"Well... no, Miss Schimmel came back first, and Miss Xue didn't come until around nine o'clock."

"When did the snow leave?"

"I don't know about that."

"Okay...can you tell me what you were doing on the night of the incident?"

Confirming the alibi—a trick even I would use.

"My words...it was in this main hall. There were many people here at that time, and everyone can testify for me, including the thin man next to you."

I looked at Ferrinold, and he nodded to me twice.

There are many benches and sofas in the main hall on the ground floor of the attic where we are, as well as a small service desk. Behind the service desk are shelves.

"I have some side businesses. In the winter, I will turn this place into a small tavern, but I will only sell some low-alcohol wine - I don't want drunks to affect my tenants."

Mr Wyatt added.

I am very satisfied with his cooperative attitude.

And what he said is consistent with what Ferrinold said.

"Wow~~ No wonder the wine I drank that day looked like it had been mixed with water!"

"...When does the pub open?"

"Six o'clock in the afternoon."

In other words, those people who were not written in Manda's notebook but appeared in the attic probably entered the attic between 6 pm and 9 pm.

This makes sense logically.

"Have you been in the main hall?"

"Not at all. In order to ensure the rest of the guests, the tavern usually closes around ten o'clock. That night... it should be about ten thirty. After I sent the lord away through the back door, I locked the door and returned.

Rest in your own room."

"The lord left around half past ten..."

Schimuel's death time ranged from eleven o'clock to one o'clock in the morning. Was it really just a coincidence that the lord came to this attic that night...

"Is the back door always unlocked?"

"Yes."

...Your awareness of theft prevention needs to be improved, Mr. Wyatt.

In this case, it is difficult to estimate the specific departure time of each person.

"So, you haven't seen anyone since half past ten?"

"This...well, that's right."

Mr. Wyatt has no alibi for being present after half past ten.

But this happened to be the time period when the murder occurred.

But it is normal for him to stay in his room without witnesses.

It’s difficult...

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"Ah~~No, it's nothing..."

My wandering seemed to make Mr. Wyatt feel uneasy.

"Then, next..."

I picked up the coat that was placed on the sofa and took out the things I had prepared in advance...

......

After asking all the questions that came to mind in detail, Ferrinold and I took our leave.

When we came to the street, Ferrinold handed me the notebook.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Why are you so polite, Mr. Detective? Why don't you treat me to a few drinks~~"

At my request, Ferrinold wrote down all the conversations I had just had with Mr. Wyatt.

When I took the notebook, I looked at it briefly - what I didn't expect was that he remembered it in quite detail.

"You are surprisingly reliable."

"That 'unexpected' is superfluous. Besides, I've always been reliable, okay? But the detective never took this case seriously."

"...Huh? How could I not take it seriously?"

After a moment of hesitation, my voice changed slightly when I asked.

"However, the detective's performance tonight can be given extra points~~"

"Who cares..."

What points should be added? Your heartbeat index score? If it is true, I hope it will be cleared directly.

"Eh~~"

"..."

"Hey, Mr. Detective, what do you think of that old man Wyatt?"

"Even if I say it behind my back, please be polite...Why are you asking this? Do you think he is the murderer?"

"No, no, no, I just... doubt it."

"Why?"

"Think about it, he has been missing since half past ten. Even if he said that he was just resting in the room, who can testify? If I remember correctly, Mr. Detective, you should have said - that woman

The businessman's death time is after half past ten, right?"

"Well..."

"For the above reasons, I doubt him."

"It makes sense."

"Hmph~~ If the murderer is really that old man Wyatt, detective sir, please don't forget my contribution and give me at least 90% of the reward~~"

"... Regardless of your unrealistic fantasies, I think Mr. Wyatt's chances of committing a crime are still relatively small."

"Oh?"

"What good will killing Schimmel do to Mr. Wyatt?"

"Benefits...well, no..."

"If there is no motive for murder, it means that it is meaningless for Mr. Wyatt to do such a thing, right?"

"Well..."

After changing his complacent look just now, Felinold's momentum instantly dropped and he made a muffled voice.

We gradually moved away from the attic, and as passers-by gradually appeared around us, the lights on the street became brighter.

Ferrinold and I felt relaxed.

"Ah~~ I didn't expect that the detective would actually have a way to get that old man to answer your question. He's really got a trick..."

Ferrinold put his hands behind his head and sighed.

"...If you and Mr. Wyatt hadn't quarreled, I would have used a more tactful approach."

"Hahaha, yes~~"

"..."

"...Let me tell you, Mr. Detective..."

"Huh?"

"A year ago, I persuaded you to become a private detective...do you regret it?"

"Nonsense, I regret it so much."

"Haha..."

"But regret is regret, I have long accepted the reality."

"Oh?"

"So I thought about doing something... to let others know - I am a private detective, but a private detective is not exactly me."

"Wow~~If it's so cool, wouldn't it be too wasteful for the detective to tell me, a grown man?"

"...Stop talking."
Chapter completed!