CHAPTER 303: CHAPTER 224: FUSHIMI ROKU SOLVES THE CASE IN 1 SECOND!

At this moment, everyone was shouting for Koizumi Mizuki. Although they were five years late, the passionate love within had not diminished in the slightest—once, they were Koizumi Mizuki’s family, and her daughter deserved to be a part of the town.

Minamoto Tamako shouted loudly along with them, even Fushimi Roku seemed slightly moved.

As the ferry slowly docked, the pier was filled with seagulls. They could see Taira Sakurako disembarking, heading into the forest, and was on her way back.

Minamoto Tamako caught her breath, seeing Sakurako safe and sound, her heart finally settled heavily.

Besides, she was somewhat excited now.

Not only because she witnessed Koizumi Mizuki’s enduring love for Taira Sakurako, but also because she revealed the identity of the Dancing Girl and uncovered the truth of the bonfire charred corpse case—if she guessed correctly, that charred corpse was Mr. Tsuchiya.

After Taira Sakurako’s appearance, she ignited the long-suppressed emotions of the town residents, plus, Sakurako had visited Mr. Tsuchiya, there was certainly no way to hide it; perhaps Mr. Tsuchiya intended to eliminate her completely, which led to his demise.

The residents used the bonfire event as a guise, placing Mr. Tsuchiya inside the woodpile, and executed him under everyone’s eyes.

Afterwards, as long as they lied together, claiming they had never seen Ito Mayu, and that the woodpile had no hidden person in advance, they could complete a standard ’Murder on the Orient Express’.

Minamoto Tamako didn’t know how to judge, substantive justice and legal procedures clashed once again. When studying legal cases, she learned that in old Japanese society, there was a tradition for town district decisions—when someone committed a crime against public indignation, the entire town district had the right to expel and even execute them.

However, with social progress and development, this seemingly just tradition was gradually abolished. One reason was that it easily caused miscarriages of justice; secondly, once a precedent of decision was set, it would lead villagers to gradually engage in ’witch-hunt gatherings’, slowly starting to abuse such power of execution.

The purpose of law punishing criminals is to make this society better.

Minamoto Tamako calmed down, contemplated for a moment and thought this situation should be prosecuted. If a judge is fair, under lawyer’s effort, usually the town residents would be judged ’guilty without punishment’: that is to determine the charge but not impose punishment.

After all, it’s Tsuchiya’s guilt first, if Ito Mayu wasn’t lying, just the crimes she could see were: participating in violent gang activities, bribing public officials, malicious competition, loan sharking, human trafficking, organ trafficking, intentional murder... such a person wouldn’t be wronged even after being executed ten times!

Well, if she had to say, town residents belonged to collective self-defense!

If she were to write the case documents, she would definitely strive to objectively restore the truth of the incident, let the act of justice avoid punishment, and also stop the evil practices here!

Thinking of this, Minamoto Tamako’s professional habits kicked in, she planned to interrogate everyone, first obtaining confessions, then going to the police station to file a case, at worst abandoning her travel plans to help plead with the prosecutor...

"Everyone, please listen to me," she raised her hand and said, "regarding the case of Mr. Tsuchiya’s murder..."

"I’ve already found the perpetrator." Fushimi Roku interrupted.

As soon as the words fell, the town residents changed their expressions simultaneously, remaining silent, neither arguing nor diverting the topic, but stared at Fushimi Roku, waiting for the next.

Minamoto Tamako was taken aback too, thinking could it be that she was prejudiced? Could there be another hidden truth to the bonfire charred corpse case? Since it wasn’t a collusion by the town residents, how did the charred corpse appear inside the bonfire pile?

At this moment, Fushimi Roku’s gaze wasn’t focused, seemingly in meditation, delaying to reveal who the perpetrator was.

「Crime commission triggered」

「Task details: Help South Izu Town residents clear murder suspicion」

「Task reward: Attribute points*2」

Fushimi Roku’s mind flickered, he closed the system page and seeing everyone looking at him, he naturally started to equivocate: "Sorry, police have the responsibility to keep the investigation progress confidential, once there are concrete results, believe the local police station will promptly inform everyone."

"Huh?"

Before the residents could speak, Minamoto Tamako couldn’t sit still.

She pressed Fushimi Roku for what was going on, as a member of the reasoning team, she should share the reasoning process with her partner; as a colleague at the police station, she should explain the investigation progress to her.

However, Mr. Fu Jian’s old habit struck again, inexplicably starting to keep things foggy, and he swore he already had ironclad evidence that could pin down the perpetrator anytime.

Minamoto Tamako felt anxious, akin to reaching the last two pages of a detective novel, about to reveal the truth, but the two pages were stuck together, couldn’t be torn apart, unable to see the novel’s ending, making her feel terribly uncomfortable.

"This matter should wait for the criminal police from Izu Town to arrive and discuss again."

Fushimi Roku dropped this line and looked away to enjoy the scenery as if in meditation.

The town residents exchanged glances, not knowing what to say. Only Minamoto Tamako believed it, after all, Mr. Fu Jian’s intelligence was comparable to Einstein, often able to discover some critical clues and crack the crime in one go, his reasoning was yet to err thus far.

The only flaw is the excessive love for showing off his intelligence.

Thinking of this, Minamoto Tamako took out her White Notebook again, lowered her head, and shook the pen with resentment.

「Concealing reasoning process, publicly flaunting intelligence」

Deduct five points!

Minamoto Tamako calculated in her mind, with this deduction, Mr. Fu Jian was left with only 67 points, dangerously close to the 60-point threshold!

This is only the second day of travel!

Seeing Minamoto Tamako’s eyebrows bristle, Fushimi Roku changed the subject, diverting her attention: "Since we’re here to travel, we should at least experience the local customs, right? Come, shout it out, vent your dissatisfaction."

Minamoto Tamako found it baffling, Ito Mayu hurriedly explained. After listening, Minamoto Tamako pouted and said: "People are supposed to shout out the name of the person they cherish, what ’vent dissatisfaction’, that’s completely distorting other people’s meaning!"

"They’re the same, just shout whatever." Fushimi Roku didn’t mind.

Minamoto Tamako squinted, realizing things weren’t that simple. She sensed she was faintly enlightened, grasping the essence of romance between men and women—whoever confessed their feelings first, became the weaker party!

Is Mr. Fu Jian hinting at me? Or is this him testing the waters?

Minamoto Tamako’s mental CPU ran at full speed; before she could figure out what was happening, Ito Mayu had already rallied the residents and pushed her beside the tombstone, facing the sea, urging her to shout out the person she cherished in her heart.

"Rest assured, with Sister Koizumi’s spirit in heaven protecting you, the other party will surely respond!"