The deceased was named Svetlana, a Caucasian woman with pronounced features, who looked quite beautiful in photos. After marrying into the family, she took a Japanese name, adopting her husband's surname, becoming Kujo Yuka.

According to the gang investigation — which was not much of an investigation, just harassment from door to door or gathering rumors from elders and women — Kujo Yuka opened a flower shop as a side business in her free time, but it was closed recently due to health reasons.

Her husband is Kujo Hikari, the eldest son of Kujo Mutsumi.

It's worth noting that Kujo Yua, the eldest daughter, was born earliest and is Kujo Hikari's sister.

Three years ago, this couple was already separated in fact.

Kujo Hikari lived elsewhere for a long time, partly for work to manage the family business, and partly for the pleasure of a frivolous lifestyle. It's said he has many women outside.

Every year, Kujo Yuka says she wants a divorce, but it is just talk. Possibly considering family interests, she never brought up the divorce publicly.

Mizutani Junichiro held some stereotypes about the battle-hardened nation, believing women from the north were very open. He suspected that opening a flower shop was just a way to filter clients, and privately, she might have cheated on her husband many times, leading to their estrangement.

Over a month ago, Kujo Yuka was found dead in an alley in a residential building, with the time of death very precisely at eleven o'clock.

There was an eyewitness at the time of the incident. A waiter cleaning on the second-floor balcony of the hotel looked down and saw a man in a hurry coming out of the alley, wearing a mask and glasses. Due to his suspicious demeanor, the waiter had a deep impression of him.

The above is the exact result of the Northern Association's investigation. In addition, there are some uncertain, speculative, and unrelated investigation results.

For example, the Northern Association found a courier who resembled the suspect in body and appearance. After beating him half to death, they learned he was out of town delivering packages that night;

Another instance was when the Northern Association heard of someone who 'supposedly' had seen the murderer's true appearance. After paying a large sum for information, they realized they'd been scammed; the person was just a fraudster;

Moreover, the Northern Association discovered another murder case had occurred that day, not in Otaru City, where the victim was also stabbed in an alley, suspected to be the work of a serial killer...

Fushimi Roku listened quietly from start to finish. He filtered out invalid information and began to ask questions: "How was the exact time of death determined?"

Mizutani Junichiro scratched his neck again: "The police said so."

Fushimi Roku acknowledged with a hum and asked, "Do you know the direction of the criminal police's investigation?"

Mizutani Junichiro didn't know either. He scratched his nose after his neck: "Not very clear."

Fushimi Roku asked finally: "It's been a month and a half already, and no suspect has been found? In this long time, the murderer could have traveled around Japan by train."

Mizutani Junichiro started scratching his bottom, looking itchy and restless: "Well... we've done our best..."

Hearing this, Fushimi Roku knew deep down that further questioning would yield no valuable information, only causing embarrassment to the other party.

He exchanged contact information, stood up to leave, and instructed that if needed, he would contact the Northern Association anytime, hoping Mr. Mizutani would cooperate.

Mizutani Junichiro thought Fushimi Roku came to hold him accountable but didn't expect that he just left after asking, making him feel anxious. He quickly stood up and said, "Mr. Fushimi, why not have a meal before going..."

"No need, the case is urgent."

Fushimi Roku planned to eat at home, marking the end of today's investigation. But he still needed to show a diligent attitude, so when the news reached Kujo Mutsumi's ears, it would seem he was working tirelessly and with dedication.

He picked up some seafood on the way home, which wasn't really a purchase as Mizutani Junichiro forced it upon him, not accepting any money, a form of a bribe... Tuna and king crab aren't cheap, plus special delivery was arranged, with the cooling transport cost being significant.

On the way home, Fushimi Roku called Kujo Yua: "Moshi Moshi? It's me..."

Kujo Yua's voice came through the receiver, along with the sound of footsteps and pages turning, showing she was very busy after becoming the Director of Police: "What's up?"

"Did you know in advance that someone in the family died, so you agreed to let me take Tamako back? Now your old man wants me to investigate this case, is this what you call a vacation?"

Fushimi Roku realized, noticing that since a week ago Kujo Yua had been trying all means to lure him into working, with the condition of taking Minamoto Tamako back to Hokkaido to meet the Family Head... As the eldest daughter of the family, with her sister-in-law dead, she surely knew.

Knowing but not mentioning it, what's her intention?

Kujo Yua was indifferent, casually saying: "Don't you enjoy investigating cases? It's just a matter of convenience and proves your ability, how nice."

She paused, her voice became slightly muffled, probably moving the microphone farther: "Anything else? If not, I'll hang up."

"Don't rush," Fushimi Roku sat on the train, holding a foam cold box with one hand, with king crab inside, while the tuna was specially transported by refrigerated truck: "After all, this is your family matter, why push it onto someone like me, an outsider?"

Kujo Yua didn't respond, so he continued, "Using me as a tool again, is it?"

Kujo Yua asked, "Why do you think so?"

Fushimi Roku replied, "Your brother killed his wife. Even if the police know, they dare not speak openly. Kujo Mutsumi wants to cover for his son but also needs to give the daughter's family an explanation... So you let me help clean up, right?"

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