Chapter 698: The Killer’s Psyche, the Escalation and Collapse of Ecstasy!

Less than five minutes after Cao Xiuyuan left.

Sun Zhou, who appeared out of nowhere, also came downstairs with Director Chang.

When the two saw Chen Xiao sitting not far from the entrance, they just nodded to him briefly as a greeting.

Soon, everyone left.

Only Chen Xiao and Qin Fei, the last to come down from upstairs, remained.

The latter approached Chen Xiao and said meaningfully:

"Just now, Captain Sun waited for Captain Cao to leave before he went upstairs through another door."

"What did he go upstairs for?"

"Seemed like he wanted to curry favor with Director Chang, as he was quite interested in the forensic results from today’s scene. But since Captain Cao is the expert in forensics, Captain Sun probably felt that even if Cao found something, he wouldn’t share it with him."

Chen Xiao smirked without responding.

Qin Fei rubbed his face, sighed, and said:

"Seeing them like that, I actually find it quite uninspiring."

"Why don’t we head back to Shencheng City? The bidding is happening tomorrow!" Chen Xiao instantly perked up.

Qin Fei quickly shook his head: "No, that won’t do. Uncle Qin... the leader dislikes me giving up halfway, so I have to see this case through to the end this time!"

Chen Xiao chuckled, then pointed at the trunk:

"There are folding chairs in the car; bring them down, and we can sit and discuss together."

"What’s there to discuss? Although you said we should take one step and look three steps ahead, with today’s progress, we’ve already thought several steps ahead." Qin Fei grumbled as he moved the chairs.

Chen Xiao nodded: "Indeed, taking one step and looking three steps ahead is enough. Looking any further just adds unnecessary pressure on ourselves. But don’t you think our current investigation is based on a hypothesis?"

Qin Fei looked puzzled.

The issue of the premise, they had already analyzed thoroughly before.

The entire matter revolved around someone deliberately luring Yuan Keyu to Xiaozhuang South Town.

The reason for coming to the town was naturally the academic issue that Yuan Keyu was most interested in.

Moreover, this academic issue was of such crucial importance that Yuan Keyu maintained an absolute secrecy about it.

But why was Chen Xiao bringing up the premise again now?

Seeing the confusion in Qin Fei’s eyes, Chen Xiao continued:

"The kind of hypothesis I’m referring to is the one where Sun Zhou analyzed the motives for murder."

Qin Fei suddenly understood: "You mean, the case might actually involve someone with an inherently evil nature committing murder just to achieve some form of psychological thrill?"

"Yes, this feeling has been growing stronger ever since we set tonight’s premise. Whether it’s you, Captain Cao, or Captain Sun, you should all be familiar with such psychologically driven murderers."

"Having been a police officer for a long time, you inevitably encounter one or two of these twisted individuals."

Qin Fei replied, while Chen Xiao squinted his eyes: "Based on past experiences, do you think the impact of the current case has reached what he desires?"

"Isn’t it enough? The elite from the police across the province have formed a task force to investigate his crime!"

Qin Fei’s words had just been uttered when his brow furrowed tightly again.

"No, based on past experiences, aside from the satisfaction from the existence of a special task force, the perpetrator likely hasn’t felt any other thrill yet."

Chen Xiao’s expression turned serious as well.

He originally just mentioned it casually.

Unexpectedly, not mentioning it wasn’t an issue, but mentioning it seemed to reveal a significant problem.

Even Qin Fei couldn’t suppress his emotions as he spoke again:

"Chen Xiao, if that’s really the case, the perpetrator’s state of mind might be completely opposite!"

"Exactly, as time passes, not only might he not feel any thrill, but he might also become increasingly agitated because the entire case is still under wraps!"

"Right, right, killers of this type fundamentally have no connection to their victims. They kill only for a name, an infamous name! So he experiences thrill in several stages: one, he gets his first thrill when the crime is committed!"

"Afterwards, as higher and higher departments investigate the case, his thrill peaks again with each departmental change!"

"However, this is not his ultimate goal! His ultimate goal is to let everyone know what he’s done, fulfilling his most twisted desire by having more and more people know about it!"

"So, the current total secrecy surrounding the murder of Professor Yuan could make him extremely agitated. His agitation may likely trigger another round of killings!"

"If his new wave of killings occurs, it will surely be highly targeted!"

"For instance...."

Qin Fei didn’t finish his sentence since he also thought of Liu Dayou’s divination at that moment.

Cao Xiuyuan’s divination seemed ambiguous, hinting both at good and evil, and life and death.

What does life and death entail?

It can be understood as a narrow escape!

"Let’s go; we need to follow Brother Xiuyuan immediately. He might be in danger!" Qin Fei was getting restless, considering his friendship with Cao Xiuyuan.

Chen Xiao, valuing human life, didn’t hesitate, swiftly packing up the chairs.

The two got back into the car, but as they drove, Qin Fei asked:

"Chen Xiao, do you think we should clearly warn Brother Xiuyuan?"

"That decision is yours; after all, I’m here to assist you, so the choice is up to you. Warning him directly will enhance his safety. Not warning him could give us a chance for a trap!"

Chen Xiao candidly expressed his stance.

Qin Fei wasted no time, his decisiveness easing a weight off Chen Xiao’s mind.

"We should definitely warn him. Regardless, in my eyes, though Brother Xiuyuan is ambitious, he’s always been a very competent and responsible police captain."

"Aspiring to climb higher as a police captain is not wrong!"

With that, Chen Xiao directly dialed Cao Xiuyuan’s number.

After all, Qin Fei was driving at the moment.

Once the call connected, Cao Xiuyuan asked: "What’s up, Chen Xiao?"

"Captain Cao, I want to...." Chen Xiao barely started before Cao Xiuyuan unexpectedly interrupted:

"What you want has nothing to do with me, also, I haven’t hidden any findings from the task force. So no matter what you think, I’ve already shared everything I found. If you still don’t believe... there’s nothing I can do."

With that, Cao Xiuyuan abruptly hung up.

Hearing the beep from the disconnect, both Qin Fei and Chen Xiao were left stupefied.

"What did Brother Xiuyuan mean by that?"

"Calling him was not about asking for the progress on the investigation! He really is...."

Qin Fei’s words stalled again, then he looked in shock at Chen Xiao, who had already understood the call’s content!