In 2004, Tianjia Dam was a desolate suburban area, with scattered houses yet to be developed into a cohesive neighborhood. The landscape was dominated by vast, flat farmland.
On rainy nights, such a place was the perfect opportunity for murder and body disposal.
Wang Shun thought so, and it also gave Ye Sangsang the chance to act without worrying about witnesses.
There was no fear of being seen.
After spending about ten minutes leaving Tianjia Dam, Ye Sangsang drove the car to the spot where she had initially picked up Wang Shun and parked it.
After calming her emotions, she regained complete composure.
Anyone who had killed for the first time knew that, even with thorough preparation, it was impossible to remain entirely unshaken during the act.
Although the holographic game was fake—a simulated virtual reality—the sensory experience it provided was incredibly lifelike.
Once fully calm and at peace, she began to reflect on the entire incident, from start to finish. After a while, she moved.
She started searching the car because she knew there were other items hidden inside.
[What is she looking for? Shouldn’t the top priority be cleaning the car of all evidence?]
[Exactly! She should be wiping away all traces from the car as quickly as possible.]
[The raincoat and shoes are full of evidence. How can she not be in a hurry? Isn’t she afraid the police will show up before she’s done?]
The comments section was ablaze with discussion, with some impatient viewers even starting to vent their frustrations.
However, before their angry words could be posted, the live-streaming system blocked and muted them, leaving only harmless comments visible.
Unaware of the commotion in the live stream, Ye Sangsang used the streetlight to search every possible hiding spot in the car.
She checked every crevice, including the air conditioning vents, leaving no stone unturned.
After a while, finding nothing, Ye Sangsang stopped her search.
Had she been mistaken? Were there no other clues in the car?
She began to replay every detail of the case in her mind.
At the turn of the millennium, it wasn’t unusual for taxi drivers to carry hammers for self-defense, as taxi robberies were common. It made sense for them to have protective gear.
Her belief that there was a hammer in the car stemmed from the fact that the small knife found at the crime scene had been identified as belonging to Wang Shun.
Therefore, the hammer used as the murder weapon must have belonged to the driver; otherwise, the police would have emphasized whose weapon it was.
As for why it was within easy reach, the position of the victim’s body provided the answer.
Logically, robbers targeting a taxi driver wouldn’t wait until they got out of the car to strike. They would typically act in the backseat, either just before arriving at the destination or upon reaching a remote location.
If the hammer hadn’t belonged to the driver and wasn’t within his reach, the victim would have been the taxi driver.
Judging from the angle of the victim’s body in the crime scene photos, Wang Shun was likely killed inside the car with the hammer.
Moreover, it was premeditated.
The presence of gloves and medicine in the car, items an ordinary person wouldn’t carry without a specific need, further supported this theory.
Ye Sangsang hadn’t fought back like the taxi driver because she lacked the physical strength. Instead, she relied on her wits, deceiving Wang Shun to get close enough to strike.
Holding the bloodstained gloves, she looked straight ahead and said slowly, “The simulation in the holographic game must be based on something real, right?”
[What is Ye Sangsang doing now?]
[She’s holding the gloves. Do they mean something?]
[My head hurts. I feel like I’m about to grow a brain.]
After Ye Sangsang finished speaking, the official account of the game *Criminal Files* didn’t respond. Unfazed, she continued, “If I’m not mistaken, this was a premeditated murder, not a random act of violence between criminals.”
“Someone who planned this in advance must have had a connection to the taxi driver.”
“Those items are the evidence.”
The hammer used to kill and the subsequent disposal of the body suggested a motive of revenge.
The driver’s hammer, placed in a convenient location, along with the medicine and gloves, confirmed her suspicions.
If Ye Sangsang wasn’t mistaken, Sun Bin had been waiting there for a reason.
He had deliberately parked there, lying in wait for his prey.
In the end, that prey turned out to be Wang Shun.
She had initially doubted her own theory and even tested Wang Shun by asking if he recognized her.
When Wang Shun said he didn’t, she had been puzzled, thinking she might have overanalyzed the situation.
Now, upon reflection, she realized she hadn’t overthought it at all.
Asking whether he recognized her was irrelevant; she only needed to focus on the facts.
The game’s official account hadn’t responded, perhaps because she hadn’t yet triggered the point where the truth would be revealed.
[Premeditated? I feel like I understand, but I’m also confused. Didn’t Wang Shun come to her?]
[Ye Sangsang is just showing off. There’s no way it’s that complicated. All she needs to do is avoid the investigation and she’ll pass the mission.]
[The information provided by the police and the holographic game is clear. There’s nothing else to uncover. Is Ye Sangsang’s imagination running wild?]
The live stream erupted in chaos. Ye Sangsang’s actions seemed like pure fantasy.
As the first holographic game across five continents, *Criminal Files* had already achieved a remarkable level of sophistication. It was unlikely to simulate even more intricate plotlines.
Moreover, the existing storyline was challenging enough, with the difficulty level already pushing many players to their limits. There was no need for deeper exploration.
Unaware of the live stream’s discussion, Ye Sangsang felt a small bump against her back, located beneath the car seat.
If she hadn’t shifted her position while searching, she wouldn’t have noticed it at all.
She reached down, confirming its presence, then carefully pried it out with her fingers.
In her hand were two pieces of paper.
One was covered in densely printed text. She set the other aside and unfolded the first, which was about the size of an adult’s palm.
[System Notification: Congratulations, player with the Criminal identity card. You have unlocked hidden content.]
[System Reward: Sun Bin’s personal information.]
Ye Sangsang was momentarily stunned, realizing that the situation was far more complex than she had initially thought.
Instead of immediately clicking to view Sun Bin’s information, she turned her attention to the piece of paper.
The paper was yellowed and slightly wrinkled from frequent handling. She smoothed it out and used a flashlight to read it.
The headline read, “Multiple Taxis in Lin City Robbed by Armed Gang; Serial Killer on the Run.”
In the top left corner was a black-and-white photograph.
“Lin City Evening News?” Ye Sangsang murmured, pondering the opening lines before focusing on the photo.
Though the person in the photo was only shown in profile, she instantly recognized him as Wang Shun.
She quickly scanned the article, which detailed how Wang Shun had committed multiple robberies and murders in Lin City, with the police offering a reward for information leading to his capture.
The report included comprehensive information about some of the victims.
As Ye Sangsang read word by word, the live stream exploded with excitement.
[Wow! It’s true! The taxi driver knew Wang Shun all along.]
[I was wrong. Ye Sangsang was right. Everything has a basis.]
[*Criminal Files* is really interesting. It even has a mystery-solving element!]
[The identity information is out. There’s so much to unpack…]
The live chat was now a frenzy of discussion. What had previously seemed illogical suddenly made perfect sense.
For example, why had the taxi driver been so brutally killed and his body dumped in the wilderness?
According to the forensic report, the first blow from the hammer would have been enough to subdue Wang Shun. There was no need to take a life.
If the driver had tied him up and turned him over to the police, he could have claimed the 10,000-yuan reward offered in 2004.
But if the driver had lured Wang Shun into a trap with premeditated intent, everything fell into place.
The once puzzling details now formed a coherent narrative.
The live stream’s smart camera angles allowed viewers to see what Ye Sangsang was reading.
Though she read quickly, she paused for a minute to let the audience catch up before putting the paper away.
It was clear that *Criminal Files* was far more intricate than it appeared.
Initially, she had wondered why the game developers had included so many unexplained elements. Now she understood: it was to create suspense and intrigue.
The case summary had deliberately omitted certain details.
The actual case was likely far more complex than it seemed.
The game developers must have had access to a complete and detailed file.
According to the promotional text, they must have also interviewed the investigating officers, and even delved into every major and minor event in Wang Shun's life.
Even the identity of the taxi driver was no secret to the game developers.
That’s why the name Sun Bin, along with details about his current physique and facial features, came to light.
“So, the previous mission briefing was just a smokescreen from the system. The information I have now marks the real beginning of the next task…” Ye Sangsang murmured to herself.
Only by completing this step could she smoothly progress through the upcoming mission.
Otherwise, even if she perfectly executed the murder and disposed of the body, the player would struggle to evade the police’s investigation without any information.
[The game developers are so cunning.]
[Wait, I always thought this was just a role-playing game where you had to act out your character well. Looking back at the game description now, I realize I completely overlooked the words ‘mystery and deduction’!]
[I’m curious, what kind of case is this? It feels like things are about to get really exciting.]
The comments section was buzzing with activity.
Just when everyone thought the mission was almost complete, an unexpected twist occurred.
All sorts of curious speculations flooded the comments, with everyone closely watching Ye Sangsang, eager to follow her lead and uncover the answers.
Ye Sangsang opened another slip of paper, which listed four names followed by a string of residential addresses.
“Wang Shun, Zhou Qiang, Jiang Jiansheng, Wang Zhi…”
She held the crumpled piece of paper in her hand and picked up the neatly cut-out newspaper clipping with its clean edges.
Looking at Wang Shun’s name on the paper, Ye Sangsang felt that these four individuals must be deeply connected.
After reading through everything, she opened the message bar next to the live stream and clicked on the system email.
She hadn’t yet checked the system reward from earlier.
The information about the taxi driver, Sun Bin, was essential for clearing the level.
Just as Ye Sangsang reached out to open the email, the holographic game emitted a “beep-beep” sound.
This indicated that someone had entered Ye Sangsang’s room and was attempting to make contact with her.
She quickly thought to herself, “Exit,” and in the next second, everything in front of her paused.
Ye Sangsang opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with the caregiver.
The caregiver’s outstretched hand froze mid-air.
