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[Realism] [High-IQ Crime]
[Peak Mental Duel]
[No Female Lead] [Logic Enthusiast]
 
The police received a call. A person who claimed to be the Ghost said that he was going to kill someone in three days. What's more, the other party hoped that the police could immediately dispatch officers to protect this person, and he intended to complete the hunt under the police's tight protection.
 
In response to this, the police attached great importance to it and made thorough arrangements. When the three-day period arrived, the result was beyond everyone's belief. The target was dead!
 
However, this was just the beginning.
 
The Ghost's goal was to complete 99 perfect crimes and kill 99 enemies.
 
Thus, one perfect crime after another occurred, and the biggest serial murder case in history came into being!

The Ghost in the Dark Night: The Ultimate Revenge Strategy

**Scotland Yard, Conference Room — 3:15 PM**

Sebastian Gray slouched at the head of the table, a laser pointer dangling from his fingers like a conductor's baton. On the projector screen, four interconnected circles glowed: *The Ghost*, *Margaret*, *John Wilson*, *The Police*.

"Let's play a game," he drawled, aiming the laser at *The Ghost*. "This one's the puppeteer. Margaret?" The red dot slid to her circle. "A pawn. Us?" It hopped to *The Police*. "Pawns too. And John?" The light settled on the last circle. "The sacrifice."

Detective Thomas Wilson crossed his arms. "So we're all just pieces?"

"Exactly." Sebastian grinned. "Here's how the Ghost moved us: First, he coerced Margaret—threats, promises, who knows?—to kill John. Then, he called *us* with a flashy murder prediction. Why? To trap John at home, where Margaret could slit his throat with a pillow talk."

Murmurs rippled through the room.

"But the method—" James Morrison interjected.

"Ah, the penicillin." Sebastian's laser flicked to Margaret's circle. "She didn't spike his drink. She *wore* it. Smeared on her chest. John had a… *fondness* for that area, didn't he?"

A junior detective turned beet red.

"Two birds, one stone," Sebastian continued. "Destroy evidence with a shower—perfectly normal post-coital behavior. And the residue on her glass? A decoy. Proves she 'took' the penicillin, throws us off the scent. Neat, huh?"

Thomas shot to his feet. "Speculation! Where's the proof?"

Sebastian's smile didn't waver. "Check her alibi. The Ghost's calls came from locations Margaret couldn't reach. Scan her contacts—clean as a whistle. And that '1' painted on the burner phone? A countdown. There'll be more."

**Interrogation Wing — 3:45 PM**

A frazzled officer burst in. "Captain—Margaret's lawyer's here. Demands her release."

James's fist slammed the table. "Release a murderer?"

Sebastian draped an arm over the trembling officer's shoulders. "Let her go."

"She's a lead, not a killer." Sebastian lowered his voice. "Tail her. The Ghost'll contact her again. Or she'll slip up. Either way, we win."

James glared, but the logic seeped in. He gave a curt nod.

**Scotland Yard Parking Lot — 4:30 PM**

Margaret emerged, her lawyer a shield against the paparazzi's flashbulbs. Sebastian watched from a window, sipping cold coffee.

"Smart move," James muttered behind him.

"Nah." Sebastian crumpled the cup. "Just lazy. Let the pawns do the work."

Chapter 8: The Chessboard Unveiled