A perfect crime? To me, it's full of flaws!

Upon hearing the message on the walkie-talkie, Lu Ziye was so excited that he jumped up from his chair.

It's only a little past nine o'clock at night. Could it be that we're going to have a harvest so soon tonight?

However, Captain Guan calmly picked up the walkie-talkie and looked at the huge map on the wall.

"Fifth team, proceed to provide support immediately. I will send a support team to take over your patrol sections."

He put down the walkie-talkie, turned around and was about to walk out the door, completely ignoring Lu Ziye next to him, whose face clearly showed his desire to fight.

"Old Zhang! Take your men to the fifth group's location and take over their patrol!"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Captain Guan turned around and went back into the house, then looked at Qi Feng and the others and said with a smile.

"Look, Comrade Qi Feng, you've arrived just in time. The operation has only just begun, and I've already sent out my only support team. If you hadn't come, my command post would have been completely empty."

Lin Haitang pursed her lips upon hearing this, inwardly scoffing.

This Captain Guan talks a good game, but it's obvious he doesn't trust them and just uses them as filler.

Qi Feng, however, seemed oblivious to the implied meaning and simply nodded.

He knew exactly what was going on.

As a newcomer who has never met Captain Guan before, it's understandable that he doesn't trust you.

But despite being rational, an inexplicable anger still rose from the bottom of my heart.

Okay, you're awesome.

Just wait and see how I slap you in the face!

For a moment, the room fell silent again.

Three men.

Captain Guan stared at the map with confidence, without saying a word.

Lu Ziye waited anxiously, constantly fiddling with his phone.

Qi Feng remained unmoved as a mountain, closing his eyes to rest.

Lin Haitang, however, could not stand the choking smell of smoke inside and went outside to wait in her car.

Time passed by, second by second.

After an unknown amount of time, the walkie-talkie on the table crackled with static again.

"Fifth Team Reports! Command Center, the vehicle has been successfully intercepted! The person in the car is a car thief, unrelated to this case!"

"Received. Transfer the suspect to the local police station for processing. Group 5 is now a support group; return to command and await further instructions."

Upon hearing the result, Lu Ziye looked like a deflated balloon, his face filled with disappointment.

Qi Feng continued smoking expressionlessly, as if this outcome was entirely within his expectations.

He knew very well that it was only a little past nine o'clock.

According to the case file, all five previous suicides occurred between 1:00 and 1:30 a.m.

There was a full three-hour difference in time; the timing was completely off.

The most bizarre thing about this case is its damned pattern.

Why commit crimes at a frequency of every other day?

And why choose almost the same time?

The images from those three surveillance videos resurfaced in his mind.

The deceased were all dressed in dark-colored clothes.

Most importantly, it was their posture as they walked toward the railway tracks.

It wasn't the fear and stiffness before death, but rather a... an indescribable composure.

His steps were steady, his posture relaxed, as if he were not going to commit suicide by lying on the tracks, but to do something perfectly ordinary.

It's like... just like going home after get off work, eating, and sleeping.

Ordinary things?

Yes! It's normal!

Qi Feng seems to have grasped a key point!

He turned his head, looked at Lu Ziye beside him, and gave him a wink.

The two were best buddies who had shared a dorm room for four years. They understood each other instantly with just a glance.

Lu Ziye instantly understood.

He stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, deliberately stretched, and said, "Hey, Qi Feng, want to go out for some fresh air? It's too stuffy in here."

"Let's go." Qi Feng stood up decisively and followed him out.

Captain Guan, inside the room, glanced at the air conditioner on the wall that was blowing cold air, then looked at the backs of the two men, and a barely perceptible, slightly mocking smile appeared on his lips.

The two walked out of the factory's duty room one after the other, and stopped in front of Qi Feng's black SUV.

"What's wrong?"

"Have you consulted any professional psychologists? Is it possible that these victims were under some form of hypnosis before their deaths, which is why they committed suicide by lying on the tracks in an unconscious state?"

This was the reason he had just thought of that could explain his calm acceptance of death.

"Of course I asked!"

"After the incident, we consulted top experts from the city's mental health center. Their conclusion was clear: in reality, it's simply impossible to use hypnosis alone to induce someone to commit suicide!"

"Experts say that everyone has an innate mental barrier, and the will to survive is the most basic instinct of all living beings. Even if a person is deeply hypnotized, when he receives a command like 'die,' which directly threatens his life, his deepest desire to survive will instantly erupt, forcibly breaking free from the hypnotic state."

Lu Ziye was a little unhappy. Qi Feng asked what he meant by that. Did he think that their task force was full of good-for-nothings who only knew how to work hard?

They had already thought of this direction.

Hearing this answer, Qi Feng's doubts deepened.

This case was far more bizarre and strange than he had imagined.

How could a normal person possibly accept death in such a calm manner?

If it weren't for hypnosis....

What could it be?