An infinite journey starting from paradise

Unable to care for the girl, she... placed her in a convent. Later, she became Mamiya Shinso's assistant. She... took good care of me and treated me well. She even took me to the convent to visit her daughter...

"My mother is not a bad woman who cheated on her husband. Even though she was kicked out by the Zhongyuan family, she still didn't accept the man's pursuit. On the contrary, she easily slept with him and gave birth to a child."

"Is that so? Apparently, the girl fostered in the convent is Dongzi." Lin Shangren rubbed his neck. "Her life story...how should I tell her? Tell Dongzi that she's actually the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family's wife, that her mother is dead and was turned into corpse wax by a pervert. And that her nominal father is almost dead because of me?"

Lin Shangren shook his head helplessly. No matter how much knowledge he had, he still couldn't improve his language skills.

"Huh...Okay, I got the general idea."

Lin Shangren pulled out the knife that was stuck in Mamiya Shiner's leg.

"Let's talk about you again. Talk about the crimes you committed. The female corpse found in Shakujii Park, and the mutilated body found in Inokashira Park, were all your doing, right? To revive Misa Nakahara?"

"Um…"

Mamiya Shinji lowered his head.

[Ding~ Target 2: "I'm just a detective passing by" (Complete 2/5)]

Xiao Ai's reminder sounded at the right time.

"Tell me more specifically."

Lin Shangren forced a kind smile.

Chapter 104: Psychological shadows are also shadows!

"Childhood trauma, artist, psychopath, serial killer. Classic, so fucking classic."

This was the only feeling Lin Shangren had after listening to Mamiya Shin'er's confession of the crime.

Mamiya Shinji, abused and violated by his biological mother, subjected to PUA by his biological father, and killed her in anger, then witnessed his father murder his daughter, Bai Yueguang, who was then turned into a wax statue. This left him with incurable psychological trauma, and upon learning of the so-called "resurrection technique," he began killing and dismembering people.

I wonder if this character setting sounds familiar to everyone, but Lin Shangren, who has countless detective and mystery novels in his head, said: "This sense of déjà vu is so damn strong."

"Well, murderers with this kind of character design often do, especially those with psychological trauma and the labels of being an artist. No matter how heinous their actions, as long as the character's secondary creation or film and television portrayal is attractive, especially if there's some kind of fucking youthfulness or vulnerability, there will be countless NTs shouting 'My husband is so beautiful, strong and miserable,' while frantically defending them. Damn, crazy."

Lin Shangren complained in his mind.

"Hannibal, Grenouille, Night Walker... bullshit."

He shook off the blood on the dagger and asked Mamiya Shin'er, "So, how many people have you killed in total? You are trying to resurrect Zhongyuan Misa, right? The resurrection ritual requires the heads of the deceased, the limbs of sacrifices born on a specific date, and a secret medicine made from the uteruses of the sacrifices.

So, killing five people and taking their limbs and torsos would be enough. Then why are the two bodies in Inokashira Park missing their torsos? Or are those body parts really just two bodies?"

"To revive Mom, of course I need the best body. Only by piecing together a perfect body can I revive Mom."

Mamiya Shinji answered with his head lowered.

"Is that so?" Lin Shangren suddenly revealed a meaningful smile. "Then, here comes the question. How did you know the birthdays of those victims?

Although the two known victims were prostitutes in the brothel, their identities are not so easy to obtain. Unless, that is, you are their patron. Coincidentally, I am very familiar with the brothel where they work, and according to the girls' recollections, they don't remember anyone like you visiting the Snow White brothel.

So, Mamiya Shinji, can you tell me how you knew their birthdays met the requirements for the ceremony?"

"I……"

Mamiya Shinji's head sank even deeper, and he seemed unwilling to answer this question.

"Let me answer for you. You didn't choose the target, but someone or an organization helped you.

As he spoke, Lin Shangren took out a knot of special shape from the shadows and waved it in front of Mamiya Shiner.

"This is the symbol of their sect, and Asagiri, one of the victims you killed, was also a member of that sect. Um... She should have been here not long ago, perhaps after her unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage. Of course, this is not important..."

Lin Shangren lifted Jian Gong Xiner's chin with a dagger and said, "Don't hide it. You and I are the real idiots. I will never let you down. I will never let you down. I will never let you down. I will never let you down. I will never let you down. I will never let you down. I will never let you down.

"I...I don't know."

"Hmph~ Looks like we're going to have to do some serious work. Let me guess, since that cult is backed by the demons of the Warp, what kind of trick are they using to scare you into eternal torment, or something like that, so you won't reveal their secrets?"

As he spoke, Lin Shangren fished out the sandalwood that was being cooked in the boiling oil pan.

"You...what are you going to do?"

"Don't worry, I won't. I'm not interested in poking a man's ass." Lin Shangren said, "You're afraid of eternal torture, right? Then I'll let you experience a few months of torture first."

As he spoke, Lin Shangren poked Mamiya Shiner's chest with a sandalwood stick, actually releasing an Eagle Finger, or "Zeno's Consciousness Cage" on him.

"Let him feel the pain for five minutes first."

Lin Shangren threw away the sandalwood stick and stretched.

"Damn, interrogating someone is exhausting. Xiao Ai, do you have any skills like mind reading? If you do, give me one. I'll give you a chance to win a prize."

[Um... Is it possible that your mission reward is a random draw instead of ordering without looking at the menu? (?_?)]

"Tsk, forget it if you don't have it."

Lin Shangren spread his hands and walked towards another unlucky guy in the basement.

The photographer named Sen Yeyue was lying on the ground with his arms and legs spread out, still enjoying a good sleep like a dead person.

"My Lord, what should we do with this guy? He should have nothing to do with the case, right?"

"He is definitely not the murderer of those two girls."

[Huh~ Looks like the evidence provided by that white-haired female reporter is invalid. (?▽｀)]

"If the clues that suddenly emerged in the past two days are all valid evidence, wouldn't it seem too deliberate?" Lin Shangren said in his heart.

[Seemingly deliberate? What does that mean? (?_?)]

"Move your flashy little tits and think carefully. Which of the clues we found these past two days wasn't a coincidence?

I happened to find the "Dark Bible" in the basement of the college and figured out what happened eleven years ago. Then I happened to run into Zhu Qiningning molesting a student and trying to inject her with drugs, so I went to the Xiumu Pathology Research Institute and learned that there were many remnants of the invaders against China there.

So I stole the hospital's medical records and decided to go to the Death Roll that night. That's how I found photos of Yukito Nakahara and Misa Nakahara, and that's how I implicated Misa Nakahara, the key figure.

I happened to be invited by Takashiro Hiroko to accompany the art club members to visit Mamiya Shinzo's exhibition, and I also got some new information from Aoki Fuyushi. That's why I went to see the exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum today, and happened to run into Mamiya Shinzo, who was meeting Tsubomi.

My stupid system mother, do you really think these are all coincidences?"

[Eh… what if? What if this is all just a coincidence? I'm incredibly lucky. ('ω')]

"Haha." Lin Shangren shook his head. "Impossible. After all, there are some operational points in the so-called series of coincidences. For example, Gaocheng Guangzi's invitation to me, and... the reason why Mamiya Shinji met with Shishinomiya Tsuzuko.

Xiao Ai, I'm certain there's something in the dark, somewhere, secretly guiding the course of events. It seems to want me to solve these two cases as quickly as possible. And..."

【besides?(?? . ??)】

"And... my specialness."

Lin Shangren once again looked at the skill called [Curse of Fall] in the skill column.

"What exactly does it want to guide me to do?"

Lin Shangren rubbed his neck and made up his mind.

"There's something fishy about Takagi Hiroko. We need to get in touch with her more closely. Also, regarding the case from six years ago, I'll have to ask Uozumi and the others to investigate Madoka."

"Classmate Xiao Ai, please give me the chance to win the lottery first." Lin Shangren said in his heart.

[Okay~ Let’s start the draw~]

[Ding~ Obtained skill card... Hey, wow, my lord, someone gave you gold coins! ?ω?]

"what?"

【Ah... nothing.】

Congratulations on obtaining the Skill Card: Shadow Control? Heart Shadow.

[Ability Description: The master of the Hundred Aspects and Stars' special skill. After unleashing this skill, the caster can spy on, influence, and exploit the psychological shadows of intelligent life within a certain range.]

[Note: **: "They say you can control shadows at will. I think psychological shadows are also fucking shadows!"]

"What the hell?!"

Chapter 105 YMCA

Looking at the description of the new skill, Lin Shangren suddenly asked Ai Xiluo Si, "Xiao Ai, where is the item I drew?"

【? ? ? (*°▽°*）】

[The prompt box is right in front of you, you're not trying to blackmail me, are you? ???]

"Huh? This is clearly the gold coins that the top brother on the list gave me... uh... a gift. He gave it to me for free. Does it have anything to do with the chance to win the lottery that I got myself?" Lin Shangren asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

【Ah this...】

"Hurry up and give me what I pulled out myself, don't try to take my kickbacks."

【…】

[Huh…Okay.]

[Actually, even if I give you the item you drew now, you can't use it. So, I'm saving it for you temporarily. Hehe. (*^ω^*)]

"Hehe, your uncle, stop talking nonsense and give it to me."

[Phew~ Congratulations on obtaining the Skill Card: Great Avada]

Ability Description: This melee magic, created by Hogwarts Swordmaster Howie Longbottom, combines the essence of Avatar's "Gnawing the Big Melon" and the stone-swinging magic of the Calia royal family. Using the power of the Imperius Curse, it condenses into a dark green magical sword, gathering strength before striking down with a powerful blow.

The size of the greatsword will continue to grow with the charging time and the input of magic. As long as the magic power is sufficient, a 40,000-meter greatsword is also easy to build.

Because it is a magical sword created by the Imperius Curse, it has an inherent instant kill effect. (It cannot be used in conjunction with the martial virtue of a sure-hit attack.)

[Note 1: This magic looks powerful, but is actually flashy and useless. But it does look cool!

[Note 2: Howie Longbottom: "Voldemort, you bastard! Be defeated by my amazing sword! Yeah!!!"]

"..."

This time it was Lin Shangren who was speechless.

"Your prize pool... is indeed quite wild. It has the aesthetic of a faded being awakening its magnetic power and wreaking havoc in Hogwarts."

【Well～→_→】

"So, why can't I use this magic?"

"Because you don't have any magic power yourself. The reason you can unleash the magic in the Dark Bible is because you stole some demonic energy from that Warp Demon when you fucked it. Once you use it up, it's gone."

"Tsk, I want to try this onboard Avatar. Changing ranged combat to melee, and then swinging a greatsword. The person who invented this magic must be a mentally ill sullen idiot."

Lin Shangren shook his head and walked towards Mamiya Xiner who was lying on the ground and twitching.

"Let's use him to test out our new abilities. As for how to use them... well, I have a rough idea."

The next moment, the shadow beneath Mamiya Shin'er transformed into a viscous swamp. The liquefied shadow extended countless wriggling tentacles, pulling him into the dark depths. Then, Lin Shangren's right eye turned black, and within his field of vision, a beating heart appeared, almost completely engulfed by the shadow, with only a hint of crimson flesh visible.

"Wow, that's a huge psychological shadow. Well, let me tell you, what's the biggest shadow in your heart?"

"Om~"

The space around Lin Shangren's body began to tremble, and the flow of time seemed to slow down. Lin Shangren's consciousness seemed to leave his body and rush into the deep pool where Jian Gong Xin'er's body was hidden.

Lin Shangren could not feel his own body. He seemed to have become an absolutely objective existence, watching the world from the perspective of an observer.

"This is his greatest fear."

Lin Shangren surveyed his surroundings. It was a large, empty room, its walls and ceiling a clean ivory white, its floor carpeted in a dark brown—colors that exuded elegance. The windowpanes were opaque, so he couldn't see outside.

The room was practically bare of furniture. A copper lighter, ashtray, and cigarette case sat on the coffee table that matched the sofa. A few standard landscape paintings hung on the walls, and a large cabinet sat by the window. There was nothing superfluous.

"So...where's Mamiya Shinji?"

Lin Shangren thought about it and looked at the big cabinet.

"Open."

Although Lin Shangren has no physical form, he can control everything in this space. It feels like playing a sandbox game.

Following Lin Shangren's command, the door of the large cabinet opened. As expected, the young form of Mamiya Shin'er was hiding inside.

"No... not hiding, but being locked in."

Lin Shangren saw the rope tied around Mamiya Shiner's wrists and the rag stuffed in her mouth.

"!"

Mamiya Shin'er himself was also shocked, not because the cabinet door opened inexplicably, but because he was just enduring the excruciating torture of being pierced by thousands of swords, so how did he suddenly end up here?

"Here is it? Here, is the classroom in that house. And here is that damn cabinet."

Mamiya Shinji really didn't want to call this house that carried his painful childhood memories home.