Chapter 151: Is This Fair?
Rouindō, as a demon, rarely experienced such shame.
It ran away, in a state of panic, without choosing a path.
Being alive is even more important. If one dies like this, it would be a complete annihilation of body and spirit.
There was no chance to return to the realm of the dead.
It managed to avoid countless gazes with great effort and quietly escaped back to a safe place.
Not long after, it heard a noise.
Fujiwara Shusaku entered the study and caught sight of a flickering flame. He squinted his eyes and then exclaimed with joy, "You're alive, wonderful!"
Rouindō stared at Fujiwara Shusaku and said in a deep voice, "I have been severely wounded and need time to recover."
Fujiwara Shusaku understood and said, "Take your time to recover."
"I'm recovering too slowly here, I need to return to the side of my dear lord."
"Go back?" Fujiwara's face slightly changed. "Isn't it better for you to stay here? I can find another suitable host for you."
"How much longer do I have to wait for the next one? Every passing moment makes me weaker!" Rouindō grew impatient. "If you are unwilling to help me, then I will seek the assistance of the cat spirit. It will surely help me..."
"I didn't say I won't help you," Fujiwara Shusaku shook his head. "As a companion, I value loyalty. How could I not lend you a hand?"
Rouindō remained silent.
Fujiwara continued to speak with great concern, "It's just that this time the loss is significant. Please wait a little while longer, let me first take care of other matters, and then I will accompany you to meet our lord."
Upon hearing this reassurance, Rouindō's emotions slightly calmed down.
But in the next moment, it suddenly became irritable again, the wound throbbed faintly, and the flames of anger raised the temperature inside the room.
"I want him dead!" Rouindō gritted its teeth and exclaimed angrily. "No, I can't wait! I must recover, and then I will burn that man to death!"
With these words, it started turning its wheels, contemplating its departure.
The next moment, it found itself unable to move.
Fujiwara Shusaku's shadow had somehow enveloped it under the dim light, but it was unsure when this had happened.
This massive shadow took the form of a fierce and sharp-toothed badger, swiftly transitioning from shadow to solid form. Its claws pinned down the weakened Rouindō, rendering it unable to escape, even as its wheels continued to spin.
"You!" Rouindō first felt uncontrollable anger, followed by an overwhelming sense of fear. "What are you trying to do!"
"How can I let you go back? If the Lord finds out about this failure, my good days will be over. With Yuki Oni as the rearguard, that useless guy should have been killed by now. And if you die next, no one will know what happened."
Fujiwara Shusaku narrowed his eyes and sneered, saying, "If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for insisting on going back and getting caught by me. That's why you can only die... It just so happens that I've been feeling a bit hungry. So, I'll trouble you to go into my stomach and warm it up for me!"
In an instant, the shadow flickered, and Fujiwara Shusaku transformed and swallowed Rouindō's spirit whole. The gigantic wheels and flames vanished without a trace.
Fujiwara Shusaku patted his belly and let out a few spicy burps. His face turned a shade of reddish bronze and it took a while for his temperature to cool down.
"The taste is almost like swallowing rust... It's really terrible," he licked his lips. "Although I managed to hide it for now, it's not a good thing in the long run. I must find a way to regain composure."
He tapped the table and sat in his chair. Now he understood, many things were connected to this person from the Ming Country. He needed to find a way to restrain him, otherwise, if things continued like this, the next one to be killed would be the Fujiwara family.
It would be best to permanently defeat him, but he is too strong. Killing him is not an easy task, especially since he is from the Ming Country. I must come up with a clever plan... It would be ideal to make him leave Yingzhou, to leave forever.
Yes!
Go away!
In an instant, Fujiwara Shusaku's face lit up, revealing a warm and delightful smile.
...
Police Interrogation Room.
The lights, the table, the police officer, the notebook, and... a pork chop rice.
Bai Wei didn't know why pork chop rice had become a tradition for interrogations, but he didn't hesitate either.
He was indeed hungry. It had been over two days since he had eaten much. Finally having the chance to replenish some food, he eagerly indulged in it.
Rumors had it that pork chop rice could make criminals suddenly awaken and confess with tears, not knowing whether it was due to some truth serum being sprinkled on it.
Bai Wei today probably wouldn't be affected by this. But if it were his past self, maybe... "Next, onigiri would be very helpful?"
Bai Wei didn't think he had committed any illegal acts, he was just defending himself.
Two police officers watched him eat, the scene surprisingly harmonious, with a touch of dark humor reminiscent of silent movies.
After a while, the two police officers stood up and left the interrogation room because his food smelled so delicious that both of them couldn't resist going out and ordering another serving.
"What did they ask?"
"All the identity information was asked and obtained."
"What specifically?"
"He is a person from the Ming Country."
"Oh... damn!"
Upon hearing the term "person from the Ming Country," the expression on the police officer's face became unnatural, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.
There was already a person covering their ears, pretending not to hear. This suggests that the lawyers from the Legalist School in the Ming Country's academy were truly terrifying.
At that moment, a detective approached. The police officers immediately stood up straight. "Detective Matsushita, the suspect is inside!"
Detective Matsushita had a stern, square-shaped face as he said, "You haven't harmed him in any way, have you?"
"No, he was very cooperative... um, he accepted the pork chop rice without hesitation."
"And we dare not do anything to him, for he is a strong person who can break things easily."
The police officers looked disappointed.
Detective Matsushita pushed open the door of the interrogation room and sat down on the chair, glancing at the suspect.
His gaze fell upon Bai Wei and his hands, observing the pork chop rice that was already half-eaten. "Are you very hungry?"
"I am very hungry," Bai Wei nodded. "I rushed from Edo to Kyoto, and then rushed back from Kyoto. I haven't eaten all along the way, for two or three days."
"Rushed back from Kyoto?" Detective Matsushita furrowed his brow. "Did you go to Kyoto during this typhoon day?"
"Yes."
"It's impossible, the trains are not running, and several places along the railway have been flooded."
"So I rode a motorcycle back home."
"Riding a motorcycle during a typhoon day? Going through a flash flood area alone?" Detective Matsushita raised an eyebrow.
"It's actually not that difficult, the flood is not poisonous, so I can manage, it makes sense."
"...... If it weren't for you single-handedly taking down the Sanada Group today, I would have doubted if you were playing tricks on me. But indeed, we also found your motorcycle." Detective Matsushita rubbed his face, sighing. "Why did you go and provoke the Sanada Group for no reason? If something happens to you, who will take care of her...?"
"It wasn't me who provoked the Sanada Group, it was these gangster organizations who wanted the land belonging to my sister's family. The methods these people employ, I believe you understand." Bai Wei finished his pork chop rice in a few bites, closed the box, and put it away.
Detective Matsushita shouted towards the door, "Who wants to order three more deliveries?"
Detective Matsushita rubbed his forehead, "Could you please explain your plans clearly first... What are you going to do in Kyoto?"
Bai Wei casually said, "I didn't do much, I went to rescue someone. For the details, you can ask the shrine, or contact Kyoto Police Department to inquire."
Detective Matsushita's eye twitched as he asked, "Did you also enter the Kyoto Police Department?"
"Almost, to be precise, the charge is driving without a license."
Detective Matsushita took a deep breath and stared, "You seemed quite honest, but it turns out you are someone who disrespects the law?"
"I can have a makeup exam, right?" Bai Wei innocently shrugged his shoulders. "And I really am an honest person, you see, whatever you ask, I answer."
Detective Matsushita lit a cigarette, easing the tension in his shoulders. "With the Sanada Group involved and a significant number of casualties this time, a few words won't cover it up. The truth is the truth, and you can't avoid staying here for a while. I suggest you find a lawyer, considering your family's financial resources. Hopefully, you can hire a good one. The rest depends on the evidence trail and the outcome of the criminal investigation."
Bai Wei asked, "Are you planning to follow the legal process?"
"You should consider the prosecutor's role in this. It's highly likely that they won't prosecute someone involved with the underworld. If they choose to prosecute you, it would truly be a loss of face for them. The underworld has its own rules, but your days afterwards may not be easy. The Sanada Group is a newly emerged faction within the Kanto Federation," Matsushita warned. "The Kanto Federation will undoubtedly come looking for you, and they may not give up easily."
"So, you want me to stay in the police station temporarily to ensure safety?"
"Think as you wish, but for now, you can't leave," Matsushita continued. He asked further, "By the way, we found many severed body parts and a lot of blood at the crime scene. Do you happen to know what happened?"
"I'm not sure... Perhaps the leader of the Sanada Group is like a Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva?" Bai Wei feigned ignorance.
If they couldn't find any injured people, then let's forget I asked," Matsushita casually brushed over this point. The police station didn't want to delve too deeply, in case there were dozens more victims. In the underworld, cutting off fingers was normal, and isn't it also normal to cut off hands and feet? After all, hands and feet are like large-sized fingers, so if they're cut off, they're cut off.
After continuing the conversation for a bit, the takeaway arrived. Matsushita entered with the takeaway, and the two of them ate while chatting. Like that, an hour passed by.
The police officer pushed the door open and entered, saying, "Mr. Bai, your lawyer has arrived."
