Chapter 642: Addicted to Killing
Voices rose and clamored. Although Zhan Lian and Luo Feifan hadn't yet confirmed that the killer was Chen Chaofa, the crowd's collective reasoning moved quickly. In no time they sketched a profile of the murderer—and concluded it had to be Chen Chaofa.
The rooms soaked in blood had all belonged to group leaders. Anyone who shared those rooms would be implicated.
So the madman Chen Chaofa showed a pattern.
Zhan Lian thought for a moment, frowning, then addressed the crowd gravely, “If the murderer is Chen Chaofa, then go back to your rooms now. No one leaves. Chen Chaofa is targeting the group leaders who betrayed him. Everyone else should stay put, but the group leaders must remain where they are.”
People considered his words and realized the logic. If Chen Chaofa targeted captains, anyone staying with a captain would be at risk. Returning to rooms, refusing to open the door, and isolating the captains would be the best way to survive.
It was also the simplest way for Zhan Lian and An Ran to find Chen Chaofa. If Chen Chaofa could conceal himself and follow the captains, then keeping the number of potential targets small—about ten captains total—would make the search manageable.
With that explained, most of the crowd and the remaining ten or so captains accepted Zhan Lian’s plan. In such panic, staying near two powerful fighters like Zhan Lian and Luo Feifan felt safer.
Of course, not everyone agreed. A bearded captain stepped forward, furious. Pointing at Zhan Lian, he shouted, “What, you plan to kill us so you can take over the mansion? Leave us exposed with no protection—how can we trust that?”
The protest ignited others. Some captains and ordinary residents called out, “No—bring everyone into the hall. If we're all out in the open, someone will see it. With so many eyes, Chen Chaofa won't be able to strike without being witnessed.”
“That makes sense,” someone added, and the idea gained support. Soon a majority favored gathering in the hall.
Zhan Lian's face hardened. “If Chen Chaofa can become invisible, the more people you cram together, the easier it is for him to strike,” he said coldly. “He isn’t targeting random crowds—he's hunting captains.”
A murmur ran through the crowd, then assent. Most people nodded and returned to their rooms.
Zhan Lian watched them go, unsettled. From a professional viewpoint, this killer wouldn’t be stopped by numbers. Judging by the escalating brutality and variety of methods, he looked less like a calculating murderer and more like someone who had become addicted to killing.