Chapter 006: Captain

"Not a wild beast?" Su Jingxing was taken aback. In the next instant, as if struck by a sudden realization, he exclaimed, "Captain Gu, are you saying this was the work of the Barbarians?"

On Earthstar, humans were not the only rulers. Besides humanity, there was another powerful race: the Barbarians. Compared to humans, the Barbarians were savage by nature, every one of them bloodthirsty. They were towering and robust, their bodies burly in the extreme, with a minimum height of three meters. Their skin was tough, their flesh thick, and their strength surpassed a thousand catties. Indeed, as soon as a Barbarian reached adulthood, they were equivalent to a ninth-rank martial artist.

Their overwhelming strength and bloodthirsty nature had led to ceaseless assaults on humanity since the moment they appeared. For thousands of years, war between humans and Barbarians had never ceased. In earlier times, humans suffered more defeats than victories. It wasn’t until the modern era, with the advent of firearms, that humanity began to gain the upper hand, driving the Barbarians deep into the Vast Mountain Range. Nations constructed formidable defenses along the periphery to keep the Barbarians at bay.

Because of this, if Barbarians were to appear in the lumberyard, it would be an earth-shattering event—one neither the scale nor the aftermath could be handled by someone as lowly as Gu Bo, the modest captain of the crematorium’s corpse collection team. Gu Bo was no fool; he understood the gravity of such a situation.

No sooner had Su Jingxing spoken than Gu Bo immediately refuted him, "No, it’s not the Barbarians."

"That’s a relief," Su Jingxing said, letting out a breath. As he drew closer to the corpses, his curiosity grew. "So, if it wasn’t a wild beast or the Barbarians, could it have been the work of a powerful martial artist?"

[Corpse discovered. Collect?]

"Yes!"

[Corpse discovered. Collect?]

"Yes!"

...

Ten corpses in all, and Su Jingxing collected ten cards, one after another.

"It’s possible," Gu Bo said, pondering. After a moment, he continued, "Su, go and fetch the lumberyard director and the captain of the security team. I have things to discuss with them."

"Alright." Su Jingxing replied, asking no further questions, and turned to leave in search of the others.

It wasn’t difficult, even for a first-timer, to find the top two men in the lumberyard. After a few questions, he learned their whereabouts. Unexpectedly, the security captain, second only to the director, was in seclusion, cultivating. Even with the patrol squad entirely wiped out, no one dared disturb him. There was a guard outside the closed chamber, and Su Jingxing had no way to see him, so he gave up.

He then went to find the director, only to be brushed off.

"Ah, what’s there to say? It’s just moving some corpses," said the lumberyard director, his face greasy and his belly protruding, his tone impatient. "Go back and tell your captain that if he has anything to say, tell Zhou Hongsong. I’m busy—no time for you lot. Off you go, kid."

"Director Wang, are you sure?" Su Jingxing replied calmly, neither servile nor overbearing. "If Captain Gu’s suspicions are correct, and the patrol squad wasn’t killed by beasts but was murdered, if the investigation uncovers the truth and the culprit is found, are you certain you’ll be unaffected?"

"I..." Director Wang’s expression changed, and he glanced nervously at those nearby. Forcing a smile, he said awkwardly, "Look at me, I’m so busy I can’t think straight. You’re right, this is serious! We must investigate thoroughly and see justice done for the dead!"

He pressed his hands heavily on the table and, with some effort, got up from the sofa, waving to his staff. "You all come with me. We must get to the bottom of this."

"Yes, Director," the office staff responded in unison.

Su Jingxing watched this with a quiet smile, saying nothing more as he took the lead.

The group left the administration building and headed directly to where the corpses lay. Their progress was slow—primarily because the director was so overweight that Su Jingxing couldn’t walk too fast alone.

Leisurely, they crossed two streets. As they neared their destination, a commotion arose ahead. Amid the noise, Su Jingxing faintly heard Captain Gu Bo’s voice and instinctively quickened his pace.

After only a few steps, he saw that the previously empty house was now surrounded by a crowd. Inside, Gu Bo’s quarrel with someone was clearly audible.

Listening closely, Su Jingxing pressed forward, squeezing through the throng. "Excuse me, pardon me—I’m with the corpse collection team, please let me through."

With some effort, he reached the door and saw who was arguing with Gu Bo—Zhou Hongsong! The manager in charge of reception was red-faced with anger, berating Gu Bo incessantly. "Captain Gu, you’re the captain of the crematorium’s corpse collection team, not the captain of security! We’ve already conducted an autopsy on the bodies—there’s no need for you to examine them again! Do your own job, don’t meddle in others’ business!"

"I’m only being thorough," Gu Bo replied, his face dark. "You’re right, I’m only the captain of the corpse collection team, not of security. But precisely because of that, I’ve seen more corpses than even the security captain!"

"So, you’re proud of that?" Zhou Hongsong sneered.

"No, I’m just stating that I’ve worked in this field for over ten years, and I know the nature of wounds on most corpses, even if not every single one," Gu Bo answered, pausing to point at the ten bodies on the floor. "Take these, for example—their wounds are clearly not the work of wild beasts!"

"Then what caused them?" Director Wang’s voice called from the crowd outside.

"Make way, don’t block the door," the accompanying staff urged, and a path quickly opened.

Director Wang trudged to the doorway, glanced quickly at the corpses, then looked at Gu Bo with a grave expression. "Go on, tell me—how were these bodies killed?"

"Captain Gu, this is the lumberyard director," Su Jingxing interjected at the right moment. "The security captain is still in seclusion and couldn’t come."

"In seclusion?" Gu Bo’s face darkened with anger. "At a time like this, he’s still in seclusion?"

Su Jingxing was surprised—Gu Bo’s reaction seemed excessive. The others present also noticed; despite the total loss of the patrol squad, Gu Bo’s agitation was oddly intense.

"Enough talk," Director Wang said impatiently, waving his hand. "Don’t worry about anyone else—I’m the director here. If you’ve found a problem, speak up. If there’s an issue, I’ll get to the bottom of it!"

"The director is right, but I’d say this man is just making trouble!" Zhou Hongsong retorted angrily, pointing at the corpses. "They’re already dead, and you still won’t let them rest! A second autopsy—don’t you understand that’s an insult to the departed?"

"That’s right! What kind of captain are you? Get lost! I’ll take my brother’s body to the crematorium myself!"

"Get out! So you work at the crematorium—big deal?"

The relatives of the dead gathered at the door, shouting in righteous indignation.

"Captain," Su Jingxing stepped forward.

"Don’t be afraid," Gu Bo comforted him.

"I’m not—"

"Silence, all of you!"