Cthulhu Panel: One organ mutates every day

Ethan asked, "So, just tell me if you have any key clues."

Edward sighed, his tone tinged with complaints about working overtime:

"Finally, there's progress! Those incompetent people at the police station gave me problematic leads and investigation reports from the very beginning. Seriously, they should at least do a better job of gathering information!"

Wayne thought to himself, "It seems the intelligence department is working even harder than the investigation department. The investigation department can at least take a nap in the office, while the intelligence department has to constantly interrogate and take statements. But Ethan said the intelligence department has more lucrative opportunities and doesn't have to risk their lives on the ground, so it's pretty comfortable."

Ethan stepped forward and gently patted Edward on the shoulder:

"Thank you for your hard work. We'll get the crucial intelligence connected as soon as possible so you can get some rest."

"OK."

Edward quickly organized his thoughts and explained the key points:

"The police department overlooked a key figure who had contact with Bob. It was an old bachelor from the Bloods named Benjamin, who often went out drinking and bragging in broad daylight at Hofhouse. Bob not only drank with him frequently, but Bob also organized Benjamin's funeral a few days ago. Those incompetent cops at the police department and that new guy in the intelligence unit completely missed this crucial character when they were searching for clues. They were really doing a terrible job."

The Blood Gang? The mad old man? Died a few days ago? This is indeed a very important clue. Wayne thought to himself.

Ethan then comforted him:

"It's nothing. Perhaps it's because Benjamin died a few days ago, so the police and intelligence unit overlooked him. Since Benjamin and Bob were such good friends, has there been anything unusual about Benjamin?"

Edward looked bitter, indicating that there was indeed something unusual going on:

"Late at night, I called in the Blood Gang's higher-ups to question them about Benjamin's situation, and guess what? The Blood Gang leader went through the members' records and said that Benjamin had died ten years ago. But at first, the bar said that Benjamin had only died last week, and that he had been alive and well for the past year, drinking with Bob at the bar."

Ethan pondered, "The information we've received is so inconsistent; could it be that their gang has made a mistake?"

Edward gently clapped his hands together and sighed wearily:

"I initially thought so too, but I checked the federal census records, and Benjamin did indeed die ten years ago. The Blood Gang leader said that Benjamin was a ten-year veteran member, and it was impossible for there to be an error in the death statistics. He also emphasized that there is a lot of turnover in the gang, so they verify the gang members' information every year. It's possible to make a mistake for one year, but it's impossible to make a mistake for ten consecutive years."

"That's really strange. It's like this person only exists in reality, but there's no record of him at all." Matthew said with a serious expression.

"Yeah, that's why I called you over as soon as I noticed something was wrong." Edward said, his eyelids drooping, looking tired and helpless.

Thinking back to Bob's death scene, Wayne asked, "Benjamin died last week. Where did he die? Who found his body?"

Edward was somewhat taken aback when he saw Wayne speak, and turned to look at Ethan.

Ethan introduced, "This is Wayne, our newest member in Team Two, the information point guy, you know what I mean."

Wayne nodded to Edward.

Edward glanced at Wayne, sensing an inexplicable quality about the young man, and instinctively couldn't help but stare at him a few more times. He then guessed Wayne's train of thought and sighed softly as he replied:

"Wayne, you're asking the right question. Benjamin and Bob both died at home, and Bob was the first to discover Benjamin's body."

"The exact location?" Matthew asked.

Edward picked up a few reports from the table, handed them to Matthew, and yawned, "They're all here. Are you planning to go now? Aren't you going to rest?"

Matthew took the report and confirmed the address information was complete: "Okay. We'll head over now."

Ethan stayed a little longer to discuss matters concerning Joseph with Edward, reminding him to release him as soon as possible the next morning.

Edward squinted and waved his hand, "I understand, I understand, I won't make things difficult for Joseph."

Ethan: "It's not that we shouldn't be in a difficult position; it's still possible to make things difficult."

Edward: "Hey, let's go, let's go. I'll definitely let Joseph go tomorrow. I can't be bothered with Howard."

……

It was 3 a.m. in the South District, and the night was still deep.

Ethan drove, while the others passed around the interrogation report in the car.

The report is mainly about Benjamin, and it compiles basic information from some Blood Gang members, including Benjamin's appearance, preferences, habits, spending level, and so on.

Surprisingly, according to members of the Blood Gang, Benjamin was a stone carving enthusiast.

"This Benjamin can actually carve stones?" Wayne thought of the statue in Bob's house and vaguely felt that there was definitely something wrong with this crazy old man, Benjamin.

Matthew, guessing what Wayne was thinking, continued:

"An old man who lives alone all year round has a love for stone carving. People like this usually have a rich inner world. Moreover, he is single and doesn't have many close friends. He probably belongs to the kind of art lovers with an eccentric temperament."

Ethan gripped the steering wheel: "The file says he died ten years ago, but he was still active last week, and then he died last week and Bob arranged his funeral. This time it's settled."

The road conditions began to deteriorate, and the car gradually became bumpy.

Soon, following the address, the car entered a shantytown, passed through a dense cluster of shantytowns on a low-lying slope, and arrived at the home of the mad old man Benjamin.

A simple, low stone house. The surrounding environment was crowded and dilapidated, with mud and puddles everywhere.

A simple wood-burning stove was set up outside the stone house, and a few tattered clothes were still hanging on the clothesline.

A strange smell wafted out of the stone house.

Lillian got out of the car, gently pinched her nose, and looked surprised: "I didn't expect Michigan to have such an old and run-down place."

After getting out of the car, Matthew looked around, leaning on his black umbrella, and remarked, "This place must be over a hundred years old. These shacks are the poorest of the poor in the South District. They're in a very remote location and have never received any attention from the city hall."

Wayne glanced at his wristwatch; the reality deviation was 0%, indicating everything was normal.

Ethan took several flashlights out of the car and distributed them to the group.

Matthew and Ethan exchanged a glance.

Ethan immediately understood Matthew's meaning and nodded:

"Team leader, I'll go and check the area around Benjamin's house right away to see if there's anything unclean nearby."

He then picked up his black handbag, turned on his flashlight, and walked outwards.

Wayne saw it all. This was exactly what the team leader had mentioned before about the survival role operating alone.

Given the tense situation at the Hoffhouse tavern, how formidable must Ethan's individual combat abilities be, given that he was once feared by the major gangs of the Federation as the "Phoenix"?

Moreover, Ethan must have acquired extraordinary corrupting properties over the years at the Special Bureau.

That's really quite terrifying.

"Alright, the three of us will go inside and treat this as an unusual scene," Matthew said.

Lillian: "Received, team leader."

As Matthew finished speaking, Lillian stepped forward first, kicked open the wooden door of the stone house, entered the house, and turned on her flashlight to find her way.

Matthew and Wayne followed behind, each turning on their own flashlights.

A strange, pungent smell filled my nostrils, making me feel uncomfortable.

As soon as he entered, Wayne caught a glimpse of a blurry figure in the corner to the side of the door.

A figure is moving.