S.C.I Mystery Series Volume 5 Chapter 29

Witness of the Three Murderers 29 – The Presence and Absence of Skin

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In the room next door to the forensic room, which was specially opened up for Gongsun to place a variety of advanced instruments, the trial of the 3D printer was completed, and the installer determined that everything was normal and left.

Gongsun and Ma Xin circled the machine several times, while Xiao Xiatian hugged the table leg and rubbed against it, sure enough, transferring to SCI is cool cool cool!

Mia also came over to join in the fun, holding the ice cream that Xiao Bai Chi bought her while curiously surveying the various machines in the room.

Gongsun thought about it, then went to fetch that mask and started scanning it.

Ma Xin was curious, "Making a mask?"

"Let's see if the mask will have the same effect when it's made." Gongsun asked Xiatian to operate the machine.

Mia tilted her head and walked over to the machine, looking at the mask and blinking.

At that moment, a few people walked in. The one walking in front was Bai Chi, followed by Zhao Zhen and Bai Jintang.

Bai Jintang entered and saw Gongsun acting like a child, looking at the machine as if he were looking at some new game console, and shook his head helplessly.

Although this was already a state-of-the-art machine, it still took quite a long time to print a mask, and because of the material, the printed mask was bluish-white.

Gongsun took out that plastic mask and compared it to the original one. It was indeed the same, but the feeling was completely different.

"Don't say it, although the shape is exactly the same, they're very different." Bai Chi took the two masks and compared them, "It's like the obvious difference between the real Forbidden City and the Hengdian version of the Forbidden City, the aura is not the same."

Gongsun urged Bai Chi, "Take it to Liu Jin and see if he reacts!"

"Oh..." Bai Chi then took the mask and ran to the lounge, put on the mask, opened the door and stood in front of Liu Jin.

At this moment, Liu Jin was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper while gently patting Liu Xing, who was lying asleep in his arms. By his feet, the big golden retriever saw someone come in and flicked his tail, then went to lie down again, looking quite bored.

Liu Jin was a little puzzled to see Bai Chi wearing this ugly mask and walking in, and asked, "What are you... doing?"

Bai Chi took off the mask. Liu Jin's reaction was completely different from earlier, so he looked back at Gongsun.

Gongsun rubbed his chin, "Sure enough, it has nothing to do with the appearance of the mask."

Mia picked up a marker and scribbled on the mask.

The crowd looked at her curiously.

They saw Mia draw all the symbols on the original mask that could only be seen after it was lit with a special instrument, that is, the string of characters that Zhan Zhao and the others had just deciphered.

After she finished drawing, Bai Chi put on the mask again.

But strangely enough, Liu Jin still didn't react, and Barry didn't move either.

"Huh?" Gongsun then felt strange, "What's going on?"

Ma Xin also found it strange, "Weren't they hypnotised through this set of characters?"

"That's right..." Gongsun rubbed his chin, "Chen Yu could also see these characters, she wasn't hypnotised either, and we all saw these characters after shining the light on them... So where exactly is the problem?"

......

While the rest of the SCI team was messing around with and studying the mysterious mask, Zhan Zhao, Bai Yutang and Zhao Jue were visiting the prison.

Wang Daping, that is, Heavenly Master Hou said he did not hesitate to go to prison for ten years to find the witness.

These words aroused a strong excitement in Zhan Zhao and the others – What witness?

"Since you guys have already found Qiao Xi, that means you've gone to his house, right?" Wang Daping asked, "Have you seen that genealogy tree in his mother's room?"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang both nodded, saying that they had not only seen the painted one but also the real one.

"The hunting family." Wang Daping sneered, "This ancient psychopathic family that collects souls as their mission."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang both raised their eyebrows.

"To put it bluntly, it's just a bunch of anti-social murderous maniacs." Wang Daping said, "Their family's family motto is passed down from generation to generation, however, I think they passed down not only their violent tendencies but also one other thing."

"What?" Bai Yutang asked.

"Some sort of mental illness." Wang Daping spread his hands, "Qiao Xi was quite sick, his mother was literally driving her son crazy with her life, but Qiao Yuanxin's death wasn't simple."

"Qiao Yuanxin had a bracelet..."

"That bracelet is the key to finding the witness!" Wang Daping laughed, "Skin."

Zhan Zhao and the others frowned – Again with the skin! Wang Daping was just a godly stick, why did he know so much?

"What does skin have to do with the witness you mentioned?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"What do you think skin is?" Wang Daping asked without answering.

Zhan Zhao and the others frowned – That's a far-reaching statement, is it from a physiological point of view or from an artistic point of view?

"All people have skin." Wang Daping shook his head, "But not everything in the world has skin."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang glanced at each other – Quite a statement, is it from a philosophical point of view?

"Unseen things." Wang Daping's voice lowered a few notches, "There are many things that exist but cannot be seen, such as spirits, perceptions... language, gaze... souls, desires..."

Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue both stroked their chins, seemingly mulling over Wang Daping's words.

"But what exactly are humans?" Wang Daping continued, "What determines what we are, is it that invisible existence, or is it the visible skin?"

Saying this, Wang Daping's words changed, "I'm not interested in any philosophical exploration, nor am I interested in human nature, we don't discuss these illusory things, we only discuss realistic issues."

Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue narrowed their eyes and hummed with unknown meaning.

Bai Yutang held his chin and looked at the three people in front of him, shaking his head.

"What I want to say is that the reason why people are great is because of this inner, unseen, thing. And the reason why people are small, fragile and bound is, ultimately, because we all have skin! Skin will die, be recognised, and be locked into a cage." Wang Daping's voice lowered a few more notches, "What kind of person is the most powerful person in this world? Someone who won't die? Someone who won't feel pain? Neither!"

Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue seemed to understand, "It's someone without a skin."

Wang Daping laughed, "Not bad, as long as you aren't bound by skin, you can be anyone! What could be more terrifying than that?"

Zhao Jue stroked his chin, his eyes bright, "So the skin is for the sake of not having skin... and the witness you found is the only one who has seen the real face under the real skin?"

Wang Daping nodded, "That's right."

"Who's the murderer you're looking for through him?" Bai Yutang was also curious.

"No one knows!" Wang Daping said, "Everyone who has seen him is dead, and what the others who have seen him saw was not his true face, so... he can easily frame his crimes on other people."

Bai Yutang frowned.

"Have you ever counted how many people have been imprisoned or even sent to their deaths for one or more murders, yet they insisted throughout that they didn't kill anyone, or didn't kill a certain person, but sadly... there were eyewitnesses to the murders!" Wang Daping said, "And in this case, there is usually more than one witness."

Zhan Zhao propped up his chin as Zhao Jue sauntered behind the two of them with his hands behind his back, "You've been in prison for so many years, you've compiled quite a few statistics, haven't you?"

Wang Daping nodded, "There are multiple people who witnessed it, but the murderer insists that he is innocent... This kind of case is just too easy to find."

Bai Yutang felt that the matter was rather serious, if this was really the case, then how many innocent people would be in jail? There might be quite a few innocent people who have paid with their lives...

"However, this person is very low profile!" Wang Daping said, "A lot of people are looking for him because he has secrets in his hands!"

"You mean, the skin?" Zhao Jue's eyes cooled a few more points.

"If the skin is that big set of clothes, what with the helmet or mask, if you have to wear so much, won't you be arrested as a psychopath as soon as you leave the house?" Wang Daping spread his hands, "The real skin should be a secret hidden in that set of clothes! When that secret is grasped, there will be no need for that set of clothes, on the contrary... he will try to destroy that set of clothes by all means, because..."

"Martial arts secrets have to be destroyed after one has learnt them!" Zhao Jue nodded, "After destroying them, he will be the only one in the world who will be able to do it!"

"Talking about it for half a day." Bai Yutang returned to Zhan Zhao's initial question, "Did you find that witness?"

Wang Daping frowned slightly and shook his head, "Not yet."

"Not yet?" Zhan Zhao noticed that in Wang Daping's tone, there was more reluctance than regret, and he unconsciously emphasised the word 'yet' when he spoke, so...

"You have a clue?" Zhan Zhao asked.

Wang Daping looked at the crowd, "Why should I tell you?"

Zhan Zhao narrowed his eyes.

Wang Daping bristled, "You guys want to find the witness, I want to find the witness, we're in competition!"

Zhao Jue came over and said to Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, "Give me three minutes I'll make him spit out his tongue."

Wang Daping was startled.

Zhan Zhao stroked his chin and sized up Wang Daping, seemingly also considering how to make him talk.

Bai Yutang was able to keep his wits about him, waving his hand to signal the two glaringly intelligent people beside him to calm down, while telling Wang Daping, "We can work together."

Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue both turned their faces to look at Bai Yutang – cooperation?

Wang Daping also looked at Bai Yutang, "I have more information than you guys, it's in my favour, and I'm being released in a few days, give me a reason to cooperate with you guys."

"The reason is that we can take you out today, you don't have to go back to your cell." Bai Yutang said indifferently.

Wang Daping laughed, "It's only a few days..."

"Are you sure you still want to bargain?" Bai Yutang asked, "If I release you back to your cell now, it won't take long for you to lose your life, don't you think so?"

Wang Daping's face lost its expression as he looked at Bai Yutang, and he eventually glanced away, "Tch, this trick can really only fool nerds."

Zhan Zhao slanted a glance at him, "Right, you've met with us, that mastermind behind the scenes should be looking for ways to finish you off!"

"The good thing about being in prison is that you won't get caught, but the bad thing about being in prison is that you can't run away once you're caught." Zhao Jue also nodded, and after finishing, the two of them simultaneously glanced at Bai Yutang – It's amazing not to be a nerd ah?

Bai Yutang held his forehead and signalled Wang Daping – Hurry up and speak!

Wang Daping sighed and asked, "If I tell you guys, you can really take me out right now and guarantee my life?"

Bai Yutang nodded.

Wang Daping thought for a moment, looked around somewhat warily, then glanced at the surveillance in the corner, reached his hand out, and hooked a finger at Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang moved over a bit, and Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue also moved over on his left and right.

Wang Daping looked at the two people who were in the way somewhat breathlessly, "Can't he just tell you guys later?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue each blocked one side, "I'll block your mouth, understand?!"

Wang Daping was helpless and whispered in Bai Yutang's ear, saying a set of numbers – third floor, fifth row, number fourteen.

Bai Yutang looked at him.

Wang Daping smiled, "In the parking lot of the police station."

Bai Yutang raised an eyebrow.

Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue also came to a realisation – A good place!

Bai Yutang immediately got up and went to call Bao Zheng, who found a way to complete the formalities and transfer Wang Daping.

Half an hour later, Bai Yutang, Zhan Zhao and Zhao Jue took Wang Daping out of the prison and back to the police station.

When they arrived at the police station, Bai Yutang and the others went straight to the parking lot and found a silver-grey sedan at the location provided by Wang Daping.

The car door was locked.

Wang Daping stated that he had lost the key and that the stuff was in the trunk. So, Bai Yutang simply let Zhao Hu pry open the car's trunk.

In the trunk, there was a box equipped with a combination lock.

Qin Ou looked at it, "A thirty-six-digit combination lock. "

Everyone turned back to look at Wang Daping.

Wang Daping reached out, and after pressing thirty-six numbers, the box clicked and opened...

‿︵‿︵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 25, 2024 by Angel

Edited: April 22, 2024 by Angel