The man told us these things while we were already in the living room of his large house. He poured us some water. As I listened to him, I said, "Perhaps the recent incident with Director Gan's daughter is related to this will. Is it possible that your situation just now was because you are also named in the will?"
"I don't know, but at that time, only a few of us had seen the will, the few people named in it."
"I have a question: what is Miss Luo Yi's relationship with Mrs. Dulage? Why is she qualified to inherit property?"
"That's due to past events. It is said that Miss Luo Yi looks exactly like Mrs. Dulage's daughter, Duchessa. Coupled with her talent in Lolita design, she is already known in our Shaihai Town as Dulage's first heir. Thus, the old lady quickly recognized her as a goddaughter."
So that's how it is, I murmured. If this case was caused by the will, then shouldn't the first person to be killed be Miss Luo Yi? But now the victim is Director Gan's daughter, who seemed uninterested in the inheritance.
Although no one spoke, their expressions made it clear that they were all thinking the same thing as me.
Seeing our troubled expressions, the lawyer said, "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Tachibana Tadashi, the legal advisor to Dulage and the only lawyer in Shaihai Town."
"Hello, I'm He Sheng." We introduced ourselves, and Tachibana Tadashi said to us, "Are you here to investigate Director Gan's case?"
"Of course. If it's really according to the will, then they are not the only ones in danger. The people named in the will might also be in danger, because this distribution method will definitely cause disagreements. Oh, right, how much is the total inheritance?"
Tachibana Tadashi replied, "The old lady's more than a dozen Lolita design companies, five villas, along with some manors, amount to as much as 20 billion."
"Well, no wonder." At this moment, Gao Mingqiang opened his mouth. Perhaps he had never seen so much money before.
It was then that Tachibana Tadashi noticed he was in a wheelchair and was about to ask something, but I explained. Tachibana Tadashi found it interesting and praised, "Disabled but strong-willed. Good. There aren't many police officers like you nowadays."
"Thank you. So, Lawyer Tachibana, have you received any threatening letters or videos recently?"
"No, I haven't. Just now, when I was being chased, those people were very suspicious. Do you remember what the people in the car looked like?"
Because it was through the car window, and the car was very strange, with its windows completely blacked out, it was a black minivan. There was only a slight gap in the front, making it impossible to see the person's appearance clearly. We only knew that he was a bit thin and was wearing a black trench coat.
Hearing my description, Tachibana Tadashi shook his head. "Actually, I'm more worried about all of you. As for me, I'm just a lawyer, so I probably won't be pushed to the forefront."
"Alright, we still need to investigate the photo studio nearby. That's all for today!"
Speaking of the photo studio, Tachibana Tadashi told us that the place was opened by Mr. Tada Shun, Dulage's eldest son. It was originally a hotel, but because he loved photography, he renovated the first floor after the previous owner sold the building.
This was similar to what we found in our records. After leaving, we went directly to the Hui Guang Photo Studio. Unexpectedly, the exterior walls were all decorated with Lolita designs, and there were two girls in princess costumes at the entrance, attending to guests. It seemed to be doing good business.
Many customers came from afar, wanting to see the works of the great designer Tada Shun. We did not show our credentials at the time and were in plainclothes, so the girls did not know our identities. We blended in with the tourists and went into the photo studio.
Seeing the countless art photos filling the place, I felt it was more like an art gallery. A spiral light fixture was lit at an opening in the center, with a large triangular platform in the middle. Diamond-shaped iron plates crossed the adjacent walls. Many colored photos were hung in front, held by clips. Flowers were wrapped around the area, forming a stark contrast with the photos. The walls everywhere, due to the special mirror refraction effect, made the entire photo studio feel as if one had entered a magnifying glass. Being in such a space, one couldn't help but feel a sense of enchantment.
Many tourists excitedly looked at the exquisite photos on the walls, all wanting to take pictures, but it was forbidden here.
Many photos of Lolita dresses were displayed on the walls, some even hanging down from the ceiling. Many girls wearing Lolita dresses wandered around here, and from time to time, they would jump up to reach for the photos on the ceiling.
Some people were eating at tables nearby. If you wanted to take photos, you had to enter a specially designated studio. Here, we could constantly hear the cheerful laughter of girls, all seeming very enthusiastic about discussing Lolita culture.
Let alone this photo studio, this small town could probably be called Lolita Town. The enthusiasm of the fans is truly not to be underestimated.
We found the front desk and explained our purpose. At this point, our identities could no longer be concealed.
Knowing we were looking for someone, the receptionist went to call Mr. Tada Shun.
Tada Shun came down from the stairs of the room behind. He was an old man with a head full of white hair, but his eyes were very spirited. He walked down with vigor, dressed in a peculiar British-cut suit. His hair was parted in the middle, and he held a wooden cane in his right hand as he slowly descended from upstairs.
"Several of you, I heard you are investigating Director Gan's case. I am also very saddened by the death of his daughter. Such a good girl!"
It was evident that Tada Shun seemed genuinely saddened, with no pretense at all.
I extended my hand and shook his before saying, "Everyone says you are a photography artist. Seeing your work today, it's truly extraordinary."
"You flatter me, Officer He. Weren't you looking for someone? Who is it?"
I took out my phone and showed him the screenshot from the surveillance footage. Soon, Tada Shun said, "This? Isn't that Miss Luo Yi?"
"Are you sure? You mean that designer?"
"Exactly. Even if you can't see her face, I recognize her by her build and that melancholic aura about her. It's her, no doubt."
"She once appeared at the Forensic Institute."