"After learning the truth, it's not surprising to me that you would say this."
Joe Butron reached out and gently picked up the small notebook on the coffee table, and shook it at old Gary as if in protest.
“Old Gary, tell me the truth, you are such a smart man, why did you make such an obvious mistake
Nostalgia? Or habit? "
Old Gary, with his hands tied behind his back, gave Joe Butran a look that contained a lot of complex meanings: pity, pathos, and a hint of mutual sympathy.
"Humans, we as a species still have many weaknesses after all.
Emotion is one of them, Mr. Detective, you should understand what I mean, right? "
Old Gary did not answer Joe Butran's question directly, but guided him with a wonderful rhetorical question.
"So all this is just revenge, revenge because love turns into hate, right?"
After saying this, Joe Butran sighed and shook his head slightly.
"Passion killing, one of the three major crime factors, is really boring."
"So what if it's boring? Aren't moral concepts and so-called laws what bind people?"
The questions and answers between Old Gary and Joe Butran left everyone present confused, especially Sif.
She felt like her brain was almost shutting down.
"Wait, what on earth are you two talking about? Can you explain it clearly
Also, Joe Butran, how do you know what is written in this book
We haven't had a chance to open it and read it since we found it, eh?"
Sif's question just expressed what Paul and Aldrich were thinking, while Professor Robert was holding a teacup with empty eyes, and no one knew what he was thinking.
"At this hour, old Gary, you wouldn't mind letting them see it, right?"
"...It's up to you guys, I've already lost."
After hearing this, Jobtran handed the notebook in his hand to Sif.
Sif gently opened the book, and from the yellowed pages she could tell that a long time had passed since the story was recorded in it.
On the first page it was written in red letters,
"My dear, go in peace. I will avenge you.
These beasts will die in purgatory, and no one will escape!"
"Dear? Do you mean old Gary's lover here?"
Sif turned to ask Jobtran.
Joe Butran shook his head and pointed at old Gary.
“Why don’t you just confess to everyone yourself? This will save time.
I believe everyone needs to hear your explanation, especially Aldridge who almost lost his life.
It’s too obvious that an alcoholic would have a made bed and clean clothes.”
“What’s there to explain
If you from the Cyclops had not entered the restricted area, my dear Demps would not have died."
At this time, old Gary looked very haggard, and his face began to slowly turn deathly gray, like a dying man who had lost all hope.
“Wait a minute, your dear Demps
Isn’t he your cousin?”
Aldridge asked in surprise.
Old Gary glanced at Aldridge mockingly.
“So what
Even if they are cousins or even if they are of the same sex, they cannot love each other
I grew up with Demps, how could I not understand what kind of person he is
Demps definitely had no part in that ridiculous and obscene incident that night, right
Because he has no interest in women!
It was you beasts who didn't know how to control your desires that killed him and cursed him!"
Old Gary spoke out the secret that he had hidden for many years. After he finished speaking, the heavy stone in his heart was put down and he slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"You may think that my love for Demps is an immoral thing, but you will never understand the soul compatibility between the two of us.
We could only talk about love secretly in the dark and couldn't even hold hands in the street. Although such a life was painful, it was the happiness that he and I hid.
And my happiness is ruined by you guys who can't control your lower body. Do you think I can tolerate it
Every time I close my eyes, I can still remember the feeling of Demps's hand gently touching my face. I miss him all the time, and at the same time, I am in torment and pain all the time.
I have waited for so many years, and finally I have waited for the perfect opportunity, an opportunity for me to complete my revenge.
To tell you the truth, Joe Bruin, if it hadn't been for you, no one on this ship would have known it was me who did it."
Old Gary smiled bitterly and then closed his eyes.
"You can kill me or chop me up, it's up to you.
Anyway, I don’t have many years left to live.”
Aldridge scratched his head and although he was weak, he still struggled to stand up.
Everyone looked at Aldridge with puzzled eyes, not knowing what he was going to do.
Aldridge looked serious and said to Old Gary,
"Old Gary, that incident...
We all don't want to talk about it, but I was also heartbroken when I learned of Demps' death.
I understand that you want to kill me, and to some extent I deserve it.
Here, on behalf of the people and souls who were involved in this incident on the Cyclops, I apologize to you."
After saying that, Aldridge bent down sincerely and bowed to old Gary.
Old Gary opened his eyes, his confusion and puzzlement revealed.
He never thought about hearing an apology, nor did he ever think about forgiveness. From beginning to end, he was driven only by resentment and revenge in his heart.
Old Gary has been living like a walking corpse all along, and all his actions are plans for revenge.
At this time, old Gary didn't know how to face Aldridge who apologized to him.
Those who were present and knew the situation were in awe of Aldridge who did not straighten up for a long time. No one expected that Aldridge would take responsibility for this past mistake.
"The matter is done, there is no need to apologize.
Sit down, Aldridge.
The captain and the security chief both died at my hands, and even if I accept your apology, it won’t save their lives.”
Old Gary replied dimly.
After hearing this, Aldridge bit his lip lightly, sat back on the sofa in a huff, clenched his pale hands tightly, and felt extremely tormented.
"I have been planning this for fourteen years, but I didn't expect it to fail."
Old Gary raised his head and shed two lines of tears.
I don’t know for whom these tears are shed, nor do I know why they are shed.
"Now that you've taken off the mask you've worn for fourteen years, do you feel more relaxed now?"
Jobtran picked up the glass of water and took a sip.
"certainly.
The little one can take care of himself now, and I don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
Old Gary thought of the little guy he had seen grow up, and smiled with relief.
After hearing this, Jobutran expressed his speculation.
"The little security guard is the child you and Duncans adopted, right?"
“Well, the biggest regret for Duncans and I is that we couldn’t have a child.
So I adopted one from an orphanage and kept him at my mother's house. I would visit him from time to time.
At first I didn't want to involve him in this matter, until I discovered Paul's secret, I decided to use him as my smokescreen.
All I had to do was pretend to be panic-stricken, run to the security captain, and say with a fake look of fear: Her child is back, I saw him on the deck!
The guilty security captain and captain fell into my trap.
I still remember the look of disbelief on their faces. The captain even gave me his treasured flintlock rifle for self-defense, hahahaha."
"So you took the security captain to the water tank and shot him
What did you do with his body? And what about the gunshots?"
Sif asked in confusion.
Old Gary rolled his eyes at Sif and said to Jobtran,
“It seems that your female companion’s IQ is not very high.
But don’t marry a woman who is too smart, hahahaha.”
Joe Butran scratched his head in embarrassment.
"She's not my date, she's just...
Just a temporary partner."
After Jobtran finished speaking, he heard Sif snort angrily.
“Old Gary’s timing was very clever, it was during a storm.
In the midst of a violent storm, the sound of a gunshot will be drowned out by nature.
As for the body, old Gary must have done it himself."
"Well, I still remember the moment when I used a knife to skin and bone the security captain in the water tank.
The pleasure of revenge and the feeling of the knife cutting into the flesh surpasses all climaxes. "
Old Gary deliberately told such lies in an attempt to provoke Aldridge's anger.
"You know what? I will never forget the look of disbelief in the security captain's eyes before he died. Hahaha."
"Yes, we all regard you as a brother, a good friend, and a confidant. No one has ever thought of guarding against you."
After hearing this, Aldridge covered his face bitterly.
“No matter how much you provoke me with words, I will not kill you for their deaths and my own experience.
Because I have enough sins to bear, old Gary."
Old Gary was slightly stunned by Aldridge's confession, and then he said,
"Wouldn't it be nice to give me a break?"
Joe Butran stood up and patted old Gary on the shoulder.
"Once you arrive at the Kingdom of Xian, the security team will naturally come to deal with you, so explain yourself now.
They need you to tell the truth.”
"Excuse me, interrupt.
How did you come up with the idea of using something mysterious to hide your murderous plans
Also, where did you get those mysterious items?"
Professor Robert had been thinking about the details that Jobtran had told him, and asked anxiously.
"Wait a minute, this isn't a good topic to talk about right now, is it?"
Paul, who had remained silent, spoke up.
"Actually... I can leave for a while..."
Sif said weakly.
“No, you’re not leaving.
You have already touched the mysterious side, so don’t worry about knowing a little more.”
Jobtron said to Sif.
"Ah? Did I?"
Sif asked dumbly.
“You’ve seen the Sussex manuscript, and that’s the mystical side.
You will learn the secret sooner or later, so it is better to listen to us earlier so that you can be more prepared in the future."
Jobtron explained to Sif.
"Young lovers, you can talk about your affection later. Now let's clarify the situation first."
Professor Robert urged unhappily.
"Ahem, then you go ahead, Old Gary."
Jobtran coughed twice and avoided Sif's gaze.
"Haha, you won't believe me even if I tell you, I bought it from a street stall.
The painting and the stone."
Old Gary curled his lips.
"Street stall? Not some heretical organization?"
Joe Butron crossed his arms over his chest and questioned.
“Well, the stall owner is a black man with a bright smile.
When I passed by, I naturally shouted, "Don't miss it if you pass by, it's free to take a look."
I stopped, took one look and was deeply fascinated by these two things.
At that moment, I knew I should buy these two items.
This is a great tool to cover up my crime.”
Gary Sr. answered honestly.
"If you don't mind, could you describe the situation?"
Jobtrand demanded.
The black man that Old Gary mentioned reminded Joe Butron of the man he met in the restaurant.
Jobtran had long understood that everything that happened on the Cyclops had been deliberately planned.
All these coincidences don’t seem like coincidences, but more like a carefully planned farce.
The gloom on the ship did not end. Old Gary's murder was more like the opening of a stage play or the appetizer of a dinner.
When he thought of this, Joe Butran felt a creepy feeling.
"So, was that the idea that came to your mind at that moment when you decided to put the painting of the mountains and the pebbles in the captain's cabin?"
Jobtrand demanded.
“That’s right.
After I dealt with the body of the security captain, I came to the captain's room covered in blood, carrying the fascinating and charming oil painting.
I accidentally bumped into the door frame, causing damage to the door, but it was just a minor detail.
I told the captain that the security captain had been killed by the woman's son and had fought hard to get the painting. Then I showed the painting to the captain and he was fascinated.
I still remember the look of fear on the captain's face, his eyes unable to move, his body unable to move, and I easily stabbed him to death from behind."
As Old Gary said this, he looked a little crazy, and tears and snot began to flow unconsciously.
No one paid much attention to this, thinking it was just because he was too excited.
"Then why did you use the punishment of the skull rose to set the scene?"
Paul crossed his arms and questioned unhappily.
“If you hadn’t released that thing, would Duncans have encountered such a thing
Isn't putting the blame on you the best way to get away with it
A murderous former pirate?"
Old Gary began to yell, though his words still sounded sane.
"Then how do you know the secret of the Skull Rose?!"
Paul frowned and asked.
“Hahahaha, those details were told to me by the stall owner!
The story of Skull Rose!
The mark on the captain's back!
Black tattoo on the heel!
Ha ha ha ha!"
Old Gary began to laugh maniacally, and his expression gradually became distorted.
His breathing became weaker and weaker, and a look of pain appeared on old Gary's face.
"It... is coming out!"
“?!!”