13 Mingke Street

Chapter 14: Black Mist

"Mingke Street No. 13, Chapter 14 of the Main Text, Black Mist. "Hello, we have arrived. That will be 45 lu coins." "Hmm...hmm?" "45 lu coins." "Okay." Karen naturally couldn't carry her small fortune with her, but she usually had a few hundred lu coins in her pocket. She handed over a 50 lu coin, and the driver accepted it with a smile, saying, "Thank you for your generosity." "Hmm?" Karen could only nod and accept the fact that the "5 lu coins" had turned into a tip that she couldn't get back.

Got off the car,The taxi drove away.This taxi fare is really expensive.50 Lu coins, enough for a family of four to cover a day's living expenses, and at least all three meals are basic combinations;From the Crown Ballroom to Mingke Street, it's not far.At this moment, Karen remembered the feeling of staring at the red numbers on the meter jumping up from the starting price when she took a taxi to college.The hearse from the Inmores family did not stop at the side of the road in front of the house, indicating that Uncle and the others had not returned yet."Ah..."Looking at the building in front of her, which was called "home", Karen's heart became even more complicated."Police station, report, accident, not a demon..."

The key words from the woman in the gray dress kept echoing in Karen's mind.Just now, in the dance hall where the accident happened, two people arrived who could receive a report from the police. This meant that they had some kind of official identity, and in the end, it was also related to "demon outsiders."In this world, everything seemed normal;At least, from newspapers and books, one could come to normal conclusions.But the reality was not like that.Humans all have the instinct to seek profit and avoid harm. Before the taxi stopped, Karen's only thought was to leave this family and live a normal life. Of course, this life would have to rely on his own efforts to gradually become "wealthy" and "composed."But now, he suddenly realized that beneath the seemingly normal surface of this world, there was indeed an undercurrent.His grandfather at home had been weighing whether or not to kill him, but so far, the only action he had taken was to "confine" him. As long as he didn't actively escape from "Luo Jia City," he wouldn't touch any taboos.But outside, it was like a world of "witch hunting.""How could you not be a demon outsider! How could you not be a demon outsider!"

Mr. Hofen's hoarse roar on the sickbed still echoed in my ears.His left hand clenched tightly again;Although Karen was not clear about the detailed concept of "demon", his identity as a "reincarnated soul" had knocked out his confidence from the beginning.Because he knew very well that he was not the original.So,Outside,Is it still worth going out?Compared with the dangerous unknown outside,It seems that Grandpa's image has suddenly become... much kinder.The time when he should have been killed was during the first few days after he woke up.

During those few days, Grandpa didn't make a move to kill himself. It seemed like he was hesitating and weighing his options. But as time passed, people can reconcile with themselves and gradually "adapt" and "get used to" things. After all, Karen wasn't like an unruly child, throwing tantrums at home every day or giving everyone a stern look as if they owed her ten thousand lira. She was sensible, obedient, and well-behaved. Grandpa's "anger" and "intent to kill" would inevitably decrease as time went by, and living in this house would actually become safer. At this moment, Karen saw Dias walking towards them from the west, dressed in a priest's clothes. She just stared at him, without looking away. She kept staring until a hint of doubt appeared on Dias' face and he stopped in front of Karen. "Grandpa, you're back." "Hmm." Karen pushed open the door and walked into the house with Grandpa.

"Father, you're back.""Mhm."Aunt Mary then looked at Karen and said, "Your uncle called from the hospital and asked me to keep an eye out for you. He said there were other funeral cars rushing there and he didn't want you to get caught in the traffic, so he didn't wait for you to drive there first.When he comes back, I'll scold him properly. There was an accident on the street and someone died, it must have been chaotic. How could he leave you alone there?"Normally, Aunt Mary was sharp-tongued but soft-hearted towards Karen; in front of her grandfather, even her tongue turned soft."Aunt, I'm already an adult. How could I not know how to come back home? Wherever I am, I can always follow the scent of home."Dis walked over to the sofa and sat down, asking, "What happened?"Aunt Mary gently patted Karen's shoulder and went to the kitchen on the second floor to prepare some refreshments.Karen sat on the sofa opposite Dis and told him about the incident at the Crown Ballroom.

As they were discussing, they discovered a body hidden under the stage. Aunt Mary, who had just finished setting up the tea, couldn't help but cover her mouth to prevent herself from screaming. It wasn't that Aunt Mary was intentionally trying to show her gentle and delicate side in front of her father-in-law, but rather, she had grown into an excellent mortician. However, this didn't mean that her courage had suddenly increased. She wasn't afraid of the bodies because she had already started to see them as another type of "customer." Once she became familiar with them, she no longer felt that sense of fear towards the bodies, just like how a snake owner wouldn't be afraid of snakes. But with this deranged serial killer, who could say for sure that they wouldn't target her? She could become a "customer" in her own home at any moment. After Karen finished describing the details of the body, he also revealed the content of his "exchange and analysis" with Chief Duke. Originally, he had planned to keep this information to himself, as he wanted to secretly develop some relationships and connections. However, after encountering the couple who got out of the taxi, Karen changed his mind. Grandfather...

"Can you see,Your grandson not only knows how to cook, but also provides psychological counseling and helps the police solve cases."Oh my, Karen, did you come up with all of this?" Aunt Mary exclaimed, her face filled with a puzzled expression, "How did you do it?""Simply put, it's about putting yourself in their shoes." Karen tried to simplify the complicated matter, not only explaining to her aunt, but also to her grandfather;After all,Diss could not ask like her aunt: Oh my, how did my grandson do it?"By putting yourself in the perspective of the killer, and based on the clues and details left behind, you can deduce the psychological reasons behind their actions."Diss took a sip of tea,And said calmly:"Can you easily put yourself in the shoes of a killer?"

"......" Karen.This statement is easily aligned with the saying "birds of a feather flock together."Karen quickly explained:"Grandpa, Aunt, it's like this. Generally speaking, the more someone thinks they are an artistic killer, the more their thoughts are easy to guess and the easier it is to empathize.Some people think they are special:For example, they like to be alone and don't like socializing.But more than 90% of people don't like socializing, and among the remaining 10% who are good at socializing, most of them also enjoy being alone and quiet.For example, being sentimental, having a heart full of melancholy, easily resonating with people and things, and always having a desire to confide and record.But most people in their thirties who have achieved nothing, regardless of gender, will mistakenly think they are born writers.The more they pursue publicity and uniqueness, the more they think they should be high-profile and unique, the more ordinary they actually are."

So, their thinking, on the contrary, is very easy to be influenced.When they break through the human cage and start killing for pleasure, they have already transformed from humans into beasts. How many beasts are truly intelligent?"Karen explained a lot in one breath, and after finishing, took a big sip of tea.Upon hearing this, Dis thought for a moment and said, "It's a very novel theory.""So, the powerful villains I saw in movies and novels before were all deceiving me?" Aunt Mary asked."Everything has exceptions, Auntie. However, in order to highlight the dramatic and conflicting nature, literary works tend to describe villains in that way." Karen picked up the teapot, half stood up, first poured tea for Grandpa, and continued:"A true wise person knows how to restrain killing."Aunt Mary patted her chest and said, "Yes, yes, the most intelligent people must be among the good ones."The phone at home rang, and Aunt Mary walked over to answer it:"Okay, okay, got it, got it, hmm."

Hanging up the phone,Aunt Mary's face was filled with a smile,But when she saw her father-in-law still sitting there, she began to try to control her smile, but this inner joy was difficult to completely control, causing Aunt Mary's expression to be a bit stiff."Father, Mason just received a call from the hospital. The injured person who was sent for rescue has died and his family has agreed for us to handle the funeral.Mason will bring the body back in the evening.""So late?" Dis asked."Because we are still waiting for the family of another deceased person to come. He had half of his head cut off and when the hospital contacted his wife, she still firmly believed that her husband was on a business trip in Vienna.Mason wants to wait for her at the hospital and also finalize this case."When a person just passes away, their loved ones' minds are usually a bit "numb", as if they have suddenly become "puppets" and lost their ability to think;There is also a habitual thinking of wanting the deceased to have a decent funeral and rest in peace, so basically at this time, whichever funeral home can be the first to make contact, there is a high chance of getting this case.

Dis nodded and said, "Okay, you get ready.""Okay, father."Aunt Mary went to the basement to prepare for the guests.Karen saw Dis still sitting on the sofa, hesitated for a moment, and didn't dare to leave."Aren't you afraid?" Dis asked, "Seeing that kind of scene.""Not really." Karen replied, "I've gotten used to it lately.""You seem to have something else to say?""No, grandfather, what else can't I say to you?""Oh."Dis stood up,

"I went back to the study.""Okay, Grandpa."Karen stood up and watched Dis' figure disappear up the stairs before sitting back down on the couch.In fact, he really wanted to ask Dis about the demons and also about the couple in the taxi.But then he thought it wasn't the right time;Some windows may be thin and almost transparent, but they still serve a very important purpose.Karen was worried that if he asked directly, Grandpa would patiently explain the concept of "demons" to him,carefully introduce him to the other side of the world that is not known to ordinary people,and help him analyze which organization the couple belonged to, what responsibilities they had, and what rights they possessed.

After the explanation was over, Grandpa sighed and stood up:"Since the truth has been revealed, I will no longer deceive myself. Demon, prepare to die."Karen was a professional when it came to reading people's hearts. He didn't want to risk removing the barrier that Dis intended to use to kill him out of curiosity. It was much more dangerous than the last time he went to the basement to have a "heart-to-heart" with Mr. Mosan.Karen knew the difference between being reckless and seeking death."Meow..."Karen lowered his head and saw that Puer was lying next to the sofa, not sure when he had crawled there.These days, Puer seemed weak and sick.Karen reached out and picked up Puer.Puer didn't resist and no longer had his previous haughty attitude. Instead, he seemed resigned and defeated.

In Karen's impression, the expression of this cat has always been very rich."Meow..."In the corner of the living room door, the golden retriever rested its chin on the floor tiles, showing a look of envy.Mr. Hofmann has not been discharged from the hospital yet, and it still lives in the Inmores family, but the adults and children in the family seem to have no great enthusiasm for pets, not to mention hating them, but they are too lazy to play with them.Only Karen takes some time every day to take it for a walk nearby.Karen waved to the golden retriever, and it immediately stood up and happily approached, actively putting its head under Karen's palm.With the cat on her lap and the dog leaning next to her, the fragrance of tea lingering on the coffee table in front of them, they were in their own detached villa.Karen suddenly felt that this kind of life was not bad.Although she didn't have the ability to change the objective reality, reality was kind enough to allow her to choose a comfortable sleeping position.Ability...

Karen suddenly sat up,The Pu'er tea that was originally lying on Karen's lap raised its head with some confusion,The golden retriever, who had lost the treatment of being petted, also came forward and put its head back under the palm, and patted it.Jeff's dream,Mr. Mosang's crying,Do I also have the ability to make the victim under the stage react?If he can say something, can the murderer be directly identified?There has always been an evaluation of the forensic industry in society, that is, they can make the victim "speak".And if the victim can really speak in a practical sense,It is definitely the nightmare of all murderers in this world!

But...Karen looked at her left palm again. She had forgotten how many times she had deliberately looked at this scar today.Not to mention this "ability" that she still hadn't figured out, even if she really had and mastered this ability, could she use it to help the police solve cases and catch criminals?"Police station, report, accident, not a demon..."Am I going crazy, haha."Karen.""Aunt?"Aunt Mary came up from the basement again, holding a box in her hand and handing it to Karen, her gaze fixed on the stairs."What is this?"Karen took the box and opened it, finding a watch inside with the brand "Monroe". It wasn't a luxury item, but the price was not low either, around 2,000 rupees.

White-collar workers in office buildings like to match this watch."Thank you, Auntie."Karen thought her aunt had bought her a watch, but her aunt shook her head and said, "It's not from me, it's from Mrs. Xiusi, who asked someone to bring it to you."Mrs. Xiusi?The boss lady from the crematorium.Aunt Mary lowered her voice again and said, "Although I have a good relationship with Mrs. Xiusi..."Karen had already noticed it that day. Mrs. Xiusi joked in front of Mason Uncle that he fell off a window sill while trying to peek at other women. This was actually a warning to her friend's husband."But I still have to remind you, Mrs. Xiusi, she is a bit... a bit promiscuous. You'd better not have too much contact with her, do you understand?"Aunt Mary, like Uncle Mason, was very worried that the young and impulsive Karen would be lured away by Mrs. Xiusi with just a flick of her finger.Perhaps for Mrs. Xiusi, this was just a way to pass time and alleviate loneliness, but for young boys, it was the price of being played with their pure feelings.

After all, Karen is fifteen years old, an age where she can resist any temptation.How many boys at this age can resist the temptation of a young woman?Aunt Mary is willing to speak ill of her own friend for the sake of her nephew.Previously, because Karen came back with Dis, Aunt Mary didn't dare to take out the watch in front of him."I know, Aunt Mary."That Mrs. Xius, she's just using herself to catch a big fish."Then please ask Aunt Mary to return the watch for me?""You don't need to return the watch, just keep it. It's enough that you know the truth. I'll take care of the return gift, let's just consider it as a gift between sisters. But for now, you should make a phone call and say thank you, it's just a matter of politeness.""Okay, Aunt Mary.""The number is in the address book."

"Got it."Karen picked up the phone and opened the phone book next to it;Because of business dealings, the number for Shius Crematorium was listed at the top, making it easy to find.She dialed the number,After waiting for a while, no one answered on the other end.Perhaps they were busy?Karen hung up the phone and dialed the number again;"Click..."This time, it was quickly answered.Karen asked, "Hello, is this Shius Crematorium?"

There was a sound on the phone, but no one spoke.Karen asked again, "Hello, are you there?""You have disturbed my artistic creation..."