Chapter 166: The Invisible Guest (Free Chapter)

Time passed quickly. Under the arrangement of the *April Youth* editorial department, Akiwara Yuto's manuscript quickly completed proofreading, typesetting, and many other tasks, and was sent to the printing plant for printing and sale.

By Monday morning, this batch of *April Youth* books had been sent to bookstores across Tokyo through the Science and Education Center's logistics system.

Setagaya Ward, Yamazaki Bookstore.

Sugihara Aisa took a stack of books, walked to the literary book and periodical area she was responsible for, and began her daily work.

Looking at the different book types on the display stand and bookshelves, she began to think.

How should she arrange the positions of these books today?

She first put this stack of books on the display stand and organized the bookshelf.

Then she took a rough look and moved the *New* journal, which was originally placed on the middle and lower shelves, to the bottom position.

After all, this journal has been getting harder and harder to sell recently, and it was even reported by readers that the quality of the articles inside was also very terrible.

Since that's the case, she should give up its position to books that sell better.

After organizing the bookshelf, Sugihara Aisa set her sights on the display stand and thought again.

On this display stand were single volumes and journals with relatively high popularity and sales recently.

But the tastes of readers and the market often change, so the position of the display stand is not always unchanged.

For example, in the four display slots in the lower right corner of the display stand, the book *The Matter of God Hiding* by popular writer Sudo Shuichi was originally placed.

But because of a series of news about Akiwara Yuto recently, *Negligent Homicide*, *Death of a Mystery Writer*, and *The Devotion of Suspect X* have been selling even better.

So in order to increase overall sales, Sugihara Aisa compressed the display position of *The Matter of God Hiding* to only one, so as to place those three works by Akiwara Yuto.

Sugihara Aisa picked up a copy of *Negligent Homicide*, and on the book band, the line "Mystery Literature Newcomer Award" was written.

Seeing this line, Sugihara Aisa's thoughts were a bit complicated.

Two months ago, she accompanied the crowd at Anju Bookstore to hold a signing event for this Master Akiwara inside the bookstore.

She didn't expect that not long after, the other party would win such an honorary title again.

As expected of the "talented writer" recognized by book reviewers!

Just as she was feeling emotional, a long voice came from behind.

"Sugihara, the new issue of *April Youth* has arrived. You are responsible for arranging the placement."

Sugihara Aisa turned around and bent down to take the books handed over by the other party.

"I know, I'll arrange it. It's to be placed on the bookshelf, right?"

In her view, the sales of *April Youth* recently were also miserable, so putting it on the display stand was a bit of a waste of space, just inserting it on the bookshelf would do.

But to her surprise, the store manager didn't respond, but instead smiled.

"The arrangement is up to you, but I suggest you take a look at the cover of this book first."

After saying this, the store manager waved his hand and left.

Sugihara Aisa, who took the book, was full of confusion.

She thought for a moment, then put this stack of *April Youth* on the display stand and pulled one out to read.

On the cover of this magazine was a gray dark cloud, and under the dark cloud was a man covering only half of his face.

Right above these pictures, a line of words was written: "*The Invisible Guest*, by Akiwara Yuto."

Seeing this name, Sugihara Aisa was surprised.

Didn't Master Akiwara just publish a single volume?

How come he published another work immediately?!

Does he not need to conceive when he writes?

Speaking of which, how did he cooperate with *April Youth* again?

Holding doubts, Sugihara Aisa opened the magazine, found Akiwara Yuto's work, and began to read.

But as she read, she found that she was addicted to it.

The story takes place in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.

At 6 AM this morning, a noblewoman wearing a high-end evening gown walked into a luxury hotel and pressed the elevator to the 13th floor.

When the elevator door slowly closed, this noblewoman, who looked to be in her 40s, straightened her clothes and checked her appearance.

The elevator door opened, the noblewoman walked out of the elevator, walked along the corridor painted with Ukiyo-e, and walked to the end, which was the location of the hotel's presidential suite.

The noblewoman took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.

Soon the door opened, and behind the door was a man who was sleepy.

After seeing the man, the noblewoman bowed and said: "Is this Mr. Sugou Nobuyuki? I am the lawyer Watanabe Saki responsible for your case this time, introduced by Lawyer Matsui. Nice to meet you, please give me your guidance."

The man named Sugou Nobuyuki hadn't woken up yet, just nodded in response.

"Give me a few minutes to change clothes."

After saying this, Sugou Nobuyuki opened the door and signaled Watanabe Saki to come in and wait first.

As for himself, he walked to the bathroom deep in the suite and closed the door.

Watanabe Saki walked in. She first closed the door behind her, then looked around: in front of this presidential suite, the TV was on.

And on the TV screen, a news report was being broadcast live by NHK.

"Today's headline news is the funeral of Morita Makiko. Currently, according to the Metropolitan Police Department's speculation, the suspect who killed her is likely her wealthy lover Sugou Nobuyuki, but the latter claims he was framed..."

Watanabe Saki was looking at the screen when a voice came from behind.

"Lawyer Watanabe, I thought you would come later."

Watanabe Saki turned around, saw the client who had changed clothes, and answered with a smile: "Mr. Sugou, something happened, so I came a bit earlier."

Sugou Nobuyuki was a little puzzled, "I can't get through to Lawyer Matsui's phone now, but he told me you can be trusted, and my case has no problems."

He originally entrusted a lawyer named Matsui, but the other party couldn't get away, so he entrusted this female lawyer named Watanabe Saki to him.

Watanabe Saki said seriously: "Mr. Sugou, the situation has changed temporarily. You have to go to court to respond to the lawsuit today."

"What?!" Sugou Nobuyuki was surprised, "I didn't receive any notice. What happened?"

"The prosecution stated that they found an eyewitness who might have an adverse effect on your case. So the court summoned you and requested you to arrive at the Tokyo Legislative Court at 9 o'clock."

Watanabe Saki paused and added: "There are only 3 hours left until the court opens, I need more of your testimony!"

Hearing this request, Sugou Nobuyuki hesitated and answered: "I have already told the truth of all the facts."

But Watanabe Saki shook her head, "Your previous testimony is still incomplete, so you need to supplement it further."

After saying this, she sat on the sofa, facing Sugou Nobuyuki.

"If there are more details, I can make them believe you are innocent. Don't worry, so far, I haven't lost a single case."

Sugou Nobuyuki frowned and thought. He didn't doubt the statement that she hadn't lost a case.

He knew that this female lawyer introduced by his acquaintance was always famous for her ruthless methods and would do anything to win the case.

But he was still very hesitant and responded: "The police are monitoring me 24 hours a day, making me feel like I'm in prison."

Watanabe Saki pretended not to hear his words and said very strongly.

"Mr. Sugou, we still have 180 minutes to go through the cause and effect of the time, so please stop nagging and work with me. Excuse me."

After saying this, she took out a timer from the bag she was carrying and pressed the button.

Sugou Nobuyuki saw this scene, could only swallow his saliva, and sat opposite this strong female lawyer.

Seeing his actions, Watanabe Saki nodded with satisfaction and began to ask: "On the day of the case, the hotel where you and the deceased were located was more than 300 kilometers away from your home. Why did you go there?"

Sugou Nobuyuki moved his gaze to the other side.

"At that time, someone knew about the lover relationship between me and Morita Makiko and threatened to tell my wife. In order to protect my family, I could only follow his instructions."

He paused and added: "The other party asked me to pay 50 million yen, and he agreed to help me hide this matter. In my view, this money is much less than the property loss of my divorce."

Watanabe Saki took out a notebook and wrote down this passage.

Then she raised her head and asked in a puzzled tone again.

"But why did the other party let you go to a place more than 300 kilometers away? Don't you feel strange?"

Sugou Nobuyuki waved his hand.

"What does it matter which hotel is chosen? My trouble now is that the prosecution is suing me for murder! Lawyer Watanabe, please focus on this point!"

After this, a dispute occurred between the two—Sugou Nobuyuki only wanted to be acquitted, but Watanabe Saki demanded to know all the details.

After 10 minutes, Watanabe Saki paused and frowned: "Let's not talk about this first. Mr. Sugou, let's briefly talk about the email you received inviting you to the hotel."

Sugou Nobuyuki breathed a sigh of relief, then began to speak while recalling.

"Before receiving that email, we had waited for almost 2 hours and were preparing to leave. But suddenly, I received that email, and it was actually sent to me using Makiko's email address."

"At that time, Makiko and I were together, and we were both surprised. But we still went to the Yamanashi Sakamoto Hotel according to the address in the email and checked into room 715."

"After waiting in the room for a while, I suspected this was a trap and planned to leave here. But just when I was packing my wallet and clothes in front of the mirror, someone attacked me from behind, and then I lost consciousness."

"After I woke up, I found a statue in my hand. And at this time, a knock came from outside the door."

"Only then did I find that Makiko was lying on the ground, and next to her was the cash I brought. I called her desperately, but she didn't have any reaction. Just at this moment, the police from the Metropolitan Police Department broke in with a master key and saw this scene."

"This made me bear the charge of being a murderer."

After saying this, Sugou Nobuyuki's eyes turned red, and he even shed tears.

Watanabe Saki was silent for a while, then took out a document and read it.

"According to the police report, the eyewitness heard a scream that day, but he claimed that no one left your room at that time. And according to the police inspection, the door lock and door chain of room 715 were placed in fixed positions. Besides this, the hotel locked all windows to prevent risks. As for other entrances, they have all been checked and cannot be broken through violently."

Watanabe Saki raised her head and looked at her client.

"Mr. Sugou, sorry, unless the murderer was hidden by God. Otherwise, it can only prove that you killed your own lover, Morita Makiko!"

Sugou Nobuyuki patted the table hard and retorted: "No, listen to my explanation!"

Sugihara Aisa was wondering how this Mr. Sugou would argue, but when she looked, the article stopped abruptly here.

This made her speechless for a moment!

In her heart, there was a feeling of wanting to spit it out.

But Sugihara Aisa had to admit that she was already curious about the next development of the story.

Who killed Morita Makiko?

How did he kill in this locked room?

How should Sugou Nobuyuki clear his name?

Sugihara Aisa struggled for half a day and found that she was still confused.

She looked at the display stand, thought for a while, then took away a single volume whose sales had declined slightly in the upper right corner, and put *April Youth* on it.

With Master Akiwara's work, *April Youth* will definitely sell better! ===== CHAPTER 167 =====