"So, by examining the secretions on the deceased's private parts, we can find the last person he was in contact with?" Harry mused.

"Yes." Dean nodded and waved at Harry, signaling him to step aside.

Harry quickly moved to another spot.

As he moved, several objects curled into ball shapes became visible.

Dean stepped forward, picked one up, and squeezed it. He frowned. "This is a leech. It probably latched onto George during his... activities, and he brought it out with him. But what's strange is that in just over a day, these leeches have already died."

"Detective, are you saying the victim's blood might contain toxins?" Carlo asked, camera in hand, making his presence known.

Dean gave him an approving look. Although he valued Carlo for his physical prowess, the fact that Carlo was also willing to use his brain was undoubtedly even better.

"Collect these leech corpses and find out their cause of death. It will help us determine the victim's cause of death," Dean instructed Harry, then walked over to the victim's clothing and began searching.

Unlike encounters with prostitutes, typical intimate interactions between men and women often start with kissing and caressing. Once the mood escalates, they become more animalistic, engaging in passionate encounters. George's clothes might hold some clues.

He had few clothes: just a shirt and shorts. The guy didn't even wear underwear.

Dean first turned his attention to George's floral shirt. Upon inspecting it, he indeed made a discovery.

Carefully, in front of the camera, he plucked several long strands of hair from the shirt. "Two different types of long hair were found on the victim's clothes. These likely belong to two different women."

After collecting the hairs, Dean picked up the shorts.

A small, torn, pink packet fell out. Dean picked it up. "A Durex ultra-thin, fruit-flavored condom wrapper," he mused, then paused. "Hmm?"

Dean's movements suddenly paused.

He rubbed his fingers together; they felt slippery. There's something off about this wrapper!

He put down the wrapper, walked over to the trash can beside the bathtub, and fished out a used condom. After carefully studying it, he added, "This one is a pearl-gloss lubricated model. It's quite rare, likely a custom edition, and expensive."

After securing all the evidence found, Dean searched the scene once more before stopping, having completed the initial crime scene investigation.

Everything that could be done with the naked eye was complete. Next, it was time for the forensic experts from the Forensics Department to take over.

But before leaving, Dean called over the captain of the cruise ship.

"Captain Donald, I have a question, and I need you to tell me the truth," Dean said, looking at Donald sternly.

Donald, calm as usual, nodded. "Detective, please ask. Ms. Moress has instructed me to fully assist you in solving the case. She also doesn't want any murders committed on her cruise ship."

Dean pointed toward the bathroom. "I noticed that many areas on this floor are cultivating unusual things. Can you tell me what they're for?"

Hearing this, Donald appeared somewhat embarrassed. He glanced around and lowered his voice. "Detective, I can tell you, but afterward, I will not acknowledge saying any of this. If it leaks, Ms. Moress will sue you for slander!"

"No problem. I won't record any of it."

Seeing Dean's assurance, Donald relaxed and explained, "The second deck of the cruise ship was transformed into its current state for two reasons. First, Ms. Moress enjoys raising many rare and exotic plants and animals. Second, it's to... enhance the experience!"

"Enhance the experience?"

"Yes," Donald said with a world-weary expression. "Detective Dean, you must understand, for the wealthy, their primary focus is on enjoyment. Fine wine, cruise ships, handsome young men, brooding middle-aged men... No matter how good these things are, they eventually become tiresome. Eventually, to seek new thrills, those wealthy women started experimenting with group activities and even bestiality. Ms. Moress didn't care for those things. So, she proposed enjoying the thrill of... intimate encounters in a setting of primal danger, as a way to heighten the excitement. UM... I don't know how effective it is, but ultimately, Ms. Moress became a sort of trendsetter among many of Los Angeles' wealthy socialites."

Dean was speechless. These city folk really know how to party!

「Later」

After completing the crime scene investigation and gathering preliminary information, Harry and Carlo waited with the body and physical evidence for the coroner's van from the Forensics Department.

Meanwhile, Dean, dragging along his older brother Beck and their uncle—who was dressed like a kitchen hand—arrived at the top deck of the cruise ship.

"Alright, spill it. What's going on with you two?" Dean demanded.

His uncle hiccuped, smelling of alcohol, and said, looking rather embarrassed, "Dean, this is... well, it's really all my fault..."

As it turned out, the two of them had been driving the sports car Dean had given Beck, preparing to leave Los Angeles, when they received an 'insider' tip. A warehouse at the port, soon to be auctioned, supposedly contained crates left behind by a high-end medical company. The contents—medical instruments and advanced surgical equipment—were said to be worth over several million US dollars.

As a pair aspiring to become treasure-hunting kings in the United States, how could they resist such temptation?

Without a second thought, they drove straight to the port. The entry barrier for these dockside storage auctions was high, but that wasn't going to stop Beck and his uncle. They mortgaged the sports car Dean had given Beck, put up all their capital, and even borrowed a little extra money, ready for a high-stakes gamble.

The result... they lost everything.

The two were too ashamed to ask the family for help and were trying to figure out how to earn money to pay off their debts.

Coincidentally, Beck ran into George, who was at the port waiting to attend a party for wealthy women. As they say, gym rats recognize their own. The two hit it off immediately. After a brief chat, George learned of Beck's predicament and offered to get him into the party.

Hearing his uncle explain the whole story, Dean stroked his forehead, speechless. "Guys, I don't oppose you trying to make your own way, but if you run into trouble, even if you feel awkward asking Mom or Grandpa, you can always come to me."

He was worried this attitude might spread. Eventually, his family could become known for freeloading. Considering his own destined extraordinary future, this 'Freeloading Family' label would surely become legendary in the US tabloids! Ugh... the Legendary Freeloading Family. Although Dean was thick-skinned, he wasn't entirely shameless yet.

Beck disagreed. "Dean, it's not as bad as you think. Those women all brought companions for swapping. I only got in because Ms. Moress, the owner of this cruise ship, is older and isn't into that. She just had me accompany her to make up numbers."

"So, did she... sleep with you?"

Beck looked down. "I... couldn't resist."

Dean was speechless again.

"Dean, don't look at me like that. I was just trying to offer some comfort to those lonely, helpless older women. In return, they give me some financial support. It's a fair exchange."

Dean remained silent.

"And this 'offering comfort'—couldn't you find someone younger? That old woman Moress must be more than a decade older than Mom!"

"Old woman?" Beck defiantly raised his head. "She's my sugar mama!"

Dean was utterly speechless.

He's a lost cause. Once you've tasted the sweetness of being a kept man... it seems my older brother is beyond saving.

「That afternoon」

Dean felt a sense of relief after seeing his maternal grandfather haul his uncle and older brother away in a livestock transport truck. He then returned to the precinct.

George's body had already been sent to the Forensics Department there. Additionally, Harry and Carlo had notified the wealthy women and collected DNA samples. All of this, however, would take time.

George's cause of death, however, had already been confirmed.

「In the morgue」

A stern-faced, middle-aged man handed a document to Dean. "According to the autopsy results, the direct cause of death was a heart attack!"

This outcome was unexpected.

PS:

Thanks for your concern, everyone.

Just to clarify, my situation isn't as scary or exaggerated as it might sound.

It's minor myocarditis, and with a bit of rest, I should recover.

It's not like I'm about to kick the bucket...

I'm still alive.

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