Chapter 102 Wang Gang's Life-Saving Account Begins; The Key in the Dead Man's Hand Points to the Mass Grave.

In the small Duty Room behind the administration hall, the lamp was dimmed low.

Lin Chen dropped the door latch and placed the iron tube with the word "codename" written on it onto the desk.

Zhao Gang stood by the door, his hand still resting on his sword hilt, his eyes fixed on the iron tube.

"Inspector, open it."

"If that old dog Director Wang Gang truly left a contingency plan, what's inside will surely nail Deputy Chief Meng Huaian and his gang."

Zhou Tie stood by the window with his spear in hand, his gaze sweeping over the area outside the window paper.

"No one outside."

Shen Yue pushed the clutter on the desk to one side and spread out the evidence bag.

"The wax seal is intact; the iron tube hasn't been opened."

Sun Qi leaned against the wall, the medicinal dressing on his face still unchanged, his voice raspy.

"If Second Young Master Wang Pei knew the items hadn't been burned, it wouldn't be this quiet tonight."

Zhao Gang sneered.

"When has it ever been a good thing for the Wang family to be quiet?"

"Whenever they are quiet, they are surely sharpening their knives behind our backs."

Lin Chen did not reply.

He picked up the iron tube and ran his thumb over the wax seal.

The two characters for "codename" on the wax seal stood out clearly against the charred tube wall.

Zhao Gang couldn't help but ask again.

"Inspector, what exactly does 'codename' mean?"

Shen Yue looked at the two characters, her brow furrowed.

"It might be a name, or it could be a secret code."

Sun Qi shook his head.

"There is no one named codename in the Main Courtyard roster."

Zhou Tie said.

"A man like Director Wang Gang wouldn't write his life-saving evidence too plainly."

Zhao Gang curled his lip.

"If he'd had this much sense earlier, he wouldn't have had his manor burned down."

Lin Chen looked up at him.

"Director Wang Gang didn't sit in the Patrol Division for so many years just by being a fool."

Zhao Gang shut his mouth.

Lin Chen drew the black abyss half an inch and used the tip of the blade to pry open the wax seal.

When the seal of the iron tube was broken, there were no ledgers or scrolls inside, only three thin sheets of paper that slid out.

Zhao Gang's expression fell.

"Just three sheets?"

"And this is supposed to be a life-saving card?"

Shen Yue unfolded the first sheet; the surface had been smoked, but the edges were well-preserved.

She took a look and then looked up at Lin Chen.

"It's Director Wang Gang's own handwriting."

Zhao Gang immediately leaned in.

"What does it say?"

Shen Yue didn't read it aloud; she handed the paper to Lin Chen first.

Lin Chen took it and scanned down from the first line.

For a moment, the only sound in the Duty Room was the soft crackle of the lamp wick.

Zhao Gang couldn't wait, fidgeting impatiently.

"Inspector, say something."

Lin Chen placed the paper on the desk.

"Director Wang Gang has confessed."

Zhao Gang's eyes lit up.

"Confessed to what?"

Lin Chen pressed his knuckles against the paper.

"Embezzling salaries within the Patrol Division for the Wang family, suppressing cases, and deleting records."

Sun Qi pushed his back off the wall.

"Did he write the Wang family's name?"

Lin Chen said.

"He did."

Zhao Gang slammed his hand on the corner of the desk.

"Good!"

"With this paper, how can the Wang family still deny it?"

Shen Yue looked at the paper, her tone not relaxing.

"This is just a self-preservation letter."

Zhou Tie asked.

"What about the original ledgers?"

Lin Chen looked at the last line of the first page.

"He said the original ledgers are not at Wang Gangs Manor."

Zhao Gang's joy faded significantly.

"Not there either?"

"Where on earth did that old dog hide the items?"

Sun Qi said in a low voice.

"If the original ledgers were at the manor, last night's fire would have been enough."

"The Wang family wouldn't have wiped out both Butler Wang Fu and the accountant."

Shen Yue nodded.

"Director Wang Gang knew long ago he would be silenced, so he hid the most critical items separately."

Zhao Gang cursed.

"That old dog may be evil, but he certainly knows how to save his own skin."

Lin Chen picked up the second sheet.

On the paper was a severed fingerprint, with a line of small text next to it.

"The old Archives Room key, divided into two; one half with me, one half with Zheng."

As soon as Zhao Gang saw the text, his expression changed.

"Zheng?"

Sun Qi also frowned.

"Old Zheng?"

Zhou Tie looked at Lin Chen.

"The old Zheng from the Main Courtyard Archives Room?"

Lin Chen nodded.

Zhao Gang lowered his voice.

"But Old Zheng was taken by the Governors Mansion long ago; he's in Jail now."

"If the key were on him, the Governors Mansion would have found it when they searched him."

Shen Yue took the second sheet and read it again.

"He said one half is with Zheng, not that it's on Zheng."

Sun Qi added.

"It could also be in a place that Zheng managed."

Zhao Gang shook his head.

"I've been to Old Zheng's house; it's already been tossed three times."

"The Governors Mansion tossed it once, the Main Courtyard tossed it once, and we checked it afterward as well."

Zhou Tie said.

"So that's a dead end?"

The Duty Room fell silent.

Zhao Gang stared at the severed fingerprint, feeling more and more annoyed the longer he looked.

"That old dog Director Wang Gang writes like he hides knives—always leaving half of it out."

"If he really wanted to save his life, couldn't he have written it clearly the first time?"

Lin Chen picked up the third sheet.

There were no words on the paper, only a location.

"City South Graveyard, Grave Number Nineteen, Bing Series."

Zhao Gang froze.

"The graveyard?"

Shen Yue looked at Lin Chen, her expression also changing.

Zhou Tie's grip on his spear tightened slightly, but he didn't speak.

Sun Qi reacted a half-beat slower, then looked up.

"Wu Si is also buried there."

The lamp in the Duty Room flickered.

Zhao Gang opened his mouth, the earlier anger suppressed back into his throat.

"Inspector, this..."

Lin Chen looked at the third sheet, not speaking immediately.

His fingers pressed against the edge of the paper, the page perfectly still.

After a moment, he finally asked.

"Grave Number Nineteen, Bing Series—who registered it?"

Sun Qi stood up straight immediately.

"I'll go check."

Lin Chen pushed the third sheet over.

"Only check the registration; do not alert the Main Courtyard."

Sun Qi took the paper.

"Understood."

He turned and left the room, his footsteps quick, disappearing under the corridor soon after.

Zhao Gang watched the doorway and asked in a low voice.

"Inspector, if there really is something in that grave, are we going tonight?"

Lin Chen said.

"Going tonight."

Zhao Gang immediately puffed out his chest.

"I'll take some men."

Lin Chen glanced at him.

"I don't need you."

Zhao Gang was stunned.

"Why?"

"I can fight, and I can dig graves."

"Besides, I should go see Wu Si."

Zhou Tie glanced at Zhao Gang but didn't speak.

Shen Yue lowered her eyes and rearranged the three sheets of paper in order.

Lin Chen put away the iron tube.

"You stay at the Main Courtyard."

Zhao Gang became anxious.

"Inspector, I..."

Lin Chen cut him off.

"The Main Courtyard just sealed the treasury; Deputy Chief Meng Huaian won't be idle."

"You stay here and watch them."

Zhao Gang gritted his teeth.

"I know you don't want me to go to Wu Si's grave and lose my composure."

Lin Chen looked at him.

"If you know, then do as I say."

Zhao Gang's chest heaved twice, and finally, he released the sword hilt.

"Fine."

"I'll stay."

"But if you dig up any clues about the people who harmed Wu Si, you must let me know."

Lin Chen said.

"I will."

Half an hour later, Sun Qi returned from outside, sweat on his forehead.

"I found it."

Lin Chen looked up.

"Speak."

Sun Qi placed a transcribed paper on the desk.

"Grave Number Nineteen, Bing Series, is registered as an unnamed beggar."

"The body collector is listed as the City South Charity Shed."

"Time of death: seven days before the fire at Wang Gangs Manor."

Zhou Tie's eyes darkened.

"Seven days ago."

Shen Yue said in a low voice.

"Wang Gangs Manor hadn't burned yet; Director Wang Gang was still alive then."

Zhao Gang asked.

"Cause of death?"

Sun Qi shook his head.

"The registry says death by illness."

Zhao Gang sneered.

"Death by illness in the graveyard—nine out of ten times, no one actually checks."

Sun Qi added.

"There is one more thing."

Lin Chen looked at him.

Sun Qi pointed his finger to the bottom of the transcribed paper.

"On the day of the burial, a little beggar was crying and making a scene outside the Charity Shed, saying the unnamed beggar didn't die of illness."

"He was chased away later."

Shen Yue asked.

"Where is the little beggar?"

Sun Qi said.

"People from the beggar's den said they saw him near the City South canal tonight."

Lin Chen stood up.

"Let's go."

Zhao Gang stood up, following him.

Lin Chen looked at him.

"You stay."

Zhao Gang stopped in his tracks, gritting his teeth.

"Yes."

Zhou Tie picked up his iron spear.

"I'll go call two men."

Lin Chen said.

"Don't."

Zhou Tie looked at him.

Lin Chen tightened the strap of the black abyss.

"Too many people, too much noise."

Shen Yue hid her short blade in her sleeve.

"I'll go."

Sun Qi asked.

"What about me?"

Lin Chen said.

"You go to the beggar's den and find that little beggar."

"Don't bring him to the Main Courtyard after you find him; bring him to the canal entrance outside the graveyard."

Sun Qi nodded.

"Understood."

Night descended upon the City South.

The canal outside the graveyard had long since dried and cracked, with grass growing from the bottom. When the wind blew, the grass blades swayed against the earthen slope.

Lin Chen walked in the lead, the black abyss pressed against his waist.

Zhou Tie followed behind on the left, his iron spear resting across his shoulder.

Shen Yue walked on the right, her footsteps light, her hand never leaving the hilt of her blade.

As they neared the graveyard, Shen Yue asked in a low voice.

"Are you going to Wu Si first?"

Lin Chen didn't stop.

"Yes."

Zhou Tie glanced at him.

"If Zhao Gang knew, he'd curse again."

Lin Chen said.

"Let him curse."

The three of them bypassed a row of old graves.

Wu Si's grave was on the outermost edge.

The wooden marker had been blown crooked by the wind, half-buried in the dirt, the four ink-written characters for "Grave of Wu Si" stained with mud.

Lin Chen walked to the front of the grave, crouched down, and straightened the wooden marker.

He pressed the marker half an inch deeper into the soil.

Shen Yue stood behind him, silent.

Zhou Tie stuck the end of his spear into the soil and looked down at the new grave.

After a breath, Lin Chen stood up.

He didn't speak.

Shen Yue said softly.

"Let's go."

Lin Chen nodded.

Grave Number Nineteen, Bing Series, was deep inside the graveyard.

The grave mound was small, the wooden marker had no name, only a crooked number.

Zhou Tie used the end of his spear to push aside the grass.

"This is it."

Shen Yue took a short spade from her bag.

"I'll do it."

Zhou Tie took the short spade.

"You watch the wind direction."

Shen Yue didn't argue; she lowered the lantern and covered half of the light with a cloth.

"Hurry, the soil has been freshly turned, it won't be hard to dig."

Zhou Tie swung the spade down, and the damp soil was turned over layer by layer.

Lin Chen stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

The grave mounds in the distance, one after another, were nothing more than undulating shadows in the night.

When Zhou Tie had dug to half a person's depth, the tip of the spade hit a wooden board.

"Reached the coffin."

Shen Yue crouched down to take a look.

"A thin-skinned coffin, the kind commonly used by the Charity Shed."

Zhou Tie cleared the soil from both sides of the coffin lid and pressed his palms against the edge of the coffin board.

"Open it?"

Lin Chen said.

"Open it."

The coffin lid was pried open, and a foul odor surged from within.

Shen Yue pressed the damp cloth against her nose and mouth, her brows furrowed tightly, but she did not retreat.

The corpse in the coffin wasn't badly decomposed; the clothes were tattered, the figure small and thin, the right hand curled against the chest, the fist clenched tightly.

Zhou Tie frowned.

"There's something wrong with the right hand."

Shen Yue brought the lantern closer, her eye twitching.

"The palm has been stitched."

If Zhao Gang were here, he would likely have cursed out loud.

The palm had been sliced open by a knife and then sewn back together stitch by stitch with thick thread. The edges of the wound were curled, and the stitches were as messy as if done in a hurry.

Zhou Tie said in a deep voice.

"Someone stuffed something into his hand and then sewed it up."

Shen Yue looked at Lin Chen.

"Should I take it out?"

Lin Chen said.

"Be careful."

Shen Yue drew her short blade, roasted the tip over the fire, and wiped it dry with a cloth.

Her hand was steady, but as the tip of the blade pried open the first thread, her brows furrowed even tighter.

Zhou Tie watched the surroundings.

"How about I do it?"

Shen Yue didn't look up.

"Your hands are too heavy."

Zhou Tie shut his mouth.

One by one, the thick threads were pried open.

The corpse's palm slowly unfolded, revealing a piece of a blood-rusted copper key.

Shen Yue used the cloth to hold the key and placed it under the light.

"Half a piece."

Lin Chen took out the key he had found the previous night at the bottom of the water vat in the kitchen of Wang Gangs Manor.

The two pieces of the copper key were placed together, the teeth fitting perfectly.

Zhou Tie said in a low voice.

"The old Archives Room key."

Shen Yue looked at the reassembled key.

"Director Wang Gang's paper is real."

Lin Chen separated the two pieces of the key and put them away in the evidence bag.

"A key in the hands of the dead is not necessarily something the living can get."

Zhou Tie crouched down and continued to check the bottom of the coffin.

He used the tip of his spear to lift the tattered straw mat by the corpse's feet; underneath the mat, a small piece of black cloth was revealed.

Zhou Tie fished out the black cloth, looked at it for a moment, and his expression darkened.

"I've seen this fabric before."

Shen Yue took it and looked at the weave on the edge.

"Night-traveling clothes?"

Zhou Tie said.

"The group of people who killed Wu Si used this kind too."

Lin Chen looked at the corpse in the coffin.

"Director Wang Gang's life-saving lead has been targeted by the Wang family."

Shen Yue said.

"This beggar brought the key out of the manor and was intercepted halfway."

Zhou Tie added.

"But the Death Warriors didn't find the key."

Shen Yue looked at the hand that had been stitched open.

"They might have thought the item had been handed over by the beggar."

Lin Chen said.

"Or perhaps someone intentionally made it so they couldn't find it."

Zhou Tie looked up.

"codename?"

Lin Chen didn't answer.

The grass in the distance suddenly rustled.

Zhou Tie's spear tip immediately thrust out; the grass blades were pushed aside by the force of the spear, and a sobbing voice came from within.

"Don't kill me!"

"Don't kill me!"

A small, thin beggar crawled out from the grass, his face covered in mud, his hands raised above his head.

Shen Yue stepped forward, holding her short blade to his shoulder.

"Who sent you?"

The little beggar saw Lin Chen and cried even harder.

"Inspector Lin, it's me."

"I've seen you; you gave us steamed buns in the South City."

Lin Chen looked at him.

"Did Sun Qi send you?"

The little beggar nodded repeatedly.

"Head Sun was at the canal entrance, startled by a shadow, so he told me to run in and find you first."

Zhou Tie looked toward the outside of the graveyard.

"Someone is there?"

The little beggar said, trembling.

"I don't know."

"I only know that Old Mute told me to deliver a message before he died."

Shen Yue asked.

"Who is Old Mute?"

The little beggar pointed at the corpse in the coffin, tears mixing with the mud on his face.

"It's him."

"He could speak, but he didn't dare to."

Lin Chen crouched down, looking into the little beggar's eyes.

"What did he say?"

The little beggar swallowed.

"He said, if someone digs up his grave and takes the copper piece in his hand, then I should tell you this."

Zhou Tie asked.

"What message?"

The little beggar lifted his dirty sleeve to wipe his face, his voice trembling.

"codename says, under the Main Courtyard, there is a second door."

The wind in the graveyard stopped for half a breath.

Shen Yue looked at Lin Chen, her hand gripping her blade tightening.

Zhou Tie raised his spear and turned, looking into the darkness outside the canal.

Lin Chen pulled the little beggar behind him.

"Is there any other message?"

The little beggar shook his head while crying.

"No."

"Old Mute vomited blood after he finished speaking."

"I went to call the people from the Charity Shed, and when I came back, he was gone."

Zhou Tie's voice came from the front.

"Someone is watching us."

Shen Yue extinguished the lantern.

Outside the graveyard, three black figures stood on the other side of the canal.

They didn't approach, nor did they draw their blades.

One of them raised a hand, as if confirming that Lin Chen had seen them.

The next moment, the three black figures retreated into the darkness, disappearing in the blink of an eye.