C20 The Experiment Succeeded!

He felt a sense of relief that Cheng Sheng was the one on the front lines. Cheng Sheng had military experience, so standing for an hour or two wouldn't be an issue for him.

If Xiao Chennai were in his place, his legs might have turned to jelly.

Ding Yu was unaware that Xiao Chennai had already conducted over ten experiments, each time standing for an hour or two.

At the police academy, Xiao Chennai's performance was outstanding. When it came to physical endurance, he might just measure up to Cheng Sheng.

As an hour ticked by, Ding Yu began to sweat. He desperately wanted to sit down, but seeing Wang Shengdong and Sunn Limin standing so erect despite their age, he resolved to keep standing firm.

The elastic rope was too slender, and the onlookers were too distant to discern the details.

Cheng Sheng and Xiao Chennai, being closer, could see the rope starting to slacken.

An hour and a half in, Cheng Sheng's face showed sweat, yet he maintained his upright stance.

Hua Ning took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

This experiment had to succeed; failure was not an option.

Wang Shengdong had already been skeptical about their approach. A failure now could mean closing the case as a suicide, allowing the real culprit to escape justice, and Lian Dongshen's death would be in vain.

Two hours passed, and no one knew what Lian Dongshen had endured in his final moments.

As the two-hour mark approached, Sunn Limin instinctively checked his watch.

The second hand ticked steadily onward.

The tension at the scene was palpable; everyone seemed to hold their breath.

Even Wang Shengdong grew tense, his gaze fixed on the elastic rope.

Xiao Chennai lifted the stopwatch, his eyes heavy with anticipation.

Then, with a snap like the breaking of a mental string, the moment of truth arrived.

Hua Ning exhaled gently, her laughter emerging involuntarily.

They had done it; they had succeeded.

The elastic rope snapped, and the prop plunged straight into the wooden board, embedding itself deeply.

Xiao Chennai also released a quiet breath.

Truth be told, he had been on edge. Despite the numerous successful trials, he harbored a fear that something might go awry in this critical experiment.

However, if he showed any sign of uncertainty, it would affect the entire team at Unit 9.

So, he couldn't let anything show.

He had to maintain an expression of confidence.

Fortunately, the experiment went smoothly, with the results closely matching his expectations.

He stepped forward, ruler in hand, measured, and then turned to report to Wang Shengdong, "The incision in the experiment is only 1.3 centimeters off from the wound on the victim."

Wang Shengdong remained silent, his gaze heavy upon the wooden board on Cheng Sheng.

Sunn Limin chuckled, "There's bound to be some margin of error. No simulation is perfect; uncontrollable factors are inevitable."

Xiao Chennai nodded appreciatively, then looked expectantly at Wang Shengdong.

The rest of Unit 9 also watched Wang Shengdong with hopeful expressions.

Feeling uneasy under their collective stare, Wang Shengdong said, "Why are you all staring at me? Take the stuff off Cheng Sheng already."

Prompted by his words, Ding Yu and Hua Ning sprang into action, working together to remove the wooden boards from Cheng Sheng.

With the boards off, Wang Shengdong inquired, "Are you okay?"

Cheng Sheng patted his chest, "Thankfully, I was wearing body armor. It's a bit sore, but no harm done."

"That's good to hear," Wang Shengdong nodded.

"Uncle, about this case..." Hua Ning began, but upon seeing Wang Shengdong's reaction, she realized she had misspoken.

As expected, Wang Shengdong's tone was stern, "How many times have I told you not to call me uncle at work?"

Hua Ning, slightly abashed yet sensing a softening in his tone, cheekily asked, "So, Captain Wang, how should we proceed with the case?"

Wang Shengdong responded, clearly annoyed, "What do you think? The evidence is right before me. What more is there to say?"

Hua Ning was momentarily taken aback, but Xiao Chennai quickly grasped Wang Shengdong's implication.

Seizing the moment, he promptly responded, "Thank you, Captain Wang. We'll summon Lian Peng and Lian Dongsheng as soon as we return."

Given the precision of the crime and the two-hour duration, the suspects could only be Lian Peng or Lian Dongsheng.

Wang Shengdong shot Xiao Chennai a glance and huffed before turning on his heel and walking away.

Sunn Limin remained standing, a warm smile gracing his face as he regarded Xiao Chennai. "You can tackle this case with confidence. Captain Wang and I will shoulder the pressure from above for you."

He paused, then offered words of reassurance, "You've made the right call. Don't carry any emotional weight from this. Solving a case isn't about speed; it's about thoroughness to ensure justice for the victim."

Stepping forward, he gave Xiao Chennai's shoulder a reassuring pat before departing.

The scene was left to the remaining members of Unit 9.

Ding Yu exhaled deeply, clutching his chest, "That scared me to death."

Xiao Chennai approached Cheng Sheng, "Everything okay?"

Cheng Sheng nodded with a smile, "You've obviously run through this many times, haven't you?"

He formed a fist and gently thumped Xiao Chennai's body, "Other than a bit of soreness, I'm fine."

Xiao Chennai nodded, "Let's head back and bring in Lian Peng and Lian Xiangsheng."

The experiment concluded successfully, earning the approval of Wang Shengdong and Sunn Limin. The members of Unit 9 were eager, almost impatient, to summon Lian Peng and Lian Xiangsheng. At Xiao Chennai's instruction, they chorused, "Yes, Leader."

They exchanged smiles, the camaraderie within Unit 9 reaching new heights.

Meanwhile, Wang Shengdong drove with a grave expression.

Sunn Limin watched him, amused, "Come on, lighten up. Having responsible subordinates is a blessing. And when this case is cracked, you'll be in for some well-deserved praise."

Captain Wang let out a cold snort. "Praise, huh? You have no idea how much I've been chewed out these past few days."

Sunn Limin was well aware that the pressure wasn't just on Captain Wang; as the director, he too had received calls from higher-ups.

"Fine, I'll make the call when I get back. I know you've been in a foul mood lately, so I'll give you a hand this time."

At those words, Wang Shengdong's face noticeably brightened.

"Come on, we've been comrades for years. Do you really think I'd do that? Like you said, if we crack this case, the accolades are sure to follow. I can't let you take the heat and then hog all the glory myself," he said, then paused and let out a sigh. "I'll make the call."

He truly dreaded making that call, but the hopeful looks from the younger team members left him no choice but to muster up the courage and dial the number.