Snow Dance Case 1.4

"M-5".

When Fan Jinci pieced together the codename from the wreckage of Ling Shuang's encrypted database, an eerie silence fell over the command center.

It was not a continuation of the M-17, but rather a separate designation. Lane's "works" were more widely distributed than they had imagined.

“Ling Shuang, M-5.” Li Weimian quickly gathered the information. “Medical background, artistic talent, proficient in biomaterials and human dynamics… Ryan modified her body coordination and control over biochemical substances, turning her into an ‘artist’ who performs with her life.”

Jiang Zhaoyan pulled up the real-time surveillance footage near Ling Shuang's studio and captured a blurry figure carrying a silver metal box disappearing into the path leading to the port a quarter of an hour before the operation.

“She’s looking for a new ‘stage’.” Yu Yan immediately ordered, “Block all departing vessels! Focus on checking private yachts and small cargo ships!”

In the dead of night at the port, the sea breeze carried a salty, fishy smell and a hint of danger.

Based on eyewitness accounts and scattered surveillance footage, Wen Lin led his team to locate a medium-sized yacht awaiting repairs where Ling Shuang might be hiding. The assault team silently surrounded it.

Yu Yan and Fan Jinci stood beside the command vehicle at the rear, intently watching the real-time images being transmitted back.

"Team Leader Yu, Group A, take your positions."

"Team B, in position."

Just as Wen Lin was about to issue the order to act, a dull thud suddenly came from inside the yacht's cabin.

"action!"

The searchlights instantly switched on, and Wen Lin kicked open the hatch. The sight before them made everyone gasp in horror—

Ling Shuang collapsed to the ground, her body contorted into a pose even more bizarre than Han Dong's, resembling a frozen dance pose. Her eyes were wide open, her pupils dilated. A brand-new, cold-glowing snowflake mark was affixed to the center of her forehead.

Beside her lay an open silver metal box, empty inside.

"Dead?!" Wen Lin exclaimed incredulously, pressing his earpiece to report, "Team Leader Yu, target... dead. Repeat, M-5, Ling Shuang, dead!"

Inside the command vehicle, Yu Yan's brows were furrowed. To silence them?

Fan Jinci, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "It wasn't to silence her." He pointed to the high-definition image that was being transmitted back, "Look at her fingers."

Ling Shuang pressed her right index finger firmly against a crack in the cabin deck, her nail turning white from the pressure. Something seemed to be hidden beneath it.

"There's something there!" Wen Lin also noticed the anomaly and carefully pried open the movable deck piece.

Below is a small, waterproof compartment containing only a black chip the size of a fingernail.

The chip was urgently accessed.

It contained no complex programs, only a simple text file titled: "Curtain Call and Prologue".

The content is chilling:

To M-0:

"Dr. Lane's script is too outdated, so I've written a new finale for myself. Han Dong's dance moves, and my curtain call, are all just to attract your attention."

Did you see that? This precise control, this demise of art.

"But the stage won't dim here. The real 'audience' has already entered. They appreciate my performance and assess your worth. My mission is complete—to personally deliver this 'invitation' to you."

Be careful of the people around you. The shadows are darkest under the spotlight.

"We will be together in the end. —M-5"

At the end of the file was an attached, multi-encrypted IP address trace that ultimately pointed to a network node located inside the resort.

"The real 'audience'... is in the resort?" Wen Lin felt a chill run down his spine.

Li Weimian looked repeatedly at the phrase "Be careful of the people around you," her sharp eyes sweeping over everyone inside and outside the command vehicle.

Jiang Zhaoyan immediately began tracing the IP address, his expression growing increasingly grim: "The signal has gone through multiple hops and disguises, but the original source... cannot be precisely located to an individual, but the range can be narrowed down to... the network of this core villa area where we are currently located."

The murderer, or the murderer's accomplice, the so-called "spectator," may have been nearby, or even observing their every move in some capacity.

Yu Yan suddenly looked at Fan Jinci.

Fan Jinci's face showed no surprise, only a cold, knowing expression. He raised his hand, the silver butterfly ornament on his wrist shimmering slightly in the light.

“He’s always been here.” Fan Jinci’s voice was soft, but it struck everyone’s heart like a hammer blow. “From the moment we set foot on this island, or perhaps even earlier. M-5 was just a vanguard he used to draw our attention.”

"Who is he?" Yu Yan asked, his voice calm before the storm.

Fan Jinci shook his head, his gray-blue pupils revealing an unprecedented solemnity:

“I don’t know. But Ryan called him—”

'Collector'.