Chapter 293 - 66: Diary

"These criminals are getting more and more sophisticated, so we need a greater sense of urgency. If they raise their game an inch, we have to raise ours a mile! We have to prevent this from happening again, getting run around in circles by these ghouls and monsters!"

You could tell.

Officer Liu was angry and furious, but also resigned.

Jiang Ran didn’t blame him for failing to protect him or catch the sniper.

Because Jiang Ran knew.

The opponent they were up against wasn’t an ordinary person... but the legendary, omnipotent Lilith.

Even now, Jiang Ran still firmly believed the world operated on scientific principles. But believing in science didn’t mean denying the possibility that someone like Lilith could exist within those principles.

Then,

Officer Liu pulled open a drawer, took out a stapled stack of printed paper, and looked at Jiang Ran.

"Finally, about that girl. We’ve finished our investigation."

He paused, then continued.

"That girl... she’s definitely not your childhood sweetheart, Cheng Mengxue."

"Her name is Li Yini. She’s from Jiangsu Salt City, born in 2004, so she’s a bit older than you and Cheng Mengxue. She was a student at Imperial Capital Police University, but she dropped out in 2023 and went to the United States."

"What happened after that gets more complicated. To be honest, it might sound a little fantastical. Luckily, we worked with the police in the United States and arrested a Dr. Gana... You’ve probably never heard of him. He’s a big name in the global medical field, the undisputed rising academic star of the last couple of years. He was expected to become the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Prize in Medicine."

"But unfortunately, by getting involved in this case and becoming a criminal, he’s probably lost any chance of ever winning that Nobel Prize. Dr. Gana was surprisingly cooperative, though. He confessed to everything."

"Heh. It’s probably inappropriate for me to say this, given my position, but just between us... after I saw the full picture, I have to admit, it’s almost comical..."

"Wu Yuanzheng has had a remarkable life, no doubt about it. He’s brilliant and cunning. But maybe because he’s getting older and can’t handle everything himself anymore, he hired a lot of help."

"So, even though he never slipped up himself, these... ’pig teammates’ of his... dragged him down one by one."

"And that, of course, includes the girl, Li Yini—the one who pretended to be your childhood sweetheart, Cheng Mengxue. We’re very lucky that she had a last-minute crisis of conscience and pushed you out of the way, taking that sniper’s bullet for you. But a criminal is a criminal. Sympathizing with them is just being cruel to their victims."

"What happened to this Li Yini is a very long and complicated story. Let me walk you through it..."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Suddenly, there was a knock at the office door.

Officer Liu looked up.

"Come in."

The door opened and a female officer walked in, saluting.

"Officer Liu, the inspectors from the Imperial Capital are here. Everyone’s waiting in the conference room. We’re just waiting on you."

"Huh?"

Officer Liu asked, glancing at his watch.

"I thought the meeting was in half an hour."

"Yes, Officer Liu. But... this case is extremely serious and far-reaching. It’s an international incident, so the higher-ups in the Imperial Capital are treating it with utmost importance. They arrived early and want to start the briefing as soon as possible."

"Oh, alright then."

Understanding the situation, Officer Liu waved his hand, dismissing the female officer.

He then turned back to Jiang Ran.

"Sorry, Jiang Ran. The timing is terrible. I’m afraid I won’t be able to tell you the girl’s story myself."

"But... I came prepared. See this? I printed it out specially."

As he spoke, Officer Liu handed over the stack of papers.

Jiang Ran took them and flipped through a few pages.

"Is this... a diary?"

"That’s right."

Officer Liu chuckled.

"Why else do you think I just said Wu Yuanzheng was surrounded by a bunch of ’pig teammates’ who dragged him down?"

"This girl, Li Yini, has apparently liked to keep a diary since she was a kid. But... it’s understandable. I contacted the local police in Salt City, and they’re very familiar with Li Yini and her entire family."

"Because... years ago, back in 2010, Li Yini’s younger brother, Li Lele, was abducted by human traffickers. He was snatched right in front of her. After that, the family was in and out of the police station constantly, and they traveled all over the country looking for Li Lele."

"Speaking of which, they’re a tragic family. Li Yini’s family used to be very happy. Her parents were working-class. They weren’t rich, but they were comfortable and happy, never having to worry about food or clothing."

"But ever since their son, Li Lele, was taken, the whole family fell apart. They were all just hanging on by a thread, hoping to get him back... Li Yini’s father quit his job and just wandered the country, searching aimlessly for his son."

"Li Yini’s mother searched with her husband for a few years, but eventually, the physical and mental strain was too much. She’s been in and out of the hospital for years and is still bedridden."

"You tell me... these human traffickers, they’re fucking scum of the earth!"

THUD!

Speaking of human traffickers, Officer Liu was filled with a deep-seated hatred. He slammed his fist on the table, the force of the blow making the teacup and pen jump two inches into the air.

"Li Yini’s family sold their house, the family fell apart... If it weren’t for sheer willpower, her mother probably wouldn’t have survived this long... So, the reason Li Yini went down this dark path and fell for the bullshit from the Regrets Mutual Aid Association and Wu Yuanzheng... it was probably because of the trauma from her brother’s disappearance."

"Sigh... A perfectly good family, destroyed just like that. Imperial Capital Police University is such a great school. After graduating, you’re guaranteed a placement in the Imperial Capital. Li Yini had such a bright future ahead of her, and this is how it ends."