Chapter 41

"Ghost Car 1: Practice and Transaction"

Anger and Mo Fei, accompanied by Ais, left their home and headed towards the auction house. Anger seemed in high spirits, so they didn't take a cab, opting instead for a leisurely walk.

Mo Fei asked Anger, "Do you think we'll encounter the thief if we go now?"

Anger smiled and replied, "Clearly, we're in luck this time... well, that's not quite right. Rather, it's Mr. Thief who's out of luck... Mo Fei, character shapes destiny."

Mo Fei, not quite grasping Anger's point, queried, "If he stole the ruby, why didn't he flee immediately? Why wait at the auction house? Or did he steal the ruby and leave it there, planning to retrieve it later at night when it's quiet?"

Anger looked at Mo Fei and chuckled, "Mo Fei, you certainly have a rich imagination."

Still puzzled, Mo Fei thought hard but couldn't come to a conclusion, so he pressed, "I really can't figure it out. Explain it to me."

"Well... let's start analyzing from the time the incident occurred," Anger said with a smile. "First off, the one who aroused my suspicion the most was that female model."

"Do you think the female model was involved?" Mo Fei asked.

Anger stroked his chin and said, "Mo Fei, imagine this: what kind of force would it take to rip a necklace off someone's neck?"

Mo Fei visualized it and felt that it indeed would require significant strength, so he said, "It would need considerable force, at least enough to break open the clasp of the necklace."

"That was a platinum necklace set with diamonds and rubies, a unique and precious piece of jewelry in the world. You have reason to believe in its quality," Anger reminded.

Mo Fei nodded and said, "Indeed, that means it would take a great deal of effort to pull off that necklace."

Anger shook his head and explained, "Mo Fei, you need to learn to think in terms of mutual causality. One reason leads to one result, and one result leads to another. Many things in this world seem to have ended, but in reality, they never truly end."

Mo Fei blinked, once again puzzled by Anger's theory.

"To put it simply, you cook a meal, and the cooking process ends, so the task is completed," Anger continued. "But the end of cooking leads to us eating, our eating solves our hunger, solving our hunger inevitably leads to us being hungry again... and so it goes on. Every event in this world is like a high-power, frictionless wheel; once it starts, it never stops."

After listening, Mo Fei nodded and said, "What you're saying makes a lot of sense, but what does it have to do with the case?"

"Your conclusion is that it takes a lot of force to pull off this necklace. So what then?" Anger asked.

Mo Fei thought for a while but still couldn't grasp the connection.

Angell laughed helplessly and said, "Did you notice that the model is very tall and slim, and she was wearing very high heels?"

Startled by this, Mofei quickly realized and said, "Right! If it took a lot of force to pull off the necklace, the direct recipient of that force - the model - would definitely have fallen or lost her balance. Why didn't anything happen to her?"

Finally smiling, Angell said, "From now on, you've opened a door. I believe, with your intelligence and ability, you'll no longer be stumped by such challenges."

After thinking for a moment, Mofei said, "I understand now. The fact that the model didn't fall indicates that the force used to pull off the necklace wasn't significant. This means that when the necklace was put on, someone tampered with it. Therefore, the thief or their accomplice must be the person who wore the necklace."

"Quite good," Angell nodded and said, "Can you deduce anything further?"

Mofei thought for a while and honestly shook his head.

Nodding, Angell said, "Mofei, as a detective, the most crucial aspect, apart from the kind of technical thinking we just discussed, is the grasp of details."

"Details?"

"Yes, details," Angell nodded and smiled, saying, "When we questioned her, the woman didn't seem uncomfortable. Moreover, she didn't notice the wound on her neck... Such a wound would be somewhat painful; it's impossible not to feel anything."

"What does this imply?" Mofei asked.

"The most direct reason," Angell said with a smile.

"Incapable of feeling pain?" Mofei inquired.

"Correct," Angell nodded and then asked, "Under what circumstances would a person not feel pain?"

"That's right again," said Angell. "Precisely, it's a numbness of the superficial layers of the skin."

Frowning, Mofei said, "So, you mean someone caused the numbness in parts of her skin?"

By now, the two had reached their car parked near the entrance of the auction house. Indeed, their black car was still blocking the red sports car.

Angell explained, "There are many topical anesthetics that can quickly numb the skin's surface, almost instantly eliminating pain sensation. They're alternatives to injectable anesthetics, with fewer side effects."

"But aren't these ointments supposed to be applied and massaged in? How was it applied without the model noticing anything?" Mofei asked, puzzled.

"It's not that the model didn't notice anything," Angell pondered and said, "I think it's more likely that even if she felt something, she didn't pay attention to it and wouldn't associate it with an anesthetic."

"Why is that?" Mofei asked.

By this time, the two had reached their car and found no one around. Angell gestured to Mofei, saying, "Come here."

Puzzled, Mofei stepped closer. Angell put his arm around Mofei's shoulder, causing Mofei to startle. Angell asked, "Where should your hand be?"

Mofei, with his eyes fixated on Angell's face swaying before him, was momentarily unresponsive and confused. Instinctively, he placed his hands on Angell's waist.

Shaking his head, Angell said, "Mofei, that's not the right place for your hands."

After a long pause, Mofei's gaze involuntarily fell on Angell's slightly flushed lips, feeling a sudden dryness in his mouth. Meanwhile, Angell squinted his eyes slightly and said, "Mofei, you need to act on your instincts."

Mofei, still dazed, slowly raised his hand, gliding over Angell's neck, and gently grasped the back of his neck. Leaning down, he kissed Angell's lips...

As soon as their lips touched, Angell tilted his head back slightly and said, "Your hand is now in the correct position."

Startled, Mofei realized his hand was placed on the side of Angell's neck, exactly where the mysterious model had been scratched... It dawned on him that the person who administered the anesthetic did so through a kiss, and he immediately thought, "The method to loosen the necklace's clasp was also..."

"Correct," Angell smiled and, looking at the still close Mofei, said, "You've understood. Now we can go back."

Mofei didn't move, gazing intently at Angell, and said, "So, the thief who stole the jewels kissed the model and then applied the ointment to her neck, temporarily numbing her?"

"Yes," Angell raised an eyebrow.

"I think I still don't quite understand," Mofei suddenly said.

Angell looked slightly surprised and asked, "What don't you understand?"

Mofei stared directly at Angell and said, "I need to practice it."

Angell was momentarily taken aback as Mofei leaned in impatiently, pulling Angell close, and, bowing his head, kissed Angell's lips that he had just released, his hand gently exploring Angell's neck.

Angell was surprisingly calm and didn't resist. After Mofei ended this restrained kiss and let go, Angell's lips curved into a slight smile, and he said, "So you're quite the hands-on learner."

Mofei looked at him and asked, "Can I practice it even better...?"

At that moment, a whistle was heard nearby...

Anger and Mofei turned around to see a person lying in the red sports car inside their black vehicle, lazily yawning under a coat. “Pardon the interruption of the detectives' practical work... I personally suggest you drive this damned car home for a more thorough practice!”

Mofei glanced at him and asked Anger, “Is he the thief?”

Anger nodded.

“Hey,” the man twisted his neck, sore from sleeping in the car, and sat up. “Mind your words, I'm a master thief, not just any thief!”

Under the streetlight, Anger and Mofei got a clear look at the man’s appearance... How to describe it? A white low-neck shirt, black low-waist pants, slightly long naturally curly brown hair, a high nose, deep-set eyes, smiling eyes and mouth corners, as if “playboy” was written on his forehead.

“How did you steal the jewels after drugging that model?” Mofei asked.

Anger pointed to a small bag beside him, “His accomplice, right here.”

Mofei was startled, and the man laughed, “I’ve been warned about operating in this city. It's risky with a beautiful detective who might catch me at any moment... But I couldn’t resist the temptation of Bamina, it was too beautiful.”

As he spoke, he reached into the bag, took out an exquisite box, opened it, and held up a dazzling red gemstone necklace, shimmering under the streetlight, admiringly saying, “It’s truly beautiful.”

At that moment, a mouse the size of a palm emerged from the bag, squeaking twice. Mofei heard Ais beside him let out a soft "huh," and the little mouse immediately scurried in fear to the man’s neck, warily watching Ais.

"Hey," the man gently stroked the mouse's head with slight disapproval and said to Ais, "Don't scare the lady."

“Is that the mouse?” Mofei asked.

“This appears to be a flying squirrel,” Anger explained. “This type of rodent has a skin flap, also known as a patagium, allowing it to glide through the air with incredible speed.”

Mofei nodded, “The mouse stole the necklace and escaped as soon as the lights dimmed... The model, with her skin numbed, didn’t feel it and thought the necklace disappeared mysteriously.”

“Brilliant,” the thief nodded, introducing himself, “I’m Jiu Yi, as you can see, a professional-level master thief.” As he spoke, he reluctantly put the necklace back into its box and tossed it to Anger.

Mofei caught it swiftly and looked at Anger.

“I’ve already surrendered the stolen goods,” Jiu Yi shrugged helplessly. “Can the two detectives let me go now?”

Mofei, still puzzled, asked Anger, “How did you know he was the owner of the car?”

Anger smiled and replied, “There were many subtle scratches on the car.”

Mofei raised an eyebrow, understanding immediately. Jiu Yi would never dare to drive away; if he damaged another car, it would surely draw attention and leave records, bringing more trouble upon himself.

Anger took the necklace from Mofei's hand and tossed it back to Jiu Yi, saying, “Put away the fake.”

Jiu Yi sighed resignedly and pulled out another necklace identical to the first, tossing it over.

Mofei caught it and felt the difference immediately; it was heavier and colder… He suddenly remembered what a friend at a jewelry store had told him – “Want to know how to spot fake jewels? It’s simple. Look at the real deal, and you’ll know right away.”

Jiu Yi stepped out of the car and said, “I’m caught, then. I'm surprised you didn’t wait until tomorrow morning to hand me over to the police... Or did you change your mind along the way?”

Anger looked at him and said, “I need a favor from you.”

Jiu Yi smiled, “Sure, it’s easier than breaking out of jail.”

Anger extended his hand, passing him a business card from Mofei’s gallery, “Come to this place tomorrow morning. I'll treat you to a delicious breakfast.” After saying this, he nodded at Mofei, who opened the car door, allowing Ais and Anger to get in. Then Mofei himself got in, started the car, and drove off.

Jiu Yi looked at the business card in his hand and asked the flying squirrel on his shoulder, “Tell me, Elisa, why do all the good-looking people already have lovers?”

The mouse called Elisa tilted her head and squeaked twice, while Jiu Yi climbed back into the car, covered himself with a coat, and resumed sleeping...