Ke Xue: I picked up a bottle of sherry at the beginning.

It's said that around half of Americans reject the theory of evolution, firmly believing that the world and all life were created by God. A vivid, and most bizarre, example of this was right before Quan Yi's eyes. Mela Routledge's radiant blue eyes blazed with a fiery fire that looked less like the radiant fire of a god and more like the calamity of hell.

"Warn the Japanese. I do this out of love and compassion for you. Abandon your evil polytheism immediately and convert to the one, absolute, true God. There's still time; this is your last chance. Embark on the path of light. Join us on an eternal path filled with justice and glory!"

After Meila finished speaking, there was a heavy silence. Then waves of desperate applause broke out.

"Ms. Routledge's words are so magnificent. They are heartfelt words, spoken with awe of God and filled with the sense of mission of someone chosen by God. I am truly honored to serve as the host."

In response to the host's blatant flattery, Mela scornfully expressed tolerance: "This is all God's true heart."

"I see. Your kindness is truly noble and has benefited us greatly."

"Hmph!" Ryoko sneered through her beautiful nose.

"Then please feel free to speak freely. The guests will also give you a toast."

The host did his best to put on a smile, alleviating the bullying in the hall. Chatter and laughter gradually filled the venue.

"What do you think, Izumi-kun?"

"What a dangerous old lady."

"Why is it dangerous?"

"Her ideas aren't entirely genuine, but everyone has the right to freedom of religion and thought. However, she went out of her way to promote them at the conference, so it's hard to tell what the audience will think.

"The content is just so-so, nothing new. In the United States, Christian right-wing preachers broadcast these outrageous words to the whole country every day on dedicated television stations."

"Ah, is that so?"

"Even so, what on earth did Mella Routledge want to do by coming all the way to Japan? To spread religious terror against the evil polytheism? To blow up temples and burn shrines? That's out of the question."

Quan Yi was summarizing his thoughts while drinking mineral water.

At this time, Ryoko nudged Izumi with her elbow.

"Quan Yijun, who is that spooky man?"

Hearing her words, Bai Quanyi's gaze drifted toward the hall's entrance, where he immediately caught sight of a man's departing back. He seemed to casually glance at the banquet, then quickly lost interest. His messy white hair and slightly soiled white coat stirred unpleasant memories.

"It's Dr. Mosha. He's a famous person."

"Oh, really? I don't want to remember him, so I just forgot about him."

"That's very much your style. But how do you know this person?"

"He took in thirty orphans under the age of ten from various countries in Asia and Africa and raised them as examples."

"Oh, that's quite noble, isn't it?"

"That sounds like it."

"What happened next?"

After hearing Shiraizumi Mashi's question, Ryoko shrugged her perfectly shaped bare shoulders and said:

"Five years later, it was discovered that all the orphans, both male and female, had been abused. Three of them committed suicide, three died under suspicious circumstances, five were missing, and eight were admitted to mental hospitals for long-term treatment."

Yuanjia Road is narrow

Although he only drank mineral water, Bai Quanyi felt bitter in his mouth.

"This guy has lost all conscience, so why can he still act so freely with his head held high?"

"Paying off settlements, using threats to coerce the recantation of testimony, disappearing witnesses, pressuring and bribing jurors. And the victims were all orphans, with no relatives who could have fought resolutely. The Routledge family's wealth and power played a decisive role."

“What about media coverage?”

"The Routledge family is a major shareholder of the Fontana Media Group."

It is true that all crows are black.

"You said the Routledge family's power and wealth won, but why do they defend Dr. Mosha like this?"

"You can probably guess about it, right? It's obvious that there must be a reason."

Women are indeed perceptive.

"Does this mean that Dr. Mosha, as the attending physician, holds the Routledge family's most important secrets?"

"What is the secret?"

Ryoko's questions seemed to activate Shiraizumi's brain cells.

“There are very few clues, but I suspect it is related to the 220 secret of Artemisia Routledge’s birth.”

"What kind of person is Artemisia's father?" Bai Quanyi was extremely interested, but also had some concerns, because exploring this issue would be too intrusive on Artemisia's privacy.

Criminal investigations infringe upon the privacy of both victims and perpetrators. If the media becomes an accomplice, the damage done is simply incalculable. It's never too late to be vigilant about this issue.

"Originally, Mella Routledge came to Japan to preach, right?"

"Preaching."

Ryoko frowned and drank up the champagne in the glass again, not knowing how many glasses she had drunk.

"However, if you want to know what that old lady pretending to be young is up to, there is a way."

"How to do?"

"Just arrest Mella Routledge and torture him."

"With so many people here, torture won't work." Qin Xuan sighed. This boss was truly unreliable. "Also, do you want to go for a walk outside?"

"why?"

"I think it would be better for you to get some fresh air to sober up."

"You, will you be my flower protector?"

"pleasure."

Ryoko took Shiraizumi's wrist and walked with her to the balcony. Lucien and Marianne, who were chatting happily with a young male guest, immediately wanted to accompany the hostess. Ryoko waved them away, and the two of them went to the balcony alone.

Looking out from the balcony, the distance is filled with deep darkness, which reminds me of the phrase "deeper black moon night". After living in Tokyo for a long time, I have no sense of darkness at all, and the night is not so dark.

Looking up at the sky, a thin layer of mist seemed to shroud it. Through this faint veil of gas, the early summer constellations twinkled in the night sky. Even though this scene was rather cliché, it still evoked a sense of romance. That such a beautiful evening had such a tragic end was surely not the fault of Karuizawa's natural environment.

The balcony was only lit by light from the room, so when someone approached, it was hard to see their face clearly at first. Bai Quanyi was wondering which full-fed guy was stumbling over, but when he got closer, he realized it was someone he knew.

Akira Kishimoto. An additional inspector in the Metropolitan Police Department's Security Department.

"Brother Quan Yi, why are you dressed like this?"

"What do you say?"

"You are Ryoko-sama's companion, right?"

Seeing that Shiraizumi Masayuki didn't reply, Kishimoto peered around and whispered, "Well, what is your purpose tonight, Ryoko-sama?"

"Just a vacation."

Kishimoto, who calls Ryoko "Ryoko-sama" and worships her utterly, is not satisfied with Shiraizumi's confusing answer.

"Oh, how could that be? It's not just a simple vacation. Don't lie to me. We are in the same boat."

When Baiquan Yi was about to kick him away

"Izumi-kun. If you get too close to the Yokai Queen, you will become a monster too." Inspector Muromachi suddenly appeared.

"Hehe...Inspector Muromachi, do you want to steal my subordinates?" Ryoko retorted.

The two beauties stared at each other on the balcony under the night fog, as if blue sparks burst out between the gorgeous red roses and the delicate white lilies. It was unclear whether it was dazzling or terrifying.

"What are you doing here?"

"I am responsible for the security of the guests."

"I am the guest."

Ryoko puffed out her chest at her speechless nemesis. "So, the sacred duty of protecting me falls on you. Oh, ha ha ha, this is the most meaningful job in your boring career. Hey, hurry up, protect someone well and show me how!"

"I'm sorry, Inspector Muromachi, she's drunk." Shiraizumi Mashi interrupted Ryoko.

"What are you talking about? I'm clear-headed. As cool as ice. If you try to take away my rationality and conscience, I'll come back to settle the score."

"It's really not convincing at all." Yukiko couldn't help but feel indignant.

"Don't worry about it. Just keep your rationality and conscience to yourself. I worked out with Quan Yi all afternoon today. He's already mine."

"Ahh...has it come to this?"

This is really the case of talking too much and making mistakes. Ryoko immediately realized her mistake and covered her mouth with her hand, but Yukiko's ears, as beautiful as cherry blossom petals, opened like fan blades, capturing Ryoko's gaffe.

"You have truly fallen, Inspector Izumi."

Yukiko didn't say anything more this time. A uniformed police officer ran over and asked her for instructions. Yukiko took Kishimoto with her, and when Shiraizumi Masu bowed slightly, she returned the greeting with her eyes and left.

Ryoko pretended not to hear and just said her shoulders were cold, and the two of them returned to the room. Qin Xuan took off his suit and covered Ryoko's shoulders with it.

Sudden fire

The chatter and discussion died down, and the two hundred or so guests all looked around the hall with uneasiness and confusion. The ominous, annoying ringing of the bell echoed above their heads, beneath the crystal chandelier. Someone finally reacted and shouted, "What's going on?"

It's a fire alarm!

Oh, it's on fire? It's on fire?!

The female guests screamed in surprise. A chaotic sound of footsteps echoed on the floor of the hall.

Don't panic! I'm guiding you to a safe place.

This calm voice came from Yukiko Muromachi. Driven by a sense of duty, she, a police officer who clearly understood her duties and responsibilities, methodically issued instructions to her subordinates. She truly put her talents to good use.

Inspector Kishimoto, you lead the evacuation. Women go first.

Ah, yes. Come on, everyone, please move this way. Don't panic, it's okay.

This was a traditional hotel, not very tall, mostly two-story buildings, with the lobby connecting the first and second floors. The man had easily leaped from the window into the garden, and once the attendees realized this, the chaos should have subsided, preventing further disturbances.

Ryoko and Shiraizumi Masu, as well as Marianne and Lucien, followed at the end of the moving crowd.

Thick smoke was already rising, and red and yellow tongues of flame were twisting and swaying.

There was a panic among the crowd, and it took a long time for the tide to begin to surge. Gentlemen and ladies in their best clothes were eager to escape. At such moments, people always fell, and tonight was no exception. There were old men and women screaming everywhere.

The fire spread very quickly.

However, it’s not late at night yet, so there shouldn’t be any sleeping guests on the second floor.

After she said that, Bai Quanyi couldn't help but think of Artemisia Rothridge and felt a little worried.

Thick smoke poured out of the windows, blending with the night fog and obscuring vision. Voices calling for friends to leave echoed. Amidst the chaos, the faint sirens of fire trucks could be heard. This was the deepest part of Kyu-Karuizawa, so it wouldn't be easy for the fire trucks to arrive.

A highland summer resort shrouded in night mist. A traditional Western-style hotel. A banquet filled with elegant ladies. A building engulfed in flames.

It's a Gothic-Roman world.

Ryoko, still drunk, uttered these horrifying stories:

Next up will definitely be something like a wax figure walking around late at night!

The hotel had only one three-story building: the clock tower above the entrance. Smoke and flames billowed fiercely, revealing a huge, pale dial.

Who's that, Milady?

Marianne asked this question, and even though it was in French, I understood it. No, because she was pointing to a place above, and anyone looking in that direction could see a figure appearing and disappearing near the dial.

There's someone in the clock tower!

It's dangerous, we have to save him.

The crowd was in an uproar, but it was clear that rescue was extremely difficult. Before the ladder truck arrived, no help was possible.

Bai Quanyi stared for a long time with his eyes wide open, then shouted in astonishment:

Artemisia?!

That figure was Artemisia Routledge. She was also wearing a red dress, but unlike Ryoko's burgundy, it looked crimson. Was that true? Artemisia's dress was actually white, and the flames only made it appear crimson. The flames danced in the darkness, a play of light and dark that could easily mislead the eye.

Ryoko shouted:

What was that woman doing there?!

I still want to know.

Really, she's always causing trouble. She's not a cat, not a cigarette, why would she go up there at a time like this? Doesn't she consider how much trouble she's causing others?

She probably has her own reasons.