CHAPTER 898: CHAPTER 457

Those are some very faint fingerprints, with contours already very blurred.

At the tips of the fingerprints, there are also a few hair-thin scratches.

They seem to be left behind unintentionally when someone reached out to touch the wall with their nails.

Because the wall uses high-end artistic paint and has been specially treated with a matte finish, it significantly reduces light reflection.

This makes these marks appear exceptionally subtle to the naked eye, almost blending into the wall.

Even in the vision of the "Scavenger’s Eye," the corresponding halos are extremely dim.

Of course, part of this is certainly due to the passage of time.

Fang Cheng’s eyes slightly narrowed, and then he walked to the wall beside the bed, slowly extending the index finger of his right hand.

Under the puzzled gaze of Lin Chuqiao and the others, he concentrated his spirit and lightly tapped his fingertip on one of the brightest halos on the scratches.

"Trace rewind!"

At the moment he silently chanted in his heart, as soon as the fingertip touched the cold wall, a weak energy sensation flowed through his arm into his brain.

The next second, a segment of silent black and white residual shadow appeared out of thin air in Fang Cheng’s mind.

In the image, a translucent male silhouette was lying on the bed.

It was the deceased, Chen Shaoze.

Suddenly, he sat up, his body stiff, turning towards the wall as if sleepwalking.

Then, he extended both hands and repeatedly slid his fingertips over that area of the wall.

The force he applied was very slight.

It didn’t appear to be scratching out of fear but rather gently caressing something.

The silhouette of Chen Shaoze bore an expression almost of infatuation, stroking the wall over and over.

As if there stood a lover he could not touch but deeply loved.

Just then, Fang Cheng’s pupils suddenly contracted.

A more blurred, thinner human silhouette indeed emerged quietly on the wall being caressed.

That figure seemed to have no physical form, comprised of numerous drifting black smoke.

"It"... even extended a "hand," subtly touching Chen Shaoze’s fingertips through the "two sides" of the wall.

"Captain, what did you find?"

A gentle voice suddenly sounded at the door, pulling Fang Cheng back to reality from that eerie rewind.

Lin Chuqiao saw Fang Cheng standing motionless in front of the wall, staring intently at it, his expression somewhat unusual.

Slightly worried, she couldn’t help but remind him.

Fang Cheng didn’t answer, just silently turned his head, his gaze sweeping around the room again.

When his sight fell on the floor, he felt a thought, then squatted down, his right index finger gently tapping on several already dim footprints.

Black and white residual shadows belonging to police officers and previous investigators flashed and passed through his mind one by one.

In the images, they moved around, taking photos and collecting evidence, conducting routine site investigations.

But among these chaotic residual shadows, the figures resembling Uncle and the Professor never appeared.

"It seems Chen Xu’an didn’t lie..."

Fang Cheng stood up, contemplating silently in his heart.

Uncle and the others really didn’t take on the task through the Naihe Bridge.

At least, they didn’t enter this mansion as investigators.

But if their purpose here was not entrusted by the Chen Family, then why did they travel such a long distance to this remote Tian Nan Province?

Moreover, how did they suddenly lose contact?

Fang Cheng walked to the window, pushing open the dusty pane.

A breeze blew in, dispersing some of the room’s dullness.

Outside the window was the neatly trimmed courtyard of the Chen Family, the sun casting long shadows on the lawn.

In the distance stood the manor’s surveillance-equipped walls, over three meters high, with vines climbing all over them.

Beyond the wall was a quiet road, occasionally a sports car would pass by, its engine roaring fleetingly.

Fang Cheng’s eyes slightly flashed as he carefully scanned the surrounding streets and mansions.

According to Chen Xu’an’s description, Uncle once appeared near the Chen Family Manor.

If they weren’t there for the task reward, could it be that they came for the murderer who caused the tragedy?

Namely, the mysterious figure formed by the black smoke that appeared in the earlier rewind?

Many thoughts flashed through Fang Cheng’s mind, suddenly recalling the words Bai Ling had relayed.

Uncle once discussed the "Chen Family Curse Case" that happened in Tian Nan with the professor during a gathering, specifically mentioning "that person’s method."

Perhaps... their target from the start was this Black Magic Master lurking in the shadows?

Fang Cheng’s eyes suddenly became sharp, his mind already made up.

He turned back, restoring his calm countenance, and looked at the standing outside, puzzled Chen Xu’an:

"Mr. Chen, I just found a crucial clue, if all goes well, we should soon be able to identify the killer."

Chen Xu’an was slightly startled by his words, a faint smile of joy emerging, immediately asking:

"What clue?"

Fang Cheng shook his head:

"Sorry, I cannot disclose it for now."

"The means of that Black Magic Master are extraordinarily mysterious, our every word and deed may be under his surveillance."

"Once exposed, the other party might instantly become alert, either eradicating evidence or fleeing."

Seeing Chen Xu’an slightly frown, seemingly doubtful, Fang Cheng continued:

"Our team reinforcements will probably arrive in Cui City the morning after tomorrow. Once fully staffed, we can use this clue to catch the rat hiding in the dark."

He paused, his lips curling into a slight smile.

"Then, we’ll make the murderer pay the price for the bloody case he committed."

Fang Cheng’s tone was filled with confidence, as if the Black Magic Master, who left the Chen Family helpless, was already in his grasp.