Urban Martial Saint

”Not just one person?” Zhao Chengshuang paused, surprised, and said, ”Impossible, right? Based on the analysis from our side, the killer is definitely one person. How could there be more than one?”

”It’s not just one person!” Ye Qing shook his head, waved the documents in his hand, and said, ”Actually, it’s another person responsible for these few murders. The other cases were done by someone else.”

”Really?” Zhao Chengshuang flipped through the documents, asking, ”How did you figure this out?”

Ye Qing couldn’t answer Zhao Chengshuang’s question. It involved an issue of capability, which Zhao Chengshuang surely wouldn’t understand. However, after Ye Qing confirmed this conclusion, he could more precisely interrogate those eyewitnesses.

”Please bring those eyewitnesses here. I have some questions for them,” Ye Qing said.

”Alright!” Zhao Chengshuang nodded, asking, ”Should I bring them in one by one or all at once?”

”Bring them all together!” Ye Qing replied.

”Damn, your interrogation method is different from others!” Zhao Chengshuang said. ”Bringing them all together, how will you question them?”

Ye Qing smiled. He wasn’t a professional police officer, nor did he study criminal investigation techniques, so he certainly didn’t use standard interrogation methods. But his own methods were definitely useful too.

Zhao Chengshuang left the room and returned shortly with a group of people. Most of these individuals were quite impoverished and had never been in a place like this. When the police brought them here, they felt nervous. Arriving at this luxurious estate left them stunned, confused about what was happening.

Once Zhao Chengshuang brought them to the living room, these people exchanged puzzled glances until one couldn’t help but say, ”Officer, what crime did we commit? Can you tell us, give us an idea of what’s going on?”

”I’ve never committed a crime; I’ve been law-abiding all my life. You brought me here, what do you want?” another quickly shouted.

”I’ve never committed a crime either, what’s going on here?”

The crowd began to clamor, each feeling wronged. Their words were indeed truthful; these individuals were honest folks and had never encountered such a scenario.

”Everyone, please relax. We invited you here primarily to ask for your help.” Ye Qing stood up, speaking softly, ”Of course, asking you to come here during your busy schedules has surely taken up some of your time. However, we won’t let your time go uncompensated. Based on Shenchuan City’s daily wage, a normal day’s pay is about one hundred and fifty. We’ll provide you ten times that amount as a subsidy, one thousand five hundred a day. Meaning, from when you leave home to here, you earn one thousand five hundred bucks per day, calculated as a full day even if it’s less. Any questions?”

As the saying goes, money makes the world go round. Ye Qing’s words settled the clamoring crowd. They all gazed at Ye Qing, faces painted with shock and disbelief. After all, where else could you find such an opportunity, earning one thousand five hundred a day? By estimating wages in Shenchuan City, Ye Qing greatly overvalued them. Most were unemployed, struggling to make one thousand five hundred in a month at home, but here they could earn it in a single day. Anyone would be stunned!

With the room now quiet, Ye Qing continued, ”Furthermore, I have some additional questions. If anyone can answer them, the compensation is even greater. This isn’t about guessing; incorrect or dishonest answers will result in withholding the payment provided earlier. So, answer carefully. If you know, answer; if not, don’t make things up!”

They exchanged bewildered glances until one voice spoke up confidently, ”What questions are you asking? It can’t be about those kids being killed, right? Those are murder cases. How can we dare to answer? You’re asking us to answer these questions — do you want to get us killed? That killer is ruthless, with no hesitation to murder. If he finds out we divulged his actions, he would surely seek revenge. Using this money to gamble with our lives?”

Ye Qing gave this person a glance, he seemed familiar with the testimony previously given by them, with photos attached to it. Ye Qing remembered this individual’s testimony provided no valuable information. However, inconsistencies noted in the testimony suggested dishonesty. Now, by claiming these statements, it validated Ye Qing’s suspicion that this person knew something yet feared retaliation, hence withheld crucial information.

Bear in mind, the police determined only one suspect existed after comparing various data and testimonies. To protect information integrity, the number of killers wasn’t made public. This person directly acknowledged one suspect, indicating deeper knowledge than revealed in their earlier testimony.

These individuals were gathered because inconsistencies suggested they knew something, prompting Ye Qing to question them again. Although unfamiliar with interrogation techniques, Ye Qing understood human psychology, meticulous observation revealing potential insider knowledge through subtle details.

The man’s bold statements quickly resonated with others, who echoed concerns and hesitated to answer Ye Qing’s questions. Certainly, they understood such murder cases were complicated. Reports to the killer could lead to deadly retaliation.

Ye Qing chuckled softly, waiting for their commotion to die down before speaking gently, ”I’m aware requesting such information is dangerous. That’s why the reward is substantial. For valuable information, each valid piece warrants a one hundred thousand yuan reward.”

This announcement stunned everyone. High rewards inspire courage; one hundred thousand yuan just for talking? What risk compares to poverty?

After brief silence, the first speaker rushed forward, saying, ”Sir, I... I have information; I saw the suspect’s back…” Before he finished, others chimed in. A reward of one hundred thousand yuan, naturally, they wouldn’t let one individual monopolize it. So they rushed forward, too, eager to offer insights.

Watching from the side, Zhao Chengshuang was dumbfounded. The police recorded multiple testimonies previously, none yielding meaningful information. Unexpectedly, at Ye Qing’s place, a few words sufficed for a mad rush for valuable details. It seems the allure of money overshadows official threats.

This reaction was within Ye Qing’s expectations. He halted the crowd, saying, ”We’ve collated surveillance footage from various places, so we’re thoroughly acquainted with the scene details. I hope the information provided isn’t false. This allows everyone to leave financially satisfied. Those making false claims will lose past subsidies!”

This statement shook many who previously engaged with enthusiasm. Though some wanted to fish in troubled waters, offering false insights for cash, hearing about the surveillance instilled caution. Ye Qing offered substantial subsidies, already amounting to three thousand bucks for over a day’s presence here. Losing it over false data would indeed be disastrous.

”If no doubts remain, I’d request everyone move to those seats.” Ye Qing retrieved a stack of papers, saying, ”Questions are written here, answer them individually. Respond only with confirmed information, avoid tentative answers to prevent forfeiting prior subsidies.”

Zhao Chengshuang initially worried they’d unanimously follow others’ answers with everyone together. However, Ye Qing dispersed them, providing individual questions to ensure genuine responses, effectively extracting useful intel.

”Alright, each of you now proceed to your seats where I’ll distribute questions for review,” Ye Qing directed the crowd to be seated, handing out papers individually.

Assisting Ye Qing was Zhao Chengshuang, overseeing to prevent peeking, noticing the brief questions. They inquired the suspect count, the suspect’s clothing color, and escape method.

Zhao Chengshuang was puzzled. Ye Qing assembled everyone yet asked simple questions touched repeatedly by the police who gathered few answers. Finding the suspect with just these questions seemed challenging.