The painter frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this outcome. But he was an adult, after all, and quickly realized that with his own helpless strength, there was no way he could snatch the sketchbook back from a group of police officers.
So the Writer decisively chose another route toward his goal. He stared at Akai Shuichi and began considering which part of this man was the most suspicious—at present, this tall man was very likely the murderer. In other words, as long as he was arrested, the sketchbook would return to him.
Under that gloomy stare, Akai Shuichi, who felt as though he had gained an extra Back Spirit, said, "..."
Although this painter had also appeared in the previous case, he had left that time as a victim whose head had been smashed open by the murderer and who had nearly died.
Akai Shuichi's list was simply too long, so he had not paid this painter any extra attention. Yet unexpectedly, now...
"Did this man survive a great calamity and gain Uzo's attention, or was he originally one of Uzo's subordinates, with Uzo deliberately keeping him in my blind spot?"
A string of possibilities flashed rapidly through Akai Shuichi's mind. "If it's the latter, then that man's control over the situation is terrifying... But on the other hand, that means we've caught hold of the painter as a lead, so it isn't much of a loss."
Under the painter's watchful gaze, Akai Shuichi gave him a meaningful look in return, adding another bold, highlighted priority to his mental list of suspects.
He might have been overthinking it, but he did not believe that the painter's "Akai Shuichi Death Portrait" was merely a coincidence—investigating this man was sure to yield something.
In the distance, an FBI agent mingled among the passersby