The "Explosion" phase of the investigation begins as Lu Cian transforms the grim crime scene into a high-stakes public spectacle.
Lu Cian didn't just point at the vent; he walked toward it with the theatrical flair of a seasoned performer. He knew the officers' bodycams were linked to the precinct's internal feed, which, in this world of "Entertainment-Police Complexes," was frequently leaked to the public for "transparency" and PR.
"Officer, zoom in here," Lu Cian commanded, pointing to the microscopic scratches only he could see through the trial version of Trace Vision.
"You're hallucinating, Superintendent," the lead detective scoffed, though his voice lacked its earlier bite. "Those are just wear and tear."
"Wear and tear doesn't follow the flight path of a carbon-fiber rotor," Lu Cian countered, his internal monologue cold and analytical. He turned to the victim's phone. "System, if I prove the 'how,' do I get the 'who'?"
[System Note: Only if you make the lead detective look like a complete amateur. Reputation is earned through the 'Face-Slapping' of the arrogant, not just through logic.]
Lu Cian smiled thinly. He grabbed the victim's phone and used his Earth-born knowledge of forensic psychology to bypass the lock screen, predicting the victim's passcode based on behavioral patterns.
"Look at the last message," Lu Cian said, holding the screen up to the cameras. "It's not a suicide note. It's a dinner reservation for two, made ten minutes before the time of death. Who kills themselves right after ordering the Wagyu?"
The silence in the room was deafening. Outside, on the digital billboards of Jinghai Central Plaza, the live-streamed feed of the investigation was beginning to draw a crowd.
[System Notification: Reputation Points (RP) +1,000 and climbing!] [Netizen Comment: 'Is that the Jinx? He actually sounds... smart?'] [Netizen Comment: 'Look at the lead detective's face! He looks like he swallowed a fly!']
"The killer didn't enter through the door," Lu Cian continued, his voice rising for the "Explosion" of the truth. "They used a micro-drone to deliver a concentrated dose of neurotoxin through the HVAC. The 'locked room' wasn't a barrier; it was a trap."
Suddenly, a notification flashed gold in his vision:
[Quest Completed: The Locked Room's First Victim] [Reward: 500 Justice Points (JP) + Permanent Skill: Trace Vision (Level 1) Unlocked!] [Current Rank: Superintendent 3rd Class (15% to next level)]
Lu Cian felt the permanent power of Trace Vision settle into his eyes, no longer a trial but a part of his very being. He looked at the lead detective, whose face had turned a deep shade of purple.
"Superintendent Lu," the detective stammered, "I... I'll call for a technical team."
"Don't bother," Lu Cian said, turning his back on him as he walked toward the exit, his coat billowing behind him like a cape. "I've already tracked the drone's signal to a warehouse three blocks away. Are you coming, or do you need to stay here and finish 'closing the case'?