Chapter 48
After dinner, John saw Emily eating with a young woman, and his mood grew increasingly heavy.
Who exactly killed Armstrong?
With no damage to the doors or windows, the only thing he could think of was Heather; otherwise, it could only be a ghost.
Is it the ghost of Wald?
John was in a daze, finding the whole thing ridiculous. He stood up, turned on all the lights in the room, poured himself half a glass of champagne, and prepared to take a hot bath to relax.
He would never have come to this godforsaken place in his life if it weren't for finding out who was delivering knitted hats to his office every day.
Just as he finished preparing the hot water, he heard another knock on the door. John strode heavily to open it.
Rossi gave a polite smile. "I've come to ask you something."
John frowned and opened the door to the room.
Before he could react, Rossi rushed up, slammed the door shut, and pressed a gun against John's head.
"I'm just asking you a few simple questions, don't lose your life because of it."
John's heart was pounding, his legs felt like lead, and his knees were so weak he almost knelt down.
He nodded with difficulty.
Rossi: "Why did you come here?"
John was just a conman and had never experienced anything like this before, let alone having a loaded gun pointed at him. His voice was strained as he spoke, “People have been sending me things in Wald’s name.”
Rossi slightly raised the corners of his mouth, smiling sinisterly: "Go on."
“I took that money…and used it to buy stocks,” John said, “but I was very unlucky and lost it all.”
Rossi clicked her tongue softly. "Didn't you say that the old man put that money in himself?"
“A bunch of technical jargon that Wald didn’t understand, he mistakenly thought the money had been deposited in a bank.” John swallowed hard, his clothes already soaked through.
Rossi: "So what are you here for?"
“There’s a manager position that’s vacant in the company, and I can’t afford to make any mistakes,” John said. “If I don’t come, that person will hand over the securities trading agency agreement that I signed to headquarters. If I want to get promoted, I can’t make any mistakes. That agreement, and Wald’s signature.”
Rossi, his face filled with murderous intent, scrutinized his eyes for a long time before slowly moving the gun away.
John breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn't dare to relax and kept his eyes fixed on him.
Rossi, with a polite demeanor, grinned, put away his gun, and gestured for him to sit down and discuss the matter in detail.
He said, "Who do you think is behind this?"
John gradually calmed down and realized that he had gained John's temporary trust. "I'm not sure, but the fact that he was able to bring us together means that this person knows what we have done, and even the details."
Rossi stroked his chin, lost in thought.
This was pretty much what he had in mind, but he couldn't find the person behind it all through reasoning, so he resorted to threats and coercion.
John opened the notebook on the table, picked up a pen, and wrote down a name: "First is Odell, a middle-aged man who has been drinking heavily for years, with a bad temper and vulgar language. The wife he mentioned who jumped off the building was probably driven to her death by him. Apart from the woman's family and friends, only the judge and the detective know the truth about this, and they probably know about my case as well."
Rossi gave a lukewarm "hmm".
John then wrote down a second name, “Emily. She pretends to be a high-class lady, but she’s a whore at heart. The actress who lives in the same room as her is her lover. I overheard their conversation the other day. The two of them have immigrated to Switzerland and are getting married in a few months. The actress’s ex-husband was a count who died in a car accident a year ago. Many newspapers reported on it. It seems that the actress inherited a large fortune, which Emily will soon have as well. I don’t think she needs to stage this farce, and she doesn’t have the intelligence for it.”
Upon hearing this, Rossi recalled that when Natsume Rina was talking to him, she was reading the news report about the count's car accident.
John wrote down the third name, "Then there's this Lydia. She's very wary and doesn't share the information she gets with us. Just now, I noticed that she's hooking up with a young crew member. I have to say, it's a very wise choice, but it also makes her more suspicious. Planning this whole thing is very difficult, and that person needs an accomplice."
Rossi: "I heard she went to perform an autopsy on Armstrong. That's quite courageous."
“She was obviously just trying to impress that crew member and get closer to him. Lydia is young, but she’s very good at hooking men,” John paused. “She always acts all pitiful to make men want to protect her. I have to say, men fall for that.”
Rossi: "There's one more."
“Natsume Rina,” John wrote her name on the paper and sighed, “Detectives are just too unpredictable, especially since she has a mafia affiliation. I don’t have a good opinion of her yet, but she is definitely dangerous, and she has the ability to manipulate all of this.”
Rossi's eyes gleamed: "It seems you think the killer is among us."
“Crew members, passengers…” John shook his head. “There’s no way to rule them out.”
“Perhaps I have a way.” Rossi stood up, straightened his suit, and walked to the door. Suddenly remembering something, he turned back and glanced at him. “That detective said it’s best to lock the doors and windows when you sleep at night.”
John was taken aback.
-
Rina woke up groggily at eight in the morning.
Kurosawa Shiran brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and placed a towel soaked in cool water on her forehead. "Sister, your fever is getting worse."
The coolness brought her a moment of clarity. Rina opened her eyes and opened her mouth to say something, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something, and she couldn't speak. Something was wrong with her body as well; her whole body felt like it had been torn apart, and every inch of her bones and muscles felt like they were on fire.
Her lips moved weakly.
Kurosawa Shiran sat on the edge of the bed, leaned down, and looked into her eyes. Her thick, long eyelashes cast small shadows, and her expression was almost ominously calm, but her eyes seemed to be churning with the most intense flames. "The fever reducer isn't working, and I don't have an appetite. Sister, tell me what to do?"
His voice and movements were extremely gentle.
Rina met a pair of eyes so close to hers, and her dazed mind regained a sliver of rationality, her heart leaping into her throat.
Kurosawa Shiran pressed the tip of her nose against her cheek, feeling the warmth of her body.
Rina sighed inwardly. She was a little worried that it was an infectious disease and that being so close to him might infect him.
She raised her hand and ruffled his hair, comforting him in the most straightforward way, "I want some water..."
However, Kurosawa Shiran's mood did not improve. He lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.
Rina: "......"
What if it really is an infectious disease?
Kurosawa Shiran helped Rina up, placed two pillows behind her, and brought her a cup of hot water with honey from the bedside table.
After finishing her water, Rina leaned against her pillow and began to ponder her current situation. But after thinking for a long time, all she could think about was the person next to her.
She turned to look at him and blurted out, "...Your hair has gotten longer."
Kurosawa Shiran gently brushed her reddened earlobe with her fingertips. "Sister likes me with long hair."
Rina gave a slightly helpless smile. She noticed that Kurozawa Shiran's eyes were empty and heavy at this moment, and his breathing was deliberately suppressed, long and shallow, restrained and patient.
The murderer who killed Takizawa Nanase has not been found, and she has not regained her memories... If she really dies this time, she may have regrets.
What about Kurosawa Tokiran?
The pain surged in waves like a tide, and Rina was almost incapable of thinking, so naturally, there was no answer to the question.
She tried to sit up, but found she had no strength left, so she had no choice but to lie back down.
Kurosawa Shiran had never seen Rina so weak. She didn't even have the strength to speak. Before she woke up, countless thoughts had flashed through his mind, because this situation was a good opportunity to take advantage of her weakness, since she had no strength to resist.
I won't deny that he's an immoral monster.
However, he suddenly remembered what the woman in the restaurant had said to Rina.
—This ocean will take you away.
He said in a hoarse voice, "I'll have Lydia come and take a look."
Rina nodded weakly and asked, "Did anything happen last night?"
"John is dead." Kurosawa Shiran didn't want to talk about it, so she left and closed the bedroom door.
Just an hour ago.
John's body was discovered at 7:10 this morning. When the waiter came up to clean the room, he found the door was not closed. He knocked a few times but received no response. For safety reasons, he went in to check. As soon as he entered the room, a strong smell of blood came from the bathroom.
He pushed open the door and saw a naked man soaking motionless in a bathtub full of blood.
John's death caused considerable panic on the ship.
Lydia was surprised that Kurosawa Shiran would take the initiative to find her, so she cooperated and followed him to the room upstairs.
But when she saw Rina on the bed, her face immediately turned ugly. "What do you mean by this?"
Kurosawa Shiran: "She has been feeling unwell since she boarded the ship."
It's normal for cruise ship staff to take care of crew members, but is their relationship really that kind of?
Lydia put down the first-aid kit she was holding, went over, and checked her temperature. "It's at least 38 degrees Celsius. How many days has it been today?"
Kurosawa Shiran: "I had a low-grade fever yesterday and took some medicine."
"Do all your crew members take such good care of their passengers?" Lydia lifted Rina's eyelids to check on her. "Are you vomiting?"
Kurosawa Shiran: "No, but I can't eat anything."
“It might be seasickness or the weather,” Lydia said vaguely. “Give her some seasickness medication.”
Kurosawa Shiran frowned almost imperceptibly at this nonsense. "Anything else?"
Lydia paused for a moment, then replied somewhat awkwardly, "Keep an eye on things, get on the ship and to shore, then take them to the hospital immediately."
Kurosawa Shiran took a deep breath, moved aside to make room for the doorway, and said nothing.
If you twist her head off now, Rina might go crazy with anger, or she might abandon him again.
However, Lydia failed to perceive the chilling and murderous warning emanating from the scene; all she could think of was her own anger, and she demanded, "She's your girlfriend?"
Kurosawa Shiran cracked her knuckles and said in a low voice, "You'd better leave without looking back."
Lydia's heart pounded uncontrollably in her chest, her face turned deathly pale, and her eyes were filled with fear and panic. She reacted for a moment, but didn't dare to look at him closely. She didn't even bother to grab her first-aid kit and fled in a panic.
Kurosawa Tokiran didn't know much about clinical medicine, but by observing Rina's constricted pupils, she could tell that the person had fallen into a coma.
This sign is very likely poisoning.
Food or drinks she'd eaten? Rina wouldn't be that careless, especially since she's very sensitive to chemicals.
Kurosawa Shiran walked to the bedside, clenched her palms, and gently called out a few times, but Rina did not respond.
He had no choice but to lift the blanket and check Rina for any injuries.
A faint rustling sound came from the fabric, and his judgment was correct. On the skin to the left of Rina's ribs, there was a red dot the size of a pinhead, surrounded by a large patch of purple skin.
Rina's consciousness was hazy, as if a dull knife was repeatedly stirring in her mind. She was covered in sweat, as if she had been pulled out of the water, and the wisps of hair on her forehead were stuck to her skin with sweat.
Kurosawa Shiran couldn't shake off that ominous premonition. Her rationality was stretched to the limit, and she was a little out of control. She closed her eyes to calm herself down, helped her cover herself with the blanket, and got up to rummage through the medicine box for serum.
But inside, besides a few pieces of gauze, disinfectant alcohol, and wound medicine, there were only some useless cosmetics.
Without a doubt, Lydia is a quack doctor.
Rina opened her eyes groggily and saw the man crush a cup with his bare hands, his hand covered in bright red blood.
Kurosawa Shiran looked at Rina, a cold smile curving his lips. He suddenly remembered the injection he had received at the Haicheng Manor last time.
Rina stirred slightly, sighed, and the two looked at each other without saying a word.
Kurosawa Shiran found the serum in her suitcase, tore open the syringe packaging, rolled up Rina's sleeve, and injected it without hesitation.
The blood from his hands dripped onto her.
It's hot.
Kurosawa Shiran lowered her eyelids, completely ignoring the wound on her hand. "Sister, what are you still thinking about?"
Rina wanted to say that she might have been poisoned by a neurotoxin, and the serum she had just taken was not working.
But she wasn't stupid; telling him would only provoke him into doing something irreversible, even though he had already done quite a few things.
Kurosawa Shiran was silent for two seconds, then tilted her head and leaned closer: "Who do you think the murderer is, sister?"
Lina's eyes were bloodshot, and she forced a smile: "The murderer wouldn't have brought the antidote."
"Sister, all you need to do is tell me who you suspect?" Kurosawa Shiran's tone became almost imperceptibly heavier.
Rina adjusted her posture, looked up at him, and bit her lip slightly. "I did so many experiments on you, and I always thought you were here to get revenge on me."
"Revenge?" Kurosawa Shiran's face grew even colder. "Of course I came here to get revenge on my sister, but I've changed my mind."
The room was silent for a moment. Rina's initial goal was to distract him, but now she was drawn to the topic.
“We were separated for five years, and for three of those years I was following in my sister’s footsteps, but she was completely unaware,” Kurosawa Shiran said. “Later I reflected on myself. What I wanted was my sister’s gaze. I needed you to see me. Only my sister’s gaze brought me pleasure. So I killed the leader and those executives. Unfortunately, such a big case alarmed even the government, but my sister still didn’t think of me. My sister has always been so cruel to me, before and now. After thinking it over, I finally found Natsume Kanon. I really waited for my sister.”
Rina couldn't help but frown. "You could have saved her."
"How do we save it?" Kurosawa Shiran stared straight into her eyes. "You know perfectly well that fires that burn down barns never start suddenly."
He couldn't be bothered with other people's business.
Rina felt a pang of emotion pierce her heart: "She's the one who brought you back."
"Sister, you're looking for humanity in me?" Kurosawa Shiran gave a malicious smile. "It's always been you who attracts me. Do you really think that laboratory can trap me? If that damned detective hadn't taken you away, you would be imprisoned by me by now."
Lina was too lazy to carefully consider each word she uttered: "To be your slave?"
Kurosawa Tokiaki: "The slaves were freed in 1865."
Rina: "......"
"Sister, you'd better not think about how to handle your own affairs, unless you want everyone on this ship to turn into evil spirits," Kurosawa Shiran paused, then continued, "I understood the moment the last gunshot rang out that after you die, I will not be sad or tormented by pain. I have broken free of my shackles and will only become more free."
He tried his best to restrain himself, even building a massive cage around himself, all so that he could still stand in front of her.
Rina wanted to slap him, but she didn't have much strength: "It's a pity you couldn't shoot me dead."
"I didn't fire." Kurosawa Shiran's tone suddenly became more serious.
Rina was gradually breaking down; he was worried about Kurosawa Shiran's emotions. "The truth is, I couldn't save you..."
Instead, it pushed him into the abyss.
“I have always lived in the abyss,” Kurozawa Shiran looked down at Rina, her eyes empty, as if she were floating on the void. “So you have to face me, sister. I am a madman who enjoys killing, but I only have you.”
Rina's breathing became slightly rapid. She took a deep breath, and the next moment, she raised her hand and forcefully grabbed his tie, forcing him to bend down. With her warm breath, she tilted her head back and kissed him.
Then she closed her eyes.
In any case, everything she did, and even she herself, was insignificant compared to the busy people living in this world. She didn't want to think about what this kiss meant anymore; at least for this moment, that was what she wanted to do.
Rina didn't know what expression he had at that moment, but she easily pried open his cool and moist lips, inserted her tongue, and kissed him deeply, tenderly and passionately, almost exchanging her soul with him in a kiss.
Until he reacted, his strong arms wrapped around her waist, his fingers dug into her wet hair, and Kurosawa Shiran's eyes were filled with unprecedented excitement and madness. He imitated Rina's behavior, curling his tongue and frantically entwining it, making soft sucking and swallowing sounds.
Rina felt a little breathless, and then she knew nothing more.
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