A Scientific Urban Detective

“Perhaps those children have their own difficulties,” Aiho Yomikawa said. “It’s not just like they're taking the blame for their companions; it feels like they want to actively enter the juvenile detention center to avoid something.”

“Don’t worry,” she said to Lin Wuming. “We will follow up with our own methods—we will continue to monitor each of them.”

Tsuzuri Teshio continued, “Their guardian, Seisei Suzuran, is preparing to join the juvenile detention center after graduation. The security forces have already decided to directly recruit her.”

The juvenile detention center is a cooperative unit of the security forces, so the security forces can also exert a certain influence on it.

In this way, Seisei Suzuran and the three girls under her care are indirectly incorporated into the security forces' system, making it easier to supervise and observe them.

“Since you suspect there's a problem with their identities, why not directly arrest the real Tsurigane Teahouse?” Lin Wuming asked, somewhat surprised.

In his opinion, the security forces wouldn't be so lenient in this matter. Anyway, the punishment for Tsurigane Teahouse wouldn't be particularly severe—the evidence is Lin Wuming himself and Koganekei Toumi—there's no need to cooperate with the students' lies.

“We have no evidence,” Aiho Yomikawa shrugged. “Even the library information indicates that we haven't arrested the wrong person, so we don't have any better options.”

The security forces are, after all, an organization that values procedural justice and must act based on evidence. In this situation, unless a mind-reading ability user is deployed, it's difficult to obtain evidence.

Unfortunately, Misaki Shokuhou has been busy recently, so she doesn't have time to deal with the security forces' “consultant” work.

Therefore, Aiho Yomikawa and the others decided to come home to test Lin Wuming and Koganekei Toumi, since the two of them had the most contact with the four girls and might be able to distinguish their identities.

The test was successful. Aiho Yomikawa slightly tricked him and confirmed from Lin Wuming's expression that her guess was correct—the girl who surrendered was not the real “killer” Tsurigane Teahouse.

But that was all. Without solid evidence, even if she verified her guess, she couldn't do anything.

Moreover, before figuring out the hidden truth of those girls, Aiho Yomikawa didn't want to expose them—in case she messed things up and harmed them or even more people.

“Alright, this is just idle talk after drinking,” Aiho Yomikawa threw down the wine bottle. “We don't plan to do anything, so don't take it to heart…”

Aiho Yomikawa said this to Lin Wuming to give him an explanation—this was just a chat, not an interrogation.

As for more detailed information, Aiho Yomikawa didn't continue to question Lin Wuming. Because she felt that Lin Wuming was at most hiding the fact that Tsurigane Teahouse had switched identities with someone, but as for the real secrets hidden by those four girls, Lin Wuming probably didn't know either.

After all, it was Tsurigane Teahouse who was killing and setting fires in “Exploration Frontier” back then. Lin Wuming and Koganekei Toumi only went there to clean up the aftermath. They didn't have much time to communicate and exchange more in-depth information.

Therefore, it was normal for Lin Wuming and Koganekei Toumi not to know the inside story.

Instead of continuing to question Lin Wuming here, it would be better to take some time to go upstairs and find the newly promoted Level 5, Misaki Shokuhou.

However, Aiho Yomikawa didn't expect that before she could visit, Misaki Shokuhou had already knocked on her door.

Out of politeness, their guardian, Yeri Tomine, also accompanied her, bringing a box of snacks as a gift.

The two security teachers, who were drunk and completely out of shape, scrambled to tidy up their appearance.

Yeri Tomine also realized that she seemed to have come at a bad time and stood awkwardly at the door.

“I told you that she could come by herself…” Misaki Shokuhou whispered beside her.

“Because I've always wanted to come and thank you,” Yeri Tomine said in a low voice as well, but Aiho Yomikawa had been working overtime and returning late these past few days, so she didn't have the chance.

Fortunately, both security teachers had a good tolerance for alcohol, and plus there were two minors at home, so they were too embarrassed to get completely drunk. After washing their faces, they became energetic again and came over to entertain the guests.

The three adults quickly started chatting, as they all shared the identity of “teacher,” making it easy to find common topics.

While the adult group was chatting happily, Misaki Shokuhou also found Lin Wuming according to her original plan.

“Senior Wuming, I saw Ayari Kitajo in the hospital today,” Misaki Shokuhou said casually, as if unintentionally, while taking small sips of her drink.

This time, she went to the kitchen refrigerator herself to get a box of milk, not giving Koganekei Toumi a chance to freely improvise.

“Ayari Kitajo, who is that?” Koganekei Toumi leaned against the kitchen door and asked疑惑.

“Does we know her?”

“Senior Wuming knows her,” Misaki Shokuhou said.

“Yes, but she doesn't know me,” Lin Wuming nodded.

Ayari Kitajo is a character in the original 《Illusionary Sisters》—strictly speaking, it should be considered a derivative work—and according to the timeline of the plot, she should officially appear two years later.

But this is, after all, the real world. A character who appears two years later must exist at this point in time.

Lin Wuming carefully recalled the relevant plot…

The newest novel is first published at 69shuba!

“In the hospital… is it because of her brother?”

In the original plot, Ayari Kitajo's brother, Shingo Kitajo, is a researcher at “Artificial Atelier.” Due to the influence of an experimental accident, he was possessed by a runaway AIM diffusion field and once turned into a black smoke monster.

Although he survived, he was left with the sequelae of losing his sense of touch.

It's normal to run into his sister at the hospital at this time.

Nodding, Misaki Shokuhou added, “Moreover, the person who called Senior Wuming that day was Shingo Kitajo, Ayari Kitajo's brother.”

“Huh?” Lin Wuming was finally surprised. “Come to think of it, the voice that called me that day was indeed unfamiliar. Wasn't it arranged by you, Shokuhou?”

At the time, Lin Wuming thought that the person calling for help was someone controlled by Misaki Shokuhou, so he didn't dwell on it too much afterward.

“No, it wasn't,” Misaki Shokuhou shook her head. “Shingo Kitajo is an informant for the security forces.”

“Ah?” This development was really beyond Lin Wuming's expectations.

“That's right, it is,” Misaki Shokuhou nodded with certainty and even looked at the two security teachers who were chatting in the living room. “I've already confirmed it with the security teachers.”

This afternoon, Misaki Shokuhou went to the hospital as usual to visit Dolly, Keisaku Kinu, as well as Kazakiri Hyouka and Youri Chiya.

When she was leaving the ward, she suddenly saw Ayari Kitajo.

Unlike Lin Wuming, who has face blindness, Misaki Shokuhou recognized the approaching girl at a glance—even though, theoretically, it was also the first time she had met Ayari Kitajo.

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