As he spoke, Kansuke Yamato, riding a horse on his one good leg, arrived with great difficulty. His lone eye glared furiously in Yuu Hoshimiya's direction.
Hyoye Kuroda waved a diary in his hand and said, "This is Shigeji Takeda's exchange diary. It details their entire treasure-hunting process. More importantly, it also explains the origin of this whole incident."
"Yoshiro, Koji, Shigeji, Ayaka, and Akira—they were all members of the treasure-hunting team."
The Takeda patriarch couldn't help but shout, "Bastards! To think so many people were following Shigeji in his foolishness!"
Hearing this, Akira Tatsuo retorted, "We wanted to find Shingen's treasure to better build up the village."
Kuroda's face hardened as he interrupted, "Stop arguing and listen to me."
"Six years ago, after the selection match between Akira Tatsuo and Kai Nagato, Akira went home to rest. The other members of the treasure-hunting team, who were very close to him, wanted to ensure he would smoothly win the role of the Yabusame archer. So, they snuck into the forest to find Officer Kai, who was practicing in the mountains."
"The four of them set a trap on Officer Kai's way home, causing him and his horse to fall off the cliff, leading to his death."
"It seems all the recent cases were committed by Shigeji Takeda."
"Killing Koji and Ayaka, and finally committing suicide, all using the 'Furinkazan' method, was his way of apologizing to Officer Kai in heaven!"
Everyone present looked shocked. Kansuke Yamato even hopped over on his one leg toward Kuroda and snatched the diary away.
Yui Uehara shot a suspicious look at Yuu Hoshimiya. The Superintendent's explanation contradicted what Yuu had told her. Didn't he say it was for the "100,000 Gold Coins" treasure?
Akira collapsed to the ground.
"How is that possible? How is that possible? Killing someone just so I could be the Yabusame archer at the festival... this can't be true! It isn't true!"
The matriarch, Kano Takeda, spoke up, "Why wouldn't it be possible? Perhaps they just wanted to injure Mr. Kai's horse, but didn't expect to cause such a huge commotion. After causing someone's death, they were too scared to turn themselves in. Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"To think our Takeda family produced so much scum!" The old woman shook her head in apparent heartbreak.
Hearing this, her husband immediately began arguing with her angrily!
Akira Tatsuo cried alone in remorse!
Yuu Hoshimiya paid no attention to the various reactions of the crowd. His gaze landed on the power line running above the train tracks, and then on the charred corpse.
What kind of fire could be so powerful as to burn a person beyond recognition within minutes of a scream?
Beside the body, the two brats, Heiji and Conan, were squatting and discussing. It seemed they had also noticed the anomaly.
However, they weren't the only ones who noticed. But seeing that Yuu Hoshimiya remained silent, they all reached a tacit understanding to keep it hidden for now.
Hyoye Kuroda put on a show of saying, "Everyone, please return to your homes for now. Since the case is closed, I'll send someone over tonight to take your statements."
Hearing the police say this, the noisy and weeping members of the Tatsuo and Takeda families began their journey back to the village.
Yuu wanted to follow Yui and her group back, but Kuroda stopped him.
Kuroda pulled Yuu to the side. Yuu spoke first, "A fine strategy to draw the snake out of its hole."
"Heh, as expected, nothing escapes Consultant Hoshimiya's discerning eyes."
"But I heard from Takaaki that before the two murders here, Consultant Hoshimiya went to investigate Kai Nagato's house. It seems you knew this was related to Officer Kai from the start? I wonder what Consultant Hoshimiya has discovered?"
Yuu chuckled, "Nothing much. Just confirming a few ideas."
Hearing this, Kuroda gave a half-smile.
He didn't press the matter, letting it go easily, and turned to other topics.
"I've heard that Consultant Hoshimiya has caused quite a stir in Tokyo. I've admired you for a long time. Once this is over, perhaps we could find a chance to share a few drinks? I have many things I'd like to consult you about!"
Such a blatant probe, just out in the open?
Yuu couldn't be bothered to engage. He already knew Kuroda's background and didn't want to waste time.
"Superintendent Kuroda is joking. There's nothing to consult me about. However, having a few drinks tonight shouldn't be a problem."
"We'll find a bar later. I'll treat you to a few glasses of Bourbon."
With that, Yuu patted Kuroda's shoulder, turned, and left.
As Yuu walked away, Kuroda's face darkened instantly. His eyes narrowed, lost in thought.
The group headed back. By unspoken agreement, no one mentioned the suspicious points surrounding the so-called suicide.
However, after a short while, Yuu heard rustling sounds from the woods beside the path.
Turning his head, he saw people peeking from behind the trees—all strangers.
Seeing they were discovered, the group retreated one by one.
A cold smirk appeared on Yuu's lips, but he didn't care. He kept his arm around Ran and continued walking.
Following the group ahead, they soon returned to the Takeda household.
The "good buddies" and deduction maniacs, Heiji and Conan, disappeared from everyone's sight the moment they returned to the village. They had undoubtedly run off to investigate again.
Yuu wandered around the Takeda estate.
Soon, he reached the side courtyard and spotted an open Japanese-style room.
Yui Uehara was leaning over inside, straightening the futons. Her long hair fell naturally, obscuring her face, giving off a vibe of "a beauty half-hidden behind a pipa."
From the side, the woman's captivating curves were fully displayed. She truly was beautiful!
Yuu stepped into the room.
Hearing the sound, Yui looked up. Seeing it was Yuu, she turned her face away and snorted lightly, "Liar!"
"Don't falsely accuse me. When did I ever lie to you?"
Yui's face flushed slightly.
"You still say you didn't lie? What did you tell me in the woods earlier?"
"You said they killed because they were plotting for the treasure map in Senior Kai's house. But the truth is, the diary clearly states they acted to help Akira win the role of the Yabusame archer. And you still say you didn't lie."
Hearing this, Yuu couldn't help but shake his head and laugh.
This silly girl actually fell for Kuroda's trick! Wait, I remember Yui Uehara not being this dim-witted. Could she have been kissed into a daze by me?
"What are you laughing at?"
Seeing Yui's embarrassed and angry expression, Yuu sat right on the freshly arranged futon next to her. He couldn't resist flicking her smooth, white forehead.
"You really are silly. Your former boss is full of dirty tricks; didn't you hear it?"
"Let me ask you: Why was Shigeji Takeda's body burned to a crisp, yet the diary was perfectly fine? It didn't burn at all, and it even served as evidence to neatly explain the motive?"
"Furthermore, who do you think would kill just for the role of the Yabusame archer at a festival? It's just an annual ceremonial role."
"Remember, Kai Nagato survived for many days after falling off the cliff, eventually starving to death."
"The Senior you speak of was so popular and charismatic. Surely at least one or two of those four respected him. Yet, for so many days, even during the village-wide search, none of them spoke up."
"You could argue they were scared on the first day, or waiting for the selection to end. But by the second or third day, shouldn't they have realized they needed to save him?"
"They could have just pretended to accidentally discover someone at the bottom of the cliff and told the others! Why would they stand by and do nothing, insisting on leaving him to die? Have you ever thought about that?"
Yui's expression went blank as she tried her best to think.
"You... you're still too silly. You can't even figure out something so simple!"
Yuu's large hand unabashedly ruffled the young matron's hair, his voice growing more leisurely.
"They clearly knew Kai Nagato had fallen down that cliff, yet they ignored it and waited until you found his body. Seven days! That alone proves the four of them had the intention to murder him."
"The role of the Yabusame archer isn't a strong enough motive. So, it must be the '100,000 Gold Coins' treasure I mentioned."
"Your old boss, Hyoye Kuroda, knew something was wrong the moment he saw the diary."
"But he didn't point it out. Instead, he vaguely stated the case could be closed. His goal was to paralyze the killer, who was present at the time, and make them lower their guard."
"That way, when they go to kill their final target, he can set an ambush beforehand and capture them in one fell swoop."
Yui's pale blue eyes trembled as she couldn't help but ask.
"Kill the final target? Isn't it all over? Didn't you say 'Furinkazan'? Four people are dead. Why would there be more killing?"
Yuu leaned back, supporting himself on his hands, a wicked smile spreading across his lips, but he remained silent.
Yui couldn't help but push him slightly. "Speak! Who else is the killer going to murder?"
Yuu's deep eyes gazed at the beautiful wife. His lips parted and closed, producing a soft "mwah" sound.
"Madam, you should know that information requires a small fee. What I want is a bit special."
Yui's breathing instantly quickened. Of course she understood what Yuu meant. Recalling the absurdity in the woods, her face inexplicably flushed red.
Yuu didn't rush her. He watched her with a quiet smile, looking as if he had the little matron completely figured out.
Being stared at by Yuu made Yui increasingly shy. She couldn't help but push him again, begging softly, "D-don't look at me."
Yuu obediently closed his eyes.
Those words alone indicated her softening attitude. After all, the first time is awkward, but the second time is natural. They had already kissed so many times in the woods; what did one more matter?
He didn't have to wait long. About two or three minutes later, Yui finally made up her mind.
Yuu felt her lean in, followed by a warm, bouncy sensation on his lips.
He opened his eyes immediately, seeing the bright red face right in front of him, her eyes tightly shut, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and her curved eyelashes trembling.
Silly girl. I taught you five times, and that's not how you kiss!
Yuu's large hand instantly wrapped around Yui's slender waist, pulling her into his embrace. He unleashed his masterful kissing technique, and the "virgin widow" instantly lost all sense of her surroundings.
With a sweep of the wind, the "things" that had been exposed in the woods made another appearance, and his large hands covered them.
Since ancient times, deep affection fails to keep someone, while clever tricks win their heart!
So what if Yui Uehara and Kansuke Yamato were childhood sweethearts? That kind of coy, innocent, platonic love—Yuu was ready to tear down every pair he saw.
Who could blame him when his "poaching hoe" dug so incredibly deep?
Sometimes, a mistake begins with a single kiss, especially when she encountered Yuu, who was an expert at seizing opportunities.
The beautiful matron, who was naive to the ways of the world yet desperate for the truth, was once again manipulated by the promise of answers.
Any resistance she tried to mount was suppressed before it could even make a splash!
Meanwhile, by the tracks in the woods, Kansuke Yamato, who was observing the body, noticed an anomaly.
Looking up, he saw a frayed piece of wire hanging from the power lines above the tracks. The diary also seemed to have a piece of wire attached to it. His lone eye immediately flashed with realization.
Just then, a newly appointed patrol officer from the village arrived at a jog, having received the news.
Kansuke spoke directly: "Crossing officer, I leave this scene to your watch. I have urgent business to attend to!"
With that, he leaned on his cane and hurried back toward the village.
The crossing officer, holding a black shawl he had found on a branch along his way, didn't even have time to report before Kansuke—who ran faster on one leg than a normal person—disappeared from view.
"Alright then!"
The officer glanced at the gruesome corpse. Being completely alone, he shivered in fear and instinctively stepped further away.
Kansuke, hurrying as fast as he could, arrived outside the Tatsuo household. Looking at the well-arranged mansion, a smile touched his lips.
He had been secretly investigating Kai Nagato's case for years, never giving up. Naturally, he was very familiar with the layout of both the Takeda and Tatsuo estates.
Behind the stables of the Tatsuo house was an independent shrine. Inside sat Takeda Shingen's armor and his "Furinkazan" war banner.
These weren't relics handed down from ancient times, but replicas the Tatsuo patriarch had paid to have built—after all, he was a fan of Takeda Shingen.
If the killer was murdering according to Takeda Shingen's "Furinkazan," then this place was undoubtedly the site for the final kill.
Kansuke went to the back gate, intending to pick the lock, but found it wasn't locked—it was slightly ajar.
He pushed the door open, keeping his footsteps light as he moved through the backyard, slowly approaching the Tatsuo shrine.
During this process, no one noticed him, of course.
The Tatsuo family, devastated by Ayaka's death, were all grieving; none had the presence of mind to care about this.
He stealthily approached the shrine and heard faint noises from inside.
The moment Kansuke pushed the door open, a spinning soccer ball shot out, striking him square in the forehead and leaving him dizzy.
Then, the sound of tearing wind followed as an unsharpened katana slashed downward. He quickly raised his cane to block it, stumbling back several steps.
"Eh? Wait, Detective Yamato, why is it you?"
Kansuke rubbed his head in annoyance, rolling his eyes. "Why wouldn't it be me? You two assaulted a police officer. Just you wait!"
The two boys weren't afraid. Heiji rubbed his chin and said, "So, Detective Yamato is also here to lie in wait?"
"Mmm. I've already notified the police squad. But you two brats—I can't believe you found this place!"
Kansuke's mood soured immediately.
In his eyes, this setup clearly meant Yuu Hoshimiya had seen through the truth, but to avoid meeting him, Yuu had sent these two brats instead. Does he look down on me that much?!
Heiji turned to look at the "Furinkazan" banner with a smug smile.
"Yeah, I figured it out. The two missing lines combined make the true murder declaration. That's why we're waiting here."
Meanwhile, back in the Japanese-style room at the Takeda house, Yui couldn't help but ask, "Yuu-kun, what did you mean by 'missing two lines'?"
Her mind is still on the case? That won't do!
Accompanied by a magnificent symphony, Yuu explained anyway.
"The concept of 'Furinkazan' comes from The Art of War, but Takeda Shingen only took four lines for his war banner."
"[As swift as the Wind, as gentle as the Forest, as fierce as the Fire, as unshakable as the Mountain]. There are two more lines after that: [As hidden as the Shadow, as moving as the Thunder]!"
"Six years ago, Kai Nagato fell off a cliff and was hidden at the bottom by leaves, never seeing the light of day. This corresponds to 'As hidden as the Shadow'."
"Yoshiro in the tornado is 'As swift as the Wind,' Koji buried in earth and stone is 'As unshakable as the Mountain,' and Ayaka hung in the tree is 'As gentle as the Forest'."
"But finally, the charred corpse by the tracks wasn't 'As fierce as the Fire,' but rather 'As moving as the Thunder'."
"I saw excess wire on the power lines above the train, matching the broken wire on the diary. The killer actually texted Shigeji, telling him his treasure-hunting diary was hanging up there. Shigeji went back to his cabin, grabbed his fishing rod, and tried to hook the diary down, not realizing his rod had been swapped with a conductive material."
"He was electrocuted, his body burned black by the high-voltage current within minutes. Finally, a passing train hit him, breaking the wire and throwing the fishing rod into the nearby bushes."
"The body fell to the ground and caught fire, resulting in the scene we witnessed."
As Yuu spoke, he pulled Yui into his lap. Seeing her dazed, watery eyes, he couldn't resist kissing her flushed face.
Yui looked as if her brain had short-circuited, unable to process the information.
Well, it was asking too much of her to think normally at a time like this!
She could only absorb whatever Yuu fed her.
"Therefore, the line 'As fierce as the Fire' has not yet been fulfilled. Pushed by Hyoye Kuroda, the killer will definitely set the final 'Fire' before tonight."
Yui's small hands tightened their grip on Yuu's arm. Frowning delicately, she couldn't help but ask, "Then who is the final target?"
Yuu's large hand patted her small head as he smiled dotingly. "You still can't figure it out? It's obviously the last member of the treasure-hunting team: the sole heir of the Tatsuo family, Akira Tatsuo!"
Hearing this, Yui's heart clenched. She quickly pushed against Yuu's chest.
"Yuu-kun, let me go. I need to go save him."
This woman really treats cases as the most important thing in the world. She still wants to run off to save someone at a time like this? Yuu was speechless.
"Relax. It's still early. The killer won't strike this soon."
"Besides, you don't need to go. Someone is already standing guard."
Yui asked in surprise, "Yuu-kun, did you arrange everything?"
Her expression instantly relaxed. "I knew a Great Detective like you wouldn't just ignore it."
She misunderstood again. Kansuke Yamato, Conan, and Heiji lying in wait wasn't Yuu's arrangement. Of course, Yuu had no intention of correcting her.
Let her misunderstand. The more misunderstandings, the better.
He pulled Yui tightly into his embrace, feeling extremely satisfied by her soft warmth. His large hand caressed her smooth ankle before he broke into a wicked grin.
"Madam, did you know that the secret of 'Furinkazan' can be used for things other than war and murder?"
Yui's face turned bright red, her lips looking as succulent as fresh blood. She shook her head and answered hesitantly, "I know. TV shows sometimes talk about the 'Furinkazan' secrets of love."
Looking at her jelly-like lips, Yuu couldn't resist planting a kiss on them.
"Nope. Not for love. It's for something else. I can demonstrate it for Madam today."
"First, As fierce as the Fire!"
Yuu's newly developed magical erotic techniques were instantly put to practical use, causing the beautiful matron—who was still immersed in the kiss—to widen her eyes in shock.
Yui's pupils contracted as if they were exploding, staring at Yuu with utter disbelief.
"Cold as ice... As gentle as the Forest... Moving as the Thunder..."
As one unbelievable technique after another was applied, Yui Uehara went from sheer shock to becoming completely unable to control herself.
...
...
By nearly 2:00 PM, inside the Japanese-style room—which was concealed by a small barrier—Yui Uehara looked thoroughly "broken."
Her hair was plastered to her forehead, and her face was pale. She truly looked pitiful!
It couldn't be helped. Experiencing a combo of supernatural magic for the first time—ice, fire, and lightning—was more than she could withstand.
Because of the concealment barrier, many people had walked past multiple times without realizing someone was inside.
Seeing Yui in this state, Yuu couldn't bear it. He immediately cast the "Rejuvenation" spell.
Countless healing mana particles gathered in his large hand as he gently stroked her, beginning the healing process.
Yui's body shuddered, and her tightly knit brows slowly relaxed. It was clearly incredibly effective.
Seeing her condition improve, Yuu teased, "I truly didn't expect that a married woman of six years would still be a..."
Actually, Yuu had noticed the moment they met, but the timing wasn't right, and it was hard to explain. Now that he had personally turned Yui Uehara into a real woman, he could naturally mention it.
But before he could finish, Yui slapped a hand over his mouth!
The true beautiful matron's face turned bright red, and she said shyly, "Don't you dare say it!"
Yuu pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. "What's wrong? You're almost thirty, why are you acting like a little girl?"
"Twenty-nine! I'm only twenty-nine! Not thirty!"
Women are truly sensitive about their age; even a single year matters a great deal.
"Alright, twenty-nine. In the prime of your life, a woman as beautiful as a flower. But Yui, shouldn't you explain?"
Regaining her energy, Yui couldn't help but struggle.
"Why should I explain anything to you? What are you to me? Rogue!"
"Wow. Saying something like that... it seems I need to teach you the 'Furinkazan' strategy again. That should make it clear exactly what I am to you!"
Yuu had used magic and initially intended to contract her immediately. Unfortunately, the case of Senior Kai from six years ago was the deep-seated desire in her heart.
He would have to wait until this case was over to successfully complete the contract.
Fortunately, he wouldn't have to wait long. Barring any accidents, the case would be resolved today, and Yui Uehara's desire would be fulfilled.
Hearing Yuu's words, Yui's body shivered, and she immediately submitted.
"Dame!"
Seeing Yuu staring at her with burning eyes, Yui lowered her head shyly and muttered softly.
"Alright, alright. I'll tell you."
"I married Yoshiro to get close to him and investigate the truth behind Senior Kai's death. I never had any feelings for him."
"Because of his work, Yoshiro was often on business trips and rarely home, which stalled my investigation. Plus... he wasn't interested in women at all, so..."
Pfft!!!
Yuu, who was drinking water, spat it out, splashing Yui with a mist of water.
"You're a 'beard' (a wife to a gay man)? That's a first! Who did your dead husband like?"
The beautiful matron rolled her eyes and pinched Yuu's waist with her small hand, though she couldn't bring herself to pinch too hard.
"Probably Koji Tatsuo. That group of them guarded against me fiercely. It was very difficult for me to get close and gather any information."
Ignoring a perfectly good, beautiful wife to play in the mud. What a talent! What a talent!
Yuu shook his head and sighed.
"You really are foolish. You resigned from the police force to investigate a case, threw yourself into a marriage, and ended up finding absolutely nothing!"
Yui slapped Yuu's chest in frustration.
"Still won't admit it? If I had learned your investigation methods, who knows how many times I'd be married and how many wives I'd have by now!"
"But what kind of person was Kai Nagato? Was he really worth paying such a high price—even throwing away your marriage? Don't tell me there's a romantic subplot I don't know about?"
Yuu raised an eyebrow, earning another barrage of slaps from Yui.
"Don't speak nonsense! To me, Senior Kai was like a brother and a father. Fifteen years ago, a mudslide hit the village. My parents both died in that accident."
"I thought I wouldn't be able to continue my education, but the Senior supported me completely. Later, when I graduated from the police academy, I was determined to be a good cop just like him. I never expected to encounter his case instead."
"When I found the Senior's body, I swore to him that I would find the truth no matter the cost, to bring peace to his soul. So no matter what, I will investigate this to the very end!"
By the end, her voice was resolute and unwavering.
But when Yuu looked down, he saw tears in Yui's eyes. He instantly understood her and felt a pang of heartache.
What a silly woman!
Yuu tightened his arms around her, pressing his cheek against hers and gently stroking her soft back, whispering words of comfort.
Exploiting her desperation for the truth today really was taking advantage of her!
But it wasn't entirely his fault.
Yui Uehara's obsession was simply too deep. If Yoshiro Takeda hadn't been a deeply closeted homosexual, she would have lost her innocence the moment she married into the Takeda family six years ago.
Some people value their chastity more than their lives, but for others, certain goals are more important than chastity.
For Yui Uehara, as long as she could find the truth behind Senior Kai's death and avenge him, she truly was willing to sacrifice everything.
He had NTR'd many childhood sweetheart pairings, but this one—Yui Uehara and Kansuke Yamato—was the one Yuu felt the least guilty about.
After all, truthfully speaking, it was Kansuke Yamato's own incompetence that led to this.
He allowed Yui Uehara to use a "honey trap" and marry into the Takeda family to investigate.
Six years passed, and by the time Yuu and his group arrived, they still hadn't found the truth.
That was the only reason Yuu had been able to easily manipulate the former Police Flower, Yui Uehara.
"So don't think that just because of what happened today, things will change. It was just a small price I was willing to pay. Once this incident is over, I expect you to forget everything that happened today!"
Oh ho? This little lady actually dares to say something like that?
Seeing Yui Uehara still acting tough, Yuu didn't hesitate to apply "family discipline."
Not only had he taken the first kiss and the first time of this young matron, but even if she had been a real matron, since he had touched her, she could only belong to him for the rest of her life.
He is the only one who NTRs others; no one gets to NTR him!
The sound of slaps rang out continuously, accompanied by threats.
"It seems you haven't fully comprehended the 'Furinkazan' strategy I taught you. To think you still dare to say such things... I think it's necessary to educate you further."
"Dame! Yamete!"
"Objection overruled. As unshakable as the Mountain... Moving as the Thunder."
Achoo! Achoo!
Meanwhile, inside the Tatsuo family shrine, Kansuke Yamato—wearing Takeda Shingen's red armor and sitting on the offering table—couldn't help but complain. "Why hasn't the killer shown up yet? Honestly. They don't even take murder seriously. What kind of future do they have?"
The sliding door on the other side opened, and the "Charcoal-head" Heiji shook his head. "Tsk tsk tsk. For a Nagano police officer to say something like that... you sound like a yakuza."
"What's the deal with your Superintendent Kuroda? He looks like a mob boss."
"Heh. He just had his face disfigured in a fire. You know he's from Public Security... Hmm? You brat, are you trying to fish for information?"
"Let me tell you, if it weren't for the fact that you might actually be somewhat useful, I would have thrown you out a long time ago. Behave yourselves."
Little Conan, sitting nearby, chuckled. "It seems no one is coming for a while. One-eyed Mister, how about we exchange intel?"
"Based on your expression earlier, it looked like Teacher Hoshimiya pissed you off. How about you tell us about Superintendent Kuroda, and we'll tell you about Teacher Hoshimiya!"
Kansuke looked at Conan in surprise. This brat certainly didn't talk like a normal kid.
But thinking about the fact that he came with Yuu Hoshimiya, Kansuke calmed down.
If he was trained by that Consultant Hoshimiya, being this smart was possible.
He was incredibly curious for intel about his "rival in love." And telling these two kids didn't really count as betraying his superior. After a moment of conflict, Kansuke finally opened his mouth.