Chapter 122: The First Day of the Murder Investigation (Part 1)
No. 5’s Task Begins: The First Day of the Murder Investigation (Part 1)
No. 5 had been given an important task and headed alone to the somewhat desolate script shop.
Well, “desolate” because all the players and onlookers had run off to gossip, so business had taken a hit.
Still, neither Su Li nor Zhao Si nor Chun Ya looked upset. After all, the Department of Justice was paying them a decent cooperation fee.
Life, after all, was best enjoyed by not working outside of work hours—eating, drinking, and watching the “chaotic antics show” was real happiness.
So when No. 5 walked in, he saw everyone gathered around a table near the door, cracking sunflower seeds.
Zhao Si spat out a mouthful of shells. “Well, well, look who it is. A rare guest.”
No. 5 rolled his eyes. “Where’s the boss?”
“She went home to sleep.” Honestly, Zhao Si had no idea how Su Li managed to sleep so much. If not for financial needs, Zhao Si suspected Su Li could lie down all day long.
No. 5 didn’t mind. It was better this way—without Su Li around, his questioning would go much smoother.
“Has anyone strange been around the shop lately?”
“Or… have you heard who the boss picked as the murderer?”
Zhao Si shrugged. “Who knows? I’ve been running scripts all day. My head’s spinning.”
Chun Ya nodded in agreement. “Exactly! I’m either playing the female ghost in this script or guest-starring in another. I’m crazy busy.”
“Buuut…” she suddenly shifted tone, “Today did feel a little weird. Like… someone’s missing.”
Zhao Si paused, handing a peeled sunflower seed to Chun Ya. “Now that you mention it, yeah! Who’s missing?”
Their eyes scanned the store, then peeked outside. Eventually, their gazes landed on No. 5.
“Hey, where’s your childhood buddy?”
“Yeah! What happened to Butcher Liu?”
“He’s usually here at the crack of dawn. But it’s all buzzing today, and he’s nowhere in sight?”
“Wait a second… Could he be the murderer?!”
Oh man, the more they said it, the more excited they got. Butcher Liu was suspicious now!
Even No. 5 found it odd. Without wasting more time, he turned and dashed out to find his teammates.
So, where exactly was Butcher Liu?
At that moment, in a dark little room, a mysterious man in black was laughing wickedly as he tied up Liu even tighter. He slapped Liu’s groggy face, then laughed even more maniacally.
After that, he casually snatched up several of Liu’s belongings—including his pig-slaughtering knife—and left.
Sometime later, Liu finally woke up. Huh? Wasn’t he just drinking? His head throbbed—what was going on?
Where was he?
He tried to speak, only to realize his mouth had been stuffed. His limbs felt weak and useless—probably drugged with some kind of muscle relaxant.
Damn it, who was jealous enough of him—the Liu—to tie him up and humiliate him like this?!
He struggled hard but was too drained. Eventually, his eyelids drooped, and he passed out again.
The morning passed quietly in the southern part of the city.
Aside from contestants wandering the streets and a bunch of nosy spectators, nothing happened. It was a strangely calm, dull morning.
Changting kicked at her sore foot. “Hey, Third Prince, go call us a carriage.”
She was starting to regret pushing so hard for progress—Han Yueyi and his companion had led them all over the place, but they hadn’t discovered a single clue, and now she was exhausted.
The officials following her were also dragging their feet, dizzy from the fatigue.
Han Yueyi kept a polite smile and nodded in agreement.
He arranged for everyone to return to a proper restaurant for lunch and sent a servant off to fetch a carriage.
He was perfectly cordial, even when he accidentally bumped into Zhao Wen, who was dining nearby—he simply smiled and stepped aside.
Zhao Wen: Did the Third Prince get hit in the head? Why’s he acting so weirdly nice?
He shrugged it off.
At the same table, a group of young people raised their cups to Zhao Wen.
“Brother Zhao! Here, a toast to you!”
“You’re always running around the script shop, working so hard for this whole event!”
“I even heard you’re the one who organized all the case files—mad respect! Let’s drink to that!”
Everyone joined in, toasting him. Zhao Wen was feeling proud—yep, fleeing to the script shop had been the smartest move he ever made. Now his reputation was finally taking off!
He was no longer that bullied little Zhao dog anymore!
“Ha! Thanks, everyone. Honestly, this event wouldn’t have gotten this far without your support!”
The group continued chatting and drinking, exchanging pleasantries and connections.
Then someone lowered their voice and leaned in. “By the way, Brother Zhao… you got any insider info?”
Zhao Wen coughed. “Well, I am technically on the inside. I really shouldn’t say anything…”
Still holding his drink and looking conflicted, he glanced around and then seemed to make a decision.
“Normally I wouldn’t tell you this… but since we click so well, and since you’re all in the challenger squad, I do want to help you.”
He leaned in, and the rest of the group gathered around eagerly, listening to him whisper:
“I can’t tell you who the murderer is. But think about it—would Boss Su assign such a critical role to just anyone?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“She’d pick someone she knows well—someone trustworthy to play the murderer.”
“And that person would have to be kind-hearted, someone who hates evil and sticks to principles. They wouldn’t take the chance to hurt innocent people. Right?”
Nods all around. Sounded solid.
Zhao Wen gave a final hint. “And don’t you think this trustworthy person must be someone close to her?”
“If they were busy committing the crime, would they even have time to hang around the shop?”
“So just think—who hasn’t been around lately? That person must be the killer!”
He said no more, diving back into his food and drink.
The others were savvy enough to leave it at that. Zhao Wen had already gone as far as he could with the hints.
Thanks to him, they’d managed to narrow down their suspect list quite a bit.
“The regulars who always play scripts with us… Yeah, those are the ones she trusts.”
“And today, a bunch of them are missing.”
“Right! That fortune-teller Gu and his siblings haven’t shown up!”
“And those monks! Especially Master Wufei! He’s usually here rain or shine, chasing fate—and today, nothing?!”
“Oh! Butcher Liu! That guy’s been a fixture here since day one, and he’s missing too!”
“Exactly! And his so-called childhood sweetheart—the one who always clings to the boss—she’s missing too. Weird!”
The group grew more animated by the second. They were this close to catching the killer!
Except…
“If none of them are here, where did they all go? They can’t all be the murderer, right?”
“So where do we even start looking for them?”
In the next room, Wang Bokao eavesdropped and nodded in agreement. Yeah, why was no one from the usual gang here?
Seriously, could Su Li just take a look at him?! They grew up together—why didn’t he get the killer role?!
Just as the discussion heated up…
Suddenly, from a nearby street came a loud commotion:
“Help! There’s a ghost! Catch the killer!!”
Mouse On AVL Chapter 22