Chapter 7

"How did you come to board this spacecraft, Captain? It's truly outrageous; is this an abuse of the sacred rights of a soldier?"

Professor Ma Rufeng, it is a pleasure to meet you at last, " Ma Jini said with a smile

"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Have you finished the check?" Magini interrupted him and asked

Alright. Magini stared at me for a while, then turned and walked out the door. At that moment, I realized I was almost sweating. Professor Ma gave me a smile, then quickly caught up with Detective Magini, and the two walked side by side.

Did the laboratory at Ford not produce the corresponding warnings?

Professor Ma nodded in agreement and said, "Then let us wait for the coroner's report." It was evident that Professor Ma was pleased with Magini's meticulous attitude.

In the lounge, the grandfather clock indicated five-thirty. Mr. Kree ordered the waiter to bring some snacks and tea, and it was then that I realized I had become quite hungry after a night without food. About half an hour later, the coroner arrived, which immediately dampened my appetite again

"At ease, Captain," Magini said, looking me up and down. "What are you doing here?"

To my surprise, Professor Ma turned to me and asked with a smile, "Captain Lei Feng, what is your opinion?"

I will send someone to investigate right away," Captain Decker said as he hurried out of the lounge

In the corridor, I asked, "Professor Ma, what are you worried about?"

Magini pondered for a moment and said, "I cannot be certain yet; let us first examine the autopsy results."

The military spacecraft has already docked, and I believe they have dispatched the interstellar security team. Are you ready

"Now I can rest assured," Professor Ma said, rubbing his hands together. "It is already 5 AM, let us go."

"Indeed..." Magini said, somewhat understanding, "unless someone wiped away Ford's fingerprints. But why would anyone want to wipe away Ford's fingerprints? Moreover, no one entered the laboratory before the body was discovered"

"Stop making it difficult for him," Professor Ma interjected, "If it weren't for him, I might still be stuck at the Earth Space Station."

"You are too kind, Detective Magini," Professor Ma said

"There is no doubt that the failure of the oxygen circulation system, the malfunction of the alarm system, and the door being unable to open—all these factors contributed to Mr. Ford's death, how coincidental," Professor Ma said. "I can almost be certain that this is not an accident," he raised a finger, "this is a genuine murder case"

I was stunned

After a thorough inspection, there were hardly any findings—no fingerprints, no anomalies; everything appeared quite ordinary. However, observing Professor Ma's expression, it seemed he had gained significant insights, revealing a look of satisfaction.

Let us return to the lounge first. If https://mhetushucom.com is accessible, I hope to temporarily use the lounge as our workspace.

"It's pretty much what I imagined," he turned his head and asked, "Major Magini, what is your initial impression of this accidental death incident?"

Yes, it is the Galactic Patrol

Professor Ma raised his hand to check the time and said, "Let's wait until morning; there is still one hour until dawn. It's really terrible; it's easy to lose track of time on the spaceship."

"How is it?" Magini asked.

"Professor Ma, may I now ask for your opinion?" Ma Jini said politely

The technician shrugged and said, "The maintenance personnel are investigating the cause"

Majini hurried over, offered a salute, and then took Professor Ma's hand, shaking it.

Magini looked at his back and suddenly said: "This may be unreasonable. If Ford attempted to break out, based on my experience in handling cases, we should find his body next to the door, rather than in front of the working computer"

"As I suspected, there are no fingerprints," Professor Ma said with a smile. "Generally speaking, this seems quite normal, but upon reflection, it feels rather strange. Why are there no fingerprints from Ford? I noticed that he wasn't wearing gloves at the time of his death"

At this point, all the clues have been exhausted. Professor Ma was taking notes, while Magini watched him until he closed his notebook

I would like to introduce, "Captain Decker has come over, this is Detective Magini, and his assistant, Captain Duran." I noticed that Magini held the rank of Major, was in his forties, had a crew cut, and was short but sturdy, sharp-witted and capable

I do not quite understand," Professor Ma inquired humbly, "What kind of suffocation is it? Is there really no oxygen in the entire room?"

"Where are the fingerprints?" Professor Ma inquired

Secondly, there are fingerprints. If there were fingerprints in the laboratory, I would not find it surprising. However, I have a hunch that there are no fingerprints in the laboratory. Why? Because the person who entered does not want others to discover it, so they meticulously wiped away their own fingerprints. Of course, the side effect of this is that they also wiped away Ford's fingerprints. The absence of fingerprints indicates that the area has been tampered with. If there are no fingerprints anywhere in the laboratory, it can only mean that the person has thoroughly searched the laboratory, seemingly looking for something. I also noticed that there are no fingerprints on the computer keyboard, indicating that they accessed Ford's computer.

Where else? Professor Ma inquired

"What did you say?" Magini asked, not having heard clearly.

"Was it caused by a mechanical failure?" Magini asked

"Yes," I said somewhat hesitantly to the picture book, "I will wake Professor Ma right away." When I put down the receiver, I found that Professor Ma had already sat up and was straightening his slightly wrinkled clothes.

I am ... ... reporting to the Mars base ... ..." I stammered.

You make a valid point. Professor Ma nodded, perhaps Captain Lei Feng's speculation is correct

I cannot say for certain; we will know soon enough.

It can be said that I slept in a hurried and chaotic manner for a while, without even taking off my clothes. Perhaps the stimulation I received was too intense, resulting in my inability to fall asleep. On the contrary, Professor Ma lay down on the bed and immediately began to breathe evenly. For an elderly person, indeed, their energy cannot be compared to that of a young man.

We arrived at the lounge and found two uniformed officers had already joined, their shoulder stars gleaming brightly, along with Captain Decree. Upon hearing the sound of the door, these individuals turned around.

If the entire laboratory were lacking oxygen, we would feel uncomfortable as soon as we entered; the air would certainly be very murky, making it difficult to breathe. However, this situation did not occur. This is the first clue that raises my suspicion. Initially, I thought it was the person who discovered Ford's body, yes, his name is Mark. I believed he had opened the laboratory door. Later, after inquiring, it was evident that he did not feel this way upon entering the laboratory, as if he were in a laboratory with normal oxygen levels, even though the oxygen system had not yet returned to normal. This indicates what? It indicates that before him, the laboratory door had been opened for a considerable amount of time, allowing oxygen from outside to flow in and balance the air composition within the laboratory. We all know that it took a full two hours from Ford's death to the discovery of his body. During these two hours, someone entered Ford's laboratory, and he deliberately kept the door open; otherwise, he would not have been able to breathe inside the laboratory.

The phone rang, and I quickly got up, grabbed the receiver, and heard the voice of Captain Decker.

This is Professor Ma Rufeng," introduced Magini

I do not think so," Professor Ma mumbled, noting it down

After a moment of hesitation, the clerk shook his head and said, "For safety reasons, the door is designed to be fireproof and resistant to biological threats. It is very heavy and requires an electrically controlled hydraulic motor to open. It cannot be opened by human strength alone"

Professor Ma, as per your request, I have brought the coroner, who is currently examining the body

Indeed, your analysis is very reasonable. Magini finally nodded, as he was almost convinced. However, this does not prove that Mr. Ford's death was a murder; it is also possible that someone entered the laboratory after Ford's death, perhaps for some reason, and quietly concealed this fact along with the books.

"Let us go take a look, if you do not mind," said Professor Ma

"You are a public figure, Professor Ma," I said quietly

However, Captain Decker seemed somewhat confused and finally said, "The oxygen system in the laboratory had already begun functioning normally before your spaceship arrived, and the maintenance personnel are currently investigating the cause"

Magini nodded, thought for a moment, and then said: "Although I am currently the person in charge of this case, I hope you can assist me wholeheartedly. If there is anything you need, please feel free to mention it. Rest assured, I am as reliable as Major Charles."

Under the leadership of Captain Keli, we once again arrived at the fourth-floor laboratory. As we walked to the very end, we noticed that standing by the door were not the crew members from the ship, but two spirited gendarmes. The door was open, and the interior was brightly lit. Upon entering, we found it even more crowded than during our first visit. Various small suitcases were placed on the floor, opened to reveal shiny, unspecified instruments. One officer was taking photographs, while another was bent over a table, meticulously scraping something. The body that had been at the computer station had been removed, which provided a slight sense of relief.

When Captain Decker said you were on board, I truly could not believe it; it is indeed an honor to meet you. My colleague, Major Charles, has worked with you and speaks highly of your detective methods

Then the door might also be broken, Professor Ma murmured

It is evident that the cause of death was asphyxiation; however, there are no signs of mechanical asphyxia, and the body shows no obvious injuries. The estimated time of death is around 2:00 AM

At that moment, Magini noticed me, and I immediately straightened my posture, placing my hands on my pants seams, my eyes fixed ahead

"This is unacceptable," Captain Decker said. "The oxygen circulation system emits a constant noise, and there is a slight breeze in the laboratory. If it stops, it will be immediately noticeable."

I struggled to organize my thoughts and stammered, "This... this... the general sequence of events can be described as follows: Mr. Ford was working in his laboratory, as usual. However, the oxygen circulation system in the laboratory malfunctioned, leading to a gradual depletion of oxygen in the room. This process continued for some time until around 2:00 AM, when Mr. Ford died from lack of oxygen. Around 4:00 AM, Mr. Ford's body was discovered, and by around 5:00 AM, the oxygen circulation system returned to normal. It should be... it should be like this... but the oxygen circulation system in the laboratory malfunctioned, leading to a gradual depletion of oxygen in the room. This process continued for some time until around 2:00 AM, when Mr. Ford died from lack of oxygen. Around 4:00 AM, Mr. Ford's body was discovered, and by around 5:00 AM, the oxygen circulation system returned to normal. It should be... it should be like this..."

This hypothesis holds true. Captain Decree stated, "The central electrical system of the spacecraft is a highly complex device, composed of countless CPUs and logic control circuits. Even the smallest electrical short circuit could occur."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Magini turned to the main topic.

"Do you think this is a criminal case?" Magini asked in the corridor

But... there are no fingerprints? I couldn't help but interject

"This is not a problem," Captain Decker said. "Is there anything else you need?"

You are truly too polite. Professor Ma smiled slightly and said, It makes me feel a bit embarrassed instead

Yes, each laboratory is equipped with an early warning system that can issue an alarm in the event of a failure in the oxygen circulation system

Captain Cleary stood up and said, "My maintenance personnel are investigating the malfunction, and they have confirmed that the oxygen circulation system in the laboratory has stopped working"

The first thing I noticed was the second issue. When I first entered that laboratory, I already felt that something was amiss. Professor Ma turned to me and asked, "Captain Lei Feng, now that all the clues are here, do you still think there is nothing unusual?"

I tried to recall, but I did not feel that anything was amiss at the time. While I was still in doubt, Professor Ma continued to speak

"No fingerprints?" Professor Ma asked with interest

"This is impossible," Captain Crilly immediately retorted. "The door is locked from the outside, but there is no lock on the inside; anyone inside can easily walk out."

I suggest that you conduct a more in-depth investigation Professor Ma said earnestly In fact it may not be that simple

Why? I feel like a fool, and suddenly the image of Ford slumped over the desk flashed in my mind. My eyes lit up, and I immediately said: "He was so focused on his work that he completely failed to notice the malfunction in the oxygen circulation system, which ultimately led to his death at the computer station." After saying this, I looked at Professor Ma with a sense of pride, but he merely smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Do you still consider this a criminal act?" I quietly said to Professor Ma on the way back

Oh..." The officer, who had been leaning over the table, straightened up and shrugged his shoulders, "It seems there is nothing unusual, and no fingerprints were found.

If there is any, I will inform you first," Professor Ma said

I looked at Professor Ma in a panic, then glanced at Magini. Magini nodded and said, "Go ahead and speak."

I am currently investigating, but so far I have not made any discoveries. It seems we can rule out the possibility of a second party being present.

Of course, I would be very happy to. Please go ahead. Magini stepped aside and said, "Let's go see the scene."

"Is there no early warning system?" Magini asked

I suddenly realized why Professor Ma kept asking Mark if he felt any abnormalities; it was for this reason

I am listening to your explanation on www.hetushucom.com," Magini said with some surprise

"Do you still not think this is an accident?" Major Magini asked

The criminal investigation personnel are currently engaged in their work

Could it be that he simply cannot escape? Professor Ma suddenly asked

The first thing I checked was this computer station," the officer said, "It is very clean, and I found no suspicious traces.

I would like to ask, is the door also electronically controlled

I believe Mr. Rewan knows best; should I wake him up

Do you have any clues yet? Magini was very courteous and had clearly regarded Professor Ma as one of his own.

First, there are fingerprints, Professor Ma said

"Have they arrived?" Professor Ma inquired

"Not at the moment," Professor Ma said, as if recalling something. "By the way, Captain Keli, I need someone to check this laboratory to see if anything is missing. Also, what is this computer used for?"

Before further investigation, I believe this case can be treated as an ordinary accident, as there are no obvious signs indicating it is a deliberate murder, unless new clues are found regarding the oxygen circulation system. Alternatively, we can investigate from another angle to see if Mr. Ford has any enemies. I spoke with Captain Dickery for a while, and he believes that there is no one on this ship who wishes for Mr. Ford's death. In a sense, Ford's death is a significant loss for Weimar Biological Enterprises, and it may even impact the research on Lock disease. I hope it will not affect the upcoming press conference on Mars, as the military's emphasis on this matter is entirely due to the importance of antibiotics. I sincerely hope that a conclusion can be reached before the scientific vessel arrives on Mars, which is also the military's opinion. I intend to report all of this to the military truthfully; what is your opinion?

There is a point of suspicion. "Mr. Magini raised a finger, 'Why did Mr. Ford not escape from that laboratory?'"

The clerk nodded.

Professor Ma smiled and said, "What is your opinion?"

Professor Ma smiled and habitually took out his notebook. "May I ask if you have checked the computer keyboard?"

"So you are Professor Ma," the officer's eyes lit up, revealing a smile. "I thought you were someone..."

Indeed, the coroner nodded, "In a sealed environment, the exchange of oxygen is hindered, ultimately leading to death"

I remember him," Professor Ma said, "He is a very good person, and we have kept in touch.

If the circuit is cut off, can the door be opened

I am still not certain," Professor Ma shook his head, "Perhaps we need to examine the fingerprints at the scene to find out.

"A very good question," Professor Ma nodded