My demeanor was surging, my teeth clenched, and I spoke with eagerness, rubbing my hands together. Xiao Yuan De's grip tightened on the man's neck from behind, causing him pain. After a few miserable cries, he immediately knelt and begged for mercy, asking me not to act. I snorted coldly, "Phone!"
The guy pointed grudgingly at the office desk not far away. Xiaoling immediately went to search and, after a while, found a mobile phone. "What the heck? Is this a brick phone?"
The phone looked truly ancient, like a brick phone from the 70s. The scientist, however, said awkwardly, "It was designed this way; it's actually a landline!"
Xiaoling put on a curious expression and dialed the provincial department's number. After a few beeps, it connected. She spoke briefly to the person on the other end and then quickly hung up the brick. "Luckily, you weren't lying. Let's get ready to go back!"
The scientists knew that resistance was futile now and all became quiet. When the provincial department's support arrived, our equipment was found in a room. We took our gear back, and then our people sealed off the laboratory. A comprehensive investigation was conducted at the scene.
All the missing persons were found here, including the wives of several officers. However, when Officer Li reunited with his wife, they acted like strangers.
My grandfather smiled at me from the crowd. He had been waiting for us all along, for us to come here and apprehend these detestable scientists.
"He Sheng, it's good to see you victorious! I've been protecting these hostages all along. In fact, some of these researchers were taken down by our Hejia Village people long ago!"
As Grandpa spoke, several researchers shed their clothes, revealing themselves as villagers. To my surprise, I even saw He Bailing and He Jinghui among them. They had infiltrated the place long ago. Grandpa's plan was perfect. If he hadn't constantly encouraged and subtly reminded me, apprehending these scientists would not have been so easy.
"Grandpa!" I gave him a thumbs-up at that moment, deeply admiring his actions. Compared to my past case-solving methods, this was clearly the most ingenious. I also learned effective tactics from my grandfather.
We escorted the prisoners back to the provincial department. A total of eight scientists were arrested this time and were currently in the interrogation rooms. Based on the fingerprints and footprints found at the scene, as well as the DNA matching their own, the charges of murder and unlawful human experimentation were confirmed. Therefore, they were to proceed directly to interrogation.
Xiaoling and I, regarding the scientist Dan Chengde who had previously told us the location of the landline, found him in an interrogation room. Before I could speak, Xiaoling took the lead. "Dan Chengde, born April 2, 1977, male, a resident of Tianrong Town, Guangming City. You worked for Cao Xiangchen's company a year ago but suddenly disappeared. If I'm not mistaken, Cao Xiangchen arranged for you to go to that place for experiments, and you never came out!"
Dan Chengde did not reply, his head bowed, appearing unwilling to cooperate.
Xiaoling ignored him and presented numerous documents and evidence. "Perhaps you don't want to implicate your boss, but given your current situation, and the possibility of a death sentence, unless you want to die... Furthermore, your treatment in the detention center will be linked to your current cooperation. Dan Chengde, you are so intelligent, a scientist, you should understand what I mean!"
Dan Chengde remained silent, unwilling to answer, as if he had suddenly become mute since arriving here.
Xiaoling glanced at me with some confusion. I squeezed her hand and then said, "Dan Chengde, I know what you're thinking. Cao Xiangchen must have given you a lot of benefits, telling you not to reveal him even if you were arrested. In fact, the legal representative of that research institute was you. Now that you're in trouble, he doesn't have to bear any responsibility, and you've received enough funds. Even if you die, as long as your family lives well, that's enough, right?"
Although Dan Chengde still didn't speak, I noticed his brow twitch when money was mentioned. Could it be that money was his weakness? Does this person have no family? Or does he not care about his family anymore?
I sent a message to Gao Mingqiang, asking investigators to look into it. About 20 minutes later, the investigators sent word that Dan Chengde was an orphan. So that's how it was. Now I knew how to talk to Dan Chengde. "So you're all alone. What's the use of taking money if you're gone and can't spend it? It's better to cooperate with us. If you get a death sentence, you can still perform well and perhaps it can be commuted to life imprisonment. Then, with continued effort, it might even become a fixed-term sentence... Although such cases are rare, you can't just give up your last chance, can you? Everyone has a desire to survive. Even if you were told there was only a one percent chance of living, you wouldn't give up, right?!"
My tone was probing yet comforting, comforting yet calm, but not without authority. For some reason, Dan Chengde seemed a bit uncomfortable. He suddenly raised his head and said displeasedly, "Stop talking! No matter what high-sounding temptation it is, I won't waver!"
This guy was truly tight-lipped. I had thought this statement might reveal a flaw, but there was none. It seemed I had underestimated this scientist.
People like him are intelligent and cunning, cunning yet meticulous, and possess strong psychological resilience. It would be difficult to break him.
Xiaoling and I exchanged a look. Perhaps we could only start with the other scientists. If the others confessed, this guy would likely be alone and have no choice but to compromise.
Leaving Interrogation Room No. 1, we proceeded to the second scientist's room. It was a young scientist, around 20 years old, truly young. His name was Zhong Hean.
This time, I didn't go in to interrogate. Instead, I let the rookie Xiaoling and Ma Biao handle it. Liu Yuning, who was observing with me, expressed her concern. "Can two rookies handle this?"
"Don't worry, Xiaoling may not have much experience, but she's excellent in psychology, and this scientist is so young..."
"But Ma Biao has been with us for so long, and he's a bit strange. I heard that when he's on holiday, he never goes out, and no one knows what he's doing..."
"Heh heh, those who achieve great things disregard trivial matters. I let him read more forensic books at home."
"Uh, this..." Liu Yuning looked enlightened, realizing at that moment that she had misunderstood.