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墨書 Inktalez
Despite the clear awareness that Maliang had when he jumped down, there were so many dummies around that it was worth a try. Given the height, I naturally couldn't find a living person to simulate the jump, but even though these dummies wouldn't provide particularly accurate results, they would suffice.
From the markings on the ground, it appeared that the closest simulation to Maliang's position was indeed "he jumped down."
This might indicate that Maliang had actively jumped down. The reason he didn't choose to walk down could be due to fear of encountering an open window during the fall, leading him to opt for a desperate leap instead. If he had been pushed, the distance wouldn't have been so great.
Considering that Maliang left his glasses on the platform, it suggested that he was prepared. It was unlikely he would have left them behind if he had been pushed.
Although the Autopsy results were not yet available, all these clues pointed towards Maliang likely committing Suicide rather than being a victim of Homicide. However, if this were the case, it would indeed prove my earlier judgment wrong since this incident occurred outside the area I had mapped out and was located much farther away.
"If it is Suicide, and it relates to our case, trust me, we will soon find his reasons for doing so," I sighed and addressed everyone, "Which floor does he live on?"
Through the property management, we quickly arrived at Maliang's residence.
Technically, this wasn't Maliang's home but rather the place he rented.
A Suicide Note.
Before I could even open this Suicide Note, Guan Zengbin called: "Wu Meng, based on the condition of the body from the Autopsy, there are no signs of inflicted wounds; all injuries are consistent with a high fall. There are no traces of drugs in his blood, indicating he was clear-headed when he jumped. However, whether someone pushed him from behind remains uncertain."
I replied, "It has basically been confirmed as a Suicide. We have gathered enough evidence to support this conclusion. Moreover, I have a Suicide Note in my hands; I just haven't had the chance to read it yet. I believe we will soon uncover his reasons for Suicide."
When we opened the Suicide Note, I could almost ascertain that this case was indeed related to previous ones. The note resembled a copy of Gao Rui's letter and explicitly mentioned both the act of Suicide and subsequent matters; they were both individuals with savings.
The question of why such a person would choose to Suicide became increasingly perplexing. However, after reading through the envelope's contents, I finally understood why he took that step.
Being a Real Estate Agent was merely one of Maliang's jobs; it didn't differ much from his other work—making phone calls.
In fact, Maliang was someone who relied on sophisticated deception to con people.
Next, we will reveal how a fraudulent company makes money through franchise fees.
First, Maliang's company has an impressive name and specializes in clothing. It is registered in Hong Kong, which is quite easy. Then, Maliang's company advertises franchise opportunities across major networks nationwide, attracting various individuals to join.
The franchise fee typically ranges from fifty thousand to eighty thousand. This figure is carefully designed. Wealthy individuals generally look down on businesses that cost only fifty to eighty thousand, while those who hope to get rich with such an investment are often those who are greedy for bargains and lack business acumen.
When someone calls to inquire about the opportunity, this is when Maliang steps in.
On the phone, Maliang uses exceptional eloquence to entice these individuals to join. Depending on the person on the other end, Maliang employs different tactics.
For those who are not well-versed in business, he uses a jumble of professional jargon to leave them confused, making them believe the company is highly professional. If the caller is an elderly person, he plays on emotions with warm words to lower their guard. If someone is particularly price-sensitive, he pretends to offer special discounts.
In short, there are numerous tactics at play.
Out of every hundred calls made, the success rate is about ten percent. There will always be ten people who fall for Maliang's pitch.
Next, out of those ten people, five will usually come for an on-site visit.
Maliang's supervisor welcomes these individuals to several physical stores in Dongxing City. The company has a rule never to conduct business locally in Dongxing City. When these out-of-town franchisees arrive, they often see the bustling stores and believe that this industry can indeed be profitable.
In reality, these stores are merely propped up by the company's funds; the more prosperous they appear, the more determined these individuals become to invest.
Then, the company shows them the merchandise.
The clothing is of excellent quality and style.
The enticing offer is that the franchise fee plus the clothing costs only fifty thousand. Once they return home and muster up their courage to open a store, won't they be able to reach the pinnacle of success in just a few years? Thus, the investors happily pay the franchise fee and return home waiting for news.
In fact, they will never receive this batch of goods.
The company provided them with clothes sourced from wholesale markets, and many were even taken from the bodies of the deceased in hospitals or funeral homes.
The quality was pitiful, and naturally, no one would buy them.
Maliang was not unaware of what he was doing; he knew that these smiling faces would turn into sorrowful ones within a month. Yet, Maliang felt he had no choice. His parents were farmers, and he had younger siblings who needed to go to school.
People did not care for others' suffering. When Maliang had nothing, no one showed him any sympathy.
It wasn't that no one protested; the company only dealt with outsiders. These individuals came alone to a strange city, with no one to turn to. Sue? Just the lengthy investigation would be enough to drain them. They had spent all their savings; how could they keep going?
Moreover, there was nothing wrong with these contracts.
Most of these people did not understand business or contracts. When they signed that contract, they were doomed to end up losing both their money and their dreams.
How could they file a complaint?
For three years, Maliang had witnessed too many such tragic events. They knelt at the company’s entrance, held banners, and cried out in despair. But how could these powerless advocates stand against a company?
The contracts were very clear; if they disagreed, the company's hired thugs would be dispatched. In the end, there was still no way out. Most people chose to close up shop and return to where they came from with their shattered dreams.
In just three short years, Maliang earned two hundred fifty thousand. This amount was something he had never dared to believe before. His job was to shatter the dreams of those who came with hopes of wealth.
Let’s do a conservative calculation: from one investor alone, five thousand could be swindled. As a telemarketer, Maliang could take away one thousand, while the supervisor who received the investor could take four thousand. The remaining five thousand would be used to provide clothing for the investor, with five thousand in costs being claimed as worth fifty thousand.
The remaining forty thousand went straight into Boss's pocket. Based on the scheme of defrauding one person at a time, Boss could earn twenty thousand.
Twenty thousand a month translates to six hundred thousand a year, totaling seven million two hundred thousand annually. Excluding rent and the salaries of thugs, lawyers, and telemarketers, it was not difficult for Boss to make six million a year.
As he counted his money, he never thought about how many tear-streaked eyes lay behind it all.
In three years, Maliang had witnessed too much and grown accustomed to too much indifference. He became increasingly apathetic, his mood swings more erratic. The last remnants of his conscience reminded him that this was wrong, for he had seen too many people like his own parents.
They understood nothing; they took all their savings just to create a better environment for their child.
But Maliang felt that no job could earn money faster than this one. He was eloquent, and in one month, he even made twenty thousand yuan.
It was quite ordinary.
A person who came to Dongxing City to seek justice was dragged out like a dog, and Maliang recognized him. This man was someone Maliang had deceived, tricking him out of seventy thousand yuan.
Maliang even forgot his name, forgot his surname.
He saw Maliang and knelt before him.
"That is my family's lifeline, big brother, Old Man, father, I beg you, please return my money. I beg you." Tears streamed down his face as he clung to Maliang's leg. "I beg you, that’s my lifeline! All my savings are in there! Please, just give me back half, okay? Just half!"
Maliang looked at him; he had only two fingers on one hand.
That seventy thousand yuan was the compensation for his work injury from the construction site. He had lost his ability to work; that money was gone too, and he truly could not survive any longer.
Maliang watched as this man, old enough to be his father, knelt before him without any stirrings in his heart.
"Take him out!" a supervisor ordered. "Don't let anyone see; it will affect business."
He was carried away.
The next time Maliang saw him, he had become a corpse. He jumped from the top of the company building and splattered into a puddle of flesh. That was the second time; when Maliang continued working, he heard a loud bang outside the company door. When he went out to check, he saw him.
This nameless man lay on the ground. His head faced Maliang, and his eyes seemed to be staring at him. Blood splattered everywhere like a bright red rose. Maliang stared blankly at him until the gasps of bystanders snapped him back to reality.
Maliang sat in the office for a long time, not answering a single phone call.
The Boss had given him a month off, encouraging him to rest well, while still paying him his basic salary.
The Boss was truly good to him.
Maliang hadn’t slept in a month because every time he fell asleep, a loud "bang" echoed in his mind.
It was the sound of someone falling from above.
In three years, Maliang had forgotten how many people he had deceived. Yes, he never witnessed the fates of those individuals. What had happened to them when they returned to their hometowns? Were they weeping in despair with their wives? Were their children unable to attend school? Had they, like him, jumped from a building?
He had once convinced himself that nothing had happened to those people.
Maliang thought that over the course of three years, his conscience had long been devoured by dogs.
But he was not the most skilled con artist.
Then.
He dreamed of his father jumping from a building.
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