69novels Chapter 126 Copycat Murder
Chapter 126 Copycat Murder
Chapter 126 Copycat Murder
After spending some time with Jar, Kathy gained a much more comprehensive understanding of him.
Jarl often appears to be unconcerned with details.
Whenever he takes off his armor, his appearance always seems somewhat unkempt, even bordering on unkempt.
However, he is very particular about his beard and hair, and spends a lot of time on maintenance and care for them every day.
Jarl's table manners were even worse, often getting his face covered in oil.
She snores very loudly when she sleeps, so much so that Cathy has had many sleepless nights.
However, although this person appears rude, he is actually very quick-witted.
He is able to deduce a great deal of profound information from details that others would not even notice.
Moreover, he is never impatient. Once he decides to do something, he can immediately get into the zone and maintain patience and focus.
Just like this missing person case, Jar has been investigating for a long time. Although the progress is slow, Kathy has not seen Jar show any anger or anxiety.
He simply worked diligently, searching and tracking clues bit by bit, and advancing the case at his own pace.
Because the other members were unable to rejoin the group, Kathy had to stay by Jarl's side.
It was precisely for this reason that Kathy witnessed the entire process of Jarl's investigation.
Jarl overheard some information about a little girl and has been trying to find out where she is ever since.
Kathy guessed that Jar had already identified the little girl as a suspect in the case.
Right now, Jarl suddenly took Cathy and mounted his horse, galloping away on the road far from Nailport.
Jarl's brown braided beard would often dangle in front of Cathy's face, forcing her to reach out and brush it away from time to time.
After repeating this several times, Cathy inevitably became annoyed.
He couldn't help but look up and ask:
"Where are we going?"
“Kids should sit still,” Jar said. “They shouldn’t be asking where adults are.”
"I'm not a child anymore," Cathy thought. "I turned fourteen last month."
But Cathy doesn't intend to reveal her true feelings; she must avoid disclosing information related to her identity as much as possible.
The iron hooves of the warhorses pounded the wet road with a dull thud.
Kathy paused for a moment, then asked:
"Jal," Casey asked, "are you a knight?"
This time, Jarl didn't tell Cathy to shut up. Instead, a few seconds later, he answered Cathy's question:
"no."
"Then why do you call yourselves the Unswearing Knights?"
"A knight must be sworn in, but we have not sworn an oath."
"So you once had the opportunity to become true knights?"
Jarl paused for a long time after hearing this before giving his answer:
"Such people do exist."
That long braid slapped Cathy again. Cathy really wanted to cut it off with scissors, but then Jarl might use his double axes to cut his neck, so he just tucked it behind his head.
"And what about you?"
"I do have a chance to receive a title."
"Oh? Then why not?" Cathy asked curiously.
"Because that's when I discovered that there is no such thing as a riding ground in this world," Jarl said in a emotionless voice.
"?" Casey asked, somewhat confused. "No knights?"
"You've probably heard stories about knights. I was the same way when I was young, so I always dreamed of becoming a knight, and I did indeed become an apprentice at a knightly school."
Jarl's eyes were fixed ahead, but Cassie felt he was gazing into the past.
"On the eve of my becoming a knight's squire, the school instructor gave me my last lesson, but it was to persuade me to abandon the knight's spirit. After that, I discovered that the knight I served was a complete scoundrel, and all his actions were contrary to the code of knighthood."
"Later, in order to gain the favor of those in power, he actually chose to slaughter children. I cut off his head before he could even use his knife. And originally, I was supposed to be knighted after this mission."
"Because of this action, I naturally lost that opportunity and was wanted by the police. I was forced into exile until Seth found me and offered me a position."
"At that time I realized that there was no real power, and the oath was just a flattering tool to obtain titles, status and money. Just like a prostitute saying she loves you in bed, you must not be foolish enough to believe it. All she loves is the silver coins in your pocket."
"Knights and prostitutes are no different, so I might as well admit I'm a slut. The ideals of the Unswearing Knights coincide with my own, and without any hesitation, I chose to join them."
"Once inside, everyone was talented and spoke very kindly. And thanks to Seth's manipulation, the warrant for my arrest was quickly dropped."
Kathy hadn't expected Jarl to tell him about his past, but he listened carefully, of course.
However, Casey disagreed with Jarl's statement, saying:
"There are indeed scoundrels among knights, but true knights also exist."
"How do you know?" Jarl said dismissively.
"Because I have seen a true knight, strong, loyal, keeping his oath and upholding his honor," Casey said with certainty that Pegasus was definitely a true knight, and Casey was willing to guarantee it with everything he had.
Jarl glanced down at Kathy warily, and only after the horse had galloped quite a distance did he comment:
"Then the person you're talking about must be an oddball. Did he end up well?"
Hearing this, a wave of sadness washed over Cathy, and she lowered her head.
Jarl must have realized the truth, because he immediately said:
"This world has long been distorted, and virtue has long been treated as garbage and flushed down the drain. If one wants to go against the tide, there will surely be countless difficulties ahead. I can foresee his fate."
After speaking, Jarl paused for a long time, then suddenly asked:
"However, I would like to hear your story."
Cathy looked up again: "Are you interested?"
"You can think of it that way. If he was truly a knight who walked a path I never followed, I want to know what he went through, then offer him a sacrifice and a few cups of wine to his spirit."
Kathy laughed from the bottom of his heart; he even felt a little like crying.
If he hadn't been unable to cry, he probably would have shed tears already.
"Look, Pegasus," Kathy said to the Pegasus in her heart, "there are still people who will respect and admire you!"
But Kathy said, "I can't say. If I do, you might find out who I am."
"That's a shame," Jar said. "Well then, shall we make a promise?"
"What agreement?"
"After I hand you over to the person who offered the bounty on you, could you tell me about his deeds?"
Cathy pouted, "Back then, I definitely hated you!"
"Fine, if you don't want to, then forget it."
"No, I do!"
Kathy agreed, saying he was willing to set aside his own emotions and feelings if it would help Bales's story be passed down.
"Hmph!" Jarl chuckled through his nose. "You actually have such an attitude. It seems I can look forward to that story."
Nevertheless, Cathy still hoped that day would come later.
They continued on their journey.
The roads leading in and out of Nam Kau are extremely rugged and difficult to travel, with either large or small stones scattered along the way, or mud and puddles blocking the path.
Kathy suddenly said, "But you, in the end, still became the kind of person you hated. You killed the knight who planned to harm children."
And now you want to send me to the bounty hunters.
"But at least I didn't kill you," Jarl shrugged.
“But you’re tracking down a little girl,” Casey said. “I can sense that you intend to kill her.”
Jarl stared at Kathy for a moment, a cryptic smile on his face:
"Looks like you haven't been following me for nothing; you've been quite observant. I am indeed investigating a girl, but as for whether or not to kill her, I haven't decided yet."
"But if necessary," Casey said, "you will definitely kill them!"
"If my deduction is correct, that girl is definitely not simple. If I hesitate, I will be in danger. On the battlefield, the worst thing is to be hesitant or indecisive."
Jarl stated calmly, seemingly unaffected by Cathy's accusations.
"Besides, I am not a knight. In any case, I am different from the knights I killed. Compared to those knights who talk about honor and justice all the time, at least I am not hypocritical."
Hearing this, Kathy understood that Jar's ideas were very self-consistent and could not be swayed by Kathy's words.
All Cathy could ask was, "Could that girl be the culprit?"
"The suspect may not be the criminal," Jar said, "but all the clues point to that person."
"Because she was at a crime scene?"
"Not just one, but every single one."
Jarl said with a serious expression,
"On the day the slave king disappeared, a little girl approached him under the pretense of repairing the roof and entered his room. However, the address that the girl gave to the slave king's men did not belong to the repairman at all."
"Regarding the murder case in the town, the victim's neighbor said that a girl had been loitering around the area in the evening."
"Remember the murder case in Zhigen Town a few days ago? The same square pattern was left at the crime scene, and there..."
A girl acting suspiciously also appeared.
Indeed, if the "girl" Jar refers to is indeed the same person, then there is a high probability that this person is the criminal.
And it couldn't possibly be a coincidence.
Nailport is located at the end of the Finger Peninsula, while Finger Root is at the entrance to the peninsula.
The peninsula is bisected by a hill, and the roads are rugged and difficult to travel.
Even on horseback, it takes three days to travel one way, and by carriage it is even slower.
How could a little girl possibly appear at two crime scenes so far apart without any reason?
Even Cathy is now beginning to think that perhaps the girl wasn't innocent.
But Cathy still asked, "But can just one girl really do all that?"
"Kid, the most dangerous killers are often those who seem harmless."
Jar said,
Never be fooled by the opponent's cowardly or pitiful appearance, otherwise you will be helpless when they reveal their murderous intent. Many people are born with great strength, so never underestimate any opponent.
"Then why did she do all that?"
Jarl raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and pursed his lips, saying:
"Who knows? The current clues are insufficient to analyze the motive."
Kathy nodded, thought for a moment, and then asked:
"So, another new case has occurred?"
"Hmm? Why do you ask that?" Jarl glanced at Cathy.
"Isn't that right? You usually don't take me away from Elbowbone Harbor."
Jarl chuckled. "You're not quite right. It's more like a new case is about to happen."
"About to?" Cathy frowned in confusion.
"You'll find out soon enough," Jarl suddenly slowed the horse's pace. "Perfect timing, we've arrived."
At this moment, they arrived at a village.
Although Casey never stayed here, he passed through here a few times.
Combining this with the fragmented information he had passively received, he quickly deduced where he was.
Most of the Finger Peninsula is unsuitable for human settlement.
However, besides Nagi Harbor and Nagi Root Town, there is a small flat area in the middle of the road connecting the two towns.
On this flat land, there is a village called Finger Village.
Kashi and Jar should be in the village of Fingertips right now.
There is no space for cultivated land around Zhijie Village, so the local people can only make a living by fishing.
However, due to its location on the main road to Namcha Barn, the village's inns and taverns are thriving.
Jarl tied up the horse and led Kesh around the village.
After making some inquiries, Jarl bought a large amount of food at the inn.
Kathy roughly estimated that there was enough food for a man to eat for a whole month.
Then, Jarl arrived at a secluded farmhouse, and without knocking, barged in.
Kathy followed them inside and saw a man sitting on the bed.
He was probably in his forties, wearing only a shirt, and seemed to be busy with something before Kathy and Jarl came in.
Jarl looked at the man on the bed with disdain and asked:
"Are you single?"
"So what if we are? Who are you? This is my house, you're trespassing!"
The man made accusations while groping for his trousers lying to the side.
Jarl didn't speak, but instead drew two single-handed axes from his back waist and slowly walked towards the single man.
It seemed that Jarl's piercing gaze and imposing presence were too overwhelming, and the man's eyes were instantly filled with fear.
He involuntarily shrank back, and at the same time stammered weakly:
"What...what are you thinking!"
Jarl replied coldly:
"It's simple, I'll come and kill you."
Hearing this, even Cathy gasped.
Not to mention the man who was being pointed at by Jarl's axe.
"No, no, please—"
But Jarl wouldn't listen to the man at all and swung his axe.
Then came the sharp whistling of a blade cutting through the air, and the roar of steel breaking through hard objects.
Kathy held his breath and, once the room quieted down, he finally saw what had happened.
Jarl did not kill the man, but the bachelor had been driven mad by fear.
He lay on the bed shivering, his pants only covering half of his leg, his mouth wide open, breathing rapidly, but he couldn't utter a single word.
But on the wall behind him, Jarl had slashed several holes in it.
Kai hoped that the axe marks, crisscrossing and forming a square pattern, would lead him to them.
He recognized it; it seemed similar to the symbols found at the crime scenes of the two previous murders.
Kathy didn't understand what Jarl was trying to do, so she could only watch the situation unfold quietly.
After a long while, the man finally came to his senses, tears already soaking his face.
He quickly knelt down on the bed and begged Jarl to spare his life.
However, Jarl said, "You are already dead."
Kathy didn't understand, and the man was clearly the same; he looked at Jarl with a puzzled expression.
Jarl then explained, tossing the food he had just bought to the man:
"Take this food and hide in the woods. You must not be discovered by anyone for a month. If you return before then, or if I hear your whereabouts, I will kill you."
The man nodded repeatedly: "As long as you don't kill me, I'll do whatever you want!"
"You're to act immediately tonight, and you mustn't be seen by anyone. I'll be watching you from nearby!"
Amid the man's words of gratitude, Jarl led Kathy away.
Jarl was indeed keeping watch nearby, and the man did indeed obey.
As night deepened, he indeed took his clothes and food and ventured into the woods.
Kathy was a little confused and asked:
"Jar, what's your purpose in doing this?"
Under the moonlight, Jarl's smile appeared somewhat sinister, and the sea breeze sounded like weeping, making his voice sound chillingly cold.
"Remember the three cases I mentioned to you during the day? The last murder occurred in Zhigen Township. But this case, unlike the previous two, was not committed by the same person."
Hearing this, Kathy frowned in confusion:
"Didn't you think that girl was the murderer, and she seemed to be at the scene too?"
"The cutting marks left at the scene of the first two cases suggest the use of some special method. However, the third case was caused by a sharp weapon, so I believe there must be another perpetrator in the third case."
Jarl said in a calm tone,
"And you did indeed raise a crucial point: since the third case is unrelated to the girl I'm investigating, why was she suspected of being at the scene?"
Faced with Jarl's question, Kathy thought for a moment and gave an answer:
"A gang crime?"
Jarl chuckled and replied:
"That's certainly possible, but I think another reason is more likely—"
"After learning about the murder, the girl immediately realized that someone was imitating her and committing the crime. Therefore, she went to the crime scene to investigate, which is why she left a trace in Zhigen Town."
"Alright, kid, let's go. I have things to do."
Having said that, Jarl set off for the bachelor's cabin.
Entering the cabin, Jarl took out the blood he had collected that afternoon and splashed it on the bed.
The scene inside the house looked eerie and terrifying.
Kathy asked, "What are you doing?"
"To fabricate a murder scene," Jarl said with a smile. "Although the Unsworn Knights have no knights, they are not indiscriminate bandits and tyrants. If we want to create a murder scene that the surrounding people can believe without killing anyone, this is the only way."
"Why do you do this?" Cathy asked, puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Jarl grinned widely.
"If that girl would go to the scene of a murder caused by a copycat, why wouldn't she go to another one? If others can be copycats, why can't I?"
Upon hearing this, Kathy suddenly realized:
"What do you want?"
"That's right!"
In the darkness, Jarl's eyes seemed to emit a faint light.
"It's much easier to get a criminal to show up than to search for them and find out where they're hiding."
"Since that girl was able to learn about the case in Finger Root Town and went there to investigate, the case that happened in Finger Knuckle Village in the middle of Finger Peninsula must have also reached her ears."
"And the terrible state of this room is the result of the shrimp worms that I carefully raised, which were plump and tempting."
"After that, all I need to do is wait patiently for the ripe fruit to fall and the fish to bite!"