Truth is everywhere within range

Qiao Qiao put down his tea cup and continued to speak after seeing Tanizaki Koji's uncomprehending look.

"The two actions of the prisoner are actually contradictory."

"If you disguise and hide in order to prevent high-level psychics, there is no need to design the time of death, because high-level psychics can detect when the deceased was killed anyway."

"The purpose of designing the time of death is to allow people to misjudge the time of the death of the deceased, so that the prisoner can obtain an alibi."

"If there are only strategies for psychics, we can think that the criminals are wanted because they are afraid of being seen. This is a temporary crime, or a measure that random criminals will consider. To put it simply, the other party does not want to kill intentionally. Kashiwagi Ayako just killed people randomly and happened to meet Kashiwagi Ayako.”

Listening to Qiao Qiao's words, Tanizaki Koji's expression became gloomy.

No matter who it is, they will not feel better when they hear that someone close to them was brutally killed by others just because of bad luck.

"In fact, most weird-related incidents follow this pattern. Weird or weird believers simply want sacrifices and are not obsessed with specific people. They only choose the most convenient ones within their sight. In these In this case, who the deceased was is not actually the core of the case.”

Qiao Qiao has experienced similar incidents. Those believers of the old gods simply needed human sacrifices. It didn't matter who they were.

"But using Kashiwagi Ayako's Line to communicate with Tanizaki-san is a simple way to create a time difference. If you believe that the other person is the real Kashiwagi Ayako, her death time will be pushed back and limited to a certain time. Within this period of time, and if an investigation is launched and an alibi is provided within this period of time, the suspicion can be cleared."

"In other words, the criminal believed that if the death of Kashiwagi Ayako was investigated in depth, the initial speculation of a monster causing trouble would be overturned, and he would be suspected and investigated."

This is another way of thinking about crime, that is, it is believed that the death of Kashiwagi Ayako was not caused by strange things, but a simple human crime, or even a crime committed by an acquaintance.

"If there were no such operations, Ise Shrine might define it as a monster, or some extremely evil being, and deal with it."

"But with the subsequent information, we can draw a conclusion."

"In order for the criminal to have an alibi for himself, his identity was locked into the group of people who needed an alibi to get away with the crime."

Qiao Qiao knocked on the table.

"This means that the prisoner is very likely to be someone you know, Tanizaki-san."

"wait wait wait."

No matter how slow-minded Tanizaki Koji is, he understands what Qiao Qiao means by this time.

"You mean, the prisoner might be from Ise Jingu?"

Mastering anti-psychic technology can even make the spirits of the dead disappear. Coupled with Qiao Qiao's speculation, the scope quickly narrowed to the Ise Shrine.

"It's just a possibility."

Qiao Qiao spread his hands.

"Of course, there is another possibility, that is, these are all disguises, just misleading to make our search deadlock. They are just ordinary weird believers anyway."

Qiaoqiao specifically did not mention anything related to the old gods to prevent Tanizaki Koji from causing more uneasiness.

But Qiao Qiao felt that this incident was most likely related to the old gods.

While thinking, he suddenly felt that someone was looking at him.

Looking back, I didn't find anything unusual.

Dong dong dong——

A knock on the door interrupted Qiao Qiao's search.

Qiao Qiao opened the door and it was Kuroda Makoto.

She was still a little pale, and the things during the day were still too exciting for a teenage girl like her.

"Qiao Sang, please follow me to the Huangji Palace."

"?"

After hearing Kuroda Makoto's words, not only Tanizaki Koji, but also Qiao Qiao raised questions.

"Wait, wait, Qiao Sang, is that the relationship between you and the officiant?"

Tanizaki Koji was a little unsteady in his seat.

For so many years, he has only heard the name of the officiant, but has never even seen her in person. He only knows that she is a pure and noble witch.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Qiao had only been here for two days and he would already be called to the Deserted Sacrifice Palace at night by the chief priest?

What is this called?

"Too many weird ideas!"

Qiao Qiao glanced at Tanizaki Koji, but it was good to have something to help him recover from the grief of losing his girlfriend.

"I'll clean up, wait a moment."

He said to Kuroda Makoto again.

A few minutes later, after sending Koji Tanizaki away, Qiao Qiao followed Kuroda Makoto towards the Aragami Palace.

"Where's your sister?"

In the heavy snow, Qiao Qiao and Kuroda Makoto held red oil-paper umbrellas and walked in the snow-covered shrine.

If such an incident hadn't happened, this scene would probably be beautiful.

Arriving at the entrance of the Aragami Palace, Kuroda Makoto bowed slightly.

"I'll wait for you here."

she said.

It's quite hard to stand in this ice and snow for so long.

I don’t know what the Kitashirakawa shrine maiden wants to do with me.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Qiao Qiao quickly walked into the shrine and took off his shoes.

Kitashirakawa Rika was still sitting in her original position, with a bronze mirror filled with water in front of her and a Japanese bow beside her.

"Please take a seat."

Kitashirakawa Rika opened her eyes and said softly.

She waited until Qiao Qiao sat down before she continued to speak.

"I heard that a murder occurred outside the shrine. A girl was cut into pieces. It seemed like some kind of ceremony was held."

"Yes, the Shrine is investigating this matter, and it seems that it has been handed over to Kuroda-san, um, my sister's person."

Qiao Qiao replied that he was not sure what Kitashirakawa Rika wanted from him. If he was asking about the murder, wouldn't it be better to ask Kuroda Jun?

"About this matter, Qiao San, I have a request."

Kitashirakawa Rika looked at Qiao Qiao.

"I want to be part of the investigation."

"?"

What does it mean?

Qiao Qiao didn't understand.

Really don't understand.

Leaving aside the fact that she, a priestess who was the chief priest, was going to interfere with this kind of murder, Kitashirakawa Rika, who couldn't leave the Arasai Palace, shouldn't be able to investigate, right?

She's not an easy-chair detective who can solve cases in a rocking chair.

"Qiao Sang, you must be aware that this incident is likely to be related to people within the palace."

Kitashirakawa Rika said calmly.

Where did she get the news?

Is he really a famous detective who can solve problems without leaving home?

Qiao Qiao was slightly confused.

"I wanted to solve this problem myself, and to do so, I made a request to the Shrine."

Kitashirakawa Rika continued to speak, gently passing her hand in front of the bronze mirror, and then stretched it to the side.

Just when Qiao Qiao thought she was going to take the phone, Kitashirakawa Rika handed the thing in her palm to Qiao Qiao.

That's an imperial guard.

"These are my eyes."

Kitashirakawa Rika said with a smile.