Airship Murder Incident (2)
The sudden collapse of a man gushing blood from his throat transformed the jovial banquet hall into a seething pit of chaos in an instant.
"Kyaaah! It's a murder!"
"Damn it. This is why I should've brought a personal guard!"
"W-We gotta get out of here, fast!"
The elegantly dressed passengers, gripped by terror, scrambled desperately to flee the hall.
"EVERYONE!!!"
Exmus's voice boomed with such thunderous force it was hard to believe it came from his scrawny frame, freezing the panicked crowd in their tracks.
"Ahem. I fully understand how bewildered and frightened you all must be right now. But the culprit could be orchestrating this chaos, hiding among us and cackling to themselves. What they want is exactly this—pandemonium, a crack in the crowd to slip into and vanish. So from this moment, everyone return to your rooms, lock the doors, and don't step out until I call for you. On the honor of my detective lineage passed down from my grandfather, I swear I'll solve this case."
"Y-Yeah, you're right. Running around like headless chickens could mess up the crime scene."
"If the detective says he'll handle it, let's trust him."
"Swearing on his grandfather's honor? Yeah, that's convincing. You bet."
The passengers, on the verge of a rampaging stampede like enraged bulls, were swayed by Exmus's impassioned plea. They calmed down, formed orderly lines on their own, and filed back to their rooms.
[Ho ho. Not just a detective in name, huh.]
To rein in a crowd this size with mere words. Can't judge a book by its cover, I guess.
As Luna and Katrina moved to join the stream of departing passengers per Exmus's instructions,
"You two ladies, hold up a moment. Come see me."
Exmus singled them out.
"U-Us?"
"Me?"
"Yes, that's right. I'm calling you."
Luna, anxious at being pointed out by the detective, stole glances at Katrina, who snorted in clear annoyance.
Ignoring their reactions, Exmus approached them slowly with a grave expression. The hall, once packed, now stood empty as everyone returned to their cabins. He'd cleared the room, leaving just the two of them. Not exactly a pleasant setup...
As expected, the mustachioed detective fixed them with a stern look and began dissecting their actions and reactions one by one.
"You two. You barely reacted to the body back there. While the other passengers screamed and bolted from the scene, your composure was unnatural."
Oho. He noticed their reactions in that split second? Sharper than I thought.
Luna and Katrina stiffened at Exmus's sharp observation. Luna subtly summoned shadows in sync with his footsteps, while Katrina impassively drew up her red mana.
[Luna. Just to be sure—you know you're not supposed to kill him, right?]
'I know! I was just planning to subdue him if needed...'
Unaware of the grim future awaiting him, Exmus strode up to them on his long legs and spoke.
"The quick thinking and calm to administer first aid as if you'd anticipated the murder. The cool-headedness to stay put amid the chaos. You two are—"
Ah, so he clocked them as no ordinary passengers?
"—perfect as my assistants!"
[Eh?]
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
The abrupt declaration left Luna, Katrina—and even me for a moment—stunned into dumbfounded responses.
What the hell kind of plot twist is this?
"Right, then. Follow me quickly. We don't have much time to solve this. With three hours max until we reach our destination, fail to catch the killer, and we're unleashing a mad murderer back into society."
Wrapping up the conversation solo, Exmus brushed past the still-befuddled Luna and Katrina and hurried out of the hall.
"W-Wait! You're making us your assistants? I thought you suspected us as the culprits for sure!"
"Hm? This assistant's got some wit. How could anyone in the banquet hall have killed Graham? No teleportation unless you're using instant travel—and unfortunately, this airship has no teleportation hub."
"True... Wait, how do you even know the victim's name?"
"Preparing for murders is Detective 101. I got the passenger manifest two days before boarding and memorized every name."
"Whoa..."
Exmus answered Luna's machine-gun questions with earnest sincerity, while Katrina, listening from the side, clicked her tongue in amazement.
"What a stubborn mustache."
"Haha! I'll take that as a compliment!"
Exmus laughed heartily, stroking his springy mustache, and marched on until they reached a door emblazoned with a large plaque reading Communications Room. A bold "Authorized Personnel Only" was engraved on the sturdy door, but Exmus ignored it and slammed his cane against it.
Bang!Crack!
With each strike, the seemingly solid door crumpled pathetically. Exmus wedged his cane into the jagged gap and yanked hard.
Crunch!!
The battered door flew off its hinges with ease.
"Hm. Open. Let's go in."
"Wh-What the hell are you people?!"
Inside sat a man in a black uniform at what looked like a telephone device—probably the airship's internal announcement system. Having abandoned a half-eaten sandwich from lunch, he drew a knife from his belt holster and shouted at us.
"I don't care what's going on—you're not passing through here!!"
"Now we look like the bad guys..."
[Bad guys... Nah, not quite.]
Eyeing the resolute crewman, Exmus sighed irritably, pulled a black badge from his pocket, and tossed it at the man.
"Kingdom-certified detective Exmus. Murder in progress—interfere, and you're a suspect."
"Wh-What...?"
The man snatched the badge amid flailing, staggered at the bombshell, and stepped aside in shock.
"Ah, can you hear me? Those at the banquet hall on deck 5 just witnessed a gruesome murder. The killer may still be aboard, targeting their next victim. All passengers and crew: lock your doors and stay inside until I say otherwise."
Exmus deftly operated the machine, broadcast the message swiftly, and cut the line.
"You too. Stay put."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Addressing the dazed crewman, Exmus strode back out.
"Door's wrecked—how's he supposed to lock up...?"
... Stride stride! Exmus's pace quickened.
"Next, Graham's room. Oh, first—Katrina, head to the admin office and grab the passenger manifest. If they resist like before, just flip the desk."
Katrina smirked at the order despite her sulky expression and leaped down to the lower deck.
Bang bang bang bang!!
At the violent noises from below, Exmus and Luna reached Room 404. Flinging the door open unleashed a wave of foul blood stench.
"Ugh..."
Luna, still unaccustomed to murders, wrinkled her nose, but Exmus plunged in unfazed, scanning the scene methodically.
Chair and desk in the room. Blood pooled near the chair—so the victim was stabbed while seated, no resistance. Acquaintance most likely.
While Exmus pursued his deductions alone, Luna and I tried our own.
[Luna. What do you think you know?]
"Hm... Probably an acquaintance, right?"
[Don't parrot the mustache.]
"...Urgh...!"
At my words, Luna clutched her head, deep in thought. Sorry, Luna, but I doubt anything brilliant's coming.
...That said, this stench has been getting worse.
"There's a bit of blood smell, but... Master can't smell physically, right?"
[That's the point, kid. It's not a physical scent.]
I swept my gaze around the room. Where's the source of this nasty odor?
As we pondered, a familiar voice called from outside.
"Hey, mustache! Got your stuff."
"Good. Thanks."
Exmus smoothly caught the bundle of papers Katrina tossed.
"Hm, that'll do for the scene inspection. Time to interview suspects."
Crunch...
As Luna followed Exmus out, something crunched faintly underfoot. Too quiet for others to notice, but I heard it. Confirming Exmus was ahead, I secretly whisked the white grains into the shadows.
Heh heh. Dumb detective.
Whether the grimoire dangling from his assistant's waist knew it was targeting him or not, Exmus grinned like he'd grasped a lead and bolted for the communications room.