Saint?Just a bad woman

The Avlov, entangled in sea fog, cannot see the wonderful sea view for the time being. No matter where you look out, the limited field of vision is all white. The entire ship is like a ship cemetery that has strayed into the sea. According to legend, The "Triangle of Death".

Unspeakable emotions surged in Santa Karina's heart. The mist like a sea tide had spread onto the deck, and the air became increasingly humid.The floor-to-ceiling glass was covered with a thin layer of water vapor, and the scene outside the cabin became hazy and distorted under the influence of water vapor.

The shoulder was hit by a hard object, and the thoughts flying around dropped at any time and returned to the body.

"Why are you dazed? The coffee shop is here."

"Sorry, I was thinking about something."

The remaining half of the sentence was stuck in my throat.Regarding possible errors in the Avlov's route, one should not communicate with temporary partners, and the other party also looked uninterested.

There is a big difference between something that may go wrong and something that will definitely go wrong. I hope I just worry too much.The course of a large passenger ship will not be changed by the words of a passenger, unless the passenger has the ability to hijack both the captain and the cab.

Such a brave thug was waiting for only the bullets rewarded by the police.

Santa Carolina and Virginie walked into the cafe, and the rich aroma of cocoa beans hit their faces.The industrial-style classic cafe has dim tones, dark gray wallpaper, pure black sofas and dark red wooden tables, and the colors are low-key and stable.

A chandelier surrounded by a brass-colored metal shell hangs from the ceiling. The bulbs are all warm lights. The yellow light makes the atmosphere in the cafe extremely soft.

The steam pipes on the wall are scattered at random, like an intertwined metal network. The steam grinder next to the bar extends two mechanical arms to pick up the coffee beans placed in the designated area, split them and dump them into the area to be ground.

The grinder is fully automated, allowing waiters to free their hands and spend more time serving customers.

The mechanical jukebox in the corner was playing the tracks on the record in order. The shape of the jukebox looked like a metal cabinet with double doors.There is a drawer on the upper level where records are stuffed.

Such an elegant place, it's quite interesting to talk about a horrific murder.

Santa Karina walked to the bar and glanced at the menu, which was as gorgeous as a hardcover book.The number of times you can enjoy the cafe for free is limited, and she remembers that she could only get one cup for free at the end.

The last cup must be apple-flavored black tea.

"A cup of apple black tea." x2

They spoke in unison and ordered the same drink.

If it hadn't been said at the same time, Santa Karina would have suspected that this was a herd phenomenon.

"Would you like to order the classic Victoria Apple Black Tea or the low-sugar Cales Apple Black Tea? There are many kinds of drinks on the menu to choose from..."

"A cup of low-sugar Cales apple black tea."

Virginie interrupted the waiter, her eloquent words cut off by her cold eyes.

Apparently she doesn't like people talking too much, especially people trying to sell something.A truly opinionated person will not be swayed by anyone or anything, and Santa Karina was deeply aware of this.

“I’ll have the Classic Victoria Apple Black Tea.”

Although the things they like belong to the same general category, when they are further subdivided, they are two different things.Santa Karina really likes this drink and has nothing to do with following the trend.

During the ordering process, the waitress was shocked by Virginie's pressure.This absolute pressure comes from the courage and financial resources of the nobles. Every staff member on the ship is just trying to make ends meet, so naturally they have to lower their profile.

The waiter's hand when writing with the pen shook repeatedly, and the words he wrote looked a bit sloppy and crooked.

Virginie had no ill intentions toward her, but she had a naturally unfriendly face. As long as there was no smile on her face, the people opposite her would automatically judge her as being malicious or even hostile.

As long as no real harm was caused, she never explained.Explaining is a waste of time, and explaining and analyzing oneself with unfamiliar people is a waste of life.

Under the terrified gaze of the female waiter, another male waiter wearing a white shirt, black vest and black tie led them into the box closest to the corner.

This private room is far away from the door. The walls are made of Victoria's most high-end sound insulation materials, and the surface is covered with dark gray industrial-style wallpaper, which implements the cold and hard era style to the end.

The ceiling above the round table is a mechanical light made in the shape of an airship. Press several different switches to correspond to different areas of the mechanical light. The brightness and color are also slightly different, and it looks quite similar.

Based on what she saw and heard today, Santa Karina guessed that she had arrived in a steampunk-style world.Machinery, gears, pipes and equipment emitting white steam can be seen everywhere, with brass as the main tone, and airships - products with unique contemporary colors.

After they were all seated, the waiter bowed first and said, "You two ladies, please wait a moment. The drinks will be delivered later. If you have any needs, please press the service bell on the table and we will appear immediately."

This young man in his 20s is obviously much more calm than the girl who received the guests. He has an ordinary appearance, with short brown hair neatly trimmed and fixed with cheap hair oil. He has a little beard on his face and bright green eyes. Make him appear energetic and enthusiastic about his work.

His enthusiasm and etiquette are just right and will not offend anyone. If they are too warm and polite, they will be overwhelming, and if they are too little, they will be indifferent.

The treatment of people in the upper class is really good, and I have begun to envy them.

While waiting, Santa Karina took out a pen and a portable notebook from her pocket on the other side.It's an old fountain pen. The black paint has worn and peeled off due to time, and the outer shell has been rubbed smoother.The light gold nib has been well maintained and is always as bright as new, with no ink stain visible on the nib.

There was still a little half of the ink in the ink sac. Santa Karina took off the pen cover, opened the thread-bound notebook that was almost falling apart, opened it to the latest blank page, drew a circle in the center, and wrote "Murder" in Victorian language. motivation".

"The first thing is the murderer's motive."

The string of words on the white paper were written in a vigorous style, not at all as graceful and soft as the woman.

"Based on the general direction of judgment, I think it can be divided into the following 10 branches."

There are some more slanted lines on the structure diagram, and there is an extra line of words under each line.According to the knowledge she has accumulated, the motives for killing can be summarized as greed motives, silence motives, revenge motives, political motives, employment motives, obedience motives, adultery motives, indignation motives, fame and fortune motives and suspicion motives.

These contents are also listed in detail on the structure diagram.

Virginie neither refuted nor affirmed, acting calmly.

"You go on, I'm listening."

"Finally, we need to add the most critical one - conflict of faith. This motive for killing may seem nonsensical, but it is the fundamental reason why many people have the intention to kill."

St. Carolina wrote a larger line on the right side, highlighting its importance.Although the other listed branches have the potential to be discussed in depth, what is more worthy of study now is the motivation for killing related to faith.

"In a world with many different gods, different beliefs were born. There must be opposition and conflict between beliefs. The two parties that hate each other will harbor resentment and regard each other as their enemies. Don't you think that the murder scene was arranged so well? Is it very deliberate? Like some kind of religious punishment ritual."

“That’s how I felt when I first saw it.”

"The solar energy depicted on the tiles is used as an 'altar'. The deceased is a 'sacrifice' that needs to be judged. The spear that pierced his abdomen is a sacred object of judgment. The sword in his hand is used to offer the head... It will be dealt with in this way. The only one for sinners is the Original God Religion, right?”

The Origin God Religion is a small religion that was born when Victoria was first established. Its teachings are very extreme and one-sided. It believes that the direction of the world today is completely wrong. Humanity should not enter the age of steam industry. The development of science and technology will only bring disaster.

The believers of the Origin God Religion refused to integrate into the industrial age and became members who enjoyed the convenience of the industrial age. They maintained a traditional way of life. Although it was not as exaggerated as slash-and-burn farming, it was still similar.

Cooking stoves made of stone, igniting charcoal fire to heat iron pots to cook food, and boiling water in the same way. Everything related to machinery is classified into the category of "technology and hard work", and they absolutely do not use it. Reach out to, and vigorously resist, anyone who holds a contrary opinion.

After recalling the relevant facts, Santa Karina continued to tell her own opinions. Virginie opposite her was holding a silver lighter in her hand and tapping it on the table.

"People who believe in that religion are lunatics, and they do have a motive for killing. The deceased was a mounted policeman, and the Mounted Police Department in Victoria requires recruits to envelope Maztelia, the goddess of mechanical industry. This is my reason."

248. Talk freely

"What you mentioned can only be counted as one of the possibilities. What about the other 10 motives for killing? We need to analyze and exclude them one by one."

The tapping sound on the table stopped, the silver lighter rotated in the center of the graceful fingers, and finally returned to the pocket.

Virginie also has her own personal notepad, which looks brand new and clean compared to Santa Karina's. It is paired with an unknown high-end brand pen with a silver shell and a gold nib.

"We are currently unable to investigate the victim's social relationship. He knew no one on the ship except his wife. We have temporarily ruled out the possibility that an acquaintance committed the crime. The murderer was probably motivated by property and also had a perverted desire for expression and creation. , after killing Mr. Philemon, he suddenly had a whim and arranged the murder scene into a sacrificial ceremony."

"Such an understanding is a bit crude, Miss Williams."

"You think it's too complicated."

The two had conflicting opinions and were about to start a heated argument.The tactful waiter just knocked on the wooden door of the private room, interrupting the discussion.

"You two ladies, the drinks you ordered just now are ready. Do you need them brought in right away?"

"come in."

Virginie turned the two notebooks on the table upside down to block the investigation information on them.The waiter couldn't see the contents of the notebook, so he had no way of knowing what they were discussing.

A detective game between two people does not require a third person to join in - Virginie once said arrogantly.

This game is not a one-on-one competitive game and relies on the individual and collaborative abilities of the participants.It is always easier for two people to work together than to solve a problem alone.

Steaming apple black tea, served in a porcelain tea set with a tray.

Tea sets are mostly produced in Burma, the second largest city in Victoria, where there are tens of thousands of workshops and factories, working day and night to produce various daily items for Victoria.

The most common pattern on tea cups and tea trays is the rose. The rose is the national flower of Victoria. In addition to being often seen on tableware used in the catering industry, it is also inseparable from its decoration in the field of architecture, clothing and paintings.

The lion, the machine and the rose are collectively known as the three major symbols of Victoria.

The white porcelain tea set specially used on the Avlov is surrounded by a golden rose on the outer wall, and the cup handle is an attractive pure gold.The pattern of the tea tray is the same as that of the tea cup, which is a noble and flamboyant golden rose pattern.

If you sell the tea cups, you should be able to get some money to live by.

Of course, Santa Karina couldn't do that kind of thing.She has a greater goal, to get the reward she wants from Virginie by solving the puzzle left by the perverted killer, not just money.

The waiter put down the items on the tray, then brought creamer, sugar cubes and granulated sugar, and laid out light blue napkins folded into squares.

"These are the ingredients. You two can add them according to your own taste. Is there anything else you need me to serve?"

"that's all, thanks."

Virginie responded coldly and added a lethal amount of sugar cubes and creamer to the black tea.The clear reddish-brown tea soup is soaked in the color of sugar cubes and creamer, and the sweet smell is sandwiched in the rich tea aroma.

"Please take your time, you two. I will go and serve other guests first."

The polite young man disappeared behind the door, and the conversation just now continued in the hazy white smoke of the hot black tea.The upside-down notebook turned back to face up, and Santa Karina continued the interrupted topic.

"My idea is not particularly complicated. Let's start with the people around the deceased, such as his wife and daughter. Although I don't know your identity, even the captain has to give you three points. Can you provide me with a An opportunity to communicate face-to-face with the family of the deceased?”

"It doesn't matter, let's go together after drinking this cup of tea."

He picked up the turbid tea with his pale hands and drank it at a speed between a sip and a booze.The container of sugar cubes and creamer was at least half empty. Who knows how sweet that cup of stuff was.Santa Karina repeated the state of being hesitant to speak several times, and finally plucked up the courage to gossip.

"I have a question, I don't know whether I should answer it or not."

"Apart from personal privacy, I will consider telling you as appropriate."

"Are you also interested in cactus tarts?"

"Sweet cactus tarts are the best. Enough chatting, Miss Linna, we are going to meet the wife and daughter of the deceased. There are still six and a half days, you won't let me down, right?"

The cold Qingtong exerted invisible pressure on her.That sentence was not a rhetorical question at all, but an affirmative sentence.

"Relax, man, this is not a case that cannot be solved and will be taken to the central square of Nyakal for public execution. If you are a policeman and need achievements to enrich your resume, then just pretend that I didn't say anything. You always When you stare at others so viciously, why can't you smile more and waste this God-given appearance?"

Virginie continued to play with the lighter that never left her body, her eyes were distracted and her expression was slightly stiff.

"To me smiling is a sign of weakness."

After Santa Karina hurriedly finished her cup of tea, she was urged by Virginie and had to leave the cafe immediately to collect clues elsewhere.

The discussion process was very brief, and coming to the coffee shop was more like a formality.

Passing by an area where newspapers and periodicals were placed, a female crew member was sorting out recent old newspapers, one of which made Santa Karina a little concerned.That was last month's newspaper, printed on August 8th.

Today is September 9th, almost a month away from that day.

"Can I take this newspaper?"

The waiter who was sorting the newspapers stopped, held up the newspapers with both hands, and handed them to Santa Karina.

"The newspapers here are specially prepared for guests. This is the one you want."

Santa Karina took the newspaper, which was crumpled by other guests.

"Thank you."

Someone accidentally spilled some coffee on the newspaper. Although the coffee stains have dried, the faint smell of coffee has blended with the smell of ink in the newspaper, and the smell is particularly clear when flipping.

What caught Santa Karina's eye was the front page, with its eye-catching title.

[The kidnapping case of the banker's son finally came to light, and the man behind it was actually his friend who opened a clinic. 】

The kidnapping case is not an ordinary kidnapping case, and there is a follow-up report below.The attached photos of the doctor who opened the clinic were nothing more than photos of the body in death and photos of the body in life.

"As a result, the banker's son's body was still not found, but the mastermind drowned while going to sea."

She read the content of the report carefully from beginning to end, and found interesting content in a corner that was not easily noticed.

"The name of the mounted policeman who found the doctor's body was George Fremont. He has the same name as the deceased in the case we are investigating, and the same nationality. They are both from Victoria. Maybe the murderer who killed George Fremont was that person. A dead doctor."

Who says dead people can't murder living people?

"The topic seems to have reached a very important place."

The sound of the mahogany cane tapping on the ground became soft and slow. Virginie deliberately slowed down her pace, rarely showing any interest in the topic.

Santa Karina worked hard to piece together the scattered memory fragments in her brain and absorb knowledge about the world.

"The topic just now belongs to the category of occultism. Going forward is a dangerous road that cannot be turned back. Miss Williams, are you sure you want to take the first step towards mystery?"

She deliberately kept the conversation off at the most exciting point and observed the reaction of a certain aristocratic lady.Even if the latter does not express a strong desire for knowledge about the occult, the frequency of the cane's tapping subtly reveals an urgent mood.

Well hidden, but that doesn't work here in Santa Karina.A person who is well versed in observing words and emotions can always detect traces of emotional fluctuations through the smallest details. He happens to have a keen sense of smell.

"You must share the information related to this game with me without reservation, unless you don't want the remaining three-quarters."

"I'm sorry. Regarding the murder of living people by dead people, there is also a mysterious concept involved - resentful spirits."

Several guests passed by, and Santa Karina deliberately lowered her voice and shortened the safe distance between the two to half a meter.As long as there is no physical contact, their communication is civilized.