Chapter 51: The 1924 Train Murder Case (24)

At this moment, Tang Mu's gaze toward Eli was bright and sparkling, filled with anticipation.

Yet Eli’s reply left her deeply disappointed.

“I don’t enjoy any of the things you mentioned,” he said. “I only like my work.”

...

Tang Mu received no satisfactory answer; all her hopes faded into desolation.

Forget it.

This man named “Eli” was perhaps only similar to Yan Xingwen in appearance.

If it was just resemblance...

Then she had no reason to remain in “The 1924 Train Murder Case.”

“Very well. It was an honor, Mr. Eli, to share a brief and ambiguous conversation with you in your cramped quarters. But my break is over. The friends in the carriage are likely growing impatient... Goodbye.”

As she faced Eli, Tang Mu still wore a flawless, gentle smile.

But the moment she turned away—

Her smile vanished, replaced by cold indifference, not a trace left behind.

Returning to the communal lounge and its sofa seats, the NPCs and players resumed their sardonic banter.

“Miss Tang Mu seems quite close to Chief Steward Eli, doesn’t she? The two of you are always huddled together,” Ottilia sneered.

Though Tang Mu paid no mind to Ottilia’s jibes, since the woman had already confronted her, Tang Mu wouldn’t pretend not to hear.

“Who doesn’t appreciate beauty? Mr. Eli’s face, I imagine, would suit most people’s tastes.”

“Pfft.” Ottilia’s retort was another mocking snort.

Even the most patient would struggle to endure Ottilia’s repeated barbs.

So Tang Mu struck back.

“Madam Ottilia, are you the murderer?”

Tang Mu looked at her calmly. “After all, it was Dr. Adela who found the cyanide syringe in the restroom.”

Ottilia hadn’t expected Tang Mu to turn the tables on her the moment she returned. She flew into a rage.

“Didn’t Mr. Bartholomew say it already? If I were the killer, wouldn’t the motive be too obvious? The murder weapon must have changed hands. Besides, with my voluminous skirt, it wouldn’t be difficult to accidentally carry a syringe. And earlier, we deduced that you were the suspect. You insisted on pausing the game, and Mr. Eli only let you go because of that... What do you have to say now?”

At this, Tang Mu sighed.

“Oh, just because I’m a pharmacology student, I could get my hands on cyanide?”

Dr. Adela, tired of Tang Mu’s evasions, decided to share what she knew.

“As everyone knows, refined cyanide is indeed hard to obtain on the market. But if you have enough cherry or apple pits, using water extraction and solvent methods, you can obtain a deadly poison. The process isn’t that complicated, as long as you have the relevant knowledge. And remember, both cherries and apples require significant quantities... Poor families couldn't afford that much fruit. So among us, only Miss Tang Mu fits the bill—she has both pharmacological knowledge and wealth.”

“But Madam Ottilia and Mr. Hert Arnold also have private doctors in their households,” Tang Mu replied, shifting the tide.

“Private doctors, mind you. Don’t forget that. At a word from Madam Ottilia or Mr. Hert Arnold, a private doctor couldn’t refuse any request.”

“Why would a private doctor help us extract a deadly poison?”

Tang Mu shrugged. “Then it’s even less likely my foster father would buy me the equipment to extract poison, wouldn’t you say?”

So, with her own efforts, Tang Mu turned one suspect into three.

“So now it’s me, Madam Ottilia, and Mr. Hert Arnold who are all suspects. You can’t just focus on me, can you?”

At that moment, Eli, now changed into a fresh shirt, emerged from his office. His appearance was still impeccable, and the gold-rimmed glasses on his handsome face gave off a refined but dangerous allure—a hint of asceticism.

On the dull Haier train, he became a striking presence.

Tang Mu noticed the difference in his shirt from before and allowed herself a playful smile.

Unfortunately, this time Eli didn’t spare her a glance as he stepped out. Perhaps deliberately.

“So now there are three suspects for the second murder?” Eli’s voice was pleasant, though his face was cold and his temper suddenly sharp. “Very well. Tomorrow’s vote will be cast among these three.”

“Someone just suggested over the intercom that the vote should be limited to the suspects only. NPCs cannot exploit loopholes in the rules to vote for non-suspects. For fairness’ sake, I agreed. If anyone breaks this rule, whether NPC or player, they will die immediately.”

Eli surveyed the group with chilling indifference.

“Even as NPCs, you know what happens when you die.”

The crowd fell silent.

“All right, continue your deductions.” Adjusting the frame of his gold-rimmed glasses, he withdrew coldly. “I hope you enjoy the next two days.”

Eli departed.

Watching his retreating figure, Tang Mu was swept into memories of her past.

Looking at someone so like Yan Xingwen, she couldn’t help but think of him.

When she first met Yan Xingwen, she was neither noble nor beautiful, far less so than now. In fact, her life had been bleak and desperate then.

But Yan Xingwen was a special person.

Whenever she thought of him, Tang Mu couldn’t suppress a rush of sweetness.

...

“Miss Tang Mu? ...Miss Tang Mu!” Dale nudged her shoulder, signaling it was time for her to speak.

Tang Mu snapped out of her reverie, looking at Dale in confusion.

Dale had to repeat the group’s earlier question. “Mr. Bartholomew just said, tracing the source of the cyanide points to three people. But based on who went to the restroom, there are two suspects. So we should focus on the connection between ‘the restroom’ and ‘the syringe.’ But there’s a fatal problem for you: when the victim boarded, Madam Ottilia had already gone to the restroom. She and the victim missed each other. So the one who injected the cyanide syringe into the victim’s neck... is still you, Miss Tang Mu.”