Starting With The Sefirah Castle In The Anime World-Chapter 160 - : The Crime That Cannot Be Escaped

The lives of ordinary people are naturally completely different from those of nobles.

As someone who was once an ordinary person, Toshihiko could clearly perceive the vast gap between commoners and the elite.

When he was young and his mind was still developing, he experienced treatment that did not align with his circumstances. As a result, his mindset changed drastically.

Subconsciously wanting to sever ties with his past self, he inevitably buried the memory of his mother's car accident.

In truth, this kind of reaction is quite normal.

After all, people die, but life goes on.

Although Kaguya didn't say these words outright, everyone present understood the meaning behind them.

"The dazzling world is tempting," she mused.

"Everyone desires a life without struggle. If even adults cannot resist such temptation, how could a child?"

Ren understood Toshihiko's situation at that time.

If he had been given an easy life as a child, perhaps his personality would have turned out differently.

For a seven-year-old child, twenty years ago, it was natural that he lacked the awareness to resist.

"It's just that... even after knowing who truly killed his mother, he still shifted the blame. That decision was truly inappropriate," Ren remarked.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

Kaguya nodded slightly.

Not only was it inappropriate—it was utterly unacceptable.

He claimed to seek revenge for his mother, yet he directed his anger at an innocent party instead of targeting the real culprit.

If Toshihiko had sought vengeance against the actual criminal still in prison, it would at least prove his resolve.

But instead, he chose to take out his rage on a police officer whose only crime was pursuing criminals.

And no matter how much responsibility that officer might bear, it was only secondary. In fact, it was that very officer who had arrested the perpetrator responsible for his mother's accident.

Even so, he still viewed the officer as the true culprit.

Such behavior was simply unjustifiable.

"Kaguya-sama," Hayasaka spoke up, "have you finished recording the poisoning incident?"

"It's done," she confirmed.

At this moment, Hayasaka had already returned to Kaguya's side.

"The footage has been checked. It clearly captures Toshihiko, the groom, poisoning Miss Suzuki's lemon tea with sodium hydroxide."

"There's no doubt about it—this was an attempted murder."

At this moment, Sonoko also stood up.

"Hmph! They must have taken advantage of my presence at Inspector Matsumoto's wedding to retaliate against the Suzuki Zaibatsu. It seems the Takasugi Zaibatsu is truly dissatisfied with our cooperation."

"Hayasaka, call the police officers stationed outside the venue."

"I'd like to hear their thoughts on what kind of behavior it is for a groom to attempt to poison and murder me at his own wedding."

"Understood, Miss Suzuki."

Hayasaka chuckled, bowed slightly, then opened the door to let the restless figures outside enter.

There was no doubt—this was a deliberate setup.

But no one in the room felt even a hint of unease or guilt.

They held only contempt for a criminal who attempted murder.

"Click!"

The door swung open, and the people outside rushed in.

"Superintendent Matsumoto, I would like to ask, why did the groom attempt to murder Miss Suzuki?"

Hayasaka's words sent a sudden shock through the crowd.

Attempted... murder!?

The groom's friends all widened their eyes in disbelief.

This crime was far too severe.

And the target of the murder was the daughter of the Suzuki Zaibatsu.

In an instant, the friends who had just been drinking with the groom took several steps back.

Just kidding—everyone might be friends while drinking.

But now that an attempted murder charge was in play, who would still stand by a criminal?

"Attempted... murder!?"

Matsumoto Kiyonaga's gaze darkened as he quickly scanned the room.

His eyes locked onto his daughter—seated, safe, and in good health.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Then, his gaze fell upon Toshihiko, lying motionless on the floor, and his expression turned grim.

Of course, he didn't believe that Toshihiko was targeting the second daughter of the Suzuki Zaibatsu.

The true target of this man's revenge was undoubtedly him—Matsumoto Kiyonaga.

And he had aimed at his daughter to carry it out.

But upon seeing the situation inside the room, Matsumoto Kiyonaga felt reassured.

Sonoko stood there, outwardly furious but unharmed.

He immediately understood—it was an orchestrated plan between his daughter and the Suzuki heiress.

Having realized this, he decided not to interfere.

"Murder!?"

"That man actually committed such a deranged act?"

Matsumoto Kiyonaga's face darkened even further.

"I never expected him to take advantage of my daughter's feelings, nor to use her connection with Miss Suzuki to target her in such a vile manner."

"Megure!"

"Yes, sir!"

Megure Jusan immediately stepped forward from behind him.

"Handcuff this scumbag who dared to attempt murder and take him straight to Metropolitan Police Headquarters for interrogation!"

"Also, notify the Takasugi Zaibatsu and Suzuki Zaibatsu, they are both required to report to the station!"

"Understood!"

Megure Jusan glanced at Takasugi Toshihiko lying on the floor.

He found it hard to believe that this man would have the audacity to target the second daughter of the Suzuki family.

However, targeting Superintendent Matsumoto's daughter was a different matter.

It would have been difficult to predict whether Suzuki Sonoko would attend this wedding, but the bride, as the wedding's central figure, was guaranteed to be present.

So, it was clear, Toshihiko's true target had been Matsumoto Kiyonaga's daughter.

Yet, in this moment, they were formally identifying Takasugi Toshihiko as the culprit behind the attempted murder of Miss Suzuki.

Though Megure Jusan had an inkling of the truth, he didn't see Takasugi Toshihiko as innocent.

After all, if this man hadn't truly harbored murderous intent, this situation wouldn't have unfolded at all.

Stepping forward, Megure Jusan pulled out a pair of handcuffs and secured them around Takasugi Toshihiko's wrists.

"Miss Hayasaka, do you have evidence of this man's crime?"

"Of course," she replied.

Megure Jusan briefly paused after securing the handcuffs—he had already expected as much.

This was a trap carefully laid for Toshihiko.

But if he hadn't actually intended to kill, he wouldn't have fallen into it.

He had no one to blame but himself.

Hayasaka retrieved the camcorder she had prepared in advance.

"Superintendent Matsumoto, this was originally meant to record the bride's wedding, but unexpectedly, it captured the groom poisoning Miss Suzuki's drink."

"The poisoned target was the lemon tea can Miss Suzuki had been drinking from."

"Please take this into evidence."

"Of course."

Matsumoto Kiyonaga accepted the camcorder, though his facial muscles twitched with anger.

He truly hadn't expected Toshihiko to be so ruthless.

This time, it had been too close.

That man had almost succeeded.

(To be continued.)