“Chapter 59”

"Chapter 59"

"Darian’s brows relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his face, a look Oer enjoyed: 'What's next for you all?'"

"'Wait for those guys to bring the files.'"

"'Before they arrive, come and cook with me. We're starting to make the sugar.'"

"'Making sugar already?' 'Sugar!' The werewolves' eyes lit up as they clamored excitedly. Although no longer children, who doesn't love sweets?"

"As the wooden lid was lifted, a sweet aroma wafted through the air, albeit with a slightly off-putting yellowish hue."

"It was time for the filter bag to shine once again. Oer filtered the mixture twice, leaving behind a yellow liquid that he began to boil."

"The werewolves' craving for sugar and their intense curiosity made them disregard the unsightly color of the residue. Oer turned around to find a werewolf retracting a finger from the residue and licking it."

"'It's sweet!' 'Potatoes can make sugar!' 'Truly sweet...'"

"Once they confirmed it was indeed sweet, they even began pinching the residue to eat."

"'Don't eat that! Put it down! That's for the trash!' Oer chided, knocking the werewolves’ paws with a spatula. Their true nature was now fully exposed, 'You'll have sugar soon!'"

"Though he said 'soon', there was still more boiling to do. Originally in the kitchen, it was unanimously decided to move the operation to the living room on the coal essence stove. Everyone played cards while the sugar boiled. This was heaven compared to the last oyster sauce boiling session. Everyone squinted contentedly, occasionally sniffing the air, looking blissfully intoxicated."

"Are these werewolves? Or bears? They have such a fondness for sweets."

"The syrup reduced, turning from a murky yellow to a beautiful golden hue. The spoon lifted from the pot drew up golden sheets of syrup, the bubbles boiling up then subsiding. The pure, unadulterated sweet aroma had everyone unconsciously swallowing saliva."

"Including Darian and even Oer."

"Modern life dictates low sugar and salt intake because of overconsumption, but now... he wanted sugar! Lots and lots of it!"

"'It's ready, we can pour it out now.' This malt sugar, once cooled, would be like honey in consistency."

"The malt sugar was poured into prepared glass jars, yielding more than expected – about a pound and a half."

"A pound of honey currently sells for 15 to 20 gold emblems, and some from specific estates even go for around 50. Sugar is even more expensive. Essentially, these prices aren't meant for common purchase; they're set high to be unaffordable for most, while those with estates and large colonial lands can indulge freely. Sugar has become a symbol of class distinction."

"There's still some left in the pot... but no point in scraping it out."

"I'll make something for you to eat. Before I finish..." Oer glanced at the pot and then at the expectant faces of the werewolves, "Do you want bread?"

"Why would we want bread?" Valenza Serto asked in confusion, promptly elbowed by a companion in the ribs.

Oer concluded that this guy was a simpleton.

"Thank you! We'd like some bread!"

Why ask for bread? To wipe the pot, of course. Sure, he could just pour some water in it and stir, turning it into sugar water. But that's just for cleaning the pot, so no.

Oer put two jars of malt sugar in the kitchen and returned with some bread, while Darian waited for him there. Back in the kitchen, Oer grabbed a wooden spoon, scooped some malt sugar, and offered a spoonful to Darian.

Darian's smile as he accepted the malt sugar made Oer really want to kiss him.

"Can a mature and strong man also have such a cute smile? Ah, he's licking the sugar with his tongue. Such an ugly act, yet still so adorable."

"It's not just a lover's bias. Oer was sure he wasn't in love with Darian yet, but Darian genuinely looked cute."

"Before tasting the sugar, his eyes sparkled with curiosity, turning to huge surprise the moment he tasted it, and then complete satisfaction as the sugary flavor filled his mouth."

"Darian noticed Oer watching him. He looked up with a '?' in his eyes."

"Can I kiss you?" Oer asked.

"Darian was momentarily surprised but then nodded happily: 'Of course, anytime.'"

"Oer stepped closer and on his toes, kissed Darian's lips. Feeling the soft touch on his lips, Oer suddenly yearned for more, his tongue instinctively reaching out – it was all the tongue's doing, the brain was innocent."

"'It's sweet.' Oer said, stepping back and looking at Darian."

"Darian tilted his head and blinked at him: 'The sugar or me?'"

"'...' Your height, weight, and your appearance and demeanor... asking such a question, don't you think it's... excessively cute?"

"You're sweeter than sugar."

"Darian didn't blush when he asked, and Oer didn't blush when he replied, but after their exchange, both of them blushed together."

"'Ahem! I'll make the food.'"

"An hour and a half later, Oer brought out three plates of deep-fried milk."

"'Wait, after each of you tries every plate, tell me which one tastes the best.'"

"The werewolves obediently nodded in agreement, each taking a piece of deep-fried milk from all three plates."

"'How is it?'"

"Five werewolf paws, including Darian's, unanimously pointed to the third plate—the one with the most malt sugar."

"'Sigh...' Oer had tasted them before serving, feeling the first plate was just right, the second a bit too sweet, and the third quite heavy. He thought the second would be the werewolves' favorite, but he underestimated their taste for sweetness – 'Fine, the recipe is set. This one's regular sugar, this one's extra sugar.'"

"Regular sugar was the second variety, while extra sugar was the werewolves' favorite."

"Knock, knock." A knock at the door heralded the arrival of a werewolf carrying two boxes. "Sir, Garcia, case files have been delivered."

"The police stations were indeed swift; in just over two hours, the files had started arriving."

"'Thomas, wait.' Oer called to the werewolf delivering the files and quickly went to the kitchen, returning with a large basket familiar to everyone. 'Your share.'"

"Thomas Belcato had indeed envied the deep-fried milk on the table upon entering, but resigned himself to bad luck. Anka hadn’t got to taste it either, right? Maybe next time it would be someone else's turn to watch enviously. But who would have thought Oer would remember them?"

"'...Thank you, sir.'"

"Back at the police station, Thomas placed the basket on the coffee table in the chief's office lounge area: 'I should thank Lady Elishina.'"

“？”

"'She turned me down, so I went to Sir’s side. What a pity, I should have pursued Sir; I have a similar type to Garcia.'"

"'Come on, you’re straight.'"

"'Watch your big talk, or Garcia might break your legs~'"

"'Ah! These deep-fried milk are so sweet!' 'Is this honey?' 'Deep-fried pork!'"

"The first layer in the basket was deep-fried milk, followed by a layer of oil residue with a small jar of malt sugar. Oer remembered thinking the last time he made oil residue for them that if he let them dip it in malt sugar, they would go crazy. He was right; the werewolves on night shift at the station ate as if they were high."

"If not for their status, they would have loved to open the window and howl at the outside world."

"However, the werewolves at home couldn't enjoy the oil residue dipped in malt sugar yet, as the case files had arrived. Eating fried food might dirty the files, so they stuck with deep-fried milk and milk tea for now."

"Freshly made milk tea with added sugar, lemon jelly, and cream cheese frosting, the only downside being the lack of ice; they were all hot."

"Six people divided the case files among themselves, reading and summarizing as they went."

"Oer felt immense pressure, as the captain had given him the files of the first six victims. Darian didn't explain much, but he must understand that in a serial murder case, the earlier victims are likely to provide more clues, as the killer is also evolving."

"'By the way, Garcia,' Oer turned to Darian, 'before the 'Sodeman Daily' published this case, were there already rumors about this killer circulating in the market?'"

"'I'm not sure about that. I'll ask someone tomorrow. If there weren't any rumors, does that mean the copycat is someone from the police station?' Darian understood Oer's implication."

"'And the journalists,' added Oer."

"Darian nodded, considering it a valid suspicion."

"Returning to the case files, the first victim, Tina Schul, was pictured in a full-body photo. She had black hair and brown eyes, with an elegant and intellectual appearance."

"She was a family tutor for Baron Belt's children, enlightening them on piano and violin. Her father was a violinist, her mother a merchant's daughter, and she had two older brothers and a younger brother."

"Miss Schul was unmarried with no romantic involvements, including with the baron. Oer, unfamiliar with nobility, marked a question on Baron Belt's name."

"Miss Schul usually returned home every Saturday afternoon and then back to the Baron Belt's house on Sunday afternoons. Occasionally, she would go shopping at a department store or have a small gathering with a few friends before heading home. But on the last Saturday of last November, it was past seven o'clock and she hadn't arrived home, and neither the Baron's house nor Miss Schul's friends had sent any message."

"Her brothers went to look for her, only to be told by Baron Belt's household that she had left the estate at one-thirty in the afternoon. None of Miss Schul's friends had seen her either. Both families sent out numerous people to search for her and reported her missing to the police."

"After all, one of them was a baron's family, and Mr. Schul, a violinist frequently invited to noble gatherings, also had extensive connections. The police stations in the Wutong District (Schul's home) and Queen's District (Baron's home) began a search."

"For the first two years of her service at Baron Belt's house, Miss Schul returned home in the Baron’s carriage, but in recent months, perhaps feeling safe and familiar with the route, she started using public carriages called by the servants. Usually, these carriage drivers were known to the servants, and Miss Schul indeed always used the same driver for her trips home."

"The carriage driver was found dead the next morning, disguised as a drunkard and stuffed into a street corner. Tracking a public carriage was impossible; there were no surveillance systems, and all public carriages looked the same, with drivers dressed similarly and not given much attention, making it impossible to track a specific carriage's movements."

"Six days later, Miss Schul’s body was discovered in a pile of snow."

"She had suffered abuse and assault before her death. The autopsy revealed she was frozen to death."

"Oer was seeing an official autopsy report from this world for the first time, detailing the injuries on the body's surface and the internal state post-mortem, which even a layman like him could understand."

"Miss Schul’s hands and feet showed signs of being bound for a long time. Two of her teeth were knocked out, three ribs were broken, and there was very little food in her stomach, but traces of red wine and cheese were found."

"The police also questioned the cleaner who discovered her body, but on the night before the discovery, a heavy snowfall had occurred, and the impoverished couldn't leave their homes, so it was unclear when the snow pile with the body had formed."

"This was indeed a crime committed after long-term observation. The killer was wealthy, with a place to detain victims without being discovered by others."

"Oer wrote these conclusions in his notes, pausing as he finished the last letter."

"Didn’t Miss Schul realize the route taken by the carriage was wrong? And it wasn’t clarified in the file whether the one who took Miss Schul away was that same driver, or if the servants didn’t remember who the driver was. If the driver was an accomplice, then even though he was dead, more clues could be found from him."

"He included these points in the case file as well."

"The second victim, Baldona Shelver, was found half a month after Miss Schul’s body was discovered, still in winter. Her body, naked, was found on a street corner. Two drunkards discovered her and desecrated her body; patrolling officers stumbled upon this tragedy."

"She was a merchant's illegitimate daughter, working as a saleswoman at the Bodet Brothers Jewelry Store, thanks to a letter of recommendation from the merchant. She had golden curly hair and green eyes, her photo in the file showing her bright and passionate smile."

"Bodet Brothers Jewelry, a high-end brand with over two hundred years of history, had a store in the Wutong District. Her lifestyle was completely different from Miss Schul’s, but their areas of activity overlapped; the jewelry store was just two streets away from Schul’s home."

"One day she unexpectedly didn’t show up for work. The store manager went to look for her and found she hadn’t returned home either, prompting a police report."

"Her injuries were even more brutal: her jaw nearly shattered, one eye punctured by a sharp weapon. The coroner’s report couldn’t determine whether she died from blood loss or from pain."

"Additionally, the ribbon around her neck was tied so tightly it had cut into her flesh."

"The killer displayed extreme violence and anger. But why?"

"The third victim, Lina Bartley, was unmarried, a merchant's daughter with golden-brown hair and gray eyes. Sweet and charming, she worked as a Sunday school teacher at a public school run by the church, essentially a volunteer."

"She vanished on her way home from the church and was found seven days later. Her injuries were less severe compared to the first two victims. Found at the church's entrance, covered with a bedsheet, her arms crossed over her chest, a white ribbon with a small satin flower around her neck, she died from an overdose of angel dust."

"Could this be interpreted as the killer feeling guilt over Lina's death?"

"The fourth victim, Anliya Gorlon, was the first married woman. She had tea-colored eyes and chestnut hair. She went out for a gathering and never returned home. Three days later, her body was found at the entrance of the alley on her street."

"The fifth victim, Bailianna Bolte, had just gotten engaged. She worked as a teller at Pustet Bank. She disappeared after work and was found by a night watchman only two days later. Her foot was hanging from a street lamp – a complete humiliation considering she was only wearing a ribbon around her neck."

"The sixth victim, Shantel Nito, unmarried, lived at home teaching music with her parents. She went missing on her way to the church and was found seven days later in a side alley."

"Oer pulled out the file on Anliya Gorlon. As everyone finished reviewing their files, Darian suggested, 'Instead of swapping files, which would take too much time, let's each summarize our own files in order?'"

"In Oer's mind, he pictured a crime drama scene, where a group of police sat in a meeting room, facing a blackboard with photos of victims and key clues, only they didn't have a blackboard now."

"'Oer, you start?'"

"'...' The bubble of his imagination burst – how had he forgotten he was first?"

"Standing up, Oer felt his hands stiffen while holding the file. Despite his familiarity with the werewolves, this work-report-like situation still made him quite nervous."

"'Ahem!' After coughing twice and taking a deep breath, Oer opened the case file and his notebook."

"After all, he was earnestly interpreting the file, listing out the doubts and organizing the clues clearly. Although he started somewhat hesitantly, he soon became more fluent."

"Finally, Oer opened the separate file of Anliya Gorlon on the table: 'From the circumstances of the other five victims, the Ribbon Killer targets unmarried women with respectable jobs and good reputations."

"Anliya Gorlon, however, was married. Although she could be considered a businesswoman, her wealth was inherited from her father and didn't quite fit the profile of a working woman. I suspect the person who killed her is a copycat.'"

"The file doesn’t mention Anliya’s reputation, only that she attended private parties alone late at night. Oer didn’t see this as inherently wrong; after all, didn't he himself often spend all night 'reveling' with a group of werewolves?"

"But this lady's situation indeed differed from the other five victims. Oer could see the difference, and he believed other police officers could too. Yet they still classified her death under the Ribbon Killer, perhaps just for convenience?"

"Regarding Mrs. Gorlon's case, Oer even had a suspect in mind – Mr. Gorlon, as the circumstances seemed too much like a husband plotting for inheritance, 'it's always the husband'."

"But he had never met Mr. Gorlon, nor was he familiar with the family situation of the Gorlons. Relying on his own subjective assumptions... with the current legal system, it could lead to the conviction of an innocent person."

"Thus, this suspicion was merely marked with a question next to Mr. Gorlon’s name."

"'Your reasoning in the dock case was impressive. I’ve never seen other police officers solve cases like you do.'"

"Oer instinctively asked, 'How do they solve cases?'"

"The werewolves subtly smiled."

"'Just arrest anyone who looks like a criminal,' Iver said in a sharp tone."

"Oer remembered being falsely accused of killing the police chief, back when he was 'someone who

"It's not always like that." Dalian spoke up for the police, "They also question nearby people, search for evidence, look for witnesses, and seek suspects."

At that moment, Orle thought of the falsely accused tanner, Adam Peso, with the unreliable witness, Vance Dort, and the provided weapon, a broken fruit knife, which nearly sealed Peso's fate.

The reasons for such situations were partly due to malice, but also because the police were utterly clueless about how to be proper officers. This included the original host and Orle; one was an eighteen-year-old high school student, and the other had been a 'salted fish' for over a decade. Neither knew the first thing about policing.

Orle was somewhat better off, at least having TV dramas as a reference...

"'Can we see your notes? We probably need to update our own summaries.'"

"Orr willingly obliged but only pulled out a page of notes about Mr. Golron and other suspects, not wanting to mislead Dalian and the others."

"Forty minutes later, Dalian continued his summary."

"He was summarizing individuals seven to twelve, whose circumstances were even more suspicious. One, a department store fitting model, disappeared after leaving a client's home in the Queen's District, only to be found half a day later on Nordei Avenue in the Shell District."

"Modern fashion models typically walk in shows and exhibitions to display clothing and accessories. Fitting models, although also 'clothes hangers,' work differently. Clients first browse catalogues, and if interested in an outfit, the models wear it to showcase the look."

"Modern models wear designer-chosen outfits, whereas fitting models wear what the clients demand. Especially for high-end clients, fitting models, along with designers, visit the client’s home and are often requested to stay, which isn't unusual."

"Among the victims were two sisters, the elder sixteen and the younger just twelve. The elder sister helped her parents sell silverware in their store, while the younger was not yet employed. They disappeared together during an intermission at a theater, their bodies found four days later on Liserd Avenue in the Wutong District."