Bai Liang was in no hurry to act, because, unlike killing Xu Yaowen, he had a more important matter at hand.
Toni stepped out of the agency, his hand pulling sothing from behind his jacket, and Bai Liang noticed a black object hanging from his beltmost likely a pistol.
“When you go out, you can’t do without a weapon,” Toni said, winking.
He then took out a black knife and handed it to Bai Liang: “This is yours. Rember, hide it so the enemy won’t notice, but so you can easily pull it out at any mont.”
Bai Liang, holding this starting weapon, fell into thought. It reminded him of the behavior of a certain Daoist master.
Fortunately, he had the Japanese leaf, so the knife and pistol held no significance for him. He didn’t pay much attention to them.
Old man Byrne’s house was directly opposite the agency. Bai Liang looked up and noticed that the black cat, which had been sitting on the windowsill catching birds, had disappeared. The window was slightly ajar, and it was dark inside.
After a while, a police officer in a black uniform approached. He wore sunglasses and seed to know Toni. Raising his hand, he greeted: “Toni, long ti no see!”
“Hey, John, you’ve beefed up again, haven’t you?” Toni said with a smile, shaking his hand.
“Really? I think so too.”
John raised his arm and showed his bicep, then quickly lowered it and, becoming serious, said: “Toni, Sheriff Blainey has already explained the situation to , and I’m fully prepared to support you in the upcoming actions.”
“Good, thank you,” Toni nodded.
Then he looked at Bai Liang.
Since it was Bai Liang who found the evidence, the actions had to be centered around him.
“Let’s go up,” Bai Liang said, and was the first to head towards the road.
Toni and John followed him.
Crossing the street, the three approached the old building.
The house looked dilapidated, and the door to the stairwell was covered in rust. Fortunately, it had no lock, and they were able to enter without hindrance.
Inside, it was dark, the walls covered in scratches and graffiti.
Going up to old man Byrne’s apartnt, Toni knocked on the door.
Knock! Knock!
“Who’s there?” a deep, decrepit voice called from inside.
At that very mont, a subtle change flickered in Bai Liang’s eyes, vanishing just as quickly.
That voice was all too familiar to him.
When he had first entered this world, that very young man nad Will had sought help from a certain person.
And that person’s voice was absolutely identical to the one he had just heard from behind the door.
Of course, Bai Liang had already guessed who old man Byrne was when he noticed that black cat on the windowsill.
And now, seeing Will’s body and hearing that voice, he was completely convinced.
“Mr. Byrne, it’s , Toni,” Toni said. “I have a matter to discuss with you. Could you open the door?”
There was no answer.
But after a few seconds, the door slowly creaked open.
At the threshold, sitting in a wheelchair, old man Byrne appeared.
His gaze was somber, and a clear displeasure was audible in his voice.
“Toni, you didn’t say there would be three of you.”
“My apologies for the disturbance, Mr. Byrne. These are my assistants. I hope you don’t mind,” Toni replied with a smile.
The old man snorted irritably, turned in his chair, and without looking back, tossed out:
“Co in.”
Toni glanced at Bai Liang and John, giving them a silent signal, after which the three entered.
The room was quite modestly furnished.
Besides the bare essentials, the room was mostly adorned with oil paintings on the walls; sotis, pencil sketches were mixed among them.
In addition to this, there were several bookshelves in the room, filled with books.
“So, how can I help?” old man Byrne asked, sitting in his wheelchair and stroking the black cat on his lap.
Toni sat down on the sofa.
He reached for a cigarette, but changed his mind halfway.
Crossing his fingers and resting his elbows on the table, he t Byrne’s gaze.
“Mr. Byrne, you once had a student nad Will, didn’t you?”
The question was extrely directthey had agreed beforehand not to beat around the bush.
With an old fox like Byrne, convoluted phrasing would only be a waste of ti.
Besides, Byrne was over ninety years old.
Even if he truly turned out to be the killer, he would hardly be able to kill three people right after being exposed.
If that truly happened, Toni believed he’d be better off dying than continuing to breathe and waste resources.
Hearing the na “Will,” a faint shadow flickered across Byrne’s face.
But in an instant, he composed himself.
“Ah, Will? Yes, he was my student ten years ago, when I was still teaching at the university.”
“A very talented young man. And his love for literature was simply boundless, a rare quality...”
A warm mory flashed in Byrne’s eyes.
Finishing his reminiscence, he looked at Toni questioningly:
“But that was ten years ago.”
“Why are you suddenly asking? Has sothing happened to Will?”
Toni nodded, speaking frankly:
“Yes, Mr. Byrne. Will was shot a few hours ago.”
“He was found dead in the library.”
“What a pity.” Old man Byrne shook his head. “If you’ve co for information on this case, I’m afraid you’ve co to the wrong address. I know nothing.”
“Toni, you know I stay ho all the ti and never go out. If it were otherwise, I would have at least heard about this incident.”
Toni nodded, not denying his words.
Then he shifted his gaze to Bai Liang, expecting him to find the evidence.
At that mont, the old man also turned his attention to Bai Liang.
A subtle smile flickered in his eyes.
And when he saw Bai Liang stand up and head straight into his bedroom, the corners of his lips visibly twitched upward.
“Young man, you’ve co to for help, but this is my bedroom. Do you really think the killer has hidden himself there?”
Old man Byrne suddenly spoke, his voice filled with irritation.
Moreover, a shadow of unease flickered in his gaze.
Though it was but an instant, it did not escape the keen gaze of Toni, the best detective.
His eyes narrowed sharply.
Then he calmly said:
“Mr. Byrne, the man next to is a police officer. He is investigating this case.”
“We are obligated to search certain areas, so we hope you won’t interfere.”
After these words, police officer John, standing nearby, took out his ID.
Old man Byrne clenched his teeth, his breathing quickened, and his gaze fixed on the bedroom door.
But after a few monts, Bai Liang erged from the bedroom.
In his hands, he held...
A PISTOL.
“This...!”
As soon as Toni saw the weapon, he imdiately sprang to his feet, his expression sharply changing.
“A Browning?!”
After the ballistics examination, he knew for certain that Will had been killed with a Browning pistol!
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