Not a detective

Page 184

That was Wu Yu Kui with a helpless expression. As soon as she came in, she first pressed her palm print against the wall, and the wall color instantly darkened, probably because the one-way vision function was turned off.

Then he took the eavesdropping device from under the table, stomped on it until it broke, and then said:

“Our superiors are very timid, don’t scare people like that.”

Asakawa Riku simply smiled and said bluntly, "I was thinking that if you couldn't help but fire, I would have a reason to retaliate in self-defense."

Kiri Aoi sat opposite him: "This isn't detention or interrogation. I can assure you, people are just curious about you..."

Asakawa Riku wasn't buying it:

Are you here to play the good cop?

After discovering the "crime scene" in the cult's hideout, Kiri Aoi immediately made a phone call, and the police arrived shortly afterward, cordoned off the scene, and began their investigation.

He was taken by Wuyu Kui to the base of the Non-World Inspection Department and made to sit in this small room. No one explained why to him during this time.

Therefore, it's normal for Asakawa Riku to feel dissatisfied.

"I'm sorry... I had no choice. Actually, we're on the same page, you know that, right?"

Kirisame Aoi sighed, moved Asakawa Riku's half-finished drink to her own, and blinked: "The victim in this case is quite unusual."

Instantly, Asakawa Riku forgot all about the drink, and his expression turned serious:

"Yes... I know him. Among those corpses is [Kosuke Shinonome], right?"

...

When Asakawa Riku noticed this, he was indeed quite shocked.

The last time I saw Shinonome Sugetsuki's father, the patriarch of that conglomerate, was last winter, when he was acting like a local tyrant at the Sake Tenkan in Kyoto.

Now, when I saw him, he was a corpse on the ground, his temple blasted open by a bullet, the stark bloody hole announcing his death.

His once robust body, imposing posture, and words had become cold and stiff; he was now completely dead.

...Does Suezuki know about this?

This was the first thing that came to Asakawa Riku's mind.

But then I thought, how could they possibly know? They were the first witnesses when they barged in, while Sueki was still in the office some distance away.

She doesn't have the superpower to foresee the future, so it's impossible for her to know what's happening in this room.

Kosuke Shinonome is actually connected to this cult... then this cult must be backed by a conglomerate... no wonder it was able to expand so rapidly and wield such power...

Countless thoughts flashed through Asakawa Riku's mind, but even now, he hasn't picked up his phone to make that call to Shinonome Suetsuki.

He didn't know how to say it.

Given their family relationship and based on Asakawa Riku's understanding, Shinonome Suetsuki is very likely to celebrate this news enthusiastically, and may even be overjoyed.

But after all, they are father and daughter, blood relatives. Even if Shinonome Kosuke is a complete scumbag, who can guarantee that there won't be any feelings between them?

I'm just afraid of that "what if" scenario.

The cautious Asakawa Riku decided not to be so impulsive and to wait until they met to observe her expression before deciding what to say.

...

Back to the present, as if by magic, Wu Yu Kui pulled a thick folder out of her trench coat pocket.

Photos and reports were laid out one after another on the table, with the photos of the corpses standing out particularly, as if one could smell that pungent odor again.

"Yes, renowned entrepreneur Higashino Kosuke is among them."

She sighed and touched each of the faces with her finger.

"But it wasn't just him; all these victims were heavyweights."

"That's why I said this case is very troublesome."

Winter of God: Chapter Fifteen: Victims

"First, the famous writer Takeuchi Oi. She has consistently ranked in the top ten of the author royalties list for the past five years. One of her essays has even been included in middle school textbooks. Her representative work, 'Calling for the Echoes of the Soul,' is hailed as one of the thirty novels that contemporary young people must read. It is said that her words have the power to infect people's hearts and touch their souls."

A kind-looking woman, her head pierced by a bullet, collapsed and died.

"Second place, baseball superstar Hiroshi Minamino. He is said to be the pursuer of that TOP-level player, a rising star in recent years, and the main player of the Bay Stars. Because of his good appearance and outstanding performance, his value has always been high, and he has a lot of fans and influence. His annual salary is an unimaginable astronomical figure."

The robust young man had his chest ripped open by a bullet, and blood was flowing freely.

"The third is Nao Matsu, a high-ranking political official. I can't say too much about him; he's a minister and a cabinet member. That's all."

The elderly man, with a balding head, had a bullet hole in his throat, and his neck was almost broken.

"Fourth, Shinonome Osuke, the leader of the zaibatsu. You should know him, right? He is currently the largest shareholder of the Shinonome Group and also the general manager of the company. His companies are spread across various industries in society. It is no exaggeration to say that he is one of the pillars of the Japanese economy. Many people say that he is the fifth largest zaibatsu after Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Yasuda."

That local tyrant, with his mind still wandering, lounged on the sofa.

"Fifth, Hasegawa Yukihisa, a leading figure in academia. He should be a figure from the previous era, and young people today may not recognize him. He is a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Tokyo, and a very famous expert in that field. One of his published works almost won the Nobel Prize, and it is said that his portrait was even reserved for banknotes."

He must have been the oldest man there. He sat there with his eyes closed as if asleep, but a bullet pierced through his head, glaringly obvious.

"Sixth, actress Horiko. On the contrary, she was the youngest among the deceased. Officially 25 years old, but actually 28, she was still the youngest. She should be one of the top actresses in Japan right now. She has already booked three TV dramas and one movie this year alone. She is a hot rising star."

A young and beautiful woman, dressed in gorgeous clothes, had her face mutilated by a bullet, leaving only a horrifying blur.

"They're all big shots."

After looking at a photograph, Asakawa Riku remarked that he had thought he was looking at a list of rumors about the Illuminati or Freemasonry.

Even though Wu Yu Kui deliberately omitted some names in her narration, having lived here for nearly twenty years, most people who followed the news and the internet would have heard of these individuals and seen their faces. They were all prominent figures in their respective fields, truly successful people, yet they died here. It truly shows how unpredictable life is.

In addition to fatal gunshot wounds, each person had numerous bullet holes in their body, and some even had their limbs shattered, a truly gruesome sight.

If the sole purpose is to kill, many gunshot wounds would be in unnecessary locations.

It was as if the murderer deliberately fired a few extra shots to vent his anger.

"If anyone is to blame, it's that they were misled by the cult and got involved."

Kiri Aoi, however, showed no mercy.

Police quickly discovered a large amount of stockpiled cash, gold bars, jewelry, securities, checks, and other high-value items during their search of the 10th floor.

It is said that the total number has not yet been fully tallied, and the various overseas bank accounts are even more difficult to trace, which shows just how much assets they have amassed.

One of the ledgers clearly records how much money these individuals donated to the church, and the details are truly shocking.

These six individuals have long since achieved financial freedom. While they may not be among the wealthiest people in Japan, they are certainly highly influential. They have connections and influence in the sports, political, business, film, cultural, and scientific communities. The resources they possess are sometimes far more useful than mere money.

Not to mention that Shinonome Kosuke, the great god of wealth, was also among them.

That's why this cult has grown so rapidly in recent years, surpassing traditional cults in one fell swoop. Behind its rampant growth, there must be plenty of resources.

These people are the "high-ranking officials" of the church, and also the "culprits" who caused all these evils.

It could even be said that the number of believers from all walks of life who have indirectly joined the church by taking the lead in joining is countless, thanks to their influence.

Therefore, Asakawa Riku shared the same sentiment. These people's deaths were entirely their own fault. Heaven had eyes, and if there truly is a god, they should have punished them long ago.

but……

"Wait, who is this person? Wasn't there another dead person?"

He saw the last photograph, which also showed an old man who at first glance resembled Higashino Kosuke, Naomatsu, and Hasegawa Hisashi, but his clothing revealed that it was not the same person. The old man wore a long robe commonly used by the church, with white hair and a white beard, giving him a mysterious air of a reclusive sage. However, his heart had been pierced by a bullet, and he had become a corpse.

"We haven't found out this person's identity yet. He doesn't seem to be a famous person, and there's no record of him in the police database."

Kiri Aoi also picked up the photo and explained, "We initially suspect that he is the 'patriarch' here. His identity information may have been erased long ago and cannot be verified."

Ancestor...

Asakawa Riku stared at the photo for a while. It was indeed a very unfamiliar face, and rather generic, like an old man passing by on the street buying groceries.

Apart from that strange robe, there was almost nothing special about him. Even if you bumped into him by chance, you wouldn't guess that he was a cult leader.

It’s true that people cannot be judged by their appearance.

Behind this cult is an elderly man of unknown origin, who has brainwashed social elites, including the tycoon and a scientist, turning them into fanatical believers who only know how to donate money. His name is still unknown. He knows how to use the power of religious faith... Does he have superpowers or is he an Onmyoji (a type of yin-yang master)?

Many questions flashed through Asakawa Riku's mind. Because he had never met and talked to him in person, he didn't know what kind of person he was.

“But the patriarch is dead too, so that’s a clean sweep.” He asked Kiri Aoi, “Then isn’t the matter resolved satisfactorily?”

In his view, now that the cult leader is dead, the cult will soon lose its purpose, and with the economic support for them cut off, it will soon fall apart.

The deaths of these seven high-ranking officials sealed the fate of the church.

Without him lifting a finger, this cult was easily eradicated. Isn't that a good thing? It's gratifying!

However, Kiri Aoi finished all the desserts on the table, licked her lips, and said:

"If only it were that simple."

"The problem now is that the higher-ups suspect that either you or I were responsible for this murder."

Winter of the Gods: Chapter Sixteen - The Investigative Alliance

"What's the meaning……?"

Asakawa Riku frowned: "We were together the whole time, we were watching everything, how could we possibly go into that room to kill someone?"

Kiri Aoi shrugged: "What they mean is that we both covered for each other and gave false testimony."

"...There's no need for such a euphemistic way of putting it."

Asakawa Riku finally understood what she meant: "You must have covered for me, right? They think I'm the murderer, and you gave false testimony?"

"...Well, you could say that. But I'm also a suspect, except I'm the executive officer...so..."

"The problem is, you have no reason to cover for me, do you?"

He interrupted her explanation: "We've known each other for a long time, but we're not very familiar with each other."

"That's not quite right."

Kirisame Aoi said very seriously, "If it really was you, Asakawa, who did it, I will definitely cover for you."

Such a serious statement surprised Asakawa Riku. He didn't know why this woman would help him like this. Was it just because he had helped her solve that case before?

But looking into those eyes, I could only answer just as earnestly:

“I didn’t do it. But if I had the chance, I would like to do it. And if I really did, you wouldn’t be able to catch me.”

These three answers reveal his true feelings.

If he could personally punish those villains, Asakawa Riku would not hesitate for a moment and would definitely kill them.

The problem is that if he were to take action, he would definitely choose a night to raid the target and complete the mission without anyone noticing. He wouldn't forcibly kill someone after they've already shown themselves, nor would he obediently be brought back by the inspection department. He wouldn't give himself away, nor would he use firearms and bullets to make such a mess of the scene.

This is not his style.

"I knew it."

Kiriyu Aoi smiled.

She sat comfortably with her legs crossed on the chair opposite her, her slender figure and graceful physique giving her an artistic beauty.

Although both are tall women, Kirisame Aoi is somewhat different from Shinonome Sugetsuki. Perhaps due to her martial arts training, Kirisame Aoi's figure is more "proportionate".

It also better aligns with Riku Asakawa's aesthetic preferences.

Of course, now is not the time to think about such things, so he turned his gaze away:

"Isn't it a good thing to wipe out all those cult leaders? I even want to thank that nameless murderer. Can't I leave now?"

“If it were an ordinary person, it wouldn’t be that troublesome. You just saw it yourself, those high-ranking officials are not simple people…”

Kiri Aoi sighed helplessly.

"Just those two old men, that minister and that tycoon, were enough to give us a run for our money. Their deaths, so mysterious and unclear, have brought immense pressure. Thankfully, we managed to suppress the online outcry; otherwise, I can't even imagine what would have happened if the fans had found out that the baseball player and the celebrity girl were dead. These people were leaders in their respective sectors of society. Even if they had connections to a cult, they couldn't just be killed like that. At the very least, they would have had to go through a proper trial process. Now that they're dead, we have to give them an explanation."

She scanned the photos one by one, her long, slender fingers rubbing her brow bone, looking like she had a headache.

Asakawa Riku could understand that, after all, he was such a high-ranking official, and the pressure from the government and the Dongyun Group was not to be underestimated.

Furthermore, this cult has long been deeply rooted and has grown strong. If its followers find out that their leader has also been killed, it may lead to a significant backlash, or even a riot.

So this is the downside of "organization".

If it were just Asakawa Riku acting "on his own," he could do these things without any scruples, take action, and then disappear, leaving no one able to find him.