Because of the unexpected turn of events during the drill, the academy decided to return to school early.
This, however, troubled Hu Jia.
According to the wild man's account, the casualties among the trainees were not his doing. Hu Jia chose to believe him on this point. After all, he had imprisoned so many people and hadn't shown any particular cruelty.
But if it wasn't the wild man, then the killer must be hidden among the trainees.
If the academy returned to school early, it would be too late to investigate this case later.
"We can't leave. There's something fishy about this whole situation, and we haven't caught the killer yet," Hu Jia found Principal Li Hongjiang and requested a postponement of the return date.
"Killer? We don't even know if that thing is human or a monster, how can we talk about a killer?" Li Hongjiang dared not let so many people stay here any longer; it was too dangerous.
"Besides, how can you catch someone in the deep mountains and old forests? If we really catch a gorilla and bring it back, wouldn't we be a laughingstock?" Tong Hua chimed in from the side.
"Who says the killer is that wild man? What if..."
Before Hu Jia could finish speaking, Tong Hua roared, "Captain Hu, please choose your words carefully. Are you implying that our own students are suspects?"
As expected, not only did Li Hongjiang's face darken, but the other teaching assistants also showed displeasure.
Hu Jia found Tong Hua utterly annoying. The other man hadn't provoked him directly, but judging by the diary, he had bullied Lü Qingqing. "So, you'd rather believe it was an accident than search for the truth?"
After speaking, Hu Jia looked at Li Hongjiang, "I'm not trying to force a connection between the academy's students and the murder case. But as a police officer, how can we define a case with a 'possibility' or 'perhaps'? Is this the definition of case-solving that our academy should be teaching students?"
Hu Jia's words were reasonable, and at the same time, he skillfully removed the label Tong Hua had tried to stick on him.
"Isn't there still one person in a coma? Once he wakes up, the truth will be revealed," Tong Hua countered again.
"Are you going to wait until the suspect is seventy or eighty years old and dies of old age, declare the suspect deceased, and then claim justice for the victim?"
Ugh.
Tong Hua's face turned red with anger.
"A case can develop in many ways. Can you guarantee that the injured person will definitely wake up? Can you guarantee that he saw the killer? Can you guarantee that the clues at the scene will still be there in ten to half a month?" Hu Jia glanced at Tong Hua with contempt. "Everything is a matter of waiting: waiting to solve the case, waiting to find someone, waiting to crack the case. You might as well wait for the case to be solved and then directly attend the celebration party."
...
The dispute between Hu Jia and the academy quickly spread throughout the entire camp. Lü Qingqing also heard the news from Cai Xiaojuan.
"Hu Jia actually said that the killer was someone from the academy? Has he gone mad?"
"Pah! Aren't all our academy's people elites among elites? What reason does he have to suspect wildly? I think he's just seeking fame and trying to show off."
"Exactly. Who doesn't know he used to be an instructor at the academy? I heard he hasn't taught for many years. I wonder if he's trying to get back in."
When everyone believed the wild man was the killer, Hu Jia, who held an opposing view, naturally became the target of public criticism.
"Diligence can make a nation prosperous, while indulgence can lead to ruin. Shouldn't a police officer always maintain a sense of curiosity?" Lü Qingqing couldn't stand hearing those people slander Hu Jia.
She said, "If we just follow what others say and believe whatever they say, then what's the point of us studying criminal investigation? If we don't look at evidence and only listen to statements, then what's the use of us introducing fingerprint and trace evidence exercises?"
She continued, "Every time a case is solved, we should just gather in the square and have a meeting. Ask, who is the killer? Everyone points to one person and says he is the killer. Then you close the case according to procedure, becoming a veritable detective!"
"Furthermore, 'no criminals escape punishment, no crimes go unpunished, and no stolen goods remain unrecovered' – this is the belief we should hold, not stand by and make sarcastic remarks when our colleagues are seeking the truth."
Lü Qingqing's words had a resounding impact on the scene.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Lü Qingqing thought for a moment, "Actually, we should support Captain Hu Jia's investigation. You know, his reputation is quite significant. If he solves the case here, wouldn't it be like him giving us a hands-on criminal investigation lesson?"
Making those people shut up was the basic goal, but turning those who were silent into supporters of Hu Jia would be an advancement.
"That's right! Normally, we can't even get Captain Hu to give us a lesson, and now we have an opportunity!" Zhan Ruoxuan unconditionally supported Lü Qingqing.
"But what if the killer really is the wild man? Won't this be a waste of everyone's time?" Most people were moved, but one or two were still hesitant.
"Then that's even better. We are both the suspected and the participants in the case. If the killer is the wild man, we'll see how Captain Hu finds evidence to prove it. If it's not the wild man, we'll see how Captain Hu clears everyone's suspicion and how he catches the real killer," Cai Xiaojuan quickly responded.
Hearing everyone's words, Lü Qingqing was overjoyed. "Returning a day or two late doesn't matter. What matters is learning, what matters is avenging our fallen comrades and finding the truth."
...
Lü Qingqing had successfully persuaded her classmates, while Hu Jia was having his final argument with Li Hongjiang.
"How do you prove that the deceased was not killed by the wild man?"
"Three points of suspicion: First, I examined the body of the deceased Liang Zhenning. The victim was covered in wounds, both blunt and sharp, indicating that Liang Zhenning had struggled with the killer before his death. However, the place where the body was found was clean and undisturbed, with no bloodstains. This is sufficient proof that the cave was not the primary scene."
"What's so strange about that? The wild man killed the deceased outside and then moved the body back to the cave. That explains it."
"This is the second point of suspicion I want to mention: Li Zhenmi, who was severely injured and unconscious, had no signs of struggle on his body. All he had was a fractured skull. This indicates that he was struck on the head with a blunt object, knocked down with a single blow."
"The wild man did it."
"Then why did he have no other wounds on him when he was brought into the cave? No abrasions, no scratches, no drag marks. Did the wild man give him a princess carry?"
Ugh.
Everyone was silent.
"Third, all those who were trapped in the cave said that the wild man used Datura flower powder to make them unconscious, and he didn't harm them in any way during the process. I ask, the wild man captured so many people, and used no violence against the others, so why would he use lethal force specifically against Liang Zhenning and Li Zhenmi?"
Therefore, Hu Jia deduced that the person was not killed by the wild man; he even wanted to save people.
This inference immediately caused a huge stir. The killer everyone had suspected just a minute ago was now considered a lifesaver. Who could have predicted this?
"Nonsense! You're fabricating a killer just to show off your personal abilities," Tong Hua was the first to question.
"I have evidence to support my deductions," Hu Jia smiled. "Because Liang Zhenning's fatal wound was to the neck. Based on the stab wound, the killer used a spear-point blade from our academy's weaponry. Do you think a wild man would have such a weapon? Who gave it to him? Did you give it to him?"
Ugh.
Tong Hua was defeated again. Good heavens, with just a few words, the suspicion was turned back on himself. If he said any more, Hu Jia might even point at his head and call him the killer.
The doubts raised by Hu Jia, especially the evidence of the killer's weapon, forced everyone to re-examine the case.
"In that case, this case does indeed seem suspicious," Li Hongjiang mused for a moment, then turned to ask the person beside him, "How many trainees have not returned?"
"According to the morning's statistics, there are still 7 people."
"Immediately sound the horn, order everyone to return, and investigate the case!"
...