CHAPTER 275: CHAPTER 182 LOVE HIM, ’FOOLISHLY’ FOLLOW HIM!_1

Merck, in pursuit of the cannibal Demon, had crossed state lines.

Yamaguchi Yuko wasn’t a cannibal Demon, but her previous actions suggested she had been in contact with one, and might even have met and communicated with it. So, she was set to undergo some unusual procedures, like an FBI interrogation. The most suitable location for this was undoubtedly the interrogation room of the Fourth Squadron.

「At ten o’clock in the evening.」

Merck and his young partner, escorted by several patrol officers, arrived at the interrogation floor of the Fourth Squadron with a petite, melancholic-looking, yet lovely girl in tow.

Dean, out of curiosity, had decided against choosing his accommodations for the day and stayed behind.

He wasn’t interested in Yamaguchi Yuko, the young deviant.

The cannibal Demon was different.

That guy could be worth quite a lot of Experience Points.

Dean found that very intriguing.

What surprised him was that, besides Merck and his group, there was someone with Yamaguchi Yuko whom Dean recognized: a woman!

Dean approached, warmly greeted Merck, then walked over to the woman and extended his hand, "Portolia?"

"Good evening, Detective Dean."

The woman was petite, yet her figure was remarkably eye-catching. It was indeed Portolia, the widow Dean had previously met at the First Squadron.

Dean shrugged. "Don’t tell me Yamaguchi Yuko is your relative."

She elegantly twirled a strand of hair, releasing the unique, alluring scent of a mature woman. Helplessly, she said, "But it’s the truth. I’m Yuko’s cousin. The Yamaguchi Family is quite shocked by what has happened, and we’re worried she might be treated unfairly, so they asked me to accompany her."

"I’m sorry, Ms. Portolia, but the most we can tolerate is for you to observe from outside. You are not allowed to interfere with our interrogation, or we will have you removed!" Merck, showing Portolia no special consideration, interrupted her conversation with Dean.

A cold glint flashed in Portolia’s eyes, but her expression was one of apology. "I’ll be mindful of that, Agent Merck."

Merck nodded and signaled to Dean, then continued to escort Yamaguchi Yuko into the elevator leading to the interrogation floor.

Because there were too many people, Portolia volunteered to stay behind and take the next elevator with Dean.

After all, they knew each other, and Portolia was also quite attractive.

Dean, sensing the somewhat awkward atmosphere, started a conversation. "Portolia, what have you been up to lately? I heard from Harry that the First Squadron has been quite busy."

"Yes. Many cases from before Christmas are now going to trial, so we need to prepare a lot of documentation. The case I’m currently handling is quite bizarre."

"Oh?"

"It’s a theft case that leaves you speechless. A 43-year-old woman stole a Christmas tree over two meters tall from Walmart. She took the tree into the restroom and tried to hide it in her ’shadowy alley’."

Dean was utterly baffled.

Surely, no one with a bit of intelligence would do such a thing!

Seeing his strange expression, Portolia gave a helpless smile. "When someone found her, she had already passed out from severe blood loss. The patrol officers who rushed over initially thought she’d been assaulted by some pervert. Only after checking the surveillance footage did they realize she’d brought the Christmas tree in herself. And the crucial part is..."

Portolia’s expression turned peculiar. "The crucial part is, she’d actually managed to stuff nearly twenty-four inches of the treetop inside herself..."

Twenty-four inches—that’s over sixty centimeters.

For someone as petite as Portolia, that would practically reach her stomach. So, she found it difficult to understand the exaggerated flexibility of North American women.

Dean, however, reading her microexpressions, sensed a touch of... envy from Portolia toward the thief.

It was all too fitting for Yamaguchi Yuko’s cousin.

He licked his lips, which were dry from the cold, and asked, "What happened after that? Was the woman saved?"

"She was saved. According to the inquiry, the woman said she often used this method to steal. She claimed she was high that day, which is why she did something so mind-boggling. We’ve already charged her with theft, and I expect a lot of media will be interested in this case."

Dean could only sigh at such a case. If a novel dared to write something like this, readers would surely blast it, calling it a trembling, pitiable little thing.

But novels need logic; reality does not.

As they spoke, the two took the second elevator to the interrogation room.

Yamaguchi Yuko had already been brought into the interrogation room by Merck and his partner.

Dean and Portolia could only observe the situation inside through the one-way mirror and listening devices outside the interrogation room.

Perhaps because Portolia was present, Merck’s interrogation got straight to the point.

He switched on the bright interrogation lamp, and his deep voice echoed in the dim room. "Ms. Yamaguchi Yuko, you will be charged with murder, desecration of a corpse, crimes against humanity, and other offenses..."

Faced with his threats, Yamaguchi Yuko rested her chin on her hand. Her eyes, set in a face still cherubic with youth, were unfocused. A faint, warm smile played on her lips as her thoughts drifted.

Seeing this, Merck, displeased, knocked on the table. "Ms. Yamaguchi Yuko, I must remind you, Los Angeles has the death penalty. If these charges stick, and with our pushing for it, you won’t have much time left!"

Yamaguchi Yuko’s eyes shifted, looking towards Merck and his colleague under the focused light, her face displaying an innocent look. "Then, after I die, can I be buried with my cousin Ichiro?"

Merck’s young partner snorted derisively. He loosened his tie and reached for the case at his feet, eager to give this psycho a taste of the FBI’s ’tender’ methods.

Merck held him back and, addressing Yamaguchi Yuko’s question, said, "That would be difficult. But if you cooperate with us, we will try to fulfill that request."

"Okay!"

"What do you want to know?"

"When did you learn about the cannibal Demon and first ’partake’ of human flesh?"

"About half a year ago." Yamaguchi Yuko bit her index finger, lost in thought. "At that time, my cousin wanted to break things off with me because his child had been born.

"He was cruel. He gave me illusions, only to cruelly shatter them himself. I was too weak, left to bear the pain of losing him all alone. But I loved my cousin too much.

"Whether my eyes were open or closed, he was all I saw. In the end, I hoped the internet could ease my pain. In a chat room, I poured out my agony to people with similar experiences. One of them eventually sent me a link.

"That was my first encounter with the cannibalistic Demon. He was so elegant, powerful, and admirable. I was captivated by his philosophy.

"The cannibalistic Demon was right: Human weakness stems from the choices of consciousness. We inherently possess a nobler genetic makeup. But when you cast aside all moral restraints and embrace those genes, you will no longer be weak!

"To win back my cousin, I followed the cannibalistic Demon’s advice. I became his true disciple and lured an unlucky soul to be the ’food’ to rid me of my weakness!"

「Outside the interrogation room.」

Dean’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had read many eclectic books lately and recalled an article. According to modern medical research, a large portion of the genes on human chromosome 20 are considered ’forbidden’: the PRNOP gene, also known as the prion antibody!

Prions aren’t true viruses but rather abnormal proteins. They attack the central nervous system, particularly the brain, causing the infected individual to lose control of their actions and become highly aggressive, much like zombies. The main mode of transmission for prions is through eating the flesh of an infected individual.

This meant that long ago, the ancestors of many had practiced cannibalism. Those who, by sheer luck, survived, passed on genes resistant to prions to their descendants. This meant their descendants wouldn’t zombify from consuming ’human’ flesh.

According to the information Yamaguchi Yuko revealed, the cannibalistic Demon wasn’t just using online videos to find willing ’offerings’; he was also selecting companions!

「Inside the interrogation room.」

After listening to Yamaguchi Yuko’s account, Merck fell silent for a moment, then continued, "Then why did you kill your cousin and disguise it as the handiwork of the cannibalistic Demon?"

Yamaguchi Yuko lowered her gnawed index finger, her face showing regret. "For my cousin, I was willing to do anything, including eating those disgusting things. But he was heartless. I begged him to spend one last night with me. He agreed. But somehow, when we were intimate, I found my cousin exceptionally... fragrant. An irresistible aroma. That’s when I conceived the idea of truly merging with him. That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about him leaving me, and he wouldn’t change his mind again. He would be with me forever, always by my side.

"As for why I wanted to frame the cannibalistic Demon? Simple. He told me he was being watched. The cannibalistic Demon knew I was wealthy and hoped I could help him hide in Los Angeles for a while. This was easy for me, so I agreed.

"But, regrettably, before he died, my cousin asked me not to harm his family. I loved my cousin so much; naturally, I wouldn’t disappoint him. So, I decided they should all be reunited with my cousin—inside my stomach. That way, I could be with my cousin forever, and he wouldn’t be disappointed or sad.

"This would take some time. Moreover, my cousin was a key figure in the family business; his disappearance would surely raise suspicion. So, I needed someone to help divert attention, to buy time for my actions. The cannibalistic Demon, who conveniently showed up, was the perfect scapegoat."

As she spoke, Yamaguchi Yuko licked her lips, savoring the memory. "Speaking of which, my cousin tasted excellent. He paired wonderfully with wasabi; the best sashimi I’ve ever had. The cannibalistic Demon was right. ’To love him is to devour him!’"

The two men in the interrogation room were silenced by the woman’s twisted love.

「Outside the interrogation room.」

Just as Dean was marveling at how twisted some Japanese could be, a warm breath tickled his ear. Portolia, straining on tiptoe, raised her crimson lips and whispered into Dean’s ear, "Detective Dean, this is a shocking scandal for the Yamaguchi Family. Could you please keep it confidential? Our family would be deeply indebted to you."

The Yamaguchi Family, through strategic marriages, had cultivated relationships with many influential Americans. Many of them were public officials. That was how Portolia had met her husband. If Yamaguchi Yuko’s perverse deeds were exposed, it would deal a devastating blow to the Yamaguchi Family’s plans to establish themselves in the United States. Because no one, regardless of the financial incentive, would want to face societal scrutiny by allying themselves with a family whose bloodline was tainted by such distorted ethics and aberrant genes!

Dean inhaled the enticing fragrance that tickled his nose and nodded. "No need for thanks. I’m not one to gossip."

The two of them leaned together ambiguously outside the interrogation room.

「Inside the interrogation room.」

Merck, having regained his composure, posed the crucial question, "Ms. Yamaguchi Yuko, where is the cannibalistic Demon now?"

Yamaguchi Yuko replied, "At my countryside estate: Number 34, Blum Town. If you hadn’t found me so quickly, I would have eventually revealed his location to you myself, to buy time for my plans!"

Having obtained what he wanted, Merck stood up. "I’m glad we prevented a terrible tragedy!"

Yamaguchi Yuko scoffed. "But in doing so, you’ve also brought a death sentence upon yourselves."

She tilted her head back, her voice hollow yet melodious, "A Demon never dies..."