Chapter 3: Interrogation

"Destroy the evidence."Su Zhan had no other choice. He took out medical alcohol from the cabinet and sprinkled it throughout the house.

The corpses of his original body's parents received special attention from Su Zhan.

Next.

Su Zhan changed out of his tattered clothes into casual wear.

He gently opened the front door.

Complete silence greeted him outside.

He placed a pair of unworn sneakers by the doorway.

Following his original body's memories, he found a lighter.

Several lit sheets of paper fluttered through the air before landing on the alcohol and bursting into blue flames.

Tongues of fire raced along the alcohol trails toward the bedrooms.

In the blink of an eye, the house was engulfed in roaring flames.

The motion-activated lights in the hallway seemed broken, remaining unlit.

Su Zhan removed his house slippers and put on the sneakers by the door.

The slippers were already soaked in alcohol - wearing them outside would leave evidence.

He closed the door behind him.

Su Zhan scanned his surroundings, feeling fortunate.

His original body's home was in an old stairwell building within an aging residential complex.

Not even surveillance cameras were present.

This gave him considerable room to maneuver.

Su Zhan descended the stairs quietly.

Only then did he notice how pitch black it was outside.

Having checked the clock earlier, he knew it was already 11 PM.

The complex stood in complete silence, with not a soul in sight.

Pulling his jacket tighter, he stealthily headed in a specific direction.

The roads in the old complex were narrow.

Private cars parked haphazardly everywhere, making it impossible for large vehicles like fire trucks to enter.

And at this late hour, contacting car owners to move their vehicles would be extremely difficult.

Even if fire trucks came, they could only wait helplessly at the complex entrance.

This was precisely why Su Zhan chose arson to eliminate the crime scene.

"Burn. Burn everything clean."

As he exited the complex,

a faint explosion echoed from behind.

Su Zhan knew - that was the gas tank in his home exploding.

Now, he just needed to prepare his story for the Aberrant Purge Division's investigation.

...

6 AM the next day.

City Patrol Division, interrogation room.

"Last night around 11 PM, a sudden fire broke out at Unit 302, Building 12, Happiness Residential Complex.

Due to severe obstruction from parked private vehicles, fire trucks were delayed by 36 minutes.

Unit 302 was completely destroyed, with flames spreading to all six floors of the old building.

Fortunately, residents evacuated in time, but the couple from 302 disappeared. Our investigation concludes they were... reduced to ashes."

A square-faced middle-aged man in City Patrol uniform calmly recounted last night's events.

Beside him sat a younger patrol officer.

The two conducted the interrogation together, as per official regulations.

A camera stood nearby, recording the entire session.

Su Zhan sat across from them, staring blankly at the disposable paper cup on the table.

The hot water inside had gone cold, yet he hadn't touched it.

The City Patrol Division - Daxia's law enforcement for ordinary citizens.

Unlike the Aberrant Purge Division who handled special cases.

"Were you the first to report the incident?"

Officer Chen of the square face flipped open his notebook, tapping his ballpoint pen on the words "son of Unit 302's owners."

"Yes."

Su Zhan didn't even raise his eyelids: "I had just reached the complex entrance when I heard..."

His voice suddenly caught, eyes reddening: "Heard the explosion."

Officer Chen glanced at his notes: "At nearly midnight, why weren't you home sleeping?"

"Buying cigarettes for my dad."

Su Zhan pulled a crumpled pack of Yuxi cigarettes from his pocket: "He's a heavy smoker, always needs one at night. Yesterday he asked for this brand, even gave me the empty pack so I wouldn't get it wrong."

"Any witnesses?"

Officer Chen asked impassively.

The younger officer kept recording without interruption.

"Xiao Zhang, the night clerk at Meijia Convenience Store knows me. I often buy cigarettes at that hour."

Su Zhan spoke slowly: "I'm a high school senior with no phone. Last night, I borrowed his to make the report."

This was truth.

Both the traffic congestion at Happiness Complex and his alibi for being out.

All prepared beforehand using his original body's memories.

Utilizing every available piece of information.

He'd fabricated a relatively complete story.

Officer Chen tapped his notebook with the pen tip, suddenly leaning forward: "Do you know what caused the fire?"

"No."

Su Zhan's voice carried suppressed sobs.

The young officer glanced at Su Zhan's reddened eyes before resuming his notes.

"Did your parents recently offend anyone?"

Officer Chen abruptly changed direction.

"My dad was just a small contractor, mom an accountant..."

Su Zhan's voice grew quieter: "Who could they possibly..."

The interrogation room fell briefly silent.

Officer Chen's eyes swept over Su Zhan: "Any unusual behavior from your parents recently?"

Su Zhan shook his head: "No."

"Are you certain?"

Officer Chen stood and walked to his side, suddenly placing a hand on Su Zhan's shoulder: "Like feeling unwell? Acting strange?"

"No..."

Su Zhan kept shaking his head: "Just... completely normal."

The young officer stopped writing, exchanging a look with Officer Chen.

Officer Chen returned to his seat, closing the notebook: "That's all for today. We'll contact you if needed. Please cooperate."

He offered a tissue: "Our condolences."

Su Zhan nodded vacantly, starting to rise when—

"Wait!"

The interrogation room door burst open.

A man and woman entered.

"Jiangcheng City Patrol immediately relinquishes this case."

The newcomer displayed a document with crimson letterhead, bearing an embossed steel seal at the bottom: "Aberrant Purge Division assumes full authority."

Officer Chen and his junior exchanged stunned glances.

Everyone knew what red-headed documents meant.

This fire had traces of aberrants.

"Understood."

Officer Chen nodded, collecting files: "We'll withdraw immediately."

The young officer's hands shook as he packed, failing three times to insert the folder into his briefcase.

After one last complicated look at Su Zhan, he followed Officer Chen out.

The new man leisurely removed his leather gloves, revealing scar-covered hands.

He opened a black folder, its first page displaying Su Zhan's family photo.

"Let me introduce myself."

The man tapped the photo where Su Zhan's father's face appeared distorted: "I'm Team Seven Leader of the Purge Division. You may call me..."

His pupils shimmered with unnatural gold: "Hound."

The young woman wore sporty attire, radiating youthful energy compared to Hound.

She introduced herself: "I'm Xiao."

Su Zhan's heart tightened.

The City Patrol interrogation had merely been the appetizer.

The real test had arrived!

"Did you know there was an aberrant in your home?"

Hound suddenly questioned.

"What do you mean?"

Su Zhan jerked his head up, agitation rising: "If my parents were aberrants, I'd be dead already! This is slander! They're dead! Why would you—"

Hound smiled meaningfully: "When did I say it was them?"

Su Zhan pointed at himself: "There's only three of us! Are you saying I'm the aberrant!?"

He didn't know if Hound had evidence of his aberrant nature.

But even if they did, denial remained his only option.

Hound grinned, revealing yellowed teeth: "Then let me rephrase - do you know about Awakened?"

"Of course."

Su Zhan's angry expression remained.

Being accused of being an aberrant warranted rage at his age.

Awakened - every Daxia school taught specialized courses about them.

Their manifestations called Soul Marks could be abilities, objects, or even animals.

Some controlled lightning, others generated flames, some even produced salt from thin air...

Abilities varied wildly, some even carrying side effects.

"My Soul Mark isn't combat-oriented."

Hound said slowly: "But it's exceptionally good at finding things. Care to guess?"