Tokyo: I'm really not a killer

In 1989, a funeral was being held in a villa in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

The funeral hall was set up in a Japanese-style room, with white chrysanthemums placed next to the portrait. The deceased was an older man, not anyone's childhood sweetheart.

The widow wept bitterly, the heavy weight on her chest trembling slightly with her slender shoulders.

Her skin was smooth and fair, and she had a youthful and charming appearance. She was only in her early twenties. Dressed in black, she knelt on a prayer mat, exuding a unique charm.

The guests whispered among themselves.

"I heard that Miki will inherit 30 million yen and a house..."

"Yosh, the best time to strike up a conversation with a young married woman is at her husband's funeral..."

"I advise you to give up on that idea. Everyone's saying that Miki killed Yamato..."

Why is there such a rumor?

"It's probably because of that female police officer. She's so paranoid, constantly demanding an autopsy, but Miki refuses, saying she wants her husband to leave with dignity..."

"Shh, keep your voice down!"

The whispers among the crowd reached Miki Shino's ears to some extent. She continued to cry, but inwardly she was mocking herself.

"A bunch of idiots. Who would be stupid enough to kill someone with their own hands?"

In fact, Shino Yamato was not her first husband.

Thanks to Japan's household registration system, she was able to get married all over the country—and with the death of Yamato Shino, she could change her name to Miki Akiyama.

To date, she has lost four husbands.

All she needs to do is choose a man who is starved for love, flirt with him a few times, then act pitiful and pretend to be a victim of domestic violence to arouse his protective instincts... Within three months, her husband will die a violent death, and if she's lucky, her lover will also go to jail.

She never had to do anything herself.

However, this time it was different. Shino Yamato was richer than the previous four, and she was in the human trafficking business. She was very concerned about her personal safety and always had bodyguards with her when she went out... None of the men she seduced dared to go against Shino Yamato.

Left with no other option, she turned to telephone clubs and cast a wide net, anonymously making friends online and confiding her troubles to a group of sexually repressed men.

"He abuses me every day," "I wish he were dead," "I'm sorry, did I scare you?" "I just wanted to vent," "You're a good man," "I wish you were my husband"...

She had said these kinds of things countless times, but to little avail. Men who like to make friends over the phone are like sewer rats; they wouldn't dare commit murder.

Until she met an anonymous user.

The other person's voice was very muffled, and their gender was indiscernible, but it was most likely male, since the club does not match users of the same sex.

Based on her past experience, Miki Akiyama was certain that this person was extremely lacking in love and had repressed it to the extreme; he was a useful knife.

As usual, she complained about her husband's domestic violence, trying to tame him with sweet words: "Thank you for listening to me, you're such a good man, I wish I could marry you..."

"You mean you want to kill your husband, right?" the other person interrupted.

"I have had that thought, but it's just a thought..." She wouldn't give anyone leverage against her.

Okay, I understand. You're a cautious person, and I appreciate that.

"Uh... thank you for the compliment."

She wanted to chat a little longer, but the other party hung up the phone abruptly.

The operator then handed her a note, asked her to read it aloud, and then burned it with a lighter.

The note read: "First order, no deposit required, balance 10 million yen. Call back if you agree."

She had heard before that some people would use phone clubs to broadcast special requests, such as escort services, but she never imagined that anyone would actually do such a thing—probably some poor bastard who planned to kill someone for money.

Why go through all this trouble? We might as well just rob someone!

Miki Akiyama scoffed and replied, "If you're so capable, go ahead and try!"

She thought the matter was over and that the guy would definitely give up when he saw Yamato Shino's bodyguard...

However, she underestimated the other party's level of professionalism.

Three days later, Shino Yamato suddenly died of a heart attack; that evening, Akiyama Miki received an anonymous phone call asking her to transfer the remaining payment to a designated bank account.

"Idiot, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Miki Akiyama replied in this way.

Then, she reported it to the police, claiming that she had received anonymous threatening phone calls.

After receiving a tip, the police immediately went to investigate and even deployed more patrol officers for protection. Food was even tested for poison, which made Akiyama Miki feel very safe.

"Well, he's got some skills, but he's still a fool."

"How could I possibly pay the final payment? If I gave them the money, wouldn't that be considered hiring someone to commit murder?"

She had already booked her plane ticket, and was just waiting to finish the funeral and hand over the inheritance tonight before taking a flight to Hawaii to enjoy life—who knows, before her trip was even over, that idiot might already be caught.

Miki Akiyama was lost in her thoughts about a bright future until the footsteps of the last guest disappeared at the end of the porch, pulling her back to the silent mourning hall.

It's already so late...

Miki Akiyama rubbed her aching cheeks and smiled involuntarily. She stood up, leaning on the tatami mat, intending to discuss the inheritance with her lawyer, but when she turned around, she found a man still sitting in the lobby.

He had an ordinary appearance, wore a plain black suit and a plain funeral badge, and his only distinguishing feature was a prominent beauty mark under his eye.

Miki Akiyama had no recollection of this face and guessed he was a junior colleague whom her husband had taken care of. She quickly suppressed her smile, lowered her head, and showed a sorrowful expression before politely inquiring:

"Thank you for coming to offer your condolences. I apologize for any inadequacy in our hospitality... Is there anything else you need?"

A Japanese person who can read the room would usually know to take their leave at this point.

But the man in front of her pulled the sliding door shut, blocking her way.

"What's wrong with you...?" Akiyama Miki asked, looking puzzled.

"Idiot, I don't know what you're talking about," said the man with the beauty mark under his eye.

Miki Akiyama was momentarily stunned, then remembered who she had said those words to, and immediately realized who the newcomer was. Panicked, she took two steps back and cried out for help, but no one responded.

The mourning hall was quiet, as if it were isolated from the world.

Where are the police? Of all times, they had to fail us!

"Calm down, take a deep breath, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Akiyama Miki quickly lowered her eyes, and when she looked up again, her eyes were filled with a pitiful, tearful light. She clasped her hands together and pleaded, "I'm sorry, I... I know I was wrong... I didn't mean to before, I was just too scared... You... how much money do you want? I'll give it to you..."

The man with the beauty mark under his eye approached step by step and said:

"Kneel down and open your mouth."

Akiyama Miki was taken aback, but her fear quickly subsided, and she instantly became composed and alluring. She knew lecherous men all too well; she felt only contempt for them, not a shred of respect.

What else could be the purpose of sneaking into a widow's tatami room in the dead of night and making such a request? It's nothing more than those despicable thoughts.

Oh man.

If all else fails, just give it to him once, and the grudge will be wiped clean.

Miki Akiyama knelt obediently on the prayer mat, her demeanor both polite and subtly revealing the curves of her waist and hips, her large breasts making her black mourning clothes bulge.

She tilted her head back, opened her red lips, and stuck out her tongue.

Come on, it doesn't matter how thick or hard it is.

The man with the beauty mark under his eye was quite satisfied and smiled slightly.

He unbuttoned his suit jacket, pulled a silenced Browning pistol from his belt, and roughly shoved the barrel into Miki Akiyama's mouth.

--wrong!

Miki Akiyama's eyes widened. Before she could dodge or beg for mercy, the man with the beauty mark under his eye pulled the trigger, and his brains spurted out from the back of his head, splashing onto the white chrysanthemum and the portrait.

"Sometimes I really don't understand what women are thinking."

He said with genuine emotion.