As if this discovery was not complicated enough, there was a pink flash and her mother appeared before her. In her company was Aang Du Cheng, the step-son of her maternal grandmother-in-law, Han Yura.
"Uncle Aang," she smiled.
He stuffed a package into her hands, saluted and disappeared in another flash. Since childhood, he liked to stuff her with snacks from all over the world.
"Baumkuchen cake." Her mother said, gesturing to the package. "Majesty told that your husband has a way to track newly awakened system hosts faster than us."
Liwu sighed. "You want to find out how."
Tai Alix nodded. "The Shen’s were mbers of the seven families that once controlled system hosts in secret. There is no evidence that they have lost that ambition."
Liwu pinched the bridge of her nose. "I will look into it, mother."
Alix waved her hand. "I don’t an that you should sabotage your marriage of course. If anyone will be the bad guy in your story, I am happy to be it." She softened her eyes and hugged Liwu. "You have had a tough month, haven’t you?"
Liwu muttered, "You have no idea. And this whole case is a ss too."
"I heard your victim was born with good luck and charm." Alix patted Liwu’s back slowly. "You used to be so jealous when you t anyone like her in the past. Will you be fine taking on her case?"
Liwu laughed, "I have a bad luck system so I am good. I actually feel sorry for the victim. I don’t have proof but I am sure her charm resulted in this tragedy. Born lucky, admired by all. People like her attract trouble."
Alix stepped back and pinched Liwu’s cheek. "Go to bed. Call if you need help solving the case. Do not use your bad luck often if you can help it. Banging your head against walls to catch a killer is not worth it. You solved cases before the system ca along. Rember that."
Liwu nodded.
Her mother left, in another flash. Liwu put the cake in the fridge, headed upstairs and collapsed on the bed. She replayed the cri scene, drawing every face to her mind. Was it possible that the perpetrator had been watching? Could it have been one of the witnesses? She drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow, she would start untangling this web.
***
anwhile, in her husband’s office in city hall, Zhang Liang had brought over a nervous man to et the city master.
Weijun had a polite political smile. "Here, you will find more freedom and safety than elsewhere. Dragon mountain is good, but it is stifling." He made his pitch slowly, weaving his words carefully.
****
Morning sunlight spilled across the precinct windows, but inside the atmosphere was heavy. Detective Liwu sat before the murder board along with Linlin, Su Jun, Xuanji and a Bureau profiler that had just arrived to help with the case. He was joining the core team on Tai Alix’s orders.
His na was He Xiao Yi, and he was once Liwu’s blind date partner. They had attended the sa university before he left for the United Kingdom for further studies. He had returned to the country a year ago, and he had been working at the headquarters until now.
Liwu did not like He Xiao Yi much. She respected his abilities, but she could not stand the man. He was the kind of man who walked into a room and made everyone feel like they’d already lost the argunt.
He had good looks that seed almost unfair--square sharp jawline, perfectly styled hair [too much gel in Liwu’s opinion], and eyes that carried both calculation and disdain.
His tailored suits were always immaculate, as though he were auditioning for a fashion magazine rather than looking into the minds of criminals.
It was not just his appearance that drew attention--it was the arrogance that matched it. He spoke as if his deductions were divine revelations.
In the Bureau, he was called ’beautiful face with a beautiful mind.’
If soone said, ’hey beautiful’ while he was in the room, the odds were 99% that they were referring to him.
"Performance art." He Xiao Yi said, leaning back in his chair. "You people don’t understand. The masks, the fire, dancers, music--it was imrsive theater. Either the victim was in on it or the person that pulled the strings has ties to theater."
Linlin slamd a file shut. "She was assaulted. That’s not theater. Before judging her, why don’t you et and speak to her first."
"I did, last night." He replied slowly as if he was too lazy to talk. "It doesn’t take away my judgent. If she was not involved then we need to look for the puppet master in the entertainnt industry or art world. Art is ant to be provocative."
"Art!!" Linlin slamd her fist on the table and stood up. Her eyes were burning with fire. "This was not art."
Liwu sighed. "The less ti we spend arguing facts over fiction, the closer we get to solving the cri. I found a video online of a group of dancers that were performing the sa dance as the n in the masks. I asked officers to bring them in for questioning and they have arrived."
"I asked officers to arrest all of the victim’s admirers who showed up to the hospital." He Xiao Yi stood up. "So are stalkers. One tried to stab one of the officers outside the door in order to get inside. Another used the vents to reach her room. There are 106 of them so far."
Xuanji shook his head. "I have never seen anything like it. She is a magnet. People circle around her like flies."
"Are you calling her poop?" Su Jin raised her eyebrows.
Xuanji raised his hands halfway. "Not bad poop, good one. But unfortunate one."
The precinct was filled to capacity with Jinling’s admirers. They ca carrying flowers, cards, cash, cheques, jewels. It was like a zoo, just a different confusing kind.
Aside from them, there were witnesses too. People Liwu had called to the station because she had more questions for them. Especially those who had been caught on surveillance, standing closest to the victim during the assault.
"Which ones do you want to take?" Linlin asked. "Would it be wrong for to hope that your bad luck will help us sort through the ss? At this rate, it is going to take us a month to solve this cri. I have a feeling the master mind and criminal will have flown the coup by then."
Liwu thought about her mother’s advise and looked at the overcrowded room.
"System, initiate a minor misfortune that points in the right direction."
[-5 points.]
Behind Liwu, Xuanji choked on the gum he was chewing and he accidentally shoved Liwu forward. She tumbled and collided with the break room door, shoulder first.
"Sorry. I am so sorry." Xuanji apologized.
Liwu massaged her forehead, "Don’t be. We need to talk to the witnesses. My gut says one or all of them have what we need."
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