Under the hazy moonlight, the younger man in the black trench coat was beyond shocked.
Yet, the young man returned to his normal demeanor and looked at the older man in the black trench coat, "Officer Wang, about my fee for this case?"
The older man nodded approvingly, revealing a tech-savvy watch on his wrist and gently swiping it across the young man's wrist.
The young man looked down to see his own tech watch displaying a transaction—10,000 credited.
He tightened the strap of his backpack on his shoulder, waved his hand back, and said, "Officer Wang, I'm always ready. Contact me in advance for the next job."
The young man then walked into the darkness, his figure seemingly disappearing into thin air.
"Captain..."
The younger man stared in the direction where the young man had vanished, frowning, "All that just now, it was all his speculation. The case hasn't been concluded yet, and you... you've already paid him?"
Officer Wang extinguished his cigarette, stating firmly, "It's accurate."
The younger man still harbored doubts.
Seeing the captain so confident, he stepped aside and called into his communicator, "Team one, check the sewers along the west. Team two, head to suspect number 6's residence immediately..."
After a moment, the younger man returned to the captain's side, still skeptical, "Captain, is that kid really as legendary as they say?"
Officer Wang nodded, "Once, he only spent 10 minutes in my dad's old bedroom and then, in front of me, he mimicked my dad. Every gesture, the way he leaned on his cane, the trembling figure... I was terrified, thinking my dad's spirit had returned and possessed him."
The younger man shuddered, "I didn't mean that. I meant, is it true that every time we face a gruesome, unsolved murder case, especially those with cruel and bizarre methods... he can reenact the murderer's methods and ultimately solve the case?"
Officer Wang calmly nodded, "But... we can no longer ask for the 'freak detective's' help."
"The department's system has a record; this was his 14th simulation of murder."
"Although the environment is simulated, his brain undergoes real torment."
"If we don't stop in time, his brain won't be able to handle it; it'll break down."
The younger officer suddenly realized something, "Doesn't that mean, in the mind of this 18-year-old boy, there are 14 ultra-perverse murderers and their methods?"
Officer Wang shook his head, "That's just in our precinct."
The younger officer paused.
Officer Wang continued, "He has also served as a part-time detective for six other precincts. Of course, he has no other motive than to earn a living."
Lighting another cigarette, Officer Wang added, "He has solved a total of 101 perverse murder cases."
The younger officer felt a chill down his spine, "So, he has 101 perverse methods of murder in his mind?!"
"And..."
"All of which we couldn't solve?"
The shock in the younger officer's mind suddenly doubled, "That's terrifying!"
Officer Wang also fell into silence.
Both men couldn't imagine what kind of world resided in the young man's heart?
For a long time.
The young officer asked again, "So, does he really have a severe psychological disorder as the legends say?"
Officer Wang, with a cigarette in hand, paused before speaking, "Interestingly enough, his psychiatrist happens to be an old friend of mine. I'm quite familiar with his condition."
The young officer's eyes widened with curiosity about the young man's secrets.
Officer Wang continued solemnly, "The 'ability' he mentioned is scientifically known as Shadow Syndrome, a rare mental disorder."
"We, ordinary people, have a subconscious habit of mimicking others."
"Like emulating someone we admire, a genius, or a celebrity idol."
"Even when we stay in a different place for a long time, we might subconsciously start to mimic the local accent."
"But him, Qin Yiguan."
"Due to his psychological disorder, this subconscious ability is amplified countless times."
"With enough information, he can mimic anyone indistinguishably."
The young officer was fascinated and exclaimed, "That's incredibly unbelievable!"
"But..."
The young officer, wide-eyed, questioned, "Then him specifically mimicking serial killers for us, going through so many bloody scenes, isn't he scared? Doesn't he feel timid? Doesn't he have nightmares?"
Officer Wang took a deep drag of his cigarette, "His condition isn't just one."
"He also has another rare psychological disorder, scientifically known as Antisocial Personality Disorder."
"According to the doctor, it's essentially a loss of conscience."
"Qin Yiguan, no matter what he does, doesn't feel internal condemnation, no sense of guilt, let alone fear or timidity, and naturally, he doesn't have nightmares."
"Playing a serial killer for him is as trivial as us eating a box of instant noodles, with no psychological burden whatsoever."
"Let alone killing one person, even if it were ten thousand, it would be the same..."
"This is also why he can mimic others without any distractions.."
The young officer's expression was one of extreme shock, "This is the first time I've heard of such a disorder."
"So."
Officer Wang finished another cigarette and stamped it out underfoot, "He uses a combination of Shadow Syndrome and Antisocial Personality Disorder to help us solve cases."
"In other words, he can freely manipulate and even harness his psychological disorders to accomplish whatever he sets out to do."
At this point.
Officer Wang turned back to look at his deputy, whose worldview had just been turned upside down.
"So, Xiao Li, what do you say?"
"Does he have a disorder or not?"
The young officer was completely dumbstruck, speechless.
Just then, a voice came through the communicator.
"Report to Captain Wang, body parts found in the sewer, suspected to be the missing girl!"
"Report to Captain Wang, blood traces detected on the glasses of suspect number 6!"