Chapter 2588: Dear Detective Mr. 40

John's fingers trembled uncontrollably; he took several deep breaths, trying to calm the pounding of his heart and the surging emotions, and only then managed to pinch open the seal with his fingertips.

I'm sorry; at such a time, I still left you this letter, adding to your troubles and pain.

But there are some things I dared not say in life and could not speak to you in person; I can only confess this way.

Please don't be bothered; I implore you to read this letter. >

John's breath caught, his tears blurring his vision.

He clenched his lips tightly, forcing himself to continue reading.

For the sake of the Orga family's faltering honor, you were destined to no longer rightfully inherit the title, while I, the latercomer, obtained it by a twist of fate.

I know you hate my mother, and you hate me.

I am selfish, cold, pretending not to see the growing resentment and distance in your eyes, yet I cannot stop myself from paying attention to everything about you.

We should have just continued like that, tormenting each other in our respective pain and anguish until the end of our lives.

But why… in the midst of this endless pain and seemingly irreconcilable hatred, what grew and spread was such a twisted, scarred affection?

I underestimated the love and hate that lingered in my heart, these two emotions coexisting contradictorily within us, and I now know even less how to face you.

Thus we began to argue more frequently, to fight more fiercely over every benefit, leaving only endless resentment.

Until the appearance of Joshua Cline.

You even withdrew the last bit of willingness to argue with me, to have any interaction with me; you didn't even want to glance at me again.

But how could I tell you, Joshua Cline, that he is a snake more treacherous than I? He approached me with a secret mission and purpose.

And in order to placate him, to gain the benefits I wanted from him, I committed an unforgivable mistake.

Tempted by profit and driven by ambition, I betrayed those who had once been loyal to me and had placed their trust in me.

He will never forgive a traitor; he will kill me.

I do not know how I will die, but if you see this letter, you must resolutely place all blame on Joshua Cline.

Finally…

John, dear John. I am truly sorry.

Sorry that my appearance took away everything that was yours, sorry that my selfishness and coldness brought you all this harm, sorry that only at the end did I dare to say these things… perhaps you would deem them unworthy of notice.

I wish you a pleasant dream.

— Vincent Orga>

John read the entire letter word by word, extremely slowly.

Each character felt like a red-hot branding iron, searing his heart fiercely, bringing sharp pain and sorrow.

When he saw that long‑absent gentle blessing at the end, he could no longer hold back; the sorrow he had suppressed for so long turned into broken sobs.

He read that last line over and over, losing track of how long…

How long had it been since Vincent last spoke to him in such a calm tone.

Their conversations were always filled with barbs, mockery, and irreconcilable hostility.

Jin Chen sat quietly at the side, not speaking to disturb.

He also finished reading the letter's contents, pondering who exactly Vincent referred to in the letter.

This is undoubtedly the key to uncovering the final truth.

Jin Chen patiently waited until John's sobs gradually subsided, leaving only intermittent, exhausted hiccups.

John slowly lowered his hands, revealing eyes that were red from crying and streaked with bloodshot veins.

His thin, pale fingers traced over those few sheets of thin paper again and again, almost greedily.

He then lifted his head to look at Jin Chen, his voice hoarse to the point of harshness, "Sorry… Mr. Cyril, I've lost my composure…"

"It's all right," Jin Chen said, "I can understand."

He paused, then steered the conversation back to the case: "Earlier, did you notice anyone threatening Vincent?"

John struggled to steady his breathing, shook his head, his eyes vacant and pained.

"I don't know; Vincent… his social circle is very complex, some of his dealings even his father doesn't fully know."

"Perhaps… perhaps he really does, as you said, have some connection to the black market that we don't know about."

He recalled the letter's mention that Joshua came with a mission, and his heart ached even more.

After a long silence, John's gaze fell once more onto the letter's final admonition.

He looked at the composed Jin Chen, "Inspector Cyril… now, do you still intend to continue the investigation? To find that… the person Vincent spoke of?"

Jin Chen nodded without hesitation, resolute: "Of course. This is my duty."

Moreover, it was to ensure his Alric could completely escape the obscure death ending in the original plot.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jin Chen slightly froze.

Naturally, he did not voice the latter reason concerning Alric's safety.

He lowered his gaze to the last few pages of the notebook spread open on his knee.

There, beside each person once listed as a suspect, he had marked them one by one with a sign of elimination.

【Host?】 Ling Gun Gun whispered doubtfully in his mind.

Jin Chen's fingertip unconsciously brushed over the excluded names, his pupils contracting imperceptibly.

【I seem… to know who the killer is.】

Ling Gun Gun: 【!! Who! Tell me who it is quickly! I'm dying of anxiety!】

Jin Chen closed the notebook, stood up, and said to John, still immersed in grief: "Mr. John, please rest assured, I will still find the true culprit; if you wish to know the final answer… at most three days, after Joshua Cline is executed by hanging, I will give you a definite reply."

John slowly nodded, his voice hoarse, "Thank you… Mr. Cyril."

Leaving Orga Zhuang Yuan, Jin Chen's steps were more hurried than usual.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the gaps between the buildings lining the street, casting patchy light and shadow on him.

【Host! Host! Are we going to find the real culprit now?!】 Ling Gun Gun shouted excitedly in his mind, his curiosity practically bursting.

Jin Chen shook his head, 【Let's go find Alreik first.】

Ling Gun Gun: 【???】

Before I look for my wife, can you at least tell me who the killer is?! I'm dying of anxiety!