With that thought, I immediately had Gao Jianning pull up the surveillance footage from the archive room. Although the archive room was now burned beyond recognition, and even the cameras had all been destroyed, the footage there was networked with the municipal bureau, so everything had been saved. The killer must be on the tape!

Gao Jianning and Feng Siyan started reviewing the footage. Soon, the two had watched through all three days of recordings but discovered nothing. Since few people visited the archive room normally, and Xiao Cuo was practically the owner of that reading room, no outsiders had ever entered, except for Wang Xuyang and me. I flipped through it and noticed that on the 16th, the day before the incident, Wang Xuyang entered the archive room carrying a black bag. My brow furrowed. Could Wang Xuyang be the one who planted the incendiary device? I shook my head; I would sooner believe this guy went to the White House in the US and started doing street dancing on the roof than believe he would commit arson to kill Xiao Cuo. I calmly told Gao Jianning and the other: "Search back another three days." In murder cases involving the placement of an ignition device, the killer usually acts immediately after placing the item. The longer the time passes, the greater the chance of the item being discovered. My initial three-day window was already quite generous, but it seemed the killer was playing the long game, perhaps feeling confident in how cleverly the item was placed, thus not worrying about detection at all.

Just then, Gao Jianning suddenly looked up: "I think the killer might have another avenue for placing the item." I paused slightly. Gao Jianning continued, "If there’s a mezzanine in the ceiling of the archive room, or some other passage, the killer could have bypassed the cameras to sneak in and place the item there." This kid must have watched too many prison break movies, but there was a grain of truth to it. I immediately called the relevant departments and ordered them to collect all architectural blueprints and renovation records for the archive room for review.

Another three days passed, and Gao Jianning and Feng Siyan still had no leads. I couldn't help but start believing Gao Jianning’s theory, so I called again to press for the blueprints. A moment later, Gao Jianning said, "They're here." The digital files of the blueprints were transferred over. This is the age of high-tech information; it is indeed convenient and fast. "How is it?" I asked anxiously. Gao Jianning shook his head, and my brow instantly knit together: Could it really be Wang Xuyang? If this were before, I would have immediately dismissed the thought, but ever since the incident with You Qiaolin, my suspicion, once a tiny seed, had grown into a sapling, growing so fast it threatened to overshadow my own tree of thought. Although there was no direct evidence pointing to Wang Xuyang as the killer, and I couldn't fathom any motive he might have, only two people appeared on the surveillance: me and him. Was I supposed to suspect myself? That was a huge joke, so I had to list Wang Xuyang as a suspect.

Gao Jianning noticed the change in my expression and guessed the reason. He quickly said, "Brother Lei, maybe the case didn't unfold as we imagined. If the killer didn't use a device for the arson, then the surveillance won't show anything." I knew Gao Jianning wasn't covering for Wang Xuyang, but rather considering the case from all angles to seize every opportunity to solve it quickly. Gao Jianning’s bond with Xiao Cuo was no less deep than mine; the two were like inseparable brothers, always in sync on everything. Xiao Cuo's death was an immense blow to him too, and he hated the killer to the bone. I nodded, agreeing with him. However, since Wang Xuyang was under suspicion, he had to be investigated, no matter who it was, including myself—the investigation had to be thorough. Of course, the investigation into Wang Xuyang was temporarily internal, not a criminal inquiry. Gao Jianning's point was valid; the killer might have used a method of arson we hadn't yet grasped.

Just then, Wang Xuyang sauntered in, dangling a chicken leg. Upon entering, he spread his legs like a compass, swinging the leg as he said, "Hey beautiful, what are you busy with?" Gao Jianning’s face suddenly fell. He said coldly, "We're busy, don't interrupt!" Wang Xuyang paused, taken aback. Gao Jianning was always so meek around him before. Had he taken the wrong medicine today? Ignoring Gao Jianning, he continued, "Beautiful, don't sit there motionless all day. You should walk around sometimes; it helps maintain that perfect figure…" "I told you to shut up, didn't you hear me?" Gao Jianning suddenly stood up and fiercely cut Wang Xuyang off, his eyes seeming to spit fire. From those eyes, I could see his hatred for Wang Xuyang, and it wasn't just about Feng Siyan; it was mainly about Xiao Cuo. Although he believed ghost stories were just legends, if Wang Xuyang had listened to me that day and stayed with Xiao Cuo, neither the two-legged killer nor the 'Grim Reaper' lurking in the walls would have laid a hand on him.

Wang Xuyang finally realized he had to address Gao Jianning. He drawled lazily, "Gao Jianning, if you have something to say, say it. If you have something to vent, then vent it. Stop shouting." Feng Siyan said to Gao Jianning, "Don't argue with him." Just five words, but her stance was crystal clear: Feng Siyan was siding with Gao Jianning. Wang Xuyang’s face shifted slightly. It was an instinct of the male animal; even a gentle, simple elephant fights fiercely during mating season, let alone Wang Xuyang, who was already a little fire-pecker who looked down on everyone. "Gao Jianning, if you have the guts, say it clearly. Are you unhappy that I’m talking to Siyan?" Wang Xuyang was quick-witted and got straight to the point, though slightly misplaced. He hadn't been at the Special Agents Office long enough to understand the friendship between Gao Jianning and Xiao Cuo. Gao Jianning, who was about to sit down, shot back up: "You bastard, say that again if you dare?" Good heavens, Gao Jianning was finally showing his masculine side in front of Wang Xuyang. As his cousin, I was delighted, but as the team leader, I didn't want conflict between the two. If this got out, it would make me look like an incompetent manager. "Forget it, everyone just say a little less," I played the peacemaker.

But Wang Xuyang was dense; he completely missed my good intentions, treating Gao Jianning like the usual softie who wouldn't speak up even if prodded. Swinging his chicken leg, he pointed at Gao Jianning: "You dare curse me? Believe it or not, I’ll slap you dead!" I immediately fell silent. This kid was too arrogant, too presumptuous. Never mind Xiao Cuo’s matter, humiliating Gao Jianning in front of Feng Siyan was enough to spark a war. And I couldn't, nor did I want to, stop this war. If Gao Jianning wasn't allowed to erupt today, he would never be able to hold his head up in front of Feng Siyan again. Furthermore, if I let Wang Xuyang continue being so disrespectful, I would eventually have to strike him down myself. I genuinely worried my punch might pass right through his small frame, so I decided to let Gao Jianning have this opportunity to lash out. I figured I would intervene once the two were tangled up, and, of course, I would secretly help my little cousin.

As I was formulating my own schemes, a crisp sound echoed in the office. Wang Xuyang clutched his face and cried out, "You, you dared to hit me!" "I hit you because you deserved it!" Gao Jianning finally exploded. Wang Xuyang suddenly flickered sideways with surprising agility and lunged in front of Gao Jianning, throwing a punch with his right hand. I had never seen Gao Jianning fight before. I assumed that since he spent all his time on computers, he couldn't possibly match Wang Xuyang, a professional detective. So, I quickly moved toward them. If Gao Jianning was knocked down in two or three moves, my plan would fall apart. Unexpectedly, Gao Jianning tilted his head slightly, and the punch grazed past his ear, landing in empty air. I stopped moving. It seemed I had underestimated Gao Jianning. Today, I decided to watch closely, just in case I pushed him too hard in the future and he was at a disadvantage in a fight. I thought the world would be hard-pressed to find a leader and cousin like me—completely lacking in magnanimity and open-mindedness, constantly sharpening my own little calculations until my eyes blurred.

Gao Jianning suddenly executed a beautiful wrist lock, gripping Wang Xuyang’s elbow joint. But Wang Xuyang wasn't weak either; after all, he had spent a couple of days in the renowned Fourth Criminal Investigation Team. He quickly retracted his arm, moving the crucial point away so Gao Jianning’s lock couldn't achieve maximum effect, then countered with an elbow strike aimed at Gao Jianning’s abdomen. In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged nearly ten moves. Gao Jianning was not only holding his own but actually gaining a slight advantage. My heart settled down. It seemed I wouldn't be needed today. I took a moment to glance at Feng Siyan, wondering what expression the cold, aloof woman would wear while two men fought over her. Feng Siyan’s eyes were fixed tightly on the fierce battle, her gaze revealing neither liking nor disliking. But on closer inspection, I understood: every time Wang Xuyang attacked, her hands would clench slightly, but she showed no such reaction when Gao Jianning attacked. So, this little girl was worried about Gao Jianning! It seemed my previous decision was brilliant. A simple fight allowed me to solve several problems at once; it was worth it. Just then, there was a sharp crack. Wang Xuyang screamed, "Let go, let go quickly! My arm is dislocated!" Gao Jianning held Wang Xuyang's wrist with one hand and pressed against his shoulder joint with the other. The look on Wang Xuyang was quite pathetic, though it had a hint of martial spirit. If the situation weren't so tense, I would have immediately pulled out my phone and snapped a few quick photos, then sold them back to him for a hundred yuan each—this kid would be scrambling to buy them. "Gao Jianning, that's enough. Don't escalate things," now that the victor was clear, it was time to call it quits. I stepped forward and beat the retreat drum. Gao Jianning suddenly shifted the hand pressing on Wang Xuyang’s shoulder joint and violently twisted Wang Xuyang’s arm. Seeing that he really intended to harm Wang Xuyang, I yelled loudly, "Enough! Stop it!" With a crisp snap, Gao Jianning shockingly reset the arm, then let go, saying coldly, "Don't act so arrogant in front of me again!" He then returned to his seat, just like a protagonist in a TV drama, looking deliberately casual, as if nothing had happened. Feng Siyan tilted her head and whispered something, but I couldn't quite catch it. I only heard Gao Jianning dismissively say, "Just a simple spar; it's nothing." The way he acted was indescribably smug.

The duel between the two masters was over, and now it was my turn to shine. I walked over to Wang Xuyang, feigning concern: "How is it? Are you okay?" Then I spun around and shouted at Gao Jianning, "We’re all on the same side! Why so heavy-handed? Next time we catch a fugitive, I’m sending you out first." Wang Xuyang's arm had just been reset and still hurt, compounded by the utter loss of face in front of Feng Siyan. He was in no mood to talk to me, just sitting there rubbing his shoulder, glaring fiercely at a patch of empty space as if the concrete floor were Gao Jianning. I consoled him a bit, then slapped my rear and walked out, because acting wasn't my specialty; if I stayed too long, I'd certainly laugh out loud from amusement. As soon as I stepped out, I heard a loud bang behind me. Wang Xuyang followed, walking straight ahead with his head down, passing me without a greeting. I shook my head and sighed. It seemed my management skills were indeed lacking; otherwise, how could this kid follow Hong Yang around like a puppy?

Just as I was about to head downstairs, I heard a fierce argument erupting in the stairwell. I peeked out and saw Elder Jiang and Fu Zhen. Sensing trouble, I immediately retreated back into the office. Before my butt had fully settled, the door was pushed open, and Elder Jiang strode in, furious, with Fu Zhen trailing behind. Judging by Fu Zhen's demeanor, he was serious too; his usually easy-going face showed a trace of resentment. I had no idea what these two titans were fighting about, but now that I was the Special Agents Office leader, hiding was not an option. I signaled Gao Jianning and Feng Siyan to leave, then brewed two cups of tea. Elder Jiang took his tea and placed it heavily on the desk, while Fu Zhen nodded to me and also refrained from drinking. The two sat there, their faces grim, neither speaking for a long time. I stood cautiously to the side, contemplating whether I should make a run for it, when Hong Yang also entered. It seemed I wouldn't be leaving today; no matter what, I couldn't let Elder Jiang fight two opponents alone.

After a period of silence, Fu Zhen’s face turned ashen. He suddenly said, "Jiang Haitao, I know you’ve been brooding over the events of ten years ago, but your approach is pure nonsense, completely baseless. If you keep pushing this, major problems will arise." I couldn't understand what they were talking about, but it was clearly approaching the core issue, so I stood by, listening intently. Hong Yang seemed to have the same intention; he looked depressed, suggesting he also didn't want to get involved in their old feud. But Fu Zhen wouldn't have called him here without a reason. Sure enough, Elder Jiang waved his hand: "Don't bring that up with me." He then glanced at Hong Yang, and his expression turned heavy. Only then did I catch a glimpse of the situation: Hong Yang was somehow entangled in this. But this kid was only slightly older than me; how could he be at odds with veterans like Elder Jiang and Fu Zhen? Elder Jiang then added, "I cannot let you make the same mistake again. Little Yang's father paid the price because of one mistake you made back then. Now you still insist on this path—I tell you, it's impossible!" Hearing this, I became confused. According to Elder Jiang, Fu Zhen made a mistake ten years ago, which resulted in Hong Yang’s father paying a price—whatever that price was, it must have been huge, possibly his life. If that were the case, why would Hong Yang 'treat the thief as his father' (a Chinese idiom for accepting a false superior)? Apologies, I knew the phrasing was inappropriate, but it was the only way I could frame it at the time.

Fu Zhen's face darkened slightly but quickly recovered. He said calmly, "Little Yang is reasonable; he won't be like you. I told him everything about what happened back then. Life and death are part of combat; none of us knows if we'll survive until the end, you or I. " He paused slightly, then continued, "You need to clear your head. Science has advanced to this degree, and you still believe in those ghostly things? It’s unbelievable. Even if I had listened to you back then, Little Yang’s father might have lived, but others sent in his place would have died just the same!" My heart skipped a beat. So, Hong Yang's father was a martyr—I had never heard that before. Now I was starting to piece things together: Back on the battlefield, Fu Zhen and Elder Jiang were in the same squad, and Hong Yang's father was too. Later, Hong Yang's father was sent out on a mission and was gloriously sacrificed. Before that, Elder Jiang had suggested that Hong Yang's father shouldn't go, but because his reasoning wasn't scientifically sound, Fu Zhen didn't accept it. Consequently, Elder Jiang blamed Fu Zhen for the death of Hong Yang's father. After going around in circles, I finally understood the relationship between the three. No wonder Elder Jiang always held some prejudice against Hong Yang yet was reluctant to make things too hard for him—he was the son of a dear friend, yet he 'treated the thief as his father.'

From this, I fully understood the purpose behind establishing the Special Agents Office. Perhaps Elder Jiang’s original plan was to form a small group specifically to investigate 'mysterious' cases, whose members would certainly be like Xiao Cuo, maybe even presided over by some master from the mountains. But all of this was ruined by Fu Zhen. The Bureau couldn't withstand the pressure, so Elder Jiang was forced to compromise, having me, Zhang Jiewei, and others transferred in to form a mismatched team. The true core members were probably just Xiao Cuo. Perhaps Elder Jiang had others under his wing, but none of us knew. I then heard Fu Zhen say, "Today, I called Little Yang here to show you that he doesn't blame me, and his father won't blame me either, because as a commander, my actions were not wrong. Now, you are the commander for these current cases; you must maintain a scientific attitude. Those chaotic things will only harm more people." The veins on Elder Jiang’s neck instantly bulged: "Whom did I harm?!"