Fushimi Roku felt relaxed, his chest no longer tight, and he breathed easily. To his eyes, even this gloomy old mansion seemed somewhat cute.
Just moments ago, a colleague who wanted to sacrifice him alive met an untimely death. Is there anything more delightful than this?
It’s exposing the colleague’s trick and regaining the intellectual high ground.
Where there is joy, there is sorrow, and Yazaki Momo could only give a wry smile and explain that she only had some professional collaboration with the Aum Truth Sect—which had been mentioned before. The Aum Truth Sect valued cultural promotion, invested heavily in TV stations, and ventured into cultural media, becoming a coveted patron for major newspapers.
Yazaki Momo received some investment, and while writing press releases, she subtly added embellishments and occasionally used historical narrative techniques to beautify the Aum Truth Sect. That’s all there was to it.
Making money isn’t shameful!
As for how she connected with Oogami Nui, it’s a long story. Fortunately, as a journalist, she knew how to make a long story short: When the police department asked the news agency to send a journalist for a follow-up investigation, Oogami Nui had already approached her through the Aum Truth Sect, offering a generous remuneration that she couldn’t refuse. So, she persuaded the editor-in-chief to take on the task.
In short, she became a dual agent.
Yazaki Momo certainly understood that what she did violated professional ethics and was likely fraudulent and illegal.
But as a salaried worker in Tokyo, far from home, with a five-year car loan to pay off, faced with a check that could buy a house outright in Tokyo, she simply couldn’t say ’no’.
Fortunately, Yazaki Momo timed it well.
After transforming, Minamoto Tamako became more empathetic towards others, no longer the rookie hard-nosed judge. Socially speaking, the Tamako of old was young, rash, and hot-tempered, unable to tolerate this and would demand court proceedings for a fair judicial decision!
However, now Minamoto Tamako understood the limits of the law and did not hold Yazaki Momo accountable. Instead, she asked Yazaki Momo to apologize to Mrs. Nakako, as the latter had the right to know the truth.
If Mrs. Nakako decided to sue, even though Tamako might feel regret, she would still uphold the justice of the law—Ms. Yazaki did wrong, and the victim deserved the right to punishment.
"Can’t we compromise a little? We can discuss the commission..."
Yazaki Momo wanted to negotiate further; she was even willing to split the reward, as long as she could cover up the issue and end it cleanly.
Fushimi Roku guessed her thoughts and was inclined to agree, but Minamoto Tamako’s face turned serious as she said, "You’re attempting to bribe a law enforcement officer. Do you know how serious this is? This time, I’m issuing a verbal warning and hope there’s no next time."
Yazaki Momo was surprised. The last time they met, Minamoto Tamako was running into obstacles everywhere, being given a hard time by Yamaguchi Takashi, unable even to file the case, and didn’t dare to utter a word in response to her superior’s suppression. Who would have thought, the once bullied patrol police had grown to this extent, staying true to her principles and really developed the demeanor of a criminal police officer.
Minamoto Tamako paused and continued, "Moreover, this is already the best outcome."
Yazaki Momo heard the meaning behind these words, felt a chill in her heart, was silent for a moment, nodded, and agreed.
Under Officer Tamako’s gaze of righteousness, Yazaki Momo braced herself to find Princess Nakako and apologize. As she crossed the hall, she felt a piercing sensation on her back, as if Minamoto Tamako’s gaze was like a light wave, making her skin crawl.
Princess Nakako was troubled about where to find another spirit medium for spirit communication now that the Oogami Spirit Medium had died. Ono Ken was by her side, offering comforting words, but it gave her no solace; rather, it only added to her chest’s heaviness.
Seeing Yazaki Momo approaching, Princess Nakako composed herself, putting on a polite smile, and asked if she needed anything. The latter hesitated, glanced back, only to see Minamoto Tamako with her arms crossed and pouting while watching her. With no choice left, she bravely confessed.
Princess Nakako sighed heavily. She had a premonition but was unwilling to reveal it. Now that the truth was known, her emotions were mixed with regret and unwillingness, but without resentment.
Yazaki Momo was about to plead for forgiveness, but Princess Nakako, showing a weary expression, softly said, "Thank you... thank you for giving me a perfect lie, and thank you for being willing to tell me the truth."
Having said that, she seemed to age a few years suddenly, bowed her head slightly, and turned to say, "Let’s leave it at that."
Ono Ken hurried forward to support her and guided her back to her room to rest.
Seeing the scene, Yazaki Momo felt deeply uncomfortable. She suddenly recalled her original intention for studying journalism, which was to ensure the public’s right to know, to give a voice to vulnerable groups. A journalist must adhere to objectivity and fairness, truth and accuracy, respect and protection, responsibility and duty...
And now, she realized she had become the kind of person she used to despise.
At this moment, Yazaki Momo turned back to meet Minamoto Tamako’s gaze. Although the expression was the same, she no longer felt pressured; instead, she sensed a certain strength from it.
The courage to admit mistakes and the bravery to start anew is also a kind of strength.
Yazaki Momo wanted to express her thanks, but Minamoto Tamako didn’t give her the chance. Having solved the mystery of the Spirit Summoning Ceremony, Officer Tamako was intent on maintaining her momentum and cracking the case of the spirit medium’s death!
"Well done! I suppose you have some clues about the two murders?"
Minamoto Tamako turned her head to ask her partner, "Was Akishino-san’s death really a suicide? How did Mrs. Oogami drown in the living room? Who is the culprit?"
Fushimi Roku shrugged and resumed fiddling with the wooden box.
Minamoto Tamako was taken aback, and it seemed he hadn’t been solving the case?
It was absurd that a criminal police officer could be so dismissive of a murder case. What’s the use of reasoning about spirit tricks? If the culprit isn’t found, isn’t it putting the cart before the horse?
Minamoto Tamako felt she couldn’t solve this case alone, so she tugged Fushimi Roku’s arm, asking him to help investigate.
Thanks to Fushimi’s impromptu assistance just now, Detective Tamako had a eureka moment, deducing the final truth... the reasoning team united as one, invincible. By repeating this process, surely the real culprit could be caught!
"If Oogami Nui were still alive, this case could be investigated; but now that she’s dead, and we can’t access files, how can we investigate?" Fushimi Roku decisively refused.
Minamoto Tamako took out her notebook and a pen, asking, "Don’t you have any guesses? Anything will do! Even a wild guess might give me unexpected inspiration?"
Fushimi Roku ignored her and continued fussing with the wooden box. Minamoto Tamako frowned, wondering if Mr. Fu Jian was so intrigued by the box, perhaps it held some secret? She put away her notebook, leaned closer to the box, her nose catching a faint tea aroma.
Before Tamako, like a police dog, could understand it, Fushimi Roku’s finger pressed down unexpectedly, triggering a mechanism. A series of clicks echoed, and the box opened like a blooming lotus, finally revealing the hidden compartment within.
Everyone looked up, only to see a figure carved in a tree sapling seated upright on a wooden panel, dressed in hunting clothes, wearing a crow hat, head sculpted with simple facial features.
None other than Prince Akihito.