Yuusha-kei ni Shosu: Choubatsu Yuusha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku [LN] Bahasa Indonesia

Case 1: The Park of the Man-Eating Ferris Wheel

Chapter 1: The Greatest Detective in the UK

"Hello? Yuriu-chan?"

『Hel-looo! Shishou!』

"Is this a good time?"

『Yes! Is it happening now? I'm totally fine!』

"It sounds pretty noisy over there, though."

『Actually, I'm in between takes on location. We're filming an action scene after this. But Shishou, calling me so formally... what's going on? Gasp! Is it another case? Are you summoning me, your disciple!?』

"No, that's not it. Um, it's about the beach trip. Remember when you came by the office the other day and got all excited talking with Lilitea? About everyone going to the beach at the end of the month."

『I did! The crystal clear ocean! We talked about traveling to a beautiful southern island!』

"Well, about that... we might have to push the schedule back a little bit."

『Ehh?! Whyyy?』

"It’s, uh, very hard to say, but... it turns out the agency's financial situation this month is looking pretty grim..."

『You mean you don't have enough for travel expenses?』

"Yeah. So I'm working hard to clear some detective jobs and save up the funds, but there's no end in sight just yet."

『In that case, shall I advance you the money?』

"No, we can't do that! Lilitea would mind even more than I would."

『I see. That’s true, isn't it. Whine... too bad. But I understand the situation. Then I’ll pray that some good work flies your way! If that happens, we can go to the beach together as planned, right?』

"Yeah. Of course. Thanks. I'll tell Lilitea too. Talk later."

『Shishou.』

"What?"

『Say it.』

"S-Say what?"

『Tell me to do my best with filming.』

"Ah... sorry, I'm such an inconsiderate guy. Ahem. Good luck with the filming!"

『Leave it to me!』

"See you later. ...Sigh."

The moment I hung up, a sigh escaped my lips. Even to my own ears, that was a pathetic report.

Ever since all the detectives left the Oitsuki Detective Agency, our finances have been tight. Considering the only detective left is me—a half-fledged one at that—I suppose it’s only natural.

"Compared to me, Yuriu-chan seems to be doing a solid job as an actress."

Actress Haigamine Yuriu is gaining popularity by the day and becoming quite busy. Despite that, she still dutifully calls me "Shishou" and invites me out to play. It's truly an undeserved honor.

To ruin the precious fun of her day off just because I don't have money is far too inexcusable.

I have to earn the travel expenses as soon as possible.

"Besides... that’s not the only reason I have to make money."

I need to handle detective work more energetically from now on. Provided there are requests, of course.

Still somewhat slumped over, I entered the building that serves as both my home and the detective agency.

"I'm home."

The moment I opened the door, a flower bloomed in the center of the office.

"Sakuya-sama, Sakuya-sama."

No, wait. That’s Lilitea. My excellent assistant noticed my return and spun around. Her skirt flared out like a flower from the brilliant turn.

"It is kippou. Please prepare yourself to rejoice, as I shall now inform you."

Lilitea looked up at me with ultramarine eyes like the sky before dawn.

"Kippou? Ah, good news."

"A short while ago, a harmonious elderly couple visited us. They were very polite and elegant people."

"A couple?"

"Yes. A request after a long time. It is work."

"Ooh!"

The fact that the very work I craved had already flown in made me involuntarily shout with joy.

"So, so? What kind of work?"

"Sakuya-sama, you are concerned that it might be dangerous work, aren't you? Please rest assured. It is a search for a lost item. They want us to find a wedding ring lost at Mizushima Park."

"That sounds great!"

The safety aspect is particularly good.

"The reward is also a surprising amount."

"Yes!"

"By the way, to change the subject, Sakuya-sama."

"Hm?"

"Are you perhaps troubled by something at school?"

Huh? The flow of conversation changed.

"Eh? Why?"

The sudden observation made my heart skip a beat.

Did my homeroom teacher warning me about my attendance days show on my face today?

Lilitea walked briskly up to me and placed her hands on my shoulders. Her breathtakingly perfect face loomed close. Her expression was sorrowful.

"Sakuya-sama... do you, by chance, have no friends in your class?"

"Eh?"

Lilitea's hands left my shoulders.

"It was stuck on you."

Saying that, Lilitea held up her fingertip right before my eyes. She was pinching a small, white lump.

Taking it and examining it, I understood.

It was a single grain of rice. A dried-out, crusty one that had been exposed to the air for a long time.

"Eh? Rice? On my shoulder? Eh? Since when?"

"Most likely since your lunch bento. To think that despite such a thing being stuck to your shoulder, no one in the class pointed it out to you, and you returned home just like that... I can only assume you are not blessed with friends."

"Kuh... Fufu, as expected of Lilitea. Quite a sharp deduction. But isn't that all just your imagination?! It's a stretch! To say I d-don't have friends, that's just! That's just! That's... do I really not have friends?"

At first, I slapped the office desk with both hands in protest, but several things came to mind, and halfway through, I started to feel sad.

"Is it because I take too much time off for detective work? Is it because I didn't join a club? Tell me!"

After thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of me wailing about this and that, Lilitea wore a supreme smile and said:

"What a foolish person."

Well, if Lilitea is having fun, I guess that’s fine.

□

The next day was beautifully sunny, with a slightly humid breeze weaving comfortably through the crowd.

Lilitea and I headed to Mizushima Park in the afternoon for the lost item request. The two of us rocked side-by-side on the train—getting along well, or so I, and perhaps only I, thought.

The tracks branched off along the way, and Mizushima Park Station sat at the dead end of one of those lines. As the name suggests, it is the nearest station to Mizushima Park.

Perhaps because it was an odd time on a weekday, the passengers were sparse. You could almost say there was practically no one. Would it be different at another time of day?

The adjacent car was in a similar state; a young man in a hoodie carrying a black backpack with a yellow line was leaning against the door, dozing off. In this weather, I could understand the urge to sleep.

"We have been blessed with good weather."

Lilitea sat with excellent posture, her back straight. Seeing her display such unearthly beauty while settled into a commoner’s train felt somewhat mismatched.

"I guess so. Mizushima Park, huh. I wonder how many years it’s been since I went."

I’ve had a bit of a connection with Mizushima Park lately. Mainly with the Ferris wheel.

"Ideally, I would have liked to come here for leisure, not work."

"I should have made an Obento."

Lilitea's soliloquy reached my ears pleasantly.

The train began to decelerate, and the announcement declared Mizushima Park Station.

When the train doors opened with the sound of a compressor, the person who had been leaning against them dozing off lost his support and nearly fell backward. watching him stagger toward the ticket gate was somehow peaceful and amusing.

"Still, I never expected the closed-down Mizushima Park to revive so quickly. Didn't a new investor step in? I wonder which reckless capitalist is responsible for this."

Reopening under the same name after a speed renovation. Several attractions were reportedly still under renewal. Even so, the turnout was only so-so, which felt very Mizushima Park-esque.

As I mused on the park's mixed fortunes, my sleeve was suddenly tugged.

"Sakuya-sama, let us search over there first. We should focus on the area around those rotating horses."

Lilitea pointed down the brick path while clop-clopping the heels of her shoes.

"Ah..."

"What are you spacing out for? This is work, work. Let's move briskly. We must save up the travel expenses at all costs."

Travel expenses. Right. It's exactly as Lilitea says.

" The sea. Lilitea wants to go too, right?"

"Indeed. The promise with Yuriu-sama is important. However, going to the UK is the priority right now. The travel expenses are for that. Surely you haven't forgotten?"

"Ah, of course."

Right. We have to head to the UK immediately.

To make contact with a certain person.

A little over half a month has passed since the incident at the Crimson Theater, and on the surface, we’ve returned to our daily lives. But that is, after all, only on the surface.

In that incident, later reported as the "Pre-Crimson Theater Conflict," a total of twenty-four police vehicles, including the on-site command vehicle, were thoroughly destroyed and exploded in flames.

Naturally—if one can even say naturally—there were numerous injuries at the scene. Yet, there were no deaths. The media described it as nothing short of a miracle, but I know there was no miracle there.

After all, I was watching from the closest vantage point.

The lack of fatalities was due entirely to the mercy of one of The Seven Old Men: the Millionaire Phantom Thief, Chardina Infericous.

The Japanese police are likely aware of this too, so by now, they must be clenching their fists, their honor crushed.

"One of The Seven Old Men attempted to make direct contact with you, Sakuya-sama. There must be some meaning and intent behind that. Or perhaps, a kind of karma inherited from Tatsuya-sama."

Lilitea said this with a terribly serious face. While bobbing up and down on a merry-go-round.

Amidst the fairytale music, she sat sidesaddle on a fancy horse, resting her hand on the pole.

I was riding in the carriage behind her.

We weren't playing around together. To an onlooker, it would look like nothing else, but we intended to search for the wedding ring seriously.

The client couple apparently rode almost every ride in the park on the day they lost the ring; therefore, there was a possibility the ring had fallen on any of the rides or attractions. Even a fancy merry-go-round was no exception.

Since there were other guests, we couldn't exactly stop the merry-go-round to search, so we had no choice but to ride it ourselves and look—that was the logic.

"I regret that I was away from your side when the Millionaire Phantom Thief appeared, Sakuya-sama."

"There's no need for you to feel responsible, Lilitea."

I offered follow-up support to my assistant from the carriage behind.

"No one could have predicted she'd show up at such an ordinary popcorn stand. You're always by the side of someone like me, doing a great job."

"Is... that so? As you say, Sakuya-sama, not limited to the Millionaire Phantom Thief, we cannot predict what moves the other members of The Seven Old Men will make in the future. Nor what kind of damage will befall those around us."

"Yeah, you're right."

"That is precisely why you sought to find a collaborator, Sakuya-sama."

Yeah, that's right.

Considering Chardina went out of her way to make contact, the connection between The Seven Old Men and me likely goes beyond them simply being enemies of my old man, Oitsuki Tatsuya.

But I know too little about the enemy. That's why, after that incident, I scourged through the case journals my father left behind, looking for anyone who might know Chardina or the other Seven Old Men well.

The name I found there was the detective, Fido.

Judging by the journal, this detective named Fido seemed to have experience chasing Chardina alongside my father in the past, making him the perfect person to ask for cooperation.

I thought I’d go meet him immediately. But after investigating a little, I realized it wouldn't be that simple.

"To think Fido would be a detective residing in the UK."

The Greatest Detective in the UK—or so he is reportedly described. However, I couldn't find out anything more than that, such as his detailed location.

"Doesn't seem like someone we can easily contact."

"Still, the matter is what it is. We must manage to make direct contact somehow."

"However, our Oitsuki Detective Agency has neither the money to visit Fido in the UK nor the money to invite him to Japan... right?"

That's why the reward for this ring search is necessary at all costs.

The client couple used to run a company but have now left it to others and retired. The reward amount they presented was large enough to make me ask them to repeat it.

I suppose it means they value the wedding ring that much, but it's certainly a generous story.

"This single request will cover the travel expenses. We have to find the ring no matter what."

Eventually, the merry-go-round came to a stop. Lilitea dismounted, looking slightly reluctant.

"It wasn't here."

The wife was worried about the ring getting scratched, so she had put it in her handbag, but that backfired.

The couple searched desperately on their own, and even had the staff search, but it wasn't found. We assumed it wouldn't be in any obvious places, but this looks like it will be harder work than expected.

"Where shall we search next?"

"Let's see. Then, how about over there?"

Lilitea pointed, fidgeting strangely, at the Ferris wheel towering majestically in the distance.

Each gondola was shaped like a treasure chest you'd see in a pirate movie, shining in gold. On top of that, objects resembling gold, silver, treasures, and gems were attached everywhere as if to say "take that!", and to top it off, the bottom of the gondola was stamped with the overly honest words 『GET MONEY!!』 in huge letters.

"Ah... what was that called again?"

"Happy Treasure Chest Ferris Wheel. Abbreviated as Tre-Ches."

Weird name. Sounds like it doesn't have a care in the world.

The symbol of Mizushima Park used to be the Nichirin Ferris Wheel. But now it has been completely renewed into something else entirely.

Apparently, the investor forcibly designed it based solely on their own taste. And the result is that new Ferris wheel with a hopelessly unsalvageable design, lacking any emotion or charm.

Thanks to that, voices of criticism were apparently raised by many citizens, but it was already too late.

"Tre-Ches... huh. The name is one thing, but looking at the design like this, how should I put it... it stands out. From everything around it."

I can only think there is a fundamental gap in sense between the creator and the citizens.

"Actually, isn't it hugely unpopular and empty every day?"

"It appears so."

No wonder. Riding that is like volunteering to be a spectacle. The only people who would pay money to ride it are probably those trying to make fun of it while fully aware of its tackiness.

"Perhaps because of that, according to the pamphlet, it is half-price for three days starting today."

"Meaning it's kind to our wallets. But the Ferris wheel is quite a walk from here location-wise, so let's search the rides in order of proximity. Let's save the bizarre Ferris wheel for the final treat."

"I do not mind that."

Lilitea responded to my thought with a curt attitude.

"In that case, next is that roller coaster over there. A maximum speed of 115 kilometers per hour is nothing to sneeze at."

However, the Mizushima Park pamphlet she immediately opened and peered into was already tattered.

How many times has she opened and closed it since we entered the park?

She certainly looks like she's enjoying herself with all her might. But, I say again, we are technically working.

□

Even as dusk fell, we had not been able to find the ring.

Detectives are often misunderstood as always having sharp minds, but in reality, that's not the case. At least, I'm not.

What's important is not the plane, but the point. How well one can display pinpoint flashes of inspiration and insight in crucial situations is what matters.

In extreme terms, if a detective is sharp for just one minute during the important moment of the day, they can be spaced out for the remaining twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes and still function.

But for me today, that sharp one minute simply wouldn't come. Even though I think now is exactly the important point.

"Since it's an amusement park, there's quite a bit of lighting, but if it gets any darker, searching for things will become difficult. Besides... ouch... my back hurts from crouching down and searching all over..."

"Please do not say such pathetic things. Let us try a little harder."

"Lilitea, give me some appreciation once in a while."

"No."

My smartphone received a call at that moment.

I have calls to the office forwarded to my smartphone when I'm out, and this call was exactly that.

It was from an unknown number.

"Yes, this is the Oitsuki Detective Agency."

『I heard Tatsuya Oitsuki finally quieted down. Is that true?』

The voice from the phone was a woman's. However, contrary to her clear tone, her manner of speech was rough.

Since the caller's first words were about my old man, I was honestly quite confused.

"...May I ask who is calling?"

I asked, feigning calmness. The words Seven Old Men crossed my mind.

"Oitsuki Tatsuya... my father is currently away for a bit."

『...That guy's son, huh? Away, is it. That’s a shame. To think I can't laugh at his dead face. Even though I came all the way from the UK to Japan with great effort.』

"The UK...? Wait a second. Could you be..."

『Is there anyone else from the agency there? Tell them Detective Fido has arrived.』

"...Fido?"

Lilitea and I couldn't help but look at each other.

The UK, which I thought was far away, and Detective Fido—.

Yet, it came from the other side in an unexpected form.

What a coincidence, a stroke of luck—or perhaps the guidance of some god-like existence.

No, that’s not it. He was an incredibly hopeless father, but as a detective, my old man's fame roared across the world, and he had many acquaintances. Naturally, news of his death would spread easily too.

I switched the smartphone to my other hand and spoke nervously.

"From the UK? I'm sorry you came all this way. Actually, we were just thinking of going there to meet you."

Lilitea was also straining to listen to the call, standing on tiptoes right next to me.

"No, well, about our business, we can talk later. By the way, I'm currently out. Yes, in the middle of a request."

『Location?』

"Eh? It's an amusement park called Mizushima Park, but..."

『Is that so. I just got out of the airport now. I'll hail a taxi and head directly there via the Shuto Expressway. While enjoying a view like a Tarkovsky future city.』

"...Huh?"

It was quite fluent Japanese, but the phrasing and intonation were definitely those of a foreigner.

"In that case, I'll be waiting, but do you know the location of Mizushima Park?"

『Yap.』

I gave her my direct contact information before hanging up.

"Sakuya-sama, the other party was... Fido-sama, correct?"

"That's what was said. And, I don't really get it, but they're coming here."

"The Greatest Detective in the UK?"

"The Greatest Detective in the UK."

Honestly, I wasn't mentally prepared, but if they are coming, let's wait. And I will ask as much as possible about my old man, and about my old man's enemies.

"...Ah, but meeting inside the park might be difficult. I'll wait outside the entrance gate just in case."

"Then I shall also—"

"No, Lilitea, please continue the search for the ring. Thanks to Fido coming to meet us, the need to save up travel expenses has technically disappeared for now, but that doesn't mean we can neglect the request we've already accepted. We have the promise with Yuriu-chan too. The sea."

"That is... true, but."

"Ah, you're thinking I'll die again the moment you take your eyes off me, aren't you?"

"That is correct. Because you are careless in many ways, Sakuya-sama."

"Stupid, I won't die or get killed that easily at such a bright and fun amusement park! Well, I'm off. I'll be right back."

"Sakuya-sama..."

"Ah, also, if you find the ring quickly and have extra time, feel free to ride whatever ride you like to kill time while you wait. You know, like that merry-go-round from earlier."

"Why?"

"Eh? Because you seemed to like it quite a bit, didn't you?"

"...I did not particularly like it."

Oops. My parting quip upset my assistant.

Separating from Lilitea, I pushed through the crowd and stepped outside the park for a moment.

Naturally, there were few people entering at this hour, so if I stayed around here, we shouldn't miss each other.

Trying to settle down on a nearby bench, I suddenly felt thirsty.

"Oh, a vending machine."

Looking around, I spotted a vending machine and a bench positioned nicely across the road. After performing a thorough safety check, I trotted across the street.

I inserted coins into the machine and pressed the button. A 500ml sports drink fell down with a clunk.

I crouched down and took it out—it happened in that instant.

SCREEEEEECH—!

The sound of brakes, like the scream of an animal, flew into my right ear.

"Eh."

I understood the situation from the sound alone.

Not to brag, but I'm used to this kind of bad premonition.

My body was knocked off the road by the single passenger car that came barreling in, and I flew magnificently through the air.

Sorry, Lilitea.

I... died agai—.

"It's a fracture."

That was the doctor's diagnosis.

In other words, I didn't die.

"To get off with just this after being hit by a car, you're lucky. Hahaha."

The male doctor in his mid-thirties who examined me adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and laughed.

"But let's do a CT scan just in case. You have a bump on your head. You hit it when you fell. You can't underestimate damage to the head. If you let your guard down thinking it's nothing, you might suddenly collapse and die after going home. Cerebral hemorrhage, you see. Haha."

No, nothing about that is funny.

"Dr. Warauji, the Head Nurse always tells you to fix that habit of laughing, doesn't she?"

A nurse in her late twenties who was in the back spoke in an exasperated tone. Her nameplate read Yaotome.

"Got scolded. It's a habit, you know, laughing. But it's better than crying, right? Haha. So, you, let's get a cast made for you later. Here, this is a sample for explanation. Recent ones are light and durable. Go on, touch it. Don't be shy."

Dr. Warauji, who had a laughing habit, snapped a cast onto his own arm to show me, then shoved it towards me. Like someone proud of their muscles saying, "Touch my muscles, go on."

"Haa..."

"Like it? Well, that concludes the examination."

Saying that, Warauji stood up from his seat faster than I did. Doctors seem to be busy by the minute.

"Go on, go on. It's not like you're dying, cheer up. Me? I'm just taking a toilet break. When you get to this age, it gets close, you see. Hahaha."

"Well then, Oitsuki-san, please sit and wait on the chair in the hallway until called."

When leaving the examination room, Nurse Yaotome guided me gently.

"What, it was anticlimactic... wait, no. What am I saying? It's not like I was seeking death."

In any case, luckily, I was saved.

The physical damage is a fracture in the right leg, a bump, and other scratches. That's all.

My body automatically and quickly repairs damage, so originally there was no need to come to the hospital, but unfortunately, there were other eyes at the accident scene.

Since I was clearly seen getting hit by a car, I couldn't exactly say "I'm fine" and keep waiting on the bench for someone, so I decided to go to the hospital just for appearances.

And when I looked, fortunately, this Toomasu General Hospital was just a stone's throw away from Mizushima Park.

"The drink money earlier, and now the examination fee... nothing but expenses."

This time it looks like back-breaking work—or rather, truly bone-breaking work.

The hem of my trousers, torn during the accident, looked pathetic.

The car that caused the accident drove away without giving me time to check if it was distracted driving or dozing off.

I remembered the license plate, so I dialed 110 myself to report it, but honestly, who knows what will happen. I'd be happy if the police caught them, but honestly, I don't have time to deal with that right now.

That said, I have to evade the doctors and nurses for a while until my leg fracture heals.

Why? Because if they take an X-ray of my leg, which is already starting to heal, things will get complicated.

What is your body? Are you really human? I don't want a fuss about immediate dissection or announcements at academic conferences. —No, maybe I'm overthinking it.

Anyway, I don't need to make a cast as told; I just need to kill time until it heals naturally and then leave the hospital energetically.

"A toilet stall... would be fine, but I'd feel bad if someone who really had a stomach ache came running in."

Just then, a staircase caught my eye.

"The roof, huh."

I climbed the stairs while drinking my juice. There was still a little discomfort, but no significant pain in my leg.

"Lately, it feels like wounds are healing faster... Is it my imagination?"

A sign reading 『No Entry』 stood modestly in front of the door to the roof. Maybe there was an accident or something in the past. If it's a place people don't visit, that's even more convenient, but if the door is locked, I'll have to give up and turn back.

However, contrary to my anxiety, the doorknob turned easily, and I was able to step out onto the roof.

The night breeze hit my face softly.

"Ooh," a voice escaped me involuntarily.

From the roof, I could see the night view of the town that had just begun, and the illuminations of Mizushima Park in one sweep. It was safe to say it was a nice view.

Several hundred meters away, that weird Ferris wheel was also exerting its presence.

"Whoops, this isn't the time to enjoy the scenery. I have to let Lilitea know."

Running out of the amusement park in high spirits only to nearly die in an accident is uncool to the extreme, but I can't lie. Or rather, Lilitea would probably find out even if I hid it.

Hiding behind the lined-up outdoor AC units, I took out my smartphone. Good. It wasn't broken.

"Ah, hello, Lilitea."

The moment the call connected, noisy music flew into my ear.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. But actually, I got involved in a bit of an accident, and I'm at a nearby hospital right now. But there's nothing to worry about."

As soon as I confirmed Lilitea had picked up, I rattled on a bit fast out of a vague sense of guilt.

In response, Lilitea said something unexpected: "It is a disaster."

"Eh? Did something happen? Did you find the ring?"

『No. I apologize, but that has not been found yet. Not that.』

Lilitea seemed to be running while talking, as I could hear her breath catching. The music I heard at first quickly faded into the distance.

『It seems an accident, or perhaps an incident, has occurred within the park.』

"...Incident?"

『Just moments ago, the Tre-Ches stopped suddenly.』

"Tre... what was that again?"

『Happy Treasure Chest Ferris Wheel. Please remember.』

"Ah, that. Did something happen with the Ferris wheel?"

I remembered when told, and looked again at the Ferris wheel visible literally from the roof. I hadn't noticed earlier, but looking now that she mentioned it, the rotation of the Ferris wheel had indeed stopped.

『And a few minutes after it stopped, I confirmed multiple staff members rushing toward the Tre-Ches in a panic.』

"Isn't that just a simple mechanical malfunction?"

『No. I also heard people returning from the direction of the Ferris wheel screaming this: That everyone riding the Ferris wheel is dead.』

"People died? That's terrible... Eh? Sorry. What did you say? Everyone?"

I crouched down to avoid the building wind and asked again.

"The people riding the Ferris wheel are...?"

『The passengers.』

"Are all dead!?"

Inside that Ferris wheel colored by cheerful illuminations and lighting?

My brain couldn't keep up processing the sudden information that was so far removed from reality.

『I am heading to the scene now.』

"...Got it. I'll head there immediately too."

I resolved to act without fully understanding. I couldn't help but wonder what I could do by going there, though.

"If I happen to be present at a crime scene, as a detective, I can't just leave it alone, right?"

At my words, Lilitea let out a somewhat satisfied sigh.

『Exactly. If it were your father, Tatsuya-sama, he would undoubtedly dive into the scene first.』

"Stop it. The detective named Oitsuki Tatsuya is a man who destroys the scene, reconstructs it, and ultimately ruins even the incident itself, the emotion, and the lingering tone before leaving. I can't be like my old man, and I won't be."

I conveyed my true feelings.

『Your reviews of your father are always unique, Sakuya-sama. ...By the way, Sakuya-sama.』

"What?"

『Were you able to meet up with Fido-sama?』

She struck a sore spot.

"Ah... no, well, not yet. That's why, I had various things happen too. Since I haven't received contact from Fido, I think they're still on their way here. But since they're called the Greatest Detective in the UK, if Fido gets involved in that case, there might be no curtain call for me."

『Saying such weak things again. Please show enough spirit to engage in a deduction battle.』

After receiving Lilitea's encouragement, I hung up and returned to the door.

"Ah! Oitsuki-san!"

There, I bumped into a nurse. It was Nurse Yaotome who was there during the exam. She must have just opened the door and come out.

"There you are! Where did you go! You weren't in the hallway so I looked for you!"

"Sorry, I got lost."

"Come on, please wait quietly on the floor below. Also, this area is off-limits."

Scolded like a child, I left the roof.

After parting with Nurse Yaotome, I immediately went down to the first floor. Having just been scolded, I honestly felt apologetic, though.

Passing the reception with an innocent face, I left the hospital.

Just in case, I secretly left a little extra money at the payment counter for the examination fee, but if there seems to be any problem, I'll visit again when things settle down.

The road in front of the hospital had a wide sidewalk and little foot traffic. I could have continued along the road to Mizushima Park, but cutting through the park spreading out in between seemed faster.

Stepping off the sidewalk and entering the park, the planted trees immediately covered the sky.

"I came to this park a few times during the day when Lilitea dragged me here, but it's this dark at night, huh."

They should install more streetlights or illumination. Since the surrounding area isn't residential, there's little traffic at night too.

"It must be hard for women and children to walk here like this..."

Just as I was worrying about others—suddenly, my vision shook and blurred.

Honestly, I seriously thought both my eyeballs had popped out and fallen to the ground.

"Guh...!? W-Wha..."

Strength drained from my legs, and I crumpled to the ground on both knees. My hearing went numb with a ringing sound, and all noises faded away.

A dull pain in my head. Was I hit?

Bleeding?

I tried to check with my hand on impulse, but it was numb and wouldn't move. My body had sustained fatal damage in an instant.

"Wh... Who... is it?"

I looked back while crawling.

Someone is standing there. It's dark and I can't see their face well.

Who? What was I hit with?

Hit on the head from behind... but the sensation is strange... my vision... is blurring. Ah—.

No good, my thoughts are becoming disjointed. Thinking has no meaning. Cerebral hemorrhage? It seems an important part of my brain has been damaged.

Lilitea... phone... park, Ferris wheel... Fi... do—.

That someone swung the weapon down again at me as I lay collapsed. Considerable arm strength.

"A detective of all things... Give me a break."

To me, dying, the man said that.

Yuriu Derringer’s Greetings 2

Wait here—told so, I was forcibly shoved into a room in an apartment building.

On the way here, my smartphone and belongings were all taken. I was blindfolded inside the moving car, so I'm not certain where exactly this is, but I can still make a guess.

They seemed to be trying very hard to drive in circles, but unfortunately, I have the entire territory of the Luciano Family memorized as a map in my head.

They wouldn't take me so far that their own power wouldn't reach, so this place shouldn't be that far from the café.

The blinds were drawn over the windows, making the room dim. Even so, flashy and expensive-looking furniture, paintings, and interior decor caught my eye excessively.

The Luciano Family was a small mafia organization that had been dabbling in small-time crimes for many years. But something must have happened, because in the last few years, they expanded their influence explosively. This room was like proof of that momentum.

Even so, terrible taste. It's like they're holding a World Championships of Vanity.

"Haven't seen an ivory ornament in a while."

"If you don't like it, I'll sell it all tomorrow."

It was a monologue, but there was a reply, so I turned around to see Luciano standing in front of the door.

"This whole building is our property, and this room is my private quarters. Now then, Yuriu, I'm happy to finally be alone with you, but I have to hand you over in a few days."

"Hand over? To whom?"

"That is something you don't need to know."

At least it probably isn't the police.

I sat on the edge of the table, swinging my heels as I spoke.

"The information I was chasing must have poked a very sore spot. For the mighty Luciano Family to wag their tails and offer me up as a tribute... just who is this partner?"

"Good, Yuriu. That's exactly like you. A fine woman, just as the rumors said. Truly, I can't bear to let you go."

Whether listening to my provocation or not, Luciano laughed, his shoulders shaking.

"...By the way, what is this dress?"

I demanded an explanation for the pure white dress I was currently wearing. As soon as I was locked in this room, this was thrust upon me with the order to wear it and wait.

"It suits you well. Beautiful," Luciano said.

"I don't want to waste even a second of my time with you. That's why—"

"That's why?"

"Let's get married."

"...Ha?"

"Even if it's just for a few days. I want to be the man who made you his wife."

"Meaning, this is a wedding dress?"

Ah, no good. He has serious eyes.

I understand not by logic.

This man is seriously, genuinely in love with me.

"I'm a man living in the underworld too. I think I understand well just what a dangerous woman you are, Empress. Changing your name, appearance, and identity; transforming into any woman with a little makeup; a femme fatale who has captivated countless statesmen across the globe. I've always wanted to meet you. I dreamed that one day you would descend to me."

"So a boy's dream came true today?"

I couldn't help but let out an exasperated laugh.

Good grief. How many hundreds of times has this made for a proposal in my life?

While stifling my laughter, I observed the room once more.

The walls, the floor, the window glass—they're probably all thick, special-made bulletproof materials. Why? The reverberation from the walls when making noise, the hardness of the floor when walking, the sound insulation against outside noise—. There are various ways to measure.

As expected of a boss's private room, it's built with caution.

I got caught on purpose to get information, but this looks like it will take a little effort to break out of.

"Let's hold the ceremony immediately. I'll make it the best reception. I won't cause you any hardship. I'll have the ring ready by tomorrow. You'll accept my love, won't you?"

Luciano spoke passionately, seemingly disregarding everything except his own feelings.

Just as I was thinking this was trouble, one of Luciano's subordinates entered the room and whispered in his ear.

"Boss, he's here. We have him waiting downstairs."

"The Treasure Hunter, huh. ...Understood."

Luciano made a face that clearly showed he felt his parade had been rained on, but immediately patched up his smile and beamed at me.

"Sorry, Yuriu. I have to take care of a little job first. Wait here for a bit. Ah, feel free to drink the wine on the table. There are beers from various countries in the fridge too. If you want fruit, I'll have them bring it. Don't hesitate to tell Pio here."

After displaying every ounce of consideration he possessed, he left the room dashingly.

Inside the room, only the man Luciano called Pio remained.

Pio was a giant man nearly two meters tall, watching me with a scowl that suggested he had left all his emotions at home.

I will not touch you with a single finger. As long as you do not try to leave here.

The giant's eyes said so.

Now then, what shall I do?

Chapter 2: Isn't it Fine? Being Wonderful.

"Welcome back from the dead, Sakuya-sama."

When I came back to life, it was inside a dim, chilly room.

Lying on my back, my field of vision contained a dreary ceiling and Lilitea's face.

Neither smiling nor grieving, she looked down at me with an expression that seemed exclusively reserved for times like this.

On the back of my head, there was the sensation of her soft thighs.

"Lilitea... I..."

"You have been killed again, have you not, Sakuya-sama?"

"...Apparently."

I sat up, staggering slightly.

"Where is this...?"

"It is the morgue of Toomasu General Hospital."

"Morgue..."

It's a place perfectly suited for being killed and coming back to life, and perfectly laughable.

Looking, Lilitea was sitting deeply on the bed for body storage. She must have been giving me a lap pillow like that, waiting for my resuscitation.

"Did you find my corpse and carry me here, Lilitea?"

"No. After arriving at the Ferris wheel and gathering information, I contacted you again, Sakuya-sama, but since it did not connect, I felt a bad premonition and headed to the hospital. Thirty-six minutes have passed since then."

The special bed was about waist-high for an adult. Perhaps unconsciously, Lilitea swung her legs that dangled from it as she spoke.

"When I conveyed your characteristics at the reception and stated I was a relative and asked them to check, I was told you had died due to being involved in a car accident, and was shown through to here. And when I did, there you were on the bed, a person who had become a silent returnee."

"No, I came back... wait, eh? Car accident?"

"Yes. I was told the cause was a cerebral hemorrhage due to a strong blow to the head from the accident. To meet with an accident while moving... Sakuya-sama, you are careless."

"That's ridiculous! No, it's true I was in an accident. But I got off with just a fracture. Really! I was actually let down by it. But after that, I snuck out of the hospital... right! I was attacked by someone in that park!"

"Isn't that a dream? Weren't you actually already dead at the time of the first accident, and wandered around as a ghost without realizing you had died?"

"Don't say scary things! That's not funny!"

"It is a joke."

"Hey Lilitea, since when did you learn such bad-taste jokes?"

Thinking I had to scold her for this, I squared my shoulders, but Lilitea turned her face away in a huff.

"That is why I told you. Because you left me behind and went alone. Foolish person."

Ah, her cheeks are puffed out.

"Take my eyes off you for a moment and this happens. If possible, I would like to sneak into your pocket, Sakuya-sama, and watch over you constantly."

"Ugh... sorry about that."

"Who is going to sew those torn trousers?"

"Lilitea... is..."

The anger in her shoulders deflated rapidly. Perhaps satisfied seeing me like that, Lilitea covered her mouth cutely with both hands and giggled.

Oh, this is the signal that I can move the topic to the next thing.

I explained the situation of when I was killed in a flowing manner.

"Attacked in the dark of the park, were you. It is a dangerous world."

"I was hit with some blunt object, but I didn't know what the weapon was."

"You couldn't see it on the verge of death either."

"Yeah. And the culprit's face too. ...But... that sensation..."

I involuntarily rubbed my own head. It's an amazing thing; the wound is already completely healed.

"Is there something bothering you?"

"Hmm, somehow the sensation remaining in my head is... well, never mind for now. More importantly, the question is who on earth killed me and why."

"Do you have no idea?"

"Looking at it, there's no sign of money or valuables being stolen, so it's not a robbery... If I have an idea, it would be... the person who hit me with the car and ran away—maybe? For example, they crashed into me intending to run me over and kill me from the start, but since they failed, they chased after me to finish me off for sure this time, or something."

If they intended to kill me, the one likely to do such a thing right now is—

"One of The Seven Old Men...?"

"Considering your position, Sakuya-sama, I think that possibility is sufficient, but..."

Lilitea's expression didn't brighten.

"Does it not sit right?"

"No, it is fine. Thinking about it here and now won't produce an answer."

Somehow, we are both fellow 'doesn't sit right' people today.

"...I guess so. It really might have been just bad luck getting hit by a slasher."

Indeed, an answer doesn't seem forthcoming. We decided to cut short our deductions.

Lilitea got off the bed and held out her hand to me.

"First, let us leave the hospital. The Tre-Ches incident is also weighing on my mind."

"Right! The Ferris wheel! There was that incident too. But, is it okay to just leave on my own?"

I knew I wasn't in a position to say that having done exactly that just a while ago, but since I was brought in as a corpse this time, I couldn't help but worry.

In response, Lilitea said something sharp.

"A hospital is a place to save people's lives. They surely have no use for a dead human anymore."

No use for them over there, nor over here—huh. Not a bad double entendre.

□

During our journey to Mizushima Park, Lilitea gave me a brief overview of the incident that occurred there.

The scene was the newly renovated Ferris wheel.

It was discovered just after 5:30 PM.

One of the staff members opened the door of a gondola that had completed a full rotation, intending to let the passengers off, when they noticed something was wrong.

"No matter how long they waited, the passenger wouldn't come out. Thinking it suspicious, they peeked inside, only to find the person had been killed."

Lilitea spoke matter-of-factly, striving to keep her own emotions and subjectivity out of it.

"There was a single passenger in the gondola. A male in his late teens, apparently. He had been stabbed deeply in the back with a knife and had died slumped over in his seat."

The staff member who saw this lost their nerve. Yet, the Ferris wheel continued to turn mercilessly.

And so, the next gondola returned.
When it did—people were dead in that gondola too.

"This time, a couple in their mid-forties. Both were foaming at the mouth and had died in agony, it seems."

The Ferris wheel kept turning.
Skipping one empty gondola, the next one held an elderly woman whose throat had been pierced by some kind of blade—.

Two gondolas later, a man in his late twenties with a knife in his chest—.
One after another—the gondolas returned, carrying corpses.

The staff panicked and stopped the gondola.

In the end, victims were found in fifteen gondolas—roughly half of the total thirty-two. And all of this happened within the approximately ten minutes it takes for the Ferris wheel to make a full rotation—.

When we returned to Mizushima Park, chaos was already beginning to spread throughout the grounds.

Stretchers were being carried toward the gate, passing us as we entered.

It seemed the police had not yet arrived.

"Due to the sheer magnitude of the situation, the report was delayed. Since the hospital was right there, they instinctively called for an ambulance, but as for the police, everyone apparently assumed someone else had already called."

Although the Ferris wheel had been stopped, the staff seemed unable to decide whether to seal off the park itself.
There was no telling yet what the final death toll would be.

"This has turned into a terrible situation."

"Yeah. Just because it's an amusement park doesn't mean we can afford to be in high spirits anymore."

"We?"

Lilitea reacted to my words.

"I am not particularly in high spirits."

"Eh? But when I called you earlier, you were riding alone, weren't you? The merry-go-round."

When I said that without any ill intent, Lilitea's small face flushed red in an instant.

"How!"

"Ah, I heard merry-go-round music over the phone, so I figured. Was I wrong?"

"I was not riding it! Lilitea was merely waiting in line!"

So you were trying to ride it.

When we arrived at the scene, all the victims had already been carried out of the gondolas.

The staff were desperately trying to keep the onlookers—general guests who were either watching from a distance or filming—away from the scene.

The Ferris wheel, floating dimly in the night sky. Seeing it immediately after such an incident made it seem like some terrifying man-eating machine.

Trying to get closer, I slipped out of the crowd, only to be stopped immediately by a female staff member.

"Excuse me. Please do not come any closer right now."

"Um, my name is Oitsuki Sakuya. I'm actually a detective, and since it seems the police are delayed, I thought I might be able to help with something."

"Eh? A detective? You?"

"Yes. I think I'm relatively used to these kinds of scenes."

When I tried to appeal modestly like that, another male staff member in the back raised his voice, shouting, "Whaaat?" Just as I thought it might have been effective, he followed up with:

"Another detective! We have enough detectives!"

"...Enough?"

I just heard some pretty rare Japanese. Since when were detectives treated like newspapers or milk?

"Come on, back, back!"

Just as I was about to be pushed back, a clear voice rang out from the direction of the gate.

"Did you just say 'Ootsuki'?"

Slipping through the staff members appeared a platinum-blonde foreign girl wearing a finely tailored vest over a blouse.

"You said it, right? Right?"

She was about my age.

At her feet sat a well-worn maroon trunk, and next to it, a medium-sized dog with exceedingly sharp eyes waited quietly.
Was it her pet dog? A foreign girl and a dog. I couldn't verbalize it well, but they looked like a strangely matching pair.

"Then you must be Sakuya Ootsuki! Tatsuya-san's son!"

She approached me while emitting a friendly aura. Her healthy bare legs peeking out from hot pants were dazzling.

"That's... right, but..."

Hearing my reply, she immediately told the nearby staff:

"Then please let him through. He should be a very excellent detective."

"H-Haa... If you say so, go ahead."

Thanks to that, they let me through, so her intervention was appreciated, but raising the bar like that put me in a bit of a spot.

"Nice to meet you! Happy to see you."

She spread her arms wide as if ceremoniously and flashed a smile.

"Then... you're Fido?"

"Man, I ran into a huge incident as soon as I got to this amusement park, but when I said I was a detective, somehow it just flowed into me cooperating."

That voice was certainly the one I heard over the phone earlier. But the tone was completely different. Earlier, she sounded like a jaded old soldier, but now she had a bright, friendly atmosphere, like a different person.

Is her tone unstable because she's not used to Japanese?

While I was caught up in this small doubt, the girl kept her arms spread wide, waiting for me.

"Eh?"

Seeing my confusion, she shook her body shimmy-shimmy to signal me.

I realized her intent about two beats late.

"Ah! A hug! Right, sorry, sorry!"

Bewildered by the foreign custom, I gave her a light hug.

To think the Greatest Detective in the UK was my age—that's a surprise.

Just as I was feeling a belated sense of awe at how big the world is, Fido whispered to me while still in that position:

"It was tough getting caught up in things here, but looks like you had it rough too."

"...How do you know that?"

The incident in the park earlier crossed my mind, making my heart skip a beat.

"I can tell just by looking at those torn trousers and that dirty jacket. I can tell. Sakuya, before coming here, on the road you..."

As expected of a famous detective. She started profiling me from my appearance as soon as we met. I was about to witness a sharp deduction worthy of Sherlock Holmes.

"You saved a dog that was about to be run over by a car in the nick of time, didn't you? I saw a puppy outside this amusement park just now. That little one was shivering behind a vending machine. There were tire tracks right near it. That's when it clicked. The reason Sakuya couldn't answer my call was because he was saving a little life. That's Q.E.D.!"

"No, that's wrong."

It wasn't sharp at all. A forced connection, a convenient delusion. wildly off the mark.

"Eh! It's wrong? H-Huh... that's weird—"

Are you okay, Detective Fido?

"What is 'That's Q.E.D.'? Please never say that again. My Lilitea hates that kind of tacky stuff. Right, Lilitea?"

"Please do not suddenly throw the conversation to me. I apologize for the delay. I serve as Sakuya-sama's assistant; my name is Lilitea."

Unfazed by the sudden pass, Lilitea gave a flawless greeting.

"Lilitea! Nice to meet you!"

Fido asked for a hug from Lilitea as well, and Lilitea accepted it with practiced grace.

While narrowing my eyes at the wonderfully beautiful scene of international exchange, I welcomed her again.

"Fido-san, welcome all the way to Japan."

"I'm happy to be able to come to Japan after such a long time too! Wait... eh? Fido? You mean me?"

However, in the middle of the greeting, Fido suddenly put on a blank expression.

"Eh? I mean, you are the Great Detective Fido... right?"

I asked again.

But she shook her head.

"Nope."

"Hm? Then who are you?"

"I'm Belka. Belka Zeppelin! Fido's one and only assistant!"

"Assistant? Ah, so you're an assistant! I wish you had just said so. I completely thought..."

"Sorry, sorry! A lot happened as soon as we arrived, so my introduction got delayed."

Truly confusing. But that explains the misguided deduction earlier.

"But on the phone, didn't you introduce yourself as Fido and speak?"

"That's riiight. At that time, I was relaying Fido-sensei's words directly to you."

"Ah, so you were translating from English to Japanese and interpreting."

"Hmm, well, you could call it interpreting... I guess."

I don't really get it.

"So, where is the essential Fido-san...?"

"What are you talking about. Fido-sensei has been right here since earlier! Look!"

Belka, the newly identified assistant, used her arms flamboyantly to introduce Fido himself—Ta-da!

There sat—waiting quietly by Belka's side since earlier—that dog.

"Eh?"

Perhaps realizing the topic had finally turned to him, he glared up at me sharply from below.

"This dog is...? Is that... a British joke?"

"No!"

"Eh... Ehhh?! This dog is the Great Detective Fido!?"

What do you think? I involuntarily looked at Lilitea. However, Lilitea remained completely unmoved.

"Sakuya-sama, did you not know?"

"Lilitea knew!? Come on, you should have told me!"

"He is a renowned detective in the UK. Being in the same profession, I assumed you naturally knew."

When she says that, I can't argue.

"Sakuya-sama, if you intend to make it as a detective from now on, please take a little more interest in that world and broaden your horizons. This Lilitea is worried."

That’s a weak spot for me. As a fledgling who was entrusted with the agency by my old man only recently, I can only say "I'll study."

"But, to think he's a dog... Eh, really. What a surprise..."

The world is wide and full of mysteries.
As I marveled, Belka, who had been watching me with a smile, suddenly opened her mouth.

"Kid, dropping your eyeballs or your other balls to the ground in amazement is your business, but keep the flustering to five seconds. Anything more is the act of an incompetent."

"Eh...? Belka... what did you just...?"

I saw it. That terrible line came from Belka's mouth. I definitely saw it, and heard it.

When I looked at her dumbfounded, Belka hurriedly pointed both index fingers at Fido.

"Ah, don't misunderstand! That was Sensei's words just now!"

"What does that mean?"

"In other words, does it mean Belka-san interpreted Fido-sama's words into human speech and spoke on his behalf?"

"That's exactly it. That young lady over there is quicker on the uptake. Much more detective-like. —Ah, this is Sensei's words too."

"Talking with a dog—wait... Lilitea, do you think we can believe this?"

When I whispered softly, Lilitea said with a straight face, "Isn't it fine? Being wonderful."

"Besides, Sakuya-sama, are you in a position to say anything about others?"

True.

I, who come back to life even if killed, have no right to say anything about anyone else.

A renowned detective is actually a dog, and his assistant can converse with dogs. I guess sometimes things like that happen.

The continuous surprises were making me dizzy, but I had no choice but to accept it and move the conversation forward. The truth would become clear eventually.

"Even if you whisper over there, it goes right into my ears. Hearing you were Tatsuya's son, I came to see what kind of person would pop out, but good grief, what a moron has appeared."

So said Fido—through Belka.

When she speaks for him, Belka's tone of voice seems to become slightly lower and calmer.

Looking closely, right before Belka interprets, Fido always gives a small growl like Wafu or Guu.

"Fido, actually I wanted to ask for your cooperation. To gather information on my old man... no, on The Seven Old Men."

"Hmph, I guessed as much. But first comes the case in front of us. Even at a Japanese Kaiten-sushi, you clear the plates in front of you first, don't you?"

As if laughing at my impatience, Fido skillfully raised one eye and looked up at the Ferris wheel.

"A Ferris wheel that has produced numerous dead and is swallowed in a vortex of chaos. Now then, kid, how would you deduce this? If you're seriously thinking of getting close to The Seven Old Men and doing something about them, show me at least a little sharpness."

Fido is testing me. If I can't do anything here, he can't cooperate. That's what he's saying.

"...I'll try."

Normally I would choose a phrasing with a bit more insurance, but now I have a goal. For that, I need Fido's power. To borrow his power, I have to make him acknowledge me.

Then I have no choice but to do it.

"I'll show you. The deduction of this Oitsuki Sakuya."

"Sakuya-sama, that line is a bit tacky."

"I-Is it no good?"

"Once you start attaching 'this' to your own name, it's really the end."

Lilitea is harsh today too.

Tre-Ches stands at the dead end of the west side of Mizushima Park. I knew that beforehand from the pamphlet map, but seeing it in person, I realized a river flows right beside the park.

"Looking at it like this, the left edge of the Ferris wheel circle juts out over the river."

Depending on the person, that might be quite thrilling and a fun view.

The lights of the buildings on the opposite bank reflected and shimmered on the dark water surface.

Since this whole area is reclaimed land and not far from the sea, the river is wide and the current gentle. Occasionally, I could see splashes rise as some large fish jumped.

After looking around the Tre-Ches area again, we started asking around.

"Did you notice anything concerning when the incident occurred?"

We were introduced to Akutazawa-san, a female staff member who was standing near the Tre-Ches gate at the time of the incident, and listened to her story.

Fido and Belka waited behind us as if to say they wouldn't interfere, but they seemed to be listening intently.

"Saw, heard, smelled, touched. Anything is fine."

With a pale expression, she said, "Well..."

"It was all so sudden..."

Akutazawa-san was a large woman with a ponytail popping out from the back of her red staff cap. But right now, her shoulders were completely hunched from shock.

"It seems Tre-Ches was reasonably busy at the time it happened. I heard it was more than half full."

"That, yes. Honestly, we didn't expect much from the 50% off price, but us staff were talking about how maybe it was having an effect... But I never imagined it would turn out like this."

"Didn't expect much? ...Hmm. And every single passenger riding became a victim?"

"That's right! It was a terrible situation... Even so, there were people who looked like they could still be saved, so we were desperate just to call an ambulance..."

"Did you see any suspicious people near the scene? Someone leaving quickly... or something."

"Um... I'm sorry. At that time, we didn't have that kind of composure..."

That's understandable. From the staff's perspective, it was a nightmarish situation. They wouldn't have had the leeway to calmly observe and remember their surroundings.

"Is there anything else that bothers you? Anything at all."

When I pressed just in case, Akutazawa-san prefaced with "Well, if I had to say," and told us this story.

"It started right after the Nichirin Ferris Wheel was rebuilt into Tre-Ches, but a little rumor started floating around. On the net and such."

"Rumor?"

"A childish rumor. You know, that an evil spirit haunts Tre-Ches... or something like that."

"Like a horror urban legend. There weren't any stories like that before the rebuilding, right? Ghosts or yokai haunting the Nichirin Ferris Wheel or anything."

"No. It was sudden, just recently. Though it seems it was just some people talking about it for fun... But you see, since a creepy rumor sprung up on top of its already poor reputation, customers stayed away even more."

"Ah, so that's why you didn't expect much from the half-price campaign."

She said the source of the rumor remains unknown in the end.
Honestly, an evil spirit haunting a brand-new attraction doesn't sit right with me, but can we say it's completely unrelated to this incident?

The evil spirit of the Ferris wheel killed the passengers one after another?

No, no.

Surely that's not the case, but the unrelated masses who aren't involved might link them and accept it for the time being.

People sometimes spread interesting fiction knowing it's a lie rather than the truth. Even more so if it's an incident at an unknown amusement park in an unknown town that has nothing to do with them.

Well, we heard as much as we could.
Lilitea and I thanked Akutazawa-san and tried to leave the spot. But we were immediately stopped by another young male staff member.

"Um... it was in the middle of all that chaos so... I'm not confident, but..."

Listening to him, it turned out he was one of the first to rush over after hearing Akutazawa-san's initial scream.

"Did you see something? It seems the staff had a hard time."

"Of course, seeing the people who rode the gondolas come back one after another... in changed forms, it was panic. Anyway, we were just desperate to carry them out... And, well, about that, I... somehow felt something was off."

"Meaning?"

"After carrying the collapsed customers outside, we laid them down side-by-side near the gate over there for the time being. Sorry. We wouldn't have made it otherwise..."

"That... I suppose so."

I recalled a variety show segment I saw on TV once. A challenge to eat Kaiten-sushi coming one after another quickly without missing any. In his case, he ended up experiencing the worst possible pattern of that.

"So, afterwards, all the staff carried them into the employee break room tucked a bit further back from here. Since the ambulance hadn't made it yet, that place was also just for the time being... Ah."

Speaking up to that point in one breath, he corrected himself saying "I got sidetracked."

"So, you see. I went to that break room again just now, but... well, somehow I felt it didn't match..."

"Didn't match? What didn't?"

He took off the red hat he was wearing and crumpled it in both hands.

"The number. The number of bodies... Ah, I guess they aren't bodies since we don't know if they formally died yet... But looking at that state, almost no one will be sav..."

"We can only pray that as many as possible are saved, but right now, not that—what did you say? Number? The number of bodies didn't match?"

"I felt like... there was one less."

Isn't that a huge problem?

"No! Like I said... it was a crazy situation where we were frantic while carrying them out, so honestly I'm not confident! Just how many people we carried out, what face and outfit each one had...! So it might be a false memory... W-Well then, I'm going!"

The male staff member exploded with emotion at the end and left the spot.

Watching his back, Lilitea and I exchanged words.

"Rumors of an evil spirit on the Ferris wheel, and a victim who disappeared from the scene—huh."

"Assuming his testimony was not a mistake..."

"That missing someone is the culprit—huh."

"Going further, it is also possible the culprit committed the crime pretending to be the rumored evil spirit."

"Maybe even the very person who started the rumor."

The culprit pretended to be a victim, had the staff kindly carry them out of the gondola, and successfully blended in with the other victims.

If you want to hide a tree, use a forest. If you want to hide a culprit... use corpses?

"Then, timing it when the surrounding people's attention was diverted from them, they got up and walked out of the park looking innocent... is that it?"

"Making people think you are dead and then suddenly getting up... somehow that is like you, Sakuya-sama."

"Stop it. ...But, lying down next to the corpses of the numerous victims you killed yourself, waiting patiently for a chance to escape—can someone really do something that tough? Doesn't seem sane."

"However, Sakuya-sama, simply committing such an audacious mass murder is already..."

"Not sane... huh."

"That said, as I stated first, there is the possibility of the witness's misunderstanding. And even if not, we have absolutely no idea how the culprit could have accomplished the crime."

How did the culprit go around killing people riding in moving gondolas during the ten minutes of a single rotation?
Is such an absurd, evil-spirit-like crime really possible for a human?

If there is a human for whom it is possible—

That would be a top-class criminal outside the bounds of common sense—someone like The Seven Old Men.

"Could it really be them...?"

"Why are you standing there like scarecrows. Deduce only after laying all the information on the table."

Perhaps unable to bear watching me nearly freeze up, Fido called out.

"There's still a place you haven't looked, right?"

"...That's right."

We got permission from the staff and actually boarded a gondola. Since it was stopped, we boarded the lowest gondola.

The gondola was shaped like a treasure chest decorated in gold, befitting its name. But not only the outside, the inside was flashy too.

"Yauuu."

Just as I thought I heard an indescribably timid voice, it turned out to be Belka's. It seems they boarded with Fido after us.

"Fido! It's blood, blood!"

Just as Belka said, fresh bloodstains remained on the floor.

"I taught you to call me Sensei during work. Sorry, it just slipped out! What a perpetually unlearning assistant. So? How are you holding up, kid. Or are you on the verge of collapsing from anemia?"

Fido teased me.

"Don't worry. I'm relatively used to blood and the like. I didn't want to get used to it, though."

When I replied, he laughed. Fido is a dog, but he looked like he laughed.

"Come to think of it, that's right, Immortal."

Since an unexpected word popped out at an unexpected timing, I involuntarily gasped.

"...You know. About my..."

"The secret of your body? Who knows. I heard it from Tatsuya, but I haven't actually seen it so I'm half-skeptical. About an immortal peculiar constitution."

I see—.

Fido has been told the secret of my body. Which means he appears to be undeniably an old friend of my father and an excellent detective.

"I'm not immortal. If I'm killed, I die. I just come back to life."

"Just... huh."

I, the creature called Oitsuki Sakuya, come back to life no matter how many times I am killed.

Even if my heart stops, even if my body is burned, even if my head is cut off, probably even if my body is cut in two.
I don't die. It's different from being immortal. Fundamentally different.
I just end up coming back to life.

It's a troublesome thing, but now I'm starting to accept this peculiar constitution—though I think saying peculiar is a bit of an understatement for something so aberrant.

Not many people know about this. Me, my old man, Lilitea, and a few others.

"It is slightly open."

Lilitea pointed to the gondola window, cutting off my thoughts. Indeed, the window was open just a little, about ten centimeters by estimation.

It's the type of window where you pull the top part toward you to open. I tried putting my hand on it, but it wouldn't open any further. Apparently, this is the limit for safety reasons.

"With this width, no matter how small a person is, they can't get in or out."

I had imagined maybe an acrobatically agile culprit moved between gondolas by climbing the supports or frame of the Ferris wheel and went around killing passengers, but this makes that impossible to begin with.

An operating Ferris wheel is a troublesome device carrying countless small locked rooms.

I looked out at the surrounding scenery through the window glass. The lights of the buildings made the shape of the town emerge.

Seeing me like that, Fido spoke.

"Are you thinking the victims were sniped from some distant building or something?"

"Yeah. I thought maybe, but that seems wrong too. Even if there was a highly skilled sniper, it's impossible with a window that only opens to this angle. You can't secure a line of sight."

"There are no bullet holes seen in the window glass or the gondola body either," Lilitea added.

"Yeah. To begin with, there shouldn't be anyone among the dead who was shot with a bullet. No one heard gunshots either. If I recall, the first body discovered was stabbed in the back with a knife."

"Yes. And for the culprit to do that, they would still need to invade the gondola."

"Right..."

How did the culprit get in and out?
Are they really saying it's an evil spirit?

"Um... and then, the condition of the second victim discovered was... what was it again?"

No good. I can't distinguish between the gondolas, and there are too many victims.

"My head's getting tangled."

Belka groaned in frustration too.

"Alright, then let's verify right now who died and how in which gondola. I'll ask the staff!"

Belka took out a memo pad from her pocket, looking eager.

"Belka, I always tell you. Let the police handle that kind of thing. I can't do that, Sensei! Since the police arrival is delayed, I, being present, must record the evidence as quickly as possible! It's fine to be eager, but look at your feet. You're stepping in blood. Awah! Tell me sooner!"

Fido admonished the eager assistant, and the assistant objected. As buddies, surely that happens sometimes. But since both sides' statements were uttered only by Belka's mouth, to an onlooker, it looked like watching rakugo or a one-man play.

Yuriu Derringer’s Greetings 3

"Oh-ho, look at it all coming out."

The Luciano Family was an analog faction, rare these days. The vault room Pio guided me to had account records stored in heaps.

The financial world, major corporations, medical corporations—. 

Remittance records to big shots around the world and various others.

Funds flowing from somewhere in the world flow through the Luciano Family to somewhere else in the world again. Or perhaps Luciano is just fulfilling his role without being told anything significant.

I took out the ultra-compact camera hidden in my underwear and recorded the documents.

Numerous unknown names among famous companies and organizations. They all match the names of dummy companies I investigated beforehand. Excessive amounts of money are being remitted to unknown companies.

"Ah, this is a name I'm seeing for the first time. Hyal-ta Heavy Industries? Never heard of it. Wow, what an amount."

Looking at the date, it seemed the name started appearing on the list within the last year or so.

"Well, whatever. Thinking comes later."

Leaving the vault after taking what I came for, Pio was waiting in the corridor. He approached me with a fidgety demeanor.

"Are you... done?"

"Yep. Okay, okay. Thank you."

When I flashed a peace sign and a smile, Pio blushed like a boy.

Like a boy in love? No, wrong. Right now, Pio is seriously in love with me.

I made him fall in love. Just now, I did.

"Um... about this, to the Boss..."

"Of course, it's a secret. Okay?"

Pio, having learned love, is now helping me fully. Brainwashing—it's different from that. He just ended up liking me, and is offering cooperation thinking it's for the best.

He was swearing loyalty to the Boss until just a while ago, but now he's acting solely out of a desire to grant the wish of the person he likes.

He is sane. However, love is blind.

"You really helped me out. Thanks for bringing this too."

I smiled while waving my smartphone.

"So next is how to escape from here, but the lower floors... I'd get found for sure."

Since my business is done, I can't stay in such a man-smelling place forever. Just as I thought to escape immediately, Pio suddenly grabbed my arm. He had a desperate look on his face.

"Wait, before that... promise me! That, if you escape safely from here... you'll... settle down with me..."

Ah, jeez. Why are Italian men so excessively passionate?
There are too few steps before the proposal.

"Does that mean you want to make me your bride?"

When I tilted my head and asked back, pretending not to understand, Pio's face turned even redder.

"Y-Y-Yeah!"

"I see... but, we need to get to know each other a little more for that, right?"

I could make a lip-service promise to get through this situation. But that would be too dishonest. I don't want to go around committing marriage fraud.

"T... That's true."

Pio was visibly dejected.

"Anyway, I just need to let you escape from here, right. Then you should go up those stairs to the roof."

"The roof, got it."

Just as I started up the stairs after being guided, an angry roar came from below.

"Oi! Why are you out!"

Peeking down from the handrail, Luciano and several subordinates were looking up at me with dumbfounded faces.

"Crap!"

I hurriedly pulled my head back and ran up the stairs.

Opening the door to the roof, the night view of the old town filled my vision. 

Each individual light faintly illuminated the intricate waterways.

The pleasant sea breeze and the star-filled sky. The crowded brick buildings.

This is Venice. The City of Water was beautiful even when viewed at a time like this.

The building I was confined in is four stories high, and the roof height is ten meters above ground.

I immediately locked the door and searched for an escape route around me.
I found an emergency staircase. But I could tell loud footsteps were already coming up from below. I'm cut off. That way is no good.

At that moment, my smartphone vibrated nonchalantly.

"Ah."

Seeing the caller's name, a voice slipped out. Honestly, it's a pretty hard situation right now. But I answered the phone without hesitation.

"Hel-looo! Shishou! Yes. Is it happening now? I'm totally fine!"

『It sounds pretty noisy over there, though.』

From the phone, the voice of Oitsuki Sakuya, which I've become quite used to hearing lately. With the door about to be kicked down at my back, I enjoyed the conversation with my Shishou.

"Actually, I'm in between takes on location. We're filming an action scene after this."

While talking, I did a quick lap of the roof.

It's all old buildings around. And the distance from the edge of the roof to the next building is relatively close. Yeah. I can make this.

"Shishou—. Say it. Tell me to do my best with filming."

『Ah... sorry, I'm such an inconsiderate guy. Ahem. Good luck with the filming!』

"Leave it to me!"

The moment I hung up, the door was kicked down and the mafiosos poured in. Pio was there too, looking at me with a complicated expression. It seems his betrayal hasn't been exposed. They must be proceeding with the story that I escaped on my own.

Well, fine. That's fine. If he said something like "I'll follow you even if I die," that would be more troublesome.

"Yuriu! You really are a woman one can't let their guard down around. You're the best. But do you think you can escape?"

Luciano directed ferocious eyes at me.
But too bad. I've already kicked off my high heels and finished preparing.

"Did you want to play a movie-like chase? But that won't happen... H-Hey! What are you doing! That's... stop!"

Ignoring Luciano's voice trying to stop me, I started running.

Gunshots rang out. Several bullets grazed me.

"Don't shoot!" Luciano yelled at his subordinates.

In that interval, I leaped from the edge of the roof, still in my wedding dress.
Drawing an arc, I jumped to the roof of the next building. The distance was barely enough.

"Catch her! Alive!"

Luciano's angry roar echoed behind me.
I waved to them and jumped to the next building just like that.

By the way, what should I do after this? Pretend to be an innocent citizen and run into the police?

No, that's no good. Luciano is connected with the local police too.

As I was thinking, I heard gunshots from behind, and a potted plant right next to me shattered.

Oh dear. Those were probably flowers someone was raising with love in a roof garden. Even for warning shots, they're terrible.

The young mafia guys are chasing after me along the buildings. Cutting across a place with no cover like this isn't a smart choice.

I went down a nearby emergency staircase a little, then jumped towards the window of the building right next to it.

Breaking through the glass and tumbling in, it wasn't a private room but a place like a party hall. Seems it's an established luxury hotel.

Thanks to the bright red carpet covering the floor, I don't have a single injury.

There were around twenty people in the hall, each holding drinks or snacks. Their eyes were all fixed on me, and it was dead silent.

If a woman in a wedding dress suddenly crashed through the window and tumbled in while they were enjoying a pleasant chat, anyone would react that way.

I stood up immediately and calmly brushed the dust off my dress.

"Excuse me. Sorry for the disturbance. I'll leave immediately."

I walked briskly toward the hall doors.
If I take it too slow, those guys will be here soon.

But—before that.

I stopped in front of a lady and told her while looking her in the eyes:

"I want the clothes and shoes you're wearing, and your car."

After a moment of silence, a burst of laughter erupted in the room.

"Aren't you going to ask for my wallet too?"

It's a hassle, so maybe I should just knock her out.
Just as I thought that and tried to move into action, I heard that voice.

"What a coincidence to meet in a place like this. Did you run away from church or something? Bride-san."

She was occupying a fluffy chair prepared in the center of the hall, smiling while stabbing a fork into an expensive-looking cake.

"Here I was, enjoying a modest tea party after renting out the whole hotel, and you come visiting in such a dusty getup. You're as unlikeable a woman as ever."

"What the hell, Fuck My Life. Of all places, you're here. Of all people—Millionaire Phantom Thief."

"Seems you are enjoying Venice. Empress."

The woman who makes my skin crawl the most in the world, Chardina Infericous, was there.

"I was enjoying it to the max. Until I saw your face. Casually going on a spending spree gathering a mob of friends in a place like this? Just what a woman with small change stuffed in her head instead of brains would do."

Since I spotted her face, I can't ignore her and leave. Even if I'm in the middle of being chased by dozens of mafiosos.

"A person who can't even buy shoes has such a poor vocabulary."

Two women were waiting near Chardina.

"Ojousama, would you like some tea?"

"Thank you, Carmina."

The cold-looking woman using a knife as a hair ornament is Carmina. Chardina's right arm. Skilled in handling firearms, and her unnecessarily protruding chest and butt are an eyesore. But mine are bigger.

"Ojou, let's Kill her. I don't really get it but, let's just Kill her now."

The one who looks ferocious like a shark is Altra. Chardina's left arm, and actually a ferocious guy. In contrast to Carmina, she specializes in close combat utilizing her slender body nearly 180 centimeters tall—also known as simple assault.

"Wait, Altra. Whether to do her or not is for Char-ojousama to decide as she pleases. Not for you to propose."

"Aah? What, Carmina? I'm talking to Ojou, so why did your milk bags butt in, hey! Seriously annoying. Curse youuu."

The right arm and left arm suddenly started fighting.

"No playing around. Throwing insults and the smell of blood are the worst during tea time."

Chardina sipped her tea leisurely as if she was used to it, and licked her lips.

"Hey, Empress. Since we both just got out of boring cells, let's have a little more emotional leeway and enjoy life."

Cells—meaning Chardina is talking about the prison where we were both incarcerated.

"Don't need you to tell me, I'm singing its praises. Even now—"

Simultaneously as I said that, the teacup Chardina was holding suddenly shattered as if exploding.

A gunshot sound. It seems a bullet was fired from outside the window.

I flipped a nearby table and immediately took cover.

"Caught up already."

Man, I should have just escaped quickly instead of dealing with Char.

Checking outside the window, I saw the mafia group on the roof of the adjacent building.

Luciano, didn't you say don't shoot? Can't your subordinates follow a single order from their boss?

They look like they're about to storm this building any moment.

In that rather tense situation, a suddenly frantic voice rang out.

"O-Ojousama!"

It was Carmina's voice.

She was worrying about Chardina with a pale face. Following her gaze, I looked at Chardina and involuntarily burst out laughing.

Chardina's face was soaking wet from the tea that splashed when the cup broke.

"Carmina, Altra..."

Chardina ordered her subordinates with a villainous expression that was the very embodiment of a 1466-year prison sentence.

"Engage!"

"As you wish."

"Nyahaha! Here it comes!"

The moment that single command echoed in the hall, Carmina and Altra—as well as everyone else in the place—took out firearms from somewhere and assumed combat stances.
Come to think of it, when the first bullet was fired, not a single person flinched or screamed.

"Give them a thank you gift for throwing unrefined lead bullets into Char's tea party!"

Everyone is trained.

A simultaneous counter-barrage.
And the glamorous hotel hall turned into a battlefield drifting with gunpowder smoke.

In an instant, every window glass shattered, and the lace curtains became riddled with holes.

Instead of a tea party, it's now a shoot-out between two buildings across a street.

"I'm appalled. were they all your private soldiers?"

I had heard rumors that Char kept a small elite force of soldiers in addition to her direct guards Carmina and Altra, but this is my first time seeing them.
If I recall, the unit name was Easy Money. Supposedly called EM.

"Hmph. Empress, before making you understand, I have to exterminate the rude mice that swam over from Sicily. The tea party is over too. The worst."

Bullets flew overhead, and splashes of broken champagne rained down like a shower.

Today is a hard day.

But looking at Chardina's displeased face, I'm starting to feel into it.

"Good, do more! Crush each other as much as you can. You blockheads! Ahyahya."

Chapter 3: Please Absolutely Do Not Let Go

After being carried out of the gondolas, as a temporary measure, the bodies were laid out in the basement of the nearby staff station.

When we were let inside, the bodies were lined up in a row on blue sheets.
The number, a total of sixteen people.
Of course, they were covered with blankets and sheets from above, but facing that number of dead, there was something overwhelming about it.

A nightmarish sight. This is a catacomb suddenly established in an amusement park meant to give dreams.

Despite that, Lilitea approached the bodies with a stout attitude and bent her knees.

I followed suit.

Putting on gloves and clasping my hands in prayer, I lifted the sheet and examined the first body.

Dressed in a hoodie and sweats. A knife was stuck deep into a spot slightly to the left of the center of his back.

"Stabbed from behind while being straddled?"

I tried to imagine the moment of the tragedy. In the narrow gondola, he probably couldn't even run around.
Peeking at his face, the victim was still a young boy. Just in case, I checked the pulse in his neck, but it had already stopped. His pupils were dilated too.

Beside the body, a black backpack with a yellow line, thought to be his personal property, was placed.

"...Huh? This person..."

The moment I saw it, a memory inside me was stimulated.

"Sakuya-sama, was there something concerning?"

"Not concerning, but seeing this backpack design just reminded me. I recognize... this person. I saw him on the train when coming to Mizushima Park."

The person who was dozing off leaning against the door. Since there were few passengers on the train, he remained in the corner of my memory by a narrow margin.

To think I would meet him again in this form.

"Well, not that it means anything," I cut off the talk and reached for the backpack.

Inside was a wallet, pass case, folding umbrella, black cap. And a navy blue sports towel. I couldn't tell immediately because of the color, but it had absorbed a considerable amount of blood.

"Did he try to staunch the bleeding with the towel on impulse after being stabbed?"

A student ID also came out.

"Isokawa Commercial High School, Information Processing Course, 2nd Year, Mashiba Taku. Same age as me..."

Suddenly, a painful feeling welled up. I pushed it down and organized my thoughts.

Isokawa Commercial is a high school quite far from here. Did he come all the way to Mizushima Park? And alone?

Beep-beep—

At that time, an electronic sound unsuited to the place rang out. Wondering what it was, it was the sound of the wristwatch Mashiba Taku was wearing. It seemed to be notifying exactly 7:00 PM.

By now, rumors of the incident are probably spreading on the net. I wonder if Mizushima Park, having just restarted, will be okay.

"...Hm?"

Suddenly, I felt like I saw something under the wristwatch he was wearing.
That is—.

"Sakuya-sama."

Just then, I was poked in the side, and my attention was completely diverted.

"W-What is it, Lilitea!"

"There was something like this in the side pocket of the rucksack. What is this?"

What she took out was a portable game console cartridge.

"Ah, that's nostalgic. I was hooked on that in elementary school too."

Or rather, even now I sometimes get nostalgic and pull it out of the closet to play. He must be that type too.

"Mashiba-kun, maybe he was a gamer too. But... huh? The console wasn't in there? The game machine itself."

"Yes. Just that."

"Hmm..."

Although there were parts that didn't quite sit right, I saw what I needed to see. I returned the items, covered the body with the sheet, and clasped my hands in prayer once more.

The next body was a middle-aged male. His mouth area was terribly dirty. Since he was dead, it was only natural, but his complexion was terrible too.

"She is wearing the same ring."

Lilitea, who had examined the body next to him first, said so. A woman also around her forties was laid there.

"I see, so these two are a couple."

"Judging from the state of the bodies, this couple seems to have been brought to death by poison."

Identifying the type of poison was naturally difficult here. We have no choice but to leave that point quietly to the police forensics.

"No noticeable external wounds. Then it must be ingesting poison."

If it's poisoning, there's no need to go to the trouble of invading a rotating Ferris wheel; just having the target drink it beforehand would suffice.

"Did the poison happen to take effect while they were on the Ferris wheel, and they died?"

"There seem to be possibilities other than ingesting poison. Please look at this."

Looking, Lilitea had rolled up the sleeves of the couple's clothes to show me. There were fresh injection marks on the inside of both their elbows.

"Does this mean... the culprit injected poison into their veins? No, isn't that difficult? The victims would naturally resist."

"It is possible if they were put to sleep with sleeping pills or alcohol. Assuming the crime could be prepared any way before boarding Tre-Ches."

"I see. That possibility too—"

"However, if they were going to go that far to inject them, they could have just made them drink poison instead of sleeping pills, so there is no significant meaning to this deduction."

"...Aren't you removing the ladder a bit fast?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Oi, what are you chattering about. Look at this one too."

Cutting in, Fido called out to us. He was examining the bodies in order from the completely opposite side from us.
Going over there, Fido indicated the neck of one victim with the tip of his nose.

There was a painful stab wound left on the throat. The clothes, stained blackish-red, told the story of intense bleeding.

"One thrust to the throat. Judging by the size of the wound, a knife... no, maybe a kitchen knife? There was an army knife stuck in that high schooler's back over there, but was no weapon left at the scene here?"

"Don't jump the gun. No one called you over to hear such a lecture. Looking at the neck is correct, but what you should focus on is next to it."

"Next to it?"

For a moment I didn't understand Fido's intent and was confused. But gradually, my eyes focused on another sign left on the body.

"On the neck... a bruise."

"Right. It's almost faded, but there's a mark like being strangled by some string-like object."

""This person was strangled?""

Belka and my thoughts unisoned perfectly. Fido barked, "Are you both morons?"

"I said it's fading. This isn't a mark made today. At least a few days have passed. Besides, this isn't something made by being strangled by someone."

The ligature mark left on a victim's neck differs between hanging suicide and strangulation. He's talking about that.

"In other words, this is... an attempted hanging suicide?"

"Unless the victim was into some hard nocturnal hobbies, likely so. ...Wait, Sensei! Saying such vulgar things that blaspheme the dead again!"

The first half was Fido, the second half Belka's words. I'm getting used to the switching of Belka's tone that looks like a one-man play.

"But then, Sensei, this rope mark on the neck has nothing to do with the cause of death, right? Then what are you so concerned about? Sorry Sakuya. Sensei has a roundabout side like this sometimes. Wandering round and round the truth. Maybe this is also one of a detective's natures... Ouch! Sensei, don't scratch my thigh with your front paw!"

Suddenly, the British detective and assistant started fighting. To an onlooker, it only looked like playing with a pet dog.

"Whether it's the cause of death or whatever is irrelevant right now. Here, look at this body too."

Fido invited us to another body right next to it. The sheet was already pulled back.

"This is the first body I examined. How about it, anything concerning?"

Told so, I brought my face closer.
No external wounds. This person probably died from poison too.

"Concerning... concerning... Ah!"

My hand reached out involuntarily at the discovery. I took the victim's left hand and exposed the inside of the wrist so everyone could see.

There were fine cuts on it. Some old scars, and some new wounds that looked like they were made on top of them.
They don't look like wounds made when fighting a culprit. Which means—.

"Hesitation wounds from wrist cutting."

"Yeah. And that victim over there was an attempted hanging suicide."

For a moment, the place fell silent as if time had stopped. Police sirens were echoing in the distance.

"Does that mean... ah!"

I hurriedly ran to the body of Mashiba Taku, whom I examined first. A wristwatch was on his left wrist. Kneeling on the floor, I shifted it with impatient feelings.

What emerged from underneath were scars from wrist cutting similar to those on the other victim.

"Mashiba Taku... was he also suicidal?"

I reached for the backpack left by Mashiba Taku again. The game cartridge came out of the side pocket.

Come to think of it, the fact that only the game software was in the backpack without the console itself was one of the clues.

Surely, usually when going to school or such, he must have carried the game console itself in the backpack along with the software. But today he left it at home.

Because until he came here, he wasn't in the mood to play games. And because he knew he wouldn't be playing games on the way back anymore.

Because he had decided to end his own life today.

But only the small cartridge that had been left in the side pocket remained.

"Good grief. Looks like we need to examine the other bodies with that intention."

We split up and examined all the bodies there again. With 'that intention', as Fido put it.

As a result, hesitation wounds from suicide were found on eight of the sixteen total victims.

"Meaning half the people were people with suicidal desires...?"

At the common point among the victims that suddenly emerged, I felt a chill before the joy of a detective.

"This doesn't seem like a coincidence."

"No, Sakuya-sama. It is not half."

Lilitea denied my words. She was standing in front of the couple examined second.

"The injection marks remaining on this couple's arms. Or perhaps, traces of drug use."

"Drugs..."

Certainly, it makes far more sense than thinking they were forcibly injected with poison by a culprit.

"There might have been a painful reality they wanted to forget, but this couple, weren't they placed in a predicament that made them despair of life?"

"Well, well. A bad-taste map has emerged. Ten in total, huh. But it's just that ten happened to show easy-to-understand signs like wrist scars; the other victims might have chronically harbored suicidal impulses without exception."

Fido looked at me with a sharp expression as if baring his fangs.

"I see. So that's it..."

I stood up as if accepting his gaze.

"The crime scene is inside Ferris wheel gondolas where a culprit couldn't possibly get in and out. And not one or two, but fifteen locked gondolas. There's no culprit who could go around killing sixteen people in just ten minutes in such a place. If this impossibility holds true, then it is—nothing other than the victims arranging a mass suicide together."

"Well, that's probably it. Then what's concerning is..."

"It seems necessary to check hospital visit histories. We might see something from there."

"Well that's true too, kid, but what I'm concerned about is something else entirely."

Fido moved his nose as if sniffing something in the void. Like trying to sniff out some scent drifting through the entire incident.

Eventually, wearing a sharp expression like aiming at prey, he gave a bark toward Belka.

"Got a little something to do, so I'm stepping out for a bit. Belka, let's go. The slowpoke police will be here soon anyway. Let them investigate. Gotta have them work a little. —Ah! Wait, Sensei!"

Saying that, Fido took his assistant and quickly left the room.

"However, Sakuya-sama."

Lilitea's eyes wavered slightly.

"If it is suicide, how do you explain the cause of death for that victim, Mashiba Taku-san?"

As if engrossed in the mystery before her eyes, Lilitea continued.

"He was stabbed in the back with a knife. A position he couldn't possibly reach to stab himself. Even assuming he had a third party help him, inside a locked gondola..."

Impossible.

That was a perfectly valid question, but I already had an idea about the method. Now that the person I saw on the train and Mashiba Taku were connected.

"There's no need to stab himself after boarding Tre-Ches, nor is there a need to have someone help him. He, Mashiba-kun, had already prepared for suicide on the train bound for Mizushima Park Station."

"What do you mean?"

Lilitea tilted her head like a doll. Since Lilitea didn't see Mashiba Taku on that train, it's natural she didn't reach the same thought as me.

"At that time, he was leaning against the train door with his back. Thinking back now, it was strange. The train was empty enough to sit anywhere, yet he purposely stood in front of the door while it was moving. But there was a reason for that. A reason he had to do so."

My voice seeped into the walls and ceiling of the room where the dead slept.

"Haven't you seen a scene like this, Lilitea? You know, someone rushing into a train just before departure gets a bag strap or coat hem caught in the door, and the train departs just like that. Apparently, the closing pressure of those doors is amazing, and once caught, it doesn't come out easily."

"...Surely not, Sakuya-sama."

It seemed to click for Lilitea too.

"Mashiba Taku, he used the door. Just before the train door closed, he intentionally had the knife hidden in his backpack get caught in the door along with the backpack. With the blade tip pointing toward himself. By doing so, he fixed the knife to the door. After that, he just had to pretend to wear the backpack and lean his entire weight onto the blade tip protruding from the door. That way, the blade tip penetrates the backpack and stabs into his back."

At that time, to my eyes, he looked like he was dozing off while standing. But in reality, that wasn't it.

He wasn't dozing. He was suffering. It hurt so much he couldn't bear it, and he was staggering.

At that time, the knife was already stuck in his back, and bleeding had started. He was enduring the pain while wiping it with the towel he brought.

"The fact that he maintained consciousness until the incident occurred in the evening means he probably investigated locations that wouldn't be fatal and the depth of the wound beforehand, then executed the disguise."

"And he hid the knife stuck in his back by wearing the rucksack, and boarded Tre-Ches in that state—"

"Right. Once settled inside the Ferris wheel gondola, he lowered only the backpack from his shoulders. And he pressed the knife stuck in his back strongly against the gondola chair, or perhaps the wall."

"And the knife reached a fatal depth, is what you are saying."

We connected words as if tossing a ball back and forth.

"Look," I held up the backpack again to show.

"Looking closely with that intention, there's a small cut in the part that presses against the back, and a hole is open."

Traces of the knife blade passing through.

"However... then why did he want to make the suicide look like a homicide to that extent?"

"I don't know that yet... but probably, Mashiba-kun wasn't the only one who wanted to make it look like a homicide."

Even if the victims thought to be poisoned had taken poison themselves at another location beforehand before boarding Tre-Ches, there are many victims with external wounds caused by blades.

There are external wounds, yet not a single weapon was left at the scene. Why is that?

"...Because they concealed the weapons themselves?"

"By doing so, they wanted to make it look like a terrifying slaughter occurred, not suicide."

It's not that a terrifying murderer disappeared from the locked gondolas with the weapons.

"Mashiba Taku disguised his suicide method. The others concealed the weapons. In doing so, whether large or small, despite the difference in elaboration, everyone matched in trying to make their suicide look like a homicide."

Leaving a knife stuck in the back, or attempting suicide by drinking poison; it's natural to think they did the way of dying and disguise method based on their own ideas.

"If there is a culprit in this tragedy, it is the people who committed suicide themselves, is that it?"

"Ironically, yes. And about those essential missing weapons... possibly."

"Ah."

Just as I started to say it, Lilitea let out a childish voice. Her face was slightly flushed. It was the expression of elation she shows the moment dots connect in a deduction.

"I know. Under the gondola window, right?"

"Yeah, I thought that might be it too."

"I knew it!"

Lilitea clapped her hands together in front of her chest.

Three seconds later. Returning to herself, Lilitea lowered her hands looking awkward, and glared at me with ji-to eyes as if to say 'you saw that'. Don't glare.

"Part of the underside of Tre-Ches juts out over the river flowing next to the park. Surely the people who committed suicide threw the weapons into the river from there. But... one thing that concerns me is whether they really had the composure to throw the weapons into the river after sustaining fatal wounds."

No cover-up work can be done after dying.

"Including that, anyway, let us go verify it."

Lilitea walked briskly toward the break room exit with a prim expression.
She seemed ashamed of herself for surrendering to the pleasure of solving a mystery even for a moment.

So, where exactly did Lilitea and I head to verify our hunch? The river flowing right next to Mizushima Park.

Once we left the park, we walked all the way around the perimeter, aiming for the spot directly beneath the Ferris wheel.

"Around here, maybe?"

Having made a rough estimate, Lilitea and I climbed over the railing installed on the sidewalk and approached the very edge of the riverbank.

Just as I leaned out, careful not to fall, Lilitea switched on a flashlight next to me. We had borrowed it from the staff when we left the park.

"See anything left, Lilitea?"

"Hard to say. Time has passed, and it is possible they have already sunk to the bottom. If not, perhaps they were washed downstream... Ah. But something... just now, reflected the light for a moment."

When she pointed out the area and I peered in, sure enough, something was caught among a cluster of water plants peeking out from the water surface near the bank.

I firmly grasped Lilitea's left hand, supporting her as she leaned out over the river.

"I am relying on you, Sakuya-sama. Please absolutely do not let go."

"Obviously. Who do you think you're talking to?"

Lilitea stretched her right arm out desperately, trying to pick up whatever was caught in the water plants.

"Sakuya-sama... a little more forward. Yes, more... wro— not like that... Sakuya-sama... hey, Sakuya, do it properly."

It was a joint operation while being scolded by Lilitea.

"I got it! Sakuya-sama, this is... ah!"

Well, needless to say, or rather, at that point, both of us fell. Into the river.

The river was about chest-deep on me, so there didn't seem to be any danger of drowning.

Impatient to even climb up the bank, we examined what we found right there on the spot.

What we discovered was an ordinary kitchen knife sold anywhere.

Perhaps washed clean by the river, no blood adhesion was seen on the blade, but a faint bloodstain could be seen on the wooden handle. Maybe marks from the suicide victim gripping it strongly.
If forensics examines it properly, blood reaction and fingerprints will likely be detected from there.

"I see, I wondered what the trick was, but so that's it."

A vinyl string was tied to the part between the handle and the blade. And a fist-sized stone was tied to the end of the string.

Looking up from that spot, I could see several gondolas jutting out directly overhead in a row.

"Yeah. The position fits perfectly too."

String and stone. This is the trick that allowed the weapons to be concealed after death.

"The people who committed suicide dropped the weapons into this river from the gondola windows at that point."

"They dangled the weight tied to the string outside through the gap in the window, correct?"

"Yeah. Then, using the knife, for example, they thrust it into their throat. When the suicide victim lets go of the weapon on the verge of death, the weight naturally falls. Naturally, the knife tied to the other side falls into the river along with it. And so the weapon disappears from the gondola, and the suicide victim breathes their last."

Once understood, it's a simple mechanism. Nothing particularly novel or revolutionary. You could call it classic.
Or perhaps there was a possibility of other guests seeing the moment the weapon fell, but when the incident occurred, it was already after sunset. They probably didn't worry about that either.

If we search the river with more people, we might find other weapons too.

Climbing out of the river, I caught my breath.

"Ugh, my body's cold... But this makes it clear. This incident is a disguised mass suicide. There's no doubt about that anymore."

Lilitea took off her wet shoes and socks and was diligently wringing out the hem of her skirt.

Staring at the falling drops, Lilitea suddenly spoke.

"However, in that case, I understand even less the motive for why they went this far."

Entering the park again and returning to the base of Tre-Ches, a large number of police officers had already gathered there. At the center of them were Detective Fido and his assistant Belka.

"Yo, drowned rats. Judging by that souvenir, looks like the results were excellent."

Seeing Lilitea and me arrive, Fido said jokingly.

Hakuchi—a sound came from beside me.

"I sneezed," Lilitea muttered embarrassedly.

One of the police officers came over.

"It's currently sealed off. Children, go home now."

A person faithful to his duty. He isn't wrong about anything.

However, Fido told that officer, "He's fine." Whether it was because he had already revealed his identity, or because Detective Fido's ability and achievements were known within the police force without needing to reveal them, all the officers there seemed convinced by his words.

Not a single cry of the crane, but a single bark of the dog.

Just as I was thinking that was quite a good analogy, a displeased voice came from behind.

"Oi, oi, oi, why are you here again?"

Turning around, our unpopular detective, Manzorogi Kaoruta, was standing there.
Apparently, he wasn't off duty today.

"Manzorogi-san, you came too. What a coincidence. At the amusement park alone today?"

But I dared to misunderstand on purpose.

"It's work! You can tell by looking!"

"For work, you seem to have made a late entrance."

"Shut up. I heard a terrible incident happened in the park so I came to see... Good grief, why are you always at the scene of dangerous incidents every single time?"

"However, this time, I'm not the only detective."

Prefacing with that, I introduced Fido standing next to me to Manzorogi.

"I know. Fido-san, I was surprised when I received your sudden call earlier. When did you arrive in Japan?"

"Ah, you know Fido after all? Wait, eh? Fido, you went to call Manzorogi-san?"

"Know him? He's Tatsuya's sworn friend. Long time no see. You haven't changed a bit."

Manzorogi approached Fido with an strangely polite attitude. I'm seeing this Manzorogi for the first time. It's a huge difference from his attitude toward me.

"Your coat looks youthful as ever. The brushing skills must be good. Yep."

"Regarding that, I declare here that it is my achievement."

Belka puffed out her chest.

"Belka-chan looks well too. Still constructing wild deductions and troubling Fido-san as usual?"

"Kaoruta-kun, stop saying it like that, it invites misunderstanding! In the last case, I was actually pretty close! Just that the result was a completely different person being the culprit."

"Sure, sure."

"You don't believe me, do you? Then even in this case, I will... You shut up for a bit, Belka. So, now that the actors are all here, let's wrap this up."

Mercilessly hijacking the mouth of Belka who tried to protest again, Fido addressed everyone.

"Sorry to the Japanese police gentlemen who finally rushed to the scene, but we have mostly grasped the full picture of this incident on our side. The rest is just arresting the culprit, but that's your job. So, let's share the information first."

After gathering everyone's attention firmly, Fido briefly explained the sequence of the incident.

"Seventeen casualties. At first, I couldn't wonder enough who the hell would do such a whimsical thing as massacre people inside a rotating Ferris wheel, but as the investigation proceeded, it became clear this wasn't a murder case, but likely a mass suicide."

The officers stirred slightly. Disregarding that, Fido stated the rationale for thinking it was suicide.

"You'd think suicide would be obvious at a glance? However, every single one of the suicides politely disguised it to look like a homicide. Right?"

I wish he wouldn't suddenly throw it to me. I sent a gaze of protest, but Fido was already scratching behind his ear with his hind leg as if it were a hassle.

"Ahem... Yes. There were no weapons at the scene, and some bodies clearly appeared to be homicides, so everyone was confused initially. But, we just found this from the river right over there."

I showed the knife I found to Manzorogi. The souvenir Fido mentioned.

"It's a kitchen knife thought to be used by one of the suicides. There are probably fingerprints left too. The string and stone tied to it are a mechanism for disguise."

Handing the knife to a nearby officer, I continued to supplement about the concealment of the weapon.
Fido agreed with that too, saying, "Well, that's about the size of it."

"What... does that mean this is it? That there is no culprit in this incident?"

Manzorogi seemed somewhat let down.

"Who knows. By the way, Kaoruta, did you check what I asked earlier?"

"Yeah, I didn't know what was what, but I had my subordinates check. What is this about?"

"Listen, kid, while you were enjoying bathing with your assistant young lady, we were working diligently over here. Though we might be slightly inferior to the Japanese in diligence."

While Fido grumbled eloquently, Manzorogi took out his notebook and opened it.

"Umm, well. The victims... or rather, suicides, I suppose; most of them possessed something identifying, so identification was instant. As Fido-san told us, based on that, we had their respective accounts checked. And several reports came up, but so far, money in the millions had been transferred to every account we finished investigating."

"Ehh!? What's that? Money was transferred to dead people? That's weird!"

Even without being Belka, I couldn't hide my surprise at that information.

"A large sum... indeed."

An amount far removed from me.

"Yeah. The dates are all within this past half-month. I think reports on the others will come up later, but there will probably be no exceptions."

Mass suicide took place, and behind the scenes, there is a person who paid them money.

I thought deeply about what that fact pointed to.

"So there is a person who incited them and controlled them with money?"

"That's exactly it. Someone drew the picture. When that someone thought about a way to move multiple suicides in alignment, they probably figured money was the quickest way. In fact, its efficacy sometimes works better than God's sermons."

Fido read the culprit's thoughts, and that reading was spot on.

"The name of the sender is..."

"A pseudonym, likely."

Needless to say, Fido interrupted Manzorogi's words.

"Yes. It says—Jirokichi."

The real name of Nezumi Kozo, a thief in the Edo period. Famous for distributing stolen money and goods to the poor.

"If I recall, I read in a book that he had a separate main profession, and thievery was like a side job. Though the authenticity is uncertain."

Lilitea displayed her knowledge at this perfect moment.

"Don't know if they're playing the noble thief, but there's someone quite generous out there. No, too generous."

Just as Fido says. It's a large sum to begin with, but considering it was transferred to over a dozen people, it amounts to a tremendous figure.

"Moreover, to go that far just to have them commit mass suicide on a Ferris wheel. I can't understand. Thanks to that, this Ferris wheel has completely become a suicide spot."

Belka burned with righteous indignation.

"We intend to investigate the source of the transfer from now on too, but..."

"Doesn't seem like a rat that would let you grab its tail from such a place, though."

"Rat... huh. Just what kind of weirdo would plan something like this. They might be laughing somewhere right now."

"Um."

Against the cursing Manzorogi, Belka raised her hand.

"About that mastermind, isn't it possible they were riding the Ferris wheel together when the incident occurred?"

"...You mean they were at the scene?"

"Yeah. From the culprit's perspective, there must have been absolute anxiety about whether a large number of unconnected people would commit suicide in the gondolas as planned. So I think they were watching the scene from somewhere. If so, I thought the special seat for that would be the same Ferris wheel."

I see. That certainly seems plausible.

"Come to think of it, I heard from one of the staff. That amidst the chaos after the incident occurred, they felt like the number of victims carried out had decreased by one."

Receiving Belka's remark, I also presented a piece of information.

"I thought maybe that person was the culprit, and they pretended to be a victim and left the scene—or so I thought, but..."

However, my thought was immediately denied by Fido.

"That's not it."

"Why?"

"I said it earlier. That there are seventeen victims."

"Seventeen..."

Come to think of it, he might have said that. I had heard sixteen, and confirmed it too, so I thought it was a slip of the tongue, but was it not?

"One more increased. Just now. Right?"

Fido glanced at Manzorogi. Receiving that, Manzorogi nodded.

"On the way to the scene, a crowd had formed at the hedge beside the entrance/exit gate. Wondering what it was, I rushed over to find a male collapsed there. Unfortunately, his heart and lungs had already stopped by then. Detailed cause of death will be sent to forensics, but in my view, it's poison."

"Already, dead..."

"Yeah, in other words, that male was also one of the suicides. We just had the staff in charge of the Ferris wheel check the victim's face, and they said it was a face and clothing they remembered as a customer."

"Then that person..."

"Probably decided to commit suicide just like the others. But failed to die on the spot, and woke up in that corpse room."

Taking back the conversation, Fido spoke.

"Must have been terrified. Waking up to heaps of corpses around him, staff in panic. Big uproar. Oh no, this has turned into a terrible thing. So even if he panicked and ran away from there, it would be no wonder."

The man instinctively slipped away from the spot without telling anyone, and tried to leave Mizushima Park. Tried to pretend none of it happened.

"But, in the end, he couldn't get out, and breathed his last just one step short..."

"Thus, the death count has—Amen—increased by one. It's depressing."

Saying that, Fido yawned once and sat down flat.

"Huh? Sensei? Wait! Ah-ah, Sensei's concentration ran out. Hey, that attitude is no good. Just a little more. I'll brush you when it's done so do your best. Eh? You do the rest? Moo, so selfish."

Fido and Belka were arguing about something, but in the end, the assistant yielded.

"Um... as you can see, Sensei has lost motivation, so from here, I, the assistant, will take responsibility and take over! So, next is about the hospital visit history of the people who committed suicide."

"Ah, I checked that too as asked by Fido-san. So, how was it?"

When Manzorogi asked, one of his subordinates ran up and started reporting.

Manzorogi listened to the report, then said with a complicated expression that was neither bright nor strong.

"The suicides all apparently had a history of hospital visits in the past. Self-harm, insomnia, depression, drug overdose, et cetera—"

"...I thought so. But even so, that was quite fast work investigating."

"Yeah, I'm surprised at that point too. After all, every single one of them was attending the same hospital—and that hospital is right there, just a stone's throw away."

"Eh!?"

At Manzorogi's reply, Belka raised her voice in surprise.

"Same hospital? Everyone?"

Everyone's gaze poured onto the building visible beyond the park. Toomasu General Hospital, floating dimly in the dark night.
Only Belka, lacking local knowledge, looked blank as if left behind.

Toomasu General Hospital. I see—. So that means, in other words, it is so.

"Is that hospital the building visible over there? Hehh! What an amazing coincidence!"

Belka was honestly impressed.

"But thanks to the hospital being nearby, the injured people could be carried in immediately, so that point was good, right?"

"Yeah. Truly, whether it was convenient or inconvenient for the culprit remains to be seen."

"Eh? Sakuya, what does that mean?"

"It means the culprit is in that hospital."

One tempo later than the conversation between Belka and me, Manzorogi raised his voice.

"The culprit is a doctor!"

Victims and culprit, all of them were gathered in that hospital.

By the time we arrived at the hospital again accompanied by Manzorogi, we already had a mark on the culprit.

We could have asked for their location at the reception, but it would be troublesome if they ran away. So we decided to walk through the hospital and search directly.

On the way, I spotted a figure in a white coat coming out of the restroom. I called out while waving my hand.

"Doctor."

"Hm? Ah, wait a moment. I can't see well without my glasses."

He laughed while wiping the lenses of his favorite black-rimmed glasses with a handkerchief. It was Dr. Warauji, who examined my leg.

"Um... are you the next patient?"

"No, you already examined me."

Warauji put on the wiped glasses and looked at me.

From the moment he looked, his face paled instantly.

"Uwaaaaaah! Why!?"

The scream echoed to every corner of the hallway. Enough to make everyone stop and look back.

"You... definitely... should be dead... ha, haha. I even confirmed the death... hahaha. And yet..."

The handkerchief fell from Warauji's hand.

"A terrible incident happened at Mizushima Park over there today. We have something we want to ask you about that."

Manzorogi conveyed the business while showing his police badge.

I hurriedly restrained the intimidating Manzorogi.

"Manzorogi-san, calm down. It's wrong, not that person."

"...Wrong, is it?"

"Yes. I'd like to ask Dr. Warauji for a little cooperation, but where is that nurse who was examining me together with you during the consultation?"

Clatter—.

A sound came from behind simultaneously with the question.

Turning around, a single nurse was staring at me with wide eyes. A medical questionnaire had fallen at their feet.

"Ah, just perfect. We were looking for you."

The one we were looking for was—Nurse Yaotome.

When I called out, Nurse Yaotome let out a scream surpassing Warauji's, with a face paler than Warauji's.

Manzorogi, seemingly guessing from that appearance, walked up to Yaotome.

"I'm with the Police. We came to ask about the matter at Mizushima Park. Sorry to interrupt your work, but do you have a moment?"

Yaotome's gaze, which had been poured on me, shifted to Manzorogi. Then, shaking their head as if finally understanding the situation.

"W-Why... me...? N-No, wrong! I don't know anything! Don't know!"

That was, well, good enough to call a confession.

Yes. This person is the culprit.
Guessing that the detective had already obtained considerable conviction by the time he reached this point, Yaotome gave up immediately and did not make excuses or rampage any further.

"Please come with us."

However, when gently pushed on the back by Manzorogi, Yaotome suddenly turned back to me as if unable to bear it after all.

"Hey... why...? Why are you alive! You! Oitsuki! I definitely... I definitely should have killed you!"

Manzorogi had quite a hard time subduing him as he became upset again and started rampaging.

I hear nurses rely on physical stamina, and possess strength that cannot be underestimated. Even more so if it's a male nurse.

Now, let me announce the results of this incident first.

The culprit was Yaotome Tetsuto, 28 years old, a nurse working at Toomasu General Hospital.

Yaotome collected and selected information on patients with suicidal desires who visited the hospital, and contacted them so as not to identify himself.

And he proposed mass suicide under specified conditions.

It was also Yaotome who transferred large sums of money to them as Jirokichi.
According to what he confessed later, the first portion transferred was apparently like an advance payment to make the other party trust him.

The promise was that if they really died as instructed, he would transfer the remaining money—I haven't heard the amount though.

"Those people had lost the very will to live. They hurt their own bodies and come to the hospital. Every time, I called out to them... But the words of a mere nurse were useless. Had no effect... It wasn't simply about being in debt and suffering or things like that. It was a problem of fundamental life energy."

But investigating individually, it seems even such people had at least one lingering attachment.

"For a human who has decided to die, one yen and one hundred million yen are equally worthless. The rest is just when to depart—that's all. But it's different for the people they leave behind in this world."

Parents, grandparents, older brothers, sisters, younger brothers, sisters, relatives, or lovers—.

If there is something they can leave behind, they want to leave it. The people Yaotome called out to were all such kind-hearted individuals.

This was also found out later, but one of the suicides actually intended to allocate the received advance payment to the surgery costs of their mother suffering from a serious illness.

Then what was the motive for him wanting to produce a mass suicide to that extent—?

"I wanted to protect it. The scenery of this town."

Staring out from the small window of the interrogation room, Yaotome reportedly said so.

"The patients... I wanted to restore the scenery they see on the verge of death. Where, you ask? From the window of the hospital room of this hospital! The scenery they gaze at last!"

Patients on the brink of death meet their end on the bed of a hospital room. What they see then is inevitably either the ceiling of the hospital room, or otherwise, the scenery beyond the window.

From the west windows of Toomasu General Hospital, one could historically view the Nichirin Ferris Wheel, a specialty of Mizushima Park. The beautiful scenery woven by the Nichirin Ferris Wheel and the local townscape. Gazing at it, many people breathed their last peacefully.

"It had been that way for decades! Since before I was born! And yet, the Nichirin Ferris Wheel was torn down... and what was built in its place was, of all things, that gaudy! Lacking a shred of class! Vulgar gold-painted Ferris wheel! It's ruined! What is that thing! Tre-Ches? Don't screw with me! That thing!"

Yaotome's manner when saying that was apparently ghastly.

"At first, I harassed them by spreading ominous rumors on the net. That an evil spirit haunts the Ferris wheel. But that didn't have much meaning. It was laughed off and that was it... That's why!"

That's why he thought to cause a major incident disguised as a homicide and force Tre-Ches into immediate demolition.

Probably, Tre-Ches will be demolished just as he planned. Now that such an unprecedented incident has occurred, it is difficult to continue operating it with a face as if nothing happened.

Yaotome Tetsuto will be charged with at least inducing suicide, or perhaps aiding suicide.

Thinking about what he did, I have no idea how heavy the crime will be.

Mass suicide production by an active nurse.
I can picture the media reporting it sensationally.

The public will likely bash Yaotome as a 'devil-like nurse'.

Even so, speaking only regarding that motive, there was a speckless benevolence toward those dying in hospital rooms.
Of course, it's not as if having benevolence makes it okay. Nor will the crime be forgiven.

I wonder why he couldn't direct that benevolence for the dying toward the suicides.

Still, regarding the claim that Tre-Ches was ruining the scenery, I have to say I agree.

By the way, after Manzorogi took Yaotome to the police station, Lilitea and I returned to Mizushima Park without time to bask in the afterglow of solving the case.

"If we don't hurry, the park will close."

"Hey Sakuya, you still have business over there?"

To the inquiring Belka, I made a ring with one hand to show her.

"The request to find the lost item remains."

"...I see. Don't really get it but since we came this far, I'll help!"

"Thanks Belka. You're a good guy."

"Don't mention it! We're fellow detectives who challenged the same case! No, friends!"

Since when did we become that close? I don't feel bad about it, though.

"Even so, you were already killed right before the incident? Sakuya really is immortal, huh."

"It's a little different from being immortal, though."

"I heard from Sensei, but I was half-skeptical about coming back to life after being killed."

"...Even I'm still half-skeptical."

"Hey, what's the other world like?"

"The Beatles are trending."

Belka was the only one who laughed at my irresponsible reply.

"But how did you know that man was the culprit? I was surprised just that a nurse was the culprit of the Ferris wheel incident, but to think he had laid hands on Sakuya too."

"Until just now, my hands were full with the Tre-Ches mass suicide incident, so I couldn't deduce satisfactorily regarding the Oitsuki Sakuya Murder Case, but..."

"Sakuya-sama, please do not give such a name to your own death."

"There's no other way to say it. So, since we had some leeway on the way to the hospital with everyone at the end, I thought about various things again. About when I was killed. Look, right around here."

We are just about to cut through the park from the hospital side.

"What did you think about? Let me hear."

Belka leaned her shoulder in.

"I was also curious about that."

Lilitea also leaned her shoulder in from the opposite side of Belka.

"I think Lilitea knows, but looking like this, I'm reasonably used to being attacked."

When I said that, both Fido and Lilitea made exasperated faces. I don't want to say this myself either, but it's a fact.

"So when I was attacked, I tried my best to grab at least one piece of evidence before dying. But no matter how much I thought, I didn't know what the weapon was. Or rather, the culprit didn't hold anything from the start. But it's impossible to produce that destructive power with bare hands. To begin with, that wasn't the sensation of a fist."

Having actually experienced it, I can say clearly.

"Then what did the culprit use to beat me to death? The weapon?"

"Um... what could it be?"

"Before touching on that answer, I have to talk about the culprit's movements. At that time, the culprit attacked me from behind as I headed toward Mizushima Park with the hospital at my back. By the way, I didn't pass anyone on this path at that time, nor was there any noise. And look, as you can see, hedges are growing densely on both sides of the park path. It's impossible to secretly push through the hedge and go around behind me. If they did that, I'd notice immediately from the noise."

"In other words, you mean the culprit came from the direction of the hospital chasing after you, Sakuya-sama."

"Right. That's why I thought maybe the culprit was a hospital person. But if a hospital person ran out holding some weapon, colleagues and patients would be suspicious. To begin with, a nurse running out of the hospital during work hours alone would leave an impression. So the culprit—Yaotome-san changed from his nurse outfit to plain clothes and chased me pretending to be a patient."

If he were wearing a white coat, even I would have recognized it even in the dark park.

"Assuming that's so, what about the weapon problem?"

Say it quickly, Lilitea applied subtle pressure.

I'll say it. I'll say it so don't push with your shoulder.

"So, he was pretending to be a patient. Wearing a cast on his dominant hand."

"Cast... the nurse attacked with a cast?"

"Yeah. Probably. I was shown a sample cast for explanation in the examination room, but probably something of that sort. That strange sensation I felt when hit from behind, different from rock or hammer, was a cast."

"I see, so that's why the culprit didn't hold any weapon in his hand. He didn't need to hold one."

Following Belka's words, Fido said, "Ted Bundy would be surprised."

The madtermind of the mass suicide incident is in the hospital.

The culprit of the Oitsuki Sakuya Murder Case is also in the hospital.

When I reached those two truths, the two incidents suddenly connected with a line.

"If the one who killed me was a hospital person, why did they have to chase me in a panic as I headed to Mizushima Park to kill me? That is because they didn't want to let me go to Mizushima Park. Because they didn't want to let me get involved in the mass suicide incident."

While talking about such things, we returned to Mizushima Park.

The park was already sealed off, and only police personnel were inside, but we were allowed entry on the grounds that we contributed to solving the case. In reality, it might be thanks to Fido's influence.

I told Fido and Belka the characteristics of the ring and asked for their help. They are the most reassuring collaborators possible.

"So the culprit recognized you as a detective, Sakuya-sama, and knew you were heading to Mizushima Park to solve the case."

As we searched diligently for the ring, Lilitea resumed the earlier conversation.

"However, when and how could he have known that?"

"Eh? Still continuing? Rather than that, let's search for the ring, Lilitea."

When I stated the sound argument, my assistant showed me a cute pouting face that said she found it very unexpected.

"Okay. I got it, already. Um, I think the answer to that is the phone call with Lilitea."

"Phone call..."

Come to think of it, we did call—Lilitea muttered.

"At that time, I was on the hospital roof. Off-limits, you know. It's not good, but I thought no one would be there."

"But, Yaotome-san, the culprit, was there?"

"Right. He was lurking on the roof before me. Or rather, maybe he was observing the state of the Ferris wheel from the roof. To confirm with his own eyes whether the suicide was carried out for sure. If something happened, the Ferris wheel would stop. He should have been able to confirm that even from the roof."

Since the roof is off-limits, there is no worry of people coming. Yaotome must have thought so.

And yet I appeared there and started talking on the phone about the incident that just happened.

"Yaotome-san, who hid on impulse, heard that conversation, didn't he."

He must have heard. That I am the son of Oitsuki Tatsuya, hailed as the world's best, and that I am trying to take action for the incident that occurred at Mizushima Park—.

"From Yaotome-san's perspective, he must have been anxious. Thinking the detective would solve the case in no time and come to catch him. And he thought: Right now, I can dispose of him before the detective arrives at the scene. I have to do it."

When I hung up and returned toward the roof door, the one I bumped into was none other than Yaotome.

That wasn't him opening the door and coming out to the roof, but conversely, trying to escape back inside from the roof. But his timing was late, and he exposed his figure in front of me.

Saying he looked around for me must have been a spur-of-the-moment excuse.

"And he chased Sakuya-sama who left the hospital, and killed you with the method from earlier—. Then, the post-processing of the corpse..."

"Probably, Yaotome himself did it. First hiding my body in the park hedge or something, returning to the hospital once, changing into nurse clothes and disposing of the cast, then immediately returning to the park and carrying me into the hospital again on a stretcher as a patient."

Since I was already dead at that time, it's subtle whether I could be called a patient though.

"Then to the doctor... probably Dr. Warauji, but he told him that I, whom he examined just a while ago, died of cerebral hemorrhage. He made him think I died after a time lag due to injuries from the traffic accident."

Actually, I was beaten on the head many times by Yaotome, and that damage decisively damaged my brain which was originally injured in the accident.

"He must have had Dr. Warauji do the death certificate. He might have intended to falsify the detailed procedures later utilizing his position as a nurse. There might have been a possibility of Dr. Warauji objecting, but from the doctor's perspective, it would look like I died because of his misdiagnosis, so he must have had various guilty feelings too. So maybe they agreed to coordinate their stories to some extent, making it so Oitsuki Sakuya was transported due to a traffic accident and treatment didn't make it in time from the start."

Yaotome's plan ended up meaningless because I came back to life early, though.

Finishing listening to the story up to that point, Lilitea let out a small breath.
A face saying she was satisfied.

"Well, it's all imagination. But by now the police are probably pursuing the suspicion of assault on Oitsuki Sakuya too, and they'll probably question Dr. Warauji if necessary, so the truth might reach my ears eventually—ah."

"What is the matter?"

I pointed to what suddenly caught my eye.

"It started moving. Tre-Ches."

"Ah..."

Beyond our gaze, the Ferris wheel began to turn slowly again.

Curious, we approached, and Akutazawa-san, the staff member who told us the story first, found us and waved.

"We finished carrying out all the customers' belongings, and cleaning is done too, but it was decided to move it to confirm there are no problems with the drive just in case. Have to check the gondolas one by one."

A very complicated expression. No, considering the incident that occurred, her attitude can be said to be very admirable. Resolute and very professional.

That's why I couldn't say anything like "what will happen to Tre-Ches now" in front of her.

"Sakuya-sama... that... Sakuya-sama. Hey... Sakuya."

While I was immersed alone in various thoughts, Lilitea suddenly pulled my arm impatiently.

"W-What is it, suddenly. Hey!"

Pulling my arm, Lilitea passed through the Ferris wheel boarding gate and boarded the gondola with open doors just like that.

"Ah! What are you doing. Riding without permission. Isn't that a nuisance to the staff? Come on, let's get off... wait, huh!?"

When I tried to go outside hurriedly, the door was closed right in front of me. Putting my hand on the glass and looking outside, Akutazawa-san was thrusting a fist towards us with a grin on her face. No, what is that fist for?

"Can't be helped. I'll give you one lap as a present." Her face says so.
Seeming to misunderstand something, it turned into a special operation by the staff's smart arrangement.

"Hey Lilitea. What do you intend to do suddenly? Did you want to ride that badly?"

Lilitea was reaching her hand under the gondola chair. Quite far back too.

"...Lilitea?"

"Found it."

Lilitea raised her voice and looked back at me.

"Found it, you say... ah!"

In her hand, a modest diamond ring was shining.

"That... ah! Isn't that the request ring! It was in a place like this!"

"I apologize. I saw something shining for a moment so I jumped in inadvertently."

"So that was it... you surprised me."

Lilitea placed the found ring on her own white handkerchief and handed it to me with gentle hands.

"Great job, Lilitea. With this, the ring search request is complete too."

"Yes. The client couple will be pleased too."

With that decided, I'd like to say we just return to the office—but we have to wait a while until the gondola makes a full rotation.

"Um... it's about ten minutes for one lap, right."

"Yes."

"...I see."

"Yes."

Eye contact with Lilitea again in the narrow gondola. Troubled about where to look, I involuntarily escaped my gaze out the window. The night view spread out there.

glancing softly at Lilitea, she was seated politely on the chair before I knew it, looking up at me.

"Lilitea, um... today was a tough day."

"You worked hard too, Sakuya-sama."

"Yeah."

"Exhausted?"

"Exhausted. Hit by a car, fell in a river, and on top of that killed by a medical worker. Today was kick-the-bucket repeatedly too. If possible, I'd like to be allowed to relax at least until we get back down."

While gazing at the horizon formed by the night view, I got carried away and presented half-joking complaints pom-pom, and my assistant looked up at the ceiling as if pondering something for a moment.

"Just kidding. It's a joke, jo..."

"Sakuya."

Eventually, she lightly tapped her own thighs twice pom-pom, tilted her head, and said this:

"Relax—will you?"

I stumbled involuntarily and hit my head on the gondola wall.

The assistant giggled at the detective's sorry state. Hiding her mouth with both hands, giggling.

Meanwhile, the Ferris wheel that produced a large number of dead turns round and round.

It's nothing but irony, but for me who repeats death, it's a fitting, calming ride.

□

The next day, Lilitea and I were at an open café near the office.

Many people were coming and going on the weekend street. The sky was sunny, but the air was just a little humid.

"Japanese food is delicious no matter where or what you eat. I want to take it back to my country—"

At the next table, Belka was stuffing her cheeks with Neapolitan pasta, looking happy from the bottom of her heart.

"Right, Sensei."

Fido was also at Belka's feet, devouring a hot dog.

They intend to stay in Japan for a while.

"Right, right, that culprit nurse."

Suddenly pausing her eating, Belka spoke to me in a low voice for some reason.

"I investigated, and actually that person himself seemed to be affected by an illness."

"...By an illness?"

"A pretty bad one too... or rather, an illness with low prospects of recovery. Seems he kept it a secret from his workplace."

"...Ah. So that's why."

I was strangely convinced by that information.

"Having attended the deaths of many people, this time he felt his own death close at hand. At that time, maybe he felt it keenly again."

"What do you mean?"

"By having the same feelings and the same perspective as the patients waiting for their final moments, he probably felt despair and anger at the scenery visible from that hospital."

That might have become Yaotome's motive, the driving force that drove him to crime.

At Toomasu General Hospital, several victims are reportedly still in the intensive care unit even now. I hesitate to call people who tried to end their own lives victims, but that means there is a possibility the number of dead will increase further after this.

Of course, there is a possibility they will be saved. But even if they are saved—if they don't regain the will to live, it's the same thing.

"Sakuya-sama, please do not worry yourself too much."

"Thanks Lilitea. But, in this incident, both the victims and the mastermind don't sit right in various meanings."

When I let out a shallow sigh, Fido looked up.

"Don't drag it out forever. If the mystery is solved and the culprit is caught, the detective's job ends there. Rather than that, what you should do now is talk about the future, right?"

Certainly, just as he says.

"You said you wanted information on The Seven—them. But what do you intend to do after finding them? Challenge them to a duel with karate or something one by one for your father's revenge?"

That was of course Fido's joke, but he seemed to be shaking up the indecisive me.

"That... honestly I don't know yet. I just want to know what happened to my old man, and what they did. And then, if I find out they are unforgivable existences to me... at that time, I will catch The Seven Old Men again in my old man's place, and have them return to prison."

"Hmph. Looks too dangerous to watch. Kid, you're the type to get killed first even at a crime scene on a battlefield."

Fido throws harsh words as usual.

"Lilitea often tells me that too."

As I smiled wryly, Belka, who was listening to the story, peeked into my face. Glossy blonde hair swayed on her cheeks.

"Sakuya, sorri. In other words, Sensei wants to say this: He can't leave you alone, so he'll lend you his strength for a while."

"Fido..."

"Listen kid, if you have a goal, gain strength. But that's strength as a detective. I'm not saying become macho like a protagonist in an optimistic States movie or imitate kung fu movies. I'm talking about detective power. Tatsuya probably didn't teach you anything about that anyway. So I'll bully train you as much as I can. I refuse to get caught up in your blunders and face danger myself."

"...Thank you."

"By the way, about yesterday's incident."

As if to say he wasn't interested in words of gratitude, Fido changed the topic fluidly.

"There's still one part that doesn't make sense, right."

"Doesn't make sense?"

"Realize it, you idiot. The source of the money that nurse paid to the suicides."

"That is... true."

"If the culprit were a high-paid doctor, I thought maybe, but I can't imagine that young nurse could prepare it. The amount given to each person was large, and the number of people too many. Now, where did it come from?"

Fido throws a Q. Is this also part of his lesson?

"Meaning... there is a financier?"

"Yeah. So, someone wants to cause mass suicide just to demolish one Ferris wheel. For such a single man's plan, they plunk down tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of yen. Someone for whom such a thing is possible, and likely to do it... I can only think of one... person... mu... uu, wafu."

Fido's words, which had been speaking eloquently and seriously until then, were suddenly disrupted in the middle.

"Cute doggy."

Looking, a strange little girl passing by had boldly squatted on the ground and was petting Fido's head all over. Since when.
Unable to bark at the sudden skinship from a child, Fido was letting it happen.

"What's your naame?"

"It's Fido-sensei—"

Belka responded to the child with a practiced air. For them, this might be an everyday occurrence.

"Ah! I mustn't."

The girl had been enjoying Fido's fur for a while, but stood up as if remembering something important, and brushed dust off her clothes with small hands.

"I was told to hand this over! Here you go!"

And taking something out of her pocket, she handed it to me.

It was the latest model smartphone. More expensive than the one I have.

"This... to me?"

"Yeah. I was asked by an adult over there. To hand it over. Bye-bye, doggy."

Finishing her business, the girl ran away from the spot te-te-te. Her back disappeared into the crowd immediately.

"Why would such a small girl give me something like this...?"

Suddenly, a disturbing air began to drift.

"Asked... by who on earth... Hey, wait!"

Fido stopped Belka who stood up to chase after her.

"Useless. That child knows nothing. They passed it via a complicated route of unrelated people."

We naturally dropped our gaze to the left smartphone.

Then, a call came to the smartphone.
Timing that could be called artistic.

The ringtone was a tune I'd heard before. A famous classical piece—yes, surely Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries'.

The caller's number was not displayed.

We looked at each other's faces instinctively.

Fido nodded.

I made up my mind and answered the phone.

"Pardon me, Sakuya."

The moment that voice vibrated my eardrums, a certain color crossed the back of my eyelids.

That was an eye-stealing vivid crimson. A magnificent dress fluttering in the wind mixed with gunpowder smoke.

"Char... Is it you."

Millionaire Phantom Thief, Chardina Infericous.

"Thank you very much for interrupting Char's charity work."

That opening remark was more than enough to guess everything.
Fido, listening in next to me, also groaned "I knew it" quietly.

"He... um, was it Yaotom? Eh? Yaotome? Whichever. He seemed to need money for his purpose, so Char accommodated him a little. Since it was sudden, I only had 3 million euros in my pocket at the time, but it seemed enough for him."

"You were the funding source. But how on earth."

How could she have known the terrible plan Yaotome kept in his heart.

"Don't you know? Information can be bought with money too. If you scatter a blizzard of bills into the air swoosh, capital fairies will gather interesting information from all over the world and come whisper it into the ear of Char slumbering in the bedroom."

Chardina whispered dreamlike things with a voice containing coquettish components.
Of course, what she said is an allegory. In short, she wants to say she has an information network stretched across the world.

The Millionaire Phantom Thief capriciously picks up information that seems likely to distract her from boredom for a moment, and enjoys it.

Poking with the tip of her toe a domino that looks like it will fall to the other side with one more push.

As a result, a single man named Yaotome obtained funds and fell to the other side.

The one producing the man who produced the unprecedented mass suicide from further behind—was Chardina.

"Why go to the trouble of doing something like this? Because it's interesting?"

"I told you. It's charity work... I said, but if I dare say, well, that Ferris wheel called Tre-Ches or whatever..."

Instantly, the tasteless nouveau riche design of Tre-Ches crossed my mind.

"Don't tell me, the new investor of Mizushima Park is you?"

"No."

However, my imagination was instantly denied.

"If that were so, do you think Char would let them build a Ferris wheel with such a design lacking a fragment of sense? Rather the opposite. When I came to Japan the other day, I didn't like the Ferris wheel I saw from the car window, so I thought I'd break it a little. But just buying it out or blowing it up is boring, so I was wondering what to do. Then Yaotom's plan just happened to roll into my hand, so I decided to have him do it. Because that looked more interesting."

In the end, it boils down to the reason 'because it's interesting'.

If mass suicide occurs, the Ferris wheel stops operation. Eventually, it gets demolished.

The suicide volunteers get large sums of money passed to their remaining families, and can pass away with peace of mind.

"This is a Wen-Wen relationship, right? Oh my, was it Win-Win? If it's Wen-Wen, both are crying loudly."

Chardina laughed. Mocked.

"Char... where are you?"

"Sakuya, are you angry?"

"About my old man, don't you know something?"

"The Immortal Detective, Oitsuki Tatsuya, right. The story is his body was discovered, right?"

"Showing me such a charred body with no discernible face or fingerprints amounts to nothing."

I received an explanation that DNA matched, but such things are ultimately nothing more than data on documents read out by a stranger police officer.

"He wasn't immortal or anything. Happily ever after—is that not good enough?"

"Not good enough."

"Troublesome person. Fine. In that case, come to Reginleiv."

"Reginleiv?"

"My island floating in the Mediterranean. I have a secret second home there. If you come visit from your side, I might tell you about Oitsuki Tatsuya. However, keep it secret from the unrefined police bunch. If you come crying to the stuffy bunch and bring them along, I'll give you a suitable welcome too."

"...Got it."

"Right, right, Sakuya, keep that smartphone safe. It's the only phone in the world with a direct line to Char, okay?"

"Yeah. I'll definitely go see you."

"God speed you."

With those words, the call cut off.

"...Phew."

Released from tremendous tension, I involuntarily let out a breath. Sinking back into the chair, I looked up at the sky.

"Chardina's base, Reginleiv—. Even I have heard the name. An economic experimental special zone not on the map, or something. Wonder what kind of pleasant place it is. Now then, kid, going?"

Fido called out provocatively.

I'm going. I'll go.

I conveyed that to him with my expression.

"Sakuya-sama."

Lilitea gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

I am here, she conveyed.

Just with that, I felt like blood circulated to my cold limbs.

I raised my hand, meaning to propose not only to Lilitea, but also to Fido and Belka.

"For now... shall we all order Pudding à la Mode?"

Let's think after that.

Here is the translation of the provided text, adhering to the character voices, glossary, and style guidelines.

Yuriu Derringer’s Greeting 4

Some time ago, these words danced across the pages of a British tabloid:

Chardina Infericous wields her wealth like magic.
She plunders and steals everything with money.

Therefore, she is called this:
The Millionaire Phantom Thief, "Celebrity"—or perhaps, the Capital Witch.

The author Arthur C. Clarke once said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." It seems that sufficiently hoarded wealth is also indistinguishable from magic.

Chardina’s private army, EM, was just one fragment of the magic she wielded.

The shootout that had erupted accidentally—and then spiraled out of control—between EM and the Luciano Family had developed into something quite flashy.

"None of the kids working under Charu would be stingy with bullets, would they?"

Chardina stood in the center of the bullet-riddled hall, enjoying the situation. She held no gun herself. She didn’t panic, nor did she hide. She simply stood there.

Enemy bullets? Hitting me? Impossible. I’m Charu, you know?

She wore a face that seemed to say exactly that.

"We’re going outside. It’s unbearably dusty in here. Carmina."

"Yes, Milady."

Having decided to move the battlefield outdoors, Chardina turned on her heel with whimsical grace. The moment she turned, her dress changed.

I doubted my eyes for a second, but it seemed she had performed a quick-change. The one who pulled it off was Carmina, waiting by her side. A stunning sleight of hand. Or rather, where had they been hiding a spare dress until now?

"She just doesn't want to wear a dusty dress for even a second, does she?"

Even though she changed, it was still a similar crimson dress. However, perhaps due to some specific preference, the shade felt subtly different.

Discarding the old dress, Chardina exited the hall with a dashing stride.

I followed her, stepping out of the hotel and onto the street.

The mafia goons were pulling their triggers with desperate looks on their faces, unable to back down now. They probably still didn't quite understand what they were up against.

I couldn't hear police sirens yet.

Surely, Luciano had already sent a message to the police chief: I’m having my men chase a young Asian woman for personal reasons. It might get a little noisy, but pay it no mind.

The chief would pretend not to notice the commotion, savoring the feel of the wad of bills in his pocket for a while longer.

But in this specific instance, I suspect even the mafia were wishing the police would hurry up and arrive.

That was how disciplined, and how merciless, EM was.

Chardina had positioned herself on the roof of a ridiculously long limousine, shouting cold-blooded orders like a conductor.

"Three behind that trailer over there. Kill 'EM."

With every order she gave, her dress changed again. It was like a bride’s wardrobe change at a wedding reception.

Carmina’s speed was magnificent. Blue, orange, pink, yellow, green, black... this time, the colors were rich and varied.

"Niyahaha! Look, look, Milady! I totally Kill-ed 'em!"

"Well done, Altra."

Meanwhile, I picked up a submachine gun dropped by one of the mafia members and lazily brushed off the sparks flying my way.

Guns. Sometimes I shoot them if the situation calls for it, but they really aren't fun to use.

Honestly, I could suppress this place in an instant without using a gun at all.

I would just have to make everyone here fall in love with me.

"But man, the aftermath is such a pain."

A passing delivery truck took a bullet to its tire and overturned spectacularly. Similarly wrecked cars, riddled with holes, had already been abandoned all over the place.

I ran up onto a car and leaped from vehicle to vehicle like I was on an obstacle course.

On the way, I spotted Pio among the mafia group. When Pio saw me, he made eye contact as if to say, "I won't shoot you."

Caught between his organization and love, Pio seemed to be suffering. Not that I cared.

Anyway, Pio was a perfect example.

Once you make them fall in love, when and how they cool off depends entirely on the person. It’s not like hypnosis where you can snap your fingers to revert them.

So, you never know how obsessively they might cling to you later.

That is the troublesome part of this constitution of mine—Yuriu Derringer.

"Well, even if I don't try hard, EM will clean this up on their own. Whatever."

And indeed, by the time Chardina had gone through seven more costume changes, the battle came to an end.

The gunshots grew sporadic, and the family members began to flee one after another. They seemed to have finally realized that the people they were dealing with were neither normal nor sane.

The ruckus was over.

The street had fallen completely silent. The citizens didn't even dare peek out their windows.

As if they had been waiting for this exact timing, I saw a line of patrol cars approaching from the distance.

Two days after the shootout, I was in the Spanish countryside with Chardina.

We had slipped past the police, hopped onto Chardina's private jet, crossed the border together, and were now staying at one of her vacation homes.

I knew it was best to lay low here until the heat died down, but I was getting bored.

Thinking I’d get some fresh air, I went up the stairs to the second-floor terrace in the early morning. I found someone already there.

It was Chardina. She had a smartphone to her ear, talking to someone.

The person on the other end was...

"Sakuya, are you angry?"

Hah?

Why is she connected to Shishou?

And why is she giving off this lovers' quarrel vibe?

"You’re a difficult person. Fine. In that case, come to Reginleiv."

Waiting for Chardina to finish the call, I whispered into her ear from behind.

"What color is your cash card, Little Miss?"

"Kyaaauuughhh!?"

Chardina was so startled she nearly threw her smartphone, leaping away from me. It was a delightful movement.

"Don't startle me!"

"You're as jumpy as ever. Hilarious."

"I just don't like it from behind! No behind!"

Oh, oh, she’s mad, she’s mad.

"Right. Well, I'm not interested in your hidden settings anyway."

"It's not a setting!"

"Ah, boring."

Ignoring Chardina's words, I sat down on a nearby chair.

"You were dancing alone in your room to music yesterday, weren't you?"

"I got bored of that in seconds, too."

Things got exhausting in Venice, but I got the information I needed. I just wanted to ignore everything, go back to Japan quickly, and return to being Haigamine Yuriu.

The detective's disciple.

"This is all your fault to begin with. Bringing that mafia crowd to Charu's party."

Chardina followed my lead and sat in the chair next to me.

"Thanks to that, Charu had to flee Italy too."

"...By the way, that phone call just now."

"Yes. It was Oitsuki Tatsuya's son. What? Curious?"

"Not really."

"We got to know each other a little in Japan."

"Careless as always."

"You’re one to talk. I hear you've been clinging to him lately."

"None of your business. Ah, if you plan on snitching about the real me—Empress—I'll silence you first."

"Charu telling Sakuya? I wouldn't do that. Charu isn't that boy's babysitter. That truly is none of my business. If he's going to call himself a detective, even tentatively, Sakuya has to realize it himself."

When I nailed her down on it, Chardina declared so in a truly dry tone. I didn't like the way she said it. But if she says so, then that’s how it is.

Petty lies lower the strength of one's heart. And the woman known as Chardina doesn't tell that kind of lie.

She is a woman who always leans back haughtily and speaks only her true feelings.

She is the polar opposite of me, who always leans back haughtily and speaks only lies about her true feelings.

"Is Venice going to be okay?"

"Who knows? But I scattered as many bribes as I could."

"You're using money like an idiot again... no, like magic."

"You sound like you're spreading disease on this planet without learning your lesson, just like always."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb. After being chased by so many men."

It's not like I do it because I like it.

But Chardina has a way with words.

It’s true, I spread a disease throughout the world.

A disease with no cure.

Humanity calls it lovesickness.

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