Chapter 998: Isn't That Your Curse?

"Ah," Editor Yasuda said in surprise, "This is a designer earring! One costs at least 200,000. Come to think of it, Harumi seems to have this type of earring too."

Fukatsu Harumi hurriedly explained: "That is correct, but because Ema was unhappy every time she saw it, I put it away."

"Is that so?"

Officer Mashiki did not continue to pursue the questioning but discussed the situation at the scene with his subordinates.

"The long-sleeved kimono and sash at the scene were originally stored in the inn's storage room, but that storage room is usually not locked."

"Everyone," after talking for a while, Mashiki calmed down and turned to everyone.

"Now we need to confirm the whereabouts of everyone last night. First, Miss Akechi Eri, let's start with you. You seem to have entered the bathhouse around 9:30 and left around 10:00. Shibasaki Asuka entered the bathhouse after you."

"Yes," Akechi Eri, sitting upright on the sofa, nodded gently. "Later I returned to my room, and I even ran into Lord Akaso on the way."

"That is indeed the case," Akaso Kaze smiled slightly. "I ran into her after 10 o'clock; I was just about to go take a bath."

"Hmm, next is Miss Yasuda Yoriko." Officer Mashiki turned to Editor Yasuda, who was next to Akechi Eri. "You stayed here organizing the interview content until before 9:30, right?"

"Yes, I saw Eri at that time. Later, about 5 minutes passed, and Ema walked to the back door alone."

"That was around 10:30. Also, did you see anyone else walking toward the back door?"

"No, just Ema."

Akaso Kaze quietly watched Editor Yasuda and the others.

The reservation sign was for 10:00 to 11:00, and the door was also locked from the inside at that time.

Akaso Kaze and Fukatsu Harumi were soaking in the bath next door.

"Did Lord Akaso and Miss Harumi stay in the men's pool the whole time?" Officer Mashiki continued to ask.

Akaso Kaze nodded.

Fukatsu Harumi blushed with embarrassment.

Officer Mashiki stroked his chin and pondered, "At this time, Miss Yoriko and Miss Eri were having a meeting here. What about Mr. Bando?"

Bando Kyoichi explained: "I arrived here around 11:15 to discuss things. Later, the landlady ran here and said Asuka had been killed in the bathhouse."

"That connects the time," Mashiki nodded slightly. "Landlady, that Hannya kimono sleeve doll, you didn't see it when you first went over, but you discovered it the second time?"

"Yes!" the landlady confirmed. "When I hung the sign the first time, it was definitely not there. When the time was up, I went to remove the reservation sign and discovered the Hannya kimono sleeve doll. It was also cold, as if it had just been taken out of the snow!"

"But having said that," the old policeman asked, "how did Miss Ema run to a place like the shrine alone?"

Mashiki smiled and took out an evidence bag: "This is what we found in Miss Ema's pocket. It says: 'Miss Ema, I have a secret I want to tell you. Tonight at 10:30, I will wait for you at the shrine in the courtyard. Bando.'"

"Nonsense!" Bando Kyoichi's face changed drastically. "How could I write such a letter?!"

"But the actual situation is, you don't seem to have an alibi before 11:15."

"This... I have no motive to kill Asuka and Miss Ema at all!"

"What you said is not wrong." Mashiki nodded and turned to Fukatsu Harumi.

"If we consider the motive, the only one with a motive to kill is Miss Harumi. Because she has always hated them, believing they caused the death of her senior, but she has an alibi."

Fukatsu Harumi looked at Akaso Kaze, feeling grateful in her heart.

She suddenly understood a little.

Akaso Kaze invited her to the reserved pool not only because he wanted her, but also to help her provide an alibi.

After the interrogation, Editor Yasuda and the others returned to their rooms one after another.

"Miss Harumi," Akaso Kaze hugged Fukatsu Harumi and walked toward his room, asking as they walked: "You seem to care a lot about that Senior Suzuka."

"Yes," Fukatsu Harumi came back to her senses. "I lost both my parents when I was young, and my uncle and aunt raised me. Sakurako's father and mother also died in an accident when she was young, so she always took special care of me."

"So that's how it is."

Akaso Kaze nodded; no wonder Fukatsu Harumi would beg him to help Sakurako seek justice.

"Lord Akaso, isn't that your curse?" Fukatsu Harumi asked carefully.

Akaso Kaze smiled.

He knew very well about this case.

Including the murderer who killed Asuka and Ema.

"Do you want to know the truth?" Akaso Kaze asked.

Fukatsu Harumi bit her lip and nodded.

Akaso Kaze said: "Using the unique environment of the inn to design two seemingly perfect locked-room murder cases. Using the legend of the Kimono Sleeve God, using the environment of the inn."

All of this fully explains one point: if one had not stayed at the inn for a long time, if one did not know this place well enough, one could not design such a precise crime." ===== CHAPTER 1000 =====