Just over two hours after Qin Siyang left the garbage bin at Safe Zone Exit No. 89757, many uniformed police officers received orders to surround the area.
Numerous Sequence Ability Users were also discussing the incident on the perimeter, their faces full of confusion and puzzlement. The theft of godly remains from the garbage bin was indeed an absurd story. Some things are like that; when nothing happens, no one pays attention. But once they go missing, they cause many problems and attract attention. Undoubtedly, godly remains are such an existence.
A white-haired inspector, wearing a coat, a scarf around his neck, and a cigar in his mouth, circled the garbage bin. The surrounding officers stood straight, showing great respect for this inspector, as if the old man was not just an ordinary inspector.
He asked, "Luo Yilianna, your Sequence has been promoted. I heard you now possess a more powerful tracking ability, ten times better than the chief's police dog. Can you identify the scent here now?"
He had the appearance of someone from Ouguo, yet he spoke Huayu. This was because most people in the Safe Zone were from Huaguo, and Huayu was the official language.
The blonde policewoman beside him shook her head, "No, there are too many divine scents here, the human scent has been completely masked. Even with my current abilities, I still can't discern the human scent from it. If I activate my skill here, I might faint due to the strong divine scent."
Aoluofu was somewhat disappointed, "Alright, damn skill. Useless in the presence of Gods, it will cause us a lot of trouble!"
"Yes, I think so too. Unfortunately, I awakened the Scent Sniffer Sequence, and there's no way to change it. Sequence Ability Users like me are destined to only operate within the Safe Zone."
Aoluofu impatiently took two puffs of his cigar, flicked the ash into the garbage bin, then turned to the Sequence Ability Users watching nearby and asked, "Who first discovered the problem with this garbage bin?"
"It was me! Inspector Aoluofu, it was me! I'm Hans Van, a Sequence User who hunts Gods at Safe Zone Exit No. 89757."
At this moment, a man in a gray-brown jacket walked over, his hair a bit disheveled, and he carried a hint of alcohol.
It was the drunk who had run into Qin Siyang.
However, now he was completely sober, his expression filled with tension.
After sobering up, Hans realized someone had stolen the godly remains from the garbage bin and was utterly shocked.
He originally didn't want to get involved in this matter.
Whoever stole the godly remains was certainly not normal, and he didn't dare provoke them. After awakening his Sequence, he only wanted to live a leisurely life as a Sequence Ability User in the Safe Zone.
Unfortunately, his hands were itchy, and he had to throw a bottle into the garbage bin.
The bottle had his scent, an undeniable fact, and he couldn't deny it. If a Scent Sniffer activated their skill, they could quickly pinpoint him, and then he wouldn't be able to wash his hands of it.
So, to avoid trouble with the police, he reported the matter to the Police Bureau first, hoping for leniency.
"Tell us how you discovered it."
"Inspector Aoluofu, I had just been drinking with Bru at the bar, and then we each went home. As I left the bar, I took another bottle of wine, intending to drink it on the way home. As I drank, I finished it and happened to see this garbage bin, so I thought of throwing the bottle in."
Upon hearing this, Luo Yilianna sternly reprimanded, "Hans, you're also a Sequence Ability User. Don't you know that the garbage bins next to Safe Zone exits are only for godly remains? The godly remains in the garbage bins are to be centrally processed! You're interfering with the work of the United Government!"
"I... I drank too much, I didn't think that much..."
Qin Siyang had gambled correctly; it was Hans's unclear mind that gave him time to escape. Otherwise, it might have been a completely different story.
Aoluofu seemed accustomed to such irresponsible Sequence Ability Users and wasn't as angry as Luo Yilianna, instead waving his hand, "Luo Yilianna, don't interrupt him, let him continue."
"Yes, Inspector." The blonde Luo Yilianna looked at Hans, her eyes filled with indifference.
"I vaguely saw a figure rummaging through something in front of the garbage bin, but it quickly disappeared. Of course, I'm not sure if there was anyone... because I was drunk."
"And then?"
"Then I threw the bottle in, and at that time, I heard the sound of the bottle hitting an empty garbage bin. I thought it was already midnight, and the cleaners had taken the godly remains, so I went home."
"I... I was drunk, I don't know. After going home, I collapsed on the bed and fell asleep. I'm from the Sleepless One Sequence, so I usually don't need to sleep. Even if I'm drunk, I wake up after at most two hours. When I woke up, I realized it was only afternoon, and recalling the memory of the empty garbage bin, I felt something was off."
"And then you reported it?"
"Yes. Inspector Aoluofu, considering I voluntarily reported and admitted my mistake, could you not punish me for throwing the bottle into the garbage bin and delaying the investigation?"
Aoluofu took another puff of his cigar, pondering for a long time.
While he was deep in thought, Hans felt anxious, very worried about whether he would be punished.
"Luo Yilianna, make sure to inform the other Safe Zone exit managers about this, and have them keep a close eye on the garbage bins."
"Yes."
"Inspector Aoluofu, what about me?" Hans asked eagerly.
Aoluofu finally realized Hans was still there, "Oh, I was just thinking about the case. What do you want to say?"
"I wanted to ask if, since I voluntarily reported, I could offset my mistakes and not be punished for the errors I made here? I've really realized my problems, and I promise I won't make them again. Please give me a chance!"
Aoluofu didn't even bother to look at him, "Business is business. The scales of justice at the Police Bureau will never tilt. The rewards you're due, you'll get. The punishments you're due, you won't escape."
"Ah, this..." Hans was somewhat frustrated, having voluntarily reported the case and fully cooperated with the investigation, yet still facing punishment. Truly unlucky.
"Take him back to the Police Bureau." Luo Yilianna, following her superior's instructions, immediately had the officers take Hans away.
"Yes."
Hans wore a look of bad luck, cursing the damn person who stole the godly remains in his heart.
After sending Hans away, Aoluofu continued to frown and ponder, "A lone perpetrator? Why would someone steal godly remains from a garbage bin? Stealing such useless things, they might as well go to a warehouse and steal some moldy wood to burn!"
Luo Yilianna added, "Yesterday, at the No. 114514 Safe Zone Exit, a similar incident occurred. I reported it to the chief, but unfortunately, it didn't receive enough attention, and only the exits near No. 114514 were guarded. As a result, the perpetrator went to a slightly further place to commit the crime."
At this moment, Luo Yilianna's pager rang.
"Hello, go ahead. What? Okay, you say. Mm, mm, mm, alright, I got it, I'll inform Inspector Aoluofu right away."
Aoluofu, hearing Luo Yilianna mention him, knew there must be another case, and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Inspector, in an alley two stops away from here, a warehouse fire was discovered, with three charred bodies inside."
"Bodies? Charred?"
"That's right. The heads of the three bodies suffered severe blows, their entire faces completely deformed. The Forensic Examiner Sequence officers said the shape of the wounds suggests it was caused by someone with immense strength, barehanded. Due to the fire, I can't track the suspect's scent."
"Can you start from the crime scene and find the suspect's scent?"
"I'm afraid not. The officers just said that place is crowded, with mixed footprints, and the scent is likely very chaotic."
"Have you found the primary crime scene?"
"No. Near that warehouse, there are no signs of a struggle."
Aoluofu smoked his cigar without speaking. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Luo Yilianna continued, "Inspector, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"The people with crushed skulls, what are their identities?"
Luo Yilianna was an experienced policewoman, yet she showed her ignorance without reservation in front of Inspector Aoluofu, as if Aoluofu had an identity beyond just being an inspector.
"The identities of those three people are probably hard to determine. However, the one who killed them must be a Sequence Ability User."
"Otherwise, it would be impossible to kill all three without leaving any signs of a struggle. The fatal wounds also support this; using fists to crush three people's heads? It's very difficult for an ordinary person."
Aoluofu looked again at the empty garbage bin, blowing a smoke ring, "The time of the alley incident was right after the godly remains were stolen from the garbage bin. Given the distance, if a strength-type Sequence Ability User ran at full speed, they could reach it. So, maybe it was a single perpetrator."
Luo Yilianna frowned, "The same person? After stealing the godly remains here, they went two stops away to commit murder and arson?"
"Both cases, the perpetrator left no useful clues. Let's boldly hypothesize first, and then carefully verify. For now, analyze under the assumption that the perpetrator is the same."
Aoluofu stroked his white beard, "I believe this person is not familiar with Sequence Ability matters."
"Why does the Inspector think so?"
"Besides the skulls, the bodies had other fatal injuries, likely the skulls were crushed after they died. After crushing the three people's skulls, they chose to burn the bodies."
"I suspect the reason for crushing the skulls was fear that an Undying Sequence Ability User could use their skills to read the memories of the dead. However, they didn't know that the skill of an Undying Sequence Ability User has limitations."
"Once the brain undergoes pathological changes or loses its original biological structure, the Undying Sequence User's skill becomes ineffective."
"In other words, whether or not they crushed the skulls, as long as they burned the bodies, they could prevent the Undying Sequence Ability User's investigation."
Luo Yilianna asked in confusion, "Inspector, are you saying they don't even know such basic Sequence knowledge?"
"Besides this, I can't think of any other reason for their unnecessary actions. Of course, it could also be a smokescreen, trying to make me think the perpetrator is a new Sequence Ability User. But I believe a criminal of this level is unlikely to appear in Region 14121."
Luo Yilianna nodded, agreeing with the Inspector's analysis, then said, "Not knowing Sequence information might be because they suddenly awakened a Sequence Ability and haven't done enough homework. We just need to stake out at the Sequence Administration Bureau, and we should be able to find the perpetrator!"
"The premise of not doing enough homework doesn't hold."
Aoluofu shook his head, "They knew to choose a place with mixed scents to interfere with you, and they knew to burn the bodies to destroy evidence."
"Luo Yilianna, you must understand, this isn't a perpetrator calmly committing a crime, prepared to kill these three people. They had just stolen godly remains and did this while fleeing in panic. I must say, this perpetrator, though ignorant, is definitely not careless."
"A mind as fine as a needle's eye wouldn't allow them to steal godly remains without sufficient preparation, exposing themselves. Their actions indicate they have no means to obtain more information."
Luo Yilianna tidied her slightly messy blonde hair, showing a puzzled expression, "How is that possible? The descriptions of Sequence Abilities are public in the Godslayer Camp, anyone can check them with a phone or computer."
"No, you're wrong. If all these assumptions hold, then there's one type of person who fits, and they can't check this information."
"What kind of person?"
"The poor."