My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 44: Chapter 30: Aoto Solves the Case in an Instant

——In any case, let’s take action first.

With hands naturally hanging down, slightly clenched, Aoto recited in his heart one of his favorite sayings.

In any case, let’s take action first.

Due to technical shortcomings and other reasons, murder and other serious cases are difficult to solve.

So, relatively speaking: if one can solve a murder case, the political achievements will become instantly bright!

Trying every possible way to solve high-value major cases and critical cases—this is the only way through the ”Tairō Assessment” in a month and a half.

Those high-value major cases and critical cases may not necessarily land on Aoto’s head.

Aoto concluded: Even if Arima wanted to give those cases that could easily boost his political record to him, Hosoi might not agree.

After all, thanks to the ”Original Tachibana Aoto,” the nickname ”Blockhead Don” is indeed notorious. If he were Hosoi, he wouldn’t want to entrust such major and important cases to such an incompetent person.

In that case, he can only act proactively and seize the initiative.

And now, there is a great opportunity right in front of him.

Mukiura Town is one of the areas he is responsible for, and before the Dōshin formally assigned to this case by the Magistrate’s Office arrives, he has the full ability to naturally enter and exit the crime scene, and afterwards, no one can criticize him.

I am the Fixed Town Patrol Dōshin responsible for law and order in this area, and I’m going to the crime scene to have a look. What? Is there a problem?

Aoto’s plan is simple—before the Dōshin responsible for this case arrives, he will first go into the crime scene to collect clues and try to solve this case, making his currently dismal political record shine brightly at once!

In his past life, he was a legitimate graduate from the police academy with excellent grades.

Although he didn’t have time to formally enter the police force or pursue graduate studies for further development, he was transmigrated here.

But the knowledge acquired in the academy, the numerous cases studied, are still stored in Aoto’s mind.

Although what he learned in his past life may not necessarily help him in solving the case, he very well might end up wasting his efforts.

But—who cares!

Let’s take action first!

Start moving and think about whether it’s possible or doable later on.

”Lord Tachibana, do you want to go inside the house?” Hui Dalang was dumbstruck listening to Aoto’s words just now.

”After all, I am the Dōshin responsible for law and order in this area.” Aoto smiled slightly and said casually, ”A serious crime occurred in my jurisdiction. Wouldn’t it be unreasonable if I didn’t go in and have a look?”

Listening to Aoto’s words, Hui Dalang inwardly scoffed:

—Yeah, right... Even if you, Blockhead Don, go in and see, what can you do... What if you accidentally ruin the crime scene again like before...

Although grumbling internally, Hui Dalang perfectly exercised the control over his expressions, honed after serving as a Town Official for years—

Hui Dalang: (ﾟ∀ﾟ)ﾉ” Yes! I will definitely not let any unrelated people approach the house!”

With a fawning smile, Hui Dalang bowed respectfully to Aoto.

Who cares! Even if Blockhead Don messes up later, it’s none of my business!

In fact—Hui Dalang somewhat hopes that Aoto hurries inside the crime scene. That way, he wouldn’t have to see him anymore, nor take orders from him.

After instructing Hui Dalang to strengthen the barrier keeping unrelated crowds away, Aoto took out a pair of gloves from his pocket.

These were the cold protection gloves Kyūbē gave him this morning.

As he didn’t find the weather particularly cold today, Aoto kept them in his pocket and hadn’t taken them out to use.

Although in this era devoid of fingerprint search and other investigative methods, wearing gloves seems entirely unnecessary, Aoto still wanted to maintain the habit cultivated during his police academy studies in his previous life.

The Dōshin sent to handle this case might be on his way now.

Time is tight—after putting on the gloves, Aoto, without any hesitation or doubt, pulled open the door to Granny Ping’s house...

The smell of blood.

Upon entering, the nauseating scent of blood rushed into Aoto’s nostrils.

There could be significant clues anywhere inside and outside this house.

Therefore—upon entering, Aoto’s gaze began to scan around.

Ceiling, floor, walls... he left nothing within his sight unchecked.

In his past life, Aoto particularly admired the renowned detective praised as ”The King of the Crime Scene,” ”Contemporary Holmes”: Li Changyu who once said—

There are seven ways to collect evidence: looking while standing, looking while bending over, bending low to look, squatting to look, kneeling to look, sitting to look, or combining various ways to look.

He always thought this was an invaluable saying.

Granny Ping’s home isn’t large; following the scent of blood and observing his surroundings, Aoto slowly moved from the entrance to the house’s deeper sections, finally reaching... the source of the blood smell—the living room.

Standing at the open living room doorway, the sight within made Aoto’s pupils slightly contract involuntarily.

In the modest living room, an old woman lay on the ground, facing upwards, her chest a blur of blood and flesh.

Blood oozing from her body stained much of her body and the tatami beneath her.

Her wide-open eyes, even though they had lost their luster, still faintly revealed the terror etched in the depths of her pupils...

What a horrifying experience the victim must have endured before dying... It’s unbearable to think about.

After taking several deep breaths to adjust his mood and state, Aoto slowly walked to Granny Ping’s body, closed his eyes, and silently mourned.

—Rest in peace...

After a moment of silence for the unfortunate deceased old lady, Aoto opened his eyes and roughly surveyed the living room.

The scene was far more intact than Aoto imagined.

It seems that those who discovered Granny Ping’s body did not excessively disrupt the scene, and Hui Dalang subsequently guarded the crime scene well, preventing any unrelated persons from getting close.

The scene was much more intact than expected—this brought a sigh of relief to Aoto.

Crouching down on the tatami and beginning to inspect Granny Ping’s body, Aoto immediately furrowed his brow slightly.

He had learned some basic forensic knowledge, and according to his deduction, Granny Ping’s time of death was confirmed to be last night.

The murder weapon was a sharp blade; Granny Ping’s chest had been stabbed seven times, and apart from the stab wounds on her chest, there were no other injuries on her body.

The seven stab wounds on Granny Ping’s chest were rather haphazard, with only one hitting a vital point. Yet, it was precisely this one that claimed Granny Ping’s life.

After carefully examining Granny Ping’s wounds for a while, Aoto’s gaze shifted to her clothing.

Looking at Granny Ping’s neatly worn everyday clothes, Aoto’s frown deepened.

Granny Ping’s clothing had patches on her chest, sleeves, and waist.

This piece of clothing, clearly worn for a long time, was washed to the point of fading.

At this moment, Aoto’s eye unexpectedly caught sight of—a small candlestick placed not far from the body.

On the candlestick was a small stub of a candle, burnt to only thumb-high.

Aoto leaned closer to the candlestick for a detailed look at this little piece of candle.

The base of the candle was chunks of already-solidified wax.

These newly solidified wax blocks... appeared quite fresh, clearly having solidified not long ago.

After a detailed look at this stub of candle, Aoto lifted his head and looked around.

Scanning the room, Aoto’s gaze fixed on an old-fashioned storage cabinet in a corner of the living room.

He quickly moved to the cabinet, opened it—and upon doing so, found what he was looking for—an ample supply of lamp oil.

”...More smoothly than imagined.”

Aoto let out a long breath.

This sigh contained a trace of relief.

”I already... know who the suspect is...”

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