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Chapitre 80

Two days have passed since the nationwide warrant for the arrest of Kubo Shunko was issued.

Thanks to Aoki and his group's intrusion, they found evidence. The next day, they immediately determined that Kubo was the culprit and issued an arrest warrant.

It's immediately clear that this is the crime scene. The murder weapon has been found. Most importantly—the remaining remains of the four victims have been found. In terms of evidence, there's probably no more conclusive physical evidence than this.

The police, of course, immediately took appropriate action. A large number of investigators were deployed, and a nationwide emergency response was launched. However—

Kubo has vanished without a trace, his whereabouts unknown.

Major newspapers unanimously criticized the police's slow response.

The magazine, driven by its own interests, produced a plethora of slanderous reports, a mixture of fact and fiction, on the unprecedentedly bizarre serial killer, Kubo Shunko, stirring up editorials. It's unclear where they found their information—probably from relatives in Ise—but most of the reports were filled with interpretations and imaginations detailing Kubo's unusual upbringing. Meanwhile, knowledgeable individuals solemnly explored and explained Kubo's motives, the very motives that Kyogoku-do so vehemently opposed.

However, the police seem to have kept the news of the girls being stuffed into boxes under wraps, and no media outlets have mentioned it.

I'm utterly fed up and will never read any more reports about it. It's as if the horrifying sight of the bodies of the four girls, including Nanamoto Yoriko, is a direct message to my soul, telling me to stop reading these reports. As Kyogoku-do said, the incident itself is everything. Those outdated motives have no power in the face of corpses. The girls stuffed into boxes speak more poignantly of the tragic reality than anything else.

It's depressing.

The action taken by *Modern Literature* was quite wise.

Most publishers would definitely increase the print run significantly. After all, it's a rare novel written by a currently wanted serial killer before or during his crimes, so it's sure to be a bestseller.

However, whether based on Yamazaki's decision or Kitansha's policy, it is said that all copies of "Modern Literature" containing "The Girl in the Box" were taken out of print, and all those that had already been distributed were recalled.

Fortunately, it was the day before the release date, and there were very few copies of "Modern Literature" on display in the store, so this task did not take too much effort.

The reason given for the recall was the fear of violating public morals.

However, this action will inevitably draw public attention to Xitanshe. It's likely they've already made plans elsewhere to offset their losses.

—Let's visit Aoki tomorrow.

I've been thinking about it. It's already October, and the weather has been a bit chilly lately.

So, it seems like Kiba should be getting back to work soon.

However, Kiba disappeared the day after Aoki and Kinoshita discovered the body—the day Kubo was wanted. Around noon that day, Natsuki went to his house to look for him but couldn't find him; he had already left.

Kyogoku-do was worried about what Kiba might do.

But I really can't think of anything more amazing than the developments we're seeing right now.

The mystery of Kanako Yuzuki's disappearance from the secret room, and the many unresolved plot threads.

I've already decided it doesn't matter anymore; letting the secret remain dormant is the best course of action.

Perhaps that's why Kyogoku-do is so concerned about Kiba's actions.

I hope I'm just being overly pessimistic – Kyogoku-do said.

Of course, that's just needless worry, it's definitely true. I took a nap.

Go to sleep.

I'm thinking about it.

However, it did not go as planned.

"Teacher! Teacher Sekiguchi!"

It was the sound of a bird's beak. What else does it want now? This guy keeps disturbing my sleep.

As a result, the "Record of Crimes" did not publish the report on Kubo and Mihako-no-kami.

Rather than saying it wasn't published, it's actually that the next issue is on hiatus.

It's incomprehensible that *Records of Crime* was the publisher that reported this incident earliest and most accurately. They wasted such a great exclusive story. Even without personally seeing the perpetrator, Toriguchi certainly knew more details about the entire incident than the police.

I heard that Toriguchi's reason was simply, "I can't bring myself to write." Even though the initial resolution of the incident was inspired by Toriguchi, and he himself devoted considerable effort and thought to solving it, making a significant contribution to its resolution—perhaps that's why he made this decision—in any case, he seems to have lost the energy to write the report. I feel a little sorry for him. However, his boss, Senoo, surprisingly agreed to his request.

Tap tap tap, came the sound of noisy footsteps.

The paper door was roughly opened.

"Teacher! Hey, now's not the time to sleep."

A bird rushed into my room.

"What are you doing? How rude of you! Without permission..."

His wife stood behind him, which did not appear to be without his permission.

"What do you mean by 'without permission'? This is outrageous!"

"What? Tell me quickly!"

"Kubo Junko's,"

"Kubo Shunji's dismembered body has been discovered!"

On the morning of October 1st, the incident returned to square one.

The old bloodstains had turned black. They hadn't been cleaned.

So it has a jungle-like smell.

It felt damp when I wore it, clinging tightly to my body and feeling icy cold. The stitches had come undone, leaving holes everywhere. The locations of the holes corresponded perfectly to the wounds on my body.

Kiba put on his military uniform. No outfit suited him better right now.

They tightly wrapped strips of cloth around their bodies, put on military uniforms, and wrapped their legs with leggings.

—He doesn't seem like a criminal investigator.

Yes, Kiba is a soldier, unable to survive in a world that is both unclear and ambiguous. Just like when he wore this uniform. It's the introduction of these values—life or death, friend or foe, good or evil—that complicates the matter. It's the arguing about right and wrong that makes the direction unclear. Let those who like to think think; Kiba has his own solutions.

He knew he was wrong. Kiba wasn't stupid; he wasn't so oblivious as to not know this. He didn't belong in this world. This world no longer needed—soldiers.

Therefore, the timber yard is a relic of the last century. However,

—This incident.

The story has now become a lumberyard.

Kiba's period of solitary confinement ended today, a day he had been waiting for. Early that morning, Kiba went to greet Section Chief Oshima and lied to him. No, not exactly lied, just a little incitement. Oshima handed Kiba the police handbook and said:

“Police officers are public servants. Listen carefully, we can only move the things on the right to the left after we've written the report and gotten the stamp. I understand your feelings, but I don't understand your thinking. At the very least, discipline must be followed; exceptions are not allowed.”

Kiba honestly apologized and then told Oshima that he planned to immediately get involved in the investigation of the case—a series of dismemberment murders.

Kiba told Oshima that he had already heard the general outline of what had happened from Aoki. Since Aoki was temporarily unable to act, he decided to partner with Kinoshita. He had already discussed it with Kinoshita and planned to head to the scene immediately.

Therefore, we hope that Oshima will approve the carrying of handguns.

That's why I obediently waited until today.

In reality, Kiba never contacted Aoki or met with Kinoshita; it was all a lie.

He only heard that Aoki had been seriously injured.

Oshima considered it for a moment, then agreed without hesitation. Kiba thought this was probably an effect of Aoki's injury. The scene was very dangerous. And Oshima probably assumed Kiba's punishment had just ended, so he wouldn't act recklessly immediately…

Kiba is holding a pistol. It's a killing machine. This piece of metal can end someone's life in an instant. Why would he want to possess something so dangerous?

Thinking about this problem would make me feel disgusted with myself, so Kiba doesn't intend to think about it.

Let the thoughtful ones handle the thinking. This killing tool is Kiba's talisman now.

—This murder weapon is actually a talisman?

I still find it a bit annoying.

From the afternoon before yesterday until this morning, the lumberyard was under surveillance. Shortly after the surveillance began, smoke started puffing from the chimney, and that deep, low-pitched whine started again, and it hasn't stopped since. There's been no other noise. However, that guy went out to buy something yesterday; it must have been around then.

The streets were bustling with activity because of the election. Kiba didn't plan to vote. Because now—he had to leave immediately.

—It's time to go to war.

Shutaro Kiba stood up.

Okay, how should we proceed?

※

What parts were discovered in total?

"The right hand was found to be missing the ring and little fingers, the left hand was missing the index and middle fingers, and both feet were also found."

"Where is the location?"

"Found in Machida."

Do you have any boxes?

"It wasn't put into a box, it was just tied up with rope."

"Are you sure it's Kubo's remains?"

"I heard they're currently comparing the fingerprints with those collected from Kubo's home. The scientific investigations these days are very efficient; the results should be out soon. Besides, there were clothing fibers on the gloves—testing confirmed they were mine. They must have gotten there during the struggle."

"What about the cut surface? Is there any live reaction?"

"I haven't heard of that. Kinoshita was only here for less than three minutes, so I didn't have a chance to ask for details."

"Was it inspected by Ritsu Village?"

"I think I'm right."

"You—although we're here to visit you in the hospital, it's not really appropriate to ask this question—are you able to move around now?"

"Hehehe, of course it's fine. Luckily it's just a small crack in my ribs."

After Aoki finished speaking, he laughed as if in great pain.

Kyogoku-do sat by his pillow, lost in thought.

Torikochi and I stood blankly behind him.

"The investigation headquarters is in complete chaos; all the accumulated investigative results have collapsed. Of course, the investigation that initially assumed the culprit was someone other than Kubo is also ineffective. Kubo was murdered, and the victim's body was found in Kubo's own home, which was undoubtedly the murder scene. This case could not possibly be unrelated to Kubo. But Kubo himself became the victim. How can this be explained? The paradox of murder..."

"Paradox (Note)."

Note: A paradox is a self-contradictory proposition. It seems to be true but is not, and seems not to be true but is. For example, the story of Achilles and the tortoise is a famous paradox.

"Yes, that's it. Everything has to start from scratch, and I can't keep lying here...it hurts..."

"Don't force yourself. By the way, is Uncle Kiba coming back today? I—I'm quite concerned about his movements."