Chapter 1205: YUNYUE VS FENGHUANG (XL)
Chapter 1205: YUNYUE VS FENGHUANG (XL)
A shadow loomed over the third target, the real purpose behind this murder spree. The figure moved silently, the dim light catching faint glints of something sharp in their hand. The victim lay still, unaware, her breathing shallow and uneven. The air grew heavy as the shadow leaned closer, their intent clear.
The shadow raised the knife, poised to strike, but before the blade could descend, the cabin door burst open. A small figure lunged forward, tackling the shadow to the ground with surprising force. In the next moment, light flooded the room, illuminating the scene.
Luo Yan swiftly grabbed the fallen knife and pressed it to the throat of the person he was now straddling. He smiled down, his voice calm but edged with triumph. "Good evening, Mother."
Mrs. Winslow's eyes widened in shock, her face pale as she stared up at Luo Yan. For a moment, she seemed petrified, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. Then, her expression twisted—her mouth curling into a vicious snarl, her eyes blazing with a wild, almost feral intensity. She thrashed violently, her strength surprising as she began to buck and twist, threatening to toss Luo Yan off.
But before she could, Luo Yan drove the knife into her shoulder, the blade sinking deep. She froze momentarily, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as the pain registered.
"Now, now, little lady," came a calm, measured voice from the entrance of the cabin. "I can see you have a penchant for violence, but do refrain from killing our suspect. I still have a great deal to ask her."
Luo Yan glanced back and saw Sherlock Holmes standing in the doorway, no longer in his old man disguise. The detective was tall and lean, with sharp, hawk-like features and piercing eyes that seemed to miss nothing.
He stepped forward, crouching down to meet Mrs. Winslow at eye level. His gaze was sharp, analytical, and unflinching as he studied her. "It's quite the pleasure to finally put a face to the infamous Ripper."
That's right. As it turned out, the NPC playing Luo Yan's adoptive mother was none other than 'Jack the Ripper.'
Luo Yan hadn't suspected her at first. In fact, he hadn't even considered it a possibility until Su Yuqi's unfinished message. She had written, 'The Ripper is Mr--'. Everyone's first thought was that she was referring to a male NPC. But what if she wasn't? What if the 'Mr--' wasn't about a man at all, but an incomplete attempt to write 'Mrs.'?
When he started thinking from that angle, the pool of suspects expanded. As he analyzed the possible female NPCs who could be the Ripper, he narrowed it down to two: Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Winslow. But considering how Mrs. Thompson was almost always by Miss Thompson's side—and vice versa—it would have been nearly impossible for her to slip away and commit the murders unnoticed. That left only Mrs. Winslow.
Luo Yan suddenly remembered his earlier conversation with Shen Ji Yun and Sherlock Holmes, right after he told his team that he had a plan.
=====
"I'm about 80% sure I know who Jack the Ripper is," Luo Yan began as he and Shen Ji Yun sat down opposite Sherlock Holmes. The three of them were back on the observation deck.
Sherlock Holmes raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and intrigue. "Oh? And may I inquire as to the identity of this individual you suspect?"
"It's Mrs. Winslow."
Shen Ji Yun glanced at Luo Yan, clearly surprised by the 'bomb' he'd just dropped. But in true Shen Ji Yun fashion, he didn't question it. It was as if he already trusted Luo Yan's conclusion completely, accepting it as a fact without hesitation.
Holmes, on the other hand, looked intrigued, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Your mother? That's quite the accusation. Do you have evidence to support such a claim?"
"First, I'm adopted," Luo Yan began. "And second, there's the fact that she was the first victim—and somehow, she survived."
"So, she's a suspect simply because she didn't die?" Holmes remarked, his tone laced with a hint of dry amusement. "That's rather cold of you, especially for a child of your age."
"But what if the reason she didn't die was because she inflicted the wound herself?" Luo Yan countered. "If she did, it would explain the strange scent I noticed before I suddenly fell asleep that first night. She must have released some kind of sleeping gas or chemical. Then, once she was sure the effects had worn off, she screamed and slit her own throat. That woke everyone in the cabin, and we found her choking on her own blood. She must have known there was a doctor on board—someone who could patch her up and ensure she survived."
Holmes' eyes gleamed with excitement as he listened to Luo Yan's explanation. "But didn't the doctor say her wound was severe? That she lost a significant amount of blood? Do you truly believe such a diagnosis would apply if the wound were self-inflicted and shallow?"
Luo Yan stared at Holmes. "It would if the doctor was in on it."
"Why would you think so?" Holmes asked, his tone sharp and probing, his eyes fixed on Luo Yan with keen interest.
"Haven't we discussed already that someone—or a group of someones—must be helping the Ripper?" Luo Yan replied. "Who could provide a better alibi than the doctor? Every time a crime occurred, he could simply claim Mrs. Winslow was unconscious in her cabin and couldn't possibly be involved. And as a doctor, he'd have the knowledge to help the Ripper kill silently. He's the perfect accomplice—at least in this scenario."
"But all of that only holds true if Mrs. Winslow is indeed Jack the Ripper," Holmes said, raising an eyebrow. "If anyone overheard you right now, they might dismiss it as the fantasy of a child playing detective. After all, it's widely believed that the Ripper is male—hence the name 'Jack.' Do you know why that assumption exists?"