"Um?"

Qingden cast a doubtful look at Juchi.

"Do you think Aqi and Aden were silenced?"

Kikuchi raised his gaze - there was a hint of hope in his eyes.

His eyes and appearance made him look like a drowning man desperately clutching at straws to save his life.

His tone and tone made it seem like he was asking Qingdeng as well as himself.

"..."

Qingdeng stared straight at Juchi without saying a word.

From an emotional point of view, Qingto naturally wanted to find some nice words to comfort Kikuchi.

However... from a rational point of view, Aomori really can't give Kikuchi an optimistic answer...

Looking back at what Kikuchi just said, we can find that "Aqi is innocent, and the real culprit who killed Aqi and Aden is someone else" is entirely Kikuchi's personal opinion.

Tachibana only found out that the Qingshui clan was behind the mysterious medicine, but did not find out that Aqi and Aden were actually killed...

There is simply no sufficient evidence to prove that A Qi is innocent...

Besides, there is another doubt.

Aqi reported the trick to the government, so she suffered retaliation - which makes sense.

But what about Arden?

Throughout the incident, Ardern has always been an "outsider"

What reason did the mastermind behind the production and sale of the secret drug have to kill Arden?

"Trick drugs" can destroy people's minds, making them impulsive and irritable, making it difficult to control their emotions.

Based on all the precedents that Qingdeng knew, when the user of the trick drug loses control due to the effects of the drug, he can do even the most extreme things, let alone kill someone.

For example, the first case Qingdeng investigated after traveling to this world - Xun Sanlang had no intention of killing Granny Ping, but after the drug took effect, he still pulled out the knife and brutally killed Granny Ping.

Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that Arden was indeed killed by Aqi, who lost control of the drug when the drug suddenly took effect, and that Aqi did commit suicide to apologize...

Although Qingdeng did not speak, his silence was worth a thousand words.

"Hahaha……"

Kikuchi grinned and let out a deep laugh.

"Even Mr. Ju, do you think A Qi is not innocent..."

After saying that, Kikuchi lowered his eyes and head again.

Although it was only a short moment, at the moment when Kikuchi lowered his head, Qingdeng, with his good eyesight, keenly noticed that the hope that had just been floating in Kikuchi's eyes changed into darkness and... if at a speed visible to the naked eye.

There is some relief...

"...I didn't think so."

Qingdeng said slowly.

"I just want to prove that Aqi is innocent. We still need definite evidence."

Kikuchi nodded lightly.

"The evidence...is correct..."

There were a few more deep laughs.

After the laughter subsided, Kikuchi changed the subject:

"I thought I would never have the chance to tell the story between me and Mr. Orange to a third person..."

"But I never thought that I would meet Mr. Houju's son today..."

"Perhaps... God has allowed me to survive so far just to allow me to meet you..."

"Ha...if that's the case...then the bad life I've been living for more than a year can't be considered meaningless."

"Mr. Ju, I don't know what kind of eucalyptus you are currently tracking, so I won't ask any more questions."

"If everything I just told...my story, the story of Aqi and Aden, and the story of Mr. Orange, can help you...that would be great."

Kikuchi raised his head again and met Qingden's eyes.

"Mr. Ju, I wish you good luck in martial arts."

Kikuchi smiled calmly.

A calm smile that was completely different from his previous crazy behaviors.

"Okay... everything I can do has been done... everything I can say has been said..."

"Please come back..."

"I'm tired...I want to sleep..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Juchi twisting his body and lying on his side on the ground.

He curled up like a cat, his cheek buried deep between his legs.

After a while, his chest rose and fell rhythmically...

…

…

At this moment——

Edo, somewhere in the suburbs——

Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!

The howling north wind penetrated Zuo Nazi's collar, sending a sharp chill.

"Uh...!"

Zuo Nazi couldn't help but shudder, and quickly raised his hand to tighten the blue scarf around his neck.

"It's so cold..."

While tightening the scarf, Zuo Nazi raised his head and looked forward.

In the distance, a vermilion torii came into view.

"Finally found it...is that the Tsukigong Shrine there..."

Zuo Nazi murmured.

*******

*******

Damn it, my sister is also positive...
Chapter completed!