Chapter 892: The Human Cooking Case

Tianzhou City.

In the past year or so, Tianzhou City has been quite restless, with a series of major cases occurring. The skeleton case discovered two years ago still remains unsolved. This is the fourth time Lu Chuan has stepped onto Tianzhou City's territory.

Since Haizhou City is relatively close to Tianjin, it's just over a two-hour drive, so when Lu Chuan received the notification and rushed to Tianzhou City, the other members of the major crime team had not yet arrived.

Even Li Donglin from the provincial department was still on the road, estimated to arrive in about two hours.

"Captain Lu! We'll have to trouble you again this time!"

Tianzhou City's Criminal Investigation Team Captain Wang Chuanmin and Lu Chuan are old friends, having met numerous times and are quite familiar with each other.

"No need to be so formal, Captain Wang. It's no trouble at all. Is Director Li still on the way?"

"Still on the road. They should arrive in about two hours. Let's go upstairs first."

As the captain of the Criminal Investigation Team, Wang Chuanmin holds a position in Tianjin's City Public Security Bureau similar to Qin Yong's in Haizhou City's City Public Security Bureau.

Therefore, it was unnecessary for Wang Chuanmin to personally come to receive Lu Chuan as a captain of a criminal investigation team.

Having Zhao Zhigao, the director of the Crime Scene Investigation Office, come to receive Lu Chuan would have been more suitable, but Wang Chuanmin chose to come himself for two reasons.

Firstly, Lu Chuan's relationship with Tianzhou City's Public Security Bureau is exceptional. Over the past two or three years, he has helped them solve numerous cases, especially some particularly troublesome and complex ones for Wang Chuanmin.

It can be said that Tianzhou City's Criminal Investigation Team owes a lot to Lu Chuan, so it's only right for Captain Wang Chuanmin to personally come and welcome him.

Secondly, Lu Chuan's role this time differs from before. He is representing the provincial department's major crime team, making his identity that of a member of the provincial department's major crime team.

Wang Chuanmin coming personally to welcome him demonstrates Tianzhou City's Criminal Investigation Team's respect for the major crime team.

Moreover, this case came about because they sought assistance from the major crime team.

"Captain Wang! This way, please."

Following Wang Chuanmin was Zhao Zhigao, the director of the Crime Scene Investigation Office.

"Old pal, no need to be so formal, let's go."

Zhao Zhigao and Lu Chuan were relatively more familiar with each other.

Initially, when Lu Chuan was working on crime scene investigation in the Criminal Investigation Team, he and Zhao Zhigao attended several training meetings together.

Moreover, they were the first to have work-related contact, maintaining continuous communication for the past two years.

When handling cases in Haizhou City, sometimes coordination was needed with Tianzhou City's Public Security Bureau, and Lu Chuan mainly contacted Zhao Zhigao.

Like the Criminal Investigation Team in Haizhou City, the Crime Scene Investigation Office of Tianzhou City, though lacking real authority, was pursued by the precincts, police stations, and the Public Security Bureau.

Their technological prowess was evident, and personnel from below frequently called the Crime Scene Investigation Office.

Just hoping to expedite their fingerprint identification work.

So, although the Crime Scene Investigation Office had no real power, everyone had to show some deference.

Sometimes, Zhao Zhigao stepping in to coordinate affairs proved more effective than Wang Chuanmin.

"Captain Lu, come to my office for a cup of tea first. When Director Li and the others arrive, we'll discuss the case?"

Wang Chuanmin proactively invited.

But Lu Chuan waved his hand: "Captain Wang, no need to stand on ceremony with me. Look at your eyes, all red. Haven't slept in days, have you?"

"How about this, take some time to rest a bit. I'll have Director Zhao Zhigao take me to see the files first. I'll do some research so I can discuss it with Director Li when they arrive."

Lu Chuan was very clear that he was there to work on the case, not just to have tea.

Tianzhou City's Criminal Investigation Team might have been really putting in hard hours recently. Not only were Wang Chuanmin's eyes red, but Zhao Zhigao also seemed a bit worn out. Though the Crime Scene Investigation might not be as fatigued, probably because they weren't as burdened with night shifts.

Seeing Lu Chuan's determination, Wang Chuanmin didn't continue insisting on politeness.

"Alright, Old Zhao, take Captain Lu to see the files first. Later, when Director Li from the provincial department arrives, we'll start with the case briefing meeting."

"Yes!"

Five minutes later, Lu Chuan received the files.

Though labeled as files, it's just some clues currently discovered by the Quanzhou City's Criminal Investigation Team.

Zhao Zhigao handed over the files without explaining the case contents aloud, but instead poured Lu Chuan a cup of coffee.

"Captain Lu, take a look here first. If you have questions, just ask me."

"Alright."

Lu Chuan opened the files and began meticulously reviewing the case details.

Upon reading, it was quite shocking.

"Boiled?"

Zhao Zhigao nodded. Hearing Lu Chuan say the word "boiled" made his face look somewhat unpleasant.

"The victim's identity has been confirmed, named Wang Jingya, 24 years old, a model."

Zhao Zhigao could now basically recite the contents of the file word-for-word.

"She was found in West Family Valley Village of Beiwang Town. When we arrived at the scene, the body in the pot was already steamed off the bones."

As Zhao Zhigao recounted this, his face turned a bit pale: "Captain Lu, you know, we crime scene investigators are the ones who visit the first crime scene. I've been a crime scene investigator for so many years and seen all kinds of crime scenes."

"But… honestly, when I arrived at the scene that day, I almost couldn't help but throw up."

For a crime scene that could make Zhao Zhigao feel nauseous, truth be told, Lu Chuan found it hard to imagine.

Crime Scene Investigators are the people who appear first at the site of a homicide.

Sometimes, if pressed for time, spending half the night with a corpse is quite normal.

Though the files contained numerous documents, Lu Chuan skimmed through quite quickly, taking just over ten minutes to read the entire file.

In the end, when Lu Chuan saw the attached crime scene photos, he finally understood Zhao Zhigao's feelings.

Honestly, the homicide scene wasn't particularly gruesome, nor like typical murder scenes with blood splattered everywhere.

The site was neat, the victim lay in the pot steamed tenderly.

Yet, precisely because of this…

Lu Chuan realized, while working on this case, he probably shouldn't eat meat.

"The murderer should be a local, right?"

Lu Chuan's speculation made Zhao Zhigao nod.

"We think so too. The village where this crime occurred is in a relocation state."

Zhao Zhigao was evidently very familiar with the case background: "The merge village and town project for West Family Valley Village of Beiwang Town started the year before last, but it hasn't been fully rolled out or quickly completed, mainly because some people don't want to move."

"So, the merger of River Village has dragged on for roughly one or two years. Even now, there are still two or three households in the village, elderly people unwilling to move to the town."

"This situation is usually only known to locals, others may not be too aware."

Zhao Zhigao's remarks confirmed Lu Chuan's conjecture.