which didn’t happen until it was taken back to the station…”

His voice suddenly stopped…

Because Lin Xiaosu gently brushed the weeping willows at the entrance of the Red Pavilion and walked out.

He didn’t look at them, but went straight to the nearby flowerbed, stepped in, stopped, and looked surprised…

Zhou Mei quickly stepped over and approached him, “Did you find something?”

“Look!” Lin Xiaosu pointed gently at the ground, “There’s a footprint here!”

A footprint!

This statement in itself was meaningless because there were footprints everywhere.

This place was meant for public leisure, and footprints were the last thing it lacked.

However, Zhou Mei suddenly grew alert, “Is it related to the scent in the Red Pavilion?”

“Yes!” Lin Xiaosu said, “From last evening until now, the scent of two people has been left in the Red Pavilion.

After they left the Red Pavilion, they took two different paths.

One path led up those stairs to the pedestrian walkway.

The other, this one, goes along the inside of the flowerbed…

Officer Zhou, presuming one was the person who lost the bag and the other was the finder, then who might the person walking along the inside of this flowerbed be?”

Zhou Mei’s heart raced, “The one who lost the bag!”

“Yes!

The finder, with a clear conscience typical of those who would hand in found items, took the main path!” Lin Xiaosu said, “So, think about it, why would the person who lost the bag walk inside the flowerbed deep in the night?

You should know, this place is full of snakes and insects!”

Zhou Mei and Sun Yang were both shocked…

At the Yishui waterfront, along the inner side of the flowerbed, this time of year, with snakes and insects abound, which normal person would walk there at night instead of on the main path meant for couples?

Sun Yang stepped forward, “Unless this entire event of losing the bag was not by accident.”

“Exactly!” Lin Xiaosu nodded, “This is a classic case of a drug deal!”

Drugs, under the high-pressure policies of Daxia Country.

Thus, drug deals are conducted very discreetly.

Many traffickers adopt a method where the “upper hand” and “lower hand” do not meet; they agree on a location where the upper hand places the “goods”, and the lower hand comes to collect them.

The biggest advantage is that this cuts off a direct link between them, even if one is arrested, the other isn’t implicated.

This deal failed simply because of an accident.

The upper hand had placed the bag in the designated spot, and before the lower could collect it, it was found by a passerby.

Ordinarily, a passerby finding the item would not be a problem, as the owner could simply claim it, but given the nature of the contents, who would dare to step forward?

What if you encounter someone who’s very serious?

You say this item is yours, you say what’s inside, let’s open it and verify each item one by one.

If you are right, the bag is returned to you!

Isn’t that a sure way to self-destruct?

Therefore, even if the person logged off is nearby watching, they probably wouldn’t dare to come forward.

If the person who found the bag takes it home, those people also have ways to retrieve it, but this person has been a good kid since childhood, firmly believing in “If I find a penny on the road, I hand it over to the police”.

By handing it over, both the upper and lower contacts are screwed…

One pavilion, two auras.

Two paths of movement.

One takes the main road, the other takes the flowerbed.

With just this simple information, three people simultaneously linked up a serious case.

“The problem now is, can we find that upper contact in this vast crowd…” Zhou Mei said.

Lin Xiaosu smiled lightly: “Let’s try!”

With that attempt, they walked from the flowerbed to the sidewalk, crossed the bridge, and arrived at an internet cafe.

It’s still early morning, around eight, and the rhythm of life in the small county town is slower; many people still eating breakfast, the air filled with the fragrance of spring and the aroma of fried dough sticks and steamed buns, as well as the scents of life.

But inside the internet cafe, the atmosphere was different.

A long row of gaming machines, sixty to seventy teenagers, some playing games overnight, some reversing their clothes and sleeping in chairs, the air filled with the smells of smoke, instant noodles, and undefinable musty odor.

The tables are a mess, the floor is a mess.

The cleaning lady had a face of extreme disapproval, yet helpless; if these lads were her sons, they would truly be in for a scolding, but they are not!

On the contrary, because of their presence, they provide her a job…

They are restrained, because these people are present; they dare not say anything.

But when they saw Zhou Mei and two other colleagues shoulder to shoulder walking through the aisle towards the direction of the private rooms, they still sighed secretly…

The private room is the VIP of the internet cafe.

Everywhere else VIP represents high end, but only the VIP of the internet cafe is indescribable.

They clearly know, this private room is a gold-swallowing monster and a deep muddy pit.

Some people enter wearing short sleeves, and when they leave, it’s snowing heavily outside.

Even worse, they have homes, wives, and children, but after staying here for years, the wife runs off with someone else, the child becomes an orphan, all assets sold by them were poured into this private room…

What for?

They, of this age, really couldn’t understand.

It didn’t concern them, so they could disregard it, but seeing the three new neatly dressed people entering the private room, they still felt it was quite a pity…

Yes, Zhou Mei and Sun Yang were not in uniform, but in regular clothes.

When they reached a private room’s door, Lin Xiaosu stopped.

“Are you sure?” Zhou Mei’s eyes sparkled.

Lin Xiaosu nodded lightly.

He was absolutely sure, that blond kid entered this private room and did not come out.

Zhou Mei gently raised her hand and knocked.

An impatient voice came from inside: “Who is it?”

“Cleaning!” Zhou Mei said.

The private room door opened…

The person opening the door was that blond.

The blond was a bit surprised to see Zhou Mei; such a young and beautiful woman, also cleaning?

Although the economy is down, anything is possible, but this was too much of a stretch?

Zhou Mei didn’t look at him; her gaze fixed firmly on the footprints left by the blond.

On most floors, such distinct footprints wouldn’t be left unless it’s a floor where liquids are often spilled and cleaning is always handled by someone…

The footprints on the floor were too clear.

It’s him!

Zhou Mei lifted her hand, revealing a police badge in her palm…

The blond shuddered violently, his face completely changed…

Swiftly sidestepping, he dashed past Zhou Mei.

Just as he was about to get away, Zhou Mei raised her knee, and the blond’s face twisted, bending over like a shrimp.

Two other men in the private room also jumped up, one was knocked down by Sun Yang with a kick, the other was beautifully subdued by a chokehold, face pressed against the ground.

The internet cafe was stirred, so was the boss…

Outside, a police siren blared briefly, then cut off; three male officers entered side by side, Chief Zhang himself leading the team, and took the three men to the police car.