I Have a Dice Left by a God

Chapter 683 - 275: The Culprit

It didn’t take long before the people from the Church Court arrived."Lord Metropolitan, you should already be aware of the case. The Law Enforcement Court requests your support. Lord Bai heard about Captain Li of the Shadow Owl being skilled in solving cases and has specially invited the Night Patrol to participate in the investigation." The officer from the Law Enforcement Court said.

Lei Qinglu looked at the officer from the Law Enforcement Court. Bai Zhongdong was an old colleague. The Law Enforcement Court held significant power, and they were usually not this polite. That they would hold Li Xin in such high regard was intriguing.

"Li Xin, since Director Bai thinks so highly of you, you must give it your all. Set aside other cases for now and focus on cooperating with the Law Enforcement Court. Go ahead."

"Yes, Lord!"

Together, everyone followed the officer from the Law Enforcement Court out of the Metropolitan’s Great Cathedral. At the door, Longji and others looked at the senior officials of the Law Enforcement Court before them. They had dealt with these people too many times to know their attitudes. While they wouldn’t dare be presumptuous in front of the Metropolitan, they really didn’t put the Night Patrol in their eyes.

Sure enough, Ying Xian’s eyes swept over the crowd sternly, landing on Li Xin. Suddenly, his expression changed to a smile: "Captain Li, I’ve long admired your name. I’m Ying Xian from the Law Enforcement Court. Our Director Bai often mentions that you are an exceptional young talent in Dragon Capital and advises us to learn from you."

"Lord Ying, you’re too kind. As a junior, I rely wholly on the support of my seniors." Li Xin was quite surprised that the person who normally treated Lei Qinglu merely as an equal was being so courteous to him.

Ying Xian smiled kindly, "This case is of extreme importance and can be said to be the largest in the last decade. Let’s hurry, the lords are all waiting."

Carriages were waiting outside, and everyone boarded them. Longji and others were astonished as well. As members of the Night Patrol, they were all too aware of the Church’s people’s attitudes. Ordinarily, even regular priests wouldn’t pay them any mind, let alone the Law Enforcement Court, a department with real power in the Church. Once provoked, they could easily be disposed of.

In the official and secret food chain of Dragon Capital, the Night Patrol was at the lowest tier.

After over an hour on the road, the carriages sped swiftly, and they arrived at the location where the incident occurred, the Hong Family’s eastern suburb manor, which was already under lockdown by the Knight Order, releasing only after confirming the identity of Li Xin and the others.

The manor was exceptionally large, with beautiful scenery. Inside, there were pavilions, towers, and a lovely artificial lake, indeed a perfect vacation spot. The carriage traveled another twenty minutes before reaching the destination.

The site was overseen by Bai Zhongdong from the Judicial Court and Li Moqian from the Knight Order, as well as people from the Hong Family. Hong Ban’s eyes were bloodshot as he couldn’t accept his father’s sudden demise, surmising that the murder must be related to the Nangong Family. When Governor Luthor established the Justice and Freedom Parties, the most crucial point was to prevent internal strife. Competition had boundaries, but he hadn’t expected the Nangong Family to be so unscrupulous as to resort to such tactics.

Upon arrival, Li Xin found that except for himself, the others were stopped outside the villa.

"Orders from above state that only Li Xin is permitted to enter," a member of the Law Enforcement Court stated coldly at the door.

Li Moqian naturally recognized Bai Zhongdong, a slightly short man with a stern demeanor, dressed in a dark gold robe, likely the Director of the Church Law Enforcement Court.

Bai Zhongdong looked at Li Xin as if he was not a stranger, with an unusual softness on his otherwise cold face.

Li Moqian saw that Li Xin had no grudges and originally didn’t want to handle matters of the Hundred Martial Hall, but was compelled by favors owed. From another angle, Li Xin had resolved that personal debt for him.

Being able to take a strike from him also garnered a knight’s respect for Li Xin. During the last moon assessment, Li Moqian had also highly regarded Li Xin.

"Greetings to Director Bai and Leader Li," Li Xin observed the chaotic villa, with the crime scene fairly well preserved. It looked like a fierce battle had taken place, but Hong Yan’s body was missing.

"Captain Li, you should be aware of the situation. It’s said you’re quite insightful in solving cases, which is why we asked for your input," Bai Zhongdong said.

"My lords, I only know that Hong Yan was attacked and killed; I’m unaware of any other details," Li Xin stated.

"Captain Li, there were 139 people in the villa, all puppets wearing skins, having been lying in wait for a long time. Yesterday’s battle erupted unexpectedly when a member of the Church’s guard discovered one of the puppet’s quirks, leading to the conflict. All puppets were found, but Hong Yan was found dead in the bedroom," Li Moqian explained.

"Was anyone else in the bedroom?" Li Xin inquired.

Li Moqian didn’t answer. Just then, a middle-aged man came down from upstairs.

"Hong Xin, the elder brother of Hong Yan and current leader of the Hong Family," Li Moqian said, "This is Captain Li from the Night Patrol."

Hong Xin looked extremely displeased: "Why is anyone and everyone here? Our Hong Family hasn’t fallen yet!"

"Lord Hong, Captain Li here is a skilled investigator from the Night Patrol and has been involved in numerous major cases, which is why we’ve invited him to aid in the investigation," Bai Zhongdong said blandly.

Hong Yan’s death was a huge blow to the Hong Family. The brothers of the Hong Family had Hong Xin manage internal affairs and Hong Yan external, investing a significant price for Hong Yan’s electoral bid for Grand Governor. Now, just as they were about to reap their rewards, Hong Yan was dead, leaving their previous efforts wasted. It’s unbearable. His impulsive brother Hong Ban had rushed back to the city, up to God-knows-what, obviously in a foul mood. But as a politically astute person, seeing Bai Zhongdong, who usually looked down on others, treat a Night Patrol member so politely, Hong Xin had to contain his temper.

"Captain Li, there was also a woman in the bedroom, and now this woman is missing," Hong Xin said solemnly, "This involves the private affairs of our Hong Family; I hope this matter won’t be spread around."

The Beijing people highly valued tradition, and clearly, this woman was not part of the Hong Family.

"Lord Bai, are there any leads on the Puppet Master?" Li Xin had a fair idea of why Director Bai was being friendly towards him, likely due to Sister Kathy rather than any other reason.

"To achieve this level and lie low for so long, it’s likely the Angel of the Puppet Master path. The Song Slave Master of the Song of Hell is in Dragon Capital," Bai Zhongdong explained, "but the Tiss thread has been severed, making it impossible to track him."

As a Puppet Master, they were obviously adept at avoiding detection—otherwise, they couldn’t have hidden in Dragon Capital for so long.

"In a previous petite skinning case handled by the Night Patrol, the murderer was the Slave Master, and Shadow Owl’s former captain Jiang Wu was killed by him during the investigation," Li Xin said.

Bai Zhongdong nodded, "The Slave Master is in Dragon Capital, likely lurking among the upper echelons, and likely had contact with Hong Yan more than once to keep refilling the Tiss thread, improving puppet concealment."

Hong Xin’s face turned grim, "My brother, as a candidate for Grand Governor, had daily interactions with numerous people. How can we find him?"

Bai Zhongdong and Li Moqian didn’t answer because the Puppet Angel was exceedingly cunning and well-hidden, adept at using identities, assuredly a significant figure in Dragon Capital. Being surrounded by people of their level, no one discussed it lightly given the severe repercussions of an error.

"Lord Hong, could you describe that woman?"

Hong Xin took a deep breath, "That woman was someone my brother recently got involved with and was infatuated with. It seems highly likely she’s with the Song of Hell, but what puzzles me is how she managed to kill my brother. My brother was at the peak of Four Lives, suppressing his cultivation for the Grand Governor election, yet he had a lifesaving magic potion that temporarily granted angelic power, and being along the knightly path made him difficult to kill. Yet, when the Church’s angel arrived, not only had she killed my brother, but she also disappeared."

Hong Xin’s tone clearly indicated his dissatisfaction with the Church.

"Captain Li, the guard team was led by a Moon Angel from the Descending Legion, whose capability and loyalty are beyond question. According to the Moon Angel, ever since this woman appeared, Hong Yan prohibited angels from approaching the villa or the Moon Angel from sensing what was happening inside," Bai Zhongdong explained with great patience.

Descending Legion?