Luo Shu leaned back with a sigh of relief. "So it's true…"
With this new information, he finally felt he had a clear grasp of the case. Perhaps for other players, the real challenge had only just begun, but for Luo Shu, he was already strategizing about his endgame.
At Luo Shu's prompting, Hunter He continued, his gaze drifting as he recalled the past. "There was a gifted young man named Vincent Ren, my daughter's former boyfriend… or perhaps it's better to say ex-boyfriend, since they broke up two years ago."
Luo Shu, reclining comfortably with his hands behind his head, nodded. Had this been a standard game progression, players wouldn't have encountered Vincent Ren's name until much later—around the 20-hour mark. Vincent was likely the final boss or, at the very least, one of the key antagonists.
"Vincent's family has a legacy in Harbor Island; they've been doctors for four generations," Hunter explained. "You sound like you're from the mainland. Maybe you've heard—doctors here are often called 'moon men' or 'star men.' Do you know what that means?"
Luo Shu smiled, as he had indeed heard stories of Harbor Island's well-paid doctors from his medical professors. "I know. A 'star man' earns a million HK dollars per week, and a 'moon man' earns that much per month."
Hunter nodded. "Exactly. His family is respected, and I held them in high regard."
Hunter went on, "Vincent was a top student at Duke University's medical school in the States, and my daughter studied clinical medicine at Columbia. That's where they first met."
Luo Shu's memory flashed back to the details Frederick Chen had provided earlier: Yvonne had two significant relationships, one a decade ago, and the other ending two years ago. She was now 32, so this must have been ten years back. But hadn't her boyfriend back then been a British doctor?
"Her boyfriend ten years ago wasn't Vincent, right?" Luo Shu asked. "Wasn't it a British doctor? Did you know him?"
Hunter's expression tightened, his gaze turning guarded. "No… I only heard about him. They broke up quickly."
Luo Shu noted the lie.
Why lie about something so trivial?
For now, he chose to let it go. Tying up Hunter could be useful, but the old man's resources were invaluable, so it was better to keep things friendly.
Hunter quickly shifted the topic, "My daughter and Vincent weren't dating back then, though they were friends. When they returned to Harbor Island, they eventually started dating. I was pleased, as he was an excellent young man from a respectable background."
Underworld figures often long for legitimacy, preferring that their children marry "clean" partners. Luo Shu could understand this sentiment.
Hunter's tone was bittersweet as he continued, "Although Vincent had a bright future as a doctor, he pursued something… more entrepreneurial. After coming back, he leveraged his family's resources to acquire a private psychiatric hospital. He was successful but wanted more, and soon, he saw a new opportunity."
The story took a dark turn here.
Luo Shu remarked, "Organ cultivation, right? Don't tell me you believed his pitch and poured money into it?"
Hunter made no attempt to hide his complicity, nodding quietly. "He made a very convincing case—too technical for me to fully grasp, but Yvonne supported him. They both believed it was viable."
Hunter explained, "When he said 'cultivation,' it was really just a term. The plan was to use human cells to grow isolated organs in petri dishes. It sounded impressive—he claimed he could replicate eyes, ears, noses, organs… everything."
"I didn't entirely believe him," Hunter admitted. "But I indulged my daughter, investing a substantial amount to help them get started. The Cambrian Biopharmaceutical Company she started had several labs dedicated to this research… And I, along with Vincent's family, became their backers."
Suddenly, Luo Shu grabbed Hunter's right hand, scrutinizing the darker tone of the skin. "Come on, old man—don't just tell me half the story. This hand of yours was the real reason you supported their illegal research, wasn't it?"
Hunter froze, momentarily taken aback. How had this young man figured it out?
"How… How did you know? Have we met before?" he stammered.
Luo Shu shrugged, smirking. "The color difference. I hadn't pieced it together until now, but given what I know, I took a calculated guess."
Hunter, thoroughly impressed, let out a chuckle, his initial frustration melting into grudging respect.
"Ha… Haha… Hahahaha! I see why you're a detective. Impressive… Very impressive."
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