Chapter 34: The Pollen Knows the Answer!

In the bedroom, Shen Ting, wearing Teacher Gao’s crystal bracelet, curled up under the covers. He was reviewing the forensic report on palynomorphs on his phone.

Palynomorphs are the collective term for spores and pollen. Pollen naturally comes from plants, while spores originate from fungi such as mushrooms. Much like the decomposed remains of insects, most of the palynomorphs had decayed over the past twelve years, leaving behind very few intact structures. Naturally, the technicians had managed to collect a small number of relatively complete specimens, mostly because they had been preserved within fluids like gasoline inside the car. Other spores, originating from aquatic microorganisms that had thrived inside the vehicle, were also found in good condition.

Crucially, the crime occurred in mid-April—a time of vibrant growth when all things were blooming. It was the peak season for palynomorphs, so, in terms of sheer quantity, the number of relatively intact specimens was significant.

Within the "Plant Forensics" section of his skills menu, Shen Ting found the specialized field of "Palynology." As he read the skill description, his eyes lit up.

"This is clearly different from forensic geology or entomology. It can determine the trajectory of the car within a small area."

Because there are so many species of plants and fungi, and different types of palynomorphs possess unique morphological characteristics, they are much like human fingerprints. While insects and minerals also have many varieties, the greatest advantage of palynology is not the study of a single pollen grain or spore. After all, the distribution of plants and fungi is quite irregular, and it is rare for a plant to be found in only one specific location. Therefore, a single palynomorph is rarely useful in an investigation.

The true strength of palynology lies in the study of palynomorph assemblages—clusters of pollen and spores combined. These clusters contain the characteristics of many plants and fungi from a specific region, making them highly specific. Even if two areas are close together and share the same types of plants and fungi, the ratios will differ because the quantities cannot be identical. Simply put, a specific palynomorph assemblage exists only in a specific area. By this logic, one can infer the perpetrator's movements within a small range. This is the most widespread application of palynology.

"Interesting!" Shen Ting had previously assumed that palynology focused only on individual grains. He had clearly underestimated the field.

Furthermore, the criminal had kidnapped the victim and sent the ransom note on April 22nd, twenty-two years ago. The investigative team had searched the pond three times over a span of about seventeen days. This meant that from April 22nd to May 9th, the Hummer had been playing a game of cat and mouse. During those two weeks, the variety of flowering plants changed rapidly, meaning the types and ratios of spores and pollen in the assemblages must have shifted accordingly. This was highly favorable for identification.

"This field is perfect for this case."

The critical issue was that, according to the report, the technicians at the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau were not well-versed in palynology. They could identify a single fresh pollen grain, but they struggled with decayed, fragmented structures or complex assemblages. Moreover, the sheer variety of plants and microorganisms is overwhelming; even the most professional botanists cannot master the characteristics of every single one. Even with fresh pollen, if it wasn't a common plant, the technicians would have to consult experts. This was even more true for microbial spores.

"If I unlock Palynology, I will gain the relevant knowledge, which would make things much easier."

As for whether it was necessary? Shen Ting organized his thoughts.

"The criminal hid within the suspicious area for over half a month. It’s unlikely they stayed in one spot, as the police were conducting a carpet search. It’s also impossible to stay in the car the whole time; they needed to rest. Therefore, the criminal likely had one or more bases, changing locations based on the police search progress."

So, determining the driving trajectory was secondary. After twelve years, any traces left on the road would be impossible to find. Conversely, if he could locate the base, there might still be clues, as bases are typically remote and rarely visited, increasing the probability of preserved evidence.

"The logic holds up! But whether there will be a good result depends more on luck."

If Palynology were free, he wouldn't hesitate. But in reality, it required skill points to unlock. Despite being just a branch of plant forensics, it was not cheap, costing a full 10 skill points. If he unlocked it only to find no direct evidence, it would be a disaster.

Most importantly, Shen Ting had a total of only 12 skill points. If he spent them on Palynology and failed to solve the case, he would have no points left for other skills. If the next case required a different skill, he would be in trouble.

"Wait, right! A base’s primary requirement is concealment, similar to where one would dump a body or a car. Perhaps Hannibal and the others could directly lock onto the base's location. That way, I could save my skill points."

Shen Ting left a message in the group.

Hannibal: "The principle is indeed quite similar."

Jigsaw: "There are subtle differences. Dumping a body or a car involves inanimate objects, whereas a hideout involves living people. It also needs to be large enough to conceal several people, or even multiple vehicles."

Yoshikage Kira: "It’s worth a try. As it happens, that area has been searched thoroughly enough that we don't need to waste any more time."

After delegating the task, Shen Ting went to sleep, feeling satisfied.

The night passed without incident. The weather was growing colder, and the sun rose later each day. At 7:00 AM, Shen Ting woke up with the sun. He splashed his face with cold water to wake himself up, and while brushing his teeth, he asked in the group: "Well, any results on the base?"

"Found it!"
"Got it!"
"Yes!"

Hannibal, Jigsaw, and Yoshikage Kira answered in unison. They immediately uploaded images to the group, each circling the locations within the suspicious zone identified by Shen Xu that they believed could serve as the criminal's base.

When Shen Ting saw the images from the three of them, he stopped brushing his teeth mid-motion...