“When the virtual and the real have no difference, the human construct is no longer that unique. Every day, there are 4 million pictures uploaded and 32 millions status updates posted to the web by at least 14 million active users. This sea of information is not lost, the photon computer collects them to manufacture unique and complex human character models.
With new technology, these models can be transmuted into virtual characters. And with them, we can communicate with our dead loved ones and fulfil our past regrets. In this game, Perfect Life, after gaining the user’s permission, we will fill up the world with these virtual non-playable characters. Each of them has their own memory, past and unique personality…” At Xin Lu’s international business centre, Deep Space Tech’s higher up, Kong Tiancheng was giving his speech when a commotion rose through the crowd. People gasped and screamed. With a dry cough, Kong Tiancheng tried to get the crowd to settle down when his assistant rushed over.
“Boss, we have an emergency!”
“Chill down, haven’t I told you that we have to be calm even in the most dire situation?” Kong Tiancheng lectured as he turned away from the mic.
“There is a murderer who has held a whole broadcast studio hostage. He claims to be Meng Changan’s elder brother and Meng Changan is actually the killer for the human jigsaw case that happened 10 years ago!”
“What the fuck! Where did you see this?!” Kong Tianchang glanced towards his phone and then whipped his head towards the location where the higher-ups from Immortal Pharma were seated. 4 of the 5 seats were vacated. A middle-aged man with dashing good looks was staring at his phone silently. The nametag on his lapel identified him as Meng Changan.
Thousand pairs of eyes at the convention stared at him. Meng Changan thought he could use himself to lure Meng Changxi out but he was now put under the spotlight instead. If he left, that would suggest guilt but if he stayed, who knew what else his brother would reveal.
“That is Meng Changan?!”
“The murderer’s younger brother? No, wait, the murderer is Meng Changan!”
“But he does not look like one!”
“What do you know? These kinds of people hide themselves very well.”
“We need to report this to the main company immediately!”
Kong Tiancheng left the stage in a hurry. The speakers broadcasted music in his stead but the music was barely loud enough to overwhelm the exchange among the crowd. Similar situations were happening all over Xin Lu. In this information era, any hot topic would be known by all in a matter of seconds. At that moment, many people were tuned into their phone, staring at the man with the ruined face and scarred body.
“I wish to regale everyone with a story, a story about love and death. A mother took in three orphans, 2 of them had mental problems and 1 had physical disfigurement. However, the young mother still loved them with everything she had, but the repayment she got? She was brutally murdered by her own sons…” Inside Room 1044 at Happiness Neighbourhood, Han Fei was tuned into the stream as well. He knew about Meng Changxi’s past and he understood how long the man must have planned for this day. ‘So this is the swan song you’ve prepared for yourself?’
Meng Changxi revealed everything he knew on video. He did not hide anything, not even the presence of the butterfly. Meng Changxi knew that even if his siblings were apprehended, they would not give up the butterfly. Therefore, with his own life on the line, he decided to expose the butterfly. Some believed him and others did not, but that did not matter because the name, butterfly, was now out there. That alone might cause people to be more alert, thus lowering the number of potential victims.
To avoid facial recognition, Meng Changxi ruined his face; to prevent himself from leaving behind any fingerprint, he burned off his fingertips; for this day, he was in hiding for 10 years. He carved his speech on his own body. Every single scar was part of a sentence. Even after the stream was taken down, people could continue to find evidence on his body via captured stills. From the frozen body case to the human jigsaw case, Meng Changxi admitted everything he experienced, knew and investigated. He did not deny his wrongdoing. He admitted to the murder of He Shouye and the tempering of evidence but that was all he would confess to. He’d not take the fall for things that he did not do.
Meng Changan had laid down an elaborate plan with both surface and hidden evidence to frame his brother. However, he underestimated Meng Changxi, for he was outplayed. Instead of entrapping Meng Changxi, his elder brother tore down the protective web that he had constructed around himself for the past 10 years before everyone’s eyes!
The livestream did not last long and by the end, the stream started to flicker. No one knew what happened before the image went down but they did hear an angry growl by Meng Changxi. “Does a lack of evidence really mean a lack of sin?!”
The stream was cut off but its captured stills and highlights began to flood the internet, it sent the news once more to the top of online discussions. After watching Meng Changxi’s video, Han Fei immediately called Li Xue but her line was busy. So he sent her a few messages. Several seconds later, Li Xue replied. “All 3 Meng Brothers are now in detention!”
“What is your next plan?” Han Fei trusted Xin Lu police but it was hard to have them investigate an elusive butterfly, that alone sounded so preposterous. Meng Changxi’s public exposure of the butterfly was probably also a measure taken to instigate public opinion to pressure the police to open this investigation.
“The police will pour all their resources to investigate the frozen body and jigsaw puzzle case, including this butterfly mentioned by Meng Changxi.”
“If you’re starting an investigation into the butterfly, I can help you. I have some information on the butterfly with me.”
“Are you still at home?”
“I’m in Xin Lu countryside, I’ll meet you at the station.” Staying inside the room filled with paper furniture, Han Fei felt uncomfortable and he wanted to leave.
“Give me your address, we will go get you.” Han Fei caught the seriousness in Li Xue’s tone.
“I’m at a neighbourhood behind a chemical plant in the Northern countryside, the place is called Happiness Neighbourhood…” Han Fei actually had no idea whether he could help bring down the butterfly or not. If anything, he felt like the butterfly was already onto him and it would be hard to put his plan into action. “The butterfly would have seen Meng Changxi’s stream as well, this place is no longer safe.”
Han Fei hurried and left. He grabbed all the information collected by Meng Changxi. He hugged them to his chest and ran out the building. Luckily, Han Fei did not run into any accident and soon he met up with the Xin Lu police.
Under heavy protection, Han Fei was directly sent to the investigation unit’s office. Two imposing officers personally came to ‘welcome’ Han Fei, one of them appeared to be Li Xue’s former superior. Sitting in the room filled with cops, Han Fei felt no fear. He would reveal everything he should; but what he couldn’t, he’d keep to himself. Han Fei was confident no lie detector in the world was going to detect his omission.
