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墨書 Inktalez
Three people supported the pale-faced Wu Yazhuo as they crossed a stretch of valley, finally arriving at the western edge of Strange Stone Beach.
The setting sun was obscured by yellow sand and dust, casting a bleak atmosphere over the desolate tidal flats. A small, matchbox-like house stood forlornly among them, as if abandoned by the entire world, appearing especially lonely in the cold wind.
"The scene before us is like a painting, but it's one of tragic art. This kind of imagery ruthlessly tears apart all the beauty of the world; the rising sun has turned into a dim orb of light, fresh air is tainted with dust, and even the closest earth and water to us are merely a jumble of rocks and riverbanks..." Ying Xiaoque crossed her arms and gazed at the small house, unable to suppress her feelings.
"Comedy teaches us to resist; tragedy teaches us to cherish." A deep voice came from the side. It was a man, unkempt and with a melancholic expression, sitting cross-legged on the ground, hastily sketching the scene before him with a brush.
"Xiao Chang?!" Wu Yazhuo stepped closer in surprise. "I never expected you to take the initiative! Your 'Low-Risk Depression' seems to be just as it always was!"
"I’m here as an artist to sketch; I have no interest in playing the role of a detective!" Xiao Chang's voice was flat and devoid of emotion as he continued to focus on his drawing, though his explanation sounded somewhat weak.
Wu Yazhuo shrugged. "Actually, your curiosity is probably stronger than your pursuit of art!" He said this while shaking out a sketch from his drawing pad, which had clear markings and data on it.
After several minutes of silence, Xiao Chang spoke unexpectedly:
"A typical locked room, constructed from red brick cement boards, measuring approximately 5 meters by 4 meters by 3 meters. The length is 4 meters east to west, while the height is 3 meters. There’s an iron door on the east wall that has been locked from the outside with a padlock and bolt. Inside, someone has bizarrely sealed the door with cement against the wall completely. Additionally, there’s a cement vent near the top of the south wall for light and ventilation—similar to those found in public restrooms. Inside lies one deceased male, approximately 30 years old, wearing a windbreaker but sporting leather shoes. The body is lying on its side facing west with a dagger in its chest. Judging by the temperature and smell, he has probably been dead for about three days. This type of locked room is typical yet not very common; especially since the cement on the door appears to have been applied solely for sealing purposes. Generally, locked room crimes that challenge detectives tend to use various mechanical methods first—like tampering with bolts or door seams or creating time locks or psychological locks..."
"Could it be that none of these apply?" Zhang Qiyan blinked rapidly in astonishment; his surprise seemed less about the complexity of the case and more about Xiao Chang's analysis.
"However, I already have an answer in mind. I'll finish my sketch first; you can use this time to inspect the building again." Xiao Chang remained indifferent as ever, not lifting his eyes from the paper.
Wu Yazhuo cleared his throat. "When I listen to Mu Rong Jing speak, I feel an urge to cry—could there really be anyone who can speak Chinese more dull than him? But now I realize: indeed, there is!"
"By the way, why hasn't Zhong Dage come?" Zhang Qiyan asked Xiao Chang, then turned to look at Mu Rong Jing. "And what about Yu Wen?"
Mu Rong Jing's response was quicker than usual. Although Zhang Qiyan had first addressed Xiao Chang, it was Mu Rong Jing who answered first. "Since our opponent wants to see our purest reasoning, I think it's better not to call the police just yet. Besides... Yu Wen is also a police officer after all..."
"Zhong Li will come over once he finishes his current case. He said he wants to see the results directly," Xiao Chang replied, more to himself than anyone else. "Results are often more important than the process. Throughout our lives, regardless of whether we do good or bad deeds, we will ultimately face a result, and the saddest part is that our result will always be the same: death..."
Mu Rong Jing paid no attention to Xiao Chang's musings on life. With his hands in his pockets, he walked towards the secret room to conduct an inspection. Wu Yazhuo felt a chill run down his spine, fearing that depression might be contagious, and hurriedly followed Mu Rong Jing.
Zhang Qiyan and Ying Xiaoque politely listened to Xiao Chang's reflections before walking side by side toward the secret room. As they carefully examined the area, they discussed their findings with each other.
After nearly finishing their inspection, Zhang Qiyan stepped aside, crossing her arms as she observed the three individuals intently examining the secret room. She glanced back at Xiao Chang and suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement: what kind of brilliance would four detectives with a combined IQ exceeding 600 produce?
The clever and astute Mu Rong Jing, the meticulous and grounded Ying Xiaoque, the quick-witted Wu Yazhuo, and that uniquely unconventional Xiao Chang... It truly was a gathering of detectives!
The four of them returned to where Xiao Chang was standing. At that moment, he had set aside his drawing board. Crouching slightly, he dipped his fingertips into paint, mixing somber and grim colors as he spoke slowly. "Have you all finished your observations? Since I arrived a bit earlier than everyone else, I'll be the first to provide an answer."
"The most notable feature of this secret room is undoubtedly the cement-sealed door. The confidence of the person who set this up must stem from this fact. In previous secret rooms, various window hooks and mechanical door locks have been abundant, and there's always been a saying: 'The higher the skill, the greater the challenge.' No matter how complex a design is, there’s always a way to crack it. But this time is different; there’s no lock—it's been replaced with cement casting. Such a complex situation makes it incredibly difficult for anyone outside to accomplish this except for the deceased inside."
"You mean to say that the deceased sealed the door? But..." Ying Xiaoque frowned slightly, about to voice her disagreement.
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