Chapter 11: The Bomb Detonates, the Expert Panel in Shock!

Exiting the power station, Su Chen took off his cap and let out a long, relieved breath. He walked along the streets of the University Town, heading toward his rented apartment.

After eight years on the police force, Su Chen had never saved enough for a down payment on a home, living in rentals his entire career. He lived in public housing within the University Town, where the rent was relatively cheap because most of the residents were students.

As he walked, he glanced at his phone, calculating. It was six in the evening. The central power station conducted safety inspections every six hours—at 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM, and 2:00 AM. This meant the bomb had to be detonated before 8:00 PM. Once detonated, the destroyed surveillance power system would take at least twelve hours to fully recover, even if backup equipment were immediately deployed. This window of time was the opportunity he needed for his next move.

Back at his apartment, exhausted from running around all day, Su Chen rested for a while. Afterward, he washed his face and put on his police uniform, preparing to return to the Jinling Municipal Public Security Bureau. Checking his phone, he saw it was already 7:00 PM. The time was right.

Su Chen’s expression turned serious. He opened the dialer on his phone and entered the number for his smartwatch. He pressed call.

***

On the other side, at the Jinling Municipal Public Security Bureau headquarters, inside the "Chasing the Criminal" live broadcast expert group office, Forensic Pathologist Qin Ming put on a pair of white gloves and stared at two rows of misaligned teacups, frowning slightly. He walked around the table, rearranging each cup so they were spaced at identical intervals. He even rotated the handles of the cups to the same angle, all facing outward. Satisfied with the neat arrangement, Qin Ming let out a sigh of relief and sat back down.

He took a sip of his steaming coffee and looked at the two experts remaining at the table—veteran detective Cui Liwan and psychological expert Bai Su. "I think we can start with a rough profile of the perpetrator," Qin Ming said. "Let’s discuss our conjectures about this mysterious person. For example, do you two think the person selected as our 'criminal' has the guts to pull off a major crime?"

"The probability is very low," veteran detective Cui Liwan replied, shaking his head. With his extensive experience, he knew that executing a crime was not that simple. "I’ve handled many murder cases. Excluding impulsive crimes, a premeditated major crime requires a significant amount of time for planning. Some cases involve suspects scouting locations and plotting for years, yet the program has only given our perpetrator three days. In three days, let alone planning, they might not even have enough time to dispose of a body. In other words, even if the perpetrator chooses to commit a major crime in such a short time, they will inevitably leave flaws everywhere due to inadequate preparation. Tracking and arresting them won't be difficult."

Qin Ming nodded slightly, then looked at the other expert, Bai Su, who was reading a psychology book with her head bowed. Honestly, Qin Ming had always had doubts about her, especially regarding her decision to give the police officers time off, which struck him as bizarre. "What does Expert Bai think?" he asked.

Bai Su looked up from her book, pushed up her glasses, and replied in an official tone: "From past experimental results, normal people experience extraordinary psychological pressure when committing a crime, which causes ninety percent of them to give up halfway. If you factor in the program's live broadcast, the perpetrator's psychological pressure will rise exponentially, knowing they are being watched by the audience. Historically, those who have committed murder have gone through a process of emotional accumulation. It is very difficult for a normal person to commit a major crime directly."

"The other two experts' views lead to the same conclusion," Qin Ming said, setting down his coffee cup with a smile. "Of course, there are exceptions. For example, our old friend from the previous pursuit, who planned a kidnapping case." He was referring to the now-reformed master criminal from the previous season of the show. "Of course, that was based on the premise that he had already committed major crimes and possessed a certain level of psychological resilience and experience. If the program has chosen an ordinary person who has never committed a crime, it will be extremely difficult for them to do so."

Hearing Qin Ming's analysis, the two experts agreed. "Naturally."

"However," Cui Liwan added with a chuckle, "that 'old friend' was still apprehended within just a few days, which indirectly proves that committing a major crime in such a short time is a fantasy."

Qin Ming nodded noncommittally, a look of disappointment flashing in his eyes. He actually hoped for a more aggressive performance from the perpetrator, as his primary expertise lay in the study of corpses. If the perpetrator didn't dare commit murder, his forensic skills would have no use.

***

Just as they were talking, the office door creaked open. Cyber-security expert Duan Yu walked in quickly, a smile on his face.

"Success?" veteran detective Cui Liwan asked.

"Success." Duan Yu spread the tablet in his hand across the table. The other three experts immediately crowded around. The idea of a surveillance network covering all of Jinling was awe-inspiring—to be able to see every corner of the city without leaving the room! Not to mention the addition of the smart facial recognition "Skynet" system.

"In this society dense with cameras, it's impossible for a criminal to hide," Qin Ming stared at the computer screen with excitement, even though no image had appeared yet. "Once we hand this over to the lower-level police units to search for anyone with suspicious movements, we should be able to find the perpetrator's silhouette quickly. We'll have him in custody by tonight."

Duan Yu nodded slightly, his hands moving rapidly. *Surveillance resources loading... Loading complete! Enable?*

Technicians are often most intoxicated when verifying their technical achievements. Looking at the prompt button that popped up on the computer, Duan Yu smiled, clicked the button, turned around, and said to the experts beside him: "Now, it is time to witness a miracle of the public security surveillance system."

He pressed the key!

However... one second. Two seconds. The computer screen remained pitch black.

"What's going on?" Duan Yu frowned and moved the mouse, discovering that the surveillance resources for the South, North, and Central districts of Jinling had been successfully retrieved. Only the University Town district remained a void of darkness! He tried several more times, but the result was the same.

The experts exchanged looks. A bad premonition gradually rose from the bottom of their hearts. Something had gone wrong!

Just as they were puzzled, the door to the expert group office was pushed open again. Several individuals in black from the "Chasing the Criminal" production team rushed in. The man in the lead spoke: "Members of the expert group, the production team is notifying you that a serious bombing attack has just occurred at the University Town power distribution center. This attack has paralyzed the surveillance power systems for Jinling University, the University Town commercial street, and the snack city. Therefore, you are unable to view surveillance in these areas! We have cut the signal!"

Boom! The short sentences echoed in the ears of the experts like a thunderbolt! They realized instantly that this was all the work of the perpetrator. But how?

Veteran detective Cui Liwan’s usually kind face turned stern instantly. He knew that while this was a variety show, the program's criteria were extremely strict; they would not notify the experts unless the perpetrator had truly simulated a real-world scenario. "You mean to tell me that the perpetrator brought a bomb into the power distribution center... and 'detonated' it?" Cui Liwan asked.

The production staff nodded noncommittally. The experts' expressions tightened. It was true.

"But the country has very strict controls on explosives and dangerous goods; even large fireworks are banned. Logically, this perpetrator shouldn't have had the channels to obtain a bomb," Bai Su said, resting her chin on her hand, thoughtful. "And even if they could buy explosives, how did they get through the layers of security at the power distribution center? Could it be a black market deal? What does Officer Duan think?"

Forensic expert Qin Ming walked over to the cyber-security expert Duan Yu and patted his shoulder. But Duan Yu had been standing there in a daze for the dozen seconds since hearing the news. He had never imagined that the perpetrator’s attack would be aimed directly at his surveillance network, paralyzing the monitoring for that entire area!

Recovering his senses, Duan Yu grabbed his coat and practically sprinted out of the office. "Prepare a car! I’m going to the University Town power distribution center to inspect the scene!"