SFTD -Chapter 373 White Spots Reappear (Part 14)

Zhou Hai shook his head again. After a brief pause, he continued: “I don’t think that’s what it means.

If it were just about causing confusion, he could have used better methods—for example, cyanide compounds, or chosen a more concealed location. At the very least, we wouldn’t have been able to discover the body so quickly.

But now, the deceased is placed so openly in the machinery factory yard, and the staged scene is so careless, yet it still leaves behind injuries that can almost be described as a copy of the ones on Xixi’s body.

All of this is telling us one thing—he doesn’t want to hide who he is, but he also won’t reveal it directly. It’s like he’s playing a game.

A murder game!”

Dr. Nan sucked in a cold breath. This analysis was chilling. But when he thought about it, it did seem to fit. Everything the perpetrator had done was hinting at something without ever stating it outright—almost like he was toying with the police.

Dr. Nan’s expression grew even more serious.

“If that’s the case, does it mean the killer is extraordinarily capable? After all, not just anyone could pull off a plan like this.”

Zhou Hai nodded.

“Not only that. He seems to be highly proficient in pharmacology, mechanical engineering, forensic anatomy, surveillance systems, financial transfers, and even both investigation and counter-investigation techniques. At one point, I even suspected he might be someone from within our system—or even a colleague of mine. But even someone in the same field wouldn’t be able to be this all-rounded.”

Dr. Nan didn’t look surprised at this assessment. Instead, he nodded in agreement.

“Based on Xiao Liang’s description yesterday, I had the same feeling. But have you looked into the hexagram symbol and the word ‘Denker’?”

Zhou Hai nodded.

“I searched, but the information is vague. I also asked Dr. Hu from the provincial city. She believes ‘Denker’ is German for ‘thinker.’

As for the hexagram, she said it has ties to Jewish history. During World War II, the Germans forced Jews to wear armbands or badges marked with a hexagram.

Right—badges.

We found a hidden box in the victim’s workshop. Inside was a golden metal badge with a hexagram symbol on it.

There was also a glass bottle identical to the one from the MIG poisoning case, containing four identical capsules.

And a test syringe. The syringe contained hyaluronic acid. I suspect it was used to mix powdered drugs and fill the small internal channels of the tubular knife.”

Zhou Hai pulled up a photo of the badge and showed it to Dr. Nan.

This series of findings, along with the image of the badge, made Dr. Nan visibly shocked.

As if remembering something, he pulled out a stack of documents from beside the table. They looked aged, filled with a musty smell. He flipped to a page marked with a folded note and handed it to Zhou Hai.

“This aligns perfectly with my thoughts. I searched a lot of related materials, but there’s very little information online or in databases. However, while looking through the East South Chronicle, I found some clues.

This is a local gazette from the 21 years when the Germans occupied East South. It records the people who migrated there during that period.

Especially this section: after occupying East South, the Germans gathered the local Jewish population into a single area, confiscated their property, and forced them to live around Guangxi Road together with White Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians who had also migrated there.

It also records that at No. 11 Jiangxi Road, a Jewish association hall was established, and they were all required to wear armbands and badges for unified management.

Buildings like the Ortel Apartments, the Maxim Building, and the Marquis Court Hotel all seem to have been taken over in the same way.

So during the German occupation of East South, they also seized the property of all foreigners living there—only the aristocrats were spared.

Take a look at this badge in your photo. Doesn’t it resemble the one mentioned here?”

Zhou Hai held the East South Chronicle up close to his right eye, carefully examining the faint image. Because of its age, the details were difficult to distinguish, but the overall outline was strikingly similar to the hexagram in Zhou Hai’s photo.

But why would the killer leave such a symbol?

Was he trying to guide their investigation in a certain direction?

Or was it simply an act of self-expression?

Dr. Nan adjusted his glasses and then picked up an English book.

“This is a book written by a Jewish author called Jewish Biographies (Volume: Thinkers). This is the English edition, but look—on the title page, there’s also a German version.”

Following Dr. Nan’s finger, Zhou Hai looked over and indeed saw a small illustration of a book. Above a bowed figure, there was a very prominent word:

DENKER.

Zhou Hai suddenly lifted his head and looked straight into Dr. Nan’s eyes.

“So this word really does mean ‘thinker’ or ‘philosopher’ in German?”

Dr. Nan nodded.

“Absolutely. But what it’s supposed to mean here, I don’t know. Is he praising his own intelligence? Or implying some sort of racial superiority? Or something else entirely?”

Zhou Hai narrowed his eyes.

“That’s what I still can’t figure out. I can’t connect what this combination is supposed to represent.

Highly purified toxic substances with deliberately added impurities…

Access to first-hand personnel information…

Strong surveillance and counter-surveillance abilities…

A barely functioning Third Hospital…

The ability to control the lives of Dong Bin and Zhang Mingquan…

And strong financial power…”

“Financial power?” Dr. Nan asked.

Zhou Hai nodded.

“In the MIG poisoning case, we found multiple transfers in Zhang Mingquan’s account totaling over 1.4 million.

We traced it for a long time but couldn’t find the original source. That alone proves the killer’s strong anti-tracking skills and financial strength.

As for Dong Bin, I suspect his case is no less than this amount.”

Dr. Nan clicked his tongue in astonishment.

“So wealthy… why would someone like that do all this? Does he really hate society that much?”

Zhou Hai shook his head. He didn’t have an answer. All the information they had was fragmented, with no clear connections. They truly had no direction left.

Dr. Nan glanced at him, understanding his frustration. He tapped the table lightly with his pen, pointing at the symbol and writing on the blueprint.

“If you can’t figure it out for now, don’t force it. Let’s first thoroughly analyze everything we already know. That way, we’ll eventually find a direction. Look—this blueprint is hand-drawn, but the writing style has been deliberately altered. As for this symbol and handwriting, it seems like he’s still imitating someone.”

Zhou Hai let out a long, exhausted sigh. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming.

But he quickly adjusted his emotions. After all, everyone was watching him.

“If we see this person’s normal handwriting again, would you be able to identify it?”

Dr. Nan stroked his chin.

“I can try. I know an old monster in handwriting analysis—he’s really something else. I’ll send these materials to him later. I think he’s returning to the country today.”

A few images flashed through Zhou Hai’s mind. He quickly took out his phone, found Old Yang’s calligraphy works and the handwriting on the registration cards, and bundled them together before sending them to Dr. Nan’s email.

“Compare these as well. See if they relate to the handwriting on the blueprint.”