Chapter 2563: Dear Detective Mr. 15

Alerik said firmly to Gu Dewen: 'As far as we can tell, Young Master Vincent's death is definitely not a suicide.'

These words were like a pardon, causing Pastor Gu Dewen to let out a deep sigh of relief.

He went limp in his chair, muttering repeatedly.

"Thank you, Lord…… Thank you, Lord……"

Jin Chen's gaze lingered on Gu Dewen for a moment, then he slowly rose and began to pace back and forth in the small room.

His gaze swept over the furnishings in the room, landing on an inconspicuous wooden cabinet in the corner, on which several bottles of wine were placed.

"Pastor Gu Dewen," Jin Chen suddenly said, his voice gentle as if making small talk, "You seem…… to like drinking wine?"

Gu Dewen blinked, then answered instinctively, "Yes, yes…… I occasionally drink a little, to ease……"

He hadn't finished speaking when, as if realizing something, he nervously lowered his eyes, his fingers and the cuffs of his clerical robe twisting together anxiously.

Jin Chen didn't press further, walked to the cabinet, picked up one bottle of red wine that was already half-empty, a thin layer of dust settling on its body.

Jin Chen casually swirled the dark red liquid, then, through the somewhat distorted dark glass of the bottle, looked at Alerik sitting opposite.

Alerik leaned back in his chair, his green eyes calmly returning his gaze.

Through the bottle, Jin Chen winked at Alerik, his tone light: 'Look what I've found.'

Immediately after, he moved the bottle aside, revealing a collection seal stamped with the Olga family's emblem beneath the bottle's base.

Jin Chen picked up that seal and turned toward Gu Dewen, whose face had instantly turned deathly pale.

"Oh!" Jin Chen shook his head admiringly, "Young Master Vincent must have greatly appreciated you, his pastor friend, to grant you a share of such precious wine, sealed with the family crest."

Gu Dewen's lips trembled, his eyes darting about in panic; he couldn't bring himself to look at the seal, let alone respond.

Alerik received Jin Chen's gaze and was more than happy to play along.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze falling on the silver cufflinks adorning Pastor Gu Dewen's clerical sleeves, which were of fine quality.

"Your cufflinks are very beautiful, but perhaps an assistant pastor's salary wouldn't be enough to pay for this fine pair of silver cuffs on your sleeves. Well, Mr. Gu Dewen, could these also be a generous gift from Young Master Vincent?"

Gu Dewen: "……"

He opened his mouth, a gurgling sound came from his throat, yet he couldn't utter a single word.

He painfully raised his hand, tugging hard at his hair, sinking into extreme struggle and anxiety.

But the sense of pressure from Jin Chen and Alerik was simply too strong; even though they weren't angry now, merely looking at Gu Dewen calmly.

Gu Dewen could no longer bear this silent pressure, compounded by his immense guilt; he lifted his head and shouted in despair, "No! No! It absolutely wasn't Vincent! It was Edgar!"

Jin Chen showed just the right amount of surprise, "Could it be that butler Edgar brought you the wine?"

He prompted the question.

"Not given! It was stolen!" Gu Dewen burst into tears, his voice filled with intense shame and indignation.

He flung open the desk drawer, grabbed a thick stack of letters from inside, and slammed them down onto the desk.

"It's theft! Edgar…… abused his position as butler, secretly transporting the fine wine from the Olga Zhuang Zhuang Yuan Zhuang Yuan wine cellar out to sell cheaply! I stumbled upon this by accident…… but instead he threatened me, leaving me no choice but to accept these wines."

After Gu Dewen finished speaking, his whole face and neck flushed crimson as he buried his head deep in the crook of his arm, his shoulders shaking violently.

"Oh…… I too am a sinner guilty of greed…… the Lord will not forgive me…… He will not……"

"What an interesting development." Alerik remarked, "Among the current long list of suspects, I really hadn't considered dragging this Mr. Edgar into it."

——

The two of them returned to the round tube room, carrying the new clue they'd obtained from the distraught Pastor Gu Dewen.

While organizing their thoughts, they waited for Sheriff Bruce, with whom they'd agreed to split up today and exchange information.

Little Duo Xi brought them a simple breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, and toasted bread.

As she set out the utensils, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "How's the investigation going? Have you found the killer of Young Master Vincent?"

Hearing that, Jin Chen smiled and poked at the fried egg on his plate with his fork.

"Progress is going well; two more names have been added to the suspect list."

Duo Xi widened her eyes in astonishment, "Good heavens! That's hardly good news, is it? Why does the more we investigate, the more people we find?"

"Two?" Alerik looked at Jin Chen.

At that moment, Jin Chen naturally handed him a slice of bacon bread brushed with sauce.

Alerik paused, took it, and asked offhand, "Besides the butler Edgar, who else?"

Jin Chen propped his chin on one hand, watching Alerik take a bite of the bread, then spoke slowly.

"Think about it: the butler normally can't just leave the manor at will. If his stealing and selling wine is true, and it's already grown into some scale of business, then he would certainly need a reliable accomplice who can frequently come and go from the manor without raising suspicion, to help move the stolen wine out."

Jin Chen picked up his pocket notebook and pen, doodling as he thought.

"This person is obviously not the threatened Pastor Gu Dewen, so the suspect list just grew by one, right."

Alerik nodded approvingly; Cyril's mind is always so sharp.

"That analysis makes perfect sense. So, do you think this person is already among those we've met?"

Jin Chen shrugged, tapping his pen on the paper, "Undecided."

"【Truly unfathomable.】 Ling Gun Gun also spoke solemnly, taking a bite of bread."

"【……】"

Jin Chen: 【Blame whoever gave the plot too little.】

【This isn't for you to show off!】 Ling Gun Gun declared confidently, again munching away, 【Actually I haven't even grasped that part of the plot yet.】

Not long after breakfast, Sheriff Bruce and John paid a visit.

The previous day, Jin Chen had generously shared with Sheriff Bruce the clues from outside the study; the sheriff immediately changed his earlier skepticism about Jin Chen's detective abilities and said he would fetch John for a thorough questioning.

But Jin Chen hadn't expected that when Sheriff Bruce returned from his investigation, he brought back not clues, but John Olga himself.

Jin Chen watched the two walk in side by side, turned his head, and whispered to Alerik beside him, feeling troubled, "You're not wrong…… Sheriff Bruce really isn't very bright."

Alerik couldn't help but chuckle lowly at his complaint, finding Cyril simply more and more adorable.

He ruffled Jin Chen's blond hair again, then, as if nothing had happened, lowered his hand.

John Olgar sat on the sofa opposite them, gently placing his finely crafted cane to one side.

His face still shrouded in an inescapable sorrow, his voice slightly weary. "We meet again, Detective Alreik, Mr. Cyril."

Alreik nodded, skipping unnecessary pleasantries.

"Mr. Olgar, it's quite unexpected to see you here. I imagine Chief Bruce has already given you a general rundown of the situation."

John let out a soft sigh. "Yes. Chief Bruce acts… indeed decisively, not giving me much time to prepare."

He almost made me fall from outside the Study window.

Chief Bruce gave an embarrassed cough, his beard no longer perked up; he picked up the tea that Duo Xi had just poured for him, tilted his head back and gulped it down to hide his embarrassment.

Jin Chen's gaze lingered on John for a moment. "So, the person who climbed Vincent's Study window was you?"

"No, not me." John answered quickly, his expression looking quite relaxed. "I really can't think of any reason that would require me to climb into my brother's Study window in such an undignified manner."

"I just want to see him… there's no need to do this; I can see him anytime." John said, his face again showing a nostalgic, sorrowful expression.

Jin Chen listened, tilting his head slightly.

... I feel like something's off.

"【Truly, full of gay vibes.】 Ling Gun Gun was equally perceptive."