There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

Chapter 115: Chapter 111 Another Peaceful Day

Twisting wisps of cooking smoke rose from the kitchen in the back yard.

After Xu Shuo returned, he saw the Trench Coat Detective looking utterly perplexed in front of the dancing flames of the clay stove, his face a picture of helplessness.

"Ah, I just saw the fire flare up suddenly..." the Trench Coat Detective said awkwardly upon seeing him.

"You just need to block this half way," Xu Shuo stepped forward, picked up the lid carelessly left on the ground, and partially covered the stove's air vent with it.

Immediately after, Xu Shuo added, "You guys go sit outside for a bit, I've got this covered."

The Trench Coat Detective, feeling embarrassed, turned around to leave. When he stepped outside, he saw the female journalist he'd met on the way here, and a well-behaved little girl in a blue jacket, looking cute and adorable.

The little girl sat obediently on the stool, nibbling on the snacks laid out on the table, while the journalist snapped photos of her from the side.

Maybe because she didn't understand what a camera was, the little girl showed no resistance and would even obediently look towards the lens. However, when the journalist tried to pinch her cheek, the girl would dodge back.

"Why are you here?" the Trench Coat Detective asked, his expression darkening slightly as he raised an eyebrow at the sight of the woman.

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He was certain that this female journalist wasn't from any respectable media outlet. She had been babbling non-stop on the road, asking questions that were difficult to answer!

She always had a way of steering the conversation towards more contentious points, and would inspect those points with her cynical perspectives, quickly branding people with condemnable labels!

Just like those unscrupulous paparazzi who followed the tide of gossip.

The female journalist, completely oblivious, laughed and said, "I just happened to meet the village chief and thought I'd swing by his place for a meal, saving some money on lunch!

The Trench Coat Detective snorted noncommittally upon hearing this and didn't respond further, rather, he just sat to the side and pulled out his smartphone.

But after only a short while, he felt someone approach, promptly turned off his phone's screen, and looked at the female journalist with suspicion.

"Hey, don't be so stiff, we can exchange information~," the journalist said with a beaming smile.

"What do you want?" the Trench Coat Detective furrowed his brow at her.

Looking in the direction of the courtyard and then at the little girl sitting beside her eating snacks, the journalist lowered her voice and asked, "Are you here to investigate the disappearance of the Old Village Chief?"

"What's it to you," the Trench Coat Detective remained guarded and then retorted sarcastically, "I have professional ethics. I can't disclose information about my commission."

"We could cooperate, it might be a win-win situation."

The journalist pursed her lips, sat down close to the Trench Coat Detective, took a small notebook out of her pocket, opened it, and generously handed it over.

The Trench Coat Detective gave her a quizzical look but still took the notebook, quickly scanning through the journalist's findings from the afternoon's investigation.

They were all details one could hear from the villagers' mouths, but he was also aware of these matters.

So this information was of no practical use.

He thought for a moment and then said, "I'm not here to investigate the Old Village Chief's disappearance. After all, it was he who hired me, but when we stopped corresponding, and I didn't receive any more messages, I grew worried and could only come here based on the clues I had from before."

The female journalist nodded thoughtfully, "So this trip... isn't it still to investigate the missing Old Village Chief?"

"..." The Trench Coat Detective stuffed her notebook back at her and gritted his teeth, "Can't you stop speaking out of turn? Since you can deduce that by yourself, why bother exchanging information with me?!"

"Hey, hey, don't be angry, it's just professional habits!"

Trying to appease him, the journalist smiled ingratiatingly and glanced towards the yard once more before saying in a serious tone, "But really, don't you think the villagers' attitudes towards outsiders are strange?"

The Trench Coat Detective frowned slightly, "Very welcoming?"

Journalist: "..."

How did such a naive child end up as a detective.

Gathering her thoughts, she spoke with a genial smile, "Of course not. They're bound to be welcoming as a tourist village. I meant their statements to outsiders are all exactly the same!"

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The Trench Coat Detective's expression stiffened.

He took another look at the female journalist's notebook, recalling the information he had gathered himself—it was almost identical!

Some woman supposedly eaten by a monster in the middle of the night, but in fact, she'd just gone out of town; someone's belongings allegedly stolen, but they were just misplaced; someone supposedly injured by a monster attack, but it was just an accident; someone died, but in fact...they'd just fallen ill.

The only thing the villagers couldn't refute was the Old Village Chief, who went missing a few months ago and had not returned since!

They said it was the legend of "Green-Faced Fangs" reappearing, which caused all manner of strange occurrences in the village. However, the villagers' attitude toward this creature wasn't one of fear; they could even promote it to give the village a bit of publicity.

"So, what's your take?" the female journalist asked again.

"Grasping at straws, creating topics of conversation," the Trench Coat Detective dropped the notebook on the table and said with a frown, "A bunch of people exploiting these events for profit, that's all."

"Awesome!" the female journalist gave him a thumbs-up.

The little girl sitting on the side, eating twisted dough sticks, glanced at them curiously—the two adults had been muttering to each other, and she couldn't make heads or tails of it.

After a short while, the female journalist spoke again with a hint of secrecy, "But, do you really think that's all there is to it?"

"Hm?" the Trench Coat Detective raised an eyebrow.

"What if those things were actually true?"

"..."

Before the Trench Coat Detective could respond, there was a sudden noise from outside. Somebody was coming, carefully peeking inside through the living room door that wasn't fully closed.

It was the girl wearing a floral dress.

Seeing the two strangers in the house, the girl paused, then spoke, "This..."

"Big sister, you're back!" Before she could finish, the little girl chewing on the twisted dough sticks tilted her head and asked, "Is the painting done?"

"Ah, not yet," the girl walked in, smiling awkwardly, "I lacked inspiration today."

While speaking, she placed the paint bucket she was carrying in a corner of the living room and then sat down on a chair somewhat reservedly, staring between the two outsiders.

A moment of awkward silence filled the room.

After a pause, it was the female journalist who first broke the silence, "So you live here?"

"Yes, I've been staying at the Village Chief's House for a while," the girl replied, adjusting her hair and lowering her gaze.

"Is it because of that painting?"

"Yes."

"Were you invited by the Acting Village Chief or the Old Village Chief to paint?"

"Yes."

"..."

The female journalist seemed to have a knack for social interaction, engaging anyone in nonstop chatter, whereas the girl was even more reserved than the Trench Coat Detective, sitting in the corner with an air of tranquil detachment, as though no amount of disturbance could disrupt her peace.

The little girl munched on her twisted dough sticks with loud crunches, watching the trio with curiosity.

...

Meanwhile, in the backyard.

Xu Shuo was the epitome of tranquility as he prepared food, chopping vegetables. He faintly heard the noise from the living room and glanced over, a smile spreading across his face.

All the people were gathered together, seeming to have a lively conversation; he hoped they would find what they were looking for.

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