Gensokyo Detective, but surrounded by Shura Field

His gaze darted around like a fly that had inhaled disinfectant.

But in a certain moment, his gaze suddenly fixed.

Immediately after, he lowered his head abruptly and chuckled softly.

"Hmph... Heh heh heh..."

"Rookie Chu Bai, your abilities are indeed not simple; you were actually able to perceive this much."

"But if this is all you have up your sleeve, then unfortunately, you are destined to return empty-handed today."

The sudden change in attitude slightly stunned Chu Bai.

Lin Zhizhu sighed leisurely, as if resigned to his fate:

"Since I've been pressed to this point, I have no choice but to tell the truth."

"Actually, I was just 'slacking off' next to a pillar in the hall because this job offers a guaranteed salary, and shirking work doesn't affect my income at all."

"Although slacking off isn't a good thing, I definitely shouldn't be saddled with the crime of theft, right?"

Chu Bai frowned:

"Slacking off? You were just slacking off during those few minutes you disappeared?"

"That's right!"

Lin Zhizhu said confidently:

"And coincidentally, that fairy maid sitting in the spectator seats 'happened to see' me leaning against the pillar and slacking off."

"In fact, it was because she discovered me that I hurriedly got up and headed towards the library!"

Following his accusation.

The fairy maid who was pointed out nodded blankly:

"Yes, that's right. When I was wandering around while slacking off, I happened to see Mr. Lin Zhizhu also slacking off."

As the fairy maid's testimony fell.

Chu Bai's heart sank.

He didn't expect Lin Zhizhu to have a witness?

And if he had been slacking off the entire time, then naturally, he wouldn't have had the chance to 'steal anything.'

Could it be that he's not the culprit?

Chu Bai looked up and met Lin Zhizhu's gaze.

But he happened to see the other party's slightly smug look.

...No, that kind of smug look, like a criminal about to escape from prison, is definitely not something a normal person would have.

Moreover, if Lin Zhizhu was really slacking off, then why did he lie and conceal it earlier?

Slacking off isn't something that would warrant such panic!

In that instant, Chu Bai's brain raced.

Although he still had many clues, such as "Patchouli's deep sleep," "the hexagonal mark under the table," and so on.

However, Chu Bai didn't know the meaning of these clues in the short term.

"It seems the result is already out."

Lin Zhizhu's glasses reflected the light, and he was already letting out a smug laugh:

"As the saying goes, if the Dao is one foot high, the Devil is ten feet high!"

"Since you can't produce evidence, then I will, like Andy escaping from Shawshank Prison, welcome freedom with a joyful heart!"

"...Is it really appropriate for you to say that?"

Alice said with a sweat:

"Doesn't that mean you're admitting that you're an escaped criminal?"

Sakuya immediately cast a stern gaze.

Lin Zhizhu's expression froze, and he quickly shrunk back down.

That was close; he almost celebrated prematurely.

Getting carried away should wait until after the acquittal...

Chapter 11 Red Mansion Library Theft Case (Final Chapter)

Time passed second by second.

The scene seemed to fall into a stalemate.

Chu Bai stroked his chin; he felt like he was actually not far from the truth.

But it was as if there was always a thin film, intercepting him and the truth.

"Don't worry."

Alice's voice suddenly rang in his ear.

This time, it was Alice's turn to breathe into his ear:

"Although I don't understand reasoning, judging from Lin Zhizhu's appearance, he must be hiding something."

"If this angle doesn't work, why not think from a different angle?"

A word awakened the dreamer.

Chu Bai instantly understood; he seemed to have inadvertently gotten into a dead end.

Since he couldn't prove that Lin Zhizhu stole the book, then why not think about why Lin Zhizhu would steal the book from another angle.

"I said earlier that Lin Zhizhu is currently 'very short of money' and came to the Scarlet Devil Mansion to earn money."

"But just stealing a few books won't 'earn money'; even magic books, no one dares to collect them... This creates a contradiction."

Chu Bai rubbed his chin:

"Compared to stealing books, it's better to just steal some jewels."

"After all, the Scarlet Devil Mansion's jewels are like the stars in the sky; even the pillars in the hall are inlaid with many jewels..."

"...Huh? Many jewels??"

Inspiration flashed through his mind like lightning.

Chu Bai suddenly recalled what Lingmeng had said at the entrance of the Scarlet Devil Mansion earlier.

"After all, I'm not interested in finding books, and I don't understand what reasoning is."

"But this is the Scarlet Devil Mansion; even if you just go in and steal something, you'll make a fortune!"

At the same time.

He also recalled Alice's warning to him when he first entered the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

"Hurry up and put down that jewel!"

"That's an artwork inlaid on the pillar; you'll have to pay compensation if you take it down!"

Combining the two sentences.

Chu Bai suddenly understood the motivation behind Lin Zhizhu's certain behavior.

If it was for this reason...

Then the reason why Lin Zhizhu applied to be a porter and disappeared for a few minutes along the way became very clear.

"Hmph... Heh heh..."

Chu Bai, who had seen through everything, let out the same laughter as Lin Zhizhu.

Lin Zhizhu couldn't help but sneer:

"What's wrong? Is it because your brain is overloaded and you're having a mental breakdown?"

"Why don't you just admit defeat? I can sell you a set of brain-boosting supplements from the store. I'll give you a 1% discount for being an acquaintance..."

"Admit defeat?"

Chu Bai shook his finger:

"The one who should really admit defeat is probably you."

Taking advantage of Lin Zhizhu's lack of reaction.

He slammed the table, raised his hand, and pointed at the other party.

[Questioning!]

"Lin Zhizhu, do you know what exactly was lost from the Scarlet Devil Mansion?"

"Hmm?"

Lin Zhizhu said disdainfully:

"I thought you were going to say something. Turns out it's such a simple question."

"Since you say I'm a suspect, then what the Scarlet Devil Mansion lost is, of course, 'precious jewels'!"

"...Huh?"

Alice beside him showed a dazed expression.

Jewels? What jewels?

Aren't they here to solve the "book theft case"?

But Chu Bai's mouth curled up, and the series of clueless clues from before were now connected.

"Lin Zhizhu, it seems you've misunderstood the most fundamental issue."

"What Alice and I came to solve is not the 'jewel theft case' but the 'book theft case.'"

"Ah? Book theft case?"

Lin Zhizhu slowly typed out a question mark.

But soon, his face suddenly changed drastically.

"Wait, if that's the case..."

"Yes, you're practically admitting it yourself."

Chu Bai pointed out the problem with a smile.

No one paid attention to the jewel theft case; the wealthy Scarlet Devil Mansion didn't release any news.

But Lin Zhizhu always thought the interrogation was about this matter.

Wouldn't that be a guilty conscience?

Besides the thief who stole the jewels, who else would be so concerned about this?

"Of course, with your self-admission, I can roughly reconstruct the truth of this case."

Chu Bai carried out the reasoning in an orderly manner:

"During the 'disappearing minutes,' Lin Zhizhu was actually stealing jewels from the pillars in the hall."

"When the fairy maid saw him, he happened to be leaning against the pillar, pretending to be slacking off."

"Regarding this point, Lin Zhizhu also 'misled' the fairy maid just now."

"He took the initiative to claim that he was slacking off, coupled with the fairy maid's own eyes, naturally, he had the certification of slacking off."

Chu Bai carried out the analysis in a reasoned and orderly manner:

"As for the stolen jewels, it is obviously impossible to take them away immediately because he has not completed the work of the porter."

"But if he puts them on his body, Sakuya will easily discover them during the body search."