Detective Benjamin

　　In front of Benjamin sat a glass of pure white milk, a piece of golden brown bread, and two soft fried eggs.

　　He stared blankly at these foods, as if it was his first time seeing them, before finally asking, "What are these?"

　　Sitting across from him, Emma had already finished most of her portion.

　　She took a sip of milk and said, "I call it a nutritious breakfast."

　　"A nutritious breakfast?

　　"Benjamin was almost about to jump out of his chair, exclaiming dramatically, 'Oh my god, not even a drop of alcohol, and you dare call it breakfast! If this is considered breakfast, then it's the worst breakfast I've ever seen.

　　I want alcohol, don't you understand?'

　　'Who drinks alcohol in the morning?' Emma placed her cup back in its original position and continued enjoying her breakfast.

　　She was used to Benjamin's antics by now.

　　No matter how unimaginable his actions were, she could calmly enjoy her own portion of breakfast.

　　Benjamin couldn't sit still.

　　This has been going on for a while now, with Emma responsible for their respective breakfast every day, but she wouldn't let him drink alcohol.

　　He had to change this situation.

　　He tried to explain to Emma why he needed alcohol.

　　'Don't you understand? It's been a long time since we've had a case.

　　I'm so bored, this kind of life is driving me crazy.

　　I need alcohol to numb my highly excited brain.

　　Otherwise, I'll really go insane! Please get rid of this junk, just give me a bottle of alcohol!'

　　'No, you have to finish this breakfast!' Emma said expressionlessly.

　　She had heard countless excuses like this, and no matter how good the excuse was, it couldn't change her decision.

　　Drinking alcohol in the morning is harmful, especially to the body.

　　Ring ring - the phone rang.

　　Emma wiped her mouth.

　　Usually, when the phone rang at this time, it meant something had happened, something that could temporarily distract Benjamin from alcohol.

　　'Hello, this is Benjamin's studio.'

　　'Oh, you're at home, that's great! I'll be there right away.' An anxious voice came from the other end of the line, and without waiting for a response, the call ended.

　　'What's going on?' Benjamin asked Emma.

　　'I don't know.

　　It sounded like James calling, saying he's coming over.' Emma walked back to the dining table, still thinking about James' purpose for coming here.

　　Did something happen again?

　　'What I meant is, what's the deal with "Benjamin's studio"?' Benjamin corrected.

　　Emma realized she had misunderstood earlier and smiled as she said, 'Oh, that's something I just thought of.

　　We don't have an office, but at least we should have a name so that people can find us.

　　Also, I plan to advertise to let more people know about us.'

　　'Benjamin's studio, what a terrible name.

　　It's even worse than this breakfast.' Benjamin shook his head and took a bite of his bread.

　　'I actually think it's not bad.' Emma looked at Benjamin and asked, 'What do you think?'

　　'You mean it?' Benjamin glanced at the food in his hand.

　　'Yes, how does it taste?' Emma asked.

　　'It just provided me with enough energy to handle the upcoming work,' Benjamin said, taking another bite.

　　"Is your point that there's a case?" "Otherwise, why would James come here? What can't be said clearly over the phone? I think there must be a major case, otherwise he wouldn't personally come all this way." After confirming that Benjamin's thoughts aligned with her own, Emma nodded in satisfaction and continued to enjoy the remaining food.

　　Soon after finishing breakfast, they heard urgent knocking at the door along with James' anxious voice: "Emma, it's me, open the door quickly!" Emma opened the door and saw James, dressed casually, wiping the sweat off his forehead, looking as if he had just participated in a five-kilometer cross-country race.

　　"You look tired, do you want to come in and rest?" "Is Benjamin here?" James disregarded whatever Emma was saying, peered inside, and seeing Benjamin sitting inside reading the newspaper, he squeezed in, saying, "Tall Detective, you have to help me this time!" "Please come in!" Emma protested against James' impoliteness.

　　"I'm sorry!" James turned back to Emma and then said to Benjamin, "Tall Detective, no matter how busy you are, please put down your work and help me immediately!" Benjamin had already put down the newspaper when James came in and now stared at James saying, "I know you've encountered some trouble, but it's best if you calm down and tell me the details so I can help you." "This morning, someone was fishing by the river, guess what they caught?" James said, not giving anyone a chance to speak before shouting, "Oh my God, it's a corpse, a woman's body stuffed in a box, can you imagine?!" Benjamin stood up and grabbed his coat, saying, "Let's go, we better go to the scene and take a look.

　　Oh, by the way, congratulations on your promotion." "Promotion? How did you know?" James looked at Benjamin curiously.

　　If encountering a corpse stuffed in a box was the first unexpected thing to happen to him today, then this was the second.

　　Benjamin walked towards the door while saying, "Very simple, the one who called this time wasn't Zhang Chenggong, and you just said 'help me.' That indicates the case is under your responsibility.

　　Let me guess, after Zhang Chenggong became the director, he assigned you some position, deputy captain perhaps?" "No, it's captain.

　　This was a special promotion, just appointed yesterday, and I didn't expect to encounter such a major case today.

　　No matter what, you have to help me." James felt this was a test from heaven.

　　Just after being appointed as captain, he had to handle a bizarre homicide case.

　　If he couldn't solve it, he would have to resign in disgrace.

　　"Captain?" Benjamin was somewhat surprised, pausing his steps.

　　"Let's go, there's no case that can't be solved." "Wait for me." James quickly caught up.

　　Benjamin and Emma were brought by James to the location where the body was found.

　　The area had already been cordoned off, not allowing any unauthorized people to enter, but it couldn't stop the reporters and curious onlookers who had come after hearing the news.

　　"When was the body discovered?" Benjamin asked James as he crossed the police cordon.

　　"Around six o'clock.

　　According to the person who reported it, he thought he had caught a big fish.

　　But then the box floated up, and his dog jumped into the river and pushed the box ashore," James pointed to a young man being questioned by two police officers nearby.

　　"He's the one who reported the case."

　　Benjamin walked straight towards the person who reported the case, immediately drawing the attention of his large black dog.

　　The dog showed a fierce expression and barked at him twice.

　　"Blackie, be quiet," the person stopped his dog while also looking at Benjamin.

　　"What a good dog," Benjamin glanced at Blackie.

　　Benjamin reached out his hand to the person who reported the case, "Hello, I'm Benjamin."

　　"Hello, I'm William," William hesitated as he looked at Benjamin's outstretched hand.

　　He withdrew his hand as soon as it made contact, displaying a high level of caution.

　　"Are you also a police officer?"

　　"I assist the police in investigations," Benjamin's answer was ambiguous.

　　"Do you know the deceased?"

　　Suddenly, William became nervous, instinctively moving back, as if he wanted to escape.

　　Finally, he stood behind Blackie.

　　"No, I don't know her.

　　I just happened to find her while fishing."

　　Benjamin realized that William was a timid person, seeking refuge behind his dog to feel safe.

　　At the same time, he knew he had asked a sensitive question and made the other person even more wary.

　　He immediately changed the topic, "Where do you work?"

　　"I just lost my job, and I'm currently unemployed," William relaxed a bit when Benjamin didn't pursue the previous question.

　　"Are you twenty years old this year?"

　　"Just turned twenty."

　　"Fishing requires a lot of patience.

　　Not many young people like you enjoy fishing," Benjamin remarked.

　　"My grandfather likes fishing, and I've been following him since I was little.

　　It's a hobby I developed.

　　I come to the riverside to fish every week," William explained.

　　"I see.

　　It's nice talking to you, and we will have the chance to meet again," Benjamin said, turning around and walking towards where the body was located.

　　James felt that Benjamin's questions were somewhat strange and caught up with him, whispering, "Hey, what was the meaning behind all those questions you just asked? Are you suspecting that guy of being the killer, that he threw the body into the river and then reported it to us?"

　　Benjamin stopped in his tracks and said solemnly, "I never said he was the murderer."

　　"Then why did you ask him so many questions and say we would meet him again?" James pressed further.

　　He knew Benjamin was not one to talk nonsense, so there must be a purpose behind all the questions.

　　"I asked him so many questions because you guys suspect him of being the murderer.

　　Otherwise, you wouldn't have introduced him to me as soon as I got here.

　　The reason I said we'll meet again is because he lied," Benjamin explained.

　　James blushed a little in embarrassment.

　　He indeed suspected that the person who reported the case was the murderer.

　　Otherwise, how could such a coincidence happen, catching a corpse while fishing? "He lied.

　　How do you know?" "Just now, I asked him if he knew the deceased.

　　He said he didn't.

　　But in fact, not only did he know the deceased, but their relationship must be extraordinary." "How do you know?" "It's simple.

　　Can't you see that he's very afraid?" James turned around and glanced at William.

　　He was still being questioned by the police, occasionally reaching out to touch the dog beside him.

　　It was not difficult to see that he was extremely fearful.

　　"Any ordinary person encountering such a thing would be nervous, especially since he is so young.

　　It may be his first time seeing a dead body, so fear is inevitable." "That's right.

　　Ordinary people may be afraid when encountering such a situation, and when people are afraid, they show various different behaviors.

　　Let me ask you, if you saw something that scared you, what would you do?" "I would close my eyes or simply flee from there." "But he is completely different.

　　He is clearly very afraid, yet he didn't run away.

　　Instead, he occasionally peeks at the corpse.

　　Importantly, if you observe carefully, you will find that he is trying to conceal the inner feelings.

　　In addition to fear, he is also very sad.

　　This indicates that he knew the deceased and their relationship was not ordinary." James turned back and saw William indeed stealing glances at the corpse, just like a child during an exam afraid of being caught, quickly retracting his gaze after a glance.

　　"In that case, I should arrest him as the prime suspect and interrogate him to make him reveal everything he knows, right?" "I advise against doing that.

　　Just have someone monitor him for now." James found Benjamin's arrangement somewhat strange, but still accepted the suggestion.

　　He walked over and gave a few instructions to the police officer, then ordered for William and his dog to leave the scene.