Retrogade Mission

Chapter Six: The Reason

Zuo Luo asked, "Did the detectives investigate the husband's relationship with the neighbors?" In these kinds of cases, the wife often feels guilty when the husband dies, and vice versa. Frequent contact and conflicts between spouses increase the likelihood of a crime of passion.

Su Cheng has a good memory and replied, "Yes, the two families are basically nodding acquaintances. According to the previous property management, the neighbor had a verbal argument with the other party because the neighbor placed flower pots on the balcony of the corridor. In the end, my husband called the property management, and the neighbor had no choice but to move the flower pots back to the balcony of her own house. This happened only half a month ago. The property management is very sure that the two families do not have a good relationship. The property management said that placing flower pots is actually a very small matter."

Zuo Luo asked, "What do you think?"

"As the saying goes, if you walk by the river long enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet. This burglar kept breaking into houses until he finally found one that was home. In psychology, this is called a repeat offense. He started with small thefts, then started with big thefts, then extravagant thefts, and finally got caught. The detective was right; after killing someone, this burglar would probably be bolder and bolder the next time he broke into a house. However, I personally think that after the first murder, he should have waited at least a few months."

Zuo Luo said, "We must first understand how this thief determined that no one was home. In the past, burglars would usually check the electricity meter. If the meter wasn't running, it meant that someone was unlikely to be home. Now, they check the Wi-Fi signal, hack into the router, connect to the Wi-Fi signal, and check if any mobile phones or routers are connected to determine if the homeowner is home. So this afternoon, we will visit a few other burglarized households."

Su Cheng sighed, "I'm so hungry right now."

Zuo Luo said, "It's difficult to locate the criminal in this kind of case using technical means. Nowadays, even a thief knows to wear gloves. We need to start by investigating his identity when he entered the community. We need to retrieve nearby surveillance footage and gradually pinpoint his details."

Su Cheng persisted with his topic, asking, "Is there a rule in the Mercury retrograde plan that the consultants must be fed? We can't let them starve to death?"

"No," Zuo Luo said helplessly. "I have a lot of things to do today. We'll go to the site later. You can buy some things on the way. By the way, I really don't like your dawdling personality."

Su Cheng looked at Zuo Luo with a hint of annoyance: "I just love to dawdle."

"You'd better correct this flaw. If I don't think you're of any help to Group Seven, you'll be sent back to the detention center for a retrial. However, I'm currently quite satisfied with your understanding of the Ghost Group; it's based on the fact that it's not something you made up." Zuo Luo, a man of many talents, had long seen through Su Cheng's slippery nature. Although this guy wore a suit and had a smile, it was all deliberately forced, completely different from the defendant he had met in court. Su Cheng's gentlemanly demeanor was superficial, while that bastard's gentlemanly demeanor was ingrained in his bones.

Su Cheng helplessly shrugged and said nothing more.

Mercury retrograde, short for Mercury retrograde. During certain periods, Mercury is in a retrograde state, a phenomenon within the realm of astronomy. The "Mercury Retrograde Project" derives its name from this, aiming to combat crime by reversing the identities of criminals.

City A is one of the world's top 20 cities, with a population of over eight million. It's a megacity with boundless business opportunities, attracting many foreign criminal gangs and also fostering numerous local ones. While police resources may seem limitless to these criminals, they are often at a disadvantage in specialized areas.

For example, a thief might spend his days studying how to pick locks, while the police don't have the time or energy to do so. In this area, the police are at a disadvantage compared to the thief. To deal with such a thief, there's no need to train police officers in this area; you can hire a thief of similar rank to handle him.

To give another example, modern technology is advancing rapidly. A thief, specializing in one profession for years, quickly becomes outdated in their knowledge. Police, however, lack the time and energy to learn new skills. High-tech crime is escalating, especially since some products can only be obtained illegally from developed countries. The police in City A lack experience in dealing with overseas criminals. Interpol sounds impressive, but it's actually a dispensable department with very limited effectiveness. Its main role is to collect reports of suspects from various countries, communicate with foreign police forces, and gather information on criminals.

The new chief's first act upon taking office was to launch "Operation Mercury Retrograde," serving two purposes. Firstly, it aimed to use the criminals' own tactics against them. Secondly, it allowed frontline officers to quickly learn valuable lessons, such as contact information within the criminal community, the technology they possess, and their modus operandi. Another benefit was that a seemingly impenetrable fortress is most easily breached from within; if the second-in-command was an advisor to "Operation Mercury Retrograde," the gang's downfall was merely a matter of time. This approach also drew inspiration from the concept of tainted witnesses abroad—a bold experiment.

The initial pool of five candidates for the "Mercury Retrograde" program included a notorious criminal nicknamed "Wolf Lawyer," who was arrested six months prior in City A for stealing government tender documents. Wolf Lawyer was a commercial spy and a small-time supplier; he had access to technological products currently used in the military by developed countries, products unavailable even on the black market. His arrest sparked interest from over twenty countries, who dispatched high-ranking agents to City A, offering various incentives to persuade him to defect. However, Wolf Lawyer refused all offers and was ultimately sentenced to seven years in prison. He agreed to join the "Mercury Retrograde" program, promising to provide the agents with necessary intelligence through his own channels for two years, after which he would be released.

Wolf Attorney joined Team One of Department Z two weeks ago. As a welcome gift, Team One dismantled a smuggling ring active in Asia and also destroyed an underground bank, arresting nearly a hundred people. Because of this, the case, which should have fallen to Team One with its technical capabilities, ended up on Team Seven, which had absolutely no technical expertise.

Su Cheng squatted dejectedly at the entrance of the scene. Zuo Luo took out his phone and took pictures of the scene, carefully examining it. Taking pictures with a phone seemed fine, but buddy, you're an agent, a very high-ranking Z department. Would you dare take pictures at the scene without a camera worth over ten thousand yuan?

His stomach growled in protest, so Su Cheng stood up and knocked on the door. This was a two-unit apartment on the first floor, so he was naturally knocking on his neighbor's door. The neighbor was home. She opened the door to a woman, about thirty years old, who was clearly exercising. Su Cheng noticed the TV in the living room was playing a program called "Learn with Me." Exercise really does build a great figure; her skin was truly impressive. The prerequisite, however, was being ruthless with oneself.