Soul Devourer

However, it was also possible that the police simply had not uncovered it yet, though that possibility was equally unlikely.

So that left only one possibility—

"Why are you all looking at me?"

Noticing Inspector Megure's suspicious gaze fall on him, Asamura Tsukasa's expression immediately became incomparably furious. Rather than showing the slightest fear, he pointed at the inspector's nose and roared:

"Are you seriously suspecting me?! I'm warning you..."

"Isn't this guy way too arrogant?" Watching Asamura Tsukasa unleash a tirade at Inspector Megure, Sato patted Takagi's shoulder with an annoyed look and whispered, "Takagi, do you think this guy could be the killer?"

"Huh?" Takagi froze, confused. "But aren't we still suspects?"

Sato explained:

"I'm just making a guess. Don't you think it's boring to just sit around doing nothing?"

Naturally, Takagi would not refuse Sato's request. After thinking carefully for a moment, he began his analysis:

"If that's the case, then I think Asamura Tsukasa is highly suspicious.

I heard that during a sumo tournament in Tokyo a month ago, he was disqualified after being found to have taken banned drugs, then suspended from competition for three years. But he publicly insisted to the media that Kuroda Taro had deliberately framed him...

However, due to a lack of evidence, all his appeals failed."

Sato nodded slightly.

"No wonder they started fighting earlier. If what Asamura Tsukasa said is true, then killing someone over that kind of grudge would make perfect sense... Yin Kong, you don't seem to agree?"

Yin Kong gestured toward the roaring Asamura Tsukasa and said:

"I actually think Mr. Asamura Tsukasa probably isn't the killer. Otherwise, his attitude right now is far too fearless. And if he had already planned to kill someone, would he have chosen to fight Kuroda Taro just now?"

That behavior practically screamed that he was afraid the police would not suspect him.

Sato paused, then fell into thought as well.

"When you put it that way, it does seem a little strange."

But while they were talking, the officer in charge of the search raised a small white medicine bottle.

"Report! We found this in Mr. Asamura's bag. Tests confirmed that the substance inside is the same cyanide toxin used to poison the victim..."

"What!?"

Asamura Tsukasa immediately went blank, then shook his head frantically.

"How is that possible?! That isn't mine! Impossible! Someone must be framing me..."

He looked at the people around him in terror, seemingly trying to find whoever had framed him, but obviously to no avail.

Seeing Asamura Tsukasa suddenly become incoherent, Inspector Megure signaled for his subordinates to close in before saying:

"Whether you were framed or not, we will verify it ourselves. Mr. Asamura, please calm down first. Are you saying that you knew absolutely nothing about the poison found in your bag?"

Asamura Tsukasa nodded frantically, as though clutching at a lifeline.

"That's right! This has to be a setup!"

However, Inspector Megure's expression clearly showed that he did not believe him.

Then, as expected, he asked Asamura Tsukasa about his suspension for using banned drugs.

Perhaps the resentment had truly built up over a long time. At the mention of it, Asamura Tsukasa's already fierce face twisted uncontrollably into a savage expression.

"That bastard was afraid I'd take his place, so he drugged the water I drank before the match! But Officer, even though I wanted that disgusting bastard dead more than anything, I really didn't kill him! You have to believe me..."

I preferred that unruly, defiant look you had earlier. Try getting it back a little.

While Inspector Megure interrogated the dramatically changed Asamura Tsukasa, Takagi lightly patted Yin Kong on the shoulder and comforted him.

"Don't be discouraged, Yin Kong. You're not a professional, so it's normal to guess wrong."

In his view, since they had even found the poison, Asamura Tsukasa was more or less confirmed to be the killer.

Yin Kong could not help laughing.

"Really? I think this guy looks even less suspicious now."

After all, although Asamura looked like a musclehead with more brawn than brains, could there really be a killer foolish enough to go that far?

While Takagi was still confused, Yin Kong suddenly pointed at a young officer holding some documents and asked:

"By the way, Officer Takagi, what is that officer holding?"

As everyone knew, as a game designed to coddle casual players, most quests in Genshin came with detailed guidance.

Likewise, an ability that seemed unremarkable in a game became incredibly powerful in reality.

Just like now, he could see the quest prompt telling him to investigate the documents in that officer's hands.

There was no doubt that they were very likely to contain an important clue.

As he had said before, if this were not a bizarre world filled with demons and monsters, Yin Kong was confident that this ability alone would let him thrive here.

Takagi looked puzzled.

"That? It should be the victim's file. Why do you ask?"

Yin Kong answered honestly.

"Because I think Inspector Megure may have overlooked some key information. Can I take a look?"

Naturally, Takagi looked hesitant. By rights, he should have refused immediately.

After all, this involved the criminal's privacy, and they were still suspects. It clearly violated procedure.

Yet for some reason, he instinctively regarded Yin Kong as an old friend he got along with quite well.

So after hesitating briefly, Takagi still agreed to Yin Kong's request.

"Of course I can't just hand it to you directly. But if I ask, they probably won't refuse."

Yin Kong was naturally a little surprised by that answer.

After all, he had originally been prepared to use [Persuasion] on Takagi.

Could it be that the affinity reward he had thought was wasted had actually been added to Takagi and Sato instead?

Soul Devourer

"Wait, Takagi, don't go."

By the time Yin Kong came back to his senses, Takagi had already confidently walked toward his colleagues in forensics.

Hearing him, Sato asked curiously:

"What's wrong?"

Although she often scolded this junior of hers, Takagi's confidence was not merely Feeling Good.

Because he had an agreeable personality and was dependable in both work and conduct, Takagi Wataru was actually quite well-liked at the Metropolitan Police Department.

However, there were occasional exceptions.

Hearing Takagi's voice, the young officer did not even raise his head, as though Takagi were merely a scarecrow that had happened to pass by.

Takagi looked baffled.

"Oda, it's me, Takagi! Don't you recognize me?"

"Of course I know it's you, you bastard!"

Kicked back without a word by his colleague, Takagi stared at the footprint on his backside in complete confusion.

"That's strange. Even if he didn't agree, he shouldn't be this angry, right?"

Watching Takagi Wataru scratch the back of his head with a dull expression, Yin Kong could not help sighing and reminding him:

"Officer Takagi, haven't you noticed that overwhelming killing intent has been surrounding you since earlier?"

Takagi froze, looking even more confused.

"What killing intent? Yin Kong, are you saying someone wants to kill me? How could that be possible?

But now that you mention it, something has felt strange since earlier. It feels like everyone's stares have become kind of prickly."

Of course. Don't forget that you came out alone with a certain "flower of the Metropolitan Police Department" this time.

And you kept it from every one of your colleagues.

Yin Kong had no doubt that if this were not a crime scene, Officer Takagi would probably have already been tied up by his good colleagues and roasted over a fire.

In fact, if looks could kill, he would probably have been pierced into a sieve by now.

Under those circumstances, walking over to strike up a conversation had only one possible outcome.

Yet Sato, the culprit behind it all, had no awareness of it whatsoever. She even teased him with a gloating smile.

"You must have done something stupid again and annoyed them. I'd better do it."

Sure enough, the moment Sato Miwako stepped in, Officer Oda, who had just been acting cold and aloof, immediately smiled like a blooming old chrysanthemum. Without another word, he handed over Kuroda Taro's file.

"As expected of Officer Sato. Everything comes so easily to you... Wait, isn't this against the rules?"

Seeing Sato casually hand the documents to Yin Kong, Takagi froze and hurriedly reminded her.

Although he had taken Yin Kong's advice, he had not intended to let him examine the documents directly. He had planned to search through them himself for evidence.

Sato simply waved a hand dismissively.

"That would be too troublesome. Besides, I've already looked through them. They're mostly records of the victim's matches, all publicly available information that isn't hard to check. It doesn't really count as leaking private information."

Hearing that, Takagi scratched his head and stopped objecting.

"Well? Did you find anything?"

After Yin Kong quickly finished reading several pages, Sato asked curiously.

In fact, even without her asking, Yin Kong would have taken the initiative to speak to her this time.

Because after he investigated the documents, the quest guide changed to tell him to talk to this "flower of the Metropolitan Police Department."

Clearly, the next clue was hidden with her.

Yin Kong pulled out a page from the file and pointed at one of the entries.

"I did. Look here—

About two years ago, one of Kuroda Taro's opponents in a final match, someone named Oozora Gin, was also disqualified after being reported for using banned drugs, then suspended..."

"Huh, isn't that exactly the same as what happened to Asamura Tsukasa?" Takagi froze, immediately catching on. "Doesn't that mean Asamura Tsukasa was right? Kuroda Taro really did frame him using underhanded methods?"

If it had happened only once, it might have been Asamura Tsukasa making excuses.

But when the same thing happened twice, both times to one of Kuroda Taro's opponents, it was difficult to call it a coincidence.

Yin Kong nodded slightly, but he did not pay much attention to Takagi's reaction. Instead, he silently waited for Sato's answer.

She did not disappoint him. Looking at the record, Sato's brows furrowed lightly.

"Wait, the name Oozora Gin sounds familiar. Two years ago... could it have been that case?"

Yin Kong immediately pressed:

"Did Officer Sato remember something?"

As Sato recalled the details, she slowly said:

"It was a suicide case from two years ago. But I had only recently joined the Metropolitan Police Department then, so the case was handled by senior officers from another division.

I heard that a professional sumo wrestler was found to have used banned drugs during a match. To prove his innocence, he ultimately chose to hang himself."

As she said this, Sato's tone inevitably became somewhat wistful.

As an officer with a strong sense of justice, she truly disliked that kind of ending.

Unfortunately, she had no power to change it.

That was precisely why the case had left a deep impression on her, and why she immediately remembered it upon seeing Oozora Gin's name.

"He killed himself?" Yin Kong paused, thoughtfully asking, "Then did Mr. Oozora Gin have any family members or close friends?"

Takagi froze. No matter how slow he was, he could understand the implication behind Yin Kong's words: Oozora Gin's family and friends, like Asamura Tsukasa, all had an extremely strong motive for murder.

As for Sato, she had already noticed that Yin Kong's gaze had lifted from the documents and landed in the distance on the ramen shop's owner—Treasure Tsuruma.