I, Zhongli, Wander the World

Native Americans have such a myth.

Legend has it that thousands of years ago, the earth was still dominated by giants. There was a towering tree called "Devil's Tower" that could lead to the sky, and giants could climb to heaven through this tree.

Only later, a fierce war broke out between the giants and the gods, and the angry gods cut down the huge sacred tree, leaving only a bare stump. From then on, no creatures on earth could climb to heaven again. This tree stump still exists in the Gobi Desert in the United States, and it has become an isolated peak of more than 200 meters.

The felled tree stumps, the stones that were deliberately placed as reminders, stained the blood of the "tree of the gods", and the sacrifices to the gods that were finally found according to the instructions of the "water".

—Or a murder that was created on the grounds of God.

[I will initiate a sinful declaration against God. 】

This is Zhongli's interpretation from this incident.

Those golden eyes are already amazingly bright, and the pupils have unconsciously turned into dragon-like vertical pupils, like a volcano that is poised in the dark, and it can erupt immediately after only one ignition point.

The man crouched down and pressed his hand lightly on the ground.

Countless information was transmitted through the underground rock elements, bringing the memories engraved in the rocks into Zhongli's mind. Zhong Li gently closed his eyes, even his breathing became gentle, and carefully screened the information in his mind.

[The women of the tribe went to the market to exchange things and returned.

The men of the tribe hunted wild monkeys today.

The big elder seemed to have some conflict with the leader.

The priest babbled, and the veins in the hand holding the bone stick burst out.

…]

All the huge memories of recent days have been screened, but there is no valid information. Apart from knowing that this **** case came from the conflict between the chief elder and the leader, and that the priest was busy with some strange ritual, there was nothing to gain.

As if the "someone behind the scenes" who made the declaration never existed in this memory.

Zhongli opened his eyes.

He had some guesses about who was responsible for this tragedy, but he couldn't make a conclusion because of too little information. He also explored the nearby mountains and fields before, and there was no one hiding in the dark.

However, if it was the person he had guessed, staying on the scene at such a time was indeed not in line with that person's cautious style.

"Well, I hope to find out something from Mr. Fitzgerald."

Since he couldn't make progress on the scene, Zhongli wouldn't continue to waste time. It would be better if the police came later.

However, before leaving, he folded his hands on his chest and made a "rebirth seal" according to the convention of the rebirth hall.

When he first served as a guest secretary in the Hall of Rebirth, the child Hu Tao always loved to nag him about the rules of the Hall of Rebirth. Over the years, he was somewhat used to the handprints that contained human wishes.

"May your souls be reincarnated safely on the other side," he said.

Today's detective contest ended safely.

The number of promotions dropped sharply from the level that filled the small auditorium at first. By the end of the second game, only one-third of the original was left, and by the end of the second game, only the last three were left.

Edgar Allan Poe, Ayatsuji Pedestrian, Edogawa Ranbu.

When they came out of the small villa that was the venue for today's competition, the three were still discussing the case just now.

Perhaps it was because after a case that he had already gotten acquainted with the other two detectives, Edgar Allan Poe stopped stammering this time, and said in a rare voice in a normal voice: "It's my fault that I didn't notice the different stitches on the man's clothes. next time!"

"Okay."

"The mechanism on the wall is interesting. It seems that the designer hired by the rich man has some thoughts." Ayatsuji pedestrian said slowly.

"right."

"Lanbu-kun, Mr. Zhongli is behind you."

"...You lied to me." Edogawa said without looking back.

Ayatsuji pedestrian who didn't deceive anyone regretfully said "tsk", "Can't let Mr. Zhongli see how you solved the case, did it hit you so hard?"

"It's basically the same as the regret of Tachibana-kun not being able to stand on the podium." Edogawa Ranbu muttered.

The information given by the boy's words was actually quite vague, but the other two detectives present understood it. Edgar Allan Poe asked in a low voice, "Edogawa... Ranbu-kun, is that Mr. Zhongli really so respectable?"

He had already seen the reasoning ability of this young detective who was younger than him. Although he still refused to admit defeat, he still admired it in his heart. And that Mr. Zhongli, although he could be seen to be a respectable person after only a few contacts, he did not expect that Edogawa Ranpo, who could get his approval, would place him in such a high position.

"It's the same respect as the elders." Facing the two "outsiders" who were also detectives, Edogawa Ranbu rarely started talking, "'I want Mr. Zhongli to see our growth', at this point , I think I should be the same as Mr. Orange."

"The efforts we've made, the heights we've reached, we're no longer the little kid who needs to hide under the wings and tremble. Even if we give trials, we need to measure them carefully. We want Mr. Zhong Li to see this. ."

"After all, Dazai has already come to the front at this point." Edogawa scratched his cheeks and showed a helpless smile, "I, a famous detective, can't lose in this."

Ayatsuji pedestrian was silent for a moment, then said, "At this point, I think..."

"Ranbu, what are you still doing there!"

There was also a very energetic voice from the Central Plains. The three detectives followed the sound and saw the ochre-haired boy sticking his head out of the villa next to him that was used as a viewing room and waving to this side from a distance.

"Tachibana-kun, you are too impatient! Come here!" Edogawa Ranbu responded loudly.

The atmosphere of the conversation was broken, and Aya Tsuji pedestrian stopped at the right time.

When a few people entered the villa next to them, they found out that Zhong Li was actually there.

"Wandering." Zhong Li nodded to his own child.

"Mr. Zhongli." Edogawa Ranbu said a little aggrieved, "You didn't see this game at all, did you?"

"Sorry, I just arrived." Zhong Li shook his head and said, "I went to investigate some things this time, and it took a little time."

Edogawa Ranbu said in a low voice, "...Can't you tell me yet?"

Zhong Li lowered his head slightly and looked at Edogawa stalking, and the young detective stared at him without giving up, his habitually squinted eyes widened with an inexplicable light.

The Central Plains on the side also hesitated to say something, but in the end he didn't speak.

Dazai Osamu played with his cell phone boredly, just looked up and lowered his head again.

In the end this is a matter of rambling yourself.

Zhong Li sighed lightly.

The height of the once small boy had reached his chin at this time. When he looked at him angrily, although he still had a little childish childishness, it was different from when he was young.

Even Edogawa Ranpo, who is just a smart ordinary person, yearns for his own battle.

"Wanbu, answer me a question."

In the end, Zhongli asked Edogawa Ranpo a question just like when he first met.

"What do you think the world looks like?"

Edogawa Ranbu was silent, and a pure smile slowly rose on his face.

"The world—of course it's stupid." After a few years, the former teenager finally gave his answer, "Compared with me and Master Luanbu, this world is beyond stupid, and the stupid world needs Master Luanbu to increase The brilliance of wisdom, clumsy people just wait for the wisdom of Lord Luanbu to save them!"

This was a statement that was so confident that it was almost arrogant, but Edogawa Ranbu took it for granted that there seemed to be nothing wrong, and his confidence was almost overflowing.

Zhong Li smiled lightly, "Such an answer... you should have said it."

"That's a good answer," he said.

So, the afternoon of the third day.

"This is the venue for the third game." Fitzgerald raised his head slightly and said to the crowd, "Given that the number of participating detectives has been greatly reduced, the number of spectators for VIP tickets is also not large. The venue is scheduled for my private cruise ship 'Victory Goddess', you can enjoy the free drinks and food provided on the cruise ship while watching the detective competition, I wish you an unforgettable trip."

The tourists who are full of expectations are boarding the ship one after another under the guidance of the staff.

"In a way, it's really 'unforgettable'."

Walking back to the cabin, Fitzgerald said this to Zhong Li, while picking up the file of a man named "Kingji Natsuhiko" that he had read several times.

"Even if I try my best to find it, there is only so much information." Fitzgerald said with some regret, "This one is called 'Jingji Qiuyan' or 'Yanqiu', it is really hidden, no matter how you look at it. They're just ordinary folklorists. If it wasn't for the great effort to investigate his previous travel itineraries and related cases..."

"Even so, it's impossible to convict only based on the hearsay." Zhong Li shook his head and said, "This person has always been careful in his behavior, and with his still unknown supernatural ability, even if he gathers all the evidence, he still cannot sort out an effective result. The chain of logic identified him as a criminal. At best, a somewhat unlucky folklorist."

Fitzgerald sat on the chair with a headache, "I have asked Zelda to take Scott back home, and I hope it won't spread there."

"No, just relax." Zhong Li turned his head to look at the sky outside the cabin and said, "According to his past case analysis, he is always more willing to see the struggle of human nature, and is eager to see the diversity and duality of human beings. .Since this time the crime is claimed against 'gods', it will definitely not keep me out of it."

"This island floating at sea is an opportunity."

"Although I was already prepared for an accident when I made up my mind to invite you here, and the relevant plans have been well prepared, it really won't be easy to be attracted to you." Fitzgerald Rad said with a sigh, and immediately regained his spirits in the next second, "But that's what makes it challenging! That's the fun of making money!"

The funny rich man said confidently as he reached out and turned on the TV hanging on the wall.

Inside is the scene of the match placed at the bottom of the cabin.

In the small room, three detectives stood around a square table. On the wall behind them, framed oil paintings of different sizes could be seen, each painting a different scene.

On the table in the middle, an apple made of pure gold was placed upright.