The Truth / The Final Outcome ...

I even had suicidal thoughts.

"If no one provides further clues, Central 46 will deliver its final verdict." The Sage announced loudly, "The culprit Inuta Yumiko, is suspected of murdering her longtime friend and being unfaithful to her husband. For these multiple crimes, she is sentenced to death..."

The Sage hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted by someone else.

"Don't jump to conclusions yet," Yamabuki Chidori said.

The Sage were already quite annoyed at being interrupted twice, but seeing that the speaker was Yamabuki Chidori, they could only greet her with a smile.

Yamabuki Chidori twirled her pipe. "Gentlemen, I have another version of the story here. Would you like to hear it?"

Chapter 151: The Truth

"Everyone, I have another version of the story here. Would you like to hear it?" Yamabuki Chidori said.

Another version?

Even Shinji Hirako was a bit confused this time. What on earth was this Old Man up to? Wasn't the truth already quite clear?

"First, my first suspicion lies with this blood-stained garment." Yamabuki Chidori had someone bring out the blood-stained garment. "According to Yumiko, this blood-stained garment is evidence you fabricated by cutting your own arm, right? I'm not very bright, and I don't have much deductive reasoning ability, but one thing is certain: I've killed a lot of people. When a human body is cut open by a blade, blood doesn't just drip; it spurts out. But look at the bloodstains on this garment. They're actually very difficult to discern, but the bloodstains on the garment show two types: one is splatter, and the other is dripping."

Shinji Hirako suddenly contracted, and he turned to look at Inuta Yumiko.

"The second question, as I just mentioned, involves the spurting of blood from the body during a murder. Even a highly trained samurai would find it difficult to remain unstained afterward, let alone an ordinary woman. If she committed murder, her clothes would certainly be stained with blood. Where is this blood-stained garment? Has anyone found it?"

Yumiko stared blankly ahead.

"The third question: you just said that you saw Kusakawa Ryunosuke come home drunk, then you drew the knife from his waist and killed his wife. Your purpose was clearly to frame your husband, so why did you use someone else's knife? Isn't that obviously trying to exonerate your husband?"

"One last question. You keep saying you have a lover. Who is this lover? As we all know, in Soul Society, if a woman commits adultery, she will be executed. However, if a man commits adultery, he will not be subject to any real punishment, at most only moral condemnation. So even if you reveal your lover, it doesn't matter. Who is he? Where is he? Please give me a perfect answer to all these questions," Yamabuki Chidori said.

Yumiko had become very calm at this moment, as if nothing mattered anymore.

"Great Sage, when did you begin to doubt me?" Yumiko asked.

"I noticed something was wrong during the first court hearing. You showed me your wound, saying it was from an argument with your husband, and that the blood-stained garment was used to cover it. I am not only a Great Sage, but also a doctor. I can tell at a glance that your wound was inflicted by yourself with a not-so-sharp knife, and it could never have been inflicted by someone else, as you claim. You can all compare the two!" Yamabuki Chidori drew her knife and made a light cut on her arm.

"For us professionals, wounds speak volumes. Wounds we inflict ourselves are completely different from those inflicted by others. Look at the wounds on our two arms, aren't they exactly the same? Hirako, could you draw this wound? I'm trying really hard to stop it from healing right now," Yamabuki Chidori said.

"Secondly, although Hane Hane Chiyo is usually unreliable, she's very dependable when it matters. She once single-handedly Quincy King. When she came back and chatted with me, she mentioned a small detail that Hirako hadn't noticed. You tapped your clogs a few times when you left. To outsiders, this might just seem like a small gesture, but you already suspected someone was watching you. So, your constant tapping of your clogs wasn't just a small gesture; it was your way of telling those watching you that you were leaving."

"After discovering you were lying, I began investigating your background. I found that while your husband was merely a Low-Ranking Noble, your maternal family was Middle-Ranking Noble. As the eldest daughter of a noble family, you never left Seireitei from birth until your marriage. Yet, when you placed this letter, you went to Seireitei Rukongai. Can I conclude that your lover is from Rukongai? You never left Seireitei until your marriage, so why would you have a lover from Rukongai?"

Yumiko smiled, a smile like a flower about to wither.

"People say the Chief Strategist is unparalleled in wisdom. I didn't believe it at first, but now I do," Yumiko said.

Looking at the delicate woman before her, Yamabuki Chidori sighed softly, "Your initial goal was to take the blame for your husband, wasn't it? On the night of the incident, your husband wasn't home at all. When he returned, he was covered in blood and looked terrified, explaining what had happened. After learning that your husband had committed murder, you began this series of plans. I've asked your family and neighbors, and everyone speaks highly of you, saying you're a virtuous wife who never argues with your husband and that you two are very loving. If such a woman were to prove her husband's innocence, no one would believe her. So, you did the opposite. You made the whole world believe that you not only cheated on your husband but also conspired with your lover to kill him, creating the image of a wicked woman."

"People tend to believe good people, but not bad people. You're going to play the villain, frame your husband, and then take all the blame upon yourself. Isn't that your real purpose?" Yamabuki Chidori said. "That's why you acted so promiscuous when Shinji Hirako came to your house to investigate you—to leave a deep impression on Shinji Hirako and lay the groundwork for what's to come."

"But you must understand, whether it's murder or adultery, if either charge is proven, you will face death. Is it really worth it?" Yamabuki Chidori asked, "Your husband is a genuine murderer."

Shinji Hirako never expected that this woman would set a trap on their very first meeting. He had always thought he was quite clever, but he never imagined that he would be completely fooled this time.

Yumiko's eyes were filled with boundless tenderness, but slowly, that tenderness turned into pain.

Inuta Ranpo struggled relentlessly, unwilling to accept his fate. He was so close, so very close, to being exonerated.

Yumiko gave a bitter, tearful smile, "So what if I know he's a murderer? He's still my... most beloved husband."

Chapter 152: The Final Ending

Shinji Hirako muttered under his breath, "You sent such an important message, why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

Yamabuki Chidori said nonchalantly, "I thought you had already discovered these things!"

Shinji Hirako snorted coldly, feeling extremely displeased.

"Inuta Ranpo's murder is beyond evidence; he is sentenced to death," the Sage ' voices rang out.

Inuta Ranpo, trembling all over, gritted his teeth. "Didn't you hear? That woman has confessed. She's the real murderer. Go and judge her! She's the one who should die."

"Inuta Yumiko was convicted of perjury in court and sentenced to 300 years in prison."

Inuta Yumiko wore a faint sadness on her face.

Three hundred years later, even if he is still alive, he will be an old man when he comes out of the Jail.

However, she still doesn't regret it.

Everything seems to have settled down.

Yes, that's all, just how it appears.

The murder case is closed, so... since Kusakawa Ryunosuke wasn't the real killer, why did Kujo Yomotsu take such a huge risk to get him out? What other secrets are behind this?

After announcing these things, Kusakawa Ryunosuke said very carefully, "Can I leave now? You should be innocent, right?"

The Sage did not give an answer immediately, but looked at Yamabuki Chidori and waited for Yamabuki Chidori to give her answer.

"I'll keep him in jail for now; I have some questions for him," Yamabuki Chidori said.

Kusakawa Ryunosuke's face turned pale instantly.

He looked around at the group of important figures with unease; any one of them could kill him with a flick of their finger.

Kujo Yomotsu looked uneasy. Although he maintained a smile, Yamabuki Chidori could tell at a glance that Kujo Yomotsu was forcing himself to remain calm.

Amid Inuta Ranpo's wailing, he was executed on the spot, while his wife was the Jail for 300 years for harboring his crimes.

At Yamabuki Chidori's suggestion, Kusakawa Ryunosuke was imprisoned in a very secret place, where no one was allowed to visit him.

Kusakawa Ryunosuke was completely baffled by the situation. His name had been cleared, so why was he being held in a more luxurious place?

"Um... when can I go home?" Kusakawa Ryunosuke asked cautiously.

"Go home? You should be more concerned about whether you can leave here alive!" Yamabuki Chidori's voice came from inside the Jail. Kusakawa Ryunosuke's expression changed drastically, and his eyes became hesitant and submissive.

"Alright, tell me! Who were you drinking with on the night of the incident?" Yamabuki Chidori asked.

"This..." Kusakawa Ryunosuke looked troubled. "Chief Strategist, this matter shouldn't be related to the case, right? Wasn't the case closed?"

"That's none of your business. You just need to tell me who you were drinking with that night." Yamabuki Chidori looked at Kusakawa Ryunosuke with a smile.

The usually timid Kusakawa Ryunosuke surprisingly refused Yamabuki Chidori's question this time.

"I'm sorry, Chief Strategist, I really can't say about this." Kusakawa Ryunosuke looked troubled.

"It's alright." Yamabuki Chidori smiled happily, then took out a small cloth bag from her clothes, gently opened it, and placed the torture instruments on the table.

Upon seeing these instruments of torture, Kusakawa Ryunosuke's face immediately turned terrified, and he hurriedly shouted, "Chief Strategist, the Soul Society doesn't allow the use of torture anymore! You personally drafted this law, have you forgotten?"

"How could I forget?" Yamabuki Chidori laughed. "Didn't you see the small print at the end of this law? The final interpretation right is in my hands. As a member of the Gotei 13, you should have heard about my past, right? Listen to me, tell me everything I want to know."

Kusakawa Ryunosuke trembled with fear. He was just an ordinary, insignificant Grim Reaper, so why was such a powerful figure personally interrogating him?

The indescribable sense of oppression made it almost impossible for Kusakawa Ryunosuke to breathe; all he could do was tell who he had been drinking with that night.

"That person... is called Sara Kujo. She is..."

"Your mistress, isn't she?" Yamabuki Chidori said calmly.

Kusakawa Ryunosuke nodded hesitantly.

"My wife did cheat on me, although I don't know who she was cheating with. So I thought, if I cheated too, then nobody would owe anyone anything," Kusakawa Ryunosuke said bitterly.

"At another party, I met Kujo Sara. Her husband treated her very coldly, which gave me an opportunity," Kusakawa Ryunosuke recalled.

In an instant, Shinji Hirako already knew the whole story.

On the night of the incident, Kusakawa Ryunosuke was drinking at his mistress's house, while his wife was having a secret rendezvous with her lover, Inuta Ranpo, at her own home.

As a result, Inuta Ranpo had an argument with his lover that night and tried to kill her. It was at this time that Kusakawa Ryunosuke came home drunk.

Both of them were startled, but the heavily drunk Kusakawa Ryunosuke simply fell asleep, which Inuta Ranpo to pull out Kusakawa Ryunosuke's knife and kill his lover.

As for why Kusakawa Ryunosuke couldn't reveal who the person he was drinking with that night, it's because if a married woman is caught having an affair, she will be sentenced to death.

The reason why Kujo Yomotsu used various methods to protect it was because of this matter.

Kujo Yomotsu and Kujo Sara —you can tell from their names that they must be related.

Shinji Hirako suddenly remembered the document he had received at the beginning. The truth had been altered into a mess, and if he hadn't suddenly decided to investigate the case, it would have just passed by in a daze.

"So this is what you were after." Shinji Hirako looked at Yamabuki Chidori: "Who Kusakawa Ryunosuke's lover is is actually irrelevant. The one who dared to alter the documents without authorization is the one with the most heinous crime. This kind of crime of deceiving superiors and concealing the truth... should at least be punishable by death, right?"

"Now that you know, why don't you hurry up and arrest them?" Yamabuki Chidori laughed.

Shinji Hirako, carrying his own sword, turned and chased after him.

Yamabuki Chidori looked at Kusakawa Ryunosuke before her. "This is your final judgment."

Kusakawa Ryunosuke was so frightened that he trembled all over.

"Not only did you have an affair with a married woman, but you also lost your Zanpakuto and almost became a murderer. Sigh! How come the Gotei 13 is getting worse with each generation?" Yamabuki Chidori looked exasperated. "I want to see your resignation letter on my desk tomorrow, understand?"

Kusakawa Ryunosuke was so excited to find himself alive that he burst into tears.

However, some people are having a hard time.

Chapter 153: Kujo Yomotsu, who was tricked to death

"It's all over! It's all over this time!" The smile on Kujo Yomotsu's face finally disappeared, replaced by a ferocious expression.

Kujo Sara is his biological older sister. Originally, no one knew about the relationship between Kujo Sara and Kusakawa Ryunosuke. It was consensual, since they were both adults.

One was lonely and isolated in her boudoir, the other was being cuckolded; when these two met, it was like a thunderbolt striking a prairie fire—unstoppable.

This strange relationship was supposed to continue indefinitely, but unexpectedly, Kusakawa Ryunosuke became involved in a murder case. Once the relationship between the two is exposed, not only will Kusakawa Ryunosuke be killed, but Kujo Sara will also be dead.

Her husband would abandon her without hesitation, and Kujo Sara's original family would consider her a disgrace.

At this point, Kujo Sara was at a loss and had no choice but to turn to her Younger Brother, who worked as Secretary in the Staff Department, so that they could come up with a solution together.

To protect her sister, Kujo Yomotsu risked having her head chopped off by altering documents.

Hopefully, this matter can be covered up.

But then he ran into Shinji Hirako.

When Kujo Yomotsu saw Kusakawa Ryunosuke being taken away, he knew he was doomed. Kusakawa Ryunosuke was a complete bum; if you scared him even slightly, he would tell you all about how he wet the bed as a child.

When the time comes, Yamabuki Chidori will definitely follow the clues and find me. I tampered with the documents without authorization, and it's a criminal case involving human life. This is a serious crime.

Kujo Yomotsu didn't go home to pack her things; she just grabbed her Zanpakuto and ran for her life. As long as she could leave Seireitei before the enemy could react, she would still have a sliver of hope.

"Hey! Kujo, the Secretary, where are you rushing off to?" Shinji Hirako had somehow appeared in front of him.

Kujo Yomotsu instinctively gripped the knife in her hand, but a fake smile still remained on her face.

"Mr. Hirako, I just suddenly remembered I have something to do. Could you please make way?" Kujo Yomotsu said in a deep voice.

Whoosh whoosh!

A series of dark figures swept past him, and in the blink of an eye, more than a dozen people dressed in black surrounded Kujo Yomotsu.

Kujo Yomotsu gritted her teeth. These men in black were the Military Police Force, specializing in detecting crimes committed by nobles within the Gotei 13.

Shinji Hirako was just a lowly temporary worker; he had no authority to mobilize the Military Police Force. The only possibility for the Military Police Force's presence here was that Yamabuki Chidori had ordered his arrest.

"Are you still going to resist? Do you know how far I've gone down the wrong path because of your stubbornness?" Shinji Hirako said.

Kujo Yomotsu was unwilling to be captured so easily and drew her sword instantly, but the Military Police Force was no pushover either. In just a moment, Kujo Yomotsu was subdued by the Military Police Force.

"This is definitely going to be on tomorrow's front page! You're a celebrity now," Shinji Hirako laughed.

Kujo Yomotsu looked at Shinji Hirako with dejection.

He never imagined his scheme would be exposed so quickly. "I was just trying to protect my sister, why are you all targeting me?"

With a wave of his hand, Shinji Hirako had the man taken away.

There is an organization similar to a newspaper in Seireitei, which is used to publish interesting things.

However, not many people could read in this era, and those who read newspapers were mostly high-ranking officials and nobles. Moreover, newspapers were quite a novelty in Rukongai.

It became one of the few forms of entertainment for ordinary people.

The next day, just as Shinji Hirako had predicted, the incident made headlines and became the talk of the town among the nobles.

Rukongai).