CHAPTER 450: CHAPTER 274: FEMALE PROTAGONIST_1

As soon as Dean arrived, he helped Inspector Louise find a new direction for the investigation.

This made Inspector Louise, who had initially been somewhat skeptical, regard Dean with a newfound and sincere respect.

Walter, the forensic pathologist, also became notably more enthusiastic, a shift from his initial perfunctory manner.

After inspecting the body, Walter led Dean to a collection of ’specimens’. These specimens were the ’organ flowers’ mentioned earlier. As part of the evidence, they had been preserved by Walter using chemicals to prevent them from rotting and deforming.

Walter explained out of habit, "Actually, there are clear photos of the scene, but they aren’t three-dimensional enough. So, I treated these to ensure they look exactly as they did when they were found."

These ’organ flowers’ were indeed eerie. They seemed more suited for a horror movie set than for display on trays in front of everyone.

Cheston En, the young man, was so disgusted by a single glance that he felt an urge to vomit. He quickly looked away, afraid that looking any longer would give him nightmares that night.

Dean’s gaze, however, was drawn to these flowers.

Most people would only perceive these shapes formed by internal organs as flowers. But Dean possessed strong three-dimensional imaging capabilities. His subconscious automatically enlarged the ’organ flowers’ in his mind, transforming them into a realistic image that eventually resolved into a very strange rose.

To be precise, five roses of different colors.

With his Spirit attribute increased to fifteen points, Dean’s memory had become exceptionally sharp. Many past memories, both pleasant and unpleasant, would resurface with a vivid sense of familiarity when triggered by similar scenes.

He was certain he had seen something similar before. Not that he had seen identical organ roses, but roses with a similar configuration.

But where?

The roses being formed from organs were so abstract that this sense of familiarity was difficult for him to pinpoint. For a moment, Dean really couldn’t remember.

Nearby, Inspector Louise noticed Dean had once again fallen into deep thought, and a pleased expression appeared on her face.

Because of their unpleasant first meeting, Inspector Louise hadn’t initially liked Dean, the FBI agent who had seen through her personality. But in a short time, Dean’s observation skills, grasp of detail, and logical analysis had won her over.

To solve the case sooner and prevent further victims, Inspector Louise had to put aside her reservations and asked in a softer tone, "Agent Dean, have you found something new?"

Dean’s train of thought was interrupted.

He stopped reminiscing, nodded, and said, "I do have some findings, but... how should I put this? May I have a pen and paper?"

"I’ll get it!" Walter immediately turned and left upon hearing this.

As a veteran forensic pathologist accustomed to dealing with homicides for years, he also possessed a keen curiosity about the case’s investigation.

Soon enough, Walter returned with paper and a pen.

Dean took them and sketched the shape of the rose that had formed in his mind.

"Is this a rose?"

Once sketched, the abstract organs became much more distinct, allowing everyone to recognize the type of flower at a glance.

The five roses differed in shape. However, each rose also featured some extended lines at its edges, making it look a bit strange.

On the ’organ flowers’, these lines were segments of large intestine, seemingly arranged without purpose.

This was why the others had previously been unable to determine what kind of flowers the organs actually formed. They were too abstract.

But when Dean vividly translated these ’organ flowers’ onto paper, the image became completely different.

Walter looked at the flowers and lines on the paper, a strange expression crossing his face. "Why do these roses seem so familiar?"

Hearing this, Dean’s eyes lit up. "They seem familiar to you too?"

"Yes!" Walter nodded, then hesitated for a moment before saying uncertainly, "If you combine these roses and lines... I think I might know what this is!"

Dean immediately complied. For convenience, he even tried several combinations.

This new arrangement immediately made it clear to everyone!

Floral arrangement!

Dean had an epiphany! These roses were actually part of a floral arrangement!

No wonder they looked familiar to him.

Many families in the United States liked to have a vase of arranged flowers on their dining tables. Not only does this make the dining area feel warmer, but it’s also inexpensive and a pleasant way to pass the time—a basic skill many older American housewives had mastered.

Dean’s mother, Sheila, knew how to do this as well.

As for those extra lines, they were likely meant to be decorative elements similar to Gladiolus, used in floral arrangements for aesthetic appeal and to enhance the lines, mixed with the flowers to create a beautiful red-and-green contrast.

Of course, when rendered with internal organs, this would only appear abstract and grotesque.

But...

What’s the significance of recognizing that the killer intended these organ flowers to be a floral arrangement?

This discovery seems meaningless on the surface!

Even Dean thought so.

Perhaps this only helps complete the killer’s psychological profile, confirming that the perpetrator likely received some form of etiquette training to conceive of such a thing.

But Walter, the eldest among them, then offered a surprise.

Holding the sketch Dean had drawn, he said uncertainly,