S.C.I. (Volume I) - Case 2: Chapter 5

The Killer Training Camp 05: Training Camp 

Qi Le brought the laptop over, but she didn't know the password. Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao decided to take it back to the station for Jiang Ping to handle.

The questioning of the other band members didn't yield any particularly special gains. Unexpectedly, the bonds between the students were quite deep; their grief did not seem feigned.

Bai Yutang left his phone number for Qi Le and the others, telling them to contact him if they remembered anything, before leaving M University with Zhan Zhao to drive back to the station.

"The mental states of those band members don't seem very good." In the car, Zhan Zhao said with a frown.

"They're all junkies; how could their mental states be good!" Bai Yutang was driving.

"They’re only in their twenties and they're all students. Where would they get drugs?" Zhan Zhao asked, puzzled.

"Heh... it's probably not heroin or ice; likely cheaper stuff—glue or hydrocarbon powder, which are more widely available." Bai Yutang shook his head, "Wasting their lives."

"Generally speaking, people with certain hobbies or specialties are less likely to get involved with drugs." Zhan Zhao seemed unable to fathom it, "If Qi Lei used drugs because he was plagued by illness, then what about the other band members?"

"Maybe it's out of emptiness or something like that..." Bai Yutang thought for a moment, "But this is a lead. Perhaps finding the source of the drugs will help the case."

"Should we ask our colleagues in the Narcotics Division for help?"

Bai Yutang shook his head: "Better to send someone to keep an eye on them first. We’ll talk once we have concrete leads!"

While they were talking, the two had already arrived at the police station.

Inside the S.C.I., the team members sent out to investigate had all returned. There were two other people in the office as well: the Ding family twins.

Bai Yutang pushed the door open to find the twins distributing something, saying, "This is a VIP Gold Card for Bai Group dining. You brothers won't have to spend a cent when eating at any Bai Group restaurant chain around the world."

"What are you two doing?" Bai Yutang roared.

"Helping the boss buy people's hearts!" the twins said in unison.

"You two dare to come to the police station to offer bribes? Are you looking to die?!" Bai Yutang glared, pointing to the door: "Get out!"

"Tch, this is a private social interaction, not subject to legal constraints!" The twins patted the shoulder of Zhao Hu, who was standing beside them in a daze, "Right, brother?"

"Uh..." Zhao Hu hesitated, looked left, then right, and finally looked up at Bai Yutang in a panic.

Bai Yutang glared at him fiercely.

"Uh... no～～～" Zhao Hu said, trembling.

"Ah? Aren't we good brothers?" The twins clutched their chests, "So heartbroken～～～"

"Uh... yes～～～～" Zhao Hu hurriedly shook his head.

"What?!" Bai Yutang glared even more viciously.

"Uh... no... uh... that..." Zhao Hu looked at the twins beside him, then at Bai Yutang opposite him, struggling for a moment.

"Ya～～～～" With a miserable shriek, Zhao Hu turned and tackled Wang Chao behind him: "Why? Why? Why is it always me!!!"

...

After an exhausting effort, they finally sent the Ding family twins packing. Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang called everyone into the conference room.

"Jiang Ping, this is Qi Lei's laptop, but it's password-protected. See if you can find a way in."

"No problem!" Jiang Ping took the laptop and quickly opened it, "Oh, it's just a simple user password. I can enter through safe mode; ten minutes and it'll be done!" With that, he set to work.

"What about the others? What did you find?" Bai Yutang asked.

"I'll go first." Ma Han gestured, "I took the technical team to the four crime scenes and discovered some issues." He took out a set of photos and pointed to them, "Based on the four crimes, it should be the work of the same person—Qi Lei."

"How so?" Everyone crowded around to look at the photos.

"The distance chosen for shooting is about the same, all from over fifty meters away." Ma Han said, "This is clearly the approach of an amateur!"

"An amateur?" The others were confused.

Ma Han continued: "The Captain shot Qi Lei from over fifty meters away that day, right?"

Bai Yutang nodded.

"The effective range of a standard pistol is usually 50-100 meters, so professional assassins won't perform a sniper kill from within one hundred meters. The effective range of a sniper rifle is 800-1000 meters. Shooting from too close a distance is likely to cause over-penetration and injure others."

"What does this explain?" Zhan Zhao suddenly understood why Bai Yutang always told him to "speak Chinese" whenever he did a psychological analysis.

"See, here is a student who has fairly comprehensive knowledge of sniping. Whether in terms of angles, wind direction, or precision calculations, he is very professional. This suggests he had plenty of practice opportunities and theoretical knowledge. But..." Ma Han paused, "he didn't have the range for the shooting."

"Oh～～" Bai Yutang nodded, "I understand. You mean the distance he practiced at was limited!"

Ma Han nodded.

"Practice indoors?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"That's what I thought!" Ma Han said, "Generally, shooting ranges at training facilities are within 50-100 meters. So I investigated the city's shooting clubs and found that Qi Lei was a member of the 'Guanglong' Shooting Club!"

"'Guanglong'?" Bai Yutang frowned, "Sounds familiar."

"Captain, how did you get those muscles? Do you never go to fitness clubs?" Wang Chao laughed from the side, "Most of the fitness centers and sports clubs in S City are under the 'Guanglong' brand."

"Ah～～" Bai Yutang remembered; he did indeed have an impression of it.

"'Guanglong' is a subsidiary of the Pang Group! The owner should be Pang Yu." Wang Chao said.

"Pang Yu?" Zhan Zhao was startled. Where had he heard that name...

"Cat, you know him?" Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao with slight surprise.

"No, the name just sounds familiar." Zhan Zhao tilted his head and thought about it. The person he met at the entrance of Dr. Wilson's lecture hall that day seemed to have said his name was "Pang Yu."

"Do you have a photo?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"Yes," Ma Han pulled one out and placed it in front of Zhan Zhao.

It was a thin, cold face with a sharp, mean look. "I've seen this person!" Zhan Zhao pointed at the photo, "He went to listen to Dr. Wilson's psychology lecture!"

"The person who was talking to you at the auditorium entrance that day?" Bai Yutang seemed to have some impression as well, "What did he say to you?"

Zhan Zhao shook his head: "Nothing special, just that he had listened to my lectures."

"He likes listening to lectures?" Zhao Hu was puzzled, "Isn't he a businessman? Why would he go to such a professional psychology seminar?"

"There's more!" Ma Han added, "In the club's member records, I also found this person!" He took out another photo: "Remember him?"

Everyone looked down and was shocked: "Li Feifan?"

"The person who was stalking the Cat!" Bai Yutang's expression turned grave: "There is much more to this than meets the eye."

Everyone nodded.

"Ma Han, investigate this shooting club thoroughly!"

"Don't worry, boss!" Ma Han took out a card and said, "I've already applied for a membership."

Bai Yutang smiled: "You brat, be careful!"

"What about the other victims?" Zhan Zhao asked Wang Chao and Zhang Long, "Do they have anything in common?"

"Sigh～～" The two sighed and said: "If we have to find a common point—they're all good people."

"Good people?"

Zhang Long nodded and opened the files on the three victims: "A university lecturer; a businessman who is a famous philanthropist; and a veterinarian from a pet hospital."

"Along with Dr. Wilson, the psychologist; and that Jon King, the film actor."

"No connection at all." Zhao Hu scratched his head.

"What are the Doctor and that Jon doing now?" Bai Yutang asked.

"The Doctor has to stay in the hospital for treatment for a while due to his sudden heart attack."

"Jon is participating in the filming of a movie recently."

"Ensure their safety." Bai Yutang ordered.

"Don't worry, boss. Ai Hu and his team have sent plenty of police officers to provide security, and both of them are being quite cooperative." Wang Chao said, "We are preparing to investigate them further."

"As for the guns, Xu Qing is still investigating. They appear to be smuggled goods." Zhao Hu added.

Bai Yutang nodded, "Everyone, continue to follow up! Zhao Hu, go to M University and keep an eye on the members of the 'Boiling Point' band, especially Qi Le."

"Yes!"

"And here is an autopsy report." Gongsun handed over the report on Qi Lei, "He had severe self-harm tendencies! And he was taking drugs!"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang exchanged a look; as expected...

"Boss! Come look!" Jiang Ping, who was fiddling with the computer, suddenly shouted.

Everyone hurried over.

"There are some very strange emails. This one was received on November 27th, the day the sniper case occurred." Jiang Ping opened a letter:

"The time has come. Wake the devil! From this moment on, you are no longer yourself!"

Everyone was stunned.

"There are these too!" Jiang Ping clicked on other emails, "There are four emails with the same content. The dates of the other three correspond exactly to the days the other three sniper attacks occurred."

"Who is the sender?" Bai Yutang asked.

"The signature is... Killertrainingcamp." Jiang Ping highlighted the sender's name for everyone to see.

"...Killertrainingcamp..." Zhan Zhao looked at the name in astonishment, "Killer Training Camp?"

"Boss, look at his desktop." Jiang Ping toggled the desktop display, revealing a completely black screen with a devil holding a scythe...

"Cat, what does this mean?" Bai Yutang asked Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao was silent for a long time before saying: "Someone is manipulating Qi Lei to kill. Perhaps this 'Killertrainingcamp' is a killer organization!"

"Phew～～～" Bai Yutang exhaled a long breath, "This matter seems much more complex than we anticipated! Jiang Ping, check this sender."

"Yes! But it will be difficult! The identity is almost certainly forged."

Zhan Zhao hesitated for a moment and said: "We must be fast! There might be more victims."

The expressions of everyone present turned grave at the same time.

Zhan Zhao followed Bai Yutang into the office, "Yutang, I'm a bit worried."

"What's wrong?" Bai Yutang noticed Zhan Zhao's unease.

"According to the descriptions from Qi Le and the others, Qi Lei's condition wasn't severe at the beginning, but it deteriorated rapidly in recent times."

"So what?" Bai Yutang was puzzled.

"I feel like it's a deterioration caused by psychological induction! And it's malicious guidance!" Zhan Zhao said, "This is a high-difficulty psychological maneuver, and a very dangerous one!"

Bai Yutang was silent.

"I don't know when it started, but psychology has been used as a weapon to harm people." Zhan Zhao said helplessly, "Sometimes it seems even more effective than a gun."

Bai Yutang patted him on the shoulder, trying to offer some comfort...

Dididdididdid～～～～

A cell phone rang. Bai Yutang took it out, looked at the caller ID, and his face turned pale. "Cat!" He tossed the phone to Zhan Zhao, "Level one alert!"

Zhan Zhao instinctively caught the phone and looked at the ID—Mom.

He hurriedly tossed it back, "You answer it yourself!"

"Help me answer it! Just say I'm not here!" Tossed back.

"I won't! I don't lie! You do this every time!" Tossed back.

The phone rang urgently. After passing back and forth in the air a few times, Bai Yutang caught it, pressed the talk button, and tossed it to Zhan Zhao again.

"Hey! You!" Just as Zhan Zhao was about to throw it back again, the person on the other end had already heard his voice: "Hello? Hello hello? Is that Xiao Zhao?"

With no other choice, Zhan Zhao glared at Bai Yutang and answered the phone: "Hello, Auntie."

"Xiao Zhao, is Yutang next to you?" Mother Bai’s voice was as gentle and loving as ever.

"Ah... Yutang～～" Zhan Zhao looked up at Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang frantically waved his hands.

"Oh～～ he's not here."

"Not there? Well, it's the same telling you. Make sure you two come over to Auntie's place for dinner tonight."

"Dinner?" Zhan Zhao looked at Bai Yutang again.

Bai Yutang waved his hands even more vigorously, indicating they shouldn't go!!

"Auntie, we have things to do tonight..." Zhan Zhao said.

"Hmm～～" Mother Bai on the other end of the line was silent for a moment and said: "Xiao Zhao, put the phone on speaker and point it toward that person who is making gestures at you."

"..." Helplessly, Zhan Zhao had to press the speaker button and point the phone at Bai Yutang.

He heard a cough from the other end of the line, and then the gentle, sweet voice vanished, replaced by a ferocious roar: "Bai Yutang! You two get your asses home for dinner tonight! Otherwise, I'm going to print those photos of you wearing dresses when you were little as posters and paste them all over the entrance of your police station!!!"

"Click" The line went dead.

The two dug their fingers into their ears, which were still buzzing from the shock, and sighed.

In the end, Bai Yutang roared at the group crowded at the door, peering inside while trying to hold back their laughter: "What are you all looking at?! Get out there and solve the case, you bastards!!"

Covering their mouths, the group scattered like birds and beasts～～

That night, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang obediently returned to the Bai family's residence in the city center. Unsurprisingly, Mother Zhan was in the kitchen helping Mother Bai cook. In the living room, Bai Yunwen and Zhan Qitian were chatting over tea. Sitting there with them was a middle-aged man who looked a bit portly.

"Dad, Uncle." The two "children" obediently greeted them.

The middle-aged man watched them with a smile: "So this is Yutang and Xiao Zhao? They've grown so big? Elite officers in the police force, huh! Hahaha～～" The man was very hearty, which took Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang by surprise.

"Call him Third Uncle." Bai Yunwen smiled, "He is my cousin, Bai Feng. You both met him when you were little."

"Third Uncle." They obediently greeted him.

"Yutang, your Third Uncle's child, your cousin, graduated from the police academy this year and was just assigned to the S City Bureau. You must look after him!" Bai Yunwen instructed.

"Bai Chi! Your cousin is here; come out and greet them." Bai Feng called toward the kitchen.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were startled when they heard the name.

A moment later, a very nervous young man followed Mother Bai out of the kitchen. After taking off his uniform and putting on casual clothes, he looked even younger—at a glance, he looked exactly like a college student... He was none other than the young officer they had met on the rooftop the night before.

Bai Chi smiled awkwardly at Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, "Cap... Captain Bai."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other, both surprised and amused.

"Haha～～" Bai Yunwen laughed heartily, "What Captain Bai? This is home! Call them brother! Both of them are your brothers."

............

Bai Chi hung his head, his face flushing red. He kept opening his mouth but couldn't bring himself to say "brother" for a long time.

Zhan Zhao winked at Bai Yutang, meaning, "It's truly rare for your Bai family to have such a breed, huh??"

Bai Yutang winked back, "Don't you think he doesn't look like a member of the Bai family? He must be adopted."

Zhan Zhao glared, "White Rat, that's not kind!"

Bai Yutang shrugged, "There's going to be trouble in the future."

Bai Chi watched his two cousins exchanging eye signals and his face turned even redder, "What should I do? Yesterday I let them see me looking so pathetic... They must look down on me." He couldn't help but bury his head lower...

Here, a cold-hearted, freezing rain falls incessantly, along with huge hailstones and a pungent stench.

The ground is muddy and murky everywhere. In the dim environment, I see a ferocious monster growling at the souls soaking in the mud pond.

I turn to look at those souls. They are suffering attacks from the monster, while rain, snow, and hail beat against their bodies from time to time. To alleviate their pain, they twist their bodies desperately, but the suffering is endless. 

Di～～～ Another email appeared on the screen.

"Only you can save them!"

With a bang, the screen was smashed by a chair that had been thrown. Sitting in the corner, holding his head, a shrill, hoarse scream echoed throughout the room.