Chapter 692

This scene cannot escape the eyes of the crowd, nor can it evade the capture of Fuji TV's cameras.

Wow! There's still a shura field?!

Awesome! This is exactly what I want, this is exactly what we want to see, mouth tooth!

Facing Mai Xuejie's scrutiny, especially her gaze toward her lower abdomen, Tei Reiji's throat suddenly felt a little dry, her fingers gripping the microphone tightened slightly.

She subconsciously wanted to look away, but found herself seemingly fixed by that gaze. She saw Mai Shirakawa's lips twitch ever so slightly, not a smile, more like a kind of — silent confirmation and faint detachment.

Then, Mai Xuejie's gaze slid off her, as if she were merely an insignificant object in the background, turning instead toward the direction of the temporary command vehicle — clearly, she was seeking the person she truly wanted to see.

Tei Reiji felt a slight tremor and an indescribable sense of embarrassment, an instinctive reaction of an outer chamber completely suppressed by the main chamber's aura; she quickly lowered her head, pretending to organize the documents in her hands, yet her earlobes involuntarily grew warm.

Tei Anchor naturally unwilling to be merely an outer chamber, she wanted more! More!

Yet this woman before her, who was not the main chamber but seemed even more so, a single glance made her blood run cold.

And within Uesugi's Ooku, there is still a legitimate Omitaidokoro lady!

Wah, I can't go forward anymore, ahead is hell, the true hell mouth tooth!

The world ahead, let's explore it later!

The surrounding reporters seemed to also sense the subtle and tense atmosphere between the two women, their discussion faded, replaced by more curious and investigative lenses.

Mai Shirakawa strode forward, her long boots stepping on the remaining snow with clear sounds, she walked straight toward the police line; a police officer tried to step forward to block her, but before he could speak, she took out from her coat pocket a document bearing the Shinai Alliance emblem and a special permit seal, calmly displaying it.

After seeing it, the officer's face changed, he immediately stepped aside respectfully and reported softly via walkie-talkie.

The matter involves shrine affairs; as a local power, there is reason and interface for involvement.

Especially in such rural areas, the power of temples and shrines is actually stronger.

Mai Xuejie's target is clear — Uesugi Muneyuki.

Uesugi Muneyuki had just finished discussing the next steps of investigation focus with Inspector Yamanaka; upon looking up, he saw that slender figure passing through the blockade and walking toward him.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he immediately regained composure. He of course knew Mai Shirakawa would come — she had been hindered by the avalanche earlier, but given her personality and her relationship with him, upon hearing of such a major incident here, she would certainly find a way to arrive as soon as possible.

"Mai." He stepped forward a few paces to meet her.

"Junior Student." Mai Shirakawa stopped before him, carefully examining his face, seemingly confirming his condition, a pair of bright, radiant, peerless large eyes half-smiling: "You're alright?" Her voice was clear and pleasant, carrying natural concern.

"I'm fine. Thank you for your hardship on the way." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, giving a simple reply.

Mai Shirakawa's gaze swept past him, once again turning toward that toilet, her expression turning serious: "The situation is even more serious than I imagined. On my way here, I've already heard the general outline."

She paused, lowered her voice so only Uesugi could hear: "Just now, when passing through the media area, I saw the preliminary scene photos, especially — the symbol drawn in blood inside the toilet."

They discussed privately; Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes lit up: "Mai Xuejie means — this is some kind of ritual?"

Mai Shirakawa did not answer immediately, but looked at Uesugi Muneyuki, their eyes meeting as if with deep meaning.

Don't say it out loud.

Then she turned her gaze back to the toilet, her tone carrying the caution of one studying ancient texts: "I cannot be entirely certain, because it is drawn somewhat distorted and messy, and mixed with unprofessional strokes. But — its basic structure and several key strokes remind me of some extremely obscure, even taboo folk sacrificial records, used to mark unclean sacrificial objects" or "the path toward impurity" — the variant of the wedged mark."

"Indeed, it's a sacrifice?" Uesugi Muneyuki exhaled lightly.

"Yes." Mai Shirakawa's tone remained steady, yet carried a chill: "In certain extreme ritual notions long abandoned by mainstream Shinto and lingering in folk belief, it is thought that through extreme cruelty, disposing of specific offerings in specific impure places" (such as toilets, garbage dumps) "can transfer, fix, or — appease certain unspeakable entities, in exchange for power or the fulfillment of wishes. Such symbols are usually drawn on the offering's body or at the discard site, serving both as a mark" and "a seal" and "a passage.""

"I recall I told you before, in certain extremely extreme rituals and circumstances, one can briefly break the seal of the Logic Tide, attempting to communicate with the Old Gods, or even — attempt to ascend as a New God?"

She looked at Uesugi Muneyuki, her gaze profound: "Muneyuki, this is not merely murder. If my judgment is even slightly close to the truth, then the perpetrator may firmly believe they are performing some kind of ritual." The victim's selection, method of killing, disposal site, even the specific time, may all carry distorted symbolic meaning. This is not an ordinary crime of hatred or desire — behind this, there may be a more systematic, darker motive driving.

Her words, like another heavy ice block, were cast into the already fog-choked depths of the investigation.

Uesugi Muneyuki's complexion shifted; evidently, if this murder case reaches this dimension, then it has indeed completely surpassed the scope of ordinary criminal investigation.

But, this is Mai Xuejie's judgment.

Moreover, this judgment aligns with the information he received in the Hall of Gods of Takamagahara.

Mai Shirakawa's inference, combined with what he sensed from the residual soul of Nishino Miki — the "ritual feeling" — and his earlier speculation that the perpetrator might be driven by "instruction" or "belief," are in complete agreement, and furthermore provide a more concrete direction — this may be some kind of ritual of Hiakari.

He recalled Kawabe Mayu's similarly abnormal dazed state, Sohō Hinata's icy gaze, and the dark undercurrents possibly festering behind Akimoto Yasushi's vast idol empire — countless threads danced in his mind.

The situation is too complex.

"Asuka and Sakuya-chan?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked softly.

"They've already been arranged to go to the guesthouse." Mai Xuejie nodded: "This place is not suitable for them to come, and moreover — we might perhaps need Asuka's power."

"Well, the most urgent matter now is to investigate Kawabe Mayu, and I have some things to tell you, Mai-sama, I this time came before the grave of Kenshin Kō — " Uesugi Muneyuki was about to recount his own experience, when he heard from the Yamagata Prefecture Police side a burst of joyful cheers.

"Uesugi-san! The culprit has been caught!"

"What what???"

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