Chapter 41

"Tell me the details of the case from beginning to end!"

Looking at the extremely simple description of the side mission, Qin Ran slowly said.

"Aren't you looking for Hunter's daughter? That guy who treats all the police as his servants!"

Sheriff John glanced at Qin Ran, snorted coldly, and expressed his dissatisfaction with Hunter.

However, he still told Qin Ran everything he knew.

"The body was discovered by a drunkard this morning, near the train station!"

"It was thrown in a corner like garbage!"

"I've dealt with many vicious people, but none of them would treat a body like this!"

Speaking of the current murder case, Sheriff John became agitated again, subconsciously lit a cigarette, and offered one to Qin Ran.

However, Qin Ran declined.

He picked up his pipe and gestured to the other party.

Even though it was an empty pipe with no tobacco inside, and he had no matches in his hand.

But it still convinced Sheriff John.

"Pipes are too troublesome, far less convenient than cigarettes, especially Ship brand cigarettes, they're quite good, you should try them!"

Sheriff John muttered, lit his cigarette, and began to puff away.

After taking two consecutive puffs, he continued.

"I'm short of manpower right now. If you're willing to help, I'd be very grateful!"

"This is the proof I signed, it will allow you to enter the church school where Hunter's daughter studies. I hope you can find something useful!"

As he spoke, Sheriff John picked up a pen and wrote something on a piece of paper.

A dozen seconds later, he handed the paper to Qin Ran.

It read—

Qin Ran, Police Consultant, specially hired by the police department.

Sheriff: John

Chief: Patrick

April 1, 1861

Below the signature was a police department seal.

Seeing the chief's signature, Qin Ran looked at John in surprise.

"That bastard went on his honeymoon two weeks ago, leaving everything to me, and then this headache happened!"

John said, taking a harsh puff of his cigarette.

"I thought you would send someone to help me find her!"

Qin Ran waved the appointment letter in his hand.

"I told you, I'm short of manpower! Extremely short!"

John said irritably.

Faced with the other party's emphasis, Qin Ran shrugged.

Clearly, this was the limit of the help the other party could offer—more help would require completing the side mission.

This was a bit different from his previous guess, but the essence remained unchanged.

"Whether or not the side mission is triggered, the appointment letter should be given!"

"However, players who don't trigger it will go directly to the school where Altria studies!"

"If something happens there, I need to act quickly!"

Thinking of this, Qin Ran immediately stood up.

He needed to act quickly and go to the scene of the body disposal near the train station.

After that, regardless of whether he found anything, he should quickly go to the church school to be safe—Hunter had mentioned that Altria always took a carriage to school on time, and the rest of the time, including weekends, was within the sight of him and his wife!

Thinking of the box under the missing Altria Hunter's bed.

Qin Ran believed the school would be an important place.

Perhaps there wouldn't be direct clues, but at least, he could find out who taught the missing Altria Hunter.

And this might be the next clue to find her.

"See you later!"

Qin Ran waved to John and walked out without waiting for a response.

Leaving the police station, Qin Ran raised his hand and hailed a carriage.

"Train station!"

Qin Ran instructed the driver.

...

A noisy crowd, a chaotic crowd, a stench, and a dirty ground.

Stepping out of the carriage, Qin Ran immediately saw another side of the city.

Gone were the well-dressed, smiling faces.

Here, people struggled and endured just to survive.

Everywhere were people trying to make a living.

Young men who lived by manual labor, middle-aged women selling sundries, shouting newsboys, and beggars.

There were also some people who blended in with the crowd, but upon closer inspection, were distinctly different.

They wore tattered clothes, but their hands were extremely clean and nimble, often squatting or standing in corners, sizing up passersby, and once a target was found, they would quietly follow and use their clean, nimble hands to gain their reward.

Under Qin Ran's gaze, these people had already completed several thefts.

Their identity was no longer in doubt.

Thieves!

However, Qin Ran didn't meddle in other people's affairs; he had more important things to do.

Qin Ran scanned the surroundings.

Soon, he found his target.

A police officer in uniform was still very noticeable here.

Even in a corner.

Qin Ran walked over.

"Step back, you can't get close for now!"

Seeing Qin Ran carrying a long box, the police officer on duty immediately shouted.

He was a young man, standing straight even when alone.

Diligent and responsible, and likely very righteous.

Qin Ran guessed as much, and at the same time, took out his appointment letter.

"Are you Mr. Qin Ran? I've heard of your name. Hello, I'm Karl!"

The young police officer carefully examined Qin Ran's appointment letter and smiled.

The identity arranged by the game had once again played a role.

Of course, the final approval still relied on the appointment letter.

Qin Ran put away the appointment letter and asked.

"Hello, I'm Qin Ran!"

"Can I go in and take a look now?"

"Of course!"

The other party gave an affirmative answer and stepped aside.

Qin Ran walked in.

This was a dirtier and smellier alley than the outside.

The alley was not wide, it was very narrow and cramped, and at the end was a high wall, which looked like the back wall of a building.

Such a place, ordinary people wouldn't come to.

If it weren't for the drunkard's accidental discovery, the body might have rotted and stunk before anyone found it.

Qin Ran examined the ground.

As he walked into the alley, the skill [Tracking] was activated.

Messy and unclear footprints.

Residual bloodstains.

They appeared one by one before Qin Ran's eyes.

But they didn't help much; the footprints were messy and constantly overlapped, making it impossible to identify them.

The bloodstains only indicated the location of the body, and were otherwise useless.

Qin Ran frowned instinctively.

This wasn't what he wanted.

His gaze turned to the walls on both sides, and he noticed a red mark on the left wall.

Bloodstains!

Qin Ran walked over and looked at the fresh red mark.

His mind raced.

"There are no drag marks on the ground, the murderer carried the body here!"

"To conceal the body, a burlap sack or something similar must have been used!"

"But some of the blood must have seeped through, leaving these bloodstains!"

"However, not much seeped through, otherwise there would be droplets on the ground!"

"This suggests that the murderer killed the woman not far from here!"

"Also, to hide the woman's identity, the murderer deliberately disfigured her face!"

Then, Qin Ran estimated the height of the bloodstains.

"The murderer isn't very tall, but must be very strong, otherwise they couldn't carry a female corpse!"

"Also, the bloodstains are on the left wall, indicating the murderer carried the body on their left shoulder, suggesting they are left-handed and have more developed left arm muscles!"

"The murderer eviscerated the woman, indicating a great deal of hatred and some butchering skills!"

"Besides the possibility of showing off, why didn't the murderer bury or burn the body, which would be a safer option?"

Qin Ran asked himself.

Even though the alley was hidden, abandoning a body here was still not as safe as burying or burning it.

Unless...

It was more convenient and hidden for the murderer to do it this way!

It wouldn't raise any suspicion!

Qin Ran's gaze turned to the outside of the alley. Even from deep in the alley, he could clearly see the laborers carrying goods in the distance.

It seemed that the people in the distance fit his speculation.

"Karl, I have some findings!"

Qin Ran said to the young police officer.

"What did you find?"

The young police officer looked surprised. Even though he had heard of Qin Ran's reputation, he found it hard to believe that Qin Ran had found something so quickly.

"The murderer is shorter than you but very strong, and is left-handed. Go and ask around who has been with a red-haired woman recently, and who was a butcher or a butcher's apprentice. You might find something unexpected!"

Qin Ran pointed to the laborers in the distance.

As a police officer, Karl would be more convincing and intimidating when asking questions—this was what Qin Ran wanted.

If the murderer was indeed a laborer, such intimidation would be enough to make them panic and reveal themselves.

"Um... Okay!"

The young police officer hesitated but still did as Qin Ran said.

Undoubtedly, the reputation of the game identity had once again played a role.

And everything went as Qin Ran expected.

A moment later, a commotion broke out where the laborers gathered.

A man who was not very tall but very strong suddenly pulled out a dagger and held a thin man hostage.

People scattered.

The young police officer faced off with the man but couldn't control the situation.

On the contrary, the man became more agitated, and the dagger had already cut the hostage's neck.

As blood flowed out, there was another outcry from the crowd.

Qin Ran was about to intervene.

Using Karl's identity, the purpose of luring the man out was achieved, and there shouldn't be any casualties next.

However, the next moment, Qin Ran frowned slightly.

A hand was stealthily approaching his coat pocket.