S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 3 Chapter 28

Smiling Murderer 27 - Extreme Felon

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Everyone went back to the police station. Ma Xin wasn’t too shaken up, but Ma Han was so shocked that he would feel even more fear every time he thought about it. In the end, he drove her to Chen Jiayi’s place first so that he wouldn't mention it when he got home and his mother wouldn't worry and nag him to death.

Jiang Ping handed the information he found to Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, and said, “That Yellow Wolf was held in X Prison with the felons because he has a lot of human lives on him.”

“Heh…” Bai Yutang took a few files from the information and shook his head, “It's not good to be locked up in prison; when you're in a den of thieves, if you're not bad, you become bad, and if you're bad, you become worse.”

“These are the ones who have had the most contact with him,” Jiang Ping said, “they are all lifers.” (Angel: Lifers means that they are all in prison for life.)

“Cat, “Bai Yutang showed Zhan Zhao, “is there anything wrong with these people?”

“Is there information on their cases?” Zhan Zhao asked Jiang Ping as he flipped through the information, “Like a history of medical visits regarding mental illness?”

Jiang Ping looked through it, shook his head, and said, “No.”

“Well…” Zhan Zhao looked at the information on the felons and asked, “Who did Yellow Wolf come into contact with before he escaped?”

Jiang Ping shook his head and said, “The prison guards have also checked that before, presumably because they were angry at the death of a fellow officer. They were all locked up, but they couldn't find out which one of them had actually given Yellow Wolf a hand or an idea.”

“I would guess it was an idea.” Zhan Zhao said to himself, “Someone with an IQ like Yellow Wolf’s shouldn't be able to think of such a good way to escape…  Of course, the most suspicious thing is still the matter of him coming back to attack Ma Xin.”

“Hmm…” Thinking of this, Zhan Zhao rubbed his chin, “Who is it?”

Bai Yutang, however, said, “Cat, I have an idea.”

“Oh?” Zhan Zhao looked at Bai Yutang, “What kind of idea?”

Bai Yutang looked at Jiang Ping and asked, “Of these people, who has read Cat's book?”

Zhan Zhao's eyes lit up and he patted Bai Yutang on the shoulder, “Okay, Xiao Bai, this is good!”

Jiang Ping called to inquire, then drew out one of the documents and said, “This man, named Deng Che, has a report stating that he spent money to buy all of Dr. Zhan’s books. He would read them daily and simply loved them.”

“Oh…” Zhan Zhao smiled, “So it’s self-taught, they really are a talent.”

“Cat, they are a felon,” Bai Yutang picked up his jacket and said, “shall we go to the prison to see him?”

“En… I am somewhat interested.” Zhan Zhao looked at his profile and asked, “What crime did he commit?”

“Murder.” Jiang Ping replied, “It is said that this kid was super rich before, and just killed for fun, then he found a good lawyer and turned his death sentence into a life sentence. It is also said that he is doing well in prison, and he has quite a lot of friends outside, so it seems that his sentence can be reduced.”

“Hmm.” Zhan Zhao thought for a moment then said to Bai Yutang, “Let's go and meet him?”

Bai Yutang nodded and went out with Zhan Zhao. Bai Chi and Luo Tian both caught up with them, saying that they wanted to go with them, while the others were responsible for interrogating everyone they had caught before.

“Luo Tian, why don't you go and keep Ma Xin company?” Bai Yutang started the car and asked Luo Tian, “You're too inconsiderate.”

Luo Tian showed some embarrassment on his face and said “Captain… don't make fun of me.”

“But then again,” Bai Chi smirked, “If Brother Tian hadn't asked about Xin Xin, something might have really happened!”

“That’s true!” Zhan Zhao grinned and patted him on the shoulder, “It's kind of like a hero saving a beauty.”

Luo Tian's face turned red and white, and he looked at the crowd helplessly, as if to say – let’s change the subject, alright?

Bai Yutang drove to X Prison.

“This prison, isn't it connected to the prison in S City?” Bai Chi asked curiously, “I didn't even know there was such a prison before.”

“This prison is in the mountains,” Bai Yutang said, “near the firing range.”

“A firing range?” Bai Chi thought for a moment and asked, “Is that where… executions take place?”

“En.” Bai Yutang nodded, “Convenient.”

“That place is probably similar to a special medical center, where special people are kept.” Zhan Zhao said, “For inmates, a risk assessment will be made based on their behaviour, mentality, ability, and also their crime, and they will be divided into one of ten levels. Inmates from levels ten to four are in ordinary prisons, while those extremely serious inmates who are in levels one, two, or three will be locked up inside special prisons like X Prison.”

“Escaping from a prison like that is basically impossible,” Bai Yutang said, “because it's all under absolute security, and if they actually let Yellow Wolf escape this time, the higher-ups will definitely be held accountable.”

“But I think it's strange.” Zhan Zhao said, “It is true that Yellow Wolf had killed many people, but how could he have the financial resources to hire a lawyer to fight the lawsuit and get a bunch of messy evidence thrown out, thus only getting a life sentence?”

“That's right.” Bai Chi said, “he has killed several people, I always thought he had been shot.”

“He’s definitely dead this time.” Luo Tian added from the side.

“That's true, I don't know what happened before!” Bai Chi was a little disgruntled.

“And can Yellow Wolf be in X Prison at his level?” Zhan Zhao asked, “He doesn't have any special abilities other than being a pervert, right?”

Bai Yutang smiled, “Cat, the phone is in my pocket, just call and ask Bao Sir.”

“En…” Zhan Zhao thought about it, then reached for the phone and called Bao Zheng.

After hearing his story, Bao Zheng only told him that the prosecution later found that Yellow Wolf was involved in a certain organization and was a very important informant, and because he had cooperated well, he was not sentenced to death. In addition, Yellow Wolf was so widely known that they were afraid that he would find someone in the ordinary prison to bring a message to his former accomplices and obstruct the case, so they locked him up in X Prison, where it was absolutely impossible for him to leave. The entire X Prison is now on edge, and several inmates who had contact with Yellow Wolf have been locked up.

“Heh, sure enough, things are not trivial.” Bai Yutang nodded, “But Cat, do you think that Deng Che is the one who helped Yellow Wolf escape?”

“Yellow Wolf's mental state was obviously guided in some way.” Zhan Zhao said, “I could tell when we arrested him back then that he wasn't a smart person, but merely an outlaw. With such an aptitude, in a place like X Prison, he is definitely someone else’s pawn… By the way, why did you think that Deng Che has read my book?” Zhan Zhao asked Bai Yutang with great interest.

“Oh.” Bai Yutang smiled, “I thought of it rather simply. Wasn't there a statistic before that stated that criminals are more keen on your books than the police are?”

“Seriously?” Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows at him, “Wouldn't that make me guilty as hell?”

Bai Yutang laughed, “You tell me.”

Zhan Zhao was dissatisfied, “This kid, if Yellow Wolf was instructed by him, then I reckon he might have something he wants to talk to us about but couldn't tell us, that's why he used Yellow Wolf.”

“I think so too.” Bai Yutang sighed softly, “By the way… you have Zhao Jue’s number, right?”

Zhan Zhao's eyebrows twitched as he looked at him, “What?”

“Call him and ask if he recognizes Deng Che.” Bai Yutang said.

“No,” Zhan Zhao turned his face away, “why ask him?”

“Tsk… I always feel that Zhao Jue probably knows.” Bai Yutang smiled, “Ask him.”

Zhan Zhao was still not very willing.

“I have his phone number, I'll ask.” Bai Chi said.

Zhan Zhao didn't say anything.

Bai Chi took out his phone and dialed the number…

A few moments later, the call went through, and a slightly lazy voice came from the other end, “Chi Chi? Why are you calling so late? Can't sleep?”

Bai Chi looked outside, “Oh… Did I disturb your sleep?”

“Ask quickly, don’t talk to him too much, be careful of being deceived.” Zhan Zhao muttered.

“Oh dear,” On the other end of the phone, Zhao Jue heard Zhan Zhao's voice and asked with a smile, “What’s with the cat’s temper? Chi Chi? You've hit a block in your case? Need my help?”

“It's just a consultation for information.” Zhan Zhao emphasized.

Bai Chi handed the phone over, “That… Brother, why don't you talk to him?”

Zhan Zhao turned his head – Won’t!

Zhao Jue yawned and asked, “Go ahead, what's the thing you are asking me?”

“That, Deng Che, do you know him?” Bai Chi asked.

“Oh… Deng Che, is this kid still alive?” Zhao Jue asked indifferently.

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao looked at each other – they really know each other!

Zhan Zhao picked up the phone and asked, “I say, how is it that you know all the perverts?!”

Zhao Jue laughed and said, “No no, it should be that I know all of the competent perverts!”

“What do you mean?” Zhan Zhao was puzzled, “Who is he?”

“I've seen Deng Che when he was small. I knew him when I was a police officer, he's very capable. He used to be just a thief and a punk on the street, but later on he became a big family man.”

“Then why is he in jail?” Zhan Zhao asked in disbelief.

“Well, hmmm, this man is very eccentric, he thinks in a way that others cannot see through.” Zhao Jue laughed, “If he was like those mere mundane people, then he wouldn't be where he is today.”

Zhan Zhao was furious and said, “What's wrong with mundane people, don't tell me you haven't envied mundane people, you couldn't even do that if you wanted to!”

……

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment, and then they heard Zhao Jue suddenly say, “Damn kid!”

Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows. Seeing that Zhao Jue was angry, he was in a good mood. He thought about hanging up the phone, but he heard Zhao Jue add another sentence, “Your tongue sure is slick, unlike your thing below!” After saying that, he hurriedly ended the call!

Zhan Zhao was extremely angry and wanted to speak up and retort, but Zhao Jue hung up the phone. He tried desperately to call back, but Zhao Jue just wouldn't answer.

Bai Chi was a little distressed, “Brother… don't break my phone, that one is new.”

Zhan Zhao grunted in anger and handed the phone back to Bai Chi. At that moment, Bai Yutang's phone meowed. Zhan Zhao took it out and flipped it open to see that Zhao Jue had sent a text message; it was a big chubby round face sticking its tongue out at him.

He was so angry that his face turned white as he closed the phone and shoved it back into Bai Yutang's pocket.

Bai Yutang couldn’t laugh or cry, “Cat, who told you to provoke him for no reason?”

“How old is he? He can't even take a little loss!” Zhan Zhao was indignant, “He just has to bicker with me!”

“But Deng Che, according to Zhao Jue's description, is probably not a participant in this case.” Bai Yutang continued.

“En, I think so too. Zhao Jue's style is different from those Nazis, and it's unlikely that he would go to such a retarded group activity!” Zhan Zhao continued to be dissatisfied. He suddenly thought of something else and said to Bai Chi, “Chi Chi, you text him and ask him if he knows about the nose-walking beast.”

Bai Chi looked at Zhan Zhao, “Why don’t you ask…”

His words hadn’t finished yet when he saw Zhan Zhao glare at him, so he hurriedly pulled out his phone to send the message. 

Soon, Zhao Jue’s reply came, “Nose-walking beasts can be eaten, they taste very delicious… Cats can also be eaten, the most useless cats are eaten by mice!”

Bai Chi trembled as he scrolled down, thinking… I hope something else is written below, or else Zhan Zhao will probably storm off again.

Sure enough, the text message scrolled down and he saw another sentence, “Don't let superficial things cloud your judgment.”

Bai Chi selectively read out the last sentence to Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao narrowed his eyes at him and asked, “He didn't say anything else?”

“Uh…” Bai Chi laughed dryly.

“Go ahead, what exactly did he say?” Zhan Zhao urged.

Bai Chi read out Zhao Jue's words in full, and surprisingly, Zhan Zhao didn't get angry or scold anyone this time, but mulled it over for a long time while holding his chin before nodding, “Hmm…”

The group waited a long time, but did not hear Zhan Zhao explain what that “hmm” actually meant. At that moment, they arrived at X Prison.

Bai Chi looked up and marvelled, “Wow… it’s actually built on top of a tall mountain.”

“Those barbed wire fences are electrified, right?” Luo Tian poked his head out to look and said, “It's a bit like Guantanamo.”

Just a few hundred meters up the mountain, there were four barricades and five iron gates, and Bai Chi couldn't help but ‘tsk’ twice, “What tight security.”

“No matter how tight it is, there are leaks.” Zhan Zhao said casually.

Bai Yutang looked at him, “Cat, you've been telling cold jokes lately.”

Zhan Zhao narrowed his eyes at him – I'm still upset about this!

Bai Yutang obediently retracted his flirtatious tone, opened the car door and was questioned by the guard.

Soon, the group arrived at the prison's main entrance, where the prison warden was already waiting at the door, whom Zhan Zhao knew as Zhan Qitian's old subordinate, Wu Meng.

“Uncle Wu.” Zhan Zhao greeted him.

Wu Meng was fierce-looking, but he was very amiable and hurriedly shook hands with Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, “Ah, the police elites!”

Both of them laughed and shook their heads.

Bai Yutang and the others followed Wu Meng inside and couldn't help but ask, “What's Deng Che like?” 

“Oh… basically all of the people in X Prison have some common characteristics: vicious, violent, cunning and so on.” Wu Meng opened the iron door and led the two inside, saying, “But this Deng Che is a little different.”

“How is he different?” Zhan Zhao asked.

“He… is very smart,” Wu Meng thought for a moment and said, “and very amiable.”

“Using amiable to describe an extremely serious offender is a bit…” Bai Yutang didn't seem too convinced.

“We were on high alert with him from the very beginning,” Wu Meng said, “because it was really hard to understand why he was in prison, it seemed like he looked forward to life behind bars in general.”

“There's such a thing?” Zhan Zhao was surprised.

“That’s right!” Wu Meng smiled and said to Zhan Zhao, “Deng Che is a huge fan of yours… He thinks that you are the most intelligent being on the planet.”

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: September 15, 2021