7: The murderer was not a butcher, but an artist.

The five words, 'Specimen Maker.' They pierced the eardrums of everyone present like five ice picks.

The air froze.

Only Director Wang's heavy breathing remained in the Archives Office.

The schadenfreude on his face stiffened, transforming into comical astonishment.

"Spe... Specimen Maker?" He shrieked first, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Chen Mo! You looked at a photo and got so scared you started talking nonsense, didn't you!"

"This case is called the 'butcher of the rainy night'! For seven years, we've all concluded the killer was a butcher or someone in a related profession! Now you're telling me he makes specimens? Are you writing a novel?!"

Director Wang's voice was sharp and shrill, spitting saliva everywhere.

He tried to use his official authority and volume to mask his inner panic.

Zhao Dahai ignored him.

His hawk-like eyes were locked firmly on Chen Mo's face.

He saw no trace of the wildness of nonsense on that pale face.

There was only the tranquility of someone who had seen through everything.

"Your basis."

Zhao Dahai's voice was hoarse, yet filled with undeniable power.

Su Qingxue also took a step forward, holding her breath.

The flame that had just dimmed in her eyes was now reignited.

"The basis is right here in the file."

Chen Mo's finger pointed to a page in the forensic report.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"First, look at the wound description here. 'The incision is smooth, precisely avoiding major blood vessels and nerves, separating along the direction of the muscle fascia...'."

"A butcher's knife work focuses on strength and efficiency, meant to separate bone from flesh, cutting deep to the bone, and is highly destructive."

"But this kind of knife work has only one purpose—to completely peel off a hide."

Zhao Dahai's pupils contracted sharply.

He immediately flipped to the autopsy reports of the subsequent victims and found the descriptions were nearly identical!

They had overlooked this detail for seven years!

The preconceived notion of "Butcher" made them assume this was just some twisted habit of the killer!

"Second, the smell."

Chen Mo continued, sounding like an experienced professor lecturing students.

"The files repeatedly mention an unidentifiable chemical odor lingering at some crime scenes.

You kept trying to find a matching odor source in slaughterhouses and meat processing plants, which is why you found nothing."

"Because it wasn't the smell of blood or the stench of rotting animal organs at all."

"It was the smell of formalin mixed with animal hide tanning agents."

"That is the unique smell of a specimen workshop."

Boom!

Zhao Dahai and Su Qingxue felt something explode in their minds.

Two seemingly unrelated clues were precisely connected by Chen Mo with an invisible thread!

The entire logic of the case was instantly overturned!

"Nonsense! It's all your speculation!" Director Wang was still fighting a desperate battle, pointing at Chen Mo's nose.

"Captain Zhao! Don't listen to his rubbish! This kid is just scared out of his wits and is spreading malicious rumors here! In my opinion, he should be immediately suspended pending investigation!"

He tried to steer the topic toward Chen Mo's "mental state," which was the only point he could attack.

"Shut up!" Zhao Dahai suddenly turned around and roared.

The sound was like thunder, making Director Wang tremble all over.

"Wang Fugui, this is case analysis, not your Academic Affairs Office!"

"From now on, either shut your mouth or get out!"

Zhao Dahai's gaze looked like it could devour a person.

Director Wang's face instantly turned liver-colored, and his lips trembled for a long time, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Zhao Dahai stopped looking at him, turned back, and stared intensely at Chen Mo.

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes."

Chen Mo met his gaze and stated the final, and most crucial, point.

"It's the psychological profile."

"The codename 'butcher of the rainy night' was wrong from the start.

A butcher kills for a living; it's mechanical.

But this killer enjoys the process of creation."

"He is not a butcher; he is a self-proclaimed 'artist'."

"He kills not for catharsis, but to select 'materials' for making specimens."

Materials.

This cold word sent a chill down Su Qingxue's spine.

A demon who treats living people as "materials."

This was his truest portrait!

"Qingxue!" Zhao Dahai's voice already carried a hint of uncontrollable excitement.

"Immediately! Contact the Information Center! Investigate all registered specimen making halls, animal specimen workshops, and even university anatomy labs in Jiang City!"

"Every single person employed in these fields must be added to the suspect list!"

"Yes!" Su Qingxue snapped to attention, her eyes flashing with excitement.

The seven years of fog had finally been torn open!

"Wait a minute!" Director Wang panicked, seeing that he was about to be completely ignored.

His face flushed red, and he pointed at Chen Mo, as if grasping the last straw.

"Captain Zhao! You can't be this reckless! Based solely on a few baseless guesses from him, you're going to use the entire team's manpower to investigate 'specimen makers'? If this turns out to be wrong, won't we become a massive joke?!"

"Who will bear this responsibility?!"

"I will!" Zhao Dahai's voice was firm and decisive.

He stepped forward, nearly pressing himself against Director Wang.

He spoke word by word:

"I guarantee it with this uniform and my future!"

"If the investigation is wrong, I, Zhao Dahai, will resign!"

Director Wang was so terrified by his imposing aura that he stumbled back two steps and plopped onto the floor.

Insane!

Zhao Dahai must be completely mad!

He would actually bet his entire career on a few words from a new Coward!

Zhao Dahai no longer paid attention to Director Wang, who was slumped on the floor.

He picked up the file and turned to leave.

Just then, Chen Mo's voice sounded again.

"Captain Zhao, perhaps... we don't need to search the entire city."

Zhao Dahai and Su Qingxue stopped simultaneously and whipped their heads around.

Chen Mo lowered his head, seeming to talk to himself, yet also giving them a hint.

"The killer is solitary, with severe control issues and antisocial personality disorder.

His workshop must be located far from crowds, absolutely quiet, and where he won't be disturbed."

"Furthermore, making specimens requires a constant temperature and humidity environment, and also necessitates disposing of large amounts of chemical waste and animal remains."

"Considering all this, a detached factory building with a basement, located in a deserted industrial area, would be the ideal location."

He raised his head and looked out the window.

"The eastern suburbs of Jiang City seem to have an area like that."

The Eastern Suburbs Abandoned Industrial Area!

Su Qingxue immediately pulled out her phone and brought up the Jiang City map.

Sure enough!

The area was deserted, scattered with old factory buildings left over from the 1980s.

And most of them had underground air raid shelters!

If the killer was truly there, it would be the perfect criminal haven!

Zhao Dahai looked at Chen Mo, his expression shifting from appreciation to... awe.

This was no longer simple analysis.

It was as if... he had witnessed it himself!

Director Wang, who was sprawled on the floor, was now utterly pale.

Listening to Chen Mo's clear and meticulous analysis, only one thought remained in his mind.

It's over.

It seems he's going to be right again this time.

"Good!" Zhao Dahai slammed his hand heavily on the table.

"Target: Eastern Suburbs Industrial Area!

Qingxue, immediately take people to scout the area!

I'll go apply for a search warrant!"

He finished speaking and turned to leave.

But just as he reached the door, he stopped.

Turning around, his sharp gaze fell upon the slender figure still sitting calmly in the chair.

Everyone thought he was about to leave.

Instead, he suddenly extended his finger and pointed at Chen Mo.

In an unmistakable tone of command, he said:

"You, Chen Mo."

"Come with us."

"I want to see what else you can 'analyze' once we're on site."