[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-literary-master-of-tokyo":3,"chapter-literary-master-of-tokyo-literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-29":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Literary Master of Tokyo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2354878,4607,"Chapter 29: Hair Standing on End!","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-29",29,"\u003Cp>The story takes place on a rainy night. A man holding an umbrella walks hurriedly down the street. He hails a taxi, gets into the back seat, and gives his destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The taxi slowly starts moving. The driver glances through the rearview mirror and feels the man looks a bit familiar, so he asks, \"Sir, you've been on TV, right? You're that member of the handsome magician duo, aren't you? My niece is a huge fan of you two.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man does not want to engage with the driver and coldly replies, \"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver, however, says in a slightly mocking tone, \"Those celebrities just love to play coy; it's not like I'm pestering you for an autograph. My niece is right—those celebrities hate it when fans strike up a conversation, but if you ignore them, they'll end up revealing their own names.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's expression turns even more unpleasant. He wants to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the driver continues on his own: \"This behavioral pattern is just like a criminal's. They say criminals return to the scene of the crime; some are clearly on the run, yet they deliberately bring up their own case. I suddenly feel that makes a lot of sense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the window, the heavy rain patters against the glass. The man sitting in the back seat seems to have been touched by something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver says in a complaining tone, \"Take that News Eye anchorwoman, Kumi Torikai, for example. Her attitude was terrible. Once, I said to her, 'It's so late, thank you for your hard work,' and I ended up getting a cold glare from her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pauses, then continues, \"Come to think of it, her house seems to be around here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man listens quietly to what the driver is saying, without making a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver doesn't stop talking: \"It's been half a year since she was murdered. She was holding a weapon when she died. What a pity; I was a huge fan of hers. The criminal hasn't been caught yet, and it doesn't look like a robbery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the man finally speaks: \"The magazine said it was likely done by an extremist fan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver corrects him: \"What fan? It was clearly a stalker. It's said that for two months before the incident, she was plagued by harassing phone calls and threatening letters. I heard she once left her handbook in a taxi, and that's when the harassing calls started.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He says in an uncertain tone, \"If that's true, it was probably picked up by the passenger who got in after her. The culprit must be that guy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man disagrees: \"The person who picked up the handbook wasn't necessarily the next passenger; it could have been the driver.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the driver suddenly slams on the brakes, and the car jolts. The man asks what is going on, and the driver replies that this is a one-way street and entry is prohibited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the car turns onto another road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver's hands are on the steering wheel, his face appearing and disappearing in the darkness, but his tone is very flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's said that Kumi Torikai had a scandal before; someone saw her getting intimate with a married man. Just as this scandal was exposed, that lover's wife died mysteriously at home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Died mysteriously?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, she hit her head at her own front door, and the police treated it as an accident.\" The driver says expressionlessly, \"Rumor has it that Kumi Torikai did it, and I think so too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's a terrible thing to say. And you call yourself her fan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver defends himself: \"It's because I'm a fan that I say that. When I heard the scandal spread, I felt it was simply a betrayal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sighs: \"Perhaps Kumi Torikai was killed by extremist fans like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hard to say. I don't think the killer wanted to harm her at first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver says indifferently, \"Because this isn't a simple murder case.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car stops in front of a private residence, but this is not the destination the man was going to. The man questions, \"Where is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver takes his hands off the steering wheel and answers unhurriedly, \"Kumi Torikai used to live in that house; it's empty now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man leans over to look at the house and asks with a puzzled expression, \"Why did we come to this place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver replies, \"Just passing by. I wanted you to take a look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man is a bit angry and tells the driver to drive on immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver suddenly seems to remember something and says to the man, \"By the way, look at that tree in the yard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the man looks over with some confusion, the driver says, \"It's an elm tree. I heard the killer used that tree to climb onto the second-floor balcony.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man seems unable to stand the driver's endless chatter and snaps, \"Cut the crap and drive. Don't play games with me; I'm in a hurry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the man is truly impatient, the driver has no choice but to start the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after the car starts, the man cannot help but take one more look at the house, wondering what he is thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car drives for a while, and the driver begins to analyze the case again: \"There are suspicious points in that case. Why would the killer sneak in through a second-floor window? It had been snowing all morning on the day of the murder, and clear footprints of the killer were left in the yard, showing he headed straight for that tree, as if he knew the second floor wasn't locked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pauses and adds, \"Don't you find that suspicious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe he just happened to find the window open?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it was the dead of winter; who would leave the window open when going out? I believe the killer was told beforehand that the window wasn't closed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man is a bit confused for a moment, and he presses, \"Told by whom?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The deceased, Kumi Torikai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing this speculation, the driver continues his analysis: \"She entrusted the killer to enter through the window herself, so it makes sense for the criminal to climb directly to the second-floor balcony. My niece once lost her keys and asked her boyfriend to climb in through the window.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man is still a bit skeptical: \"But when she died, she was holding a weapon. Isn't that because she realized someone was trespassing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver sneers and says, \"If she entrusted him, there would be no need for that. She could have just lied and said she lost her keys.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He emphasizes his tone: \"Everything was a scheme.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A scheme?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She wanted to kill that person. First, she framed him as a stalker, then she used the excuse of not having keys to lure him to the second floor, and then she took a weapon up there to kill the person she had tricked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the taxi stops; it turns out they have encountered a red light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver says unhappily, \"Kumi Torikai pretended it was self-defense, but it was actually premeditated murder. She was the real killer!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man is puzzled: \"But the victim was Kumi...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the driver turns his head, his face looking very fierce under the red light, and he says in a low voice, \"That man had to fight back, of course. Didn't I say it? The killer had no intention of killing at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what about the stalker and harasser she talked about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver, as if hit on a sore spot, says viciously, \"Nonsense! It's all nonsense! There was no such thing as a stalker or harasser.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the driver's ferocious expression, the man is deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing these words, the driver turns his head back and says through gritted teeth, \"This is the truth of the matter as I deduce it. Kumi Torikai was no victim at all; she was a despicable, shameless woman who outsmarted herself and brought this upon herself!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man watches the driver's hands gripping the steering wheel tighter and tighter, and he becomes more certain of a certain suspicion in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red light turns green, and the taxi starts moving slowly again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the driver driving in silence, the man takes the initiative to start a conversation: \"If the truth is really as you say, what kind of person do you think the killer is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver replies coldly, \"Can't imagine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the other party does not want to respond, the man continues anyway: \"Perhaps he wasn't that close to Kumi Torikai. If he were someone known to all her friends, then she couldn't have framed him as a stalker. This means the killer definitely wasn't that lover.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver says nonchalantly, \"I give up on you, don't be so serious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the man ignores the driver's words: \"The killer might have gotten hold of some leverage on Kumi Torikai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the driver remain silent, he says directly to him: \"You just said that Kumi Torikai's lover's wife died accidentally, and rumor has it that Kumi Torikai was the one who did it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's just a rumor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if it's true, and someone found out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's gaze becomes increasingly sharp, and he says bluntly: \"Kumi Torikai didn't encounter a stalker at all; she was being harassed by a blackmailer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver retorts: \"The harassment incident was just her talking nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man remains relentless: \"Didn't you say she only started being harassed after she lost her handbook? If she was talking nonsense, why specifically say it was in a taxi? Therefore, she really did lose her handbook, and it contained the secret of her murder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression becomes increasingly convinced: \"So, the driver who found the handbook learned Kumi Torikai's secret and became the blackmailer who troubled her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver looks at the man through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with an inexplicable meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man seems not to notice and continues: \"So, that night, she lied and said she lost her keys, letting the driver climb in through the second-floor window, intending to kill him. But she didn't expect that because of the driver's resistance, she lost her footing and tumbled down the stairs during the struggle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Later, the driver escaped, but because he was never arrested, he couldn't help but use this as a conversation starter with passengers. After all, he himself said that criminals like to return to the scene of the crime, or talk about the case as if nothing happened. This just happens to coincide with what he is doing tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, the killer who murdered Kumi Torikai is the driver himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the man looks at the driver with a look of certainty, as if he has already concluded that he is the murderer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver, however, suddenly bursts into laughter and says with a smile, \"Sir, don't joke with such a serious expression. Your deduction is interesting, but I'm not the killer, because I've only been in this job for three months.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This news shocks the man, as it means his previous deduction is completely invalid, given that the case happened half a year ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver continues driving and further refutes the previous judgment: \"That the lover's wife was murdered by Kumi Torikai is also nonsense; the police had already determined it was an accident. Besides...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The reason the killer who murdered Kumi Torikai climbed in from the second floor was simply because the second-floor window was open,\" he says solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man questions: \"Didn't you just say it was the dead of winter, and who would leave the window open when going out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver has a strange expression and explains: \"I won't hide it from you, Kumi Torikai kept a cat, and the window was left open to let the cat in and out. This is testimony I got from her neighbor; it can't be wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Testimony?!\" The man is surprised once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver replies unhurriedly: \"Three months ago, I was still a police officer, but I resigned because I was tired of interpersonal relationships. I really didn't expect you to be so interested and actually take me for a murderer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning of this unexpected answer, the man widens his eyes, then lets out a sigh of relief, blaming the driver: \"Because you deliberately acted like that to make me suspicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was afraid you'd be bored; this is much more interesting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver continues: \"A taxi driver blackmailing a celebrity after witnessing them commit a crime—a pretty good suspense novel.\" Suddenly, his tone shifts: \"If the driver who witnessed it were me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man is quite interested: \"If it were you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the car reaches the destination the man mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver looks out the window and asks the man: \"Is this okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the man is about to answer, the taxi driver suddenly turns his face, widens his eyes, and says in a very excited tone: \"I remember now, you are Tom, Tom Nishimura from the Tom-Juli duo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's expression stiffens for a moment, then he admits it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver is still very excited: \"Sir, your imagination is so rich; otherwise, you wouldn't have so many creative magic ideas.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the driver's praise, the man does not look very happy. He leans against the seat and says powerlessly: \"The ideas are all thought up by my partner. My partner says I'm a burden and wants to break up the duo. I just had an argument at his place today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver's tone suddenly changes: \"No wonder you look like this, Mr. Tom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look like what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One look and you can tell something happened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man fell into deep thought, fragments flashing through his mind; not only had he quarreled with his partner that night, he had also strangled him to death with a rope with his own hands, which was why he was walking in the rainy night and had hurriedly left by taxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, the man revealed an eerie smile and said to the driver, \"Excuse me, could you drive a bit further ahead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver said \"Sure\" and stepped on the gas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man then asked, \"Continuing with your hypothesis from just now, if you picked up a famous passenger, and the next day you heard the news that someone related to him had been murdered near where the passenger got on, what would you do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver laughed and replied, \"If it were me, I would definitely blackmail him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added, \"Just kidding, I would call the police; after all, I used to be a police officer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was silent for a moment, then slowly reached his hand into a bag he was carrying, as if fumbling for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After driving for a while, the driver took the initiative to ask, \"Where should I drive to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s hand gripped a certain object, but he still calmly replied, \"Please go a little further ahead, into that secluded small road.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver said \"Sure\" and continued driving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The taxi slowly drove forward, driving into the darkness in the distance...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the end, the hair on the back of Uesugi Sonoko's neck stood up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does this mean? Will the driver be killed or not? Or could he kill this man in self-defense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, is the driver actually the murderer who killed that female anchor? But if he used to be a police officer, how does that explain the death of the female anchor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this short story is really good; if it were adapted into a film or television drama, it would definitely be even more terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I have to let more people see it!\u003C\u002Fp>",2642,"2026-06-21T03:58:01.347Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","0c91372932436efe0a243e9dbbc36c210942fc2b9700e9cb34923d5cb784d209","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-30","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-28",334,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliterary-master-of-tokyo-cover.jpg"]