Chapter 149:39: Sparks (4k)

"So? Because I run a flower shop, I'm a big suspect, right?"

Chiba Kikue placed her hands flat on her legs, with no panic in her eyes.

"I didn't intend to say that, I just wanted you to identify what kind of flower this is." Takashima really took out a petal. Shirai noticed that it looked a little familiar. Takashima must have picked it from the vase in Ueda's house at some point.

Chiba picked up the teacup's clip, picked it up and sniffed it.

"White tulips, with only one petal, I can't tell them apart. Lanka White, Antarctica, Winter Love. There are too many. I just sell flowers, not breed them."

Putting down the petals, Qianye said lightly.

"According to the Ueda family, you sent them flowers yesterday?"

"Yes, the gift was also white tulips."

"Why did you offer to give them flowers?"

"Don't you know my experience? We are just in the same boat, but it's not surprising that you can't understand." Qianye said in a neutral tone.

Takashima did not express any dissatisfaction. Rather, she said that this was the norm when she was working before. After becoming a superhuman, everyone around her became good people, which made her a little uncomfortable.

"Now I need you to stretch out your hand and put it on the table." Takashima didn't say why.

Qianye hesitated for a moment, then slowly put his hand up. There was a conspicuous bandage on his right arm.

"Is the wound on your arm not healed yet?" Takashima asked casually. The information showed that Chiba had a scar on his arm, but it had nothing to do with the case.

"Pain can make me more awake." Qianye gently stroked the bandage on his hand.

Takashima looked at Shirai, who, although confused as to why Takashima didn't explain, understood her hint, reached out her hand, and placed it on Chiba's wrist.

When the white light came on, Qianye was slightly startled, but it only took two seconds before his face changed drastically.

Snapped!
Her hand retracted quickly as if it was burned, and even slapped Shirai's hand. However, this did not hurt Shirai at all because of his strong body. Instead, it made her a little worried about Chiba's condition.

Just now, she seemed to see a pool of stagnant water of despair.

The pool was filled with a foul stench and not a ripple.

Chiba is one of the fish, waiting for his own decay or the drying up of the pond while dying.

"Ms. Chiba." Shirai stretched out his hand and wanted to say something.

"Get out." Qianye pressed his right hand tightly to his chest, staring at the table with dull eyes.

"Ms. Chiba, I can feel your pain. Perhaps, I can try—"

"Go away! I don't need your pity!! I don't need your light either!!"

Chiba Kikue suddenly exploded, slammed her hands on the table, and yelled at Shirai at the top of her lungs, her red eyes filled with complete anger.

Shirai was startled and speechless.

Takashima had seen this kind of scene many times, so hysteria was nothing to her. However, given the current situation, there was no need to continue the conversation.

"Since Mrs. Chiba is not feeling well, let's stop here today. Also, Miura Tsukami is not dead yet. With his family's assets, perhaps they can continue like this." Takashima patted Shirai's shoulder and said this.

Chiba stared coldly at the two people who were leaving and continued to sit there for a long time before he stood up with the help of the table, held on to the wall, and walked back to the room with unsteady steps.

The tablet of my husband stood there.

Chiba knelt down in front of him, and after a moment of silence, he slowly untied the bandage, and a scabbed straight line scar appeared before his eyes.

She rubbed the blood scab and a healed scar was formed.

She opened the drawer and took out a sharp awl. She pressed it on the scar expressionlessly and scratched it with force.

Blood gushed out and dripped again, and the pain made her eyes regain their luster.

"I have not forgotten, and I will never forget. Since justice does not come, let sin take them away."

She raised her arm and let the blood flow down it onto the soil in the flowerpot next to the tablet.

"Self-harming habits?"

On the way back, Shirai listened to Takashima's narration of more information about Chiba, and had some understanding of her actions just now.

"Don't take it too seriously. Not everyone can, or wants to, move on from the past. Some people would rather stay in the past. If you force her to move on, it may make her lose faith in life." Takashima shared his own experience to prevent Shirai from thinking too much.

Shirai was feeling a little depressed: "So, the most suspicious person is Ms. Chiba?"

"At the moment, it seems so." Takashima did not deny Shirai's opinion, "But remember, it is only 100% certain when there is sufficient evidence."

Shirai nodded, silently thinking about the several "suspects" he had met today, and suddenly found that his so-called misfortune didn't seem so unbearable to recall.

Don't compare your misfortunes, there will always be someone more unfortunate.

Happiness is created by contrast, and misfortune can set off happiness.

Shirai had heard both of these statements, and now it seemed that both were correct.

This world is so unfair.

She closed her eyes tiredly and fell asleep unknowingly after being exhausted today.

Seeing this, Takashima slowed down the car and slowly drove towards the booked hotel.

As for Shirai, she did not recommend letting her get involved in the Special Affairs Bureau's cases so soon.

However, Noguchi Takeshi had a different opinion. He believed that the Special Affairs Bureau was in urgent need of replenishment of its combat power. Moreover, Shirai Anko had rare healing abilities, and the Holy Infant Society had no plans to absorb her. This was a good opportunity to quickly recruit her.

Otherwise, America, various chaebols, and ambitious people would definitely not let go of such a wild extraordinary being who seems to have no combat power but possesses high-value abilities.

Even if it is tied up and used as a medical kit, it is still a profit. The only risk is not knowing the attitude of the Holy Infant Society and the possible growth potential of this extraordinary thing.

Therefore, with the idea that it is better to benefit himself than others, Noguchi Takeshi contacted her as soon as he learned about it, giving her some time to think about it.

In the end, the best result was achieved. Shirai agreed to join, and only Hirosue Ryomiya from the Holy Infant Society came to see her from afar twice by car, and did not express any opinion on the actions of the Special Affairs Bureau.

The earlier she is exposed to cases, the faster she can integrate into the Special Affairs Bureau, and she can also get a deeper understanding of her personality and ability range.

Although Takashima still didn't want to see such a young girl exposed to the dark side of society so quickly, he also understood Noguchi Takeshi's urgency.

So this time she led the team and was also responsible for the evaluation of Shirai Kyoko.

Now it seems that she is a girl with a good character.

At least it's better than Toyokawa Kamikiyo.

"Oh, I wasn't lazy last night. I stood guard at the door of the ward all night, and went in every half an hour to check on him. He still looked like he was dying. I was so sleepy."

The next day, Toyokawa complained to Takashima and Shirai who came to check on the situation.

"Is anyone here to visit?" Takashima ignored his complaints.

"Yes, a group of people came last night and brought a bunch of fruit baskets and flowers. As you instructed, the flowers were thrown away and the fruit baskets were distributed to the doctors and nurses." Fengchuan pointed to his feet, where there was only one fruit basket left. "This one was just delivered, and we haven't had time to give it to them yet."

Fengchuan suddenly lowered his voice: "Speaking of which, Sister Takashima, do you suspect that someone poisoned it and asked the doctors to try? Wouldn't that be bad?" Takashima grabbed his ear skillfully: "Fengchuan, you've worked hard. To compensate you, I'll give you this fruit basket."

Shirai watched them interacting and smiled secretly.

Miura Tsukami is currently in a coma. If he poisons the fruit basket, the fruits will probably rot and he won't be able to wake up. He's also too obviously suspicious.

She thought that Takashima must be suspicious of the flowers, after all, he mentioned that the charmer might be able to manipulate plants.

"Where are his family members?" Takashima released his hand and glanced at the ward. There was no one else inside.

"He came and left. Maybe he was busy preparing to divide the family property." Fengchuan rubbed his ears. He didn't just sit here and play with his phone yesterday. He learned a lot from the captain of the local action team, treating it as listening to a story.

Things like Osaka Ethics, Family Grudges, and Nine Sons Fighting for Inheritance were more interesting to listen to than mobile phones, and before I knew it, it was dawn.

While they were talking, two more people came to visit.

"Captain Takashima, this man is Yuuki Hisahito, the leader of the Yuuki Group, a relatively large gang in Osaka. Next to him is his wife, Yuuki Maria."

The captain of Osaka's action team whispered the basic information of the two people to Takashima in advance.

They also come with flowers in one hand and a fruit basket in the other.

When they saw Takashima and Toyokawa, they were both stunned, obviously recognizing them.

Maria Yuki was a little curious, while Hisahi Yuki was more worried.

He knew before that there were suspected unknown supernatural beings attacking the Osaka gangs, but that was never confirmed. Now the Special Affairs Bureau has sent two supernatural beings from Tokyo at once, so there is no doubt that it is probably true. He is a little worried about his own safety.

"Captain Takeuchi, I didn't expect to see you here. By the way, I haven't had time to congratulate you on your promotion yet."

Hiding his thoughts, Yuuki Hisahi greeted the captain of the elite operations team of the Osaka Special Affairs Bureau with a forced smile.

Takeuchi had dealt with these people before, and he didn't bother to be polite at all: "Just put the things on the ground and you can leave. You can't go in to visit now."

Yuki Hisahito was not embarrassed either. He glanced between Takashima and Toyokawa and greeted them with a smile, a slight nod and a bow.

As an extraordinary person, you must be tired of others trying to get close to you, so there should be nothing wrong with this approach of recognizing them but keeping a distance.

It can't be that these two extraordinary people are the kind of people who like to be vain.

After putting the things down, Yuki looked through the window at Miura Tsunekomi who was lying quietly inside. His condition, which was no different from being dead, made Yuki Hisahaki depressed. He was afraid that he would become like this, so he might as well just die.

"Hasn't everyone come up with a lot of solutions? Everything will be fine." Mrs. Yuki whispered to comfort her.

Yuki Hisahito nodded absentmindedly, and without staying for long, he said goodbye and left.

Takashima also has to visit the crime scene. All he had seen before were recorded materials, but this time he needs to go to the scene in person to observe.

"It was here. Miura Tsuki came straight from home and came to the park alone for no apparent reason. We immediately surrounded the park, but unfortunately we were still a step too late."

"At that time, he fell under this tree. We also conducted a drilling test on this tree and found that it was just an ordinary Cryptomeria japonica."

Takashima nodded and looked around the tree carefully.

There weren't many clues, and some had already been taken or marked by colleagues.

With his back to the Japanese cedar, Takashima said to his colleague who was responsible for protecting the scene: "Cut it down."

"Ah?" The man suspected that he had heard it wrong.

"You heard it right, cut down this tree." Takashima pointed to the tree behind him.

"Uh, okay. I'll go find a chainsaw right away." He knew the identity of the man in front of him and was sure he wouldn't make fun of him. He nodded and prepared to do it.

"Wait." Takashima interrupted him.

"Anything else you need?" He turned around puzzledly.

"Instead of chopping it, let's burn it instead."

".yes."

Wow!

A thick vine suddenly attacked Takashima's back.

"Be careful!" Shirai, who was afraid that he would clumsily ruin the scene, shouted anxiously from a distance.

Snapped!
Pushing his colleague away, Takashima turned around and caught the vine that was as thick as his arm, as if he had been prepared.

“I can understand it.”

Takashima smiled and then he grabbed the vine with his left hand and chopped it down with his right hand. With a snapping sound, the vine broke.

The broken vines strangely leaked red juice and kept twitching as if they felt pain.

Among the trees, more vine tentacles stretched out and transformed into thorns along the way.

Takashima used his hands as knives to cut off the vines one by one. He walked to the tree trunk and punched it a few times. The tree fell down directly, but the vines continued to extend from the stump that was less than half a person's height.

While dodging, Takashima tied several thorn vines together and twisted them into a twist. She shouted and pulled hard as if in tug-of-war!
She pulled out the stump and roots of the half-broken tree.

The roots were a strange dark black, and they were still wriggling, like a group of black earthworms gathered together.

Takashima remained calm and pulled out the thorns and vines one by one.

Every time it broke, the strange tree would shake as if in severe pain.

"Gasoline! Gasoline is coming!"

Several colleagues came over with gasoline.

Others were assigned to clear a firebreak, cut down the surrounding trees, and spread a large amount of dry powder using fire extinguishers.

Taking the gasoline, Takashima jumped onto the half-broken tree trunk and poured down directly.

At this time, the strange tree was already dying. Its few resistances were suppressed by Takashima, and it had no strength left.

After jumping down from the strange tree, several colleagues threw the tinder over in tacit understanding.

Feng Long said.

The fire ignited the strange tree and a cloud of black smoke rose into the sky.

In the flames, the roots of the tree began to twitch violently, continuously winding and growing upwards, slowly curling up into a sturdy small tree that was one meter tall.

At the top of the small tree, a huge flower bud slowly formed and bloomed.

The petals are bright blood red, and the shape is like...
"Carnation," Shirai murmured.

A strange fiery red carnation bloomed and withered in the flames.

Until it curled up and twisted into a charred ball, and there was no more movement.

The flames were scorching, but they could not drive away the deep chill in the hearts of the people present.

(End of this chapter)