往生堂主庄园杀人事件 档案3
𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝟑
"FATHER!" screamed Hu Fanren as he ran to the 75th's slumped body, Judge Zhong following him.
"Y—Yanfei…" Oh no, Hu Tao!
Aether and I ran to Hu Tao. We helped her up, and she gradually regained full consciousness. Her face looked disoriented, exactly the face of one who's just woken up from being knocked out fairly recently. Ngh, I don't like seeing her like this. "Yanfei, Aether… What's going on? What's this thing here?" The three of us looked at the wire she held; no doubt about it, it's really garrote wire.
I gulped. I didn't want to tell her what it was. Curses, and looking at the 75th slumped over, my mind's telling me one certain conclusion that I just don't want to accept.
She couldn't have done it… could she?
"W—what the hell?!" Aether took a step back. "B—but that's—!"
"Fugui…" His Honor said, troubled look on his face. I also saw him trying to feel the pulse at the 75th's neck. "No… The flame of his life's been extinguished. The 75th Director is dead." Following that was a scream from Qiqi's father as he bawled out.
Hu Tao quickly looked down again at what she held in her hand. "A—ah!" she yelped, dropping the wire with a slight metallic clang. All eyes in the room were now upon the upcoming directress. "N—no! I—I swear, I didn't kill grandpa! H—he's probably just—"
"Hu Tao, I'm very sorry but," Aether begrudgingly took his wallet out and flashed the golden badge of the Legue City Police Department at Hu Tao, "given the circumstances, I'm left with no other choice. Until the Mobong County enforcement says otherwise, I'll have to keep you in detention." I gripped my fist and stooped my head when he said that.
"P—please, Aether," Hu Tao begged. "I don't even—"
"Unfortunately, I have to agree with Inspector Faramund," His Honor followed. "Hu Tao, you will be detained in your room under the supervision of Inspector Faramund and at least one more. Fanren, Ms. Yu, what say you?"
Grumbling, Hu Fanren wiped his eyes and responded, "Dammit, I don't want to do this, but Inspector? I'll be assisting you in keeping her watch."
"S—Shu-shu! Yan… Yanfei!" The way she called out my name, it sounded so… desperate. I was compelled to look at her worried face. Her eyes were suddenly locked with mine, tears slowly flowing down on her cheek. "Y—you don't think I did it, right? Please… Yanfei…?"
Seconds turned into an eternity, once more. One look at her worried countenance, and the silhouette of my Hu Tao manifested on her entire body. I can't bring myself to see her, of all people, to be in this state.
When? When was the last time I saw her like this? So desperate, so helpless. I can't even bring myself to think of her being accused like this. Liyue's or Legue's, she's still Hu Tao.
But, even so…
Wait, no, I just remembered Feng's words. This must be the first test; of course, the series of tests have finally begun to show themselves. I fear that if I fail to show even the slightest bit of competence as a prosecutor—as Legue's Scarlet Prosecutor, then I have hell to pay, and it's not just those four whose lives are on the line. Right now, Feng might as well be observing me as I speak. Curses!
Argh, Lord of Geo, please give me a sign, any sign at all!
"We're waiting for your response, Ms. Yu." Judge Zhong's voice brought me back to reality, like a gavel resounding to demand the barrister's opinion. "A possible suspect is right in front of you. Clear your mind of biases and worry, and tell us your opinion on this matter, posthaste." My prayers must've been heard.
His Honor's right. Calm down, and assess the situation. Getting too heated will once more do me more harm than good, and not to mention, I have someone to protect. I just need to say the right words, of course. Come off as if I was both a friend and an unbiased third party… argh, easier said than done, and what a contradiction, too. No time to waste, I have to balance it somehow. Here goes nothing.
Clearing my throat, I started, "Hu Tao. You have nothing to fear, but—"
"S—so you don't think I did it, right?" Why must I be the one to erase that sudden smile and her glimmer of hope? No, that's not it. If I proceed as so, then it'll just be gone for just a few moments, I'm sure of it.
"I'm not finished."
"No, Yanfei… Not you too…" It pains me to see her worried face come back. I hate this…
"Due to the current circumstances, I have to side with Aeth—Inspector Faramund, His Honor, and your uncle. You will submit yourself to Inspector Faramund and behave accordingly. We'll have to abide by His Honor's suggestion, as well. Am I clear, Hu Tao?" I ordered her.
"Y—yes, Yanfei…"
I turned to Aether and, locking eye contact, nodded at him.
"Don't have to say another word." He turned to the upcoming 77th. "Hu Tao, I'm afraid you're coming with me. Mr. Hu Fanren, please help me out here." Hu Fanren nodded and the both of them stood by each of her sides, firmly holding her arms. "Oh, I'd like to request something from both of you, Yanfei, Judge Zhong." I think it's what I think it is.
"What is it, Inspector?" His Honor asked.
"This may sound unconventional, but please photograph the room for documentation, as well as investigate this area while I interrogate the suspect." Hu Tao winced upon being called that. I gripped my fist even harder at that. "Once you see Doc Bai, Mr. Hu Junpeng, Mr. Liu Meng, or Ms. Men Karong, fill them in with the necessary info and have them contact the local police. Also, inform me if anything comes up, or if you've finished collecting all important leads while guarding the crime scene. I'll take over guarding the crime scene later on. At least one person must be in here at all times."
"You have my word, Inspector," His Honor replied.
"Understood," I replied.
"Alright, that settles it. Mr. Hu Fanren, Hu Tao, let's go—"
"Hold it," I called out to the three of them before they left the scene. "A word with Hu Tao, Inspector. No longer than a minute, please." He nodded at my request, but the look on his face told me to do it quickly. I went to Hu Tao, and the first thing I saw was her trying to force a smile at me while tears flowed down her cheeks. I've been too forceful with my prosecutor persona. This is where I have to balance it out, not as a guardian of the law, but as myself, Yanfei.
"Hu Tao?"
"Y—Yanfei?"
"I'll make it quick. Do you believe that you're innocent?"
"O—of course, I have never and would never take anyone's precious life."
"Then, please hold onto that belief."
"But, how about you, Yanfei?" Her expression changed to a worried one. "Do you believe in me?"
Thinking of what to say, I discreetly smiled at her, hoping my attempt to relay a message wasn't lost on her. "That remains to be seen." Thankfully, a more sincere smile was presented before my eyes. "Just know this. As Li… no,"
"As Legue's Scarlet Prosecutor, I swear, I will crack this case."
I must remember that while I'm still Liyue's top legal expert, I'm currently assuming Prosecutor Yu Yanfei's position.
"Well, I don't know what else to say but… good luck with your investigation, Atty. Yu Yanfei." The last tear flowed down on her cheek as she said it.
'Clear your mind of biases and worry'.
A different persona in front of friends and another one as Liyue's top legal expert or Legue's Scarlet Prosecutor. As much as I hate it, I have to cast all due suspicion onto Hu Tao, for the sake of the truth of the matter and, ironically, in order to do away with the suspicion due.
Shortly after Hu Tao was whisked away, Dr. Bai, along with little Qiqi, showed up at the entrance to the 75th's room. I quickly blocked Qiqi from going any further and seeing such a grotesque scene. With that, I quickly filled the doctor with the necessary details and requested him to phone the police, telling him to inform the local police that a homicide inspector from Legue City is already in the scene, and then to inform in Men Karong, Liu Meng, and Hu Junpeng of the 75th's death.
Qiqi desperately wanted to know what happened to her father, her a-jie, and her grandfather while we were at the scene of the crime. I only told her that the two were having a little discussion with Aether, and that the 75th's currently unavailable. She insisted on entering the room, but the doctor managed to talk her out of it. The two soon left the scene. I should have a word with them regarding their movements after this.
With that out of the way, I won't rest until I've exhausted all efforts to collect and inspect every single piece of evidence. I have to be meticulous enough to crack this case, jotting down what needs to be jotted down.
"Ms. Yu, shall we get started?" His Honor presented me with some of his spare dark gloves. "Use these while you proceed with your investigation. It would be troublesome if you get your fingerprints in the area, or on the victim's body in particular. Return them to me once you've found no need to keep them on."
A bit loose, but it's more than enough. Still, I can't help but ponder about it. "A question, You Honor," I said, taking my phone out.
"What is it?" he replied, taking his out, too.
"Do you always bring spare gloves?"
"Since I started my career as an enforcer of the law, yes." It feels like he's telling me to do the same, too. "Ask any of this manor's dwellers. They can vouch for my odd habit." He closed his eyes and smiled. "Do you suspect me in the murder of the 75th Director?"
"With all due respect, it's a possibility, Your Honor." I can't believe I said that to this judge. Not to mention, said judge bears the image of Liyue's Zhongli.
"Then, you must know by now that you may as well have the capability to do so, too. Remember, none of the guests, sans you, Inspector Faramund, Dr. Bai, and myself, have this privilege of unrestricted movement."
"In other words," my hands found themselves on my waist, "the murderer is among us, the manor's original inhabitants and the ones you've mentioned."
"Precisely." He tapped on his phone a few times. "For clarity's sake, when do you think the murder occurred, Ms. Yu?"
Compelled to check the time again now, 3:05 PM. The last time I saw the 75th still alive and breathing was when he felt the urge to nap during dessert; that makes it a two-hour interval of when the murder occurred, less if we assume Hu Tao's culpability. Though, I think His Honor wished to emphasize our alibis with his latest question. I explained my reasoning with His Honor, and added that both he and I could vouch for each other's alibis—having been with and seen him from luncheon till now, even some of the guests and Aether could vouch for the two of us.
"In other words, nary a window of opportunity to murder had been presented to either the two of us," he said while taking pictures of the other side of the room.
Hm, speaking of the room, it's rather cold here, urgh. I turned to the window that was left open, some snow entering the room and dampening the area there. Beyond it, I assume that one could see the wall surrounding the entire manor, but with the snowstorm still raging, it's impossible to tell, let alone look out right now. Tsk, if only it was possible to close it now, but I wonder, how long has that window been open?
Having photographed enough of the area, I first proceeded to examine the garrote wire that had been with Hu Tao. Both the wire and the handles seemed made of the same material: metal. Some red stains can be seen in the wire, and I think it's obvious as to where this came from. Still, this isn't something you can easily find off the market or the local cosplay store; it really seemed like its lone utility was to kill. If the murderer had been meticulous enough, there won't be any fingerprints to lift but Hu Tao's. Ngh, even murderers in this world could get as crafty.
I moved to observe the door that was broken down by us four. I have to note that it has been locked, presumably at least from the time Hu Tao entered this room. That is, if Hu Fanren's words of the door being originally locked stands true. Not to mention, Hu Tao has had the spare key to this room since Qiqi left it under her care. Not looking good for Hu Tao, tsk, but I'll have to ask her about this matter later on.
Before I move on to the next one, I have to confirm something about this door. "Your Honor, if the victim's door were to be locked, is it possible for noise to have escaped the room?"
"No. I recall the 75th hiring some artisans a while back to adjust it so that conversations or minimal noise from inside wouldn't fall on the ears that pass by this room. That includes the window right there." He pointed to the open window.
"And yet, we were still able to break it down." I pointed to the door we've forced open.
"Remember, it was due to the combined strength of us four."
Next, the scattered pieces of what seems to be jewelry. Round gems of brown, green, and blue are strewn across the floor before the body of the 75th. Interestingly, a lone thread has some of the round gems still slid through it. Could these gems have been beads of some necklace?
"These are… the beads from the necklace worn by the Wangsheng tangzhu," His Honor commented, picking up a green and brown gem. "Along with the Wangsheng crest possessed by the directors and directresses of generations past, a single jade-and-agate necklace has been passed down to the next-in-line. Such a shame that only the insignia will be the last surviving relic after the resolution of this case."
I believe that the crest His Honor descibed must be like the one, if not the exact same one, affixed on the Harmony Hexagram Hat worn by my Hu Tao back home. On the other hand, it's possible that this necklace must have snapped off during the struggle between the victim and the assailant, perhaps the garrote wire snapping it off in the process. Speaking of garrote wire…
The last one should be the body of the 75th himself, slumped over his messy bed. Strangely, no beads were seen on the bed. The both of us have finished photographing whatever needs to be photographed in this room, so it should be alright to move this body for inspection. I might as well photograph the body while it's propped up, too.
"Your Honor, I wish to inspect the victim's body."
"Very well. However, I will have to videotape you while you do so, for reasons made clear by the inspector. I assume you have no problems with that?"
"None, Your Honor." I'm not sure if it's just me, but basing it off this world's lingo, does anyone still use the term 'videotape' at this time and age?
Before I propped the body up, I first unclasped the hands of the body to check if he had been holding something and to test another claim. In line with our hypothesis of the victim's time of death, rigor mortis still appears to be in its early stage, if not earliest; the fingers can still be moved with relative ease. It's not too conclusive, but it's enough to ascertain our hypothesis. I let His Honor feel the victim's hands, and he's arrived at the same conclusion. Going back, nothing appears to be seen in both hands. Next, if garrote wire was used, then it would make sense to check the neck. As expected, distinct red lines were seen. Gashes along it, too. It appears that the murder weapon and the cause of the death are finally made clear.
I proceeded to flip the body around and propped it up. A bit difficult to do so, since the late 75th is known to be muscular and rather heavy. "Oh?" Something fell off the victim's collar as I flipped the body around. Luckily, I caught it before it touched the ground.
"What was that, Ms. Yu?" Picking it up, it seemed to be a blue agate bead. I let His Honor examine it for a bit. "It appears to be from the 75th's necklace. A bead must've found its way in there after the thread snapped." The color matches the ones strewn on the floor, so it must be a plausible explanation.
Upon closer inspection of the face, the eyes were half-open, and a pale, angry expression was plastered on his face. The red line continued around the front side of his neck. I guess that's about what we can get from the body, until the forensics come in for a more detailed analysis.
"No bloodstains on his apparel, so it would be safe to deduce that the cause of death was strangulation using the garrote wire."
"Achoo!" Urgh, this chilly temperature. "Your Honor, don't you even feel a bit cold in here?"
"Not in the slightest, but now that you mention it," His Honor turned to the window, "that window has been left open since we've arrived, right? Considering the weather right now, I find it a tad bit suspicious to be in that state."
"Likewise, Your Honor."
That about sums up what we can gather from this room. I expressed my thoughts to His Honor, and he agreed we should contact Aether now, sending him a message via phone. His Honor also stated that he should switch places with Aether if the inspector were to guard the crime scene.
His Honor cleared his throat once. "While we wait for Aether, let us exchange notes and our photographic evidence, Ms. Yu." We then transferred the relevant files between each of our phones. Very convenient, these powerful pocket-sized devices. "Shall we begin, Ms. Yu?"
Here we go, His Honor's reasoning—the suspect in his narration being Hu Tao. The suspect first collected the garrote wire from her inventory. Next, using the spare key to enter the victim's room and discreetly locking it, she went to her grandfather who was still napping on the bed. With his guard down, she surprised him with her attack. A struggle ensued, but she was able to strangle her grandfather to death on his bed, the necklace scattering in the process. Lastly, she left the window open in an attempt to escape through it, but since we had arrived by the time she was about to make her getaway, she assumed the collapsed state she was in and feigned nervousness and ignorance.
"Hold it, Your Honor. You propose that the victim was lying on the bed when the deed was done?"
"Precisely. Otherwise, the victim's body would be anywhere else besides the bed. I'm also accounting for the stature and strength of the suspect."
"Are you certain with your version of events, Your Honor?"
"I am. Though, I must say," His Honor crossed his arms, "that glint in your eyes and complacent smile tells me that you've found an inconsistency with my argument. Am I wrong?"
I chuckled. Read me like a book, just like how Liyue's Zhongli would. "That's where I raise my objection, Your Honor. The victim couldn't have been murdered on his bed, or when he was napping in particular. The beads of the necklace tell us so, and lack thereof on the bed."
"Oh? Interesting, and where do you propose the deed was carried out?"
I raised my index finger. "Simple, at the spot where the beads were strewn apart."
"Overruled." His Honor furrowed his brows. "Have you considered that the suspect may have simply moved the strewn necklace bits on the bed to said location? The suspect might have as well set the body as how we've found it afterwards."
"Objection, Your Honor. That still couldn't have been possible."
"Is that so?" His Honor softly grumbled. "Allow me to tell you that you need to explain your reasoning by presenting evidence, Ms. Yu." I presented the picture of the blue agate bead His Honor took. "How exactly does this piece of evidence… ngrh!" He flinched, which must mean that he'd just dawned upon my reasoning.
"I believe you see my point, Your Honor. If we were to assume that the victim was murdered on his bed and then moved to appear as how we found the body, then this blue agate bead falling off should have never existed in the first place due to it the motion of the body."
"Ugh! Careless…" The pensive judge stepped back and clenched a fist. "Then, I am not mistaken in assuming your suggestion of the victim being murdered whilst standing?" I nodded. That they were attacked from behind, is also another likely assumption, I told him. Otherwise, the victim wouldn't have appeared as how he'd been found, along with the blue agate bead falling. "If the sequence of events must be so, then while it should be possible that the suspect, Hu Tao, murdered the 75th, she would have had difficulty doing so."
"Your Honor, may I know where you are going with this line of reasoning?"
His Honor suggested that Hu Tao must have passed out after murdering the victim while standing up. The fact that the 75th is a very fit and able man for his age, moreso during his youth, implies that Hu Tao had to equal or to overpower his strength.
"I know the child; she turns not to combat if she expects to bite more than what she can chew—a fact that you, her significant other, should know by now." I blushed at that statement, but I quickly brushed that fleeting feeling away. "Furthermore, ever since her biological father's death, she loved her grandfather dearly and saw her as her parent, and the feeling is duly reciprocated. However unorthodox, let us assume she was able to murder her grandfather despite their history." His Honor crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "Ergo, I propose that she expended all viable strength from the murder alone, and coupled with the shock of taking the life of her own blood and lone father-figure thus caused her to pass out directly after murdering the victim."
"Unfortunately, Your Honor, that hypothesis contradicts your previous argument."
"How so?"
I put my right hand under my chin and faced the window. "Assuming the events transpired have played out in the manner of Your Honor's version, one piece of evidence contradicts this: the window left open."
His Honor paused for a moment. "Indeed. It does contradict my previous statement; the window should have never been open in the first place, or supposing she did open it, then she wouldn't have been found collapsed near the door."
Of course, it just wouldn't be possible. Legue's Hu Tao and my Hu Tao are truly the same in this aspect; neither would engage in situations—by extension, battles—wherein the sacrifices outweigh the reward. Having known Legue's Hu Tao for a few weeks already, I can tell that she would do poorly in a number of things particularly if she hadn't made the proper preparations beforehand. To murder her grandfather without adequate preparation, that's basically going to a losing trial, now without any leads on the case. The garrote wire and the element of surprise just aren't enough. If so, for her, or at least anyone, to murder a fit and able man without tipping the scales to one's favor is a fool's errand.
That's when it hit me.
I turned to the body of the victim. I, then, quickly recalled how the 75th acted during our lunch. Needing to rest, all too conveniently after drinking from his glass. I really doubt that this case is a one-person job, and if it was, the suspect must have planned everything from the get-go. I expressed my doubts to the judge in front of me, and he came to the same conclusion as I did; the victim was weakened in some way before being murdered, most likely during dessert. That way, the ease of carrying out the murder should be addressed.
Still, there's this bugging feeling in me; I'm not yet satisfied. Everything thus far is under the assumption that Hu Tao murdered the 75th Director, and we still haven't heard her side of the story. If she did commit the murder using such an underhanded method, then why would she incriminate herself more by not escaping?
Something's truly amiss, and I'll be sure to crack this case and bring the truth to light, as Liyue's top legal expert, and as Legue's Scarlet Prosecutor.
"Ms. Yu," His Honor interrupted my train of thought. "Before we even arrive at any more outlandish conclusions, our next course of action is to ask the suspect herself, don't you think?"
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀:
𝗛𝘂, 𝗧𝗮𝗼 (𝟮𝟳, 𝗙)
Upcoming 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Bears the exact same characteristics as my Hu Tao, fortunately.
𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝗔𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 (𝟯𝟮, 𝗠)
Legue City Police Department homicide police inspector.
𝗕𝗮𝗶, 𝗭𝗵𝘂 (𝟰𝟮, 𝗠)
Pharmacist and businessman in Legue City.
𝗛𝘂, 𝗤𝗶𝗾𝗶 (𝟭𝟬, 𝗙)
Hu Tao's cousin.
𝗠𝗲𝗻, 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 (𝟯𝟮, 𝗙)
One of the caretakers for the Hu Manor.
𝗟𝗶𝘂, 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗴 (𝟰𝟰, 𝗠)
One of the caretakers for the Hu Manor.
𝗛𝘂, 𝗙𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗶 (𝟳𝟱, 𝗠)
Hu Tao's grandfather. The 75th Director, and subsequently the 76th after Hu Tao's father's death.
𝗛𝘂, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗴 (𝟲𝟮, 𝗠)
Hu Tao's and Qiqi's uncle. In charge of the ceremony rites for inducting the new parlor director. Also the secretary to the 75th and 76th.
𝗛𝘂, 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗻 (𝟱𝟰, 𝗠)
Hu Tao's uncle and Qiqi's father.
𝗭𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗟𝗶 (𝟲𝟬, 𝗠)
Legue City judge. Former superintendent in the Legue City Police Department.
𝗛𝘂, 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 (𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗠)
Hu Tao's father. The 76th Director, but died in an accident a few days after claiming the title.