Ghost Detectives in the Detective World

Page 212

"It was Doito. After we found the body, he was the first to run down, check on Mr. Hamano's condition, and then stopped us from getting closer."

Huangyi then praised him.

"He is a truly reliable person, and he was the only one who remained calm at that time."

Tui-ji Tower? Is that the man in red?

A second person who forged an identity?

Matsuda hesitated for a moment, then looked at Doi Tou sitting to the side.

He was the only person who had come into contact with the body, meaning that if the snowy area was considered a locked room where the crime could not have occurred, then he was the only person who had entered the locked room.

The people here are all magic enthusiasts, and they should all have some knowledge of magic.

If the culprit used some kind of magic trick to deceive people, was his reason for approaching the corpse to retrieve the prop?

Chapter 257 The Weeping Garden

"Well, I actually overheard your conversation from outside. Why does Ms. Tanaka think that the so-called hidden mage is hiding in some corner outside?" Matsuda pressed.

"It's because Tanaka was attacked, and we found the missing crossbow bolts on the snow outside."

Araki briefly explained what had just happened.

"Tanaka and Sonoko were both frightened."

"That's right, that shadow mage is a madman."

Seeing the familiar and reassuring Officer Matsuda, the most trustworthy officer in the Metropolitan Police Department.

Sonoko's courage grew, and she started speaking fiercely.

"I was in the restroom when he shot me with an arrow. Officer Matsuda, you must catch him and teach him a lesson."

"crossbow?"

Matsuda said thoughtfully,

"Can I take a look? Uh, wait a minute, I haven't finished asking yet. The deceased, no, could you tell me the specific circumstances of when Mr. Hamano's body was discovered?"

"Didn't Officer Matsuda already see Mr. Hamano's case?" Tanaka said coldly. "What else is there to say?"

"Of course,"

Matsuda pretended not to notice Tanaka's displeasure.

"For example, who was Hamano with before she lay down on the cold snow, and what did she say to each other? These are all clues."

"Mr. Hamano is alone in his room," Sonoko said, her head bowed and her face full of guilt. "It's all because of me, it's all my fault..."

After listening to Sonoko's tearful account, Matsuda understood what had happened.

A magic show made Hamano the party manager, and then he went back to his house alone, where his body was discovered.

Magic?

Matsuda asked, "What kind of magic trick?"

Regardless, there's definitely something wrong with the magic trick that separated him from his small group.

Once we figure out what's behind this magic trick, we'll understand the culprit's purpose and even find the culprit.

"Ms. Tanaka wrote our names on a piece of paper, then I made marks while blindfolded, and finally Mr. Hamano guessed whose name was behind each mark."

Sonoko said dejectedly,

"If I hadn't chosen Mr. Hamano..."

Judging from the dried tear stains on her face, she had clearly cried about this matter before.

"Don't blame yourself, because it's not certain yet that the culprit's target is Hamano. This kind of thing could happen no matter who you choose. Wasn't Ms. Tanaka attacked too?"

Matsuda comforted Sonoko, then asked,

"Since Hamano spearheaded this magic trick, then it must have been his suggestion?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Matsuda gradually grasped the key points.

So, the only two people who came into contact with the paper were Sonoko and Tanaka, who were blindfolded?

"Speaking of which,"

Doito suddenly spoke at this moment,

"It seems there's something wrong with Mr. Hamano's magic trick. He originally said that I was the party manager, but the note had his name on it, which puzzled him."

Doito? This guy is definitely not simple!

Did he see through the trickery of this magic trick long ago?

They're so different from those half-baked so-called enthusiasts.

Noticing Matsuda looking at him, Doi gave a seemingly simple and honest smile.

“We’ve got the basic information. By the way, who is he? Why doesn’t anyone think he’s the Shadow Mage?” Matsuda pointed to the tall, thin servant.

“His name is Sugata Kiyohiro, and I invited him to help out. If I were to handle this gathering by myself, I would be a little overwhelmed.”

The villa's owner, Araki Yoshinori, immediately explained, "I watched him grow up; he could never be a Shadow Mage."

Matsuda nodded: "So what did you all do after Hamano went back to her house?"

"Hey, are you doubting us?" Tanaka asked angrily.

"It's not that I doubt you all, but that I want to prove your innocence."

Matsuda rephrased the statement, then gave Tanaka a meaningful look.

"It's better to clarify some things."

“I have nothing to say,” Tanaka said, turning his head to the side. “I was boiling water with firewood at the time.”

"I've gone to the warehouse to get some red wine."

Standing next to Tanaka, Ara Yoshinori immediately spoke when he saw Matsuda looking at him.

"Where is the earthen well tower?"

Of the remaining people, Matsuda was the first to ask him.

"Ms. Kuroda and I are setting out the party dishes in the dining room."

Doi looked at Kuroda: "Isn't that right, Miss Kuroda?"

“Well, then I went to the kitchen to help Suga,” Kuroda said.

“Yes, Mr. Ara asked me to prepare some snacks,” Sugan replied immediately.

"After that? Doito, where did you go?" Matsuda asked again.

"After that? I went back inside and got some cookies," Doi Tou said with a smile.

“I basically understand.” Matsuda turned to Ara Yoshinori and asked, “How long did it take you to get the sake?”

"About seven or eight minutes," Araki thought for a moment.

"I think it's around this time too."

Tanaka noticed Matsuda looking at him and immediately spoke.

Matsuda asked doubtfully, "Hmm, does it really take that long to get the wine?"

“I went back to my room to get the key because I forgot the warehouse lock was new,” Araki Yoshinori replied. “I see. Then let’s go to the warehouse together and take a look.” Matsuda glanced at everyone in the room. “Everyone, come on.”

"Why should I go with you?" Ms. Tanaka said, dissatisfied.

"There could be people outside who want to attack us at any time. That madman called the Hidden Mage."

"No, there won't be anyone outside."

Seeing that they didn't believe him, Matsuda could only say,

“I can assure you that I circled the area at least three times and found no trace of anyone hiding nearby.”

......

Upon reaching the warehouse entrance, Matsuda immediately noticed three locks on the door.

"How can there be so many locks?"

"That's to prevent thieves. There have been thieves around here lately, and the most valuable thing I have here is probably the red wine inside," Araki explained.

"Oh, I see. Where is that?" Matsuda pointed to the side door of the villa. "There are many footprints on the ground."

"It's the back door of the kitchen."

Huang Yi replied, "I took them for a walk around here this afternoon."

"I see. Then let's go take a look at the place where the water is boiled."

Matsuda stepped back, gesturing for Arayoshi to lead the way.

I noticed that there was no snow accumulation on the shed where the water was boiled, because of the steam.

Matsuda pointed to a window not far from the top of the shed.

Which window?

“That’s the corridor on the second floor,” Araki Yoshino said.

"You can get to Hamano's room from there," Matsuda said meaningfully.

"is it?"

Tanaka raised an eyebrow and suddenly said,

"I went to the bathroom to check the water temperature two or three times. How could I not know if someone jumped in at that time?"

Chapter 258 Kid, tell me who the murderer is!

"May I take a look at the crossbow you found?"

Matsuda didn't argue with Tanaka; instead, he returned to the villa and asked Sonoko for the crossbow.