Meng Chao's mouth fell open for a long time.
Shen Yupeng's puzzlement was also his puzzlement.
Aside from his conflict with Spirit Creation Creatures, Jin Yongqiang did not form a grudge against anyone that would not end unless he died.
And it was impossible for Spirit Creation Creatures to know that he had poisoned his pets.
Otherwise, they could have just called the police, and the law would have punished him. There was no need for him to bring trouble to himself.
But even if he did not have proof, Meng Chao still believed that Jin Yongqiang's death was not an accident.
Because the notification for the mission at the top of his vision had already jumped to [Mystery of the Supernatural Entities: Progress: 8%].
As the truth of the case gradually came to light, the progress of the mission increased by a large margin.
This meant that Jin Yongqiang's death was definitely related to the Supernatural Entities.
But how was he supposed to tell Shen Yupeng about it?
Meng Chao thought about it for a long time and could only say, "So, it ended just like that?"
"What else?"
Shen Yupeng retorted. "We've captured the mastermind and the supplier of the drug. We've also found the specially made syringes and other tools used to commit the crime in the house of the person who committed the crime. The souls of the two victims in heaven will be comforted, and Spirit Creation Creatures will no longer have to suffer from injustice. Isn't that enough to solve the case perfectly?
"Meng Chao, I know what you're thinking, but this case isn't as simple as you think it is. You saw the gathering and parade for the people working in the biochemical modification and monster industries today, right?"
Meng Chao nodded. "I saw it. I heard that tens of thousands of people participated."
"It's not tens of thousands. It's hundreds of thousands. You know how high the unemployment rate in Dragon City is right now. There are plenty of youngsters who have nothing to do wandering around the streets. When they run into something like this, there's no way they won't join in the fun."
Shen Yupeng sighed. "If we don't close the case soon, the conflict between the supporters of biochemical modification technology and runic symbol machines technology will become even more intense. Today, you have tens of thousands of people and tens of thousands of pets going on a parade. Tomorrow, I will drive a mining excavator that weighs hundreds of tons to the streets and block the traffic in front of the Supernatural Tower." Then, I will attract hundreds of thousands of angry unemployed youngsters to watch. If we're the slightest bit careless, things might go awry, and it will turn into a major incident that will sweep through Dragon City.
"What the higher-ups mean is that they don't want to see the conflict between biochemical modification technology and runic symbol machinery technology to worsen. They want to come up with a conclusion on this case as soon as possible and appease the emotions of all parties. Every day that this case is delayed increases the risk of the entire city exploding. Do you understand?
"Even though we were under a lot of pressure, we didn't act carelessly, and we didn't force them to confess under torture. Instead, we worked day and night for more than forty-eight hours and did a lot of meticulous work. Trust me, 99% of this case can stand repeated verification. After all, once we come up with a conclusion, we'll definitely have to face the nitpicking from both the biochemical modification faction and the runic symbol machines faction. There's no way we won't be able to turn this into an ironclad case.
"Even if there is a 1% flaw in Jin Yongqiang's death, I believe that no one will care about it. Spirit Creations Creatures won't, and Heavenly Works Machines won't either.
"But —"
"If Jin Yongqiang was really killed and the murderer is still at large, what should we do if he commits another crime?"
"Then we'll wait for him to commit another crime and bring him to justice."
Shen Yupeng picked up another bowl of porridge and smiled. "Do you think that we're too passive when we do things and aren't like the secret police who are said to be wise and able to solve cases like gods?
"We can't help it. We live in a world that's completely different from Earth. Our civilization and Earth's civilization might look similar on the surface, but we're fundamentally different.
"In our society, there are a lot of humanoid beasts known as superhumans. They're human-shaped tanks, human-shaped fighting fortresses, and human-shaped bombs. They have astonishing destructive power and great criminal skills. We can't stop any superhuman from committing a crime, and we can't tell which superhuman has the possibility of committing a crime either.
"Let's talk about you, Meng Chao. Right now, you're in your prime. You have extraordinary skills, a lot of friends, and a bright future ahead of you. No matter how I look at it, it's impossible for you to commit a crime.
"But if you make the slightest mistake while you're cultivating and an insignificant amount of spirit energy rushes into your central nervous system to destroy or modify a rice-grain-sized region in your brain, you might go through spirit energy deviation. Your personality will change, and you'll have a strong desire to kill and destroy.
"May I ask, how are we supposed to prevent this sort of out-of-control crime beforehand?
"And how can you guarantee that you won't go through spirit energy deviation while you're cultivating?"
Meng Chao thought about it for a long time, but he could not guarantee anything.
"Even the Supernatural Tower and adjudicator court have limited resources. They have limited manpower, funds to handle cases, and the collateral damage they might cause when they handle cases," Shen Yupeng said in resignation.
Shen Yupeng said in resignation. "I also want to close the case perfectly, but it's impossible for me to continue pouring in all my resources for a 1% flaw, because while I'm investigating the mystery behind Jin Yongqiang's death, there's a high possibility that dozens of vicious cases of superhumans going through spirit energy deviation or losing control and committing crimes will happen in the city. I believe that you should be able to tell which is more important."
Meng Chao sighed and got up to get himself another bowl of porridge. "I know that if the water is too clear, there won't be any fish in it. I also know that there are plenty of things that are just like how we can't do it if we want to do it. It's just that we can't.
"It's just like how Dragon City doesn't have the ability to completely get rid of Golden Tooth Lair even though we know that it's a place where a lot of wanted criminals are hiding in.
"But when I think about how we're already so close to the answer, the truth, and justice, I can't get to the bottom of the case because we have to resolve the conflict between the biochemical modification faction and the runic symbol machines faction, I just can't accept it."
"Truth and justice have never been what the secret police, adjudicator court, Supernatural Tower, and even the Survival Committee pursue," Shen Yupeng said faintly.
Shen Yupeng said faintly. "Unity and stability are what Dragon City needs the most right now."
"Big Brother Shen, do you think that we can be united and stable without absolute truth and justice?" Meng Chao frowned.
"Why not?"
Shen Yupeng leaned over and stared at Meng Chao. "If I wanted to pursue absolute justice, I would first investigate what happened to Shen Yulong and Lu Siya's mine exploration teams in the depths of Raging Waves. I would want to know whether the mine explorers died because of the spirit energy tsunami or because of each other's weapons and mine hammers.
"Even if I did that, the conflict between Universe Corporation and Sky Pillar Corporation, the Shen family and the Lu family, and the adjudicator court and research department would escalate to the point that they would completely break off, I would not be swayed by it. I would look for the true culprit who killed the mine explorers and figure out the roles Lu Siya, you, and Qin Hu played in this matter. After all, this would be absolute justice. Only then would I be able to comfort the souls of the deceased in heaven. This is the true nature of the secret police, right?
"Look into my eyes and tell me. Should I investigate this to the bottom?"
Meng Chao found himself speechless.
"What about the truth? If I wanted to pursue absolute truth, the first person I would investigate would still be you," Shen Yupeng continued.
"Why did you suddenly rise to power fifty days before the national college examination and become a two-star superhuman in just half a year? Why did you also master so many strange secret techniques? Who is the Old Fire Relayer you speak of? Does he exist? Is he a crazed, illegal research team or a criminal organization hiding in the lair?
"Do you think that I should use any means necessary and pay any price to investigate your origins, background, the source of your strength, and everything else?"
Meng Chao had nothing to say to that.
"Look, absolute truth and justice can't bring absolute unity and stability."
Shen Yupeng sat back down and resumed the appearance of a lazy and unkempt uncle next door. He said lazily, "I've been in the Adjudicator Court for many years. Although there are many stories about me circulating outside, many people often imagine me to be an impartial and ruthless person when they hear the frightening titles like 'Secret Police', 'Adjudicator', and even 'Magistrate'.
"But in truth, as long as your threat to Dragon City isn't too obvious, I'm not too willing to kill you.
"I can turn a blind eye to the conflict that happened underground in Raging Waves. You said that my cousin Shen Yulong and many of the mine explorers were killed by a spirit energy tsunami, so I'll consider it an accident!
"I can also ignore your origins. If you like making up stories about the Old Fire Relayer, then go ahead. In any case, every superhuman has their own secrets and likes to make up their own stories.
"Based on the same reason, even if the answer to the mystery of the murderous pets in Blessed Paradise is missing the final piece, the price for finding it will be too high. So, let's end this case here, okay?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
