The Last Mr. Dongguo

Feng Hao's analysis wasn't without merit, but facing a bleak future, simply waiting would only lead to further passivity. Fei Li gave Li Mengying a signal with her eyes. Li Mengying immediately conveyed this to the still smug Feng Hao, signaling him to leave.

Feng Hao threw away the half-smoked cigarette and placed a piece of paper on the table.

"Although I quite like this place, please come find me here if you need anything, considering how much you've helped me. However, I must remind you that we've all experienced the capabilities of the mysterious person behind this; he won't let us go back easily. Perhaps you should consider whether we have any other options besides solving the case?"

Feng Hao spoke very casually, as if an adult were giving a test to a child. Afterwards, he tidied his not-so-messy hair and strode out of the small house.

"This kind of person is just a petty person who's gotten ahead. They only see their own interests and don't care about other people's feelings at all. If I could really go back, I'd press the red button and see if he'd still be laughing then."

"Let's not worry about him for now. We can't just keep waiting. Cheng Luan is in great danger. If we can't find the real killer, things could get really bad." Fei Li always thought things through. He didn't want to put any more pressure on Li Mengying, so he cut to the chase. "Mengying, we can only rely on ourselves now. We can't trust Bai Xin either. You need to start investigating the deceased's network of relationships right now."

"Hmm, so what direction should we investigate?"

"Check her social media. If our reasoning is correct, the deceased couldn't have lived an ordinary life. There must have been things that were unusual about her in her normal life, such as where she frequented, her activity patterns, and especially where she went outside of work."

"Feili, this scope is too broad. Even if we bring in Dongfang Lin's entire department, we probably still won't be able to find the results you want in a short time, let alone just me."

Fei Li closed his eyes, crossed his hands in front of his face, and after a long while, suddenly opened his eyes and said, "There's one more thing. According to the mysterious man's thinking, placing us here is equivalent to entering a game he set up. Since it's a game, there must be a way to pass it. Although this is the 1970s, there are definitely many differences from the real 1970s, especially in terms of criminal investigation. As long as we find this difference, we can narrow down the scope."

"You've reminded me of something. When you visited Cheng Luan, I noticed that although it's the 1970s here, the technology here is at the level of the 21st century, or even higher. Except for not being able to use cell phones here, the scientific level is far beyond that of the real world."

"Yes, that's it. Maybe this is the clue the mysterious person gave us. Let's investigate in this direction and see what we can find out."

Sure enough, after Li Mengying presented his investigation results, Fei Li was stunned; the network technology here had far exceeded their expectations. Following Fei Li's clues, Li Mengying quickly uncovered the deceased's activities from a week prior. She frequently visited a place called String Bar, and her spending was always astonishingly high. Based on the deceased's income, this was beyond her spending capacity.

Fei Li nodded, already having an idea in mind to lure the snake out of its hole.

Hiding in a blind spot of the surveillance camera in his cell, Cheng Luan pulled a short knife from his sleeve. It was a gift from his friend Tokugawa Tonobu five years ago in Japan. He never imagined that in this virtual environment, it would be delivered to him today by a thin, small man. Looking at the exquisite design on the knife, Cheng Luan recalled his conversation with Tokugawa Tonobu years ago. That conversation, even now, held a certain intrigue.

Japan is a country that values ​​culture. While absorbing foreign cultures, it reinterprets them and calls them classics. The tea ceremony is one such example.

A light rain was falling on the streets of Tokyo, and the pavement, freshly covered by the drizzle, exuded a delicate, earthy fragrance. Although the cherry blossom season had passed, the air was still filled with a faint cherry blossom scent.

Accompanied by the rhythm of the tea ceremony, Tokugawa had already completed a perfect piece. The entire room was filled with the essence of the tea ceremony; the aroma of tea and flowers permeated Cheng Luan's senses. It was as if the whole world had fallen silent for a moment, leaving only the lingering melody in his ears. Cheng Luan had forgotten himself, fully enjoying this brief moment of tranquility.

"Brother Cheng Luan, how is it?" Tokugawa Toshino sat up straight and asked.

Cheng Luan smiled and nodded, which was the best answer he could give, because he was beyond words to describe his feelings at that moment. After taking a sip of tea, he spoke with a touch of sadness, "I just don't know if I'll ever be able to enjoy this again!"

"Brother Cheng Luan, I'm always ready to come. Even if you can't, it's alright; communication and transportation are so advanced these days. Just tell me a place and I'll come find you." Tokugawa Tozeki gently flicked his sleeve, leaning slightly forward. His handsome, fair face and beautiful, bright eyes gazed at Cheng Luan, their gaze as clear as spring water, instantly refreshing Cheng Luan. "I remember you once quoted a Tang poem to me, 'Though separated by oceans and mountains, true friends are never far apart.' Isn't that exactly what it means?"

"Haha! You really are a China expert! Not only do you speak Chinese well, but you can even recite poems. If you appeared on the streets of China, I wonder how many girls' hearts you would steal." Cheng Luan's tone was joking, but his gaze gradually returned. Tokugawa knew that this was just a prelude to something important, so he did not answer and patiently waited for Cheng Luan to continue.

"I've been away from home for so long that I'm starting to miss it, but..." Cheng Luan expressed his regret, "Maybe all of this really can't be changed?" Cheng Luan picked up the teacup again and brought it to his lips, but he could no longer taste the sweetness of the tea.

"Don't be so pessimistic. Maybe things will be different after you go back to China. I didn't see the scene of the case five years ago, so I can't give you the right advice. But I always feel that there is a crucial factor missing." Tokugawa Tono poured more hot tea, and the tea cascading down seemed to give Cheng Luan hope again. "Motive, Shui Mingyue's disappearance, Zeng Qiang's death, what is the motive for all of this?" Tokugawa Tono carefully chose his words, using only the word "disappearance" to express the meaning he wanted to convey.

"Yes, that's exactly what I can't understand. They've vanished without a trace, neither alive nor dead, as if they've evaporated from the face of the earth. Could it be...?"

"Don't easily waver in your judgment," Tokugawa interrupted Cheng Luan's final assessment. "This is the outcome you least want to see. I think if that's the case, he must have his reasons." Tokugawa picked up his teacup. "I know about your Chinese drinking culture. Although I don't have any wine here, a cup of fragrant tea will suffice as a farewell gift!"

The two clinked glasses and each drank the tea in their cups.

Tokugawa Toshiya stood up, walked to the table, picked up a beautifully carved dagger from the table, and presented it to Cheng Luan with both hands. "This dagger is the symbol of our Tokugawa family. I present it to you, hoping that you will soon find the answer in your heart."

Cheng Luan took the precious sword, stroked the patterns on the scabbard, and kept praising it.

"Furthermore, I must tell you that you must not let your guard down during this trip back to China. The final battle will eventually begin. Perhaps soon, perhaps in a few years, but one thing is certain: they will not remain dormant forever. You must be mentally prepared."