Free Web NovelChapter 84: Chapter 84 It Doesn’t Look Like One Person_1
After all, further autopsy operations were necessary, so Doctor Lu and his team began to work right there on site, quickly connecting several computers before a few staff members started to employ the software’s merging capabilities.
Although Zhou Ning had provided design insights and participated in the early planning stages, he was not familiar with operating the software. As he watched Mr. Qu expertly manipulate the system, Zhou Ning paid close attention, and when it came time to select skin and eye colors, Mr. Qu handed the keyboard to Zhou Ning.
"Doctor Zhou, please handle the next steps."
Zhou Ning did not demur; although the deceased’s skin appeared deathly pale now, this was due to significant blood loss. The real skin tone would be a bit darker than that.
Zhou Ning selected the skin color, recalled the iris color for a moment, and made his choice. Of course, he also had to deal with the comparably sparse eyebrows. After completing these tasks, Mr. Qu took over and clicked to merge them.
A small hourglass appeared on the screen, and after waiting about ten seconds, a three-dimensional likeness emerged. Liu Yongxin and Mr. Zhao leaned in for a closer look. Both had been involved in the external examination of the body and had seen the victim’s remaining facial features; Zhou Ning stepped aside.
"Master Mr. Zhao, take a look. Does this resemble the victim?"
Mr. Zhao nodded vigorously.
"It does, but isn’t it a bit too dark?"
Liu Yongxin shook his head.
"The skin color is fine. Doctor Lu, can this software also search for fingerprints?"
"We’ve reported to the city bureau; we can connect to your internal system. Have you extracted the victim’s fingerprints?"
Zhou Ning shook his head.
"I was just asking. What makes this case difficult is that the perpetrator cut off the victim’s fingerprints, so we can only check the victim’s facial features. Her teeth are also very neat with no traces of orthodontic work."
Doctor Lu gasped and finally turned to look at the autopsy table. He had been too excited to notice the state of the victim, but now he shuddered upon seeing it.
"I had only heard about it, but seeing the state of the body shows how challenging your work is. But since we have the victim’s facial features, let’s search in your system and see if we can find any identity information?"
Zhou Ning nodded eagerly, and Mr. Qu initiated an internet connection. The photo was then moved to the side of the screen, which split into two parts. One half displayed the recently merged image, and the other half had photos flashing as though making a comparison.
"Are you comparing against the household registration photos in the database?"
Doctor Lu nodded.
"Yes, but all household registration photos are screened not purely based on appearance. Didn’t you send me one of your ideas last time? It was the method of extracting data from different facial features within a reference image.
We improved the search function a bit; it compares the facial data of our merged portrait with that of all facial features in the registered photos. This way, even if there is cosmetic surgery or changes due to age differences, they can be overlooked."
As he spoke, a series of beeps came from the computer, surprisingly similar to Zhou Ning’s system, catching him off guard. He quickly turned his attention to the display.
The search had concluded, locating one person’s information. Mr. Qu clicked to reveal the details, and the individual’s identity information appeared on the screen.
However, upon seeing the photo on the ID card, Liu Yongxin was startled.
"Is this the same person? It doesn’t look like it, does it?"
Zhou Ning leaned in closer. The ID card was the newer kind, replaced in 2006. The girl in the photo had single eyelids and was rather dark-complexioned, with a hint of a dark fuzz over her lips—it was indeed quite different from their synthesized image.
Mr. Zhao leaned in and read aloud from the screen.
"Cheng Chunyan, born on February 7, 1989, a student at Qidong County Fourth Middle School. This data was entered in 2006 when she should have still been in school. The home address is 21, Tieshan Town, Zhujiazhuang. Eh? Isn’t this address right next to the bonded logistics park?"
Zhou Ning squinted his eyes. Born in 1989, having obtained an ID card in 2006 would make her 17 years old. Since the system managed a match, it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.
"Master, shall we have Xu Da verify this person’s information?"
Liu Yongxin nodded and immediately called Xu Dayuan’s cellphone.
"Doctor Lu and his team have come. Using the software designed by Zhou Ning’s team, the victim’s likeness was restored. Afterward, the system found information on a person named Cheng Chunyan during the comparison. I’ll send it to you. There’s a landline number on it you can call to check it out. If it’s not our victim, we’ll keep looking. If it is, then come for identification."
"Alright, I’ll take a look now." freeweɓnovel.cøm
The call ended, and the autopsy room fell silent. If they could find the victim’s family, it would be prudent to wait for them to take a look before proceeding with the autopsy. Of course, even if they arrived, recognition might not be guaranteed, and one would have to look at the clothing and such.
Ten minutes passed, and Liu Yongxin’s phone rang.
"Hello, I’ve made contact with the family. They said Cheng Chunyan did not come home last night, and they haven’t been able to reach her. They were considering whether to report her missing. Her sister is right by the Eighth Hospital. I’ll pick her up, and she’ll be here shortly."
After hanging up the phone, Liu Yongxin let out a sigh of relief.
"Let’s continue to wait then. Doctor Lu, how about you go to the station? We have space in our office. We’re going to start the autopsy here in a bit, and I’m afraid it might upset your stomachs if you stay here."
Doctor Lu waved his hand, his face all smiles.
"We came today precisely to have the team observe the autopsy. It’s better for the software development later on. Everyone will understand the significance of developing this software. Even if we feel sick, it’s still a valuable experience, isn’t it!"
Liu Yongxin gave a thumbs up. Doctor Lu’s words were indeed inspiring. Only by going through such experiences could one truly appreciate the profound significance of the software. Of course, if it turned out that Cheng Chunyan was the victim, it would prove that the software’s analysis was more accurate than the judgement of the human eye.
Less than ten minutes later, the door to the autopsy room burst open, and Xu Dayuan walked in. He paused upon seeing the room full of people, nodded to Doctor Lu, and led a woman inside. The woman’s face was etched with panic. Zhou Ning walked to the autopsy table and covered the deceased’s face completely with a white cloth.
Only then did he turn around and point to the clothes on the stainless-steel trolley, looking at the woman.
"Please identify these garments. Are they your sister’s?"
The woman nodded and shakily approached the stainless-steel trolley. The red down jacket was folded up, with most of the bloodstains on the inside, making it look less gory.
She stared at the collar of the down jacket and then tugged at the sleeve, turning it inside out. Zhou Ning also looked on as a shield-shaped ornament was attached to the left sleeve of the down jacket. The woman tore at it, and one corner of the ornament came loose, revealing it was glued on.
The woman lifted her head, unable to stop the tears, and looked at Zhou Ning while pointing at the jacket.
"This is Chunyan’s down jacket. It got torn as soon as she bought it, and I helped her patch it. Can I see Chunyan? I want to see her in person; it must be very tragic, right? I can recognize my sister. I’m prepared!"
The woman was practically screaming by the end, and Xu Dayuan looked at Zhou Ning before sighing and saying:
"The victim’s face was destroyed, and fingerprints were wiped clean. The body is covered in marks of abuse and is beyond recognition. I understand how you feel, but it’s better not to look. We will collect a blood sample from you later for DNA analysis, and that will provide us with accurate information."
The woman kept shaking her head and rushed to the side of Zhou Ning, abruptly pulling back the white cloth, then stood there frozen.
It’s a completely different experience hearing about it from someone else and seeing it with your own eyes, especially when it’s a loved one. Seeing her sister in such a state, the woman clung to the edge of the autopsy table, howling uncontrollably, while Mr. Zhao stepped forward to try to pull her away.
But she clung to the dead person’s arm, pointing at a mole on the shoulder, and became speechless.
Zhou Ning waved his hand to signal Mr. Zhao to let go.
"Are you trying to say that you recognize this mole?"
The woman nodded, pulled open the neckline of her own shirt, revealing a part of her shoulder as her emotions seemed to stabilize somewhat.
"Both my sister and I have a mole here on our shoulder, blue in color, the size of a soybean, different from the raised moles most people have. This is my sister, my sister!"
After speaking, she let go of the edge of the autopsy table, and Mr. Zhao promptly supported her and led her to sit down, handing her a cup of water.
"Da Man’er, we understand how you feel. This is why we didn’t want you to look. Most people can’t handle it, and you’re already strong. Rest assured, with so many forensic doctors and experts here, we’ll find the evidence and catch the culprit."
The woman nodded, holding the cup of water and drawing comfort from the warmth it radiated.
Zhou Ning pushed up his glasses as a ’beep’ echoed in his ear, "Congratulations, binding completed. The designated part of this mission has been fulfilled. Would you like to submit?"
Zhou Ning immediately clicked no. It wasn’t that he felt the need to complete the extraneous part of the mission later, but right then wasn’t the time to think about those things, nor was he in the mood. With his click, the countdown stopped at 10:22.
At this moment, Liu Yongxin handed Mr. Zhao a consent form. Without needing coaxing, the woman grabbed the pen and signed her name, then put down the cup and knelt before everyone.
"My sister was an honest and upright girl. I beg you all to find the murderer. I’m bowing to you all!"
Mr. Zhao quickly lifted the woman, his usually jocular face now several shades more serious.
"We understand the feelings of the family. We’ve brought so many experts here to identify your sister to catch the murderer. You don’t need to kneel or kowtow, understand? Please go outside and make a statement. Recall as much information as possible about your sister. The more detailed it is, the more helpful it will be to the investigation."
The woman, silenced by the shouting, calmed down. Zhou Ning walked over and pointed to the screen:
"Take a look at these two photos. Does your sister resemble the person in this picture?"
