Chapter 19 Section 3

Takuya read the Wednesday night news and learned that Hashiki did not die of illness, but homicide.The fact itself was quite shocking, but what made Taku even more shudder was the method of killing. "The pen used for the crime is the same model as this one. This ink sac is partially filled with potassium cyanate—" the news anchor said. Takuya rushed to his desk and took out the package he received on Saturday from the drawer. This must be the same pen as in the TV screen.In addition, the blue ink bottle, the wrapping paper of Dongyou Department Store, the text of the gift, and the sender are all the same.And—Takuya tried to disassemble the pen.Parts of the ink sac are translucent.Upon closer inspection, it was indeed filled with white crystals.

Taku also got goosebumps. "This is really scary..." Takuya put down the pen filled with the poisonous substance, stared at it and said to himself deliberately in a joking tone.He did this to ease the fear in his heart a little.The mysterious killer not only killed Hashimoto, but also tried to kill Takuya. Takuya is convinced that this prisoner is the same person who killed Nishina Naoki.For unknown reasons, the criminals targeted the three men who planned to murder Yasuko. The next one is me—Takuya felt a chill run down his spine. The prisoner would think of another way. The enemy knew that Takuya did not call the police, and told the police that he had also received the pen.

Thursday morning papers asserted that Hashimoto's death was a homicide.Perhaps because of the unusual feeling of using a pen as a murder weapon, the opinions of various critics were published.This is a very original criminal method. Is the prisoner proficient in poison? ——Anyway, it’s none of my business, a certain reasoning writer said leisurely using reasoning writing techniques.The other column linked this murder with the previous murder of Naoki Nishina because the deceased was an employee of the same company.However, there is absolutely no mention of commonalities or connections between the two.In fact, it's not that the reporter doesn't want to mention it, but because he doesn't have any clues, he can't mention it if he wants to.

After reading the newspaper, Takuya put on his shoes and prepared to go out. Before opening the door, he looked around the room again.The doors and windows are all locked, and the main gas switch is turned off.But he thought to himself that when he came home from get off work, he still couldn't easily enter the house. Even if the doors and windows are locked, it is not impossible to break in if you want to.In addition, it is also possible that the backup key was hit by someone without knowing it.The inmate might use the backup key to get in and hide behind the refrigerator with a knife.Or, the prisoner might have turned on the main gas switch beforehand.Although natural gas does not cause carbon monoxide poisoning, it will explode the moment Takuya returns home and turns on the fluorescent lamp.

Takuya thought to himself that poisoning the food in the refrigerator was also a way.In addition, there is also unplugging the ground wire of the washing machine, designed to electrocute yourself.There were countless ways to kill, his cheeks twitched and he smiled wryly.The several methods that come to mind now are the means that I want to use to kill Yasuko.He had never dreamed that it would help protect his own life.In short, he had to try to strike first——When he walked out of the hall and locked the door, his face returned to a stern expression. When we arrived at the company, the entire department was discussing Hashimoto's death.Having said that, no one shouted loudly, but small circles of people formed here and there, talking in low voices with gloomy faces.

Takuya walked to his seat and found a note on the desk; it was written in neat handwriting: "Mr. Sueyong, the full-time director of PeopleSoft is looking for you." This is the handwriting of a female employee in the class. He greeted the director who had come to work, and then left the office of the research and development department.When we arrived at the full-time director's office, Zongkata Shinichi also came, and sat on the sofa with Nishina Toshiki, and Toshiki instructed Takuya to sit beside Zongfang. "I came here for nothing but Naoki and Hashimoto's affairs." Almost at the same time as Takuya sat down, Toshiki said, there was no extra opening remarks, which is the characteristic of this full-time director.

"Do you have any idea about their murder?" Minshu asked in a calm and steady tone as usual, completely unaware that his son was killed just last week. "No, not at all." Takuya replied, "But why do you ask me? I'm not particularly close to the Nishina chief and Hashimoto." So Minshu said without changing his face: "It's based on a simple reason. I mentioned this incident to Zongfang, and he said that the person with the most definite motive to kill the two people is probably you." Hearing what Minshu said, Takuya looked at Zongfang in surprise.He didn't seem to hear Toshiki's words, and he didn't realize Takuya's gaze, which was fixed on the landscape painting on the wall.

"After all, Naoki doesn't seem to recognize the matter between you and Hoshiko, and Hashimoto can be regarded as an opponent for Hoshiko. But..." Minshu sat down on the sofa again, crossing Erlang's legs. "Zongfang also said that it is impossible for you to choose a method to make yourself easily suspected by the police. Besides, we are also very clear that Hashimoto is no longer your opponent." However, Toshiki raised his voice slightly, and Taku couldn't help but straighten his back. "In addition to the emotional aspect, this kind of thing must be reasonable to be justified. Are you really completely clueless?"

"No." Takuya answered with his head held high. "Can you prove your innocence when suspected by the police?" "Yes." Takuya glanced at Zongfang at this time, and then continued: "Actually, the criminal police have already investigated my alibi once. On the day the head of the department was killed, I was on a business trip to Nagoya. This matter should be approved. Endorsements from many people. Later, the criminal police never came to me again, I think it was because my alibi was confirmed.” After listening to him, Toshiki glanced in Zongfang's direction, nodded slightly, and then looked at Takuya again. "Okay, I see. I'm not suspicious of you, I just want objective facts. This way I can discuss this murder case with you."

"Yes, please go ahead and say—" When Takuya looked into Toshiki's eyes and replied, there was a knock on the door.Yasuko walked in with a tray containing three cups of tea, and Takuya immediately looked away. "Thank you, you are so sweet." Minshu said to her, feeling like she was smiling. "I have also been taken care of by Miss Yugong, but I heard that she will resign soon." "That's right..." Takuya glanced at her profile, and the moment their eyes almost met, Takuya lowered his gaze again. "It feels like a rose withered, doesn't it?"

Minshu responded to Zongfang's words and said, "Yes, it is very lonely." Then he reached for the teacup. Kang Zi withdrew without saying a word.Just before she was about to close the door, Takuya turned his gaze to her, who was lowering her head slightly. Only at the last moment, the eyes of the two met. As soon as Takuya left the full-time director's office and got on the elevator, Zongfang came in afterward. There were only two people in the elevator. "Maybe it made you unhappy, but the current situation does not allow us to collude, I hope you can understand." Zong Fang said, looking at the closed elevator door. "I didn't take it to heart." "That's good, I don't know much about the robotics department either. I think I need your help." What he meant was that the aircraft department was under my control. "This matter may not have anything to do with the department. It's just that the director of Nishina and Hashimoto happen to be both from the robotics department." "Hopefully so. If it's work related, it's a serious problem." The elevator stopped and the doors opened. "Then I'll take my leave." Zongfang was about to get off the elevator, but Tuo also reached out his hand in front of him to stop him. "By the way..." He licked his lips, and then said, "Mr. Zongfang seems to want to help the full-time director with this matter. Have you proved your innocence through objective facts?" Takuya was expecting some kind of expression from him, but Munekata didn't change his face. He seemed to find Takuya's question interesting instead. "Of course it's proven." Zongfang said, "That day, I went to Yokosuka, and I went to Nishina's house to disturb me at night. When the prisoner was carrying the corpse, I was drinking brandy with the full-time director." Get out of the elevator. After returning to the department, Takuya thought about what Sokata said, Yokosuka should be referring to the aircraft division's factory.Zong Fang said that he went there once and came back that night. Takuya thought: But if he can't prove his Yokosuka alibi, it can't be regarded as proving his own innocence.Because three people including himself were carrying the corpse, it would be meaningless for Zongfang to have an alibi during this period.The point is, when Naoki was killed, did he have an alibi. Zongfang Shinichi... Ah - Takuya thought to himself, he is a person who cannot be ignored.When you think about it, he is one of the people who can profit after Naoki Nishina's death.The Nishina family has lost their son, and Zongfang is the one who will inherit Minshu's achievements.Looking further into the future, it is not a dream for him to be the president of MM Heavy Industries.However, Takuya changed his mind, and Munekata had no motive to kill Hashimoto.Even if Zongfang got the joint letter from Naoki's body, someone who wanted to kill Yasuko should have nothing to do with him. No, not only Zongfang.No matter who killed Naoki, there should be no reason to kill Hashimoto and Takuya who signed the joint letter.If there was a reason to kill them—the figure of Yasuko appeared in Takuya's mind at this time, revenge on the men who wanted to murder him, then it would be possible. He thought to himself: In short, we must try to get rid of that woman.Whether or not Yasuko was the criminal who killed Naoki and Hashimoto, she is still a thorn in Takuya's side.If she returns to her hometown after resigning, it will be inconvenient to start.Even if that wasn't the case, it's better to do it as early as possible. Takuya held the mechanical pencil like a knife and held it tightly in his hand.We have to deal with this troublesome woman while the police have no clue. Takuya thought to himself: It is best to create a situation where Yasuko is the culprit who killed Naoki and Hashimoto, and she committed suicide in the end.In this way, the police action will be stopped.At worst, the real culprit is apprehended by the police.The prisoner bites out three men, including Takuya, and plots to kill Amemiya.In that instant, the game is over. Better be early, as early as possible— When he clenched his mechanical pencil tightly, the phone on the desk rang.He suddenly recovered and picked up the phone. "Development of the second lesson." "Mr. Sueyong? It's me." The call was from Nishina Xingzi.