In our previous chapter, Professor Stone mentioned the solution of this case could be found in the palm of the hand. What was the answer? Well, Martial Kim figured it out before they took a car ride out of the fire station.
“Professor. If it’s just finger marks you need, why make it sound so complicated?”
“Because it is complicated Kim. Normally if the finger prints were on a flat surface like a doorknob or even the handle of a kitchen knife, then a simple brush and scan would do. But this brick isn’t as even as you think and it’s probably been through something to make prints less visible to the naked eye.”
“So what now? We are at an impasse? And Where are we going exactly?”
“The forensic lab. We’ll figure it out there...Also Kim, seat belt! I don’t want a friend from work to pull me over and give me a ticket!”
Martial Kim always believed he was always up to date with the latest and greatest in forensic science discovery. The moment he caught wind of a new findings, he would fly over to be the first to take a sip of this freshly made soup of knowledge – faster than any government agent could get their hands on.
Mystery has always been his passion, thus keeping up to par was always a necessity.
However, the second Professor Stone brought him to this ‘forensic lab’ – the young master realized, he was out classed by tenfold.
“Professor! Wh-what are all these? The ones that are glowing with symbols and making a strange noise.”
“Lab equipment. We rely on them in sorting out chemical analyst, identify D.N.A. and finger print matches, as well as examining details at microscopic level—Please! D-don’t touch them! Th-they are very delicate—KIM!”
Martial Kim thought he died and ascended into a divine realm of forensic science he never dreamed of seeing. Everything around him from gizmos and gadgets called for his attention, tempting him to touch their buttons and switches so he can see what they can do!
However, there this one machine he paid close attention to.
“...Professor. Why are you steaming the bricks? Please do not tell me, we are going to EAT the evidence to gain insight!?”
“...Just...how Dark Age are your memories right now, Kim? This is a fuming chamber. Not a microwave to heat up dinner.”
--- I do not know what is either. That response is not helping!
Martial Kim raised an eyebrow and leaned in to examine the fuming chamber closely. Essentially it was a large box made of metal and glass with various hinges and buttons to control the mechanisms. He watches as a small dish of some paste was turning into steam like smoke and fill the insides with a white fog. The smoke would lick all over the brick – and to his astonishment.
--- F-finger prints are appearing? Like some kind of magician’s trick? How?
“That,” Prof. Stone pointed at the dish of paste, “is cyanoacrylate. Also commonly known as super glue.”
“Su-super glue?”
“Yep. You’d think this would be used to fix things like glass, toys, arts and craft, or even wood working in construction. In terms of forensic, steaming the superglue helps for particles to stick onto the residue left in finger prints. So in a sense, it can be seen as a magic trick – for your case that is.”
“And you just steam it? Like a tray of dim sum or pork bun?”
“...S...sorry that analogy...is just too much for my brain to imagine.”
Martial Kim continued to watch as more and more black finger prints started to show up across the brick. While the steam and wisp meandered inside of the chamber, a curious idea came to mind.
“Professor, where can I get this device?”
“Pfffff. You thinking of buying one of this like a car? Nice try. This is dedicated for labs and police investigations. Not like any person off the street could buy this like candy in a 7-11.”
“..........”
“...Sorry. Too many modern references. Uuuh.” Prof. Stone stroked a finger across his chin. “Government restricted. Only forensic offices can acquire them.”
“Ah.” Martial Kim would have thrown in the towel, but he reworded his question to see if he can receive some sort of enlightenment, “So, if not a machine – all I have to do is steam this super glue or what not inside of a dim sum tray?”
“Hah. Nice try, Kim. You think this can be as artistic as cooking? If someone reaally wants to ghetto workshop this, they’re gonna need a large glass jar or plastic box to contain all of this inside. The process is only effective when the steam is filled in a vacuum or air tight environment.”
“And where can one find this super glue?”
Prof. Stone shrugged as he watched the timer on the fuming machine slowly count down to zero, “Well almost anywhere: hardware stores, local grocery, arts and craft, home depot—”
“........”
“...For someone as Dark Age as you, could go with tree sap.”
“Oh?” Martial Kim raised an eyebrow, interest rising in his voice, “Tree sap you say?”
“Back in the day, if not fish or horse glue, some people use certain sap or resin from trees as a form of adhesive. If I remember, pine trees seems to have been a common source before we could create glue artificially.”
Martial Kim nodded with a hum, “I must say professor, you seem to be well versed in various field of konwledge.”
“Ah. I just love reading. And I’m the paperback person, can’t stand reading eBooks off a tablet. I love the feel of flipping a page, you know?”
--- Finally someone who speaks my language!
DING! The fuming machine chirped a done noise and Prof. Stone took out the brick on a metal tray as if retrieving a freshly baked cake. Obviously it didn’t come with a tantalizing smell, but the results on the brick alone were more than enough to make their forensic minds water with eagerness.
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Prof. Stone furrowed his brow, “Hey Kim, can you be my second pair of eyes. I feel like, I’m seeing things.”
Martial Kim leaned over, “One two...I count three fingers, one thumb... Actually, where is the fourth finger?”
“If I am not mistaken, the position of these three fingers in oppose to the thumb look like the digits from middle to the pinky... Meaning, the index finger print is missing. But for what reason?”
The young master would look around and pick up something similar in shape to a brick – a tissue box. And he held it with one index finger off the surface. “An odd way to hold it, if you ask me. Unless, it is a special technique I am not aware off.”
“Even football players are taught to use all fingers for maximum throw efficiency, so definitely not some trick shot...Unless.” Prof. Stone placed the tray down and tapped his chin. “Either the culprit is missing a finger due to an accident or—”
“The finger is covered,” Martial Kim interjected as he remembered something from Fae Fae’s case. “There was a suspect who had to cover her hands, to hide the swelling caused by an allergic reaction to Deadwood Worm toxin. Perhaps, this culprit suffered a similar condition and bound their index finger with a cloth!”
“...Suspect? Deadwood worm toxin? Kim, are you really a cop?”
The young master was about to answer yes as easy as breathing, however he remembered his situation and where he was. Even if he told the truth, there were just too many details that would be seen as unbelievable. So for the interest of time and convenience, he was forced to tell a little white lie.
“I...read it in a book...You know, paperback.”
“Ah. A fellow reader!”
Nice recovery, Martial Kim! Even if he wasn’t entirely sure what the term paper back or eBook meant, he thought reusing something Prof. Stone enjoyed would help smooth out the conversation and make the latter none the wiser...
--- Are not every book in the Jade Empire made of paper and string? Why specifically call them paperback? A book is a book!
Prof. Stone didn’t waste any time and he delivered a report to a certain detective. In fact, the young master heard her voice in the laboratory!
[Detective Fraulein speaking, what is it Stone?]
“Oh!?” Martial Kim gasped. The martial artist would have known if anyone was sneaking up on them. The only exception if this enemy was a master of all masters, which he doubt the detective was to begin with, so he would have surely realized she was in their presence. But the more he looked around, the more he couldn’t see that trademark frown or the person in question.
“Detective,” Prof. Stone went on, as this was just an every day occurrence, “What’s your status?”
[We got a handful of people, but there’s too many to figure out who did it. You got anything for me?]
“You’re looking for someone who either has a missing index finger, or it’s covered up in bandages. Left handed even, hope that narrows it down.”
[One moment.......yeah, I think I see them.]
Martial Kim was like a cat chasing after a laser dot pointer. Where is Detective Fraulein? Where is her voice coming from? If only he realized Prof. Stone was talking to the detective in question over the phone, the device set on the table and switched to open conference speaker.
“Pro-Professor.” The young master finally spoke up, “I do not see the detective. I-is she invisible?”
[...Stone, why does that voice sound familiar...wait—WHAT IS HE DOING THERE WITH YOU!? EXPLAIN!]
Prof. Stone panicked and fumbled for his phone, “What? You’re breaking up. Kkkkkk. Can’t, hear, you, tunnel. Kkkkkkkkkkk.”
[DON’T YOU DARE HANG UP ON ME! WHY IS PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE THERE WITH—]
CLICK. End of conversation. This left Martial Kim in silence. Even amongst the ambience, the loudest noise he could hear were his internal thoughts.
--- Professor Stone is not a martial artist, but today he showed the hollowness of my strength. The intellect and experience I carried like a sword, is nothing more than a toy blade in the face of true masters like him. How shameful of me, most shameful.
When a swordsman faces off with a laser rifle, no one can blame the former falling into a pit of depression under the weight of ABSOLUTE defeat. The same feeling fell upon Martial Kim’s shoulder... and in doing so, it lifted something up from deep in his mind.
--- Wait. Professor Stone seems to know everything. I wonder, with all this advanced science and technology – would he know of a way to send me back? To the Jade Empire? Back to Moon Tavern... I cannot give up, not at this critical moment. There is only one thing I can do, to turn the tables into my favour!
So Martial Kim used his ultimate move!
“Master! Please take me as your disciple!”
“K-Kim!? Wh-what are you doing!? Qu-quick get back up from your knees!”
Not only did the young master humbly kneel before the forensic chemist, he would go as far as kowtowing before the man. Clock! Clock! Clock! Every deep bow, his forehead would hit the ground – a sign of absolute sincerity and determination!
“Please, Master, accept me! I wish to learn from you!”
“L-learn!? Learn what? YOU’RE the kung fu master, I should be the one doing the bowing!”
“Please, teach me the ways of your forensic techniques! Your science! Everything in this world!”
“Jesus Christ, Kim! D-don’t be so over dramatic! Get up, everyone is staring!”
Prof. Stone would try to drag the young master up to his knees. Little did he know, Martial Kim knew the 1000 Pound Iron Stance – nothing can move him; even a bull would knock themselves out if it charged him. Mountain solid.
“Kim! Kim!” Prof. Stone gasped with every failed haul, “I know you lost your memory and you want to speed up back to modern times, but there’s no need to be this drastic! Please, stand up! Y-you’re making us look super weird!”
“Nay! I shan’t rise until you accept me as your disciple! Master!”
“Don’t call me that! People are going to get weird ideas! Come on Kim, stop kidding around!”
“I am most serious!” Martial Kim kowtowed again with a CLOCK noise, a notable bruise on his head this time. “I seek your guidance! I may be unworthy in your eyes, but please let me learn from you as your student!”
“Kim! Don’t say that! It’s not about being unworthy or...Oh god,” Prof. Stone ended up kneeling to meet with Martial Kim, a tired sigh but a hopeful one, “Kim. People call me professor, but I don’t think I’m the best person to be called your instructor.”
“Master,” Martial Kim pleaded in earnest, “If it were not for your wisdom, I would have forever carried the title of a serial killer. Nothing I could have done would have saved myself. Looking back at it all, you are my benefactor. I owe you my life and honour.”
“K-Kim. This is a bit—”
“Please! Master! I beg you!”
“...............................................................................One condition.”
“Anything, Master!”
“D-don’t call me Master. Everyone will give me strange looks. C-call me something else.”
“Shifu!”
Prof. Stone face palmed. “Th-that makes me sound like I’m a seafood platter!”
Martial Kim wracked his brain for a better name, “Then...please, let me call you Teacher!”
“I-I’m fine with that.”
“Thank you, Teacher!”
Aaaah. It looks like Martial Kim has hope, in finding a way back home! And all it cost was his dignity!
Worth!
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