S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 5 Chapter 18

Witness of the Three Murderers 18 – Relic

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Chen Xiaofei's mother and Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang chatted in the office. Chen Xiaofei was like an ant on a hot pan outside, while the others were gathered around Bai Chi to see if he found that "burglary case".

Zhan Zhao asked Bai Chi to flip through the old newspapers. Xiao Bai Chi borrowed the newspapers from the library and was bitten by bookworms while reading them, but he still couldn't find the lead that Zhan Zhao asked for.

Originally, Xiao Bai Chi thought it was a needle in a haystack, but who would have known that after a large amount of browsing, he found it!

Bai Chi found a small article in a newspaper about a certain burglary case. Although it was only the size of a small piece of dried tofu, the basic description was consistent with what Zhan Zhao had asked him to find, and the key was that it was also accompanied by a picture!

"Ei!" Zhao Hu took the newspaper to look at the picture.

Gongsun found the information of the case ten years ago and compared it with that picture...

What was the comparison? It was a rope knot!

"This is the knot that appeared in that unsolved botanical garden case ten years ago." Gongsun said, "The time I saw the Grim Reaper."

Chen Xiaofei heard "Grim Reaper" and came over to look at it.

"This burglary case was committed fifty years ago." Bai Chi said, "At that time, an old museum in S City was robbed. The police couldn't find any clues, and the director of the museum committed suicide the next day, hanging himself from a beam, but the death was quite suspicious! Because the museum's beams were very high, that director just hung in mid-air, his clothes were uncluttered and there wasn't any visible support that he could have climbed up to. The photo in the newspaper offered a picture of a knot on the rope. The investigators probably also felt that the knot was very special, so a reward was also put out for people who provided clues."

"It's almost the same as the botanical garden case ten years ago!" Gongsun was surprised.

"Is it also the number six?" Bai Chi asked Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu, however, shook his head, "The one in the newspaper is nine!"

"Is there any difference?" Luo Tian felt it was almost the same.

"It's just reversed." Zhao Hu said, "It looks pretty much the same, but the knots are tied differently."

Gongsun asked Chen Xiaofei, "Have you ever seen your father use this kind of knot? Or were there any in the things left for you?"

Chen Xiaofei shook his head, "No, my dad's hands are the dumbest, it's weird that he would tie this kind of knot!"

"Haa~"

While the crowd was discussing this old case, Zhao Jue, who was napping on the sofa, suddenly rolled over and sat up with a yawn, seemingly waking up from his sleep.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Zhao Jue blinked, feeling that this group of people moved like some kind of pack animal, and he asked, "What are you guys doing?"

Zhao Hu suddenly became interested and came over to ask, "Master Zhao, you know everything about everything eh?"

The corner of Zhao Jue's mouth twitched as he looked at Zhao Hu with a smile on his face, and with that look, the crowd of onlookers nodded – It was definitely like he was looking at a husky.

Zhao Hu showed Zhao Jue the knot in that photo and asked, "Have you seen this before? Do you know what it means?"

Zhao Jue glanced at the photo and didn't move, seeming to be in a daze or perhaps not yet awake.

Zhao Hu smiled and looked like he needed a beating, which meant – There was also something Zhao Jue didn't know, but he knew.

While Zhao Hu was feeling smug, Zhao Jue suddenly clapped his hands, "Oh!"

Zhao Hu was startled by him, and his first thought was – Is this some sort of new hypnosis technique?

Zhao Jue looked at Chen Xiaofei again, "No wonder he feels a bit familiar!"

Everyone was puzzled, "Familiar?"

Zhao Jue hooked his finger at Zhao Hu and said, "Where are the pictures you took from that haunted mansion? The one of his grandfather, bring it!"

Gongsun pulled out the drawing of the underworld portrait of Chen Xiaofei's grandfather from the pile of pictures.

Zhao Jue picked it up and laughed, "Do you think this man looks a bit familiar?"

The crowd looked at each other – Familiar? Like who?

Gongsun looked at Chen Xiaofei, then looked at the drawing, rubbing his chin, "Hmm..."

Qin Ou glanced at it and said, "I think it looks a bit like Chen Mi."

"The eyes are indeed similar..." Ma Xin used her hand to cover the nose in the picture, just leaving the eyes and the head, "Does it look like Grandpa Chen?"

"Yeah!" Zhao Hu also nodded, "Like Chen Yu's grandfather!"

Chen Xiaofei looked at the crowd in confusion, "What are you guys talking about?"

"Chen Mi and Chen Yu's father, Chen Xinglong, was the thief of the century." Gongsun asked, "But the age doesn't seem to match up with the museum theft!"

"Some skills, especially earth-shattering skills, are inherited, and if the next generation doesn't inherit them, there's a good chance that the following generation will." Zhao Jue smiled slightly, "This kid is a few years younger than Chen Yu, so if his grandfather was still alive, he would have been about the same age as Elder Chen, you all know that Old Chen's son is the king of thieves, but do you know that his father is also the king of thieves? Or rather a lifelong, legendary king of thieves who has never been caught."

The crowd gasped... No way!

"Both surnamed Chen, could they be relatives?" Gongsun was surprised.

Bai Chi held up the newspaper and asked, "This museum burglary, could it be that Grandpa Chen's dad did it?"

Chen Xiaofei cocked his head and listened with half understanding, "You mean... my great grandfather?"

At this time, a woman's voice was heard, "That's right, it's your great-grandfather."

The crowd turned back and saw Bai Yutang's office door open. Chen Xiaofei's mother walked out, and it was her who answered everyone just now.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang seemed to have received a lot of clues from Mother Chen. Zhan Zhao was holding some information in his hands, which was presumably provided by Mother Chen.

Chen Xiaofei opened his mouth wide in astonishment.

"I've heard his father mention it before. My father-in-law had a brother who was separated from him as a child and was never seen again." Mother Chen helplessly came over and patted her son's head, "Your great-grandfather was indeed a thief, an elegant one at that, specialising in stealing works of art. This mask..."

Saying that, Mother Chen reached out and picked up that mask, "After stealing this mask, your great-grandfather disappeared. Before he left, he sent his two children to his friends to be fostered separately and left something for each of them so that they could recognise each other in the future. The one that your grandfather was left was this mask, but unfortunately, your grandfather passed away too early, and in the end, the brothers were never reunited."

Mother Chen thanked Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, told Chen Xiaofei to stay and cooperate with the investigation, and then left.

Chen Xiaofei was surprised, "My mum never told me about such a glorious history of my family..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Hu patted him on the head, "Your heart is quite generous, your ancestor was a thief yet it's still a glorious history?"

Chen Xiaofei narrowed his eyes, "Robin Hood was also a thief! My grandfather's father must have robbed the rich to help the poor..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the crowd held the Grim Reaper mask for him to see, which meant – Stealing such a horrible thing and robbing from the rich to help the poor?

"And it also involves two murders!" Gongsun reminded him, "Twice there were knots appearing, and twice there were disguised suicides. Once your great-grandfather was present at the scene, and once your father was suspected to be present at the scene!"

Zhan Zhao looked at the newspaper article that Bai Chi had found and nodded, asking Jiang Ping to look into that museum back then and what was on display.

Bai Yutang walked to the side of the sofa and sat down.

Zhao Jue smoothly took the mask and handed it to Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang was already a clean freak, and after knowing that this mask was a complete human face, he didn't want to touch it, frowning at Zhao Jue – What for?

Zhao Jue smiled, "Try it on."

The rest of the crowd looked at the sky – It would be strange if he was willing to wear it!

Sure enough, Bai Yutang had a look of disgust on his face.

"Feel it, maybe it'll transform just like The Mask!" Zhao Jue was heartlessly telling cold jokes.

Zhao Hu, who had no inhibitions, grabbed it and tried it on.

Everyone couldn't help but frown – For some reason, this mask had an eerie feeling to it. Zhao Hu had a sunny personality, but after putting on this mask, he immediately gave off a very scary feeling.

Chen Xiaofei touched his chin and studied it, "I always wear it myself, this is the first time I've seen someone else wear it. It turns out to be quite scary!"

Zhao Hu removed the mask and shook his head, "I don't feel anything."

Zhao Jue glanced at Bai Yutang again, "Try it on?"

Bai Yutang was puzzled, why did he have to wear it himself?

At this moment, Bai Ye walked in from outside the door and went to sit on the sofa beside Bai Yutang.

Chen Xiaofei curiously glanced at Bai Ye and then at Bai Yutang, thinking, are these two brothers? What amazing genetics!

Bai Ye took the mask and gave it to Bai Yutang, saying, "Try it on."

The commotion over here also caught Zhan Zhao's attention, and he looked over.

Bai Yutang saw that Bai Ye also told him to wear it and figured it wasn't a prank by Zhao Jue, so he reached out and took it.

After accepting that mask, Bai Yutang frowned.

Zhao Jue asked, "How does it feel?"

"This mask is really annoying!" Bai Yutang muttered and reluctantly put the mask on, but just as it was about to touch his face, Bai Yutang suddenly jerked it away and frowned as he stared at the mask.

"What's wrong?" Zhan Zhao was curious.

"An illusion?..." Bai Yutang muttered to himself, then brought the mask closer to his face again. This time, there was nothing strange about it.

After wearing it for a little while, Bai Yutang took it off and returned it to Zhao Jue, saying, "I don't feel anything."

Zhao Jue smiled faintly and didn't say anything as he took the mask.

Captain Bai hurriedly stood up and went to the washroom to wash his face.

Turning on the tap, Bai Yutang, who was standing in front of the mirror, stared at the tap that was running, raising his head and looking at himself in the mirror. Just now, he didn't know if it was an illusion, but at the moment he first touched the mask, there was a vicious chill rising from the soles of his feet, and in his ears, he heard a weird voice, similar to the devil's breath in a horror film. Bai Yutang has never believed in these, but in person, that feeling of being there screamed uneasiness. Was he thinking too much?

In the SCI office, Zhan Zhao came over, picked up that mask and looked at it. He also tried it on and didn't find anything wrong, so he asked Zhao Jue, "What's wrong with Yutang?"

Zhao Jue shrugged his shoulders, "Your little tiger is more sensitive, mm-hmm."

Zhan Zhao looked at him suspiciously.

At this time, the results of the investigation on Jiang Ping's side came out, "We found out about that museum, but it's too old, and there's no computer record of the exhibition back then."

"The museum is still there?" Bai Yutang came back after washing his face and asked when he heard Jiang Ping's words.

"It's here!" Jiang Ping pulled out the address and showed Bai Yutang, and he saw that it was a very small museum, located in an old part of town, but still in operation.

"This museum has always displayed some weird stuff." Jiang Ping shook his head, "Recently, it's also doing an exhibition of paintings of serial killers, and it's said that those paintings have suggestive messages in them..."

"So interesting?" Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue came over at the same time, their eyes shining brightly.

Bai Yutang looked at the address and prepared to make a trip there in a little while.

At this time, the twins called. The two of them, fearing that the world wouldn't be in chaos, were ready to take advantage of this great opportunity to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Bai Group. The event would last up to a month, and they would first hold a business dinner on the evening of the day after tomorrow. If Zhan Zhao and the others felt that there were no problems with the time, they would send out the invitations.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang both felt that the arrangement was good, so the twins joyfully went to prepare the banquet and activities.

Just after hanging up the phone, the elevator opened and Zhao Zhen came out, followed by a lazy Lisbon.

Behind Lisbon, Qi Le and Chen Yu also came out. The two were carrying musical instruments and wearing big sunglasses, looking like they had just finished a performance, and they looked like celebrities.

Chen Xiaofei, who was visiting SCI, was first startled by Lisbon, and then shrieked and ducked into the forensic room nearby.

In the forensic room, Gongsun, Ma Xin and Xiatian were scanning the mask with several advanced machines that could not be named. Seeing Chen Xiaofei's panicked face, they were all a bit puzzled.

Bai Yutang had just called Chen Mi to roughly explain. Chen Mi said that he would bring Grandpa Chen over in a while. Chen Yu arrived first, presumably to identify their relative, but Chen Xiaofei ran away.

Zhan Zhao suspiciously followed him to the forensic room and asked Chen Xiaofei, "What are you doing?"

"I, I saw my... idols!" Chen Xiaofei was excited, "Just now, aren't those two Qi Le and Chen Yu! Aaaah! Are you guys close? Can I get an autograph?"

The crowd couldn't laugh or cry, this comical character was more like Grandpa Chen than Chen Yu and Chen Mi.

Ma Xin moved forward and beckoned, "Xiao Yu, your cousin is here!"

Chen Yu and Qi Le immediately ran to the door of the forensic room.

Chen Yu saw Chen Xiaofei at the door and ran over to hold his face for a closer look.

Chen Xiaofei was so shocked that he didn't dare to utter a word.

Qi Le also followed over to look at him.

After a long time, Chen Yu presumably finished her appraisal and nodded, "The upper part of your face looks similar to my grandpa and my brother! Sure enough, it's the forehead that runs in the family!"

"Is your grandfather here?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"My brother just called and said he's almost here." Chen Yu was excited and wrapped her arms around Chen Xiaofei, forcing him to call her sister.

Chen Xiaofei blushed and acknowledged his sister. This was a blessing in disguise, although he was caught by SCI, he found his long-lost cousins, and so coincidentally, his sister was his favourite celebrity.

Zhan Zhao asked Chen Yu, "Does your grandfather have any family heirlooms?"

Chen Yu touched her chin and thought, "Heirlooms... My great-grandfather passed away a long time ago it seems. What kind of heirlooms..."

Qi Le came over and asked, "Does that keychain of his count?"

Everyone wanted to laugh – A keychain as a family heirloom? How true to Master Chen's style.

"That was indeed a long time ago!" Chen Yu said, "A rectangular black pendant, about the same size as a lighter, Grandpa always has it hanging on his keys and never replaces it. I asked him what it was and he said it was left to him by his grandfather as a keepsake, so I guess it's the only thing that's left."

"Is the material similar to this?" At the doorway, Bai Yutang walked in, holding the mask for the two of them to see

The two girls were startled, "Wow, that's so scary!"

Behind Bai Yutang, Zhao Jue probed in, "Yo, big star."

"Great God!" Qi Le and Chen Yu were quite happy to see Zhao Jue, they gave Zhao Jue tickets to the concert and said that he could go backstage to have fun just like last time.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang glanced at each other – When did they get acquainted with each other? Don't these two girls know that this is a dangerous person?

Gongsun had them both touch the mask to see if it was the same and of course, he wouldn't tell them that it was a real human face.

"It feels somewhat similar." Chen Yu said, "Grandpa's keychain is the same as this, there are so many patterns on it, like characters."

When Chen Yu said this, everyone froze and stared at her.

"What did you say?" Zhan Zhao asked curiously, "There are patterns on it?"

Chen Yu blinked, "There are!"

Qi Le crossed her arms and said, "I've always said there aren't, but she insists that there are."

"There really are!" Chen Yu seemed to have argued with others more than once, flattening her mouth, "Brother and Grandpa both said there aren't!"

Chen Xiaofei also said there wasn't.

Zhan Zhao looked at Bai Yutang, who shook his head – No pattern was found.

"Hmm..." Gongsun checked Chen Yu's eyes and stroked his chin, "It's a bit interesting, it should be another marvellous hereditary peculiarity."

Saying that, Gongsun asked Ma Xin to go to the forensics department and borrow a camera.

Not long after, Ma Xin ran back with a large camera and many filters.

Gongsun changed the colour filter in front of the lens, then finally he selected one, took a few pictures of the mask, inserted the camera's memory card into the computer, and looked at the large picture. Everyone was surprised to find that... at this time, the colour of the mask had turned green, but the mask appeared with a lot of black patterns that were not originally there, which were very clear.

Everyone stared at the picture, and Ma Xin picked out all the patterns, "Very strange symbols, it doesn't feel like ancient writing."

Gongsun passed the picture to Jiang Ping and asked him to search for it.

Jiang Ping searched for half a day and did not find anything similar, "I don't think it's some kind of recorded writing!"

"Is Xiao Yu the only one who can see it?" Qi Le felt that it was magical.

"Mhmm! That's not so unusual. Everyone's eyes are different, and depending on the difference in the light sensitivity of the human eye, there are some things that everyone can see, there are some that appear to have a possible colour difference, and there are some that only a part of the population can see, while a part of the population can't see. Cases like Chen Yu's are considered relatively rare, perhaps... her great-grandfather could also see it!" Gongsun surmised, "That's why he stole this mask that doesn't seem to be worth anything at all."

As they were chatting, the elevator doors opened and Chen Mi and Grandpa Chen walked in.

Compared to Chen Yu and Chen Mi who were more calm, Grandpa Chen was excited. When he saw Chen Xiaofei, he said that he looked like his grandfather, and when he learnt that both his father and grandfather had passed away and saw the drawing of the underworld painting of his brother, the old man began to cry.

Everyone gathered in the SCI office, and when Grandpa Chen calmed down, Bai Yutang showed him the mask and Zhan Zhao asked him about his father.

As expected, Grandpa Chen took out a keychain and gave it to Zhan Zhao and the others, saying, "I still remember that when I was separated from my brother, my dad left us two things." Saying that, he gently stroked the mask, "I thought this mask was scary at the time, so my brother took it away, and this one, which is smaller and easier to hold, was left to me."

"Why did Great-Grandfather disappear?" Chen Mi was puzzled.

Grandpa Chen sighed, "I don't know, he was fine and suddenly said he was leaving. I only remember that when he was leaving, he warned us that these two things must be hidden well and not be seen by anyone. He also said... that he had taken something he shouldn't have, and that he was going to find a way to remedy it. He said that he might not be able to come back and told us not to miss him."

Hearing this, everyone carefully looked at that square box that looked like a lighter. From its appearance, it seemed to be a piece of solid wood, but the weight didn't quite feel right. The texture was indeed similar to that mask of a human face. Could it be some kind of human tissue as well?

Gongsun performed an X-ray examination on the thing, and found that there was something inside!

‿︵‿︵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: January 15, 2024 by Angel

Edited: April 1, 2024 by Angel