The Twist / Another Twist

Yumiko's reaction was strange from beginning to end.

She had previously done everything in her power to protect her husband in the Central 46, but now she's acting completely indifferent.

After learning that her husband was to be executed, she hurriedly left home, seemingly wanting to find someone.

The two followed quietly behind. Yumiko actually made her way to the outskirts of Rukongai, took out a letter from her sleeve, and placed it in a hollow of a large tree. After looking around to make sure no one had noticed, she quickly left, acting as if nothing had happened.

Shinji Hirako never expected to have such an unexpected gain.

"As expected of an old hag who has lived for four hundred years, she really has some skills." Shinji Hirako looked at Hane Hane Chiyo.

"I can tell from your eyes that you're thinking about something rude," Hane Hane Chiyo muttered.

"How could that be? I was thinking how adorable you are," Shinji Hirako laughed, then secretly added in his mind, "Old hag."

After Yumiko left, the two of them continued to wait, hoping to see who would come to collect the letter, but they waited until dark and still no one came to take it away.

Finally, Hane Hane Chiyo couldn't hold back any longer.

"I'll go see what's written in my heart." Hane Hane Chiyo strode over and took the letter.

Shinji Hirako was also very curious about what was written in the letter.

The two people opened the envelope.

After reading it, the two looked at each other in bewilderment, and a strong gossip spirit rose in Hane Hane Chiyo's heart.

"I never expected this to be so exciting!" Hane Hane Chiyo exclaimed in surprise.

The letter contained only a few short sentences, but its contents were extremely explosive.

"My deadbeat husband is dying. Our plan has succeeded. Tomorrow I will recant my testimony in Central 46. After he dies, we'll run away together."

Shinji Hirako was incredibly excited; this was the biggest gain he had made since taking on this case.

Do all these wealthy ladies indulge in such extravagant pursuits?

With her own husband about to be beheaded, she actually thought about eloping with her lover.

Chapter 149: Reversal

Unfortunately, no one came to collect the letter in the end. Hane Hane Chiyo couldn't stand the mosquitoes and ran away long ago. Shinji Hirako almost donated money to the mosquitoes. In the end, they couldn't wait for anyone and had to go home.

However, this letter is already a very significant achievement.

When the Central 46 holds its second hearing, that will be the moment of his final showdown.

Three days later.

The second hearing was held in Central 46.

Kusakawa Ryunosuke appeared completely listless and swayed unsteadily. He believed he was doomed and that if he couldn't produce new evidence within three days, he would surely be found guilty by the Central 46.

"Could it be... that I really killed my wife while I was drunk? This is too absurd!" Kusakawa Ryunosuke stared blankly at the scene before him. For a coward, the most terrifying thing is the process of waiting for death.

He walked unsteadily to Central 46, still in shackles.

In despair, I closed my eyes and awaited the Sage's final judgment.

Everyone who was supposed to be there was there: Inuta Ranpo, Yumiko, and Shinji Hirako.

Compared to Kusakawa Ryunosuke, Inuta Ranpo appeared very composed.

The Sage first recited a long, meaningless speech, the gist of which was that the law is sacred and inviolable, and you must abide by the laws we have set, before they got down to business.

"Kusakawa Ryunosuke, if you don't have new evidence to prove your innocence, the Central 46 will find you guilty, because you yourself cannot explain why your Zanpakuto killed someone, and why the sword returned to your waist after killing them," the Sage said loudly.

Indeed, even he himself couldn't explain this matter.

Kusakawa Ryunosuke closed his eyes in fear, awaiting the final verdict.

Just when he thought everything was settled, Shinji Hirako slowly took out a report from his pocket.

"My lords, this is the latest evidence I have obtained. On the night of the incident, Kusakawa Ryunosuke was drinking with his best friend, who is willing to testify in court," said Shinji Hirako.

This is a huge turning point.

But Kusakawa Ryunosuke was the only one with a pale face. He looked towards the witness stand with difficulty, but then suddenly froze and stared at Kujo Yomotsu with an incredulous look.

Suddenly his eyes lit up; he knew he was saved.

After reading the confession, the forty-four Sage took turns asking questions in order to verify its authenticity.

Kujo Yomotsu answered all the questions very calmly, and logically there were no flaws in her answers.

After discussion among the forty-four Sage, they unanimously agreed that the testimony was true. In other words, Kusakawa Ryunosuke was not at home at the time of the incident. Unless he had Spatial-type abilities, it would have been impossible for him to have killed his wife.

There is only one person in the entire Seireitei who possesses Spatial-type abilities.

That is the Yamabuki Chidori sitting at the highest point.

"Since the murderer is someone else, and you are also a victim, Kusakawa Ryunosuke, you are hereby released in court."

Kusakawa Ryunosuke was so excited that tears streamed down his face. He had thought he was going to die, but he never expected that there was still hope for survival in the face of death.

"I will never drink again. I will definitely be a good person." Kusakawa Ryunosuke wept bitterly.

Now the question is, if Kusakawa Ryunosuke isn't the murderer, then who is the real murderer?

All eyes turned to Inuta Ranpo.

Inuta Ranpo involuntarily tensed up.

"I had no motive to kill him, nor any evidence, and I should be released in court. My wife can testify that I was at home on the night of the incident," Inuta Ranpo said loudly.

All forty-four Sage ' eyes were fixed on Yumiko.

"Inuta Yumiko, you need to think this through. Perjury is a serious crime. What exactly happened that night?" the Sage asked.

"Yumiko, you just need to tell the truth," Inuta Ranpo. "Telling the truth will prove my innocence."

Yumiko's face showed a troubled and hesitant expression. She clenched her fists tightly, biting her lower lip in resentment. Finally, as if giving up on something, she said in a tired voice, "Darling, I don't want to lie anymore. You weren't even home the night of the incident. You came back in a hurry, your clothes were covered in blood, and a button with the family crest on your collar had popped off. You took off your clothes and let me sew that button back on, then told me to hide the clothes... I'm sorry, he forced me to do this before. I don't want to lie. But my conscience won't allow me to do this. An innocent woman was murdered by my husband. I can't protect my husband."

These words caused an uproar among the audience.

Inuta Ranpo's face was pale, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably.

"Yumiko! What are you talking about? I was clearly home that night! I never left your sight! What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Everyone! I know my husband's crimes are unforgivable. I can only beg you not to punish me for giving false testimony. I was forced into it, please understand. This man who committed murder was, after all, my beloved husband." Yumiko took out a handkerchief and kept wiping away her tears.

Inuta Ranpo slumped into his chair, as if the sky had fallen.

"Why? Why did you frame me? We've been married for so many years, what have I ever done to wrong you! Why did you frame me!" Inuta Ranpo was like a madman, and it took the two Shinigami beside him all their strength to hold him down in the chair.

"Why? Just so my conscience won't be tormented, Ranpo. You know best what you've done!"

At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Inuta Ranpo's face.

Inuta Ranpo was still struggling desperately, completely losing his previous composure.

"Inuta Ranpo, the net of justice is vast, and though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes it. Now you can explain why you killed Kusakawa Ryunosuke's wife," the Sage said loudly.

"I didn't kill anyone! I really didn't kill anyone! Please believe me! This woman is just talking nonsense! I stayed at home all night on the day of the incident and didn't go out at all! You have to believe me!" Inuta Ranpo pleaded repeatedly, but no one was willing to listen to him anymore.

"Smack!"

The gavel fell.

"It is hereby announced that Inuta Ranpo is suspected of murder. There is ample evidence and witness testimony. He is guilty and sentenced to death..." the Sage announced loudly.

Suddenly, someone in the audience raised their hand.

"Could you gentlemen wait a moment? I have another version of the story here. Would you like to hear it?" Shinji Hirako held up a letter with a grin.

Chapter 150: The Reversal Continues

Generally speaking, no one dares to interrupt when the Central 46 announces the final results. However, Shinji Hirako never took these people seriously. In addition, he was under Yamabuki Chidori's command, so the Central 46 did not dare to underestimate him and could only let him finish speaking.

When Yumiko saw the letter in Shinji Hirako's hand, her face instantly turned ashen, and she clenched her fists tightly.

"Three days ago, in order to investigate the truth of the matter, I visited the Inuta Clan. It was this lady who received me. When she learned that her husband was likely to be executed, she was very happy! She only regretted that her husband died too late," Shinji Hirako said with a smile.

"Is that so?" The Sage turned their gazes to Yumiko.

Yumiko's expression was very unnatural, and she said stiffly, "I thought it was a joke at the time, so I didn't take it to heart. I never imagined that my dearest husband would really be executed!"

"This is just the beginning. After I left, I secretly monitored this lady and discovered that she quietly left home, went to Rukongai, and left this letter under a large tree. To avoid accusations of forgery, you gentlemen can verify the handwriting on the letter." Shinji Hirako handed the letter to the Sage.

The Central 46 immediately took the letter and, after comparing the handwriting, discovered that it was indeed written by Yumiko.

The contents of the letter horrified them even more.

"My deadbeat husband is dying. Our plan has succeeded. Tomorrow I will recant my testimony in Central 46. After he dies, we'll run away together."

No one expected the plot to develop so excitingly, with such a dramatic reversal before the final trial.

"Mrs. Inuta Yumiko, please explain the contents of this letter, and to whom it was written!" the Sage demanded sternly.

Yumiko's face turned deathly pale. Suddenly, she pointed a finger at Shinji Hirako: "Why are you framing me? This letter must be fabricated evidence! What grudge do we have? Why are you picking on me? Please, Your Excellencies, investigate thoroughly! This letter was definitely not written by me."

Shinji Hirako calmly raised his hand. "Gentlemen, I have a witness. The other person who was monitoring Yumiko with me is none other than Kidō Corps, the Captain of the Hane Hane Chiyo Clan. You should be able to believe what she says, right?"

Hane Hane Chiyo is a veteran of the Gotei 13.

Despite his seemingly unserious demeanor, he holds a pivotal position within the Gotei 13.

The Sage, not daring to presume, hurriedly said, "Please invite Miss Hane Hane Chiyo to come and bear witness."

Soon, Hane Hane Chiyo arrived.

Furthermore, it was proven that the events unfolded exactly as Shinji Hirako had described, and that the letter was indeed written by Yumiko.

Now we have strong witness testimony.

Yumiko's face turned deathly pale, and she slumped into her chair, her eyes glazed over.

"With witnesses and physical evidence before you, Inuta Yumiko, why don't you confess your crimes?" the Sage shouted.

Inuta Yumiko Hand Muff in despair.

"I... I actually had a lover before I got married, and we continued to meet secretly even after the wedding," Yumiko said sadly.

Inuta Ranpo never expected that his wife would cheat on him so badly, and for a moment he didn't know how to feel.

"I was tired of this life. I couldn't stand having to meet my lover in secret, so I came up with a plan. If my husband died, I could be with the person I loved and inherit a lot of assets. That's how a plan to frame someone was born in my mind." Yumiko recounted what happened that night.

All the investigation results proved that the Kusakawa Clan and the Inuta Clan had no connection whatsoever, but this is actually wrong.

Yumiko and Kusakawa Ryunosuke's wife were old friends. Although they hadn't been in contact for many years, Yumiko suddenly decided to include this long-lost friend in her plans.

She first went to the Kusakawa Clan as a guest, then, according to her plan, Yumiko would kill her best friend, and finally leave behind the family crest to frame her husband. Then she would testify in court, which would successfully send her husband to the Jail.

It was a perfect plan, but to her utter surprise, just as she was about to take action, Kusakawa Ryunosuke came home drunk.

At that time, Kusakawa Ryunosuke was so drunk that he had no recollection of what was happening around him, and he fell asleep immediately.

Yumiko drew her Zanpakuto from her waist, killed her friend, and then Zanpakuto it.

By leaving the badge on her husband's clothes, she had successfully framed him.

After returning home, she used her own blood to make a blood-stained garment and then waited for the investigators to come to her door.

The moment Shinji Hirako arrived, he had already fallen into her trap. Under Yumiko's constant hints, Shinji Hirako indeed found the blood-stained clothes.

However, during the first court hearing, she had to present herself as a virtuous wife and loving mother to create a contrast, so that she could deliver a decisive blow during the second hearing.

If Shinji Hirako hadn't found a letter beforehand, Inuta Ranpo would already be in death row, waiting to die.

Upon learning the truth, everyone present was in uproar. "The stinger of a wasp is the most venomous thing a woman can do."

These grown men could never have imagined that a woman could be so ruthless, not only killing her longtime friend but also framing her husband in order to be with the person she loved.

The dust has settled.

"Does he have any new evidence to add?" the Sage asked loudly to those below.

Kusakawa Ryunosuke and Inuta Ranpo can be described as a pair of unlucky guys, completely fooled by a woman.

Especially Inuta Ranpo, who originally thought that he and his wife loved each other very much, but he never expected that his wife would not only cheat on him, but also try to kill him.

That sense of despair was written all over his face.