Chapter 999: What Do You Plan to Do?

Fukatsu Harumi's eyes widened upon hearing Akaso Kaze's words.

"Could it be..." She did not say the name.

Akaso Kaze continued: "Although the storage room where the long-sleeved kimonos are kept is not locked, not everyone knows what is kept inside."

"And the seemingly unsolvable order of the murders. Because of the environment, it is impossible to judge the order of Asuka and Ema's deaths. All kinds of clues indicate that Ema was killed first."

"The problems now are two points: first, the footprints in the courtyard; second, no one went to the women's bath in the open-air bathhouse after 10:30, which is the estimated time of the crime. Under normal circumstances, the murderer could not have appeared at the crime scene."

"Besides that, the key to the problem is the order of Asuka and Ema's deaths. Logically speaking, Asuka in the bathhouse should have been killed before 10:30, that is, before Anzai Ema. But the murder weapon that killed Anzai Ema and Anzai Ema's headscarf appeared in the bathhouse."

Akaso Kaze took Fukatsu Harumi and walked around the courtyard while talking.

The shock in Fukatsu Harumi's heart was beyond measure.

At noon, a police car from the Yamagata Prefectural Police drove into the village and finally stopped in front of the Kotone Inn.

"Officer," Officer Mashiki's subordinate ran into the social hall with a report, "The things have been sent!"

"Is the autopsy report out?" Mashiki, who was sitting on the sofa, raised his head.

"Yes, the murder weapon that killed the two victims is indeed that divine sword!"

The subordinate reported: "The bloodstains on the headscarf also confirmed that they were left by Anzai Ema herself. In addition, no suspicious fingerprints or other clues related to the murderer were found on the paper dolls at the crime scene and the Kimono Sleeve God shrine, or on the note Anzai Ema received."

Akaso Kaze, hugging the distraught Fukatsu Harumi, happened to return from the courtyard. He looked at Officer Mashiki, who was worried in the hall, and turned to head to the open-air bathhouse.

He had already explained the case, whether it was the mystery of Anzai Ema's death or Shibasaki Asuka's death.

All clues pointed to the romance novelist Akechi Eri.

Whether it was the familiarity with the Kotone Inn or the Kimono Sleeve God, Akechi Eri, who had been creating here for a long time, met the conditions, including the time of the crime and the alibi.

At least considering Akechi Eri herself, many things could match up.

Akaso Kaze's gaze swept over the open-air hot spring below and both sides of the cliff slope.

Because of the obstruction of the line of sight, he could not see the pool, only the entrance to the bathhouse at the end of the escalator.

He said to Fukatsu Harumi: "Although logically Asuka was killed after Anzai Ema, the murder weapon, the stun gun, and Anzai Ema's headscarf were indeed found in the bathhouse."

"Anzai Ema was killed after 10:30, but after 10:30, no one passed through the only entrance to the bathhouse, which is the recreation hall here."

Fukatsu Harumi looked at the inn buildings on the other side of the recreation hall. There were also guest rooms and corridors on the edge of the cliff. From the recreation hall, one could barely see the windows and balconies facing the cliff.

Akaso Kaze continued: "Since people couldn't go down, only objects were left. Sending the murder weapon and the headscarf to the bathhouse pool below separately—this way, the whole case can be explained."

Fukatsu Harumi was silent for a while, looking at the scattered tourists playing in the recreation hall.

Because of the murder, many people had checked out or were staying in their rooms. But regardless, they all had to accept police questioning, and it was quite impressive that they were still in the mood to have fun.

"Harumi," Akaso Kaze suddenly asked, "What do you think of revenge?"

Fukatsu Harumi raised her head: "Why ask this suddenly? Is it because of this case?"

"Although I promised you yesterday to investigate the matter of Suzuka Sakurako," ===== CHAPTER 1001 =====