Chapter 69 Vanity (Two in One)

"So you're saying...the poison was given to you by someone else?"

In the empty classroom, Officer Fujisai looked at Ishikawa Jōji in front of him with a cold expression.

Ishikawa Jōji, who was pressed on a chair by two police officers, looked dejected: "I have no choice, officer. I was forced to do this!"

Forced?!
Fujisai laughed in anger: "You blackmailed your classmate and wanted to kill her to silence her, and even did not hesitate to implicate so many innocent people... Are you going to tell me that you are innocent too?!"

He slapped the wooden table in front of him with a fierce look on his face, veins popping out: "Do you know how many people died?! Do you know how many people you killed?! Currently, 176 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 50 are being rescued!"

"Now! You actually have the nerve to say... you were forced to do this?!"

Ishikawa Jōji shrank back under the gaze of those flaming eyes, but he roared with all his might, "Then what do you want me to do? Just wait to die? Yoshimori Nobuyuki and Mizutani Shinichi were so miserable, I absolutely don't want to be like them!"

Officer Fujisai took a deep breath and suppressed the anger that was bursting in his heart. He knew that there was no point in reasoning with such a person.

So, he asked, "Who was the one who gave you the poison?"

"His name is Su Beixun."

When this name was mentioned, Ishikawa Jōji hated it very much: "It's all his fault. He made me do this! If it weren't for him..."

But before he could finish his words, two figures, one big and one small, suddenly rushed in front of him!

Megure grabbed his collar and half-pulled him up: "Who are you talking about?!"

Conan was also beside him and asked anxiously, "When did he give you the poison?"

Ishikawa Joji was so frightened that he paused and said, "Su...Su Beixun, he gave me poison last night."

"Are you sure it was last night? Are you sure he was Su Beixun?"

"Of course I'm sure!"

He said this with great determination and gritted teeth: "I will never make a mistake in remembering his face! Even though his hair is dyed white, those scarlet eyes are still so disgusting!"

Officer Fujisai came over and slapped Megure's hand away, and said coldly to Ishikawa Jyouji: "Tell me everything you know!"

Ishikawa Jōji fell back onto the bench. Surrounded by several people, he did not refuse.

In fact, the police had no evidence that he had poisoned someone, but there was nothing they could do. The extortion had already been confirmed, and if that person found out, he would be killed as well.

Now, he can only cooperate with the police and ask for protection.

So, with a tone of regret, he slowly said: "This happened...a year ago..."

##
Ordinary is how Ishikawa Jōji describes his life over the past decade.

He has an ordinary appearance, ordinary grades, an ordinary family, and no special features that make people remember him vividly. He is just an ordinary and mediocre person.

However, Ishikawa Kamiji was not very angry about this, because ordinary meant middle-class, which meant that he would not be the worst in any aspect.

It's like the water from the tap, which is not as sweet as mountain spring water, but not as bitter as sea water.

From childhood to adulthood, people like him are the most numerous. The very good and the very bad are always in the minority.

So, why should he be dissatisfied? No matter when, there will always be people worse than him. And these people are the foundation that supports him to accept his mediocrity.

It sounds mean, but it is always comparison that produces happiness.

only……

When he sees classmates showing off their newly bought luxury goods, or becoming the center of discussion for some reason, he can't help but feel envious despite his indifferent appearance.

The desire for better things is the most basic desire of human beings. Who can resist it?

He would occasionally fantasize about his extraordinary talent, imagining the envious and jealous eyes of others when they looked at him. Or maybe he would suddenly get rich, and from then on he would be financially free and reach the pinnacle of life.

It's ridiculous, he thinks so too.

But after living enough ordinary life in reality, he became extremely addicted to the omnipotent life in his fantasy.

...There's nothing wrong with that.

Everyone has hoped to be unique and indispensable, just like the protagonists in the popular comics, without whom the world would be destroyed.

But the heavy reality will eventually mature their minds and make them accept their ordinary lives through painful experiences.

For Ishikawa Joji, everything should be like this...

"You seem very unwilling?"

Under the only few cherry trees in the school, a gentle voice woke up Ishikawa Jōji who was immersed in his fantasy world.

He came back to his senses with dissatisfaction and saw a boy slightly younger than himself in front of him, with a pair of dazzling scarlet pupils.

"nothing."

Ishikawa Jōji said dryly.

He has always been like this, he doesn't like to socialize with people he doesn't know.

The young man didn't take it seriously, and smiled and extended his hand: "Can we get to know each other? My name is Su Beixun, and I live nearby."

Ishikawa Jōji is not used to his recent outgoing personality, or rather, no one has ever been so enthusiastic towards him.

He shook it awkwardly: "My name is Ishikawa Jōji."

Then he awkwardly tried to find a topic: "Are you...are you also a student of this school? What grade are you in?"

Su Beixun's eyes wandered, and he stuttered: "Ah... I, I'm a second-year student... uh, in Class C."

Ishikawa Joji was stunned: "I am also in Class C, why haven't I seen you before?"

He looked the man up and down: "And you're not even wearing a school uniform...Are you from another school?"

Su Beixun froze, and suddenly covered his mouth, looking around guiltily: "Shh! Keep your voice down, I just accidentally provoked a group of hooligans, come here to hide!"

Ishikawa Joji pulled away awkwardly: "I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you!"

Su Beixun smiled slightly: "As a thank you, let me treat you to a meal."

"no need."

Ishikawa Jōji refused. He would only feel awkward if he had a meal with someone he didn't know well. "Besides, class is about to start. I don't have time."

"It's okay, I'll wait for you here after school."

Su Beixun seemed not to hear the resistance in his tone: "It's my treat, how about Asahikawa BBQ? I heard it tastes great."

Ishikawa Kami, who was about to refuse for the second time, suddenly choked up.

Asahikawa BBQ is the most expensive restaurant in the city. The wealthy classmates in the class always praise it when they show off, and he, who is attending the class as an auditor, is also very envious.

"That's it."

Su Beixun smiled and waved at him.

Time passed quickly.

After school, Ishikawa Jōji arrived at the agreed location, feeling either excited or nervous.

As expected, Su Beixun was already waiting there.

So he had the most unforgettable dinner of his life.

Fresh and tender meat, exquisite presentation, attentive service, expensive prices, and the envious looks of passers-by when entering and leaving the store...

Many factors stimulated his senses, and his body felt light, as if everything in his dream had come true.

Su Beixun walked beside him with a barely perceptible smile on his lips.

Vanity is like a poisonous snake gnawing at one's heart, creating a bottomless hole. In order to fill the missing hole, there will always be people who will do whatever it takes.

##
"After that day, I thought everything would go back to normal."

"But I didn't expect that Su Beixun would come to me every now and then and ask me to have dinner with various reasons."

Ishikawa Joji looked extremely confused: "He took me to all the high-end restaurants and gave me expensive luxury goods during holidays. He didn't mind even if the gifts I gave him were worthless."

He seemed to be crying, but also to be laughing: "I changed into clothes that I never dared to wear before, and wore accessories that were so expensive that they made people's eyes go straight... No one would ignore me. They would gather around me and unconsciously show their flattery when talking to me."

"This is something I've never experienced before! This is what I've always dreamed of!"

"Faced with all this, I have always been secretly delighted in my heart. I like this kind of life where everyone is the center of attention!"

"But I couldn't help but feel panic, because I knew that my hypocritical appearance was a gift from Su Beixun, and I couldn't imagine a life without him."

Officer Fujisai didn't say anything, he just felt sad. Although it was inappropriate, he still remembered Emily Dickinson's words: I could have endured the darkness if I had never seen the light.

Therefore, after seeing the prosperous city, they could no longer stand the dampness of the cave.

Ishikawa Jōji took a breath and continued, "Then one time, before he took me out to dinner, he said that he didn't have enough money and he had to go earn some more."

"I was curious, so I asked him how he made money..."

##
"What are you going to do?"

Ishikawa Joji tightened his school uniform.

It was almost six o'clock, the setting sun cast a dark red hue on the sky, and most people in the school had left, but Su Beixun took him over the wall again.

"To help you make money."

Su Beixun, carrying a large backpack, went straight to the abandoned dormitory building in the corner.

"Making money? Here?!"

Ishikawa Jōji couldn't believe it. Looking at the building that was becoming increasingly terrifying in the darkness, he couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

Su Beixun chuckled, pushed open the creaking wooden door, and walked in first.

"Ishikawa, do you know the horror legend of this school?"

Ishikawa Joji followed behind timidly: "Are you talking about the mailbox?"

"Correct."

Su Beixun nodded.

Ishikawa Joji brushed off the spider webs stuck on his body, and the dust choked him and made him cough repeatedly: "You still believe this? Besides, what does this have to do with making money?"

Su Beixun did not answer. He stopped and patted the heavy mailbox in front of him: "Do you know what is written on the envelope?"

Ishikawa Jōji didn't understand why, so he said casually, "It should be their worries."

"Then tell me, if we know their secrets, will they pay us hush money for keeping us quiet?"

Ishikawa Joji was not stupid. He was shocked: "You mean... blackmail?!"

"Don't say it so harshly."

Su Beixun smiled and said, "It's just to pay for my hard work in keeping the secret for them."

Ishikawa Kamiji was a little at a loss. He never thought that this was the method Su Beixun was talking about to make money!

But for some reason, he asked, "Is this... illegal?"

"Don't be afraid, they just want some money. Besides, we are still students, they can't do anything to us."

Su Beixun said nonchalantly as he took out a mailbox of the same model from his backpack and put the one on the ground into his bag.

In the darkness, he couldn't see Ishikawa Jōji's expression, but Su Beixun knew that everything would end up as he expected.

Only when you want to take action do you care about the consequences.

##
"So, you started blackmailing your classmates?"

Megure asked from the side.

Ishikawa Jōji nodded: "After he told me this, he suddenly disappeared and I couldn't find him anywhere..."

"I have to do this to maintain my current life."

He took a deep breath, his face becoming ferocious and terrifying: "That bastard definitely did it on purpose, he deliberately lured me to take this path!"

Officer Fujisai sneered, "Although Su Beixun is indeed not a good person, it is too unrealistic for you to completely distance yourself from him!"

Megure asked again: "It's just extortion, why do you want to kill someone?!"

"I don't want to either!"

Ishikawa Jōji yelled, then said aggrievedly: "But... I have no choice..."

##
"Sorry, sorry... I had something urgent to do and left so quickly that I didn't have time to say hello."

Ishikawa Joji was touching the thick Japanese yen in his pocket. He looked at Su Beixun who had appeared again after two months. He was stunned for a moment and then smiled indifferently: "It's okay, I understand."

He patted the other person's shoulder and said, "Have you finished your work? Long time no see. How about I treat you to dinner today?"

Su Beixun smiled more sincerely: "Okay."

It was still the same barbecue restaurant. Ishikawa Jōji asked for a private room. Judging from his familiar look, he must have been there before.

After eating, the two chatted casually.

Su Beixun looked at him meaningfully: "How is it? Is it very profitable?"

Ishikawa Jōji felt annoyed that his dark side had been exposed, but when he thought that the person on the other side was no different from him, he gradually calmed down.

But he didn't want to say more, just said: "It's okay."

Then he raised the drink in front of him and took a sip.

Su Beixun also picked up the remaining half cup of juice in front of him: "Then... did you kill him to silence him?"

puff~
Ishikawa Jōji was choked and coughed repeatedly, his eyes widened in disbelief: "What?! To silence someone?!"

——Does blackmail require silencing? ! Damn it! You wouldn't do that, would you? !
He looked at Su Beixun in horror, wanting to ask but not daring to say it out loud.

The usual smile on Su Beixun's face made him shudder, and he couldn't help but feel the urge to flee from here, but unfortunately, Su Beixun was on the other side of the door! !

Su Beixun smiled even brighter: "Ishikawa, do you know Yoshimori Nobuyuki?"

Ishikawa Joji was getting more and more uneasy, so he could only answer, "Is it the senior who founded the mailbox a few years ago and died in the abandoned dormitory building?"

"Yes, it's him."

Su Beixun nodded, his expression became strange: "Then do you know...how did he die?"

Looking at that dark smile, an ominous premonition quickly spread, and Ishikawa Jōji couldn't help swallowing his saliva: "...Should...Should it not be..."

Su Beixun nodded again: "You guessed right. He was just like you. He didn't have the courage to do anything after blackmailing someone, so this matter was known by a certain messenger of justice, and he died because of it."

Ishikawa Kamiji was sweating profusely and his mouth was dry. He subconsciously picked up the cup in front of him, but it was empty.

"It's fake... It's just blackmail... I only extorted less than 50,000 yen!!"

Su Beixun chuckled: "Do you know? Why can this horror story continue to exist?"

"Is it just Yoshimori Nobu's death?"

He shook his head: "No."

"The reason why so many people believe this story is because it really works."

"In reality, there is indeed a messenger of justice who will seek justice for them based on the injustice in the envelope."

"In the past few years, at least ten people have died because of him!"

"And now, you are using the very foundation of his justice to satisfy your own selfish desires... Do you think he will let you go?"

Ishikawa Joji's eyes widened in disbelief: "How is it possible... Why didn't I know?!"

Su Beixun sneered: "They all died outside the school. Who would care except for the relevant people? And for someone like you who is not good at socializing, who would you expect to tell you specifically?"

Ishikawa Kamii clenched his fingers on the table, his panic intensified his anger, burning his whole body: "You plotted against me, you knew it clearly, why did you still want to hurt me!!"

"Harm you?!"

Su Beixun spread his hands: "Did I force you to blackmail others?"

He stood up. Although he was shorter, he looked down on her. “It was you, Ishikawa, who was driven by desire and became a slave to vanity. I just gave you a shortcut to get closer to your true self.”

"But don't worry."

He smiled and consoled, "You are not the only one who blackmailed me... There is also a man named Shinichi Mizutani. He listened to me and killed the witnesses honestly, so he is still alive and well."

Ishikawa Jōji showed hatred on his face: "You even did something like blackmail! Aren't you afraid that I will expose you?!"

"Then go tell him."

Su Beixun shook his head helplessly, as if he was looking at a naughty child who was making trouble for no reason: "But by then, you will probably die before me."

　Why is my writing so strange today? I feel the emotions are incoherent. I can’t revise it to the level I want no matter how many times I revise it. I’ll post it first and revise it later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)