Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 259 - 180

Chapter 259: Chapter 180

"Mist envelops the deep mountains, the water harp’s sound startles the ghostly dream..."

"Tea grows in ancient temples, plain paper drifts to summon old spirits..."

Oogami Nui murmured softly, striking the copper gong, the echo from afar seemed to bring other sounds. The window cracked, and the chandelier flickered with a faulty connection.

Minamoto Tamako was so scared that she clung to Fushimi Roku, never having witnessed such a scene in her life. Even though she knew there was nothing to fear from ghosts, the atmosphere felt like the prelude to a ghost appearing in a horror movie.

"Return, O spirits!!"

Oogami Nui raised her withered arms and emitted a hoarse scream that was almost a howl. Everyone jumped in fright, leaning back instinctively.

Fushimi Roku squinted, observing carefully, feeling a sense of déjà vu like watching soul-calling rituals in the countryside in a past life.

Suddenly, a strange sound of the water harp came from outside, twisted and murky, like an ancient cave shrieking, causing goosebumps.

Nakako and Ono Ken turned pale simultaneously, turning to ask others if they heard the strange sound; Minamoto Tamako and Yazaki Momo nodded repeatedly; they heard it too.

"How come I didn’t hear anything?" Fushimi Roku frowned.

He really hadn’t heard any strange noises; rather, it seemed eerily quiet outside, even the storm seemed to have vanished.

Now their faces turned even paler. Before dying, Akishino Mako claimed to have heard the sound of the water harp, yet Nakako and others hadn’t heard anything unusual, exactly mirroring the current situation.

"Now isn’t the time for hocus pocus!" Minamoto Tamako’s teeth chattered: "Did you really not hear it?"

"I really didn’t."

Fushimi Roku had no idea what kind of trick this was, his expression turning serious, feeling inexplicably irritated.

Upon hearing this, the others increasingly believed Fushimi Roku had true abilities, while Fushimi himself began to feel paranoid.

Oogami Nui listened intently for a moment, then placed the copper gong down, quietly announcing:

"The ceremony is complete."

Nakako looked around, failing to see her daughter’s spirit, showing a puzzled expression, preparing to ask, but saw Oogami Nui suddenly uncover the tablecloth, revealing an old-fashioned pure mechanical typewriter.

The type hammers were exquisitely crafted, the ribbon soaked with red ink, the frame made of pure gold adorned with bizarre patterns.

"Now, the lost soul is awake; feel free to ask questions, but remember to clearly state the name of the person you’re asking," said Oogami Nui.

Minamoto Tamako looked confused, thinking this wasn’t what she read in books! Wasn’t the ghost supposed to possess the spirit medium and speak through their mouth? What’s with the typewriter?

Nakako was the most nervous and anxious, taking a deep breath, tentatively asking: "Akishino Mako... are you... are you there?"

Thud!

The typewriter keys suddenly moved on their own, as if an invisible hand pressed a key, leaving a letter on the parchment.

[Y]

Minamoto Tamako thought, ’What does ’Y’ mean? Yes? That’s too vague, isn’t it?’

Before she could speak, the typewriter sounded twice more, as if an invisible person was searching for other letters, resulting in a brief pause.

[yes]

Nakako’s eyes shimmered with tears, her chest heaving as she revealed a sad smile. At that moment, everyone was watching her, but she found herself speechless.

"Akishino Mako, did you commit suicide?" Fushimi Roku suddenly asked.

Minamoto Tamako turned her head, thinking his interruption was rude, the mother and daughter separated by the realms of life and death finally had a chance to reunite; shouldn’t they exchange a few words? Even if investigating, couldn’t it wait a moment?

But upon reconsideration, she felt Mr. Fu Jian was right; what if the spirit summoning ceremony was cut off at a critical moment? Isn’t it common in dramas for the victim to die just as they’re about to reveal the killer, leaving her frustrated?

Hmm, better to ask early for peace of mind!

Thud—Thud—

The typewriter hit two letters on its own, making everyone’s hearts skip a beat.

[NO]

Wasn’t it suicide?

Miss Akishino didn’t die by suicide?

Nakako’s eyes widened, clutching the hem of her kimono, a heartbroken mother’s expression eliciting sympathy. She opened her mouth, about to ask who the killer was, but Fushimi Roku suddenly stood up.

"That’s enough."

He stared at Oogami Nui, speaking each word deliberately: "You shouldn’t deceive a grieving mother."

Minamoto Tamako suddenly remembered Yazaki Momo had hired Fushimi Roku to expose the ruse. They had agreed that once Oogami Nui used the spirit summoning ceremony to challenge the police’s investigation results, Fushimi Roku would reveal her trickery—Minamoto Tamako had already forgotten this.

Fushimi Roku was inexplicably irritable, with the quiet outside, the eerie silence around, even the voices of the Angel and Demon gone, making him unusually uncomfortable, vaguely uneasy.

When he felt uneasy, he would exhibit extreme aggressiveness.

Fushimi Roku unhesitatingly stepped across the circle drawn in blood, startling everyone and pulling open the fireplace panel, hearing a thud as an assistant fell from the chimney.

Fushimi Roku bent down, snatching a clunky signal transmitter from his hands, pressing it casually, and the typewriter clacked as it hit the type hammer on its own.

Only then did everyone remember the assistant had gone upstairs to check and never returned, hiding in the fireplace to remotely control the typewriter... if too far, the signal couldn’t reach; if too close, the cumbersome remote would be discovered.

"Despicable!"

Minamoto Tamako was furious, not only because Oogami Spirit Medium had deceived Nakako, but also because she was frightened; she genuinely believed a ghost was operating the typewriter...

Thinking of herself as the wise detective Tamako all her life, yet now experiencing defeat, being played around by a fraudulent spirit medium, naturally feeling a bit ashamed and indignant.

Before she could further accuse, Oogami Nui’s eyes rolled back, a strange groaning scream came from her throat, and she collapsed to the floor, her eyes showing only whites.

Everyone jumped in shock, retreating, seeing Oogami Nui’s body twisting, limbs contorting, and the strange sound from her mouth gradually turning into a young girl’s voice: "Mom... Mom..."

Nakako’s heart trembled, covering her mouth; she recognized it was her daughter Mako’s voice!

"Mom... Mom..."

"You... killed... me..."

"You... all... deserve to die!!"

As the words fell, the typewriter clattered chaotically, the water harp sound outside exploded in everyone’s ears. Upstairs, a sudden clang rang out, like the balcony sliding door being opened, wind and rain pouring in.

Dong—

The western clock resounded.