Later that night, in front of a simple restaurant not far from Tanyi Train Station, Chiba put away her umbrella and pushed the door open. As soon as she put her umbrella into the bucket nearby, she saw someone sitting there Valenti, who was not far away, was waving to him.
After Valenti sent her name vaguely last time, Chiba did some research and got some trivial and messy clues. She had too many questions to ask, so she made an appointment with Valenti to meet here. .
Valenti had already ordered a hot drink for her. Chiba didn't even take off her coat and sat directly on the sofa opposite.
"How's it going?" Valenti quickly got to the point, "Have you made any important discoveries?"
Chiba took a sip of hot tea from the cup and shook his head.
Valenti sighed softly, "...you didn't find it either."
"It's not that we didn't find it, it's that there are too many people." Chiba replied, "There are more than 60 people named Volva in the third district alone, and there are even more in the fourteenth district - you first talk to Let me tell you, last time you said in a text message that you wanted me to 'see if there are anyone worth paying attention to in Volvari', what exactly did you mean?"
Valenti rested his elbows on the table and said softly, "I guess Volva may have been Jane's former caregiver - her mother, sister, etc. You think, there aren't many and Sis near Short Call Lane." How could she appear there for no reason at the gathering place of the Ta clan?"
Qianye frowned, "What do you want to say?"
"It's hard to tell the specific conclusion. I'm just speculating. I guess there may be a story similar to "The Dagger and the Sheath"... But maybe, the ending is different."
Chiba looked at her, "Even if it is, why do you want to check these now? This is all in the past -"
"No, Masaki, I don't think there's a past, at least with Jane, it's definitely not over yet."
Only then did Valenti have the opportunity to tell Chiba exactly what happened at the Central Theater last month. Hesta's reaction that night still made her unable to let go.
"I've been thinking about this for a while... Are there any Hesta people among the 'Volva' you found?"
"Only one," Chiba replied, "in District 14."
"Is it alive?"
"If you are alive and old, you can be Jane's grandmother, but it's hard to say what it has to do with Jane." Qianye replied, "My search range is limited to habitable areas. Most Hesta people basically do not enter habitable areas, and they are more He likes to live in the wasteland, so if we really want to make an effort to find people, we still have to start in the wasteland."
Valenti nodded, "Isn't that troublesome?"
"Definitely, the household registration information in the wasteland is basically not electronic. Checking it is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task - but I can let El do it. In terms of time..." Chiba thought for a while, "Three Let’s start in a month.”
Valenti thought for a moment.
"Can we narrow down the scope first, for example, target those 'Volvas' who died young...and the like, oh, oh, there's more!"
Valenti suddenly realized something and his eyes lit up. Chiba looked at her and waited for the next step.
"Missing persons!" Valenti said firmly, "You can focus on looking for the 'missing Volvas' in the wasteland of District 14."
…
About an hour later, Chiba and Valenti left the restaurant. Valenti chatted with Chiba all the way and walked to the waiting room unknowingly.
"You go back first." Qianye looked at her, "Don't give it away."
"I'm not seeing you off, I'm going back to Nigeria tonight by car." Valenti pointed to the scrolling screen in the waiting hall with a smile, "Well, my car is an hour behind you."
Chiba patted his forehead belatedly, "I even forgot that you will stay there until the end of the year... How is it? How is it going lately?"
Valenti shook her head, "I'm still the same. I'm a little concerned about Jane's recent status. During this time, I sent her messages, and she responded, but she just didn't tell me where she was -"
"Oh, she's at Ava's place." Chiba replied.
Valenti raised his eyes and glanced at Qianye in surprise, "...how do you know?"
"The reason why I appear here today is related to this matter." Chiba replied, "I don't know why, but Ava insists that Jane has something to do with the Fernand case. I read the report she submitted, and there is nothing wrong with it. The conclusion that Jane is the murderer is written directly.”
"...What?" Valenti was stunned, "Wait...it was Ava who removed Jane from the workstation before-"
"Yes, at that time, the 002 office gave the reason why Jane could not be the murderer, and Ava just went to carry out an order. Later, she seemed to have met with Jane several times in private... In short, she now claims that she has discovered the key to Jane's crime. Evidence, so during this period, she forced Jane to stay in her villa and not be able to go anywhere."
"Then where are you going tonight? Are you also going to Nigeria?"
"No, I need to go to the core city first." Qianye said softly, "I need to report the results of the investigation for more than a month to the 002 office first - I also tend to believe that this time the crime was committed by the mercury needle... No one Chelate removes its own traces so cleanly.”
Valenti's expression began to become solemn, and she fell into a brief silence. Pictures related to Jane quickly emerged and became entangled in her mind. She suddenly remembered the first time she met Jane at the workstation shortly after Fernand's death. Jane's expression was heavy and sinister at that time, which left a deep impression on her.
"Then, is it possible...that it's Jane?"
"Impossible." Qianye answered resolutely, "No mercury needle's social relationship is simpler than hers. She and Fernan have never had any contact or even met each other. Why did she want to kill him?"
"Then the key evidence that Ava said..."
"I will go to Nia at the end of the month." Chiba lowered his head and stamped his feet, shaking off a wet leaf on his trouser leg. "At that time, I will ask Ava in person and ask her to take the so-called key evidence. Show me—she'd better tell me the story right then and there."
Valenti suddenly felt a little headache.
"Masaki, I think there must be some misunderstanding here..."
"What misunderstanding?"
"That's... First of all, I don't believe that Jane is responsible for Fernand's case, but Ava, Ava is not a person who talks freely. If you have gotten along with her, you will know-"
"I understand, I know her very well." Chiba said softly.
"Oh, is it so?"
"Yes," Chiba gently twisted his shoulders, "We have known each other for a long time, and she taught me a lot... I know her better than you do."
Valenti exhaled softly, patted her heart gently, and said with a smile, "That's good...I'm really afraid that you will quarrel then."
Chiba waved his hand.
We've argued so many times, it doesn't matter.
