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Chapter 538: A Guest Who Arrived One Step Ahead
Late at night, 2 AM.
A Car sped past Preaching Mountain, then passed the Hospital where Joshua used to stay. Not far after driving out, it stopped by the Roadside.
"Master, will he really be hiding in this kind of Place?"
Hissashi craned his neck to look Outside the Car Window, "There's a Church over there, and it's not far from the Hospital he used to stay in. This Place isn't considered remote either, it's very easy to be found, right?"
"Hiding in plain sight," Chi Feichei looked towards the building complex on the left side of the Street, "He left the Hospital at Night, and the Hospital didn't discover he was missing until the next morning. They couldn't find him, and afterwards, the Hospital Report to Police and told the Church. The Police and the Church began searching for him, and it's easy to overlook this kind of Place because in their minds, one Night is enough Time for Joshua to leave very far. Currently, the Police are considering the possibility that he might have been murdered by others."
"Then is it possible that he really was murdered?" Non-Ink asked.
"Possible," Chi Feichei said, "But first, let's put aside the possibility of him being murdered and look at the possibility that he's hiding here. Back then, in that Case, the Culprit was shot dead on the spot for resisting arrest. After the Case was closed, there were many Suspicious Points, such as where the Culprit's Weapon was bought. The Police have never obtained corresponding Testimony, and from the old Photos, the Victim was Impalement to Death with a Spear on the Ground, but there were a large number of lacerations on his body, and the Blood left in the Room at the Crime Scene didn't match the Bleeding amount of two people..."
"The Culprit received Blood?" Non-Ink clicked his tongue.
Humans become very terrifying when they become twisted.
"The Police also made this Judgment and did a Blood Reaction Test at his Home," Chi Feichei paused, "No, apart from the Room at the Crime Scene, there was no Blood Reaction anywhere, on any Container, so the Police speculated that he directly used his mouth..."
Non-Ink: "..."
Hissashi asked in confusion, "What's wrong with directly using his mouth?"
"Pay attention to a few Details."
Chi Feichei didn't bother with the two Pets and continued analyzing.
"In the Photos we saw before, there was a Photo of the Study. There were some Books about Vampires on the Bookcase. From the book covers, you can also see the Situation of those Books being flipped through. Some Books about Vampires that are Reckless and vulgar were hardly flipped through, while 《The Vampire》, 《Carmilla》, and 《Dracula》 were flipped through more often."
"These three are very classic."
"《The Vampire》 was written in 1819 by a British poet's personal Doctor. In the Book, the Vampire protagonist was transformed from a murderous living Corpse into a British Gentleman Appearance."
"《Carmilla》 is a novella by a British weird fiction Writer between 1971 and 1972. In the Book, the female Vampire protagonist is described as beautiful and full of charm."
"《Dracula》, Dracula, is an 1897 Gothic horror Novel by an Ireland Writer. Dracula, the protagonist in the Book, is a refined and elegant Gentleman, which is also the basis for many Vampire Film and Television adaptations."
"The second Detail, the Things on the collection shelf, there is a set of Romanian traditional Clothes. Romania has always been the Place with the most complex Vampire superstitions. In the Novel 《Dracula》, Dracula's Residence is also in Transylvania, Romania. In addition, in the Case description, nails were nailed into the heads of the two Victims. This is an Old Custom in Romania to prevent the dead from becoming Vampires, indicating that he specifically went to Romania."
"The third Detail, judging from the introduction on the Post, the Culprit was once a very successful Merchant. Looking at the Situation in all the Photos, the Room is very tidy, and Things are placed very carefully. The Clothes in the Wardrobe are ironed without a single Wrinkle. The Decoration has a retro charm, and even at the Crime Scene, there is not too much messy Blood Stain. The Photos were taken after it was abandoned, and the Situation of the Corpse was not photographed, but at the Crime Scene, only a little Blood was left on the Ground under the Spear, and other Places were too clean."
"In addition, the Culprit used Impalement as a Method of Murder, which probably shows that this is a person who, after his Mind went crazy, still pays attention to Life taste, extremely worships elegant Vampires, especially Dracula."
Chi Feichei concluded, "It's hard to believe that such a person would directly use his mouth, especially after hearing that both Victims... were homeless people."
Back then, this Case was also a representative of madness. In Boston that year, Vampire-related culture was also attacked to a certain Degree.
This kind of thing is really hard to say. Some people just treat some Works as Fun, but a very small number of people just become mentally ill.
However, people are also good at forgetting. This Case was only discussed for a while that year, and then its Popularity was Replace by various Cases, and related Posts are about to sink to the Seabed.
If he hadn't been patient enough to search, he really wouldn't have been able to find the Details of this Case.
"Then the Blood and the Things for holding Blood..." Non-Ink tilted his Head and pondered, "Were they Throw away by him? No, if the Culprit really fanatically worships Vampires, he shouldn't Throw away those..."
"There is a Place in this House that the Police didn't Discovery, it might be a Secret Chamber," Chi Feichei concluded, "After the Murder Case happened here, Joshua once came on behalf of the Church. He might have Discovery the Secret Chamber left by the former House owner."
"Hiding in plain sight again, and the mysteries of the Case from previous years, if Joshua can really think so much, he's really not simple," Non-Ink looked at Chi Feichei, "However, Master, could this be the Choice you would make if you were standing in Joshua's Stance? Actually, he didn't think so much and ran far away long ago..."
"No, I wouldn't make this kind of Choice. Hiding here has no Food, and he will have to Go Out sooner or later. Going Out will be discovered. If I wanted to run away, I would choose to leave here earlier. Even if the Police would lock down my whereabouts based on Taxis and other Information, I would find a remote Place and circle around a few times to find a way to get rid of them. Moreover, Joshua hasn't committed any major Sin, he just Say some Statements that the Church doesn't like. He can completely change Place. After being found by the Police, he can just Say that he wants to live a peaceful Life, or even Retirement in that small Place," Chi Feichei looked at the building complex, "My Judgment is that he is here Because the Police have not found any Clues of him leaving Boston, and he has not been found by the Church all this Time. The Church has Search Command very strictly in other Places. If he were in other Places, it is very likely that he would have been found already. Those Places can be ruled out, leaving only here..."
"Without Food, could he already be dead?" Non-Ink asked.
Chi Feichei opened the Car Window, "Then you have to Go and Check."
"Master, aren't you going with me?" Non-Ink was embarrassed, "I don't know Human Language, I can't Communication."
"No wonder you insisted on having me send you here..."
Chi Feichei was not very interested in this kind of mysterious pretense, and as a Human, showing up might destroy the sense of mystery, but when necessary, he was also willing to Help Non-Ink.
"Okay, let's Go and Check first, and find that hidden Place."
Chi Feichei made a Decided, and without further delay, he went to the Trunk of the Car to find a Black Robe and a Mask, put them on, and walked into the Alley.
...
There were not many residents near the old Residence, and there was not a single figure on the Street late at Night.
Under the dim yellow Street Lamp, melted Snow water dripped from the Eaves and Wall Side, and a sharp and piercing cat meow came from a distance from Time to Time. Not only did it not bring a bit of vitality to this Place, but it made it seem even more eerie.
Chi Feichei walked through the unlocked Main Gate, raised his Eyes and Looked at a Car parked in the Courtyard, and quietly approached.
There was still Temperature remaining on the Car hood...
There were no Traces of Cars repeatedly entering and exiting in the Courtyard...
Not Godfather's Car, nor would it be a Car model that a 60-year-old Man would choose. A pendant of a Popular Band in Boston five or six years ago was still hanging in the Car...
Black pebbles were stuck on the Car wheels...
The Sun marks on the Car, the subtle Scratch Mark on the Rear of the bus, the Soil on the mudguards, the distance between the Car Seats, the faint Scent emanating from inside the Car, the Stain under the Rear Car Window...
A Male Guest, probably around 30 years old, a First Time visit, who just arrived from Port Beach not long ago.
"Master," Hissashi, who was hiding under the Black Robe to keep warm, directly spoiled the ending, "There are people in the Attic, not under the triangular tip of the Rooftop, but under the sloping Rooftop on the right side. It seems that when it was designed, the top of the Room below was deliberately pulled down a bit, leaving a space, um... there are two people."
"A Guest has arrived." Chi Feichei left the Car Side and walked towards the House, repeating Hissashi's Words very softly to Non-Ink.
Non-Ink consciously flew into the air and circled around the Rooftop, trying to find a Place where he could observe the Situation Inside the Room first.
Chi Feichei raised his Head and Looked at the layout of the Rooftop, stretched his Hand out of the Black Robe, and gesticulated to Non-Ink in the air.
Chimney.
...
Inside the Chimney connected to the Fireplace on the Third Floor, a Wooden Ladder leaned crookedly.
The wall bricks in the middle section were removed, and a small space Inside was lit by faint candlelight.
At the Entrance, the Floor was paved with black and white bricks into a large and complex Pattern.
The Wall Side was filled with Tools stained with black stains and rust, and some biscuits and Bread with relatively new packaging were piled up, as well as two small black long Boxes.
Near the Corner, Joshua, with white Hair and still wearing a Patient Gown, knelt on the Ground, looking down at the Ground motionlessly, like a Sculpture, only the faint rise and fall of his Chest proved that he was still alive.
A Middle-aged Man in a Black Robe stood aside with his back to the Door. On the Hat he put down was a tough face full of ferocity. He looked around left and right with boredom, "Father (Priest), it's really hard for you to find this Place."
"You also found this Place." Joshua still didn't move, "And I'm not a Father (Priest) anymore."
"I wanted to Go to Preaching Mountain for a Circle, and I followed you here when I passed by and Saw you," the Middle-aged Man walked to the Wall Side and looked at the two black long Boxes, "Consider my Proposal, Joshua. You can get Bombs by yourself, even when those people Outside are searching for you everywhere. Your Ability makes me admire you, and you are looking for this Thing for the same Purpose as us, right? Those Heretics Outside are really disgusting. We should send them to Hell and accept..."
"Is Belial your God?" Joshua suddenly asked.
The Middle-aged Man was stunned, "No, our God is Satan, and only Satan."
Joshua couldn't help but raise his Head and glanced at the Man, his Line of Sight focusing on the large Inverted Cross white Pattern on the Man's Black Robe.
Middle-aged Man: "..."
For some reason, from Joshua's Glance, he Saw... contempt?
Joshua was about to speak when he caught sight of a Crow at the Door from the corner of his Eye, and suddenly froze.
The Crow had pitch-black feathers with a blue sheen, and its scarlet Eyes were looking at them, with a meaning of scrutiny that only Talent would have, and it was stopping right in the center of the Pattern at the Entrance!
Just as he was stunned, the Crow tilted its Head to Look at him, flapped its Wings and flew out, and flew up along the Chimney again.
"Joshua?" The Middle-aged Man saw Joshua suddenly Turn Head and Staring at the Door, turned his Head in Doubt, and also heard the sound of Wings flapping, "What Thing..."
(End of Chapter)
Late at night, 2 AM.
A Car sped past Preaching Mountain, then passed the Hospital where Joshua used to stay. Not far after driving out, it stopped by the Roadside.
"Master, will he really be hiding in this kind of Place?"
Hissashi craned his neck to look Outside the Car Window, "There's a Church over there, and it's not far from the Hospital he used to stay in. This Place isn't considered remote either, it's very easy to be found, right?"
"Hiding in plain sight," Chi Feichei looked towards the building complex on the left side of the Street, "He left the Hospital at Night, and the Hospital didn't discover he was missing until the next morning. They couldn't find him, and afterwards, the Hospital Report to Police and told the Church. The Police and the Church began searching for him, and it's easy to overlook this kind of Place because in their minds, one Night is enough Time for Joshua to leave very far. Currently, the Police are considering the possibility that he might have been murdered by others."
"Then is it possible that he really was murdered?" Non-Ink asked.
"Possible," Chi Feichei said, "But first, let's put aside the possibility of him being murdered and look at the possibility that he's hiding here. Back then, in that Case, the Culprit was shot dead on the spot for resisting arrest. After the Case was closed, there were many Suspicious Points, such as where the Culprit's Weapon was bought. The Police have never obtained corresponding Testimony, and from the old Photos, the Victim was Impalement to Death with a Spear on the Ground, but there were a large number of lacerations on his body, and the Blood left in the Room at the Crime Scene didn't match the Bleeding amount of two people..."
"The Culprit received Blood?" Non-Ink clicked his tongue.
Humans become very terrifying when they become twisted.
"The Police also made this Judgment and did a Blood Reaction Test at his Home," Chi Feichei paused, "No, apart from the Room at the Crime Scene, there was no Blood Reaction anywhere, on any Container, so the Police speculated that he directly used his mouth..."
Non-Ink: "..."
Hissashi asked in confusion, "What's wrong with directly using his mouth?"
"Pay attention to a few Details."
Chi Feichei didn't bother with the two Pets and continued analyzing.
"In the Photos we saw before, there was a Photo of the Study. There were some Books about Vampires on the Bookcase. From the book covers, you can also see the Situation of those Books being flipped through. Some Books about Vampires that are Reckless and vulgar were hardly flipped through, while 《The Vampire》, 《Carmilla》, and 《Dracula》 were flipped through more often."
"These three are very classic."
"《The Vampire》 was written in 1819 by a British poet's personal Doctor. In the Book, the Vampire protagonist was transformed from a murderous living Corpse into a British Gentleman Appearance."
"《Carmilla》 is a novella by a British weird fiction Writer between 1971 and 1972. In the Book, the female Vampire protagonist is described as beautiful and full of charm."
"《Dracula》, Dracula, is an 1897 Gothic horror Novel by an Ireland Writer. Dracula, the protagonist in the Book, is a refined and elegant Gentleman, which is also the basis for many Vampire Film and Television adaptations."
"The second Detail, the Things on the collection shelf, there is a set of Romanian traditional Clothes. Romania has always been the Place with the most complex Vampire superstitions. In the Novel 《Dracula》, Dracula's Residence is also in Transylvania, Romania. In addition, in the Case description, nails were nailed into the heads of the two Victims. This is an Old Custom in Romania to prevent the dead from becoming Vampires, indicating that he specifically went to Romania."
"The third Detail, judging from the introduction on the Post, the Culprit was once a very successful Merchant. Looking at the Situation in all the Photos, the Room is very tidy, and Things are placed very carefully. The Clothes in the Wardrobe are ironed without a single Wrinkle. The Decoration has a retro charm, and even at the Crime Scene, there is not too much messy Blood Stain. The Photos were taken after it was abandoned, and the Situation of the Corpse was not photographed, but at the Crime Scene, only a little Blood was left on the Ground under the Spear, and other Places were too clean."
"In addition, the Culprit used Impalement as a Method of Murder, which probably shows that this is a person who, after his Mind went crazy, still pays attention to Life taste, extremely worships elegant Vampires, especially Dracula."
Chi Feichei concluded, "It's hard to believe that such a person would directly use his mouth, especially after hearing that both Victims... were homeless people."
Back then, this Case was also a representative of madness. In Boston that year, Vampire-related culture was also attacked to a certain Degree.
This kind of thing is really hard to say. Some people just treat some Works as Fun, but a very small number of people just become mentally ill.
However, people are also good at forgetting. This Case was only discussed for a while that year, and then its Popularity was Replace by various Cases, and related Posts are about to sink to the Seabed.
If he hadn't been patient enough to search, he really wouldn't have been able to find the Details of this Case.
"Then the Blood and the Things for holding Blood..." Non-Ink tilted his Head and pondered, "Were they Throw away by him? No, if the Culprit really fanatically worships Vampires, he shouldn't Throw away those..."
"There is a Place in this House that the Police didn't Discovery, it might be a Secret Chamber," Chi Feichei concluded, "After the Murder Case happened here, Joshua once came on behalf of the Church. He might have Discovery the Secret Chamber left by the former House owner."
"Hiding in plain sight again, and the mysteries of the Case from previous years, if Joshua can really think so much, he's really not simple," Non-Ink looked at Chi Feichei, "However, Master, could this be the Choice you would make if you were standing in Joshua's Stance? Actually, he didn't think so much and ran far away long ago..."
"No, I wouldn't make this kind of Choice. Hiding here has no Food, and he will have to Go Out sooner or later. Going Out will be discovered. If I wanted to run away, I would choose to leave here earlier. Even if the Police would lock down my whereabouts based on Taxis and other Information, I would find a remote Place and circle around a few times to find a way to get rid of them. Moreover, Joshua hasn't committed any major Sin, he just Say some Statements that the Church doesn't like. He can completely change Place. After being found by the Police, he can just Say that he wants to live a peaceful Life, or even Retirement in that small Place," Chi Feichei looked at the building complex, "My Judgment is that he is here Because the Police have not found any Clues of him leaving Boston, and he has not been found by the Church all this Time. The Church has Search Command very strictly in other Places. If he were in other Places, it is very likely that he would have been found already. Those Places can be ruled out, leaving only here..."
"Without Food, could he already be dead?" Non-Ink asked.
Chi Feichei opened the Car Window, "Then you have to Go and Check."
"Master, aren't you going with me?" Non-Ink was embarrassed, "I don't know Human Language, I can't Communication."
"No wonder you insisted on having me send you here..."
Chi Feichei was not very interested in this kind of mysterious pretense, and as a Human, showing up might destroy the sense of mystery, but when necessary, he was also willing to Help Non-Ink.
"Okay, let's Go and Check first, and find that hidden Place."
Chi Feichei made a Decided, and without further delay, he went to the Trunk of the Car to find a Black Robe and a Mask, put them on, and walked into the Alley.
...
There were not many residents near the old Residence, and there was not a single figure on the Street late at Night.
Under the dim yellow Street Lamp, melted Snow water dripped from the Eaves and Wall Side, and a sharp and piercing cat meow came from a distance from Time to Time. Not only did it not bring a bit of vitality to this Place, but it made it seem even more eerie.
Chi Feichei walked through the unlocked Main Gate, raised his Eyes and Looked at a Car parked in the Courtyard, and quietly approached.
There was still Temperature remaining on the Car hood...
There were no Traces of Cars repeatedly entering and exiting in the Courtyard...
Not Godfather's Car, nor would it be a Car model that a 60-year-old Man would choose. A pendant of a Popular Band in Boston five or six years ago was still hanging in the Car...
Black pebbles were stuck on the Car wheels...
The Sun marks on the Car, the subtle Scratch Mark on the Rear of the bus, the Soil on the mudguards, the distance between the Car Seats, the faint Scent emanating from inside the Car, the Stain under the Rear Car Window...
A Male Guest, probably around 30 years old, a First Time visit, who just arrived from Port Beach not long ago.
"Master," Hissashi, who was hiding under the Black Robe to keep warm, directly spoiled the ending, "There are people in the Attic, not under the triangular tip of the Rooftop, but under the sloping Rooftop on the right side. It seems that when it was designed, the top of the Room below was deliberately pulled down a bit, leaving a space, um... there are two people."
"A Guest has arrived." Chi Feichei left the Car Side and walked towards the House, repeating Hissashi's Words very softly to Non-Ink.
Non-Ink consciously flew into the air and circled around the Rooftop, trying to find a Place where he could observe the Situation Inside the Room first.
Chi Feichei raised his Head and Looked at the layout of the Rooftop, stretched his Hand out of the Black Robe, and gesticulated to Non-Ink in the air.
Chimney.
...
Inside the Chimney connected to the Fireplace on the Third Floor, a Wooden Ladder leaned crookedly.
The wall bricks in the middle section were removed, and a small space Inside was lit by faint candlelight.
At the Entrance, the Floor was paved with black and white bricks into a large and complex Pattern.
The Wall Side was filled with Tools stained with black stains and rust, and some biscuits and Bread with relatively new packaging were piled up, as well as two small black long Boxes.
Near the Corner, Joshua, with white Hair and still wearing a Patient Gown, knelt on the Ground, looking down at the Ground motionlessly, like a Sculpture, only the faint rise and fall of his Chest proved that he was still alive.
A Middle-aged Man in a Black Robe stood aside with his back to the Door. On the Hat he put down was a tough face full of ferocity. He looked around left and right with boredom, "Father (Priest), it's really hard for you to find this Place."
"You also found this Place." Joshua still didn't move, "And I'm not a Father (Priest) anymore."
"I wanted to Go to Preaching Mountain for a Circle, and I followed you here when I passed by and Saw you," the Middle-aged Man walked to the Wall Side and looked at the two black long Boxes, "Consider my Proposal, Joshua. You can get Bombs by yourself, even when those people Outside are searching for you everywhere. Your Ability makes me admire you, and you are looking for this Thing for the same Purpose as us, right? Those Heretics Outside are really disgusting. We should send them to Hell and accept..."
"Is Belial your God?" Joshua suddenly asked.
The Middle-aged Man was stunned, "No, our God is Satan, and only Satan."
Joshua couldn't help but raise his Head and glanced at the Man, his Line of Sight focusing on the large Inverted Cross white Pattern on the Man's Black Robe.
Middle-aged Man: "..."
For some reason, from Joshua's Glance, he Saw... contempt?
Joshua was about to speak when he caught sight of a Crow at the Door from the corner of his Eye, and suddenly froze.
The Crow had pitch-black feathers with a blue sheen, and its scarlet Eyes were looking at them, with a meaning of scrutiny that only Talent would have, and it was stopping right in the center of the Pattern at the Entrance!
Just as he was stunned, the Crow tilted its Head to Look at him, flapped its Wings and flew out, and flew up along the Chimney again.
"Joshua?" The Middle-aged Man saw Joshua suddenly Turn Head and Staring at the Door, turned his Head in Doubt, and also heard the sound of Wings flapping, "What Thing..."
(End of Chapter)
