Memory Lost

It's very late at night.

Su Mian is sitting in the study room by herself staring at the file in front of her.

It's the file that Han Chen got from the Chief today, which is the big case from five years ago. And these are the most detailed information that they can retrieve. Han Chen has already read through them; she hasn't though.

She takes a deep breath and opens the file. The title in black color causes her to be stunned slightly. f𝘳𝚎𝑒𝚠𝑒𝚋𝘯o𝘃eƖ.co𝓂

"4.20 Massive Serial Killing Case Condensed Records——Public Security Bureau 2009 No. 001 File"

Although it's labeled as "condensed records," it's a very thick file.

Su Mian continues reading.

"Between January 2008 and January 2009, 10 murder cases happened in the city one after the other. The murderer used poison, explosives, dismembering and other methods to kill the victims. The victims included wealthy businessmen, white collars, ordinary citizens, and etcetera, stealing more than a billion RMB of assets. The perpetrator's skill was intricate and careful when committing the crime, making it extremely hard to solve the case. The station suspected that there was an organized group of individuals who plotted and carried out these incidents. The police formed a special investigation team and started investigating."

The report is written in a concise and calm manner but through some of the wording, Su Mian can imagine how the sudden rise of the seven-member organization shocked the police at the time. Even someone like T, who was experienced in plotting, was just the most inexperienced one from the seven-member organization.

"The special investigation team was established: the station's deputy chief Chen Wei Liang, Captain Ma Bo Tao of the second criminal investigation team……"

Other criminal investigators' names follow, and Han Chen's name is also among them.

Su Mian stares at those two familiar characters of his name. Her heart feels slightly stuffed. It's as if she and Han Chen can finally touch the pain and hurt that has been covered up for so many years.

"After many months of hard work, the special investigation team had identified preliminary suspects: an estimated of 7-9 core members with 10-15 supporting members. Since the organization possessed heavy firearms, the special investigation team was planning to arrest all the members at once on or around April 20."

These straightforward words summarize what the special investigation team did.

But the following paragraphs send shivers down her spine:

"April 20, armed forces and the criminal organization were involved in an unexpected gun battle at the location, causing five policemen to die in the line of duty and ten injured. Three members of the criminal organization were also shot dead at the same time.

On the night of April 20, multiple explosions occurred at the special investigation team's location of ambush. Ten or so civilians were killed and/or injured. Deputy Chief Chen Wei Liang and three other criminal investigators lost their lives; Investigator Han Chen was injured severely and was in a coma; five members of the criminal organization were also killed and/or injured. The headquarters of the criminal organization was destroyed, so many of its members attempted to escape.

April 21 to 24, at several locations in the city, a series of murder incidents appeared. The methods used for murdering were similar to previous incidents. Within a few days, ten or so innocent civilians were killed. It was suspected that these remaining members of the criminal organization were provoking and taking revenge on the police.

At the end of April to mid-June, the police continued making arrests in the city area; two criminals were captured and three were shot dead. After the trial, they admitted to their crimes on April 21 and 22. There were also many traces of evidence and tools used to commit the crimes left at the scene. And they confessed unanimously that there were no other criminals on the escape.

A year later, the police continued investigating and chasing after the evidence but they did not find any traces of other criminal members. And there had not been any more similar incidents happening. Therefore, the April 20 case was deemed solved and was closed."

……

As she's immersed reading the file, she feels someone hugging her from behind suddenly.

Han Chen's cheeks are still carrying some dampness from after taking a shower. He lowers his head and reads the file with her. He asks, "How's everything?"

Su Mian thinks over the words in the document. Her heart is still beating fast as she answers, "Back then, how did the mission end up like this? So many people were killed and injured." 𝗳𝙧𝐞𝚎w𝗲𝚋n𝚘𝙫𝑒𝘭.𝑐om

Han Chen responds, "Something unexpected must of happened during the police's plan to arrest." He takes the file from her hand, reads it quietly and then says, "I've looked it up before. Not long after the April 20 case, the team leader of the criminal investigation team and another deputy chief resigned."

Su Mian keeps quiet.

She originally thought that a big case like this with over 64 killed and/or injured might have been a twisted hunting act of the despicable seven-member organization. She never thought that the truth would be this tragic. There was indeed a twisted act of hunting, and there was indeed a fierce battle between the police and the criminals. Xin Jia was absolutely right when she said before she died: "neither side won the battle and many lives were taken." No matter how much effort and intelligence both sides utilized back then, everyone was dragged into the maelstrom of bloodshed.

It's understandable that the police would classify the case as confidential.

After a while, she says softly, "From start to end, my name did not appear once."

Han Chen puts the file down and holds her face to look at him, "Haven't you noticed how condensed these documents are? How could they reveal a name of an undercover cop here? Furthermore, who knows that you're still alive right now?"

Su Mian nods and then says, "If it's really like what Xin Jia said, then there are still five of them alive. Even if they've been in hiding for these years, they must not have stopped killing others. It's in their nature, so they can't help it. It's just that they've been able to hide very well. If we can really expose one of them, the other four might come out to fight back."

Han Chen nods slowly.

They both remain silent for a brief moment. An image suddenly floats into Su Mian's mind: five serial killers finally walk out from the horizon. She and Han Chen, as well as the rest of the Black Shield Team, will face them with new and old grudges and fight them down.

Will this be a new bloody battle?

But they have no choice. They must not let them escape from justice and continue to hide among the crowd and kill others.

"Are you able to complete any profiles?" Han Chen asks.

Su Mian flips through the documents. There are more details in the pages after. They're all details of the victims including their summaries, photos, how they were killed, photos of the scene and their autopsy reports. They've also been organized based on the way they were killed: explosion, poison, heart extracted and dismembered, sniped……sniping cases were undoubtedly T's trait. Poisoning must have been related to Xin Jia. The rest are obviously works of other psychopathic killers.

She nods, "I can complete some preliminary profiles."

"Okay. I want them tomorrow morning."

Su Mian recalls him announcing in the office today about establishing a special investigation unit. She sighs in her heart and asks, "You really want to test each one of them out?"

"Yes."

Su Mian thinks for a second and says, "I can't say about the others, but Zhou Xiao Zhuan is definitely not one of them."

Han Chen smiles and lowers his head to look at her, "Why?"

Su Mian leans in his embrace and answers, "He's such an airhead, how could he possibly be a serial killer? They are a seven-member organization, so they must be picky in accepting their members."

But Han Chen decides to tease her, "You're also an airhead, but I still chose you, haven't I?"

Su Mian is speechless, "……F–k! I'm not an airhead like him!"

The case is a serious matter, but the two of them still smile looking at each other. After a while, Su Mian sighs, "Although I haven't been working with Cold Face and Chatterbox for a long time, I hope that they're not one of them."

In regards to these two of his favorite subordinates, Han Chen doesn't comment. He changes the subject and asks, "What about Xu Si Bai?"

Su Mian is surprised. She stares into Han Chen's eyes.

The image of Xu Si Bai's face floats into her mind, as well as his eyes staring at her.

She shakes her head, "If I were to make the call, he definitely isn't. He's been with me for these few years and has never shown any strange behaviors. He devotes his whole body and soul to his work at the forensic lab. He really has no desires. Some things can be disguised, but not everything can be. For example, a person's pure heart, firm determination, and ambition."

Her words are resolute and decisive. Her eyes are clear and gentle. Han Chen stares at her for a moment, smiles lowering his head and kisses her aggressively. He even bites her lip causing her to cry out in pain, but he seals her lips, muffling her complaints.