Chapter 16:The First Group Deduction

Translator: Abo Dammen

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Case One: The Phantom Sniper

Deck, Open-Air Bar.

He Yixun rummaged through the storage box under the bar counter and found three remote controls for the sun umbrellas. He pressed the “Open” button on each one. Three electric sun umbrellas slowly extended their ribs, casting a shadow over the sofas under the moonlight.

Only the sofa group where He Jun had been sitting remained bathed in the serene moonlight. 

Xu Pei searched the nearby area and shook his head at He Yixun.

The others couldn’t decipher the tacit understanding between these two. He Maohu disliked riddles and asked Xu Pei directly, “What are you looking for?”

“The remote control,” Xu Pei answered, looking towards a sun umbrella near He Jun, which was also the only one that was closed. “The remote for this umbrella is missing.”

“So what?” Lin Mei asked. 

“Several people testified that there was no one on the deck when the gunshot was heard, meaning the killer fired from a distance.” Xu Pei walked behind where He Jun had been and pointed at the terrifying bullet hole. “But there are burn marks near the wound, indicating the gun’s muzzle was very close to the victim when the shot was fired.”

Lin Mei, more than anyone, understood that different shooting distances cause different gunshot wounds. She bent down to examine the wound on the back of He Jun’s head. Connecting this with the missing silencer from the armory, she frowned and asked, “Was He Jun already dead when the gunshot was heard?”

“Yes,” He Yixun said. “The gunshot we heard was a diversion.”

“Then what does that have to do with the sun umbrella?” Ling Feng, listening intently, chimed in. 

“This is the primary crime scene. The killer didn’t move the body. But there are several rooms upstairs with a view of the deck. If the killer murdered He Jun but hadn’t yet established an alibi, and the body was discovered by someone upstairs, the entire plan would be ruined.” He Yixun explained. “So the killer must have used the sun umbrella to conceal He Jun’s body, only retracting it after everything was ready.”

“When exactly did the killer strike?” He Maohu asked impatiently.

“Let me start from the beginning,” He Yixun crossed his arms and leaned back against the bar. “The last time He Jun was seen by everyone was when he went to the armory to get a gun. Originally, after getting the gun, he should have returned to his room on the sixth floor. But he chose to go to the deck for a drink. Or perhaps, the killer invited him to the deck for a drink.

“Afterwards, the killer took advantage of He Jun’s inattention, shot him from behind with a silenced pistol, and used the sun umbrella to conceal his body. Since everyone was required to stay in their rooms and the crew were all on the lower decks, no one would discover He Jun was already dead. 

“Later, the killer set up a delayed activation device and retracted the sun umbrella. The time between retracting the umbrella and the gunshot should have been very short. After the gunshot sounded, people upstairs could immediately discover the body on the deck, thereby reinforcing the impression that He Jun’s time of death was after the gunshot.”

Ling Feng stroked his chin. “A delayed activation device?”

“A device that, while not present at the scene, can make a gunshot sound there and also retrieve the firearm,” He Yixun quipped.

Xu Pei felt this was even more difficult than the remote poisoning in the restaurant. 

After learning a silencer was missing from the armory, he immediately thought He Jun was already dead when the gunshot was heard, and the sun umbrella corroborated this. But the problem was, how did the killer actually produce the gunshot?

The gunshot came from the direction of the deck. If the killer was hiding upstairs where they couldn’t be seen, but fired from a location near the deck, such an alibi would be meaningless.

—Firing from the lower deck is no different from committing the murder there. As long as the killer was on the lower deck, they couldn’t have a perfect alibi. Therefore, when the gunshot occurred, the killer must have been upstairs, with ample witnesses proving they couldn’t have teleported to the deck.

But a new problem arises: if the killer fired the shot from inside the ship’s cabins, how did the sound come from the deck? 

The one and only answer: via a delayed activation device.

So, the trigger pulled for that gunshot wasn’t pulled by the killer themselves. They set up a device on the deck that automatically pulled the trigger at a specific time.

The very existence of such a device is hard to imagine. Furthermore, the killer wasn’t the first person to arrive at the crime scene. Why no one discovered this device is also perplexing.

The deduction had hit another dead end. But it wasn’t completely without progress.

“Did you find such a device?” Ling Feng asked. 

“No,” said He Yixun. “However, the range of suspects can be determined.”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the others changed slightly, showing surprise and curiosity, but no panic.

He Maohu was the most anxious. “Who?”

“Although it’s still unclear how the killer created the alibi, one thing is certain: they needed time to accomplish these things,” He Yixun started. “Your subordinates were gathered in groups playing cards in their rooms and have already alibied each other, confirming that no one acted alone since getting the guns.” 

“Right,” He Maohu nodded, using his eyes to urge He Yixun to continue.

“The killer can only be someone who had the opportunity to act alone. Therefore,” He Yixun swept a calm gaze over the people present, naming them one by one, “Ling Feng and Cindy, the alibi provided by the crew is meaningless for you. On the contrary, you were on the lower decks, closest to the armory.

“Zhou Ye and Ma Jing, you both had separate rooms and could have quietly carried this out.

“And,” his gaze swept past He Maohu, skipping over him automatically, and landed on Lin Mei beside him, “you have the most knowledge about firearms. Setting up a device shouldn’t be difficult for you.” 

After speaking, under the protesting or dissatisfied looks from everyone, He Yixun concluded, “The killer is among you.”

The killer’s alibi had perfectly excluded these people initially, but it backfired, ultimately narrowing down the range of suspects. Lin Mei was the first to challenge him, “Are you insane? I was the one poisoned in the restaurant! I’m the victim!”

He Yixun had some thoughts, but without evidence, he wouldn’t speak recklessly. He simply didn’t respond. Ling Feng also found it absurd. “I don’t know if you’re crazy, Officer He, but I’m not. If I wanted to kill He Jun, I had plenty of opportunities. Why would I do it specifically on the Lucky Number? This is the He family’s turf.”

He Yixun still didn’t respond, but Xu Pei couldn’t hold back. Because he shared the same line of thinking as He Yixun, being refuted like this felt like he was being negated as well. 

“Generally in situations like this, the motive is newly arisen, for example, He Jun harassing Cindy,” Xu Pei explained. “So it might not necessarily be premeditated. It could also be a crime of passion.”

Ling Feng scoffed dismissively. “Professor, I’m here to make peace. I wouldn’t kill over something like that.”

Xu Pei still didn’t dare confront a gang leader head-on. He muttered quietly, “That’s hard to say,” and retreated to He Yixun’s side.

Seeing that the major figures had stopped speaking, Ma Jing pushed his black-framed glasses up and said, “Officer He, the boss can vouch for me. I didn’t even know Young Master He. And you know me, how would I dare to kill someone?” 

As soon as he finished, Zhou Ye also hurried to defend himself, “Although I knew Young Master He, I had no grudge against him, so there’s completely no motive. Besides, ask anyone, I don’t even dare to touch a gun. How could I kill someone with one?”

He Maohu’s gaze was much sharper than He Yixun’s. He scanned each person who claimed they weren’t the killer, apparently finding none of them likely, and finally looked back at Ling Feng.

Perhaps because the case had seen a breakthrough, he set aside his earlier anger and analyzed calmly and restrainedly, “In recent years, I’ve handed over my business to Xiao Jun to manage. You are the one who most wanted him dead.”

“Bro, slinging mud recklessly isn’t good,” Ling Feng, having been suspected all along, was out of patience. He took off his glasses and wiped them with a square cloth. “Show me the evidence.” 

He Maohu then turned to He Yixun. “I know you will definitely find the evidence.”

He Yixun did not express an opinion. He never liked to comment on things he wasn’t absolutely sure about. Moreover, He Maohu had already decided Ling Feng was the killer, and He Yixun didn’t want to be influenced by this preconceived notion.

“Uhm, Mr. He.”

Xu Pei suddenly speaking up surprised He Yixun somewhat. 

“You can also help look for evidence,” Xu Pei said.

“How?” He Maohu asked.

“My heightened sense of smell is a disadvantage for the killer. If no one else on the ship has fired a gun except the killer, then the killer would be very easy for me to find, because only they would have gunshot residue on them,” Xu Pei explained. “And the killer can’t change clothes because that would be highly suspicious. So, what they most desire is for you to turn on each other, ensuring gunshot residue appears on everyone.” 

“You mean the killer provoked us into firing?”

“Yes, they at least had that intention.”

“I understand,” said He Maohu. “I’ll have people recall the details of what just happened.”

“As for the rest of you,” Xu Pei continued, “you can also help search for that delayed activation device.” 

A murder happening on an isolated island has its pros and cons. The con is the inability to contact the outside world, and murders might happen one after another.

The pro is that the killer also cannot escape.

He Maohu returned to the casino. Ling Feng, who had been sitting on the sofa acting as if it was none of his business, perhaps out of boredom, also started looking for the delayed activation device. But after searching for a long time without success, he also went into the casino, presumably to have his subordinates recall the sequence of the shootout.

Cindy remained with Ling Feng. 

Lin Mei reiterated to He Yixun that she was a victim and returned to her room upstairs, saying she was afraid the killer might strike again. Ma Jing and Zhou Ye cooperatively searched for the device, but there really wasn’t anything suspicious on the deck.

“Professor Xu,” Zhou Ye, tired of searching, familiarly slung an arm over Xu Pei’s shoulder. “I heard from a friend at the police station that Officer He arrested someone with special abilities. That wouldn’t be you, would it?”

Xu Pei glanced at the hand on his shoulder and didn’t elaborate. “Yes.”

“You could really smell the cyanide in the glass from that far away?” Zhou Ye asked, looking like he’d discovered something new. “I was sitting diagonally across from the mayor, and I didn’t smell anything.” 

Tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps sounded behind them.

Xu Pei shrugged, hoping Zhou Ye would sense his resistance. “My sense of smell is more acute than most people’s.”

Zhou Ye leaned even closer. “Then smell me. Do I have gunshot residue on me?” 

He did.

The casino was filled with the smell of gunpowder. Anyone who had been inside would have it on them. If Xu Pei turned off his inhibitor, he should be able to discern where the gunshot residue was concentrated on Zhou Ye’s body. But unless absolutely necessary, he was currently using his sense of smell very cautiously.

The approaching footsteps suddenly stopped right behind them.

The hand on his shoulder was forcibly pried away. Xu Pei turned his head to see He Yixun twisting Zhou Ye’s wrist, saying coldly, “Don’t you have anything better to do?” 

“Hey, Officer He,” Zhou Ye leaned back, wincing in pain and patting He Yixun’s hand. “I was just making conversation, not probing for information.”

He Yixun released Zhou Ye. Zhou Ye shook his arm, threw down a sour-faced “I can’t find that damn device,” and then also headed to the casino.

Finally, Ma Jing also gave up helping. “Officer He, I really can’t imagine what this device could be. You’d better look for it yourselves.”

The deck became quiet again. Xu Pei looked left and right, intending to continue the search, but noticed He Yixun frowning at him. 

“What’s wrong?” Xu Pei asked, baffled.

“Don’t you understand your own physical condition?” He Yixun said, unable to comprehend. “Since a situation could arise at any moment, don’t get so close to men.”

Xu Pei: “…”

Seriously? Am I some kind of ultimate heat magnet that goes into heat the moment I touch a man? 

Precisely because I understand my physical condition that I’m not using my sense of smell anymore, okay?

So what’s with He Yixun acting like he knows my body better than I do?

“If you want me to go into heat around you, just say so,” Xu Pei, too tired to explain, began to act willful. “No need to be jealous of everyone.”

He Yixun: “…..” 

“The killer would need materials to set up the delayed activation device,” He Yixun changed the subject, indicating that Professor Xu’s provocative tactic had worked. “There was security screening before boarding. The killer couldn’t have brought anything not considered a personal item onto the ship.”

A light bulb went off in Xu Pei’s head, immediately putting him on the same wavelength as He Yixun. “The convenient store next to the restaurant.”

Translator’s Feed:

From the author, this chapter’s title references the Chinese variety show 《明星大侦探》. The First集中 (Group) Reasoning/Deduction occurs halfway through the episode. After the initial crime scene investigation and individual clues are gathered, all the players (the “stars”) gather together for the first time. Each player presents their findings, alibis, and suspicions. This is where theories are formed, and initial accusations are made. The english title for the variety show is Who’s The Murderer. You guys can try watching it! 

Also, remember when they checked the armory, a gun and a silencer is missing? If the silencer was used, how come the gunshot was loud? So basically, He Jun was actually killed quietly first. The killer shot him from behind with a silenced pistol and hid his body under a sun umbrella on the deck so no one upstairs would see it. Because everyone was supposed to stay in their rooms and the crew was below, no one would discover the corpse right away. Later, the killer used a timed device left on the deck, pulled the trigger at a set moment and made a loud gunshot sound. When people heard that bang and then looked, they found the body and assumed He Jun had just been shot then, which made it look like the murderer couldn’t have been the person who was seen upstairs at the time. That plan gave the killer an airtight alibi since witnesses would place this ghost killer upstairs when the loud shot was heard, so it seemed impossible they’d suddenly be on the deck shooting. So they wouldn’t suspect that someone who’s upstairs was the killer, they’d assume that the person near the vicinity is. Idk if you guys get it, or if I got it lmao but yeah the big remaining puzzle for them right now is the device itself, like how the killer managed to rig something to fire a gun later, place it where no one noticed, and then leave no trace for investigators to find. That’s all for now, sorry for the long explanation :’)