Chapter 43

He had just used prediction magic, and the arrow pointed directly into the sea; the body must have been thrown into the sea by someone.

Natsue in his arms trembled, silently shedding tears.

"If that's the case, then the case is very clear."

Hatamoto Mariko said fiercely: "Hatamoto Takeshi, originally named Zaijo Takehiko, is the son of Zaijo Isao."

"His father committed suicide ten years ago after my father took his company, so he approached Natsue and took the opportunity to infiltrate the Hatamoto family."

"During this voyage, my father discovered his secret, so he killed him to silence him."

"Afterward, to escape responsibility, he killed Hatamoto Tatsuo, then jumped into the sea, wanting to escape. Who knew fate was against him, and he drowned in the sea."

"It must be like this. Inspector Megure, I think my father's case can be closed."

Inspector Megure's mouth twitched twice upon hearing this.

Saying it so easily, as if you were a detective.

Shouldn't it be up to us police to decide whether the case can be closed?

You are clearly looking down on our Metropolitan Police Department!

In Inspector Megure's mind, he was holding Hatamoto Mariko with one hand, slapping her left and right.

You want to say that again? Say it again?

However, he really didn't dare to do that.

Although the Hatamoto family wasn't a top-tier family in Tokyo, they were famous in the circle of the wealthy.

A small inspector like him really didn't dare to offend them easily.

"Alright, I'll send people to search the sea for Hatamoto Takeshi's body..."

Inspector Megure seemed to think the case was just as Hatamoto Mariko said.

Just as he was about to deliver his closing statement, Akaso Kaze suddenly spoke: "Everyone, you've got one thing wrong."

Everyone looked over.

He smiled slightly and continued: "I only said Hatamoto Takeshi is dead, but I didn't say he was the killer. He was murdered by someone."

"Huh?" Inspector Megure turned his head to look at Akaso Kaze, who had a serious expression. "Akaso-san, you mean..."

"The real killer is him... Hatamoto Ichiro."

Akaso Kaze looked at a young man hiding behind the crowd.

"What? Ichiro!" Hatamoto Mariko turned to look at her son.

She wanted to refute, but looking at her son, whose face had instantly turned pale, she had a bad premonition.

"Wha, what?" Inspector Megure said in surprise. "Hatamoto Ichiro is the killer? But wasn't he stabbed by the killer?"

Listening to Inspector Megure's nagging, Akaso Kaze really wanted to slap him.

This guy is truly a negative example specifically designed to question correct reasoning!

He reached out to make a "hush" gesture, then said: "Inspector Megure, if you want to know the truth, then don't interrupt me, listen to me finish!"

Natsue in his arms widened her eyes, looking at Akaso Kaze's handsome face.

Akaso Kaze's mouth curled up, and he continued:

"The criminal committed three crimes in total. The first two times, he escaped without a trace, and no murder weapon was left behind."

"Only this third time, the killer didn't take the murder weapon away, but left it at the scene."

"No, perhaps I should say he had no way to take it away, because his leg was injured and he couldn't move."

"This, this can't count as evidence," Hatamoto Mariko tried hard to defend her son.

"It absolutely couldn't be Ichiro, he has no reason to kill his grandfather."

"Who says he doesn't?" Akaso Kaze looked at Hatamoto Ichiro.

"If my divination as an Onmyoji is correct, Hatamoto Ichiro, you like Natsue-san, don't you?"

"You can look at his paintings; they are all portraits of Natsue."

"What? Go, bring all his paintings here!" Inspector Megure immediately ordered his subordinates.

"No, don't." Hatamoto Ichiro suddenly stood up excitedly, grabbed his portfolio, and hugged it to his chest.

"Don't touch my paintings. It was me, it was all me."

"I once asked my grandfather to agree to let me marry Natsue, but he refused me and even said I was a toad wanting to eat swan meat."

"I could never forgive him, and he also took away Natsue's Takeshi..."

"So you killed your grandfather and framed Takeshi?" Natsue struggled to stand up, looking at Hatamoto Ichiro with tears in her eyes.

Hatamoto Ichiro's eyes darted around, not daring to look Natsue in the eye.

"When I threw away the murder weapon on the deck, I was seen by Hatamoto Tatsuo. He used it to blackmail me, so I had to kill him to silence him."

"However, I didn't kill Takeshi. He saw me kill Tatsuo and jumped into the sea while trying to escape..."

Clatter.

Hatamoto Mariko collapsed on the floor.

The truth was revealed, and Hatamoto Ichiro was taken away.

Inspector Megure scratched his head with an embarrassed smile: "Akaso-san, I really shouldn't have said that just now. I didn't expect you Onmyoji to be better at solving cases than detectives."

"However, after you arrived, no one introduced the case details to you. How did you know those details?"