"I, no... Your Honor, I did not do it voluntarily!"
"Enough nonsense, bailiff, take him away! You've committed conspiracy..."
Later, we learned that Lawyer Lei had accepted over ten million in bribes from Yuan Xiuxian. To clear his own name, Yuan Xiuxian was truly ruthless. But before the righteous judgment, the light of the law would still expose this lingering darkness, ensuring that no matter where evil hid, it could not remain concealed!
After a retrial, the judge, at precisely 11:30 AM the following day, officially pronounced: "Defendant Yuan Xiuxian, found guilty of serial murder, organized crime, serial kidnapping, and other charges, with conclusive evidence, is hereby sentenced to death. Do you accept this verdict?"
"I don't accept! I want to appeal!"
"You may. This is your final right, but the outcome will not be what you desire!"
After the judge finished speaking, Yuan Xiuxian was taken away by the bailiffs. He glared at me ferociously at the time, but I paid him no mind. My current concern was still for the safety of Liu Yuning and Ma Biao.
Countless times before, I had pressed him, yet he still refused to divulge any information.
What method could we possibly use to find them?
With no other recourse, I went to the prosecutor's office again and found Yuan Xiuxian.
"Yuan Xiuxian, you know why I'm here, don't you?" I said, sitting down and immediately berating him.
"I know. This is the fifth time. Do you think I'll tell you? What if I told you they were already dead and you should stop looking? What would you do?"
"You'd better tell me their location!"
"Don't you people investigate? Aren't you very capable? Follow my movements and keep investigating. Maybe there's still a chance to find them! Hahaha! Ahahahahaha!"
"Investigate? Do you think we haven't? Your movements were quite cunning. One night, when a large convoy of trucks passed by, there was a traffic accident. Was that when you took them away?"
"Oh? So you noticed that incident? Yes, you could say that, and you could also say no. Analyze the specifics yourself. If you can find them, I'll personally chop off my head! For you!"
"You scoundrel!"
"Hahaha, rest assured, they are not there. Actually, I don't even know where they are now. When I gave the order, because you had already surrounded us, the people at a distance couldn't hear me clearly."
"Was it at that moment you executed another task?"
"Mm, I hope they're still alive..."
As I left, I recalled Yuan Xiuxian's reaction just now. When the trucks were mentioned, he clearly showed a flicker of emotion. Although he concealed it well, his fingers twitched involuntarily. I knew the two must be connected to that accident, so I decided to return to the crime scene.
This car accident occurred before Yuan Xiuxian's arrest, near Kuihe East Road. I arrived at the location, accompanied by Xia Xiaoling, Gao Mingqiang, and others. I instructed everyone to meticulously re-examine the scene with me.
Apart from us, the forensic team was also working diligently. Over a hundred forensic investigators were there, holding magnifying glasses, looking like the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes, meticulously searching from top to bottom, left to right. A 360-degree light source, footprint lamps, wide-spectrum light sources, bio-sample analyzers, and more were all deployed, along with several instruments whose names I couldn't even recall. Damn, the pace of technological development is too fast!
When I asked some of the forensic investigators using these new devices, I learned they were specimen collection tools. I didn't delve into their specific uses, as I had no time for such matters. Since assuming my current position, I've spent most of my time handling administrative affairs. The forensic selection examination is also approaching, and we'll likely have new recruits at the provincial department.
Of course, these matters are far less critical than finding Liu Yuning and Ma Biao. Ultimately, near a cliff face, we discovered a downward mountain path, deduced from tire tracks. Although the evidence was faint, Xiao Yuande and others finally found a clue. The area was obscured by trees, suggesting a path leading to a basin below the mountain.
These tire tracks were different from those elsewhere, and they were the only set heading towards the basin. Although luck played a part, such a hidden location was bound to arouse suspicion.
Not every criminal would use the illusion of human traffic for disguise.
Fearing an ambush, we didn't act immediately. Instead, we summoned considerable backup, including special forces and armed police. Li Fan exclaimed excitedly, "This time, we're sure to have a chance to eliminate the mastermind!"
"Perhaps, but is it truly that simple?"
I was uncertain at the time, but many people had already followed us into the basin. This area of vast, interlocking mountain ranges served as a natural ambush site. Fortunately, we split into multiple groups, giving the enemy almost no opportunity to set up an ambush. It was only when we discovered numerous "students" on the mountain that we managed to expose more of the mastermind's operatives.
These "students" were, of course, not genuine students but individuals brainwashed by the mastermind's organization. After subduing them, we entered a mine tunnel in the deepest part of the basin. This place was quite interesting. It was likely an old mine that had been occupied by the mastermind's group and was now used as their school.
Hundreds of special forces and armed police stormed in. Li Fan and Zhao Xiong kicked over several desks, then brandished their weapons, threatening, "End this harmful teaching immediately! Heads down, squat!"
Some students immediately became frightened, but the teachers on the podium drew submachine guns and opened fire on us!
"Find cover!"
We hadn't anticipated such a sudden attack. Officers caught off guard at the front were shot in the head and fell to the ground. Fortunately, Zhang Keying and I managed to kick over desks and other objects to create cover; otherwise, we would have suffered the same fate as the vanguard officers and been killed!
Using these makeshift shelters, we advanced, weaving left and right under a hail of bullets. However, the desks couldn't withstand the onslaught for long, quickly becoming riddled with holes. As they paused to reload, Li Fan and I, along with others, opened fire in retaliation!
Gunshots echoed incessantly. Although two teachers were killed, one managed to press a button behind the blackboard and retreated into a hidden room.
We pursued them to the blackboard, but the entrance had already sealed shut, impossible to open. Li Fan instructed the special forces to bring an electric drill, but I stopped him, saying, "No! There's a button here!"