Maximum Suspect

Hundred Refined Steel was politely escorted out of the conference room used for interrogation by Lin Yu and Fu Luo.

First of all, while playback records aren't exactly a hard alibi, at least he provided his own reasoning.

Secondly...

Lin Yu really thought that a Fengcheng gentleman who loved watching "Meteor Garden" would assassinate Grandpa Radish.

Even if it were a genuine revenge killing, given this person's style, he would probably just say, "I did it."

The fact that he feels ashamed for watching Hong Kong and Taiwan idol romance dramas shows that his Values are relatively simple.

He would not conceal his acts of murder committed in the name of "Revenge".

Moreover, when that "hatred" was mentioned, Hundred Refined Steel's explanation did indeed convince Lin Yu and Fu Luo.

"I was definitely furious at the time. My good brother was suddenly gone... He just walked out of an Instance unscathed, how could I not be furious?"

"But... but... after Leng Jing down and thinking about it, that's just how this Game is; anyone can suddenly disappear."

"To put it bluntly, the fact that everyone has managed to survive is actually a low-probability event due to good luck, so... I've gradually come to accept it."

"The main thing is, the old man really is a good person."

Lin Yu judged the credibility of the other party's statement based on the fact that he "didn't seem to be acting," while Fu Luo combined it with some evidence analysis.

"I asked Brother Shan to interview the Player in Fengcheng. It seems that he did have a few interactions with Carrot later on, and they probably reconciled during those interactions."

"According to the testimony we just received, the interaction between the two gradually escalated... There were some frictions during their first encounter, but while they couldn't be described as intimate later on, their relationship became more normal."

"Anyway... the possibility of this guy committing 'Revenge killing' is ruled out -- let's wait for the next one."

Next to be interrogated were "King Ming" and "Seagull".

King Ming was a short, slightly plump, fair-skinned man who spoke in a very gentle tone.

His claim that he was in his room playing mobile games at the time of the incident cannot be used as an alibi.

As for the cause of Carrot's death and Carrot himself, King Ming glossed over the matter with phrases like "not quite sure" and "not very familiar with him, I've only heard of him."

This actually made him a little suspicious.

"Seagull" was a clever-looking young man in his early twenties, dressed head-to-toe in trendy sportswear, suggesting he came from a well-off family.

He was quite familiar with Carrot and expressed deep regret over Carrot's death.

They even actively investigated suspicious aspects of other suspected Player.

"Let me tell you, you need to be especially careful of 'Phoenix' and 'Hundred Refined Steel,' they have a grudge against Carrot... Oh, what, you already know? Never mind then."

"Then 'Kres' isn't exactly a saint either. This Bounty Hunter is ruthless and mercenary. It's not impossible that Grandpa Radish's been famous for a long time, has his Item targeted."

"I'm not very familiar with 'King Ming,' but he rose to a high position in the 'Hunter Society' in just three months, so he must have some tricks up his sleeve. It seems he also made his fortune as Bounty Hunter ... so he's probably not clean either."

"Those two, 'Lotus' and 'Cassia Seed'... Carrot complained to me that 'the Player Mutual Aid Society' is increasingly going against the original principles of the organization as it has grown up."

"Many of those Player who were ostensibly there to protect him were more like 'spies' planted around him... Perhaps someone in the 'Player Mutual Aid Society' found him an eyesore."

As Seagull spoke, she added to Bu Wang points and tried to get closer to Lin Yu before leaving.

"Hey, let me know as soon as there's any progress in the investigation, I can help too!"

"By the way, 'May May' over there... I'd like to thank you on behalf of someone; we owe you a lot for the last Instance!"

This Seagull seemed completely unaware that it was also a prime suspect.

"We've asked about half of the cases, any leads?"

After the Seagull left, Li Hua, unusually, asked a question.

Fu Luo stroked his chin. "I have a feeling that I've grasped something, but it's just a feeling, it hasn't fully materialized yet."

"But I have a feeling... after questioning these eight people, I should be able to get some kind of 'important clue,' or even get the answer directly."

"I believe the feeling in May will be the same."

Lin Yu neither confirmed nor denied it, but simply nodded slightly.

He didn't Fu Luo's almost abstract talent and intuition.

But Lin Yu actually has one more piece of the puzzle than Fu Luo —the "Accomplice" who appeared in his Entering Dream last night gave Lin Yu a broader perspective when questioning him.

There were indeed some suspicious points in the conversation between the four people just now.

Lin Yu let out a sigh of relief.

"Keep asking... Next is 'Kres,' and the next is 'Paper Kite'..."

"But before these two begin their questions, I'd like to ask Captain Good Night and the Administrator first."

Good Night was almost asleep leaning against the wall when she finally came to her senses.

"Xi Ba, what about me? I thought I was just standing in a stance!"

"Go ahead and say it!"

He began to speak.

"I remember you mentioned on the way here that you were very suspicious of 'Kres,' why... it can't just be because he's Bounty Hunter, can it?"

This is the reason the Seagull just gave.

Before Good Night could speak, Li Hua interjected, "Because he was furious when Kres stole his ranking back then, and he fought with Kres..."

"Xi Ba, even if you're the head of the East China District, you can't slander me like this! Are you implying that I'm Xi Ba a personal score?" Xi Ba Good Night said unhappily. "Damn Xi Ba, Li Hua, don't talk Xi Ba! I thought we were brothers!"

Although Good Night's expression didn't change much, his noticeably faster speaking speed and the increased concentration of his hometown dialect in one sentence revealed that he was still somewhat excited.

"That's not what I meant. What I meant was... you should be quite familiar with Kres's methods. I've only heard that his fighting style is closer to 'Curse Technique'... so I actually have some doubts, but I'm not entirely sure."

Li Hua remained calm.

Good Night Leng Jing down upon hearing this, nodded, and said, "Yes, although some of what I said in the car was said in anger, after arriving and seeing the scene... if anyone could go that far, it could only be 'Kres'."

"He's a master of curses, capable of delaying a kill and leaving almost no trace—because he's not actually using Item."

"Can you delay killing someone without using Item?"

Lin Yu was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, because he had a special [Item] implanted in his soul that allows him to continuously generate a magical power similar to 'magic,' and then he learned a lot of Curse Technique and magic from an NPC in the Instance world," Good Night shrugged. "Simply put, this guy can actually conjure up skills on his own."

"Therefore, that guy also has a code name—'The Demon Hunter Kres '."