Tachibana Tadaaki stood on the deck with us, eagerly awaiting the sacrificial ceremony that was supposed to take place. Yet, upon arriving at the dock, we saw no movement on the sea.
He Xin sighed heavily, and we were all profoundly disappointed, our spirits sinking. Just as everyone was about to turn back, countless ships suddenly appeared on the horizon. On board were numerous young girls dressed in elaborate Lolita performance attire. They stood on the decks, tears in their eyes, holding bouquets of flowers, which they then scattered into the sea. It turned out they had all come, and it was evident they were all members of the Lolita Association.
They hadn't forgotten old Mrs. Dulage after all. Ah hahaha! That's wonderful!!
Later, we learned that their delay that day was due to a typhoon warning. Miraculously, the typhoon then vanished. Perhaps even God cherishes those who contribute to society, which is why old Mrs. Dulage's sea burial ceremony could proceed smoothly.
Rest in peace, great designer, our old Mrs. Dulage. May you find happiness and joy in the next world.
This was the final blessing we could bestow upon you.
At the same moment, we all scattered the flowers in our hands towards the sea. After completing this act, the members of the Punitive Justice Team all looked up, beholding a brilliant rainbow arching across the sky, their faces alight with happy smiles…
Two weeks after this case concluded, it is said that the "Galaxy Light" set was permanently preserved in the Sha Hai Town Museum, the genuine article, of course. Due to the legends of old Mrs. Dulage and the priestess, this place later became a very famous tourist destination in China. Many visitors came specifically to glimpse the works of China's foremost Lolita designer.
However, regrettably, we never managed to find the person who secretly shot Director Gan. Who could that person have been?
As time wore on with no results, the police had to abandon the investigation.
It was only later that I saw Tachibana Tadaaki arrive at the detention center carrying a bouquet of violets. I had known about his relationship with Du Meisha for a long time. Due to certain circumstances, I let some things go. It was fine; let them be. After all, Du Meisha had already suffered enough. I truly didn't want to see them harmed any further. As I left the detention center, I clasped the Polaris pendant around my neck. For some reason, I thought of Father Reynald: "Father, if you were still alive, perhaps you would do as I did?"
Leaving the detention center and returning to the Siheyuan, He Xin suddenly appeared before me, holding a strange envelope. "Dad, we were wrong! I found this under the floorboards at Du Meisha's place!"
"What?" I took the old envelope and opened it. Inside seemed to be a list.
On this densely written list, I actually saw Father Reynald, and people I had apprehended in the past. I discovered that Du Qitai, Du Meisha, and… these people were all members of the Polaris organization?
And the priest was their mid-level lord, referred to as a God Hunter Lord. I also saw Pierce's name here.
"Did you really find this list at Du Meisha's home?" I asked He Xin.
She nodded vigorously. "Dad, but this list isn't complete. I suspect it's just the tip of the iceberg for Polaris."
"I understand. Don't worry, we will continue searching for those scoundrels until we eradicate them completely one day!"
Thus, we made our resolute decision.
One evening, recently, while I was at home in the Siheyuan, I suddenly noticed an old man squatting on the doorstep outside. I had seen him before; I remembered he had saved me once.
Seeing him again, I figured he probably thought I had some money and wanted my help. I felt pity for him and handed him a wad of cash: "Old man, thank you for saving me last time, but please don't always squat at my door. It's not good, you know?"
"Ah, young man, I cannot take this money. I saw you on the road that time and saved you incidentally. Someone asked me to give you something!"
"Oh? What is it?"
The old man opened his palm, and a very bright green bead appeared in it.
Anyone else would not have known what it was, but I recognized it instantly.
This was the gift my father, He Guanghui, had given my mother when he proposed to her in a square.
At that time, he had also happened to solve a case.
However, my father was quite clever. Even though he had solved the case, it didn't delay his proposal to my mother. Upon returning, he had even brought the criminal to my mother. To his left were flowers, and to his right were handcuffs.
To prevent the criminal from escaping, he had handcuffed himself to the suspect.
The male criminal who witnessed this scene, seeing my father proposing to my mother while holding the green pearl, couldn't help but be moved to tears.
My mother was then a world-renowned mystery novelist. Her romantic and sincere love with my father, He Guanghui, became widely praised from that day on. Everyone said that China had produced a genius detective comparable to Sherlock Holmes, and his counterpart was the world-famous mystery novelist, Li Lanzhen, also known as "Ye Xue Liu Hen" (Night Snow Leaving Traces).
I don't know how many of my mother's works are kept in our home library. In fact, my talent for writing probably comes from her genes.
As he handed me the bead, I suddenly noticed something strange in the old man's eyes. They were amber, filled with an indescribable depth. Sometimes clear, sometimes dim. When happy, they sparkled, and when sad, they cast a shadow.
How could this be?
The old man left, leaving me alone in front of the Siheyuan, looking at his receding figure with confusion.
For some reason, watching his lonely and weathered silhouette, my throat suddenly felt choked…
My name is He Sheng. Dad, I am now the leader of the Punitive Justice Team. Don't worry, I haven't failed your expectations, nor have I forgotten the fundamental principles of being a police officer. Of course, I've also inherited Grandpa's skills.
Ahaha, actually, I think I'm quite tired for you all. I have to be a police officer, and in modern society, without coroners, I can only be a forensic investigator. For Mom, I even have to write novels. Now I also have to manage the Punitive Justice Team.
Recently, some readers have asked me, Detective He, are you not tired from handling so much work alone?