A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1225 - Chapter 1225 Chapter 830 Shattered

Chapter 1225: Chapter 830: Shattered Chapter 1225: Chapter 830: Shattered For Yugong Lian and Sakamoto Ryuji, what was happening before their eyes was nothing short of a nightmare. They watched in a daze as the ambulance arrived, the medical staff carrying Yoshikawa Yuki’s body onto the vehicle. They, however, were on their way to the police station, being questioned about the situation–although Yoshikawa Yuki’s death appeared very bizarre, everything could prove that he had indeed committed suicide. Moreover, according to the police examination results, he had gouged out his own eyes three days ago and even ground them into pigment…

As for why he did such a thing…

“We’ve already told you, we know nothing!”

Sakamoto Ryuji slammed his fist on the table, glaring angrily at the police officer sitting opposite, who remained utterly indifferent to Ryuji’s roar.

“Oh? Is that so? Then tell me, what were you doing going to his house?”

“We’re friends, he didn’t answer his phone, and we went to see if there was a problem with our friend. Are we wrong to worry about our friend?”

“But the problem is, you went, and then he died.”

The police officer tossed the file in his hands onto the table.

“Although preliminary investigations at the scene suggest that he stabbed his own eye sockets with a paintbrush, and the paintbrush only had his fingerprints on it, we suspect that you two collaborated to kill him.”

“That’s nonsense!”

Hearing this, Sakamoto Ryuji suddenly jumped up.

“Why would we kill him, we’re friends! Why would I do something to a friend?”

“Oh? Is that so? But according to our investigation, just this morning, you tried to assault Takemaki Ann, didn’t you? All the students present at the time can testify that you wanted to kill her then. Haven’t you been classmates since junior high? Friends too, right? So why would you kill her?”

“I… I was just blinded by anger at that moment.”

“Oh… I see.”

The policeman opposite nodded his head upon hearing Sakamoto Ryuji’s answer.

“So you were also blinded by anger, and you killed Yoshikawa Yuki, right?”

“I’ve already told you, it wasn’t me!”

In that moment, Sakamoto Ryuji’s veins bulged with rage; it was clear that the other party had no intention of listening to his explanation. To make matters worse, he was also hearing an incessant whispering in his ears.

“You did it, you’re the murderer.”

“You’ve carried out violence against the teacher, and you even tried to kill your classmate, you’re naturally a killer.”

“Exactly, everyone knows, the person was killed by you.”

“Yes, Sakamoto Ryuji, known for fighting, hurting classmates, and even killing people, everybody knows that’s the kind of person you are…”

“No!!”

The whispers in Ryuji’s ears infuriated him to the point that he reached out and grabbed the table, standing up.

“I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t kill anyone! I’m the Phantom Thief, do you understand? Let me go, or I’ll steal everything from you, and make you kneel and apologize to me–!!”

As he roared, Sakamoto Ryuji lunged at the policeman opposite, grabbing his throat tightly.

“Apologize to me! I didn’t kill anyone! You bastards! How dare you slander me, you all deserve to die! Everyone… I’m going to kill you all!!!”

“Hey, what the hell are you doing!”

At this commotion, other policemen rushed into the interrogation room, frantically struggling to hold Ryuji down as he desperately tried to break free.

“Let go of me, you bastards, I’m going to kill you! Kill you! Ahhhhhh!!!”

“This guy’s gone mad, take him away!!”

Quickly, several officers swarmed over and seized Sakamoto Ryuji, dragging him away with force.

Elsewhere, in another interrogation room, Yugong Lian was also in dire straits.

“Previous charges of violent assault, and now suspected of murder, truly…”

The policeman looking at Yugong Lian shook his head helplessly.

“Ah, you were given a chance and yet, it’s turned out this way. I’m sorry to say, but it seems your fate has already been decided.”

“I didn’t kill anyone.”

Yugong Lian furrowed his brow, quietly defending himself.

“I was the one who called the police. If I was the murderer, why would I call the cops? And besides, we’re friends…”

“Save those words for the courtroom and the judge.”

The policeman opposite coldly cut off Yugong Lian’s defense.

“Re-offenders face severe punishment, let alone for murder. Prepare yourself for prison.”

Having said that, the police didn’t give Yugong Lian another glance, turned around, and left the interrogation room, leaving Yugong Lian alone, sitting dumbfounded in the chair, staring at the empty table in front of him.

Why had things turned out this way?

How had all this happened?

Right… I remember we went to the palace…

Whose palace?

Why did we go to the palace?

No one could answer; Yugong Lian’s memory was as chaotic as a blackboard that had been smeared with an eraser.

His head throbbed in pain…

The next moment, darkness enveloped Yugong Lian’s vision, and then he collapsed, losing consciousness completely.

For the two of them, this was where their story ended.

Sakamoto Ryuji was found dead in his prison cell a day later. According to the prison guards, with each passing day, his temper became worse, and he started to perceive everything that moved as enemies out to harm him, attacking even the guards who brought his meals. On the day before they planned to transfer him to a mental hospital, he attempted to rush out of his cell and ended up smashing his head into the iron door in front of him.

He broke through the door, and his head was broken just as much.

In the end, Sakamoto Ryuji died in the hospital, as his injuries were beyond medical help.

Yugong Lian’s fate wasn’t much different; he developed amnesia and could not accurately describe the events that had occurred. Gradually, his memory loss worsened, until, eventually, he could no longer speak and babbled like a babbling baby. Despite treatment from doctors, there was nothing they could do.

However, during treatment, while Yugong Lian was watching TV in the living room, he suddenly screamed and jumped up. Then, as if trying to escape some terrifying presence, he ran uncontrollably towards the window–and then fell out of the mental hospital’s fifth floor, breaking his neck and dying on impact.

According to the nurse present at the time, the final scene of a theater performance was playing on the TV when it happened.

But of course, that’s all hindsight and not the current focus of our attention.

Duanmu Ai was completely unaware of these developments and had no interest in caring for such trivialities. Yugong Lian, Sakamoto Ryuji, and Yoshikawa Yuki had simply made the same foolish mistake as all victims of the Ancient God: they had unintentionally become aware of The Ancient Dominator’s presence and felt its strength, which led to their collapse under the strain of indescribable fear.

Duanmu Ai hadn’t done anything; in fact, she was busy rehearsing a script with Kujikawa Rise.

Their tragedies were simply the consequences of an inadequate capacity to endure.

It’s like when a person accidentally steps on an ant–the blame is on the ant for not being able to withstand it, not on humans for walking.

“How is it?”

“You want my opinion? I can only say the lines are well-rehearsed… I can’t discern professional performance.”

Faced with Kujikawa Rise’s inquiry, Duanmu Ai put down the script and helplessly spread her hands, while the other party vigorously shook her head.

“It’s not like that, Miss Duanmu. Performance is meant to serve the masses, and most people won’t judge from a professional standpoint. It’s like movies, not every viewer is a critic. So, what we need is the opinion of the average audience member.”

“I see… Honestly, I don’t think I’m exactly an ‘average audience member.'”

Duanmu Ai scratched her head; although Kujikawa Rise put a lot of effort into her rehearsals and gave her all, Duanmu Ai considered it mediocre at best–there was nothing she could do, after all, drama just didn’t suit her taste, much like Peking opera: some might enjoy it immensely, but for those who didn’t like that ‘ghostly wailing,’ it held no interest.

“But now that I think about it… It’s been six days, and still, there hasn’t been any hint of trouble.”

As Duanmu Ai spoke, she looked around; she certainly hadn’t forgotten that Kujikawa’s talent agency had hired her because Kujikawa Rise had been suspected of being attacked by an Electronic Demon. However, six days had passed, and after living, eating, and working together, except for a car tire blowout they encountered on the first night, Kujikawa Rise had not faced any further danger.

“Yeah, I find it strange too, but it’s good as well. I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time.”

Putting down the script, Kujikawa Rise also let out a sigh of relief, looking genuinely relieved.

“…Speaking of which, Miss Duanmu, aren’t you considering extending your employment term? I do sincerely hope you could remain as my assistant…”

Kujikawa Rise raised her head as she said this, with a hint of plea in her eyes looking towards Duanmu Ai. Though Duanmu Ai might’ve come across as indifferent and not one to socialize, being with her made Kujikawa Rise feel secure. She wondered if Duanmu Ai would stay as her assistant…

“I don’t have that much time.”

Duanmu Ai shook her head.

“The agreement was only until the end of this performance, and besides, I have other important matters to attend to.”

“Is… that so.”

Upon hearing Duanmu Ai’s response, Kujikawa Rise appeared somewhat disappointed but quickly recovered her spirits.

“Well, in that case, I’ll make sure to give my best performance this time!”

“…Good luck.”

As she said this, Duanmu Ai glanced out the window.

Below the dark veil of night, the entire city was still bustling.

Like a stage concealed by curtains, no one knew what might happen next.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.