The summer heat is intense, even along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. The sea breeze wraps up the heat wave of the Pacific Ocean and sweeps over the coast, making it as stuffy as a steamer.
Sitting in the verandah room in Tobita Shinchi, Yamaguchi Kazuchi did not feel any intense heat. Instead, there was a slight chill coming from the tatami underneath. Apparently there was ice stored underneath for cooling.
This made Yamaguchi couldn't help but sigh, this is indeed the most famous entertainment area in Kinki, it is so luxurious that it is jaw-dropping.
Hiding ice to cool down is a treatment only available to the most noble martial arts family. I didn't expect that you can enjoy it in this male cousin's cave. It's really surprising.
Next to Yamaguchi sat the pale-faced Souji Okita, who was holding the Mikazuki Sokon in his arms.
After all, Hijikata Toshizo didn't have the guts to let Yamaguchi take Mikazuki Munechika alone. If the artifact was lost, everyone would really commit seppuku.
Okita Souji was the most skilled in martial arts among the divine guards, and he was also the assistant to the commander-in-chief, with a high position of authority. This time, he brought ten divine guards to follow Yamaguchi as sword guards, which also sent shivers down Yamaguchi's spine.
This errand is becoming increasingly incomprehensible.
Before coming to Tobita Shinchi, Yamaguchi had already visited Uesugi Kagetora, Kai-kun, Sanada Rin, Matsukami Sarei, Akari Yu and others, but found nothing.
Under Mikazuki Munechika's intimidation, everyone cooperated, but the case fell into mystery.
Everyone's testimonies are well-founded, there are testimonials and circumstantial evidence, and they are all so innocent that they seem to have been involved in the case inexplicably.
But in Yamaguchi's opinion, this was too much of a coincidence.
Nagano Yashimai and Harada Sotoki... two high-ranking samurai died for unknown reasons. The murderers did not seek wealth or revenge. They seemed to have no purpose and simply killed for the sake of killing.
Are there perverts who kill people randomly in this world? There must be.
But let’s say that a pervert who kills people randomly without any purpose kills two high-level martial arts masters who happened to be in trouble at a coincidental time and a coincidental place.
So this is too much of a coincidence, right?
Yamaguchi was convinced that some of the people she had questioned must be lying, but she could not use the torture methods used by the gods to torture them because those people were all high-level samurai.
If you want to find the liar, you must first find the motive for the murder. Since there is nothing you can do against those high-level samurai, Yamaguchi can only change his mind and try his luck in Hiden Shinchi.
There were footsteps outside the porch, and a handsome young man, led by his father-san, appeared in front of Yamaguchi Kazuo and Okita Souji.
Yamaguchi smiled slightly and bowed.
"I have admired the name of Qingye for a long time. When I saw you today, I felt pity for you."
The father-san had a smile on his face and said to the two of them enthusiastically.
"Two adults, my Qingye..."
Yamaguchi didn't even look at Papa-san, his eyes were fixed on Aoba's face, refusing to let go of any clues.
Okita Souji looked at Papa-san who was mid-sentence. His cold eyes made Papa-san's hair stand up and he trembled subconsciously.
"roll."
With a solid professional smile, Dad-san crawled out of the room, leaving Aoba alone and silent.
Yamaguchi smiled.
"Aoba-kun doesn't seem to want to talk. Am I rude?"
Qingye smiled slightly.
"I am just a duckweed in a troubled world. How dare I overstep my dignity? I can only be rude if I am rude. It is impossible for adults to be rude."
Yamaguchi smiled and said.
"No, no, no, I am just a little person running for my master. Today I come to have an equal talk with Aoba-kun between little people."
There was a hint of sadness in Aoba's eyes.
"Equality? You are joking, I am just a packaged male cousin. I may seem expensive, but in the end, I am just an object for sale.
Even if I can chat and laugh with you today, as long as I can't make money back in three days, I will have to leave the gorgeous yard where I live now and lie down in the dirty place outside the shed for any woman who is willing to pay.
Until one day, I was played with and wasted, and no one would take care of me anymore. Maybe this mutilated body could be thrown into a mass grave outside the city and fed to the dogs."
Yamaguchi shook his head and said.
"Aoba-kun seems to be full of complaints. Is it because he's fallen out of love?
As far as I know, your lover is an elite warrior Ji of the Academy of the Holy Swordsmen, and has a bright future. Don’t you have any hope for your future?"
Qingye shook his head.
"She and I are over, please don't mention her in front of me again."
Yamaguchi stared at Aoba's expression and said softly.
"Really? That's a pity."
———
Yamaguchi and Souji Okita walked out of the main entrance of the verandah. Yamaguchi turned back and looked at the luxurious place where people were immersed in wealth and wealth.
Chief Okita said.
"You have wasted too much time. You have visited many places in the past two months but found nothing. Your superiors are getting impatient."
Yamaguchi smiled and looked at Okita Souji.
"Who said I gained nothing?"
Okita Souji narrowed his eyes and Yamaguchi said calmly.
"I have asked relevant people about the specific circumstances of that night, and got a very interesting information. Aoba and Akari Yu broke up that night."
Chief Okita asked.
"What does this have to do with the case we are investigating? Do you suspect Akariyu killed Nagano Yashimai and Harada Muneki?"
Yamaguchi shook his head and said.
"Don't hurt me.
With absolutely no evidence, how dare I conclude that the instructor of the students, the sixth seat of the first Holy Sword Group, murdered two high-level martial artists? Do you want me to die?
Besides, Nagano Yamori and Harada Sotoki were both Hime warriors who had gone into battle, especially Harada Sotoki, who was famous for her bravery and was a famous warrior of the Date family.
On that chaotic night, it was hard for me to believe that Akari Yu could kill the two of them who were walking together."
Souji Okita snorted.
"Then what do you want? I have to remind you that for two whole months, the patience of the higher-ups has become worse and worse, and your time is running out."
Yamaguchi sighed.
"I'm really not sure, but it seems that apart from the breakup scandal between Aoba and Akariyu, I can't find any more useful clues.
Feitian Xindi is unfathomable. How many powerful people traded ulterior secrets here. The secrets that happened that night were far more than the murder of two high-ranking samurai.
The secret of that night has long been covered up by countless people, and the clues to the murder have also been buried.
I couldn't find any clues, so I had to try my luck and see if I could alert the snake.
I have a feeling that Aoba has something to do with what happened that night, so..."
When Yamaguchi looked at Souji Okita, his expression turned cold and ruthless.
"Take Qingye and his little bald man back and interrogate them severely."
Souji Okita looked at the indifferent Yamaguchi and said.
"Based on my many years of experience in knowing people, I don't think that Aoba-kun is a wealthy person. He should really know nothing."
Yamaguchi grinned, showing his frighteningly white teeth.
"Unexpectedly, Okita-hime is also a compassionate person.
Yes, I feel the same as you, Aoba probably doesn't know anything, but I have no choice but to ask him to taste the interrogation methods of the Divine Guard.
In addition, send someone to release the news to let Akariyu know what Aoba is suffering.
A man enters the interrogation room, and something worse than death happens to him."
General Okita looked at Yamaguchi Kazuo and remained silent for a long time.