Chapter 2591: Dear Detective Mr. 43

The temporary detention room of the Court Police Bureau.

Here it was colder and damper than when Jin Chen had last been, with mold condensing on the walls, making one uncomfortable.

Only one day remained before Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's public execution by hanging.

Jin Chen entered alone.

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en curled up on the crude iron bunk in the corner of the room, still wearing that gentleman's outfit that looked expensive but was now wrinkled and stained.

In just a few days, he had grown gaunt, his eyes sunken, cheekbones protruding, filled with the viciousness and agitation of a trapped beast.

Hearing footsteps, Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en snapped his head up, saw that the visitor was Jin Chen, and his bloodshot eyes blazed with near‑mad light.

He scrambled up from the bed using both hands and feet, then lurched to the table.

"Xi Li'er! Inspector Xi Li'er!"

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's voice was hoarse and grating, urgent beyond endurance: "You finally came! Have you figured out the culprit? Who really is the murderer? Why haven't you bailed me out? I've had enough of this place—I can't stand another minute in this damned hole!"

His mental state was clearly on the verge of collapse.

The countdown to death was like a dull blade, slicing his nerves second by second.

Jin Chen stood a few steps from the table, his expression calm.

"As you wished, Mr. Kelai'en, I have indeed uncovered the murderer's identity."

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en pressed urgently, "Who? Who ruined my plan? Is it Yuehan? Or that damned Zhulian? Tell me!"

His tone was filled with a manic obsession.

It seemed that as long as he knew the murderer wasn't himself, he could instantly break free of death's shackles.

Just then, the detention room's door was pushed open again.

A'erruike walked in unhurriedly, his overcoat collar slightly open, his face bearing a nonchalant, even somewhat amused expression.

He went straight to Jin Chen's side, lazily slung an arm over his shoulder, then lowered his green eyes to appraise the seemingly mad Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en with keen interest.

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's entire focus was on Jin Chen; he didn't immediately notice A'erruike's arrival, persisting in his questioning.

"Speak! Who is it?!"

Jin Chen naturally slipped his arms around A'erruike's slim waist, his fingertips lightly grazing.

Then he lifted his gaze to Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en.

"It's you."

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's frenzy and expectation froze, like an ice sculpture, and he stared for several seconds; his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, and his expression gradually became Distorted.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en slammed his hand on the table, "Didn't I tell you? I never gave a lethal dose! I held back at the end—I didn't kill him!"

"But unfortunately, you administered the second poison."

Jin Chen's hand around A'erruike's waist tightened slightly, performing a silent understanding.

"You bought Black Orchid Poison, adding the final lethal dose to Wensente's body—so… you aren't the murderer?"

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en was utterly stunned, mouth open, yet no sound came out.

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en muttered dazedly, eyes unfocused, "How… how could this be…"

"... Whose investigation is this?! Who is it? Is it you, Inspector A'erruike?" Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en finally turned his gaze to A'erruike, who had been leaning against Jin Chen, intimate and relaxed.

A'erruike, seeing Jin Chen kindly pull out a relatively clean wooden chair beside him, sat down gracefully.

A'erruike met Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's terrified, angry gaze, gave a slight nod, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking, standard gentleman's smile, his tone light.

"It's a pleasure to meet you properly again, Mr. Kelai'en. Let me reintroduce myself—I am… Keluofute."

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en: "???"

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's pupils shrank to pinpoints, he stumbled backward uncontrollably, and slammed hard into the cold wall.

Keluofute, the Scarlet Gentleman…

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en seemed to finally understand something, his eyes turning mad and venomous, glaring fixedly at A'erruike and Jin Chen.

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en: "It's you… you've framed me! You never intended to find the real murderer!"

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en: "Or is it because of my identity? You dare not move against the true mastermind, so you dragged me out to take the fall—right?"

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en hoarsely growled, trying to press with his family background, yet he clearly knew how feeble that was against these two in this place.

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en: "How could I possibly be the murderer… how could I have killed Wensente… I was so…"

Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's voice trailed off, becoming a muffled, painful, confused mutter; his body slid down the wall to sit slumped, hands clasped over his head.

At that moment, the detention room's door was pushed open once more.

Hearing someone had come to visit, Sheriff Bulusi hurried over.

Seeing it was A'erruike and Jin Chen, he visibly relaxed.

He then heard Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's nervous mutter, stroked his small mustache in surprise, and let out a hey.

"Really strange," Sheriff Bulusi muttered, "He's about to be hanged, yet he insists he's not the murderer—but the moment you two show up, he… seems to have accepted it?"

Although Bulusi found it odd, he apparently didn't intend to pursue it, turning to A'erruike with a solemn expression.

"There's bad news, Inspector. Xilasi… Qiao Shuya·Kelai'en's personal valet—he's fled."

As an important accomplice and witness in this case, Xilasi's escape was undoubtedly a major loophole.

Sheriff Bulusi's face looked grim, evidently under considerable pressure over this.

A'erruike merely gave a soft snort upon hearing it, contempt flashing in his green eyes, his tone habitually mocking.

"Your subordinates are still useless, Bulusi—you can't even keep watch over one person."

Bulusi, his beard bristling with anger, lowered his voice to retort: "I know, I know!"

"Once this case is completely over, I'll replace the staff! How many times do I have to say this before it's enough?"

A'erruike couldn't be bothered to argue further, merely frowning impatiently: "... Shut up."

He turned and reminded, his tone a bit more serious: "Don't just focus on being angry; keep watch tonight, be careful someone might come to break jail."

Sheriff Bruce was displeased, but he also understood the gravity, nodded, and said in a hollow voice, "You're right, I'll assign more personnel."

And completely ignored, Joshua sat slumped in the corner, his face showing only numb despair like ashes.