Along the way, the details of the case were discussed from time to time, and with the unexpected lack of traffic jams, the group soon arrived in Toda City.

It is a small city with an area of about 18.01 square kilometers and a population of 123,000, and it is strategically located in the alluvial plain of the lower reaches of the Arakawa River.

The weather is intoxicatingly warm, and it is the season when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in autumn. Passing through the pedestrian avenue, the autumn wind carries the cherry blossoms that flutter one after another, and the small and delicate petals float in the air, pure and beautiful.

Yahara, who was originally in an anxious mood, saw the cherry blossom rain flying in the sky, and the tense heartstrings instantly became soft, as if the whole person had been healed.

The car continued to drive forward, gradually walking through the street where the cherry blossoms were, and came to a sparsely populated area.

Unlike Tokyo's dense buildings, the most common thing here is the intertwined power grid at the heights. Directly facing us is a low dam that houses the railroad, which is paved with fine gravel.

"According to the signal contact of the stations along the way, the tram often loses contact in this area." Pointing to the bleak scene in front of him seriously, Yidi Zhijie raised his glasses.

Based on the information he received, he climbed over the fence and came to the middle of the railroad to take a closer look.

The railroad tracks, which have been exposed to the sun and rain for a long time, are covered with yellow-brown rust, and the surrounding stones are also shoveled very smoothly, so you can not see the slightest abnormality.

At the same time, Yoshino Shunhei also summoned Yotsuki to help search around, trying to find some clues.

After several searches, they found nothing, and regretfully got down from the dam to discuss other countermeasures.

Suddenly, Yotsuki seemed to fall into some kind of chaotic state, flying aimlessly in the air, as if stimulated by something.

"Hey!" Yoshino didn't know what was going on, but anxiously manipulated the pinch, trying to call it back.

Yahara stretched out his hand to stop him, saying, "Don't move yet, see what it finds?" ”

I saw Yozuki rushing straight into the air, and instantly landed on the stone in the middle of the rails, and then there was no movement.

Retracting the god, Yoshino Shunpei was very confused, and when he turned his head to look at Yahara, he had already run forward to look for the location where Yodotsuki had landed.

It was a very ordinary puddle of water, and if it weren't for Yotsuki's abnormality, it wouldn't have been evaporated by the combined action of wind and sunlight in a short time, so it wouldn't have attracted the attention of Yahara.

Observing the water stains closely, Yahara tried to see if there was any mana defilement, but was surprised to find that the puddle of water seemed to be made of mana condensation.

It would be unbelievable that this strength could scare Yotsuki out of control and happen at the scene of the disappearance of a large tram, if this is a coincidence.

was sorting out his thoughts, and Yidi Zhijiegao suddenly shouted loudly below: "Yahara-san! Yoshino-san! There's something new! ”

Hearing the latter words, Yehara had a flash of inspiration, and hurriedly ran down to ask him, "What did you find?" ”

"Just now, the police finally found a witness, but the confession conveyed was too ridiculous, and everyone thought he was drunk and talked nonsense, so let's go to him now to verify." Holding the phone, Yidi Zhijie said excitedly.

Too ridiculous? How ridiculous can it be? Is heifer the kind that hits the earth?

Yahara didn't have any opinions, but Yoshino Shunhei said that they all listened to Yahara, and the three of them turned around and drove to the witness's house.

Since the city itself is small, it didn't take long to find a few houses surrounded by golden rice fields. And the witness was living in it.

Park the car on the side of the road and walk to the final mile.

Walking to an old-looking, slightly dilapidated wooden house, Yahara gently knocked on the gate of the courtyard.

After a while, the door was slightly pushed open a crack, revealing a half-weathered face, with bloodshot eyes, as if the mental state was not very good.

"Who are you looking for?" The sound is hoarse and deep, reminiscent of a dilapidated accordion that has not been used for a long time.

"Hello, let's look for Mr. Takaki Oda." Yahara tried to make his attitude as gentle and approachable as possible.

Who knows, after finishing speaking, the man's vigilance rose sharply, and his right hand was tinkering with the deadbolt behind the door, as if he was going to lock the door at any time.

Seeing that the man's reaction was so big, Yahara hurriedly said, "Please wait a minute! We're here to solve your problems! ”

"It doesn't matter! No one believed me anyway! After responding rudely, the man tried to close the door several times, but he never moved.

Some of the people who couldn't stand it stepped forward to talk: "Mr. Oda, we are from the special department of the police, and we are very interested in what you said. ”

The social credibility of adults in suits is much stronger than that of Yahara, and Oda Takashi's attitude begins to soften: "That... Okay, hey, imp! Come in, don't pull on my door! ”

The debunked Yahara smiled slightly, and immediately let go of his right hand, which had been secretly making trouble.

Entering the courtyard, the small courtyard is clean, the firewood and farm tools are well organized, and it looks very neat.

"Mr. Oda, do you clean this yard by yourself every day?" Ignoring the episode just now, Yahara couldn't help but ask.

"In the past, my wife preferred cleanliness and didn't tolerate messiness, because hygiene taught me a lesson. It was only after she left that I started to develop this habit. ”

The casual words are full of longing and regret for his deceased wife. According to the information that came from the summons, Oda Takaki was only forty-seven years old, but his temperament was very similar to that of an old man in his twilight years.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Yohara realizes that he has uncovered the other party's heartbreak.

Yoshino Shunhei looked at Oda Takaki with sympathy on his face, he remembered the feeling of his father's death, and it was also this regret and self-blame.

Oda Takaki waved his hand back: "It's all over, you go to the living room first, and I'll make a cup of tea." With that, he turned and walked to the kitchen.

Several people sat on the soft tatami mats, observing the environment of the living room.

The furnishings are simple, with a photograph of a smiling woman in the center of the most prominent feature, and an offering and incense burner underneath. Everything was so clean that it was hard to imagine that this was the home of a middle-aged man who lived alone.

Finally, four cups of steaming tea were placed on the coffee table, and Yahara took the brunt of the question, "Mr. Oda, please repeat what you said at the police station." ”

Slowly smacking the tea, and in the midst of the mist, Takaki Oda began to speak slowly.

In the early hours of that morning, he was going to get up early to weed the rice in the rice field and check the frost by the way. But an inadvertent look up scared him dumbfounded:

A tram that runs as usual is like a dying snake being scooped up by an unknown creature in the sky!