Chapter 362: Masquerade Duet (II)

""Receiving such a direct provocation, I've also been stirred up a bit of competitive spirit." Heitian'e smiled slightly."

""Sister, please spare me, I really don't know what she's talking about—I've already checked your brains for you." Sangbo's tone softened, and he repeatedly begged for mercy, "I'm just a friend, I only helped her deliver a message—who knew this wasn't delivering a message but delivering a challenge! As they say, in war envoys are not harmed, please let me go, you're playing too big, I can't afford to accompany you…""

Heitian'e nodded satisfied: "A fearful expression, huh. Rest assured, since this has nothing to do with you, I won't make things difficult for you. Just consider it accompanying me for a walk."

By this point, Sangbo had no choice but to agree. From the people of the Hound Clan, they learned that the victim was company employee Shamali, who was suddenly attacked on the street by a tall, muscular man and beaten to death with a hammer. Besides that, two Startling Dream Troupes were left at the scene, seemingly stolen from elsewhere.

Heitian'e asked the television person among them for details; that guy called himself the "Constable Chief," and the gorilla beside him was the constable assisting in the investigation.

As soon as the constable saw Sangbo, he spoke in a snide tone: "Yo, Uncle Cold Leg, how did you defect?"

""He actually spoke up! Miss Heitian'e, they really are coming for you——""

The Constable Chief suddenly spoke in a dainty, girlish voice like fireworks: "Don't butt in, do you even get to speak? Cough cough…" She pinched her throat and switched to another tone, "I've heard that Constable Heitian'e Lord possesses extraordinary strategies; surely she can uncover the truth of the【Fireworks Lord Murder Case】!"

Heitian'e narrowed her eyes: "【Fireworks Lord Murder Case】? The victim isn't Shamali of the Interstellar Peace Company, is it?"

""You've got it wrong, Heitian'e Lord. The victim is clearly the head of the Golden Hammer Family, Golden Hammer Fireworks Lord!""

——

Monogatari Series.

Araragi Reki sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at the two Startling Dream Troupes on the canopy that made fireworks sounds, saying this was a strict detective reasoning…… that was practically a huge insult to "reasoning".

""This guy is just a troublemaker who loves pranks." Araragi Reki sighed, "Using the safety of everyone in Pinokangni as leverage, he forcibly dragged this Memory Keeper Miss into her detective game.""

Oshino Shinobu sat on the desk beside him, swinging her pale calves, the corner of her mouth bearing a faint smile: "But it's pretty fun, isn't it?"

""Where's the fun? I even suspect this Sangbo is just Fireworks in disguise." Araragi Reki rubbed his temples, "Those fools heaven knows what tricks they have—maybe they can even fool the Memory Keeper. Last time she turned into Sangbo's appearance, this Sangbo is hard not to suspect……""

""I have a feeling she's the type who likes to closely observe people's reactions and little expressions; the lines of the Startling Dream Troupe, she probably prepared them long ago.""

""What's the basis for that feeling?""

""…Well, in many detective movies I've watched, the killers often have this nasty habit." Araragi Reki glanced at the blond-haired girl, "Pretty reasonable, right?""

""You can't apply those boring killers' habits to the fools, because this isn't a murder case at all…… it's just a simple prank targeting Sangbo and Heitian'e.""

Oshino Shinobu straightened her calves and lightly tapped his shoulder: "Hand over the doughnut you bought this morning—pranks and sweets are a perfect match."

""…Everything goes well with doughnuts, you're just plainly wanting to eat a doughnut, right? Besides, can't you move a little yourself?""

"Lazy."

——

""…Oh, it looks like this is Miss Fireworks' self‑directed, self‑performed little theater, unrelated to the actual case.""

The Constable Chief and the Constable each gave Heitian'e a full rundown of the Fireworks Lord's murder: they said three warriors had been attacked by the Mountain Bandit Annihilation Gang, the cargo they were escorting was almost gone, and to avoid responsibility, all three had motives to kill the Fireworks Lord.

""So it looks like the three warriors joined forces to commit the murder?" Heitian'e casually remarked."

""Uh…… ""

The constable froze, and the Constable Chief was also dumbfounded.

Sangbo instantly laughed: "…Is the case closed?"

""No! The killer can only be one person! If all three are killers, what kind of mystery is that… wait… wait…… ""

The Constable Chief began to frantically make things up, almost using all the strength of sucking milk.

""Uh…… " Sangbo spread his hands, "If we can't make it work, just forget it?""

""Got it!" The Constable Chief finally came up with a makeshift setting of three people vying for second‑in‑command, forcibly adding it just to make Heitian'e deduce a single killer by force."

The three were named Zuoluo, Zhongshan, and Ayou; after the constable quickly briefed Heitian'e on their backgrounds, he urged the two to start the investigation.

After examining the scene's massive wooden hammer, Fireworks suddenly appeared, saying there were more pieces of evidence hidden elsewhere, and the purpose was also to avoid disturbing the search, continuing to be a law‑abiding citizen.

""She's actually pretty nice…… " Sangbo gave a helpless, wry smile."

The two incarnated as the Hanu Brothers and entered the game machine, effortlessly finding a small device that looked like a button.

""Don't press it! Heitian'e Lord, absolutely don't press it!" the Constable Chief desperately urged, "This is the【Mutual Annihilation Guarantee】button left by the Fireworks Lord—once pressed, the Fireworks Lord will instantly vanish together with all of Pinokangni in smoke and ashes!""

""At the same time, the Fireworks Lord also holds an identical button. If she presses it, you will instantly vanish together with all of Pinokangni in smoke and ashes!""

Heitian'e: ""This sounds… like there's no difference?""

Constable Chief: ""Indeed, there's no difference.""

""…Er." Sangbo wiped his sweat."

""Oh…… ""

Seeing the two lack enthusiasm, the Constable Chief suddenly became anxious: ""Don't you want to ask why?""

Heitian'e took a deep breath, then responded to her question: ""Well… why is that?""

The Constable Chief solemnly, word by word, said: ""Because she…… is fair!""

Sangbo finally couldn't take it anymore: ""What the hell!""

——

Fate

""Hahaha, this Fireworks is way too fun!""

In the living room, Yuanban Lin laughed until she doubled over, clutching her stomach as she curled up on the tatami, tears practically bursting from laughter: ""Being able to simultaneously render one's own fool speechless—probably only this Fireworks could do it alone? In her presence, Sangbo seems quite normal!""

""Really, it's just someone who fears the world won't be chaotic.""