https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-399-Reasoning-Belongs-After-Dinner/13548081/
Chapter 398: Bring Them All Here
Chapter 398: Bring Them All Here
In the heavy silence, Nancymiss shot Feng Bu Jue a contemptuous glance before rising to leave.
Whether out of politeness or pity for a detective’s abysmal performance… she paused at the door, turning back to Scofield. "Hope you both think more carefully before making deductions next time", she said, then slammed the door shut.
"Hmph…" Feng Bu Jue exhaled sharply the moment the door closed. "Great. Another suspect eliminated."
"Er… I have a question. Why not just directly ask her for an alibi using standard inquiry methods?" Scofield asked.
"You think my approach isn’t better?" Feng Bu Jue countered. "Probing a suspect’s reactions with deliberate flawed reasoning often yields unexpected results. And… it makes them let their guard down around me."
"O-Oh… really…?" Scofield pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing sweat from his brow.
"Obviously", Feng Bu Jue muttered internally. How could I take that line from Inspector Megre’s ‘helping the sleeping Conan’ routine seriously? To gauge a suspect’s reaction, there are countless methods. If you’re shameless enough, you could stick to them like Kurosawa’s character—annoying and teasing constantly until inconsistencies slip out over time.
My actions are clearly for the mission’s sake. This nightmare difficulty is true to its name… At less than 2,500 words per chapter, I’ve only survived two-thirds of the chapters so far…
This won’t do. Though I’ve mostly confirmed Barton is the killer, there are still ten chapters left. Exposing him now would be too early.
Novels aren’t like anime. You can’t freeze a frame, play some Bgm, and have three voice actors improvise for twenty minutes. This needs to be built word by word…
Besides, logically, there are still suspicious points—Barton’s motive and why he staged the room as a Secret Room remain unclear. These mysteries will probably only resolve in the final chapters. Until then, I must keep the story compelling…
I briefly considered creating another murder, but missing the optimal timing at chapter thirty-three…
Maybe I should grab the ashtray and knock Scofield off…
…But in this nightmare scenario, the Npcs can probably kill me instantly…
Feng Bu Jue rambled through his thoughts, then decisively stood. Walking to the door, he called out to Dempsey in the corridor: "Officer Dempsey."
"Yes, sir?" Dempsey responded.
"Bring Henderson, Powell, and Barton here together", Feng Bu Jue ordered.
"All three at once?" Dempsey confirmed.
"Correct. Bring them all", Feng Bu Jue nodded.
"Understood. Please wait a moment." Dempsey straightened his collar and departed.
After issuing his command, Feng Bu Jue stepped back into the study, closing the door.
"What’s the plan now?" Scofield asked, puzzled.
"Think I’ll keep interrogating them one by one?" Feng Bu Jue asked, thinking: How could you predict the twist? If the author kept using ‘Someone’s Testimony’ titles, they’d never be satisfied.
"Er… yes", the detective replied.
"Ha… Don’t worry", Feng Bu Jue smirked. "You’ll see soon enough."
"Actually, I’m fine, but Nancymiss just made things awkward for you earlier", Scofield blurted, genuinely trying to stop Feng Bu Jue’s theatrical reasoning.
"Ha!" Feng Bu Jue faced him head-on. "Would I let myself lose face? Watch—trembling voice, sweating forehead, dilated pupils. If you look closely, my left hand’s slightly shaking." He shifted back to normal. "But that doesn’t mean I’m truly flustered."
Scofield twitched: This… He couldn’t articulate his feelings. This guy might be a master manipulator, yet undeniably skilled in every way.
"Normally, my body doesn’t betray emotions unless… I fake it", Feng Bu Jue explained. "Micro-expressions expose weaknesses. But weaponizing them to mislead opponents? That’s advanced psychological play."
I won’t fall for it again… Every time you sound brilliant, the next chapter humiliates you… Scofield thought, though he nodded politely. "Naturally…"
"A detective needs not just IQ, but EQ too", Feng Bu Jue lectured. "EQ combines intuition, empathy, and acting. The smoothest manipulators make you feel in control while steering you. Of these three, one has high EQ… and high IQ, though…"
Knock knock knock
Dempsey’s voice cut through: "The three gentlemen are here, Mr. Feng."
"Enter", Feng Bu Jue replied, leaning casually against the desk, facing the door with anticipation.
Seconds later, the trio entered.
First was Doctor Powell, a tall, thin man in his fifties, wearing spectacles and a white shirt with a black waistcoat.
Butler Henderson entered next, leaning on Barton’s arm. Though the elderly man could walk alone, Barton gallantly supported him after the recent shock.
As usual, Dempsey closed the door behind them.
Before any could greet, Feng Bu Jue suddenly declared: "Let’s cut to the chase…" His gaze swept the trio like a storm. "The killer… is among the three of you."
(End of Chapter)
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