Mad Detective
[Author: Kuang Hai Wang Hu]
[TL: Spades]
[PR: Blitz]
[QC: Lumi]
Chapter 25 — Where Are You?
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From the bug's feed, Zhao Yu learned Qu Ping's team had shifted focus to the earlier cases, even sending people to Yuan Lili's old apartment for follow-ups, digging into last year's files.
Clearly, Qu Ping was out of moves.
Zhao Yu smirked, Hmph! Look down on me, will you? Don't expect me to share my intel now!
He studied his notebook's latest notes, sinking into his own thought process.
He was convinced the Hand-Chopping Case tied to pianos! But how exactly, he hadn't pinned down. Since all three victims were piano pros, the culprit was likely a skilled pianist too, one who'd crossed paths with them.
Li Beini's data showed the victims trained at different piano schools with different teachers. Though all were level 10, they certified at different times.
So, while piano virtuosos, they didn't know each other. Could it be… each knew the culprit individually?
With this in mind, Zhao Yu called Li Beini again, asking her to investigate the victims' piano training histories, specifically their classmates from those days.
This drew complaints from Li Beini. Checking that meant calling every piano school, and nearly 20 years later, some had shut down, making it near impossible!
"Please!" With Li Beini his only ally, Zhao Yu swallowed his pride, "This info's critical! Once we crack the case, I'll treat you big time!"
"That's more like it," Li Beini chuckled, satisfied, "I'll do my best!"
"But…" Zhao Yu warned, "Keep this between us. No one else, especially Qu Ping or Team B, got it?"
"I know, don't worry!" Li Beini hung up briskly.
Zhao Yu rubbed his hands nervously, anxiety gnawing. But no matter how urgent, he had a job to finish, so he returned to the auditorium and sat back down.
By now, it was Q&A time. The teacher was fielding parents' questions, everyone listening intently, few noticing Zhao Yu's return.
His mind wasn't on the meeting, still wrestling with the piano connection. Clues, details, and guesses swirled like a carousel in his head, until he even thought of the Adventure System.
Could playing dad for Jiang Xiaoqing, coming to Second High's music auditorium, and being inspired by a piano-playing parent be today's adventure?
Too bad he hadn't noted last night's hexagram or text, leaving him clueless about this adventure's hints.
This led him to replay his time in the auditorium. After Shanshan's mom played, she'd had a long chat with another parent, sparking his breakthrough.
Could her words hold more clues?
She'd said she hadn't played in years, and most wouldn't know she was a pianist. This mirrored Gao Tian and Luo Meina, whose files never mentioned their piano skills or level 10 status.
So…
Did the culprit know them from way back? Knew their talents? Was this culprit… an old acquaintance from long ago!?
Hold on…
Suddenly, Zhao Yu latched onto another key point.
The victims weren't from the same piano schools and didn't know each other, but… they could've crossed paths at a specific moment!
That moment…
Wait! Zhao Yu recalled Shanshan's mom, "Twenty years ago, I competed in a piano contest right here, nearly got into the Capital Music Academy!"
Yes!?
Goosebumps erupted across Zhao Yu's body. Damn it! He'd found it, the point where the victims intersected, a competition!!
All three were piano prodigies, in the same city, of similar ages, so they likely competed in the same piano contest!
Bingo!
No doubt about it!
Zhao Yu was certain the culprit was in that competition too! They'd scored poorly, got edged out, while the victims shone. Bitter, the culprit plotted this brutal revenge!
Hmph!
Chop off your hands, see how you play piano now!?
The more he thought, the more it clicked, the more excited he got. If the culprit was their age, they were young during the contest, too weak to strike back then. Over a decade later, feeling powerful, they launched the Hand-Chopping attacks!
Damn, this culprit's got a long memory! All this over a piano contest?
As Zhao Yu pondered, his phone buzzed. Expecting this call, he answered before the ringtone kicked in.
"Senior, Senior!" Li Beini's thrilled voice burst through, "I found it, found it! Eighteen years ago, all three competed in Qinshan City's 10th High School Piano Competition! All three made the finals!!"
"Holy—damn!!"
Zhao Yu slapped his thigh, nearly leaping up! His shout was so loud it startled the parents again, silencing the auditorium.
"Quick, where was the competition held? Who else competed?" Zhao Yu barked, oblivious to the crowd.
"Too far back for full participant lists or numbers, I'd need more time, but… I know the location, Qinshan Second High!"
When Li Beini said "Qinshan Second High," Zhao Yu felt like he'd been struck by lightning, jolting hard.
"That's insane! Damn!"
His exclamation electrified the parents, who shivered in shock.
"Yeah! This is no coincidence!" Li Beini said excitedly, "Senior, it's too old for phone calls alone! You should head to the site for records! By the way, where the hell are you!?"