Chapter 2577: Dear Detective Mr. 29

Another day passed.

In the morning, Sheriff Bruce, who looked even more exhausted than during the continuous investigation, came to the door again.

This time he didn't first look for Aleric, but went straight to Jin Chen, who was organizing notes on the first floor, his face full of helplessness.

"Cyril, my partner," Bruce scratched his already thinning hair, his voice full of fatigue, "I'm really helpless. Interrogating Joshua Cline is far harder than we imagined! That guy... he's practically a born sophist! Quick-witted, sharp-tongued."

He let out a heavy sigh: "And now he's made a request... he insists on seeing you alone."

Before Jin Chen could react, Aleric, who had just come down the stairs, heard this and his face turned cold, an icy glint flashing in his green eyes.

"Bruce," his voice like ice, "I think you should really see a doctor and have your head checked. How dare you convey such an absurd request?"

He strode over to Jin Chen's side, took a protective stance, and fixed Bruce with a sharp gaze.

Jin Chen, however, lightly pressed Aleric's arm, signaling him to stay calm.

"It's fine, I'll go with you."

Aleric's brows furrowed, a little fierce, "That Joshua Cline is far more dangerous and cunning than you think; I don't agree with you seeing him alone."

Jin Chen didn't immediately retort, turning to Sheriff Bruce, "Sheriff, could you please wait outside for a moment? I have something I want to say to Aleric alone."

Bruce, puzzled, still obeyed and stepped out, pulling the door shut behind him.

He stood under the porch, tugging at his two moustaches, muttering to himself.

The relationship between those two is becoming increasingly puzzling.

As soon as the door closed, Jin Chen turned around.

He wrapped his arms around Aleric's strong, supple waist, gently pulled him closer, and kissed his lips, which were tightly pursed in displeasure, an ambiguous gesture that made the heart race.

Aleric's body stiffened, but soon, under the familiar assault, he involuntarily softened.

Cyril always acts like this when being coquettish, always finding a way to leave him with no temper to spare.

Yet he damn well falls for it every time.

He sighed helplessly, then helplessly pulled Jin Chen into his embrace, letting him kiss his neck over and over.

"All right, Cyril... stay safe."

Jin Chen lifted his head, then leaned in to give him a light, quick kiss on the lips, helping to smooth out the shirt collar he had just wrinkled.

"I'll be back soon, dear," he promised.

Aleric leaned against the sofa armrest, his green eyes slightly narrowed, watching Jin Chen's departing back with a complex gaze.

Only after the room door closed again did he slowly withdraw his gaze, turning toward the box in the corner of the study.

It seems he, too, must make a trip to the black market.

Yes, in the daytime.

——

The detention room of the courthouse police station was dimly lit.

Under Sheriff Bruce's repeated warnings—"Be careful, and call for help immediately if anything seems off"—Jin Chen entered the room alone.

Joshua Cline sat in the wooden chair of the room, his hands and feet cuffed, yet surprisingly, his mental state appeared even better than when he was in the manor's living room.

Having shed the deliberate pretense of fragility, he now exuded a morbid, highly aggressive dangerous aura.

Jin Chen sat opposite him, calm and even somewhat relaxed, as if merely coming for an ordinary discussion.

"I'm surprised," Joshua said first, "that you could so quickly determine I used ice to poison."

Jin Chen shrugged indifferently, leaned slightly back in the chair, lowered his gaze at him, and spoke calmly.

"Whatever is done always leaves a trace; no matter how perfect the crime, it cannot completely erase all clues."

"Then, Mr. Cline," he got straight to the point, "you insisted on seeing me alone—what do you want to say to me?"

Joshua's fingers twitched slightly within the cuffs' restraint, and his face showed a displeased, almost sneering smirk.

"I've said before, Vincent wasn't killed by me—at least... not as a result of my plan; I never truly wanted him dead."

He lowered his head, a few strands of black hair falling from his forehead to partly cover his brows and eyes, his overly thin spine tensing slightly.

His whole person gave off a damp, dangerous aura.

"I just... just wanted him to be a bit more obedient. To become a little weaker, temporarily unable to handle family affairs, unable to hold that damned wedding... also unable to constantly see John, so I could have more time..."

Jin Chen raised his eyebrows slightly, recalling the two voided train tickets to London, and probed: "Do you think... he loves you? So he'd be willing to give up everything and elope with you?"

Joshua snapped his head up to look at him, his gaze stubborn to the point of obsession: "He loves me! He certainly loves me!"

This remark seemed directed at Jin Chen, yet more like he was trying to convince himself.

Jin Chen, however, firmly shook his head: "No, he doesn't love you."

Joshua: "……"

He glared at Jin Chen with a dark, malicious gaze, yet could not refute.

Jin Chen would not surrender control of the topic to anyone except his beloved Aleric.

"That specially cultivated black orchid toxin comes from the black market in Beiya'er City, so Mr. Cline, you and your family are the unseen Earl house behind the Griffin Gang, right?"

Joshua's expression grew ever colder, he stared at Jin Chen for a while, then suddenly snorted, "You're indeed not simple, Mr. Cyril."

Jin Chen pressed on relentlessly, never letting up.

"Then, what was your purpose in approaching Vincent Olga? Was it for the Olga family's vast wealth, for the title and power of the Earl heir, or did you truly mix in love?"

Upon hearing the word "love," Joshua's gaze flickered dazedly.

Mentioning this topic, his aggressive aura actually subsided somewhat, revealing a semblance of near-docility.

"I originally came... for the wealth and status of the Olga Earl family."

He admitted, "Vincent and I are about the same age, he's a true gentleman... but at the same time, he isn't... a completely good person."

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, a distorted smile, "A gentleman who isn't exactly good—how captivating."

Joshua's words became somewhat confused, and this was the first time he had analyzed this twisted feeling toward someone.

I fell hopelessly in love with him, but he…… I don't know how he could pretend so well; he seemed to accept my closeness, yet he doesn't love me. In his heart…… he hides a great secret.

What secret? Jin Chen pressed, "The one related to John?"

Joshua shook his head: "John Olgar, that eccentric, gloomy Young Master, I realized long ago that he harbors a disgusting feeling toward Vincent."

But Vincent's secret has nothing to do with John." He paused, eyes unfocused, "This secret…… makes him willing to cooperate with me in some ways, satisfy my demands, yet also lets him discard me without mercy."

I want to take him to London, far away from everything here. As long as he obeys! As long as he belongs entirely to me! But he didn't come…… he finally abandoned me……

Suddenly, Joshua lifted his head, his gaze locking onto Jin Chen, his eyes becoming extremely sharp, even with a kind of nervous excitement.

Since you know the black market, you know the Griffin Gang…… you definitely have a way to investigate—go investigate! The dosage of that batch of poison I purchased through Merj!

That dosage is nowhere near enough to kill a healthy adult male like Vincent in such a short time! Unless…… unless he's already been poisoned with something else, or someone increased the dose!

His body leaned forward slightly; despite wearing handcuffs, he still exuded an intensely oppressive allure.

Merj is my exclusive contact. Go to the black market, find him. Prove my innocence. Then,

Joshua's gaze burned into Jin Chen,

Join us.

Jin Chen thought, You're really sick.

My wife worked herself to death trying to destroy the Griffin Gang, and I just joined…… hiss, wait a moment.

Jin Chen's heart stirred; intrigued, he placed his hand on the table, "Alright, deal."

He agreed too readily; although Joshua had doubts, he didn't care at all.

As long as this person enters the Griffin Gang's territory, even if he wanted to back out, it would be impossible.

Joshua rose with an excited smile, "Don't let me down."