The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

Chapter 505: Chapter 288: The Discovery Here... Is Quite Extraordinary! (2)

His gaze was as sharp as a hawk, sweeping across each person’s face.

”The terrain of Dongzi Mountain is complex, visibility is low at night, and there might be wild animals roaming. Everyone must be on high alert!”

He raised his index finger to emphasize, ”Before departing, everyone must be fully armed—besides the standard police gear, each person is equipped with a strong flashlight, snake repellent, and other protective items. A walkie-talkie for everyone, keep communication smooth!”

At this point, Li Jian suddenly turned to Jiang An, his tone softened a bit: ”Mr. Jiang, considering you’ve not been with the police for long, you might not have a firearm license yet...”

He said apologetically, ”You’ll be with our group, coordinating the front-line operations from the command vehicle.”

Jiang An immediately straightened his back and replied without hesitation, ”Understood! I’ll follow the captain’s arrangements!” His voice was not loud, but it carried a firm strength.

minutes later, 20 police cars with flashing red and blue lights were neatly parked at the foot of Dongzi Mountain.

At this moment, the pitch-black night sky was illuminated by the flashing police lights, creating a colorful spectacle. Sharp beams of light from the spotlights pierced through the thick darkness of the mountains.

Fully armed officers quickly got out of their vehicles to gather, each solemnly checking their walkie-talkies, police equipment, and firearms, producing a crisp sound from the collision of metal.

The burly Mr. Fu turned to face the team, his voice booming, ”Comrades, immediately line up according to the plan, and adopt a ’grid’ tactical formation!”

Well-trained officers instantly began to move rapidly in quick, small steps.

As a disciplined force, the drill training was already embedded in their muscle memory.

In less than a few dozen seconds, the initially noisy crowd was orderly lined up into seven rows, ten people in each, resembling an indestructible wall in the night.

Li Jian picked up the loudspeaker and tested it first, resulting in a ”buzz” sound from the device.

He took a deep breath, his voice steady and powerful: ”Comrades! Tonight should’ve been a time to accompany your families.”

”But, to protect the peace of Jiangcheng’s citizens, we have had to sacrifice family gatherings.”

”As the captain, I feel both guilty and proud.”

He looked around at each resolute face and continued, ”This series of cases that have troubled Jiangcheng for years, we’ve tackled several times under Mr. Ma’s leadership but have never made a breakthrough.”

”Now, with guidance from senior criminal investigation experts and the strong assistance of Deputy Captain Jiang An, we’ve finally made significant progress!”

Then, Li Jian’s voice gradually rose, ”All evidence points to one suspect—Li Lei!”

”From criminal psychological profiling to physical evidence comparison, he is the most fitting suspect.”

”But comrades must remember, our assertion is different from the legal determination!”

He clenched his fist firmly, ”Tonight is the moment to unveil the truth! I require everyone to remain at the highest alert.”

”Strictly execute the two-person tactical cooperation, report any situation immediately!”

”Now, advance according to the established plan!”

”Yes! We promise to complete the task!”

Seventy officers responded in unison, echoing throughout the valley.

The well-trained team immediately split into thirty-five groups, advancing into the mountain in a straight-line tactical formation.

If viewed from high above, the team resembled a group of fireflies orderly progressing through the dark forest, shining with steadfast light.

In the communication command vehicle, Li Jian and Jiang An kept a close watch on the surveillance screens.

Every officer’s helmet camera transmitted real-time footage, capturing all the front-line situations.

Jiang An unconsciously clenched his fist, his knuckles turning a bit white.

The failure of the last operation weighed on him like a stone, the experience of mobilizing a large police force only to return empty-handed still haunted him.

This time, failure is not an option!

Li Jian noticed his partner’s tense expression and gently patted his shoulder: ”Relax, we’ve prepared thoroughly this time, with solid evidence, and will definitely bring him to justice.”

Jiang An forced a smile, his voice somewhat dry, ”That’s right, the soil component comparison result from the physical evidence identification center has an error rate of less than 0.3%. This 99.97% match almost certainly pinpoints this location. I am confident!”

”That’s the spirit.”

Li Jian looked resolutely.

”In the criminal investigation front, confidence is our fighting force.”

”No matter how cunning the suspect, he cannot escape the scientific evidence and our determination.”

The two focused intently on monitoring the dozens of split-screen images while carefully listening to any sound from the walkie-talkies.

Time passed slowly in the tense atmosphere.

An hour and a half later, the walkie-talkie suddenly burst with an urgent call: ”Mr. Li! Group six has made a major discovery! At a 45-degree direction, we’ve found a suspiciously man-made thatched hut!”

”Switch the screen immediately!”

Jiang An quickly operated the control system, the main screen immediately displaying real-time footage from group six cameras—through the dense foliage, a shabby thatched hut loomed, looking particularly eerie in the night.

”Captain, please instruct! Should we approach for reconnaissance immediately?” came the request from the walkie-talkie.

Li Jian immediately replied, ”Group six, maintain a guard at the original position, protect the scene! Groups seven and eight, move towards group six! Other groups continue to search as planned!”

”Understood!”

”Received!”

The walkie-talkie echoed with confirmations from each group.

Li Jian turned to Jiang An, eyes glinting with excitement, ”Let’s go check it out ourselves!”

When the two arrived at the scene quickly, group six had already set up a cordon around the thatched hut.

Li Jian lowered his voice to ask, ”Any unusual sounds?”

The leader of group six shook his head, ”No discoveries for now, but the door is locked from the inside.”

”Should we break the door?”

Jiang An suddenly reached out to stop them, ”Wait!”

His voice, sharp from tension, said, ”With Li Lei’s intelligence and anti-surveillance abilities, he could very well set traps.”

”In a concealed outpost like this, he might arrange for devices.”

”Devices?”

Li Jian frowned, ”What type do you think they are?”

”Not sure.”

Jiang An stared at the thatched hut, ”Could be animal traps or more complex trigger devices.”

”We must not act impulsively.”

Li Jian exchanged a glance with Mr. Fu and nodded, ”Jiang An’s consideration is comprehensive, immediately call in the bomb squad!”

Soon, a bomb squad officer, donned in heavy protective gear and a fully enclosed helmet, arrived at the scene.

The officer, like a clumsy bear, came forth to inquire, ”Mr. Li, we’re starting bomb disposal, please retreat to a safe distance.”

Young officer Wang couldn’t help but mutter, ”This setup looks like we’re defusing a bomb!”

”The nature is similar.”

Jiang An said seriously, ”With Li Lei’s meticulous nature, burying landmines isn’t surprising.”

”Though no explosion traces are around, the possibility of other devices is high.”

The bomb squad officer turned to Jiang An, their eyes meeting.

Jiang An firmly patted the officer’s shoulder, ”Be careful!”

The bomb squad officer slowly moved forward. As he stepped onto the vacant ground in front of the thatched hut, a crisp ”snap” sounded, and two enormous animal traps clamped shut, tightly gripping his legs.

Fortunately, the protective suit’s cushioning absorbed most of the impact.

”Indeed, there are traps!”

The officer’s voice from within the helmet was muffled, ”It’s a modified large animal trap with enough force to incapacitate a person.”

After careful checks, they discovered several more concealed trap devices in the surroundings.

”Are you okay?”

Li Jian asked with concern.

”I’m fine, Captain!”

The bomb squad officer flexed his legs, ”The protective suit was very effective, just mobility is somewhat hindered.”

Ten minutes later, the walkie-talkie delivered good news: ”All devices cleared, door lock also safely dismantled.”

”But... Mr. Li.”

Suddenly his voice became odd, ”You’d best come see for yourselves, what’s discovered inside... is quite unique.”

This statement was like a stone thrown into calm waters, raising everyone’s stress levels.

Li Jian immediately responded, ”Maintain vigilance, we’re on our way!”