After locking the two men in separate rooms, Fang Zheng did not interrogate them immediately. Instead, he first found the old woman and asked about the two men's backgrounds and lodging records. Only then did he bring Ran to the room.
"All right, Mira, wait outside that room for me."
"Understood."
Mira nodded and trotted cheerfully to the door of the other room where the suspect was being held. Watching her leave, Ran suddenly understood.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, you're planning to use that trick, aren't you?"
"What trick?"
"You know, making the two suspects distrust each other and each believe the other confessed first..."
"You mean the prisoner's dilemma."
Fang Zheng considered it for a moment, then nodded.
"Indeed, the prisoner's dilemma can be quite useful in certain situations, but it doesn't apply here."
"Really?"
Ran was somewhat surprised by Fang Zheng's answer.
"That's right. We know both of them reacted abnormally, which means they must have some connection to the victim. But they definitely didn't kill him, and because of that, they don't need to worry whether the other person might confess some secret. On the contrary, if you went in and tried to bluff them with that trick, anyone with half a brain would realize you were just playing them."
"I-I see..."
"Come with me. Let me show you how police interrogate suspects."
Fang Zheng gestured to Ran, then pushed open the door and entered the room.
The man being held in this room was the shorter, heavier of the two. He was handcuffed to a chair and was clearly very uncomfortable. When he saw Fang Zheng and Ran enter, an annoyed expression appeared on his face.
"Hey, why have you got me cuffed up in here? Be careful, or I'll sue you!"
"Handcuffing someone caught in the