Compared to most professions, the group of macho men in the police force is larger.

Especially those working in technical fields, who deal with fingerprints, bloodstains, and equipment all day, their social interactions are limited, and there's minimal room for advancement.

This prevents them from being tainted by corruption and reduces internal conflicts.

Those who can participate in the Provincial Fingerprint Battle are the cream of the crop among these technical experts.

Now, with Lu Chuan and Tian Rong consecutively matching fingerprints in two cases, everyone is as energized as if wound up with a key.

Tensed and focused, everyone thinks, if others can do it, why can't I?

After all, each of us is the top expert in our respective city bureau.

Being here, we can't lose face.

In fact, in terms of technical level alone, the most competent fingerprint identification experts in the city bureau can reach the intermediate fingerprint identification level that Lu Chuan once achieved.

Even if there's a difference, it's not much, so there's really no doubt about their competency.

The key issue is that these cases entering the Provincial Fingerprint Battle were studied by experts of a similar level back then.

Unfortunately, no results were produced.

The difficulty is real, and none is a pushover.

Based on past experience, gathering fingerprint identification experts for five days has been the limit.

Not only are these people occupied, leaving work at the municipal public security bureau, but also the strain on their mental and physical stamina is unsustainable.

Just as Zhao Zhigao told Lu Chuan, even though the provincial department arranged accommodations for them, starting tomorrow, few will go back to sleep there; they'll mostly crash in the conference room.

"Ding!"

The successful fingerprint match notification tone rings out again, signaling a change in the leaderboard.

The third place now belongs to Wang Huiyou from the Qianzhou City Public Security Bureau, matching a case with three points.

Three points, which are basically the lowest case score in the Fingerprint Battle database.

It's a case of intentional injury.

So far, the Qianzhou City Public Security Bureau has achieved significant results, not only solving a 13-year-old murder cold case but also with Wang Huiyou's success; the battle is proving fruitful.

After all, normally, half of the dozen fingerprint experts come up empty-handed within these five days.

However, there weren't many congratulations for Wang Huiyou's success. Besides two colleagues nearby giving him a thumbs-up, everyone else remained glued to their computer screens.

Last year, Sun Bing already catered to these experts once, knowing they've entered the zone.

Looks like this year will yield impressive results.

One solved murder cold case already equates last year's achievement; anything more is a bonus.

"Ding!"

Another fingerprint identification success; a suspect matched.

The leaderboard scores change once again.

Yet, everyone remains focused on their fingerprint analysis; many have turned off the flashing leaderboard updates and haven't noticed what case it is.

Lu Chuan raised his arms, stretched, and looked around. Everyone was engrossed in examining fingerprints, and even Zhao Zhigao beside him showed no concern for the fingerprints he matched.

It seems that matching a murder case isn't that big a deal after all.

After a brief rest, Lu Chuan dove into the next round of work.

This morning, Lu Chuan's target is three murder fingerprints.

While people in the battle conference room are engrossed in their fingerprints, not paying attention to leaderboard updates, outside, Sun Bing is fully alert.

Since Lu Chuan identified a murder cold case as soon as the doors opened, many experts have found success.

Now, three people have matched cases already.

It's only the first day of the battle; last year at this time, there were still no results. Yet, by mid-morning, they've matched three cases, something usually only seen by day three of previous peaks.

However, just after stepping out to get a glass of water, the change in the leaderboard nearly made him drop his cup.

"Another murder case?"

At this moment, Lu Chuan remains in first place on the leaderboard, but his score changed from ten to twenty!

The case notes added another murder, making it two in total!

Sun Bing quickly clicked to see the matched case details.

The first case was the Qianzhou City Public Security Bureau's high school student murder.

Li Donglin had just arranged for the Qianzhou City Public Security Bureau to make an arrest.

The second case, from Tianzhou City.

"The taxi driver murder case from five years ago?"

Having joined the police two years ago and lent to the second division of criminal investigations, besides routine chores, Sun Bing's most important duty is maintaining the internal case files of the Fingerprint Battle system.

Following leadership instructions on which cases to include or remove from the database.

So, Sun Bing is fairly familiar with many Fingerprint Battle cases.

The Tianzhou City taxi driver murder case isn't isolated; it's a series of cases.

Specifically, starting twelve years ago, Tianzhou City witnessed a taxi driver murder every one to two years for several consecutive years.

The series is characterized by similar lethal methods and the use of similar murder weapons.

But the culprit was very cautious, leaving behind few clues.

Only five years ago did the Tianzhou City Criminal Investigation Team find an unfamiliar half-fingerprint on the stainless steel dividing a taxi driver and passenger, finally yielding a clue.

Unexpectedly, Lu Chuan matched this case.

Sun Bing immediately dialed Li Donglin's number.

"Director Li, Teacher Lu matched another murder case!"

At this moment, Li Donglin had just finished reporting to the provincial department supervisor and stepped out of the office.

"Yes, I know, I already reported to the supervisor..."

"No, Director Li, I mean Teacher Lu just matched another murder case!"

"Again? Matched...a murder case?"

"Yes, yes, the Tianzhou City taxi driver murder case from five years ago!"

"Damn..."

Fingerprint Battle Conference Room.

Li Donglin burst in, full of excitement.

Having worked in the provincial department for many years, Li Donglin had never lost composure like this.

But this time was different.

Lu Chuan had matched another murder cold case.

And no one knew this case better than Li Donglin.

Twelve years ago, he was still working at the Tianzhou City Public Security Bureau, and he was the one who conducted the Crime Scene Investigation for the first taxi driver murder case.

"Lu Chuan, you matched the Tianzhou City taxi driver murder case?"

This series of cases is considered such not only because of the method but also because the murderer didn't steal money after killing.

Typically, taxi driver murders are motivated by robbery.

But in Tianzhou City's case, the taxi drivers' money was left untouched.

Lu Chuan, selecting a third case, temporarily set aside his current work upon Li Donglin's return.

"I just matched it; how did you find out so fast?"

Other experts, interrupted by Li Donglin, learned that Lu Chuan had matched another murder!

Even Zhao Zhigao beside Lu Chuan stood up, incredulously opening the leaderboard on his computer.

He clicked on case details.

Indeed, Lu Chuan's score was now twenty points.

And the second case was from his own bureau—the taxi driver murder case!

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