klisemfg Chapter 1109 A Passerby Cannon Fodder in an Infinite Flow Dimension (Part 32)
Chapter 1109 A Passerby Cannon Fodder in an Infinite Flow Dimension (Part 32)
Xie Chenzhou's eyes grew sharper as his fingertips slowly slid across the case file, trying to find any clues related to the "murderer" from the yellowed text and photos.
This is not just about completing game tasks, but also about finding Miaomiao as soon as possible and protecting her.
Just like what that dog game said, you can't completely believe it. It only said that there was a possibility of seeing Miaomiao in three days, but there was another possibility that he wouldn't see her at all...
Even with Xie Chenzhou's meticulous mind, he couldn't hide the turmoil in his heart when he thought of this.
If he didn't need to use this identity to investigate and break the deadlock, he would have almost torn down this old police station on the spot.
Xie Chenzhou exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down, and carefully flipped through the pages again, not wanting to miss any tiny detail.
After he finished reviewing the case file from beginning to end, Xie Chenzhou raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples, his gaze unconsciously sweeping towards the pale blue cursor on the ceiling.
[166:25].
The game has a total playtime of 168 hours, and there are currently 166 hours and 25 minutes remaining. This means that he has already spent 1 hour and 35 minutes since he entered this world.
In those 1 hour and 35 minutes, he only figured out Luna's identity and the background of the case.
As for Miaomiao, he had no useful information other than that it was related to Luna.
Sitting idly by and waiting for death has never been his style.
Xie Chenzhou looked at the other case files piled on Willie's table, which at this moment seemed like waste paper to him.
His only goal at this moment is to find the key to breaking the deadlock through the "Luna case".
When the word "murderer" is uttered in the game, it likely implies that Luna is probably in grave danger, and finding the murderer might be the shortcut to finding Miaomiao.
Xie Chenzhou did not act blindly, but quickly built a framework for the investigation in his mind.
The original owner, Willie, had a seemingly comprehensive investigation, but he overlooked two key dimensions: the "time difference" and "non-directly related personnel".
Willie focused on Luna's family, friends, and rivals, but overlooked those seemingly unrelated "outsiders" who were able to accurately track her movements.
Moreover, Luna had been missing for several days when the investigation began, and the evidence at the scene had most likely been destroyed. Now, as we revisit the site, we should pay more attention to the "details that have remained unchanged for eight years" and the "memories that may have softened over the years."
He first identified two key targets for his visits.
One is Luna's former residence, and the other is her parents' home.
The residence is the core of the crime scene, and even after eight years, there may still be environmental traces that were overlooked back then.
For example, special remnants of objects, or subtle anomalies in the walls or floor, are things that the original owner might have overlooked due to their anxiety back then.
As for Luna's parents, eight years later, their grief may have faded somewhat, and they may remember details that they didn't dare to say or didn't realize were important back then.
For example, Luna's unusual emotions before her disappearance, the unfamiliar people she mentioned, and even some seemingly unrelated trivial matters in her life.
As for secondary targets, they are the supermarket Luna frequents, the dance troupe, and her former neighbors, including marginalized people like supermarket cashiers and dance troupe cleaners, and even people who visited Luna's home back then, whether they were staff or garbage collectors.
Those people may not have been Willie's primary targets back then, but they may have seen the strangers traveling with Luna or noticed any unusual stalkers.
Neighbors might be able to recall any unfamiliar vehicles or suspicious individuals that appeared in the vicinity before or after Luna's disappearance.
With his thoughts clear, Xie Chenzhou no longer hesitated.
He carefully put away Luna's file, and then took out the old case address map and Willie's old notebook from his desk drawer. Both of them contained the contact information and addresses of Luna's relatives and friends, saving him the time of re-examining.
He was unfamiliar with the location since he was new there, but Willie's wallet was stuffed full of money; money makes the world go round.
The officers around him were so intimidated by Willie's unusual demeanor that they didn't dare approach him until he left the police station. Only then did they huddle together and discuss whether Willie had been dumped by the woman he liked, and why he seemed so strange.
Chen Zhou paid no attention to the stares of others, his eyes filled only with eager longing for Miao Miao; he was about to get serious about the game.
Meanwhile, as Xie Chenzhou embarked on his investigation, time was quietly slipping away in Miaomiao's little house on the other side of the city.
The exhaust fan continued its tireless hum, and the ticking of the clock was amplified infinitely in the deathly silent room, monotonous and agonizing.
Miaomiao had initially been trying to stay alert and pay attention to her surroundings, but as time went on, she felt increasingly weak. Her throat felt dry and tight, as if it were on fire, and even swallowing saliva was difficult.
She lay on her side on the mattress, her eyelids so heavy she could barely lift them. Her initial anxiety was gradually replaced by a sense of helplessness, and she exuded a listless, languid air.
Four hours had passed since she was abducted into this dimension, and apart from the two strange children and a few meaningless conversations, she hadn't obtained any useful information.
"Click——"
The old-fashioned clock on the wall suddenly chimed softly, its hour hand pointing precisely to six o'clock in the afternoon.
The two children, who had been sitting motionless on their small stools, finally started to make a sound.
The smaller boy slightly moved his stiff neck, his dark eyes fixed on the doorway, his brows furrowed, and for the first time, his tone carried an anxiety that didn't belong to a "robot."
"Dad hasn't come back yet."
The older boy also turned to look at the doorway. A subtle tension appeared on his previously calm face. He didn't speak, but his silence confirmed his brother's words, and the urgency in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Miaomiao perked up, forced herself to sit up, and asked a question with a dry throat.
Does he come home at this time every day?
The young man turned to look at her, his voice still devoid of emotion, but more organized than before.
“Dad comes home at six o’clock every day, bringing water and food. He works very hard.”
Miaomiao's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly understood.
This "father" was the only source of supplies for the mother and her two children; only when he returned could they have water to drink and food to eat.
No wonder there wasn't even a water glass or bowl in this room; it seems the supplies are being strictly controlled.
So, it's the apocalypse outside? But if it's the apocalypse, how could the original owner have appeared in that underground parking lot without any precautions?
Miaomiao couldn't grasp any useful information for a while.
Why don't you go outside?
As she watched the growing anxiety on her two children's faces, she felt increasingly uneasy.
“It’s dangerous outside. We are a family of four, and we need to stay here safely.”
The behavior of these two children, especially the older one, is like that of a machine that has been programmed. Even the time they wait for "Dad" to come back is precise down to the second. If the program goes wrong, they will fall into anxiety.
This kind of formatted life exudes a suffocating sense of oppression.
But shouldn't children be innocent and lively? In them, Miaomiao only saw emptiness and numbness.
Miaomiao licked her chapped lips; the dryness in her mouth made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
She didn't know why that "father" was late today, whether something had happened or it was intentional.
But she was certain that the moment that man returned would be the best opportunity for her to gather information.