When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 922 - 289 Is This Also an Interrogation?

Chapter 922: Chapter 289 Is This Also an Interrogation?

After that recent accident, Honey Badger keenly felt that something was amiss.

Although completely clueless about the specifics… at least in the matter of “murder,” Honey Badger could definitely be considered an expert. Stirring up such a major incident in public, the next steps would surely involve sealing off the crime scene and questioning the guests.

Attempting to flee at a time like this would only make one look guilty, even if the crime wasn’t of their own doing.

And based on her understanding of the authorities, if they failed to track her down after a manhunt, it was possible they’d pin a slew of unsolved cases on her head.

—After all, if they couldn’t catch her, it was definitely more palatable to say “We’ve identified the killer but temporarily lost them,” than “We have no clue who the murderer is.”

Up until now, assassins from Hawkeye had been saddled with many similar scapegoats… For instance, when they successfully assassinated a politician, several more people would inexplicably end up dead. And of course, they couldn’t come forward to clarify, “Oh no, I only killed these people, not those,” but would have to carry the can quietly.

...

What Hawkeye Organization desired most was “deterrence.”

Their initial motive was to become the “Judges of Son of the Moon and his followers,” to prevent ordinary people from embarking on that path or attempting to collaborate with the Son of the Moon.

Having this chance to propagate their message, rather than the usual situation of neutralizing the target but being suppressed in the news, was actually a positive thing for them… It was also a form of win-win strategy, a “silent cooperation.”

However, even though she had no official identity, being undocumented in Star Antimony… she wasn’t too panicked.

Back when she was still weak, she had already grown accustomed to being questioned and interrogated. Now, although she had become powerful, she hadn’t forgotten the survival skills from when she was still weak.

Honey Badger was fully confident she could fool the police during their questioning while simultaneously gleaning key information—

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in,” Honey Badger said.

—until the moment she saw Aleister, dressed in the Star Antimony police coat, pushing the door and entering the private room.

For an instant, Honey Badger almost lost her composure.

She never expected to meet Miss Aleister again under such circumstances, not long after their separation.

The two Bunny Girls sharing the room also blinked.

They too had easily recognized the noble, sophisticated, black-haired lady from before.

“…What’s with this outfit?”

Visit freёnovelkiss.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

Honey Badger was somewhat helpless: “Can’t you dress properly…”

Underneath, Aleister hadn’t put on a shirt or tied a tie, but instead was wearing her own red and black dress. She had just carelessly draped a somewhat larger police jacket over herself, not even bothering to put it on properly, with the shoulders not even slotted in.

This gave Honey Badger a strong impulse to help her dress properly.

“Because the chief inspector insisted I put this on before he’d let me into the crime scene…”

As Aleister spoke, she casually tugged off the coat and tossed it aside.

She sat down on the sofa next to Honey Badger, lying down very adeptly and smoothly.

She placed her legs on Honey Badger’s and found a pillow to put at the corner of the L-shaped sofa, comfortably settling down.

Aleister complained softly, “This ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ is quite nice technically, but there’s room for improvement in comfort—why is it that as soft as the sofas here can be, the seats in such high-tech cars are so incredibly stiff. Can’t they implement some ergonomic enhancements…”

“Looking at you…”

Seeing how calm Aleister was, Honey Badger guessed she must have made some progress: “You must have found something of note?”

“Yep, but I won’t tell you first. To prevent any preconceptions when you tell me your side.”

Aleister softly hummed, “Let’s talk then, what happened on your end—those two ladies, feel free to chime in anytime.”

“…Is this, an interrogation?”

The slightly smaller Bunny Girl was quite surprised.

“Yes, it is. Come on… sit closer.”

Aleister smiled, signaling for her to sit beside her, to start by massaging her head.

Then she maintained that very comfortable and enjoyable posture, listening to the information from Honey Badger.

And Honey Badger shared everything she had seen with Aleister:

Even if it was just a fleeting glimpse, Honey Badger could discern—those severed limbs had been ripped and torn apart by an immense force.

The nature of the wounds was neither cutting nor cleaving.

She had seen the Demon Scholar summon a huge Demon’s Claw, tearing a human body straight in two. The corpses’ state was very close to that. To rend a complete human body into pieces without using any tools, nor through repetitive twisting and bending, purely by hand… one would need at least the Strength of the Third Level, and it would have to be the kind of Path that enhances limb strength.

In that instant, Honey Badger realized the killer’s motive.

——It was definitely to “vent anger”.

“It’s like repeatedly striking a punching bag… not for practice, nor to break the bag.”

Aleister nodded and commented, “But simply to vent the excessive energy and restless heart.”

“Exactly.”

Honey Badger nodded in affirmation: “Without a doubt, the VIP who could enter the VIP room certainly wouldn’t have any conflict or enmity with the blood slaves here. Even if they did, they would have no need to act in front of everyone.”

Therefore, his mind must have been beguiled—

“He already harbored immense rage in his heart, and after being influenced by some Extraordinary Power, he suddenly lashed out.

“After the outburst, he felt a great satisfaction. In that irrational self-complacency, he chose to turn the visualization knob, displaying his complete ‘work’ for all to see.

“At least at that moment, he had completely disregarded the ‘trouble it would cause him if discovered’. He only wanted to show off his ‘Strength’—from this mindset, I believe his dissatisfaction and rage must have targeted his own personal abilities.”

Honey Badger continued with the analysis: “He committed such brutality precisely to prove to himself that ‘he could do it.’ In other words, he was doubting his own existence and capabilities… he felt inferior subconsciously.”

Aleister then nodded and said, “You’re right, just as I thought.”

“Miss, you mentioned earlier…”

Honey Badger paused: “This sudden surge of murderous intent… it’s not the first time, right?”

“Intelligent. Worthy of you, truly professional.”

Aleister praised.

Just as every detective is potentially the best criminal and Phantom Thief—conversely, this is also true in a certain sense. In front of one of the world’s strongest assassins, those clues and motives laid bare were as conspicuous and within reach as stalks in the field.

“This kind of incident started just this week, occurring once a day. Today is the fifth time. The characteristic is that every victim suddenly commits some ‘mad act that would pop into their heads but would normally be suppressed by reason’.

“For instance, you might dislike me and wish to stab me. Normally, this would remain a thought… because you know what would happen if you actually did it.”

Aleister said this indifferently, giving Honey Badger a meaningful glance: “But under this special power’s guidance, the moment ‘I want to stab her’ appears in your mind, your body starts moving—according to the previous incidents’ perpetrators, this is how the power operates.”

“And then what?”

Honey Badger keenly latched onto the part Aleister didn’t mention: “Afterward, when did they come to their senses?”

“——Almost ‘immediately’.”

Aleister replied: “So, as I said, this is not about losing rationality, nor is it about falling into madness. Instead, rationality’s control over the body was delayed.”

Yet, Honey Badger furrowed her brows deeply.

Aleister noticed this and spoke up: “Say whatever you’re thinking, you don’t have to worry about misleading me—I’m not that easily misled.”

“…Yes. What I’m thinking is… this doesn’t quite resemble the actions of the Son of the Moon. Or rather, this doesn’t seem like something a Transcendent of the Path of Love would do.”

Honey Badger pondered for a moment and explained: “They like to emphasize the importance of desire, considering it a crucial component of personality and self. If a Transcendent from the Path of Love had planned this conspiracy, they should have focused on ‘expanding desires’ instead.”

“Different direction, but same conclusion as mine.”

Aleister nodded: “But I can basically give you one incorrect guess to eliminate—this indeed is not the doing of the Son of the Moon.

“Because I’ve recognized it—this is a large-scale ritual.”