Chapter 16: Impossible to Wash Clean, Simply Impossible!
The King of Cheating?
Shen Qianqian's brows furrowed slightly, her clear and bright eyes filled with astonishment. Even though she had arrested numerous suspects and was used to big scenes, her heart couldn't help but be tumultuously moved at this moment.
After two interrogations, she could not claim to be unfamiliar with Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan, 24 years old, a university graduate for one year, living in the dilapidated rental of Happiness Community in City East District, making a living by writing books, with poor sales, and no more than 5000 yuan in his bank account.
How could such a person be the King of Cheating that Chen Ming talked about?
Team Leader Li Bing saw Shen Qianqian's doubts and said to Chen Ming, "Expert Chen, the author of this novel is still a young kid."
Chen Ming's gaze sharpened, and he said in surprise, "A young kid?"
"Yes."
Shen Qianqian nodded.
"This case is indeed very special," Chen Ming mused, not daring to make a hasty conclusion.
Li Bing, as the head of the public security team, was experienced and immediately made a decision, "The three of us will unite for the interrogation, to probe the reality of this young kid!"
Shen Qianqian and Chen Ming both nodded.
Start the interrogation immediately!
...
Squeak--
The heavy iron prison door emitted a long frictional sound, and the seven or eight people inside the detention room immediately looked towards the door.
"Lin Chuan."
Lin Chuan turned his head to look, Shen Qianqian stood straight and smooth, her fair and delicate face exceptionally eye-catching even outside the dim detention room.
Landlord Old Zhang nudged Lin Chuan, "They've come to interrogate you. Cooperate well, and strive for lenient treatment."
Lin Chuan smiled helplessly.
Shen Qianqian led the way in front, with Lin Chuan following behind.
Walking through the stern corridor, turning two corners, and crossing the yard, Lin Chuan came to the familiar interrogation room once again.
As soon as Lin Chuan entered, he saw two people sitting upright at the front of the interrogation room.
It was the head of the public security team, Li Bing, and the anti-gambling expert, Chen Ming.
Their scrutinizing gaze settled on Lin Chuan and did not move away.
Under their intense gaze, Lin Chuan felt as if he was being seen right through.
He was almost experiencing an acute bout of awkwardness.
Lin Chuan also stole a glance at Li Bing and Chen Ming.
Li Bing had thick eyebrows and large eyes, with wheat-colored skin, exuding righteousness.
Chen Ming, slightly portly, gave Lin Chuan a very familiar feeling.
Like... a swindler.
But he didn't have time to think it over much, as the interrogation began as soon as he sat down.
This interrogation.
Team Leader Li Bing took the lead, with Shen Qianqian as the assistant.
Chen Ming, as a special case assistant, was allowed to assist in the interrogation.
With his square face, Li Bing's voice was very solid as he asked right away, "Lin Chuan, are you a swindler?"
Lin Chuan immediately denied it, shaking his head like a rattle drum, "No!"
"Do you know any cheating techniques?" Li Bing asked again.
"No..."
Lin Chuan paused, "Uh, I should know a little bit."
If he said he didn't know any cheating techniques, this police uncle would definitely not believe him.
The little room was ice-cold, and the atmosphere very stern.
Li Bing continued, "Lin Chuan, in your book 'Swindler,' there are detailed descriptions of cheating techniques; is this true?"
"It is."
Shen Qianqian presented the relevant materials in front of Lin Chuan, who nodded in acknowledgment.
Li Bing's expression remained stern, his authority unwavering, "Upon investigation, these descriptions of cheating techniques contain quite a few instructional segments. We suspect that through your novel, you aim to teach criminal methods to others; is this true?"
There have been instances where people have used novels to leak important secrets.
In the end, they turned out to be spies.
Good heavens!
Modern methods of crime are ever-evolving.
Li Bing suspected that Lin Chuan's case was very similar.
Lin Chuan's face turned pale, and he shook his head like a rattle-drum, "Officer, that's not true! Just because my writing is detailed doesn't mean you can pin the crime on me. I never thought someone could learn cheating techniques from these words; that was not my intention!"
Lin Chuan had thought about this argument for a long time in the detention room.
Who would have thought?
Someone could learn cheating skills from a novel!
Li Bing waved his hand dismissively and said, "When it comes to illegal and criminal activities, we rely on evidence. Upon investigation, the account 'Arrogant Zhang' tipped you with two Alliance Leader's Treasure Chests, worth 2,000 yuan, is that so?"
Lin Chuan's heart tightened.
Arrogant Zhang?
Is he that genius reader who learned cheating techniques in just a day or two?
He tipped me 2,000 yuan, and he also learned cheating techniques.
So, what is this 2,000 yuan considered?
Tuition?
Ah, this...
It's over, I can't explain this away!
"Is that so?" Li Bing repeated.
"Yes."
Lin Chuan shrank his neck slightly, his voice a few notches weaker, his gaze a few shades dimmer.
"After he practiced the cheating techniques, he went to the underground casino and gambled with cheating skills..." Li Bing roughly outlined Old Zhang's illegal activities.
"Therefore, we have ample reason to suspect that you are teaching criminal methods to others through your novel."
After hearing this, Lin Chuan slumped back.
His whole demeanor wilted.
According to the officer's reasoning, 'Arrogant Zhang' paid 2,000 yuan in tuition, learned cheating techniques from me, and then ran to the casino the next day to gamble and defraud with those skills.
It's a closed loop!
Lin Chuan forced himself to calm down and mustered all his energy to explain, "Officer, I only publish novels to make some money. I don't even know 'Arrogant Zhang.' For me, tipping an Alliance Leader's Treasure Chest is an acknowledgment of my work, not tuition!"
Li Bing smiled, "You don't know him, do you?"
"I don't, no!"
Lin Chuan gave a definite answer.
Shen Qianqian looked steadfastly at Lin Chuan and retorted, "Lin Chuan, he is your landlord, and you were just with him in the detention room; how could you possibly not know each other?"
"Ah?"
Lin Chuan's eyes popped, his pupils shook, he was completely flabbergasted.
Landlord Old Zhang?
Old Zhang, oh Old Zhang, you've doomed me, now the logic is completely closed off.
Can't wash it clean, absolutely can't wash it clean!
Huh?
Wait a minute, that's not right!
Lin Chuan suddenly had a flash of inspiration and immediately countered, "Officer, I didn't know beforehand that 'Arrogant Zhang' was Landlord Old Zhang, and let's assume for a moment that I indeed wanted to teach Old Zhang cheating techniques, why would I do it through writing?"
"We are in the same community, face-to-face teaching would be far more convenient, wouldn't it?"
"Why would I choose the most difficult method, through the written word in a novel, to teach?"
Team leader Li Bing and Shen Qianqian exchanged glances, then fell silent.
Clearly, there was some sense in what Lin Chuan said.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Chuan composed himself.
He needed to prove his innocence!
Lin Chuan looked at the three people across the interrogation table, and his gaze finally rested on Chen Ming.
Chen Ming gave Lin Chuan the impression of a swindler.
A swindler sitting beside the officers, assisting in the interrogation, must be a person involved in anti-gambling efforts.
That's right!
The starting point of the novel "The Swindler" is to oppose gambling!
Lin Chuan's face broke into a smile and said, "Actually, I wrote this million-word swindler novel with another purpose in mind."
Shen Qianqian's eyes flickered with a trace of surprise, "What purpose?"
Lin Chuan said with righteous indignation, his face serious, "Officer, I hope to use this novel to expose the scams of cheating techniques and promote the purpose of anti-gambling!"