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Chapter 282: Organization as Original Sin

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"The perpetrator’s name is Zhang Zhiqui, originally from Haicheng. He has a criminal record and was released from prison in 2022..."

While Venus was introducing the case, Chen Xuan was also flipping through the documents in his hand.

Like Lu Lixin, this person belongs to a marginalized segment of society. After being released from prison, he did not change his ways and remained unemployed. If it weren’t for this highly impactful vicious incident, hardly anyone would notice even if he died.

However, they both awakened abilities a year ago.

Zhang Zhiqui mentioned in his statement that he acquired his ability after injecting a certain drug.

"The drug was given to him by someone else... As for what the person looked like, he completely doesn’t remember because he claimed he was locked in a pitch-black iron room and could only determine the person was a man by his voice."

"A drug?" Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan curiously asked, "Is there such a drug?"

"You don’t know either?" You Chi was troubled, "Dean Sun said the only person who might be able to explain the origin of the drug is you."

Because he knows alchemy?

But there’s no such prescription with similar effects in alchemy.

"Currently, abilities are naturally awakened, if human intervention can manipulate this, then it’s a big problem," Chen Xuan pondered. This means whoever possesses this method can mass-produce ability users, and if one or two legendary abilities emerge among them, wouldn’t Jiang City be turned upside down?

"Choosing a marginalized person to inject and awaken through drugs doesn’t seem like a profitable deal," Lin Qing suddenly commented, "Zhang Zhiqui seems like a pawn. Have you found out his motive for wantonly spreading the curse in the airport lobby?"

"Yes, it was out of spite," You Chi answered, "He felt life was unfair to him and wanted others to suffer too."

"Just that simple?"

"The police think so too... Random crime with no pattern, fits the characteristics of emotional outburst, just that the crime tool became an ability. But..."

"But what?" Chen Xuan asked.

You Chi’s face turned a bit grave, "However, such random crimes can be induced. Officer Tian from the criminal investigation unit wrote in the report that the person who provided the drug is the real culprit of the case—if Zhang Zhiqui’s statement is credible, it indicates that they intentionally selected marginalized individuals for awakening, and using these abilities for revenge on society is likely the result they desired."

This view coincided with Lin Qing’s.

Zhang Zhiqui and Lu Lixin might just be tools, and the main culprits remain hidden behind the scenes.

"Ha..."

Chen Xuan suddenly laughed out loud.

"What is it?" You Chi’s voice immediately perked up, "Do you have a lead?"

"Not that quickly..." He first shook his head, then pursed his lips and said, "But I always feel there’s a shadow of the Dimensional Limit Mechanism behind this."

"Why?"

"Firstly, it involves abilities, secondly, it must have money and land—without money, they couldn’t produce the drug, without land, they couldn’t imprison Zhang Zhiqui and others. Thirdly... it’s likely a group rather than an individual. Fulfilling all three points suggests it’s a somewhat powerful organization."

Especially the third point, Zhang Zhiqui mentioned in his testimony, even though the place he was held was dark and he was blindfolded when he left, he vaguely heard multiple voices crying and pleading. Considering the randomness of ability awakening, not all ability users will gain offensive powers, selecting a batch of people for drug use is obviously a necessary measure.

Currently, the mechanism fits all conditions.

Lin Qing nodded appreciatively, "I agree, whether it’s them or not, it doesn’t hurt to suspect them first."

In her view, large companies and monopolistic organizations should take the blame for no reason, as their existence is a kind of original sin.

You Chi showed a wry smile, "Unfortunately, evidence is key in investigations, without evidence, the police can’t conduct targeted probes. You know, the mechanism’s public relations are quite good, with people on both governmental and business sides speaking for them. I hope to find some flaws to completely drive it out of Jiang City."

Lu Lixin is already dead, Zhang Zhiqui is the only source of information, but he doesn’t know much, and his crime motive is very simple, perfectly hiding the real culprit. It’s no wonder that two months have passed and there has been little progress on the case—ordinary investigative methods are helpless in such a situation.

Chen Xuan also found it somewhat troublesome.

However, directly saying he can’t help would seem very unprofessional now. They had already expressed a desire for expert assistance, implicitly considering him a top figure among ability users; he had to give it a try.

Otherwise, how would he maintain his professional reputation?

"Where is Zhang Zhiqui?"

"Detained at the Sha Jiang District police station," You Chi replied.

"Could you bring him to Beitian Academy?"

The other was slightly taken aback, "This... With the dean personally involved, it shouldn’t be a problem. But why do you want to bring the suspect here?"

"The police station is full of eyes and ears; I don’t want the mechanism’s people to notice, and I’d feel more comfortable interrogating here. Of course... you’ll also need to prepare a sedative shot, just like that Miss Honglian earlier," Chen Xuan explained.

"Understood," You Chi expressed readiness to ask Dean Sun immediately.

After Venus left the archive room, Lin Qing asked, "You want to use the Dream Maker ability to seek clues?"

"Precisely." Chen Xuan shrugged, "There’s no better method."

Whether the police used the Great Memory Recovery Technique on Zhang Zhiqui, it’s highly likely they did. In other words, Zhang Zhiqui has revealed everything he knows, and such a person, even appearing in a dreamscape, would not divulge new information.

But the most powerful aspect of Dream Making is that it creates more than just a person’s phantom.

It can construct every detail stored in a person’s memory.

What Chen Xuan hopes now is these details... easily overlooked by others.

...

Three days later, a convoy of police cars drove into the grounds of Beitian Academy.

"Get off, we’re there." Tian Zhenggang gave Zhang Zhiqui a push, "Don’t think about running, there are guards everywhere."

Zhang Zhiqui, with his hands cuffed behind his back, stumbled out of the car and found himself in a quaint temple, seeing densely wooded mountains in the distance. His face turned pale, trying to get back into the car, "This isn’t a courthouse! What are you going to do? You can’t just dispose of me without a trial!"

Tian Zhenggang, both frustrated and amused, blocked the car door with one hand, "You’re not at your public trial yet, what’s the hurry? Where’s all that bravado from before? Just a change of place scares you like this?"

When first arrested, Zhang Zhiqui was extremely arrogant, not taking the police seriously at all. As soon as the blindfold and gag were removed, he threatened to curse them all, wishing they’d die in pain and weakness.

As a result, he got quite a beating.

But even so, Zhang Zhiqui didn’t yield.

Until, a few days later, when he noticed all the policemen were as healthy as ever, he truly panicked.

"Change, change places? Why change places? This isn’t a police station either!" Zhang Zhiqui stammered.

"Why do you care so much, someone will question you later, just answer honestly."

"Officer Tian, I’ve told everything I know, honestly!"

Tian Zhenggang couldn’t be bothered, jumping down from the car’s rear, approaching the oncoming Yue Beifeng, "I’ve delivered the person, when will the interrogation start?"

"In about an hour, my junior needs some preparation," Yue Beifeng replied icily, "The prisoner’s in my care, you can go to Cyan Grass Hall for tea now."

"That won’t do." Tian Zhenggang immediately rejected.

Yue Beifeng frowned, "Officer Tian, your superior should have briefed you; this interrogation is handled by Beitian Academy, your task is merely to bring the person, nothing more."

With his tall stature and robust figure, along with his sharp features, he spoke with overwhelming presence. The other officers instinctively took a step back, worried about a possible confrontation with Beitian Academy.

Tian Zhenggang merely smiled lightly, his tone unchanged, seemingly unaffected by the pressure, "Sorry, Director Yue, although I won’t participate in the interrogation, I must keep a watch on the person. Otherwise, if he escapes from Beitian Academy, who would bear the responsibility? You’re not law enforcement personnel; it’s not like you can charge your doctors with negligence, right?"

Both sides locked eyes, the tension making the air heavy.

Finally, Yue Beifeng pulled out his phone for a brief conversation and reluctantly agreed, "One person at most may follow."

"I alone will suffice, and I’ll take responsibility if he escapes." Tian Zhenggang motioned towards his colleagues behind, "You all heard that, you can rest now."