Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Today! You must die!”

Before Fu Qian could finish speaking, the face of Night Watcher Hayami Suzune emerged from the shadows.

Compared to their last meeting, she radiated clear killing intent, her mood significantly worse.

”Please, have a seat!”

Fu Qian narrowed his eyes, studying the young Night Watcher for a moment before gesturing with his free left hand.

”Given my long list of heinous crimes, could you clarify which exact charge this is for?”

”Still playing dumb!”

Hayami Suzune sneered at his utter lack of fear.

”Kisaragi Iken is dead.”

...Kisaragi Iken?

Fu Qian frowned.

”Kisaragi Kana’s father?”

He knew the name; it had been in Kisaragi Kana’s file.

”What do you think?”

”Not long ago, Kisaragi Iken was found dead in his home.”

”That’s truly unfortunate. But what makes you so sure I did it?”

Fu Qian looked genuinely curious.

”Why would I kill an old man?”

”Because his liver is missing.”

Staring intently into Fu Qian’s face, Hayami Suzune enunciated every word.

”Even if I lose my status as a Night Watcher after today, I will not let you off.”

...

So that was it...

Pondering for a moment, Fu Qian shoved a spoonful of macaroni into his mouth, set down his utensils, and pushed the other plate in front of Hayami Suzune.

”Care for some? Today is your lucky day, you know.”

...

”I don’t understand what you mean.”

His words and actions clearly left Madam Suzune a bit stunned.

”Fate is a wonderful thing. If I were you, I’d go out for some skewers after this to celebrate.”

Fu Qian didn’t elaborate. As Hayami Suzune stared blankly at the macaroni on the plate, he silently formed his own conclusion.

It seemed the Anjing Group didn’t just have Ye Island in the palm of their hand—they were quite bold as well!

When this Night Watcher barged right in earlier, Fu Qian had naturally noticed her right away, along with her surging killing intent.

Therefore, when Hayami Suzune attacked, not only was Fu Qian unsurprised, but he had even played the gracious host and obligingly taken a minor wound.

What he found curious was the source of her murderous intent.

The most obvious guess was that she had found out he took the Miracle Potion. Finally seeing a chance to bring him to justice, she hadn’t been able to wait to knock on his door.

After all, it would be entirely normal for the Anjing Group to report the list of Miracle Potion consumers to the Night Watchers.

And if that had been the case, he would have needed to deal with this hot-blooded youth first so she wouldn’t interfere with his future plans.

Fortunately, she still preferred verbal communication. She had quickly revealed her true motive, successfully sparing her own life.

This was exactly why Fu Qian had called it Hayami Suzune’s lucky day.

Now it seemed the Anjing Group clearly valued his special case as a cannibal, likely leaving his name off that list for the time being.

...

”Kisaragi Iken is dead, and his liver was cut out and taken away?”

Fu Qian rubbed his chin, looking thoughtfully at Hayami Suzune.

He had to admit, that certainly sounded like his kind of handiwork.

For her to come deal with him in a furious rage, even risking a violation of the Night Watchers’ principles, was entirely reasonable.

”Are you going to claim this has nothing to do with you?”

Seeing Fu Qian act so nonchalant, Hayami Suzune couldn’t help but snap at him.

”Why wouldn’t I? But before we chat, could you turn off the recording device you’re wearing?”

”Trust me, it’s for your own good.”

...

Unable to fathom how Fu Qian had noticed it, Hayami Suzune glared at him through gritted teeth, reached under her clothes, and switched off a device.

”Excellent!”

Fu Qian praised her.

”First of all, I didn’t kill him.”

”Just because you say so doesn’t make it true. How can you prove it?”

”Isn’t it obvious?”

Fu Qian pointed at the plate in front of him.

”If I had taken the liver, why would this only have ketchup on it?”

”...You expect me to believe that? You could have easily hidden it and waited to—”

”Impossible.”

Fu Qian interrupted her.

”The taste of a liver drops significantly once it’s no longer fresh. Do not question my palate.”

...

”In fact, that’s also why I told you to turn that thing off.”

Amid the silence, Fu Qian suddenly leaned in close to Hayami Suzune.

”Your impulsive act just now—do you genuinely believe I killed him? Or do you just think that ’believing I killed him, and killing me in a fit of passion’ makes for a good story? An excuse you can feed the public?”

”You...”

For a split second, Hayami Suzune’s eyes darted away.

”Deception is a valid tactic, but self-deception is just pure stupidity.”

Fu Qian wiggled his right hand as he spoke.

The Dagger was lodged quite deeply into the table. He quickly gave up on pulling it out, and instead slowly lifted his hand upward, letting the Dagger pass entirely through his palm.

Unsurprisingly, the wound tore even wider as a result.

”So, has the real killer been identified?”

Grabbing a spoon with his bloody hand and offering it to Hayami Suzune, Fu Qian asked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

”Not yet.”

Staring at Fu Qian’s palm, Hayami Suzune hesitated for a long time before taking the spoon.

Looking at the macaroni on the plate before her, she seemed almost possessed as she scooped up a spoonful and shoved it into her mouth—simultaneously admitting, in a roundabout way, her intention to use this as an excuse to kill him.

”I actually know who did it.”

Fu Qian suddenly said.

”You know?”

Before she could even swallow what was in her mouth, Hayami Suzune stared at him with wide eyes.

”How is that possible? Who is it?”

”Kisaragi Kana.”

...

”That’s absurd!”

The instant she heard Fu Qian’s answer, Hayami Suzune looked as if she had turned to stone. A moment later, she slammed the table and stood up.

”Fixed mindsets are dangerous, especially for a law enforcer like you.”

Fu Qian gestured for her to calm down.

”I know that in your mind, Kisaragi Kana is nothing more than an ignorant, rebellious, and naive victim who was led astray.”

”But think about it carefully. Is there even the slightest possibility that she is actually the perpetrator?”

”I don’t understand what you mean.”

”You need to think carefully and really remember. You’ve seen the answer.”

Fu Qian spoke in a patient, guiding tone.

”I’ve seen it...”

Hayami Suzune muttered to herself. Suddenly, she shuddered, her eyes widening as she stared at the plate on the table.

”What she ate yesterday was...”

”Not bad. Very quick on the uptake.”

Fu Qian praised her once more.

”Impossible! Who did she eat?”

Under the violent surge of emotion, Hayami Suzune’s voice grew somewhat hoarse.

”There’s a school nearby. One of its students hasn’t been seen since yesterday afternoon.”

Fu Qian wore a beaming smile.

’That student was named Fu Qian,’ he thought.

”I...”

Recalling the scene of Kisaragi Kana dining so elegantly yesterday, Hayami Suzune was suddenly hit by an indescribable wave of nausea.

The next moment, she covered her mouth and bolted to the side, vomiting up the macaroni and everything else.

”I can’t just take your word for it.”

After recovering slightly, she glared sternly at Fu Qian once more.

”Especially since that was her own father.”

”You certainly don’t have to believe me completely. It’s just that you have two suspects now.”

Fu Qian kept the smile on his face.

”Unfortunately, one of them recently consumed the Miracle Potion.”

”And as I believe you mentioned, that falls under your jurisdiction.”