North American Detective: I am Proficient in All Kinds of Gun Quick Draws Chapter 397 - 249 ’Dream Chaser’3

If I could resolve the case of the New York miniature model serial killer with Dean’s help, all while avoiding the counterfeit money case, wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone? With this thought in mind, Cheston En was ready to sacrifice his integrity today, just hoping Dean would let him join the case.

Dean felt quite uncomfortable under the man’s eager and desirous gaze. Slightly unsettled, he opened the file and began to leaf through it.

The case details in the file were almost identical to the New York Police Departnt’s records. The only difference was that this report was more detailed, without any distorting gloss, thoroughly docunting their investigative process alongside that of the New York Police Departnt.

Those guys weren’t slacking off either. The three issues Dean had previously considered had also been identified and acted upon by the New York FBI. Investigating the seven cases, they ultimately discovered a commonality among the seven victims.

All seven victims were people who truly loved their professions and had put in significant effort, but their efforts had not been rewarded. Consequently, they had all done things that went against their original aspirations: spending money on marketing, selling their bodies, slandering their peers...

But life isn’t a movie; hard work or abandoning one’s dignity doesn’t guarantee rewards. Thus, even after compromising their initial passion for their professions, all seven victims failed to achieve their desired results. They subsequently beca despondent, falling into a period of dejection.

The turning point occurred during this period. Upon investigation, the New York FBI agents in charge of the miniature model serial killings were astonished to find that all seven victims had, at so point, visited a forum website called ’Dream Chaser’.

This was a niche website where users would vent about their experiences, seeking solace and recognition from strangers, as well as advice and direction. In this era, when the internet was just beginning to take off, users were mostly sincere and empathetic, eager to share things they wouldn’t in the real world, with hardly any tricks or scams. The anonymity of the web provided everyone with a mask, akin to confessing in a church but without worrying about the priest’s integrity, which made people more inclined to share.

So, such websites were actually quite common. Many people even made friends or found lovers through this dium, individuals they might never have connected with in real life.

The seven victims of the New York miniature model case, during their monts of despondency, had frequently visited such sites, venting anonymously about the things they had done. And the one website where all their paths intersected was ’Dream Chaser’!

At that ti, FBI mbers had even managed to trace the victims’ online records leading up to their transformations, discovering they had all been in contact with a mysterious person. But then the miniature model serial murder case went cold.

At that point, internet monitoring systems were not yet robust. Eventually, without further leads, the FBI’s investigation hit a dead end at the network IP addresses. They ended up with nothing and had to archive the case, hoping that one day the killer would be unable to restrain himself and would strike again.

This system of archiving and waiting was indeed effective in its own way. And so, shortly after Dean took over the case, the FBI’s intelligence departnt, using system searches, imdiately discovered that his new case was very likely related to the miniature model killings. They alerted Cheston En, the sole agent at the Los Angeles FBI branch, at the first opportunity, tasking him with confirming the situation.

After finishing the file, Dean looked at Cheston En, who was sitting upright as if waiting for a teacher to check his howork. He then picked up his phone and dialed Harry’s number.

「anwhile.」

Harry was pushing the millstone with all his might. Experienced as he was, he had muted his phone in advance before starting the grunt work, careful not to disturb the old lady’s delicate sensibilities. It wasn’t until he was utterly exhausted and weak, and a satisfied Lycoris had gone to bathe, that he finally had a mont to check his missed calls.

Boss Dean? Harry smiled when he saw the caller’s na.

As the saying goes, ’train soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one mont.’ If Boss Dean knew how quickly I handled that old woman Lycoris, he’d definitely see in a new light!

Hoping for praise, Harry dialed back, "Hey, Dean, I’m almost done here, you..."

"You can co back now," Dean interrupted before Harry could boast.

"What?" Harry thought he had misheard.

"I’ve already figured out what’s wrong with Johnny Dennison, so you and Carlo can return. I have a new task for you."

Hearing this, Harry looked down at his disheartened and energetically drained companion; his own expression sagged in tandem.

He had lost his integrity and virtue, only to be told now that it was all for nothing. Being an underling is tough!

Harry consoled himself. Thankfully, Lycoris is wealthy. This wasn’t a bad deal at all!