"It seems that someone committed suicide at the intersection?"
"Didn't someone just die here two days ago over the weekend?"
"What a bad luck! I commute here every day, why would I choose to commit suicide here?"
"I heard that they seem to have fallen out of love. Alas, today's young generation..."
"..."
At the Kurebetsu intersection, the passers-by standing around were talking in whispers.
By the time Higashinohara and his party arrived by car, the crime scene had been cordoned off by the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division 1 who arrived.
However, the police did not investigate the scene of the crime. A police officer from the Investigation Section 1, wearing a gold-framed red circular badge with the words "S1S mpd" in gold on his suit collar, seemed to be holding a communication phone and requesting assistance.
The three of them got off the station and stood under the cherry blossom trees outside the cordon. They stared at the pool of blood on the railway tracks and the bodies covered with white cloth on the roadside. He couldn't help but frown.
In the same place, there were two suicides in three days. Even though Kurebetsu Town is the intersection that Morita Taku said is prone to accidents.
But isn’t this frequency too high?
It was so high that he felt that if there was really a murderer behind the scenes planning the forgery, then the murderer must be in a very urgent mood, just like a loan shark rushing to collect money at the end of the year.
The false politeness and cover-up in the past,
Nothing is needed at this moment.
But this was a human life. What made him so eager to kill?
Higashinohara frowned and said nothing.
At this time, there was a commotion outside the crowd of onlookers. When I looked back, I found a group of reporters carrying long guns and short cannons. I had to lament the sensitivity of these journalists' noses.
No one paid attention to the suicide case in Mubetsu Town in the past two days for so long, but when another suicide occurred here in just three days, these reporters sensed something was wrong faster than the police.
There is a situation!
There is definitely a situation!
Even if it is really a coincidence, with the integrity of Wano Country reporters, they can compile more than a dozen versions of speculation for you on the spot. As long as it can gain attention, they will not be responsible for wiping the butt afterwards.
Aragaki Satoru seemed to have seen an acquaintance among the police who blocked the scene. He walked over with a smile, pretending to be a passerby and asked a few questions, and then came back after a while.
"They said that the trams on this line have been suspended. It seems that nothing will happen again until the results of the investigation come out."
"Are the trams out of service?"
Higashinohara thought about it and suddenly realized that, among other things, two people were killed in three days. I am afraid that the shadow in the heart of the tram driver on this line is not small.
"Are there any other clues?" Higashinohara asked.
Aragaki Satoru shrugged, shook his head and said, "There has always been a shortage of forensic doctors in New Tokyo, but even if an autopsy is performed, there will probably be no results. Isn't Shikame's mother the same? Fortunately, the third investigation team has taken over. I hope they can find something useful.
clues."
Having said this, Aragaki Satoru suddenly raised his head, stroking his bald beard and looking around at the cherry blossoms blooming on the roadside at the intersection.
That is the October cherry, a new horticultural product created by crossing the Higanzakura and the Higanzakura and then backcrossing it with the Higanzakura. It blooms twice a year, and it is now in full bloom in late autumn.
He paused and said, "But the layout of this intersection... I feel an indescribable weirdness, it's like... it's like..."
"What's it like, boss?" Charlie asked.
"An altar?"
Higashinohara's eyes flashed slightly.
Snapped-!
Aragaki Satoru suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed, "That's right! It's the altar. Higashino-kun's observation skills are really amazing."
This is not because Higashinohara is great.
Aragaki Satoru stood at the intersection and looked around, his reaction was a little slow.
And Higashinohara possesses Talent Sequence 16 [Nine Eyes and Six Paths], and his 360-degree long-distance vision allows him to directly overlook this area. He immediately discovered that the layout of the intersection in Mubetsu Town is very similar to that recorded in the classics of Wano Country.
Small altar.
The four leafy pink October cherry blossoms at the intersection are just like the brightly colored "torii gates" on all sides - the entrance to the divine realm in Wano Country, used to distinguish the divine realm where the gods live and the divine realm where the gods live.
The secular world where humans live.
Aragaki frowned and pondered for a while, then continued his analysis, "Judging from this situation, I am now more and more sure that those bastards from the funeral club are showing signs of resurgence. Those guys are really easy to find, no?"
I thought it would be delivered to my door again."
After hearing this, Higashinohara was silent for a few seconds and asked the doubt that had been hidden in his heart since today, "The funeral agency? If it is really them, what is their purpose in planning these murders?"
There must be a motive for killing.
Killing for love, killing for vendetta, killing for money, killing for sex... none of these fit the situation at hand. This funeral society is more like some kind of Z cult organization.
But what are they worshiping?
What is it that you seek?
In this world full of talents and abilities, Higashinohara has been greatly impacted in the half year he has been in this world, but he has never heard of the existence of any gods.
If it is true, then his worldview may be shattered again.
Hearing Higashinohara's words, Aragaki Satoru was also startled. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'm sorry, I didn't understand it either. When I was still at the Metropolitan Police Department, although I led people to destroy their dens, it was only
I sensed that there was something wrong with those suicide cases and kept pursuing them until I finally found the organization behind them."
"But all the arrested members of the organization died suddenly and inexplicably within three days. The only two people who escaped the net were the president of the funeral society - the man called 'Doctor', and the man you just saw
The father of the bar slut."
This is tricky...
Higashinohara sighed, he didn't even know what the other party was asking for, so it was like being in the dark and being led by the nose every time.
"What about us now?" Higashinohara asked.
"Let's go home first. The trams are all out of service today, so nothing should happen again."
Aragaki Satoru recalled the past and analyzed, "According to the low profile and concealment of the guys at the funeral home, to plan and fabricate two suicide cases so radically in just three days must be something happening internally. From now on, we will come here once a day."
, as long as you are at the scene when the crime occurs, you will definitely find something."
After hearing Aragaki Satoru's words, Higashinohara had no other choice but to follow.
...
A group of three people got into the van, and just as they were getting in and leaving, a special vehicle from the Metropolitan Police Department was on its way from the Chiyoda District Metropolitan Police Department's main store.
Sitting in the back seat of the police car was a man with a rough face and a straight nose. He was Chitetsu Nishirin, the captain of the Third Division of the Metropolitan Police Department's Third Investigation Team.
The deputy captain next to him, Ogami Yu, suddenly couldn't help complaining, "Really... Now the whole city's eyes are on heavily attacking Sigmund Trading Company's industries in New Tokyo. It's hard to get a 'performance' boost at the end of the year.
Why do you want our third team to investigate some suicide case?"
Someone next to me echoed:
"That's right. Speaking of being idle, isn't Captain Kimura of the Fifth Division also idle? Is it just because he comes from a famous family in Tokyo... The Criminal Department is really a group of guys who can adapt to the changing circumstances."
Xilin Qiantie, who had been keeping his eyes closed and concentrating in silence, opened his eyes when he heard the words. His pair of eight-character sword eyebrows were raised as sternly as swords, and he glanced at the two people beside him.
"Don't talk nonsense. Captain Kimura graduated from a famous school. In addition to being the captain of the third team, he also works part-time as a senior researcher at the New Tokyo Fruit Research Institute. I heard that there have been new developments at the research institute recently. Of course, I don't have time at this time, and.
..This time it may not be a suicide case.”
"Ah? Isn't it a suicide case?"
Onoue Yuu lowered his head and looked at the file in surprise, "The case of the tram hitting people in Kubetsu Town on the weekend was the same as today, right? Aren't they all concluded? Look here... There is also the autograph of Nakagawa, the deputy chief of the Investigation Section 1.
signature."
Someone next to me interjected:
"Is that guy Nakagawa Tsuru? I remember that he seems to be the same schoolmate as Captain Kimura of the fifth division. He is two years ahead of Captain Kimura. But it is said that he was sponsored by the Kimura family when he was in college. He is a guy with strong business ability.
, the most powerful candidate to be the next head of the Search Division, he must have some degree of confidence in closing the case so quickly, right?"
Xilin Qiantetsu recalled the phone call he received and shook his head:
"That was before, but there was another suicide case here today. The Criminal Department suspected that a person with abilities committed the crime, so they dispatched us. Otherwise, it would have been someone from the forensics department. When we get to the scene, you will investigate carefully and don't let it go.
Any doubts."
The space for talking,
Police cars gradually approach the cordoned off area.
While Xilin Qiante was speaking, his gaze inadvertently swept across an alley next to him. A petite girl crouched blankly in the corner of the alley, lowering her head and closing her eyes with her hands clasped together, praying for something.
, in front of him is a photo of the deceased and a row of burning incense.
The families of the victims?
Xilin Qiante showed a thoughtful expression.
...
Aragaki apartment building.
After returning home, Higashino went back to his room and spent most of the day running around on the road, but he was not idle either. His swordsmanship with Kodachi Nito-ryu had improved to [Beginner 5/10].
Higashinohara is still not sure what the level of [Elementary] in the Guilty Manual is.
But now I am not like before, I only know one move I secretly learned and figured out secretly [Lion Appearance], and I use my sword as a big stick to hit people purely with speed.
But seeing it a hundred times is not as good as practicing it once.
Thinking that next month Aragaki Satoru will reduce his rent for December, and at the end of the month his parents in his hometown in Hokkaido will remit him 100,000 yen for next month's living expenses, which means that the 500,000 yen in his hand has become a viable option.
Discretionary funds.
Men should be kind to themselves.
Higashinohara gritted his teeth, cooked a bowl of ramen, and after finishing it, he said to himself three times, "The ramen tastes good, and the soup base is delicious."
Immediately afterwards, he decisively took the money and went downstairs and went straight to a nearby weapons store that specialized in selling cold weapons according to the traffic navigation on his mobile phone map.
After twisting and turning all the way, I finally found this store in a Shitamachi alley.
But a few minutes after Higashinohara entered, he walked out again empty-handed.
It's not that there aren't any Kodachi swords he wants to buy. In fact, the quality of the high-tech alloys in this professional cold weapon shop is quite good, second only to the good-looking swords made by the old swordsmiths in Kyoto.
But a handful costs 480,000 yen, and Higashinohara, who is short of money, can't really afford it.
However, the shop owner was quite nice. He seemed to realize Higashinohara's financial constraints, and recommended him a second-hand cold weapons trading market near Shitamachi.
Higashinohara walked around for about half an hour after entering, and finally stopped at the door of a store. He looked at the "Year-End Clearance Sale" hanging on the door and hesitated for a moment before walking in.
Good products are not cheap, and good products are not cheap.
He understands this truth, but since he has no money, he can only pretend not to understand.
Immediately after entering the door, an old aunt in her fifties greeted her. Her service attitude was even more enthusiastic than when she was at the Cold Weapon Weapons Store. He probably also contributed to his good looks.
"What weapons do you usually use?"
"Uh... Kodachi... double sword."
"Then this is no coincidence!"
The smile on the old aunt's face bloomed like a chrysanthemum. She led Higashinohara to the shelf and introduced enthusiastically, "These two small swords were put for consignment by a customer yesterday. It is said that they were made by a famous swordsmith in Kyoto.
His consignment price is only 580,000 yen."
Higashinohara leaned over slightly and took a closer look. The workmanship of these two small swords was indeed very old. They did not have the bright metallic feel of high-tech alloys. They were ancient swords forged by old swordsmiths.
But in comparison, it has the weight and condensation of a cold weapon, and its appearance is not bad. The spring water lines on the blade seem to reveal an inch of clear cold light.
The only shortcomings are that the blade has some red mottled rust and the handle has some paint peeling off. Most buyers of ancient knives who are looking for good quality will probably not choose it.
Higashinohara picked it up and tried the weight and feel. Sure enough, it was a little heavier than usual when holding a wooden sword at the academy training ground, but it also felt more sticky.
I don't know if it was because it was the first time in his past life that he had a cold weapon of his own. After picking it up, Higashinohara was reluctant to put it down.
He knew that the second-hand weapons store must have some moisture, so he didn't show too much eagerness on his face. After putting down the two Kodachi swords, he said, "I like these two knives very much, but in terms of price..."
The old aunt came over and immediately showed a look of embarrassment on her face after hearing this.
"The items that the customer consigns to us...theoretically, there is no way to bargain, but I see that you fell in love with these two Kodachi swords at first sight. It seems to be a kind of fate, so I will make the final decision without permission."
You can make it cheaper... 550,000 yen, I will explain this to the seller."
Higashinohara doesn't believe this, why did you just change the price without saying anything and say 580,000 yen is a lie?
He was cruel and gritted his teeth and reported:
"But I only have 450,000 yen on me."
Unexpectedly, after the words fell, the old aunt pretended to be struggling, and then she said with a cruel heart and gritted her teeth, "Okay! 450,000 yen is 450,000 yen! The most important thing in our line of work is good luck, at worst I'll get beaten up."
Just scold it, but it’s always a good thing to sell it.”
"..." Higashinohara.
Damn it!
If I had known earlier, it would only be 400,000 yen.
But at this moment, he couldn't do that thing again because he said he was short of 50,000 yen. It was always a good thing to be able to buy a handy weapon, so he just thought that the "windfall" from his part-time job at the villa dinner that night was not good.
Already.
The old aunt at the second-hand weapons store made a deal, and maybe because of Higashinohara's handsome appearance, she thoughtfully prepared a sheath for him - an artificial leather sheath outside the scabbard.
Looks a bit cheap.
The advantage is... well, it's free.
When Higashinohara left, the old aunt in the store still waved goodbye reluctantly, "Brother, please come and see me often when you have nothing to do. I'm sure there will be new goods that you will be satisfied with."
forget it!
Who would come here if they have money?
Higashinohara thought ruthlessly as he drew his sword.
...
Twilight all around.
On the way home in the evening.
After Higashinohara walked out of the winding alleys of Shitamachi, he took out his mobile phone to navigate the nearest and fastest bus route. Unexpectedly, a news message suddenly popped up on the screen after a few steps.
[Kurebetsu Town! Crossroads of Death!——The second suicide accident occurred today in full view of everyone! 】
Higashinohara's steps suddenly stopped.
what happened?
Didn't Aragaki Satoru say that the trains were out of service?
...
Please remember the first domain name of this book: ._
