Chapter 45

In the quiet night, the leaves outside the window rustled in the wind.

Rina, wearing a single-rimmed gold-rimmed glasses with an extremely thin silver chain intertwined with her black hair, leaned lazily against the sofa, flipping through the documents in her hands.

Last time I came, I left behind a few sets of clothes and daily necessities, which I used this time. After drying her hair, Kurosawa Shiran came out of the bathroom and pounced on the bed, rolling around in bed. Then, she casually pulled the two pillows closer together.

He switched to a coaxing tone: "Sister, would you like to go to bed and rest?"

Rina tapped the document in her hand with the tip of her pen, then looked up at him. "Are you sure you want to sleep here?"

The mattress was soft. Kurosawa Shiran sank into the bedding and smelled it. The movement was very slight, but Rina noticed it. She was sure that she hadn't slept in that bed for a long time, but his gaze was as if he were smelling her scent, which made her feel a little complicated, or rather, she felt something exciting.

Rina fell into a rare long silence.

out of control.

That's the only word that's on her mind right now.

But she didn't like this feeling. Once things went off track, everything was unknown. It might be thrilling and exciting, but it wasn't what she was looking for.

She has always known what kind of life she wants, and from beginning to end, she has always preferred the simplest and most ordinary life.

When I was in school, the teacher asked every student in the class during a class meeting.

What kind of life do you want to live?

Back then, everyone was young, and some kids even said they wanted to be superheroes to save the world. Rina was a high-energy person, but that didn't mean she was mentally unstable. She just hoped for a smooth and stable life in the future, preferably finding a stable job after graduating from university and living a life in an orderly manner.

However, perhaps because of her uniqueness, some people have misunderstood her.

Rina's thoughts drifted from one memory to another until her phone screen suddenly lit up, at which point she looked away.

She didn't like eye contact.

Kurosawa Shiran sat obediently beside her as always, seemingly unaware of the undercurrents between them. "Sister, what are you thinking about?"

Rina put down the documents in her hand, took off her glasses, and asked him, "Where were you last night?"

Kurosawa Shiran leaned down, her chest close to Rina's, her hands supporting her on either side, carefully observing her reaction: "You don't know, sister?"

Rina: "I wouldn't know after I came out of the shower."

She fell into a deep sleep and couldn't be sure that Kurosawa Shiran had stayed in the room the whole time.

Dante's death was too suspicious. As a Mafia executive, he was exceptionally skilled and few people could kill him. Even in shootouts, he was protected by the Mafia and would not be approached unnoticed, except for his numerous criminal records.

Thinking of this, the two looked at each other for a moment, and Kurosawa Shiran gave a mocking smirk, grabbing her wrist, "Is my sister doubting me?"

In an instant, an overwhelming sense of oppression enveloped her, as if she had fallen from heaven to hell. Rina looked into Kurosawa Shiran's eyes and whispered, "You just need to give me an answer."

Suspicion, hatred, madness, accusation... a complex mix of emotions began to spread between the two. They remained silent for a long time, locked in a stalemate. Kurosawa Shiran suppressed his somewhat insane killing intent, his eyes red as if about to bleed, and said with a seductive tone, "I was making love with my sister at the time."

He turned the question around and asked her, "Are you satisfied with this answer, sister?"

Rina could hear the emotion in his voice, and a forced smile appeared on her lips.

Kurosawa Shiran's eyes flashed with a cold light as she felt an irresistible urge. She gritted her teeth and said, "Does this mean that my sister will suspect me every time someone dies?"

She couldn't get involved in Dante's case, otherwise it would only increase the suspicion against Kurosawa Shiranui. She believed in Shimono Gen and should try to believe in him as well.

Perhaps it was someone else, such as Jones, the murderer who killed Takizawa Nanase.

Rina's face remained expressionless, and she remained calm. "You don't need to ask such a question."

"I'm not the one being kept in the dark." Kurosawa Shiran released his grip, stood up, and left. "So, just because I'm a madman who enjoys killing makes the person who altered your memories a good person?"

The door to the room was closed.

Rina sat up and looked down at the several red and purple marks on her wrist, which she felt would not disappear for four or five days.

It hurts a lot, but it also makes me numb.

-

In 1783, the Earl of Robert Unmlyn built himself an elegant and luxurious castle on a small island off Ryderby Bay. It can be reached by taxi from Paddington to the harbor, followed by a three-day cruise.

"I've heard the scenery there is beautiful, I can't wait to go! Miss Lydia, were you also invited?"

Footsteps came from the spiral staircase. John Openshaw looked up at the sound and saw Lydia coming down.

A beautiful woman in red, with a healthy, rosy complexion and captivating, bright, lead-gray eyes that are impossible to look away from.

Lydia looked surprised. "How do you know about this?"

John wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, his movements elegant and gentlemanly, and said frankly, "You've made it very clear that since you arrived at this hotel this morning, you've gone downstairs seven times, then stood nervously on the terrace, looking at that ship."

Lydia felt offended and a little angry: "You were spying on me?"

“Miss Lydia, those who receive that invitation will be extra careful about the situation of everyone around them. After all, those who received the invitation last time all died tragically on that ship,” John stood up, holding his wine glass, and took a sip of red wine. “We may not be able to leave that ship alive.”

Lydia denied it, saying, "Sir, I am only worried about my lover, and I have no knowledge of this so-called invitation."

“John, it seems you’ve misjudged. This beauty isn’t one of the six.” Odel’s small, gray eyes sized Lydia up and down with a malicious glint in them, his gaze extremely unsettling.

John cleared his throat, reminding him, "The killer is lurking in the shadows. If we don't unite, we'll end up like those other guys."

Lydia frowned: "I don't understand what you're talking about?"

“We still have three days and two nights to spend on the Pearl. Only by enduring this period can we get the answers we want,” Emily noticed their gazes and shook her head. “Don’t look at me like that. Don’t we all risk our lives to come to this ship for our own reasons?”

The person who spoke just now was a blonde, blue-eyed woman with some freckles on her face, who looked to be around twenty-eight years old.

“There’s still one person we haven’t found. This person is in the restaurant and hasn’t shown any signs of anything.” Rossi stood in a dark corner, the shadows covering half his face. He was very wary of his surroundings and knew how to hide himself.

Lydia glanced at the people talking, then lifted her skirt and ran upstairs.

John returned to his seat, put down his glass, and asked, puzzled, "Why won't she admit it?"

Emily laughed. "She probably thinks the killer is hiding among the six of us."

Odel pressed his tongue against his cheek and asked her in return, "Maybe?"

“Don’t be so sensitive.” Emily disliked rude men, especially one like him who was so vulgar and slovenly, and whose clothes were so unkempt. If she wasn’t careful, he might spit on her face or interrupt her with rude language.

Rossi ignored their bickering and said in a deep voice, "Besides finding the sixth person, we also need to find the person who sent the invitation."

John nodded. "Killing six people in just a few days, I think it would be difficult for the killer to do it alone, unless the killer is Jack the Ripper."

“Don’t joke around, this is terrifying.” Emily took a deep breath.

Odel whistled and continued to disgust her: "You can sleep in the same bed as me."

Emily was a decent person, and she told herself not to bother with this scoundrel, simply smiling and saying, "I don't like brutes."

“Perhaps we can start by looking at the killer’s motives,” John said calmly. “The killer wouldn’t have gathered us together for no reason.”

“We don’t know each other and have never met. I can’t find any connection between us,” Emily paused. “You only received tickets and invitations?”

After he finished speaking, the air fell silent instantly. The four people looked at each other, their calm surface masking a turbulent undercurrent.

For about five minutes, they observed and suspected each other without making a sound. John shrugged and broke the awkward silence: "Let's find a sixth person. Do you have anyone you suspect?"

Emily closed the notebook, put it back in her pocket, and glanced at the woman enjoying the sea breeze on the terrace.

She stood up and said, "It's difficult to find him among more than 120 people in one morning. Why don't we go on board and see who's staying in the VIP room so you can chat? I'll be going now."

Odell glared at her fiercely, then kicked the leg of the stool next to him. Emily always gave off a superior feeling, with a hint of command, as if they were servants, which was disgusting.

John said nothing as he watched Emily walk onto the terrace and lean against a woman.

Clearly, she didn't come alone; the person next to her must have been her friend.

Odel lit a cigarette and said, "I noticed a foreign girl over there, and I suspect it's her."

John straightened his suit and asked, "Reason?"

“She’s really attractive,” Ode said with a lewd grin. “She’s mixed race.”

John frowned and said, "This is no joke, the ship is about to leave."

Rossi smiled slightly, then turned and left silently.

The long, drawn-out sound of a steam whistle drifted into the twilight.

It was very hot. Rina wore a clean white shirt and carried her suitcase as she boarded the ship with a group of people. Perhaps because the ship was half an hour late, everyone was a little anxious, and the surroundings began to get crowded.

The woman walking in front was being shoved from side to side by the people around her, and she couldn't help but smell the stench of sweat.

"Could you please be careful when you walk? You stepped on my shoes."

However, no one paid attention, and the surroundings became even more crowded. Tia lost her footing and fell backward, bumping into someone.

Out of politeness, Rina gave her a slight helping hand, noticing the pom-pom decoration on the other's clothes and the diamond-shaped bracelet on her wrist.

Rossi glanced at Tia and warned, "Be careful."

Tia looked embarrassed and whispered to Rina, "Sorry, my suitcase is too heavy."

The three of them were standing very close together. Rina said she was fine and avoided the man's gaze.

Rossi stared at her for a while longer.

Fifteen minutes later, passengers boarded the ship one after another. Rina left the crowd and followed the crew to the second floor, where she encountered the man again.

However, Rossi didn't say anything this time. He put down his suitcase, opened the room with his key, and went straight in.

Rina turned her head to look in the other direction.

Emily met her gaze with a complicated expression, but just as she went inside and closed the door, she suddenly asked, "Were you one of the people who received the invitation?"

Rina nodded.

“Let’s have dinner together tonight,” Emily paused. “Six people have received invitations this time.”

Rina's face remained expressionless as she indicated her agreement and closed the door.

Emily returned to her room, took a clean and fresh outfit from the closet and changed. After sitting on the bed for a while, she suddenly thought of something, took a few steps toward the woman's room, leaned against the wall, and quietly thought. A long time passed without her hearing any sound.

She was quite certain that the ship and the people on it were very strange.

7 PM.

Lydia did not stay in the VIP room on the second floor; instead, she chose a double cabin and shared a room with a strange woman.

She looks lovely, at least more pleasing to the eye than the person I saw at the restaurant earlier.

Lydia greeted her, packed her luggage, and lay down on the bed for a nap.

When there was a knock on the door, she sat up, straightened her clothes in front of the mirror, and immediately went to open the door.

"Miss Lydia, this is tonight's dinner." It was a waiter wearing a black suit and tie.

Lydia's first reaction was to be amazed by the waiter in front of her; his blue eyes were like sapphires, so bright and unforgettable.

She stared at him for a long time, but Kurosawa Shiran maintained a polite expression. "Miss Lydia?"

Lydia realized what was happening, took the plate from his hand, and said thank you.

Kurosawa Tokiran pushed the food cart to the next room.

Just then, a loud crash came from behind, and the plate fell to the ground, spilling meat juices and mashed potatoes all over the floor.

Lydia felt as if all her strength had been drained away, and she collapsed to the ground, her breathing suddenly becoming rapid.

Kurosawa Shiran walked over, stared at her for a moment, then squatted down and covered her mouth and nose with his palm.

He whispered, "Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth."

The commotion attracted a crowd, and Lydia's symptoms eased slightly, with the ringing in her ears gradually disappearing.

Kurosawa Shiran moved his hand away and helped her stand up.

When Lydia saw the drool on his hands, she hurriedly took out a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe it off for him.

She thanked them several times.

Kurosawa Shiran avoided her hand, maintaining her smile, "No need, I'll just wash it with water."

"Well, I'll tidy up here..." Lydia said apologetically.

Before she could finish speaking, Kurosawa Shiran turned and went to the public restroom in front. When she returned, the entrance had been cleaned up.

Lydia explained, "I'm allergic to mushrooms, I was just startled, thank you."

Kurosawa Shiran looked up, her gaze passing over Lydia and landing on the woman behind her.

Emily stood behind them, observing the two of them, and couldn't help but smile slightly: "Miss Lydia, why are you here?"

Why have VIP rooms but live in a dirty, messy, and completely private pile of junk?

Lydia clenched her fists. "You've got the wrong person. I don't know you."

Emily walked past her in her high heels, her tone becoming much harsher, "Everyone's having dinner at the restaurant later, are you sure you don't want to go?"

Lydia was very safety-conscious and refused decisively: "I will not have dinner with strangers!"

Emily didn't say anything more, turned and left without looking back, then went to the restaurant and sat down at one of the empty seats. "She's not coming."

Various wines were arranged in rows on the table, but no one paid them any attention.

Three people were eyeing each other suspiciously, while the woman sat calmly in a chair by the window, gazing at the dark sea, completely unaffected.

John poured himself a glass of wine and spoke first: "Let's introduce ourselves first, so it will be easier for us to get along. My name is Nick, and I work at a bank."

Emily smiled and said, "It suits your temperament perfectly, gentleman."

John was very sociable, and in such a short time, he had chatted with almost all the crew members and waiters here.

Odell said bluntly, "Odell, truck driver."

Emily glanced at Rossi and forced a smile. "Philip Knight, psychologist."

Rossi tapped her fingers on the table, glancing sideways at Rina. Their eyes met, and their gazes seemed to be asking the same question.

John reminded him, "It's just the two of you left."

Rina: "I don't like deceiving myself."

Rossi didn't move, half of him hidden in the shadows, and he laughed, but the others didn't understand what he was laughing at.

Emily was immediately indignant: "What do you mean?"

Rossi: "As you can see."

Emily felt a chill run down her spine when she met his gaze.

She said, "Aren't you afraid of being killed?"

Rossi poured himself a glass of red wine and slowly began, "The biggest joke in hell is that there's still meaning to living."

This sentence caught Rina's attention, and she looked away from him.

John accused, "It seems nobody wants to solve the problem."

Emily tried her best to control her anger, but eventually got up and left.

Next was John, and then Odell.

The dinner ended unhappily, and everyone returned to their rooms.

Lina felt the room was too stuffy, so she walked to the deck, holding onto the cold brass railing, and leaned on the railing for a while to enjoy the sea breeze.

Rossi walked over to her and placed a small bottle of seasickness medicine on the railing. "Have you been to that castle?"

Rina: "No."

Rossi found a topic: "I heard that place is very romantic, and many high-society people propose there."

"I've heard a little about it." Rina took the medicine bottle from the railing and thanked her.

Among the few scattered people, the two of them stood together. From a distance, they looked like a well-matched couple. The man was tall and burly, like an instructor in a military camp, while the woman was slender and graceful. The two of them enjoyed the beautiful scene at this moment, which was quite pleasing to the eye.

However, Rina soon felt a burning gaze behind her, almost scorching her skin. She turned around warily, but didn't see anyone.