readytorunbook Chapter 717 Those 3 "don'ts"
Chapter 717 Those 3 "don'ts"
Kong and Paimon looked at each other, seemingly only realizing the problem at that moment.
Xu Ning glanced at the silent Lin Ni, then at Navia standing beside him with a puzzled look on her face.
"Alright, to better explain, I'll try to make an inference based on the way events are narrated in court."
"Let's start from when Linnie first announced that she was going to hold this magic show. You specially designed a show where Linnie disappears in a water tank, and you also advertised it in advance on the opera house's bulletin board, all to lure that doping organization into your trap."
"Look, the girl disappeared in the water without a trace, leaving only her clothes. It fits perfectly with the case of the missing girl. You've practically taken the blame in advance, waiting for the person behind the scenes to come and cover it up."
Hearing this, Kong nodded seriously and said, "Indeed, if I were a doping organization, I would also be tempted by such an advertisement..."
He was startled halfway through his sentence and turned to look at Lynette.
Xu Ning laughed and said, "Kong, you've finally realized it."
"Water tank escape—what a perfectly timed, convenient, quick, and silent magic trick! Our drug organization's capable henchman, Cowell, worked diligently to carry out the boss's plan, even earning unanimous praise. Yet, he couldn't even pour a tube of water into the tank, forced to prepare balloons, iron hooks, and tinder, constructing such a massive killing scheme. Was he just showing off his skills to the boss?"
Kong had also thought of this.
Instead of going through all that trouble, Cowell might as well just tamper with the water tank itself.
When the magic show begins, the moment Lynette jumps into the tank, the water of the Primordial Sea of the Dead dissolves her in front of everyone, and the unsuspecting audience will think it's a normal performance, until Lynette can no longer appear, the security team intervenes, and the Primordial Sea of the Dead is found in Lynette's luggage, completing the whole process.
Why doesn't Cowell do that?
That means someone was watching him from beginning to end, not giving him the chance at all.
"So our hardworking clerk Cowell, after realizing he had no chance to tamper with the water tank, had no choice but to turn his attention to another magic trick that had been prepared for him."
Xu Ning took a sip of wine and nodded towards Kong and Paimon.
"As for Linni, the person cooperating with him was Lillian, who was either from Mondstadt or Winterfell, but definitely not from Fontaine. Under the guise of stealing, she made a rendezvous with him at the waterway hub."
"Lillian provided Linni with her location and name at the opera house, and, witnessed by Kong and Paimon, proved that this encounter was nothing more than a purely accidental act of heroism."
"The performance on stage naturally needs to be pleasing to the eye. The so-called random selection of the audience will never choose fat, big-eared, pot-bellied rich merchants, let alone choose Melusin who might appear in the audience. So Linni guided poor Cowell with the theater's registration list and chose the young painter named Halsey. Her age and status were right, and she was also somewhat famous. She was a perfect target."
Xu Ning smiled. "I can even imagine how devastated Cowell must have been in the tunnel!"
"The perfect candidate, the perfect mechanism, not only failed to dissolve the girl, but someone also kicked the box door open, causing such a commotion!"
"He rushed into the tunnel to continue his work, but he was knocked unconscious and put in a box because the opponent's strength was far beyond his imagination. He died in his own trap."
"Tsk tsk tsk, it's awful just thinking about it." Xu Ning said with a look of regret and schadenfreude.
"After I figured out all these details, and then I found Lillian, I thought your next move was just to lure out Cowell's accomplice who was hiding in the security team, and that your sneaking into the basement to find the Heart of God, Linnie, would be kept secret. But to my surprise, you actually confessed to this before Lillian even showed up."
"Such a serious matter could easily send you to Mero Petersburg. Since you deliberately dropped this bombshell, let me ask you that question again: Why are you in such a hurry to go to Mero Petersburg?"
All eyes were on Linni.
Linni remained silent for a long time, seemingly considering something, but finally spoke.
"All I can say is that the very existence of Mero Petersburg is to protect a secret, and what that secret is, that's exactly what we want to know."
"I hope you understand that although we have our own plans, saving Fontainebleau and breaking the prophecy are indeed what we are doing. After all, it has been proven that the people of Fontainebleau can dissolve in water, and the scene in the prophecy may really come to pass. We have been doing the right thing..."
Apart from Xu Ning, everyone else said goodbye to Lin Ni with mixed feelings.
Although Linni has been declared innocent, this is only for this case; he will soon face another trial.
After learning the purpose of the trial, no one wanted to participate anymore.
On the way back to Fontainebleau, the group was not very talkative, and this mood lasted almost until they sat down at the table in the Grand Hotel de Bois.
"Ugh," Paimon scratched his head vigorously, looking frustrated. "What is this? We were supposed to win the case together and have a huge celebration, but instead we've ended up feeling so down. Give me the menu, I want to have a big meal to cheer myself up."
Xu Ning chuckled and handed her the menu. "Eat and drink as much as you like. It's all on me today."
Navia, who was sitting next to Paimon, heard this and quickly stopped him.
"How can that be? You are friends of the Rose Society, it is our turn to show hospitality."
Navia turned to Paimon and smiled, "Just order. If there's anything you don't understand about the dish names, I can explain it to you..."
Paimon pressed his face almost against the menu, tapping his chin with his little hand as he read, "Hmm... this, raw meat tartare..."
Navia laughed and said, "Why did you choose this dish? It's made with raw meat, raw egg yolks, and a mix of seasonings, so most people can't handle it."
"Hmm... this, apple black pudding..."
"This is a traditional dish of Fontainebleau. Don't mistake pudding for a dessert. Black pudding is actually another name for blood sausage."
"Hmm...this, Fontaine foie gras..."
"Uh, this is also a traditional dish of Fontainebleau, but generally, pretty ladies wouldn't order this..."
Paimon snapped the menu shut and handed it to the waiter beside him. "I don't want those three. Bring me one of everything else. If I like any of them, I'll ask for more."
Navia: ...