Chapter 392

Under Yamamura Misao’s expectant gaze, Akaso Kaze walked to the body.

The body was just that; it couldn't be called pleasant.

Normal people wouldn't feel too good seeing a body, especially in a dark forest with only one light shining on it.

But it is precisely such a body that can reveal a lot of information.

The time of death, around 5 o'clock, was exactly when he and Sonoko were eating, which means it was likely not an accidental murder.

Someone must have rushed to the mountain to meet this Mr. Hotumi immediately after discovering the message.

"Was it him who entrusted you?" Akaso Kaze turned back and asked Sonoko.

"Yes."

Sonoko was still a little scared and didn't dare to get close to the body, just staying a little further away.

The victim was indeed the stranger she had met during the day.

"Wait," Yamamura Misao was still a bit confused, "What commission? Does Miss Sonoko know this man?"

"I don't know him; I met him here for the first time today."

Sonoko explained, "He asked me to help him pass on a message, so I went to the Akagi Inn in front of the station, where I met Mr. Akaso. After helping him pass on the message, I went to eat."

"Pass on a message?"

"It was just writing a message in the inn's message book. Mr. Hotumi said he was an advertiser for the TV series 'Winter Red Leaves,' and a fan wanted to know where the tree where the red handkerchief was first tied was located."

"'Winter Red Leaves'?" Yamamura Misao’s attention was immediately drawn, and he interrupted excitedly:

"I know this TV series; the cable station in Qunma County is still rebroadcasting it. My grandma in the countryside also recommended it to me. After watching the rebroadcast, I was immediately hooked! I will be glued to the TV every Saturday night from 9 to 10."

As he spoke, Yamamura excitedly took out a small TV.

"Today is Saturday, so I brought a portable TV. Hehe, although I set a timer to record it at home, I can't wait!"

Akaso Kaze ignored this unreliable policeman and looked at the condition of the body again after the officers finished collecting evidence.

The fatal wound and the time of death were just as the coroner said.

In addition to the two wounds, the victim’s hands were also stained with a large amount of blood and had friction marks; it seemed it should be related to the notebook found 100 meters away.

In addition, there was fresh mud under the victim’s fingernails, and mud on his trouser legs; it seemed he had dug in the soil somewhere with his hands, which made one very curious about what had happened in between.

Beside him, Yamamura Misao finally got back to the point and asked Sonoko some questions about the victim.

Sonoko asked, "Officer Yamamura, can you let me see that notebook?"

"Oh, of course."

Yamamura Misao subconsciously handed it over.

In his view, a woman following Akaso Kaze must not be simple.

Sonoko checked it with some excitement; she was also very interested in solving cases.

Yamamura Misao shook his head and said, "I just looked at the notebook too; there's nothing special."

"There are bloodstains here," Sonoko looked at the itinerary records page by page in the notebook, "It seems like a finger stained with blood was pressed on 'April 1st'."

"April 1st?" Yamamura Misao was stunned, "Isn't that April Fool's Day? April, fool... could this person really be a fool?"

Akaso Kaze felt that the Qunma County Police Department must have a screw loose to let this guy lead the team, and even let him become a Police Inspector.

"Officer Yamamura," Sonoko couldn't stand it and reminded him, "This might be a dying message left by the victim..."

Yamamura Misao stiffened and laughed awkwardly, "If it's a dying message, isn't it saying the murderer is a fool? I think we should call the 'Winter Red Leaves' production crew first; we should be able to know the specific identity of this advertiser, Mr. Hotumi. That way, we might be able to find the suspect."

"Isn't there already a suspect?"

Sonoko handed the notebook back to Yamamura Misao and said, "It's the fan who agreed to meet Mr. Hotumi at this filming site. It is said that the other party checked into the Akagi Inn this morning."

Akaso Kaze nodded.

Judging from the victim’s time of death, the murderer might have discovered Sonoko leaving the message at the first opportunity, and after knowing the content of the message, quickly left the Akagi Inn and went up the mountain.

At present, this case is not without clues; as long as it's a senior detective, they should have a way to solve the case. As for Yamamura Misao...

A question mark must be drawn. This guy, besides having professional knowledge, is not even as good as his subordinates in other aspects.

Akaso Kaze looked helplessly at Yamamura Misao, who was excitedly preparing to go down the mountain.

At least after several contacts, he felt that this guy was a good person and had the determination and interest to become a good policeman, but his ability to solve cases was really worrying, and he was always particularly superstitious.

When they returned to the Akagi Inn, it was nearly 9 o'clock. Yamamura Misao went to ask the owner about the situation at the first opportunity, and Akaso Kaze’s gaze fell on the TV in the lobby.

That "Winter Red Leaves" was about to air. Whether it was because of this case or because of Sonoko, he had become interested in this TV series.

"53 people?!" While Akaso Kaze and Sonoko were waiting, Yamamura Misao had already found out the number of guests, "Are there so many people staying here?"

The owner flipped through the registration book and said, "There only seem to be 3 people who checked in this morning. Let me see... Yes, that's right, just 3: Dawei Yong, Mian Guan Chensan, and a foreigner."

Yamamura Misao then asked the owner to call the three guests to the scene.

They were quite dissatisfied after being called out.

"What are you doing? It's so noisy!"

"Police? It's already so late. What on earth is going on?"

The first to speak was Dawei Yong, 25 years old, a thin, long-faced, long-haired young man with a nose ring and an unfriendly expression.

The second was a fat old man, Mian Guan Chensan, 63 years old, with silver-white hair and beard, wearing thick-rimmed reading glasses, and his eyes were still a bit unable to open.

The last was Hans Buckley, 41 years old, with golden hair and a beard-covered chin.

"Ah, it's like this," Yamamura Misao was stunned for a moment and hurriedly explained, "I would like to ask, where were you all and what were you doing around 5 o'clock in the evening?"

The long-haired young man had a fierce expression. Looking at Yamamura Misao, who had no presence at all, he answered impatiently: "I was sleeping in my room."

"I was taking a bath."

"I was taking a walk nearby."

The other two also responded one after another.

However, none of them had anyone to testify for them.

Mian Guan Chensan was taking a bath in the bathroom in his own room, and the blonde foreigner who was taking a walk didn't meet anyone else either.

Sonoko whispered to Akaso Kaze: "That man with the nose ring looks the most suspicious; he must not know many Chinese characters, which is why he asked people to sign with Roman letters."

"That old gentleman is also very suspicious, because there are many strokes in Chinese characters and he couldn't see clearly, so he requested it to be written in Roman letters."

"It might also be this foreigner; some foreigners can't recognize Chinese characters at all and can only read kana or Roman letters. Mr. Akaso, which one of them do you think is the criminal!"

Akaso Kaze thought to himself, what you said is the same as not saying anything; there are still three suspects.

As the time reached 9 o'clock, "Winter Red Leaves" did not air on the lobby TV; instead, it was the European Karate Championship Challenge that had been promoted before.

"Therefore, the 8th episode of 'Winter Red Leaves' that was supposed to air tonight is postponed for one week."

The broadcast on the TV also attracted Yamamura Misao’s attention. Under the heavy blow, Yamamura even threw himself in front of the TV and wailed: "Special live broadcast? How could it suddenly change to a special live broadcast?"

"Hey, officer," Dawei Yong said angrily, "What on earth do you want to ask? We are not here to watch TV with you."

"S-sorry."

Yamamura Misao continued his questioning with tears in his eyes.

Akaso Kaze was not interested in karate, but a photo of Kyogoku Makoto suddenly appeared on the TV.

"In any case," the commentator continued, "The only contestant who has attracted widespread attention in this tournament is him! The pride of all Japan, the noble prince of kicking, Kyogoku Makoto! So, now let's watch a video introducing him."

"184cm tall, 79kg, from Izu, Japan. At only 18 years old, he has already achieved 400 consecutive victories and is known as the lonely Fist Saint."

The TV screen flashed with the image of Kyogoku Makoto sitting calmly in the lounge, which immediately made Akaso Kaze’s gaze tighten: "400 consecutive victories already?"

This guy went to participate in the competition.

"Mr. Akaso," Sonoko shook Akaso Kaze’s hand and acted like a spoiled child: "What time is it, how do you still have the mood to watch TV?! Aren't you not interested in karate?"

"Alright, alright, I won't watch TV; I'll focus on accompanying my lovely Sonoko."

Akaso Kaze hugged Sonoko in front of everyone.

Sonoko immediately turned into bean eyes.

Just then, a detective rushed over, interrupting Yamamura Misao, who was still asking questions, and said: "Officer Yamamura, I just went to ask the TV production company; there is no advertiser named Hotumi."

"What?" Yamamura stared, "How could there not be?"

"Because most of the TV station staff have gone back, I asked the part-time workers, and they said there is no such name on the advertiser list. This is a copy of that list; I had them send it over."

The detective handed the list to Yamamura Misao. Although this Officer Yamamura is not very reliable, he is a superior after all, and there is the legendary Yin-Yang Master helping.

It should be fine, right?

"If the part-time worker is credible, then the victim lied. But it's unclear why he would lie; even if he didn't say it like that, it doesn't seem to have much impact."

"Maybe it was just to get close to Miss Sonoko," Yamamura Misao guessed, "Could it have something to do with April 1st, April Fool's Day? It's a day for lying and fooling people, right."

"This..."

Akaso Kaze was already too lazy to complain about Yamamura.

"Mr. Akaso," Sonoko listened to Yamamura Misao’s unreliable speculation and looked over at Akaso Kaze again, "Is Mr. Hotumi really lying?"

"He didn't lie."

Akaso Kaze took the advertiser list with a calm expression.

"The name Hotumi might just be a form of address; it's normal for part-time staff not to know. The identity issue can be verified at the local town office. Didn't they say this is his hometown, which is why he recommended it to the screenwriter?"