Upon hearing this, Director Hou’s body slightly trembled, as if he were nailed to the spot, motionless for a long time.

His mind was flooded with various details about the case – every inference and analysis Jiang An had previously made echoed clearly word for word.

From the two bodies at the scene, to the forcibly delivered baby, and all the clues sorted out during the initial investigation...

This case was not unfamiliar to Director Hou.

He had participated in the investigation multiple times and witnessed its dormancy due to interrupted clues and its resumption following new discoveries.

Each time the case restarted, it was accompanied by a mix of hope and pressure, but never before had it been dissected so thoroughly and pointedly, reaching the core like today.

Although Jiang An suggested the suspect might have psychological or mental abnormalities, it was mostly considered a speculative direction for investigation.

Yet now, Jiang An pushed this possibility to the forefront and attempted to use it as a basis to identify the suspect — something unprecedented in the case’s investigation history.

Director Hou’s gaze involuntarily fell on Jiang An.

He had always highly regarded this young detective’s abilities.

Whether it was his performance in Jiangcheng or his involvement in the province-wide case analysis, Jiang An consistently displayed extraordinary acumen and solidity.

If not for his proficient skills and deep professional foundation, how could he be entrusted with the responsibility of guiding provincial cases?

Director Hou knew that in this team of elites, every judgment and suggestion was backed by countless days and nights of accumulation and contemplation.

Time passed slowly in the silence, and Director Hou finally returned from his deep thoughts, speaking slowly: "If this person indeed has a mental disorder, then given the peculiar circumstances at the scene... this possibility does exist and might even be key to explaining certain contradictions."

He paused, his gaze sharp once again, and continued: "Currently, we have no clear suspect targets. If Li Mountain was indeed near the scene during the time of the incident, he should be included in the priority investigation list."

"This line might be worth probing further."

Their eyes met, Jiang An appeared steadfast, nodding deeply.

In that moment, an unspoken consensus seemed to form in the air.

The investigation was quietly turning towards a corner that had been overlooked, yet might hide the truth.

Subsequently, Director Hou decisively instructed Li: "Let’s go, drive back to the criminal investigation team immediately."

Li, seated in the driver’s seat, listened intently to their conversation and couldn’t help but feel secretly delighted.

He turned his head, asking with a mix of expectation and caution: "Boss, are we now identifying the criminal suspect?"

Though he asked, ripples had already spread in his heart — being involved in the case’s clue investigation was unexpected for him.

Initially, he was only there as a temporary replacement, and in the team, he had always been considered an average officer.

Those with outstanding abilities and rich experience had been drawn into the core investigation group at the start of the case.

Could this be a heaven-sent opportunity, allowing him to "catch a break"?

If he could conveniently discover key clues, it would not only contribute to breaking the case but might also become a significant turning point in his career.

At this moment, Jiang An’s steady voice interrupted his thoughts: "We cannot completely determine it yet; we just have an initial suspicion that Li Mountain might have the potential to commit the crime."

Thirty minutes later, the three drove back to the criminal investigation team.

At this moment, Director Lu and Zhang Biao were gathered in the office, intensely studying the map spread out on the table.

Although the investigation work had been divided into groups, they were still meticulously considering how to further optimize the visitation routes and deepen the investigative strategies to ensure no potential breakthroughs were overlooked.

As they were absorbed in tactical discussions, the door to the office opened.

Director Hou and Jiang An entered one after the other.

Director Lu and Zhang Biao simultaneously looked up, almost in unison greeting: "Director Hou, hard work! Mr. Jiang, hard work as well!"

Then, Director Hou turned his head, casting a profound glance at Jiang An.

Understanding the cue, Jiang An cleared his throat and calmly reported: "Director Lu, as per your instructions, we visited the city psychiatric hospital for inquiries and investigations."

"When reviewing the records of individuals with mental disorders in recent years, we found a man named Li Mountain, whose registered address happened to be in the community surrounding the crime scene.

The medical records show he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a history of intermittent episodes.

Based on the unusual traces and behavior patterns at the crime scene, I believe this person has high investigational value and suggest he be designated as a key investigation target."

As Jiang An finished speaking, Director Lu and Zhang Biao were almost simultaneously stunned, a clear trace of surprise flashing across their faces.

They exchanged a glance, reading disbelief from each other’s eyes.

From setting out for the hospital to returning with the report, less than two hours had passed, and they had already initially identified a suspect with critical traits?

This efficiency far exceeded their expectations.

More importantly, given their understanding of Jiang An’s consistent working style, this young detective was always meticulous and pragmatic, never jumping to conclusions or making rash accusations without solid evidence.

For Jiang An to propose such a clear suggestion meant he must have some yet undisclosed clues or evidence.

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