Chapter 113: The Fishing Operation (Part Six)
“Wait!”
Zhang Mingyang noticed a heat source on the screen that vaguely resembled a human figure.
“Brother Leopard, do you think that’s a person?”
Black Panther activated the thermal imaging on the screen. Soon, the image appeared, confirming it was indeed a person lying prone in the grass.
“Get down!”
At Crab’s command, the five of them quickly dropped into the grass. Zhang Mingyang hurriedly reported to Tian Wenyuan, “Unit One, this is Unit Three. We’ve spotted a person 1,540 meters northwest.”
“Copy that, Unit One. Stay safe, we’re on our way.”
After speaking, Zhang Mingyang patted Crab’s shoulder and gestured toward the target, signaling him to scout ahead.
Crab nodded, and the five began crawling forward through the grass.
As Zhang Mingyang advanced, he kept monitoring the heat signal, noticing the target remained motionless.
“Something’s not right!”
Zhang Mingyang whispered through his earpiece to Crab, “Crab, this isn’t normal! The heat signature isn’t moving, and it’s weakening.”
Crab glanced at the screen; indeed, the heat signature was fading. Could the person have buried themselves in the ground?
Crab signaled the team to quicken their pace.
After over ten minutes of crawling several hundred meters, they finally neared the target.
Crab gestured for three members to circle around and patted Zhang Mingyang, urging him to stay close.
The closer they got, the faster Zhang Mingyang’s heart pounded, his right hand gripping the gun trembling with tension.
Once the four-person encirclement was in place, Crab whispered over the headset, “Move!”
In an instant, Crab sprang up from the ground, executed a forward roll, and lunged in front of the target, shouting, “Don’t move! Hands up!”
The other three reached their positions simultaneously, guns aimed at the target, orders to freeze ready.
Zhang Mingyang was a moment too slow, arriving seconds later. “Crab, what’s going on?”
Crab pointed at the ground. Zhang Mingyang turned to see a man lying face up, or rather, a corpse. A sharp knife was lodged under his left armpit, blood pooling across the earth. The sight churned Zhang Mingyang’s stomach.
One team member cautiously approached, checking for a pulse. “No breath. He’s dead.”
Crab donned gloves and rolled the body over, revealing a young man, likely in his twenties. Placing his hand on the corpse, Crab noted, “Cold to the touch.” He then surveyed the surroundings and estimated the man had been dead for over five hours.
Listening to Crab’s analysis, Zhang Mingyang quickly reported, “Unit One, this is Unit Three. We’ve reached the target location. It’s a male corpse, estimated time of death over five hours.”
---
“Copy that, Unit Three. Secure the scene; we’ll be there shortly.”
“Understood.”
Zhang Mingyang urged everyone to keep their distance and avoid disturbing the body.
“Crab, how did he die?”
Crab explained, “He was stabbed under the left armpit, piercing the axillary artery. Massive blood loss caused his death. When that artery is severed, resistance is lost instantly — like hitting a nerve that makes your arm go limp. But this method isn’t common knowledge. Was he military? A doctor? Or was it intentional?”
Looking at the large, now-clotted bloodstain, Zhang Mingyang shivered, touching his own armpit. “To be bled out alive... how cruel must the killer have been!”
“What’s the situation, Unit Three?”
At that moment, Tian Wenyuan arrived with a group.
“Look,” Zhang Mingyang said, pointing at the body. “One dead man.”
Tian Wenyuan showed no change in expression. He turned to Crab, asking, “Time of death over five hours?”
Crab nodded, “The body is stiffening, and the lower half shows lividity — the purplish discoloration that appears two to four hours after death. Given the temperature, I’d estimate over five hours.”
Tian knelt down, examining the knife in the left armpit. “Crab, this dagger — it’s not ordinary, is it?”
Crab replied, “I checked earlier; it’s neither a military nor a typical civilian knife. It’s modified. Even most military enthusiasts wouldn’t use this.”
Tian stood, scanning the area. “Crab, take some men and search the perimeter for others.”
“Understood. A few of you come with me.”
Crab led the team away.
“Finding a dead body right at the start isn’t a good omen!”
Tian chuckled. “How can a scientist and atheist like you suddenly believe in superstition?”
Zhang Mingyang scratched his head. “Some things can’t be explained by science alone.”
“Enough. Secure the scene. I’ll call the police.”
“Call the police?”
Zhang was surprised. “Is it appropriate to call before we fully understand the situation?”
Tian replied, “What else can we do? We have a mission; we shouldn’t get involved unless necessary.”
“All right.”
---
“What now, Unit One?”
Tian thought for a moment. “First, protect the scene and wait for the police. I’ve already informed Director Wang.”
“Seems that’s the only option.”
Shortly after, Crab returned. “Unit Three, we found no one else nearby. There are three sets of footprints around the scene.”
“Good. Relay that to Unit One.”
Zhang checked the time—10 p.m.—and summoned Black Panther to do another drone sweep.
Half an hour later, several police cars arrived with sirens blaring.
A precinct chief stepped out, wary at the sight of the black-clad group. He approached and asked, “Did you report this?”
Zhang stepped forward, shaking his hand. “Officer, yes, we did. The body is over there.” He pointed northwest.
The officer motioned for his team, who hurried toward the site.
Eyeing Zhang and the others, the officer questioned, “What are you doing here? Setting up tents in the middle of the night?”
Just then, Tian Wenyuan arrived, pulling out an ID and handing it to the officer.
The officer examined it, muttering, “General Equipment Department, Unit 63820, Tian Wenyuan?”
Still scrutinizing the ID, he said, “Wait here while I verify this.” Then he stepped aside to make a call.
Leaning close, Zhang whispered, “Brother Tian, what kind of ID is that?”
Tian replied softly, “My military ID. Luckily, I brought it, or tonight would’ve been hard to explain.”
“Unit 63820? What the heck is that?”
Tian tapped Zhang’s head. “Military secret. You forgot already?”
“Right, right.”
Moments later, the officer returned, his expression changed to a smile. “Comrade, your ID checks out.”