Early the next morning.
Accompanied by a roaring sound, the surrounding trees swayed in the wind.
Two police helicopters descended from the sky, landing in front of the church in Rokkaku Village.
"Miss Ooka."
A middle-aged man in a black suit stepped out of a helicopter and went directly up to Ooka Momiji, introducing himself: "I am Koga Shinobu, Chief of the Aomori Prefectural Police Criminal Investigation Division. My apologies that you had to experience such a fright; it was due to my oversight..."
Fujino: "..."
Just one phone call, and the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Division gets up early and takes a helicopter over?
Seems like it was the same situation the last time there was a plane incident too.
The Ooka family's influence is a bit excessive, isn't it...?
Looks like even the Suzuki Zaibatsu doesn't get this kind of treatment.
Ooka Momiji exchanged pleasantries with Koga Shinobu for a bit, then turned to Fujino, a slight blush on her face, and introduced him: "This is Detective Fujino, who came here with me to attend the wedding. He is handling this case..."
"Fujino, the Jet-Black Detective..."
Hearing this, Koga Shinobu looked at Fujino and quickly stepped forward: "I've heard about you for a long time. Seeing you today, you truly have an impressive demeanor..."
"Ahem, Chief Koga."
Fujino cleared his throat, interrupting the flattery, and got straight to the point: "Rather than that, let's quickly head to the crime scene to conduct the forensic investigation."
...
Soon, the police had finished cordoning off the crime scene, conducting the forensic investigation, and taking statements.
"Based on the forensics division's estimations, Ms. Wakaba's time of death was likely between 10 PM and 12 AM last night. The cause of death cannot be determined yet, but from the lack of epidermal tissue residue under her fingernails, it's possible she was strangled or drugged before her head was cut off."
Standing at the church entrance, Koga Shinobu held a report and addressed the people gathered outside: "That's the preliminary investigation result. However, a more detailed result will only be confirmed after Ms. Wakaba's body is sent to the headquarters' forensics division for an autopsy."
"Autopsy?!"
Odagiri Susumu in the crowd couldn't sit still: "It's already pitiful enough that Wakaba ended up like this, are you still going to harm her?!"
"Who are you, please?"
Koga Shinobu wasn't gentle with everyone; he looked at Odagiri Susumu with a stern face and inquired.
"This..."
Odagiri Susumu was momentarily unsure how to respond.
"He was the victim's teacher and came here with us this time."
Fujino changed the subject: "Speaking of which, Chief Koga, have you found anything regarding the killer's method?"
"Well..."
Koga Shinobu looked a bit embarrassed: "All the entrances and exits at the crime scene were locked. According to the statements, the main door was also locked from the inside at the time. However, we've checked the skylight, and it's simply not big enough for a person to get through... We really can't figure out how the killer managed to enter the church and murder Ms. Wakaba..."
"Actually, the killer never entered the church at all."
Fujino suddenly interrupted: "He beheaded Wakaba from the skylight. All he needed to do was use a mechanism to lift the bed in the church, and he could do it from the top of the building. The best proof is the four worn spots on the steel frame of the bed where Wakaba was lying, and a crow feather pressed under the bed."
Koga Shinobu was stunned for a moment, then quickly signaled to the forensics officers behind him: "Go quickly and see if it's as Detective Fujino says."
"That's correct, Chief! There are indeed worn spots on the bed's steel frame, and a single crow feather under the leg of the bed."
Soon, a forensics officer ran out and provided the confirmation.
"So that's how it is..."
Chief Koga rubbed his chin, "If that's the case, the victim could be killed without needing to enter the church at all..."
"A crow feather?"
Just then, Isshiki Torao in the crowd suddenly said: "I remember that Kabuto Kiriko's dress had crow feathers on it! The killer must be her!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Kabuto Reiji angrily grabbed Isshiki Torao by the collar: "How could my daughter be the murderer?!"
"Am I wrong?!"
Isshiki Torao retorted furiously: "Last night, during that time, all of us had alibis. Only Kabuto Kiriko, who was accompanying the Shitoda family's daughter, didn't. And now she's missing! If she's not the killer, who could it be?!"
After a bout of shouting, the two men, who were about to come to blows, were pulled apart with the help of the police.
Kabuto Kiriko temporarily became a key person of interest in the investigation. After all, looking at the time of the crime and the lack of an alibi, the only person possibly involved was Kabuto Kiriko.
Once the suspect was identified, the police's remaining job was to issue a warrant.
The Chief of the Aomori Prefectural Police Criminal Investigation Division left Rokkaku Village with Ooka Momiji and Haibara Ai, while Fujino chose to stay behind.
He felt somewhat puzzled by this outcome.
He was certain that the killer was not Kabuto Kiriko.
Because his system task hadn't been completed yet, which meant there was definitely someone else, and the secret of Rokkaku Village hadn't been uncovered either.
To be safe, Fujino chose to let the other two leave first.
If they encountered danger, he'd be fine on his own.
He didn't want to see either of them get hurt.
...
After sending the two off, Fujino went alone to the House of Winds.
Following the principle of looking for good people first when searching for someone.
In this village, Mr. Kazamatsuri, who seemed like a relatively kind person, was his first target.
Kazamatsuri Junya's mansion, compared to the House of Time, appeared more traditional. The walls were hung with many animal specimens and several hunting rifles.
"Did you make all these specimens yourself, Mr. Kazamatsuri?"
Fujino looked around at the specimens, asking curiously.
"Yes, I did. One of my hobbies is hunting," Kazamatsuri Junya laughed. "All the specimens here were made by me."
"Oh, I see..."
Fujino withdrew his gaze and looked at Kazamatsuri Junya: "Mr. Kazamatsuri, there's something I wanted to ask you."
"Huh?"
Kazamatsuri Junya was momentarily surprised: "Go ahead."
"Earlier, in the Shitoda family's basement, I saw a mummy..."
Fujino said gravely: "Mr. Kazamatsuri, do you know anything about that mummy?"
"You mean that..."
Kazamatsuri Junya didn't shy away: "Those mummies are guardians that have been passed down in our village since ancient times. There are similar mummies in all six mansions in the village. There's actually one in the church too, seven in total. Each mummy has different missing parts."
"Can I see the mummy in your house, Mr. Kazamatsuri?"
Fujino looked up at Kazamatsuri Junya.
"Well... okay."
Kazamatsuri Junya hesitated for a moment, then agreed.
Fujino followed Kazamatsuri Junya to the secret room in the House of Winds.
Pushing open the door to the secret room, what was presented before their eyes was another stone coffin.
Fujino stepped forward. Inside the stone coffin was indeed a mummy identical in style to the one in the House of Winds.
However, this particular mummy was missing its right arm from the chest down.
Suddenly, the clues in Fujino's mind connected.
He understood what the message left on Wakaba's wedding dress meant.
The seventh body, take the bride's head.
That should correspond to the mummy in the Shitoda family's house...
(End of Chapter)