Chapter 876

PS: It's my birthday, Tenshi has aged another year, resuming two chapters tomorrow

When she heard Uesugi Muneyuki say "Hoshino Gen, your wife smells nice," Asuka froze for a moment.

The girl thought: Is your old habit acting up again?

Huh? Why did I say "again"?

Let go of that GAKKI, come at me if you've got something!

Asuka thought: I'm ready!

"Sōsetsu, what are you saying?" the girl pouted, saying with a bit of displeasure.

The corner of Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth raised slightly, he did not explain.

He thought of Aragaki Yui's smile, that smile evaluated by Mai Xuejie as "meme pollution."

Turns out that smile not only attracts people, but also attracts those things.

Inner World creatures attract each other; these things would very naturally be attracted by Inner World Existence. When Aragaki Yui uses Otherworld Energy to empower herself, she naturally encounters danger as well.

According to what Mai Xuejie said, male self-generated Otherworld Energy begins to decline at 35 Years Old, females at 27 Years Old, and as Otherworld Energy declines, their Shield also decreases. The amount of Otherworld Energy a person can self-generate in a lifetime is limited.

Except for Uesugi Muneyuki; this is why he is so important.

Actually Mai Xuejie was also quite anxious before her age gradually approached 27 Years Old, but now she is completely not anxious anymore.

Junior brother's is mine! Mine is also junior brother's!

Oh yeah!

"These things, their grudge is too strong, strong enough to be attracted by anything luminous. And Aragaki Yui happens to be glowing." Uesugi Muneyuki Nodded: "So most likely, these things were attracted."

"But why was nothing wrong afterwards when Hoshino Gen sat at the Door all Evening?" Asuka tilted her little head.

"Very simple, because essentially speaking, human anger is also a form of energy manifestation." Uesugi Muneyuki said with his head lowered: "His existence itself — Ichiran — he sat there, like a barrier, or rather, like a signal: I absolutely will not allow you to approach GAKKI."

Uesugi Muneyuki thought up to here, felt a bit amused.

Hoshino Gen probably doesn't even know what he did himself. He's not a Daoist, not an Onmyōji, doesn't even believe in ghosts and gods, but that attitude of "defend GAKKI to the death" can have some Deterrence against these unpleasant existences.

When people get angry, the body naturally burns Emotion energy; this makes Cursed Grudge and Inner World existences slightly wary, but only a little. People cannot stay angry for long; there's always a time of Fatigue, and truly powerful Cursed Grudge fundamentally don't fear this.

Similar to how some people really dislike the piercing sound of scratching glass, so they avoid it, but when it really comes to having to face it, even if you scratch sparks out of the glass it's useless.

"Eh, Is That So?" Asuka said rather unconcernedly: "I'm also an Inner World Person, how come I don't feel any pressure?" … Uesugi Muneyuki wanted to say it's because Hankyō Bridge has five Wisdom Kings! And four Cursed Grudges! They have their own power supply; besides Hironaka Mariko permanently stationed at Fuji Field Building, the other Cursed Grudges have always been guarding his home.

"Mo~ In short, is this how you usually investigate cases?" Asuka didn't continue this topic; the girl squatted in the Hallway, putting together her pair of slender smooth Black Silk Beautiful Legs, a head of long straight silky hair fell down along her Shoulder, complaining coquettishly: "Always feel it's different from TV dramas!"

"In my imagination, Sōsetsu investigating should be... discover the Deceased, then Search for Clues at home, inadvertently discover various clues, for example death messages, for example traces of murder weapons, for example hair and other clues." Asuka widened her cute big eyes: "Then say to everyone Eh Eh 'Heart-Minded Frog keeps touching your belly!' Then take out a Baseball Bat, knock the high-fat woman unconscious with one swing, then take out a Transformation Device, start describing the case."

"Hahaha~" Uesugi Muneyuki laughed loudly upon hearing this: "What orthodox mystery?"

"It IS orthodox mystery!" Asuka seriously cupped her little face: "Kindaichi is so cool! Just the stories are too long and too cruel; I still prefer Detective Conan, one case per episode, occasionally two, at most three."

"Actually Kindaichi's cases are superior to Conan's, whether orthodox mystery or Logic self-consistency, or plot social relevance, all surpass Conan; just two reasons, first Kindaichi's cases are all longer, one case requires?" "If you put it that way, you're right, Sōsetsu! Yeah, early Conan episodes had victims with eyes open, later all closed eyes." Asuka suddenly realized.

"This is TV pressure." Uesugi Muneyuki said: "Speaking of which, actually those incomparably exquisite Modus operandi in orthodox mystery almost cannot exist in reality. First, in reality, preparing an exquisite crime itself requires massive Preparation and planning, but the more preparation and planning, the more traces left behind."

"Second, the more brilliant the puzzles and tricks, the harder Logic self-governance; didn't Higashino Keigo complain about this in his own books?"

"Ah, right!" Asuka's eyes sparkled: "Sōsetsu so cool!"

Uesugi Muneyuki smiled; he now understands how much destructive power a girl with eyes full of only you has.

Previously mentioned, this guy Higashino Keigo's later reputation gets worse and worse; orthodox readers dissatisfied, social mystery readers dissatisfied, pure plot watchers dissatisfied, even those wanting erotic content dissatisfied; there's a reason.

Orthodox readers want to see brilliant mental duels, but Higashino's later reasoning elements weakened; in "The Detective's Rules" this book Higashino Keigo summarized all orthodox mystery trick narratives and exquisite murder plans' far-fetchedness and unreasonableness, result seen as betrayal.

Social mystery readers value profound analysis of social problems, but Higashino Keigo's depiction of social problems is only superficial; he writes indeed existing social problems and phenomena, but mostly as Background and character setting.

Mystery fans discovered later many books can't be called mystery anymore, for example "Solution-Oriented Snack Shop".

Pure story fans come for story and plot; they quickly discovered Higashino Keigo likes "making dumplings" — whatever story, at the end all "warm resolution".

Actually Japanese also hate "making dumplings"; not everything can be solved through "warmth" "Forgiveness", but undeniably this type of content is easier to adapt into film and television.

And erotic content fans just want stimulating content; for example in "White Night Fortress" there's a passage of erotic description of Yukiho deeply loved by everyone, but later this guy stopped writing it.

Final result: every faction disappointed; naturally this guy's reputation worse and worse.

However Higashino Keigo is actually the greatest common divisor of orthodox and social mystery, very suitable for mystery beginners.

This is like Capcom's famous IP "Resident Evil" — Resident Evil developed to now, audience already four types of people.

Some purely come for horror and jumpscares.

Some come to see new black tech vs blood flesh mutation, just want a satisfying fight.

Some come to see whether Leon S. Kennedy ultimately chooses Ada Wong or Billie Law or Claire Redfield, incidentally see if new 3D character models can make P Station Ranking.

Some purely come for plot, see if Wesker really died, what's after Umbrella Corporation, if there's still boxes inside boxes. These four factions impossible to all satisfy; no matter how Capcom releases, definitely some people disappointed; as long as new Resident Evil series releases, definitely curses everywhere, but everyone will definitely still buy.

This is Higashino Keigo's ecological niche; this person already doesn't believe in so-called "perfect crime" "orthodox mystery".

Friends who kill frequently certainly all know; so-called perfect crime actually divides into multiple tiers.

Most perfect crime: Victim went to Ao Tai Line, missing, life or death unknown, Police Side treat as missing person, fundamentally didn't realize he died; several years later, legally declared dead, no investigation.

Second perfect crime: Victim went to Ao Tai Line, missing, triggered Police Side investigation and search, but no Corpse found, declared dead, investigation ended.

Third perfect crime: Victim went to Ao Tai Line, missing, Corpse found, investigation judged as Accidental death, investigation ended. Fourth perfect crime: Ao Tai Line, missing, Corpse found, suspected Homicide, but no Evidence to prove, investigation period then ended.

Fifth perfect crime: Ao Tai Line, missing, Corpse suspected Homicide with Evidence, but you not listed among suspects. And by the time listed as possible perpetrator, you're actually already very dangerous, because once listed as Suspect, even if you have Alibi, very possible Judge seriously looks at your Display of Alibi 300 kilometers away, then lightly announces Defendant Evidence not adopted, rape conviction established, sentenced to three years imprisonment, all already paid betrothal gifts and funds counted as normal dealings between both parties, not returned, Instruction. So orthodox mystery is actually a paradox; truly perfect crime fundamentally never enters suspicion level.

Of course, there's also truly perfect crime.

"Teacher Tianzi, your lips are purple, maybe heart problem!"

"You believe you can't outrun me?"

"You believe you can't outrun me, I run half-marathons, you say my heart is bad!"

"Wait, I'll just sign up for a full marathon, ah, usually at company let's start training!"

"Strong Ones don't die; are you a Strong One?"

THIS is the truly perfect crime.

At three in the afternoon, the coffee shop on the first floor of the hotel had been booked out by the crew as a temporary rest area, but at this moment only three people were in the corner by the window. Bai Chuan Mai had changed out of the costume she wore for the morning shoot, wearing a black turtleneck sweater and dark gray long pants, her head of gorgeous light brown hair hanging loose, no makeup on her face, but that face didn't need makeup, a soft beret on her head, a small cute rabbit hair clip glinting faintly.

Asuka was holding a hot chocolate, while Sakura was filming a chase scene not far away; one could see Sakura run a few quick steps, hug her knees and flip a circle in midair, then kick out with one foot.

Sakura Knight Kick!

Bystander fans on the side were shouting "Sakura kick me!"

Uesugi Muneyuki watched with a smile, thinking that Sakura's body was indeed tough; if it were Minami, she definitely wouldn't be able to walk today.

"Tonight, we need a bait." Mai Xuejie said after thinking for a bit.

"You or me?" Uesugi Muneyuki nodded.

"Neither works, we're too strong." Mai Xuejie shook her head: "Whether it's you or me, that's like Sam's Club in a supermarket, Wangwang Senbei inside a Xu Fu Ji box, OPP0 inside a phone......"

The coffee shop fell quiet for a few seconds.

The air conditioning's warm air blew whoosh-whoosh, crew staff in the distance were packing equipment, an occasional low voice of conversation drifting over. You're no good, I'm no good either, then wouldn't that mean...... Uesugi Muneyuki hesitated a little.

Asuka put down the hot chocolate, raised her head, looked at Bai Chuan Mai.

Her expression was calm, but the color of her lips was a bit paler than just now.

"I'll do it!" she said.

Voice not loud, but very steady: "It's time to show this A-shu's combat power!"

Bai Chuan Mai looked at her, her gaze softening a bit: "It will be very dangerous."

"I know."

"Those things aren't something you can handle."

"I know."

"You might get scared, might get hurt, even possibly"

"I know." Asuka cut her off, voice still not loud, but steadier, she turned her head, looked at Uesugi Muneyuki: "Sōsetsu is here. Mai-sama is also here. You won't let me get hurt."

There was no hesitation in her tone, no bravado, just that kind of "I believe you" certainty.

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at her, looked for a few seconds, then nodded; Bai Chuan Mai also nodded, took out her phone from her bag, started sending messages. Uesugi Muneyuki leaned against the chair back, looked out the window. The snow had stopped, the cloud layer was still very thick, couldn't see where the sun was, but the sky had already started to darken. Winter is like this, once it passes four o'clock, it gets dark, night comes much faster than imagined.

Darkness, will devour you!

At eleven at night, the lights in the third floor hallway were dimmed to the darkest.

Asuka sat alone inside Room 308, wearing her own clothes — milky white turtleneck sweater, dark gray pleated skirt, black fleece-lined silk stockings, brown snow boots.

She had two small braids tied, hanging in front of her chest, holding nothing in her hands, standing there, like a cat left in a strange place, ears pricked, eyes wide open, whole body full of watchfulness. But she didn't run.

Both ends of the hallway had already been cleared, all guests temporarily arranged to other floors, the excuse to the outside being that Mai Xuejie was going to perform an exorcism ritual. Asuka took a deep breath, closed her eyes, she tried to release her spirit power.

Asuka turned herself into a small, bright, warm-breath-emitting target.

Those things would see it. In the darkness, anything that emits light would be seen. She didn't know what her "light" was like, but she hoped it was warm enough, warm enough to attract those souls that had wandered in the cold for too long.

Hurry up and come out, you bunch of true dead otakus with perverted thoughts about the Okinawa Female Giant!

Anyway, nobody's spending Christmas with you guys either!

Asuka thought just like that!

The hallway was very quiet, quiet enough to hear the water flow sound in the heating pipes, quiet enough to hear her own heartbeat.

Asuka leaned against the back of the Room 308 chair, both hands inserted in her external coat pockets, fingertips clutching the phone, the phone screen was black, but Uesugi Muneyuki had said, if scared just use the phone to send him a message, don't even need to type a word, send a period signal and he'll arrive immediately.

Waited a long time. Didn't know if it was one hour or two hours, Asuka felt her legs had already started to go stiff. She changed posture, shifted weight from left foot to right foot, snow boots stepped on the carpet, no sound. Right at the instant she shifted weight, a sound came from the corridor end. Thump-drag thump-drag

It was the sound of something dragging on the carpet.

Very slow, very heavy, several seconds between each step, like it had to accumulate strength to take the next step.

Asuka's hands came out of her pockets, she gripped the phone with both hands, the phone screen was icy cold, fingertips trembling slightly. That sound got closer and closer, clearer and clearer.

It was several entities.

They're here! They're here!!!