“So, you’re admitting that you hired someone to commit murder?” Zuo Yan followed up smoothly.

This question… was crucial.

If Sam gave an affirmative answer here, then next, Zuo Yan would only need to briefly describe the course of the case, and this “reasoning show” would come to an end.

At most, he’d let Sam deliver a slightly tragic confession, explaining some details about the psychological changes of those involved that the detective agency had overlooked, which wouldn’t take too long either.

However, as you can all see, including this chapter, there are still a full seven chapters before chapter thirty-three. If things developed at this pace, Feng Bujue's mission would fail, and my shameless… oh no… unsolvable writing would be questioned.

Therefore…

“I…” Sam began, and from his expression and the tone he used when saying the first word of that sentence, it was clear that he was ready to confess.

In the end, he was still a good person, at least much better than John and Miller; now, he felt that there was no need to struggle anymore. He would bear the evil consequences he had created out of hatred himself.

Unexpectedly…

“Of course he won’t admit to such a thing.” At that moment, Feng Bujue shouted loudly, interrupting Sam and attracting the attention of everyone present, including a cat.

“Mr. Feng… I…” Sam seemed to want to say something to Jue-ge.

But Jue-ge just waved his hand at him and smiled, “Don’t rush to express your opinion, we…” He paused and looked at Zuo Yan, “Let’s listen to what student Zuo Yan has to say about his reasoning.”

Seeing Feng Bujue’s expression, Sam hesitated…

That confident smile, that assured tone, was like a shot in the arm, reigniting Sam’s hope.

“Okay… alright.” Sam replied, then turned his gaze to Zuo Yan, no longer speaking.

“Tch… almost had him hooked.” Vidocq, in the shadows, spat and said, “This guy is indeed up to something…”

“What should we do now?” Zuo Yan heard this and immediately asked via telepathic communication, “Continue?”

“Ah…” Vidocq replied, “Anyway, it’s almost over.”

“Alright, then I’ll continue.” Zuo Yan didn’t waste any words. After receiving Vidocq’s instructions, he immediately continued, “About a year ago, Miller managed to find Sam and told him the secret of John’s background. Sam must have initially been skeptical of such incredible news… Obviously, he still had some affection for John. After all, he was still young when he entered the Herbert family, and unlike John, he didn’t know that he and John weren't blood-related since he was a teenager.

“Of course, Sam didn’t completely disbelieve Miller, so they met a few more times over the following year; each time Miller would collect some new evidence to prove his claim, and at the same time, he spared no effort in using his eloquence to try to persuade Sam logically.

“Finally, after a year, Miller obtained some kind of decisive evidence; we don’t know what this evidence is yet, but I estimate… he must have found a way to get John’s DNA sample, such as hair that fell somewhere. Considering that John leaves Cochi Cutty Island for a few months every year, and his whereabouts aren’t that difficult to track… Miller wouldn’t find it hard to get a few hairs in over half a year.

“One can imagine… Sam, upon seeing the evidence, was furious; he could tolerate his brother plotting to take the family’s inheritance, but he couldn’t tolerate an outsider… someone who had never treated him like a brother, cheating him like this. More importantly… after confirming John’s identity, when Miller told Sam that ‘Old Herbert was also killed by John using some method,’ he didn’t need more proof.

“In summary… the hatred for killing his father, the hatred for stealing his wealth, and incidentally, being branded as a ‘liar’… After learning the truth, Sam, who had been kept in the dark for many years, reignited the fire of revenge that had been suppressed for years, and the flames soared.

“His gradually stable life was reduced to revenge overnight; to achieve this goal, he would spare no expense… and Miller saw through this, proposing a seemingly good idea to him—the two would join forces to kill John, then Sam would inherit his inheritance, and finally, the two would split the money.

“I have to say… this idea is indeed good, definitely a win-win plan. Miller and Sam both hated John, and John’s death and his huge wealth were good ways to quell their anger.

“And so, after planning for a dozen days, a plan they thought was clever came into being…”

At this point, Zuo Yan paused for two seconds again. Next, he would repeat the course of the murder that had happened not long ago: “So we can go back to my initial evaluation of this case—a simple little case.

“The process… is roughly as follows.

“Yesterday afternoon, Sam visited John without warning; this sudden visit after many years undoubtedly surprised John, but it is this kind of ‘sudden attack’ that often has good results… Imagine, if Sam had informed John in advance through some means of communication that he was coming, the other party would have had time to think and prepare, then John would inevitably think of an excuse to avoid or refuse to meet…

“But Sam suddenly arrived at the gate of the mansion and demanded to go in, John didn’t have so many choices, and caught off guard… he let him into the house.

“Sam, who had ‘returned home,’ put on a posture of wanting to catch up with John and make peace, he behaved very friendly; after drinking afternoon tea, eating snacks, and chatting with John for more than an hour, he had figured out the two important pieces of information he wanted to obtain on this trip—first, which room was John’s bedroom; second, the phone number in the bedroom.

“For the sake of insurance, after saying goodbye to John and returning to the hotel, Sam also made a phone call to ‘greet’ John, and again thanked him for his previous hospitality; and the real purpose of Sam’s move… was actually to confirm the authenticity of the number.

“Up to this point, the preparations for this murder plan were complete…

“At dusk, Sam left the hotel again… taking the money he was going to give to Miller, to meet Miller at the agreed location.

“As I said before, in order not to leave any records in the communications department, these two never communicated by phone, they always agreed on a time and place in advance, and then talked and traded face-to-face, and they would try to keep the number of meetings to a minimum.

“Around sunset, Miller got the money. Then, Sam returned to the hotel to prepare his alibi; but Miller… wasn’t in a hurry to sneak into the Herbert family mansion. He first finished supplementing the recording I played for you earlier… leaving himself a backup plan, and then, he changed into clothes that were easy to move in, put on gloves and fishing line… and set off.”