Of course, Carlos knew that Douglas must have played something dirty to win the case. The girl was an orphan, so there would be no one to seek revenge on her behalf, and the case had already been closed. But what was with that poker card?

He was aware of the uproar surrounding the serial murder case, which had remained a mystery for the past month. Some people criticized the law and the police for their perceived lack of ability to find the murderer, but there was another group who viewed the murderer as a hero, as the victims were not innocent souls but individuals who had committed crimes and unforgivable acts.

Thinking about the two men who had been murdered, Carlos felt unsettled. For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that the spade was meant for him. He shivered, remembering the sharp flash of light that had come towards him like a ball of fire intent on burning him to ashes.

He frowned as he picked up his phone and dialed a number he hadn't used in a long time. Unbeknownst to him, a shadowy figure watched him from the corner of the building. When the figure saw the terror in Carlos's eyes, it smirked and quietly slipped away.

Meanwhile, Daniel waited patiently in front of the forensic department. He looked up when he heard approaching footsteps. His assistant Johnny hurried towards him, holding a folder in his hand. Daniel had tasked him with investigating the composition of the poker card found at the crime scene.

"Boss," Johnny saluted and handed the folder to his superior.

Daniel accepted the file and quickly reviewed its contents. His eyebrows raised in surprise as he read the report indicating that the edges of the poker card were coated with obsidian material. He was familiar with obsidian – known as one of the sharpest materials in the world, capable of cutting through even bone, but also brittle.

Closing the file, Daniel handed it back to his assistant, his mind racing with thoughts about the footage he had retrieved from Hutson Law Firm. When the team had played the footage, every detail had been recorded, but it had become corrupted just as a figure was about to emerge from the elevator. The footage only resumed after Douglas had fallen dead on the floor, showing a man in a brown suit leaving the firm, his head covered with a hat.

Daniel examined footage from other surveillance cameras installed on the first and subsequent floors, but the mysterious figure was nowhere to be found. It was as if the individual had never set foot inside the law firm, except for the footage retrieved from the lobby.

It felt almost intentional, as if he had left that one piece of footage specifically to taunt Daniel. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Daniel made his way into the lab.

Inside, Axel, the senior member of the forensic department, awaited him. Axel had been instrumental in helping Daniel solve numerous cases in the past. Daniel greeted him and settled into a chair across from Axel's desk, ready to discuss the case at hand.

As Axel removed his glasses and sighed heavily, the weight of the situation settled upon them both.

"Just as you suspected, there's a chance this murder may not have been committed by the same person who killed the other two," Axel began, his tone grave.

Daniel leaned in, eager to hear Axel's analysis. "How certain are you?" he inquired.

"About 50 percent," Axel replied. "I reviewed Johnny's report, and while the materials used are consistent with previous cases, there are significant differences in the method of the kill. Previously, the cuts were clean and precise, targeting critical points in the neck. This time, however, the cut is deeper and veers dangerously close to vital veins. It's as if …"

"He wanted the victim to suffer, to feel every inch of pain before death," Daniel finished Axel's thought.

"Exactly"

"However," Daniel continued, "You are uncertain whether this discrepancy indicates a different person or a deliberate alteration by the same murderer."

Axel admired Daniel's astuteness. No wonder the chief tolerated this man even though he ran amok often.

After their discussion, Daniel retreated to his cabin, accompanied by his assistant Johnny.

As Daniel settled into his seat, he turned his attention to Johnny. "You mentioned that Douglas recently won a case. Tell me more about it,"

Johnny nodded, eager to provide his boss with the information he sought. 

"Boss, Douglas represented a social activist named Gaston Regis. Regis is known for his philanthropy, particularly his efforts in building orphanages and providing aid to homeless children. However, a caretaker from one of Regis's orphanages accused him of assaulting a twelve-year-old girl under his care. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the caretaker himself was the one who did it and had blackmailed the girl into accusing Regis to gain benefits from Regis"

He continued, detailing Regis's background and the positive impact of his charitable work.

Daniel regarded Johnny with a serious expression. "A man with such a charitable disposition, yet focusing specifically on orphanages for girls. It's an interesting detail," he remarked thoughtfully.

Johnny blinked his eyes, "Boss, are you doubting Gaston Regis?"

Daniel leaned forward, his gaze unwavering, "Law is a two edged sword Johnny. Every man is innocent until PROVEN GUILTY. Let's go and visit the one in prison "