Asi Hell

Capítulo 10

"It's like this—Ms. Koizumi, do you remember the Arakawa murder and dismemberment case that happened in May?"

"Hmm, I remember it was a case where a female teacher killed her policeman husband and then, together with her mother, dismembered the body—ugh, how annoying. But I think I'm not mistaken!"

"If all the reports of bodies found by the police at that time were true, there would probably be several bodies to make up. Indeed, many of them were false reports or misunderstandings, but to say that they were all just mistakes would be too cautious. Rumors and such information can sometimes become reality without people realizing it. That is to say, witnesses may mistakenly believe that they have seen hands and feet that could not actually exist. So the topic we want to analyze this time is: under what circumstances do rumors and false information circulate, and how do they become virtual reality? We plan to treat this incident as an on-site investigation, so we need to conduct interviews during this period."

I see. The editorial team really put in a lot of effort.

"So I have to get there now. Teacher, please let me know if the release date is decided. Let me celebrate with you."

After saying that, Atsuko Chuzenji rushed downstairs again, full of energy. Before I could even explain to the people at the Kitansha that I wanted to carefully consider whether to publish a single volume, I was already on my way home. It was noon, but I felt it would be a waste to eat out, so I went straight home.

At least some buckwheat cold noodles should be kept at home.

When I got home, I found a strange car parked in front of my door. Judging by its shape, I thought it was a brand-new Datsun sports car (Note: Datsun was a Nissan trademark used in Europe and America; it was discontinued in 2002). But it seemed different. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a wrecked car with dents all over its body. Apparently, someone had come to visit.

The visitor was Morihiko Toriguchi.

"Oh, hello, excuse me. Ah, although I feel it's inappropriate to visit when your wife is alone in the house, the weather is just too hot. I haven't done anything wrong!"

A visitor who always pretends to be confused and funny when he speaks – Niaokou Youth said.

Toriguchi works as an editor at a publishing house called Akai Shobo.

However, although both are publishing houses, Akai Shobo and Kitansha are of very different levels, with Akai being a very small publishing house. It has only three employees, including Toriguchi, and its only publication, "Monthly Journal of Crime Records," although called a monthly, can only be published once every two months at most.

This magazine is considered a survivor among so-called "bad" magazines.

The term "dregs magazine" refers to a collective name for a large number of third-rate magazines that sprang up like mushrooms after rain during the post-war liberation movement. The name was derived from the popular cheap liquor of the time. The saying goes, "Three cups of cheap liquor and you're drunk," implying that these magazines would only last three issues before being discontinued. In reality, the authorities strictly controlled these magazines; while three issues might be an exaggeration, most did indeed face discontinuation in a very short time. Moreover, besides the homophony (in Japanese, "three cups" and "three issues" are similar), the obscene and immoral content printed on poorly made paper also closely resembled the feeling of being thoroughly drunk after drinking cheap liquor.

Like many other mediocre magazines, *Monthly Crime Records* has been reported countless times, surviving on and off, making it a truly weathered magazine. Their continued existence, however, suggests they differ from other trend-chasing, poorly-run magazines and can be considered to have some integrity.

I am not a popular writer, and as mentioned before, my writing speed is not fast.

It was too difficult to make a living by writing novels alone, so he would occasionally write some nonsensical articles for low-quality magazines under an assumed name to make ends meet. Kubo Junko probably read a few of those articles.

No—he must have read "Monthly Crime Report".

I have written three articles for the Monthly Journal of Crime.

To write three times for a magazine that was discontinued after only three issues already qualifies one as a columnist for that magazine. There's a reason I've been featured so many times in this magazine. Lately, these magazines have been popularizing so-called sex stories like "The Boudoir of a Young Lady from Yamate (a high-lying area in the city, usually an upscale residential area; the opposite of a low-lying area [shitamachi])" or "The Secret of My Beloved Wife." While it's true that you can write anything anonymously, I simply can't write that kind of stuff, so I've been turning down these kinds of jobs lately. As for Akai Shobo's magazine, I don't know if they're principled or just can't come up with anything new, but they stick to their criminal themes and never ask me to write anything else, so the work there is very easy for me.

To be honest, I accepted the fourth commission a long time ago.

However, I was so busy with other things that I completely forgot about it. Besides, the issue that was originally scheduled to publish my article had already been released. So I assumed that since the deadline had long passed, the project was obviously canceled. But it seems that perhaps the project was just postponed to the next issue and didn't become invalid—in that case, Toriko was probably here to urge me to submit the article.

"Bird Mouth, let's put that aside for now. What's that car by the gate? What's it called again?"

"That was supposed to be a Datsun sports car with a DC-3 four-cylinder side-valve engine and twenty horsepower—of course, that's a lie, it's just a piece of junk. My boss modified it out of interest, you could call it a modified car. Originally it was something like—never mind, I've forgotten, anyway, it was a car that was about to be scrapped."

The other party fully displayed his comedic talent by feigning confusion, which is characteristic of this young man.

Just then, his wife, Yuki, brought in some cold buckwheat noodles.

“Mr. Torikochi has been waiting for a long time; he arrived almost as soon as you left the house.”

"Then you've been waiting for me for almost three hours!"

Bird Mouth ate large mouthfuls of cold buckwheat noodles and said:

"But I really didn't do anything wrong, did I, madam?"

I really can't understand why someone would want to wolf down such light and refreshing food. Can't they eat more elegantly?

"Of course I know you haven't done anything wrong. What I want to ask is why you've been waiting for me for so long, and what is the purpose of your visit today?"

"Another new corpse has appeared."

After all that, I still don't understand his true meaning.

"I know, I just heard about it. Apparently, this time it's Lake Sagami, right? But what does a dismemberment case have to do with me? Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm very busy."

"Teacher, you really do have super hearing! But stop lying to me. You said you were too busy, look—"

Bird Mouth took out "Modern Literature and Art" from his leather bag.

"I bought it, although I haven't seen it yet."

I suddenly felt embarrassed.

"Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm very familiar with the distributors and got my hands on it before it was even released. Oh my, it's in this issue after all. So—since this issue just featured your work, it means we won't be asking you to submit your piece immediately for the next one. Judging by your personality, a month-long recharge period is definitely in the question. In that case, how about you write one for us as a change of pace?"

As expected, they've come to urge for the manuscript. Torakuchi, still feigning confusion, said:

"—Of course, it's not Sekiguchi Tatsumi, but Chu Mu Yiji's name."

To be honest, Chu Muyi was a pen name he used when writing "Records of Crime".

Therefore, without a doubt, Kubo had watched "Real Crime Records".

Kubo has already seen through my plan, so I can't continue writing.

Birdmouth looked at me with a smile, and I figured I'd probably reluctantly accept the work again. The same thing happened with the short story collection earlier; I've never been good at dealing with assertive people. But since I didn't want to, it was better to say so clearly. I frowned and gestured my refusal.

"Even if I were to write it, what do you think I should write? I can't exactly write about a dismemberment case, can I?"

"Why?"

"Because—isn't the purpose of your magazine to report the truth behind closed cases—such as facts that haven't been reported, or the inner struggles of the perpetrator before committing the crime, or to introduce new testimonies that can overturn the case, etc.? The dismemberment case was only discovered yesterday, which means that even if it's an ongoing case, there's still no clue how to solve it. How am I supposed to write about it?"

"The teacher is right, but lately the newspapers have started publishing sensational reports like those outdated magazines, haven't they? For example, when the Arakawa dismemberment murder case happened, the Asahi Shimbun even published a firsthand interview with the perpetrator. We can't win like that. That's why we need to start gathering information while the case is underway. We can't afford not to dig up some inside information as soon as possible. If we're lucky, we might even be able to analyze the truth before the police do. That way, the magazine will definitely sell like hotcakes."

"Hey, stop daydreaming. Things aren't that simple. Besides, I only write crime reports out of necessity. My main job is as a third-rate novelist. I can write something fantastical based on mere imagination, but analyzing the truth of a matter is beyond my capabilities. Doesn't your magazine have other experts like him?"

"This time, there's no hope without the teacher's help. I know that very well. The other day, that case with the guy named Zashiya, I heard the inside story was completely different from what was reported in the news, right? I heard that the teacher was very active in that case and even solved a problem that the police couldn't handle. So don't try to play dumb, the news has already spread."

Why—why would Torikochi know!

The truth should only be known to those involved, but what he said is slightly inconsistent with the facts.

In that incident, I was just running around frantically. It would probably be more accurate to say I hindered its resolution. No, the incident itself should be considered to have ended; it wasn't resolved at all.

Speaking of which, where did he hear that from? And in the past month, two other tabloid magazines have approached me asking me to write articles about this matter. Of course, I refused them all, but I just find it unbelievable. Where did the secret leak from? Even the young man from Bird Mouth knows the rumors that are almost the truth. Perhaps, as the saying goes, "Only snakes know the snake's way," which is why it has spread so widely unexpectedly.

Whether he sensed my complicated feelings or not, the young man remained completely unchanged, and said with an affectionate look in his eyes:

"Besides, doesn't the teacher have a good relationship with the police?"

“You’re mistaken. I am indeed involved in that incident, but that doesn’t mean I have a good relationship with the police. At most, I just have an acquaintance who is a police officer.”

"Detective Kiba from the Metropolitan Police Department, right? I know him, and I also know that you turned down several jobs related to this case, teacher. There's a saying that goes something like that.

I don't know if he really made a mistake or was just pretending to be confused.

"I heard that Detective Kiba is also in charge of the scene this time. Also, do you know this young detective, Aoki?"

The person Bird Mouth is probably referring to is Aoki Bunzo, whom Mu Yang introduced to during the last incident.

"You mean that young man with a rather large head, who looks like a mustard seed puppet (a traditional puppet commonly found in the Tohoku region of Japan. It is typically shaped like a large, spherical head with a slender, cylindrical body, without hands or feet)?"

"Yes, it's Kogure. This Kogure is Detective Kiba's partner. I received intelligence that he went to Lake Sagami early this morning. If one partner is out on the scene, there's no reason for the other not to go, right? So Detective Kiba must be at the scene as well. But Detective Kiba's superior, Inspector Oshima, is still at Sakuradamon, which means that Chief Inspector Kiba is in charge at the scene—you can figure it out with a simple deduction!"

"You really know a lot about this. I don't even know Kiba's superior's name. Besides, I haven't seen Kiba for almost half a month since the last incident. Toriguchi, I see you're quite close to the police, aren't you?"

It seems the person who leaked the information to him was someone within the police force.

"No, no, I only know small fry, at most uniformed patrol officers. But I know a lot more pickpockets and thugs who frequent the police station. So I'm completely open about all sorts of rumors. But I don't know if they're true or false."

After hearing this, some of my doubts were finally cleared up. If it were someone within the police force—like the officer who went to help handle the incident—they would certainly know some part of the truth. Moreover, for people in this industry, without a gag order, it's just an unspoken understanding, not a secret at all. It's not surprising, even quite natural, that a low-quality magazine would approach me to commission an article.

Since being summoned to the police station to give a statement, I haven't seen Detective Kiba.

I imagine that the tenacious man is now directing his subordinates with his usual loud and energetic voice. Thinking of this, I suddenly feel that I should go and visit him.

"By the way, Bird Mouth, what do you want me to write about this case? I'm neither a detective nor a criminal, I don't know anything. There's nothing to write about at all."

"Oh, so you're finally getting motivated? Well, we lost the hand yesterday, and found the foot this morning. A massive search has been underway around Lake Sagami all morning. Of course, the police are looking for parts that haven't been unearthed yet. So I think it's possible that the internal organs, waist, and even the head and chest will be found today. If we don't take this opportunity to do an interview, when will we?"

Even if this young man's characteristic is his scatterbrained and humorous nature, it's still admirable that he can tell such cruel content in such a calm and collected way.

"Oh, it was an interview—"

I doubt whether it can really change my mood.

"Yes, it's an interview. But, the authorities are already watching our magazine closely even though we don't usually do anything, let alone go to the scene of an incident. We would definitely be kicked out. That's when we ask our good friend, the famous detective and on-site supervisor, Master Tatsumi Sekiguchi, to step in. It will definitely go smoothly."

"Hey, even if I were to go, I still wouldn't be able to get into the restricted areas."

"We'll talk about it when we really can't get in. Anyway, even if it's not out of kindness, it's still out of concern."

He was completely wrong this time, but I'm too lazy to correct his parentheses.

"Your plan is far too meticulous. So you mean I don't need to write anything, I just need to go with you, right? I won't care how things turn out. But Bird Mouth, it's past noon now, it'll be midnight by the time we get there, right? The search will have ended long ago."

"I heard the search will continue until very late today, and besides, this place isn't far from the scene."

"Aren't you going to pay it back?"

"It's not far. Today I'm driving the company car—a beat-up Datsun sports car. It'll be fast, about two hours away."

"Two hours...?"

"So, how about coming along? I'll treat you to a bowl of red bean soup with glutinous rice balls on the way back as an interview fee. If you'd also like to write an article, that would be even better. On the day of the official publication, I'll definitely pay you double, no, triple the original fee—"

"Stop bragging. Well, Yukie, what do you think?"

Although seeking his wife's opinion seemed pointless, he felt that it would be useless of him to be swayed by this young man like this.

"I don't know what to say to you either. What dismemberment incident? It sounds disgusting. I would rather die than see such a thing—but you seem to like this kind of stuff quite a bit—since the guests have been waiting for a long time anyway, as compensation, how about you make this trip?"

Yukie looked utterly dejected. Upon hearing the permission given, Toriguchi immediately stood up and said in a spirited tone:

"As the saying goes, 'Eating red bean dumplings is never lagging behind' (in Japanese, red bean dumplings are called 'zenzai,' but the confused Torikochi has mispronounced another saying, 'Doing good deeds is never lagging behind.' Let's set off for Lake Sagami—"

The car was far from comfortable to ride in; the uneven road surface transmitted vibrations directly to one's backside. Looking at the driver's seat, I could see the steering wheel in his hands was also vibrating incessantly.

"The Transportation Bureau actually allows this kind of car to be on the road. If it were me, I would definitely send the manufacturer to the junkyard as well."

"Teacher, please don't say that. My colleague, Brother Momo, has really praised this car."

This Senoo is actually Toriguchi's only superior, the editor-in-chief of "Real Crime Records".

The owner of this car's modification business, Mr. Akai, only handles the business operations and never interferes with the editing work.

"That's him sucking up to the boss, ugh."

I almost bit my tongue, so I quickly shut my mouth.

The car was unbearably hot. I thought the temperature would drop once we got on the road, but I guess I was wrong. It would be quite comfortable with the top down, but I was worried about messing around and ruining the car, so I swallowed back the suggestion I was about to make. My shirt, which had just dried, was already damp again.