Logan Bennett pressed his gloved fingertips against the livor mortis, eyes half-squinting. His brows slanted into his temples, and with deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, his face looked a bit grim from this angle. He said, “That’s not right.”

Logan Bennett, Deputy Captain of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Jianning City Public Security Bureau, also the leader of Investigation Team One, deputy division level, third-class police supervisor, Leo—famous throughout the police system. With over a decade in the force, his legendary exploits could keep ten Zhihu storytellers busy, and he was once named one of the city’s Top Ten Influential Figures for getting into a brawl with drug dealers using liquor bottles.

The district forensic doctor didn’t dare slack off and quickly asked, “What do you think?”

“Paradoxical undressing usually happens when body temperature drops, consciousness becomes fuzzy, and the hypothalamic temperature center sends the wrong signals—basically, when someone’s about to freeze to death. But our naked friend here didn’t take his clothes off inside the fridge. Are you saying he was already frozen silly before he crawled in?”

The forensic doctor was stunned.

The doctor didn’t answer right away, but Logan Bennett didn’t mind. He casually pointed and said, “Old Wan, seal off the KTV and the alley behind. Have your team look for the victim’s clothes and personal belongings—focus on things like wallets, keys, and phones. That’ll help a lot in identifying the body. Tech team, pull the surveillance footage, and also check the missing persons reports from the call center for the past and next 24 hours. A living person vanishing into thin air—someone’s bound to notice.”

District Criminal Investigation Captain Samuel Grant sent his men off as instructed, then turned and said, “I don’t know. If he didn’t sneak in through the back door, in a place like this, there are plenty of drunk people stripping to try their luck. Who knows if someone already took the victim’s stuff?”

The two of them squatted by the body bag, staring at the wide-eyed corpse. After a while, Samuel Grant mused, “You think this guy was a thief? Maybe he heard someone coming in while stealing, panicked, and hid in the freezer, then accidentally killed himself?”

Cops had seen plenty of accidental deaths during burglaries like this, but Logan Bennett didn’t answer. After searching for a bit, he said, “Doesn’t seem like it.”

“Hm?”

Logan Bennett tugged down the waistband of the victim’s pants, pinching the edge of the underwear logo with two fingers. “This fabric and stitching are genuine. Even on sale, it’d cost four or five hundred. It’s one thing to buy designer outerwear and shoes, but buying underwear at this level—that’s a matter of spending habits. If he’s this well-off, why would he be a ‘craftsman’ like this? That’s some dedication.”

Samuel Grant let out a “hey—”, folded his arms, and gave Logan Bennett a long, scrutinizing look before drawling, “I say, Deputy Yan.”

“What Deputy Yan? Call me Deputy Unit Captain Yan. You’re a unit captain yourself—who’s your deputy?”

Samuel Grant said, “Fine, Deputy Unit Captain Yan, you’re really something—like Conan.”

Logan Bennett kept a straight face. “You flatter me. I know the district folks have always respected and admired me…”

Samuel Grant said, “Wherever you go, someone dies. Even singing karaoke, you run into someone freezing to death in a freezer. Are you sure you didn’t kill him? Just confess so the rest of us can go home and sleep.”

Logan Bennett smacked him on the back of the head and laughed, cursing, “Pah!—With your Brother Yan’s skills, if I killed someone, you think you’d find out?” With that, he pulled out a cigarette and swaggered out.

“The kitchen’s back door camera is always broken. Other than illegal parking, there’s never anyone back there—just two trash bins. After a while, I got too lazy to fix it… I mean, officer, why should I fix it? To catch illegal parking? That’s the traffic police’s job!”

“Stolen goods? We keep all the expensive liquor in a special cellar. What’s there to steal in the kitchen—pots and pans? No, no, I’ve never seen this person before, definitely not a regular. Our business is law-abiding and well-regulated. We don’t even sell spirits over forty percent alcohol. Officer, just tell me—since this person died in my place, do we have to pay compensation?!”

The KTV had already been cleared and cordoned off. District detectives were taking Emily Carter’s statement in the lobby. Logan Bennett, cigarette dangling from his lips, walked over. The officer immediately stood up. “Deputy Yan, have a seat.”

Logan Bennett grunted in response and was about to sit down when his gaze suddenly caught something in the distance, and he paused.

A young man sat in a wheelchair, turned slightly away from them, being questioned by another officer.

The recently cleared dance hall was a mess, the lingering scent of makeup, smoke, and alcohol still in the air. A lone stage light shone from the other side, making the man’s jet-black hair and brows, his overly pale skin, and his aura—so out of place with the surroundings—stand out starkly.

Logan Bennett tapped his cigarette and asked, “Who’s that?”

The officer signaled for Emily Carter to answer.

“…” Just moments ago, Emily Carter had been anxiously asking about compensation. Now she swallowed, her voice dropping a notch. “That’s my fiancé.”

The officer’s pen clattered to the floor.

Logan Bennett’s expression didn’t change. “Why is he in a wheelchair?”

“We got engaged back in the county. Later, he came to Jianning to find me, but had a car accident on the way and was in a coma for a while. He only recently woke up, so he’s not very mobile yet…” Emily Carter awkwardly brushed her long hair aside and said, “I just picked him up from the hospital today and settled him temporarily in the dorm upstairs.”