Chapter 114: Twenty-Ninth Floor, The Deck Stained by Betrayal (3)

[Identify the murderer. Time remaining: 73 hours and 6 minutes.]

Is the captain the murderer?

No, I couldn’t assume that given what I knew.

First, the cigarette hadn’t necessarily caused Moruk’s death. The poison could have been contained in something else he had eaten. Besides, it wasn’t uncommon for different people to buy the same brand of cigarettes.

On top of that, I had spent the last twenty-four hours constantly monitoring the captain. Even if the cigarette was poisoned, someone else could have given it to Moruk.

It is meaningless to speculate based on what I know. First, I need to verify if the cigarette is poisoned.

Conveniently, I could check that. One of the items Ha Hee-Jeong had recommended I purchase was a needle that could detect poison.

I retrieved the needle from Mung-Chi and inserted it into the half-smoked cigarette. The needle blackened almost instantly, confirming the presence of poison.

“Phew."

At last, I had uncovered a piece of evidence. A wave of satisfaction washed over me, although the thought that all my efforts over the past day could be in vain dampened it almost instantly.

Of course, this evidence still doesn’t confirm whether the captain is the killer or not. Ugh...

If Moruk had received the cigarette a few days ago, then I couldn’t rule out the captain despite the time I had spent with him. A pang of disappointment struck me as I had hoped to confirm at least one person’s innocence.

No, my effort wasn’t wasted.

No matter whom I had been suspicious of, I had discovered that the killer had poison at their disposal. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the captain smoked the same brand of cigarette as the poisoned one, so I considered that worthwhile.

“Denzel, what were you doing while you were with Moruk?"

“I was just organizing scattered goods! I swear I didn’t eat or drink nothin’!"

The crew was still engrossed in a heated debate. Although I listened briefly in the hope someone would say something useful, additional information was nonexistent.

I needed to step in.

What would be the best way to leverage this new evidence? I feel like it would be beneficial to share.

Even if I were to confront the captain, I would be restricted by my limited knowledge of this world’s customs. If the captain claimed everyone smoked this brand, the matter would be settled then and there. Then, I would have to go through the tedious process of questioning the other sailors all over again.

“Renek, did anything happen while you were drinking water?"

“Well, I drank some first and then the others—"

I interrupted the first mate, drawing nine pairs of eyes toward me, “Hold on a moment."

Raising the cigarette butt—still pierced by the needle for dramatic effect—I let the crew focus on it before I continued, “This needle detects poison. Moruk died after smoking a poisoned cigarette. Does anyone recognize this cigarette?"

I fixed my gaze on the captain’s eyes during my revelation. His pupils quivered, and his unease was apparent.

The first mate, who was scrutinizing the cigarette butt, suddenly shouted in alarm, “Th-that’s a Milo! Isn’t that the captain’s brand of cigarettes?"

“Yeah! That’s what the captain smokes!"

“That’s the captain’s brand?"

“Yes, it’s incredibly expensive. None of us can afford it."

As the first mate finished speaking, the sailors’ gazes collectively shifted to the captain, who shook his head as his hands trembled.

So only the captain can afford these...

“No! I have nothing to do with this!"

His denial, however, didn’t lessen the sailors’ cold stares.

The first mate looked deeply betrayed and sharply addressed the captain, “Captain, we’ve been together for years... How could you betray us like this?"

“Why? Why did you kill him?"

Several of the sailors looked on with barely contained rage, seeming as if they were ready to seize the captain by his collar.

Amidst the chaos, the captain turned to me, eyes pleading as if seeking a lifeline. “Sir Knight! You know I’m innocent, don’t you? You were with me the entire day! I never gave Moruk a cigarette!"

“That’s true. While we were together, you didn’t give Moruk a cigarette."

The sailors seemed to calm slightly, though doubt still lingered on their faces.

“But you still could have given him one previously."

“Sir Knight! No! Why would I harm one of my own crew?"

“That’s not for me to answer. I’m merely presenting a possibility."

“Sir Knight!" The captain gripped my hand, his trembling fingers mirroring his inner turmoil.

The intense, watchful stares of the crew behind him were scalding. However, I still couldn’t be certain whether he was a murderer or not. Truth be told, I personally didn’t think he was.

“Of course, the captain isn’t guaranteed to be the killer. Anyone could have stolen his cigarette."

“Y-yes, that’s gotta be it!"

“If Moruk accepted one of the captain’s stolen cigarettes, he had to have really trusted whoever gave it to him."

No one reacted to my statement.

“And if the captain gave Moruk this cigarette, then at least one of you would have known. If someone received such an expensive gift from the captain, wouldn’t they brag about it?"

The sailors paused, each seeming to visualize the scenario I had described.

“Sure, the captain could have told him to keep quiet. But surely he would have shared it with a close friend, boasting about the luxurious gift."

“Yeah... If I were him, I probably would’ve bragged."

“Same here. I’d have told everyone."

“Did Moruk tell anyone he received a cigarette from the captain?"

The sailors glanced at one another, but no one spoke up.

Hmm, this murderer is pretty clever.

I had intended to suspect whoever volunteered information first. If the captain wasn’t the murderer, the liar was the most likely culprit.

“Was Moruk a particularly secretive person?"

“Nah, it’s sad that he’s gone, but he was kinda a snitch."

Hearing that, I declared my belief, “Then it’s unlikely the captain gave it to him."

Once I finished speaking, the captain’s grip on me tightened as his gaze burned intensely. I didn’t mind being the hero, but this was getting to be a bit much.

Carefully freeing my hand from his grasp, I reiterated what we had discovered, “So, if Moruk received the cigarette from someone other than the captain, he would have mentioned it to a close friend, inviting them to smoke it together. But none of you heard anything to that effect."

I scanned the sailors’ expressions to search for reactions. One man’s eyes darted anxiously, unable to stay in one place.

Isn’t that sailor named Denzel?

“Although, who would give a stolen cigarette to someone they don’t know well? Therefore, it’s more likely that a close companion of Moruk’s gave it to him, claiming he had stolen it from the captain."

To put the final nail in the coffin, I raised one last question, “Who here was closest to Moruk?"

The crew turned their heads, focusing on Denzel.

“It-it wasn’t me! I swear!"

I held back, watching Denzel’s reaction with keen interest.

Then, the first mate’s voice rang out. “Now that I think about it, Denzel, you were the last one with Moruk! Did you give him the cigarette?"

Interesting...

This was new information, likely exchanged while I was inspecting the body.

Denzel glanced at the first mate and protested vehemently, “Nuh-uh first mate! No! Please believe me!"

The first mate looked ready to accuse him further, but I interrupted their exchange. “Alright, let’s not get ahead of ourselves now, we should search him first. There’s a chance we may find cigarettes hidden on him."

Newly invigorated, the captain bellowed orders to the crew, “Bellachi! Ivo! Strip him down!"

“Aye, Captain!"

Their replies came back louder than necessary, perhaps trying to absolve themselves of the guilt they felt for having doubted him moments earlier.

“Bellachi! Ivo! It’s not me! I’m telling you, I’m innocent!"

Ivo and Bellachi ignored Denzel’s protests, roughly tearing at his clothes as he struggled. Amidst his shouts, the sharp sound of fabric ripping echoed distinctly.

They probed every pocket and fold, but found neither the captain’s cigarettes nor any trace of poison. All that appeared were some cheap cigarettes and a few silver coins.

“See? I told you. I’m innocent!"

The captain, perhaps still nursing some resentment from being suspected, shouted fiercely, “Don’t lie! You’ve had more than enough time to toss the poison or cigarettes overboard!"

He did have a point. Out here on the vast sea, there was no place more convenient for erasing traces of a crime.

Uh, what should I do next?

While there was ample reason to be suspicious, I couldn’t be entirely certain yet.

Maybe I should check Denzel’s quarters?

It would make all the difference if something turned up, though there was a chance nothing would.

As I pondered, the captain spoke up, “Sir Knight, a storm will be upon us soon. We can’t afford to waste any more time here. It would be best to handle him swiftly."

His words fueled a sense of urgency within me. If I didn’t identify the culprit soon, the chaos of the coming storm would be the perfect cover for another murder.

Regardless, my only concern was that I would condemn an innocent person.

At this point, there are four potential outcomes.

First, if I spared Denzel and he turned out to be the murderer, then the storm would surely provide an opportunity for him—

“

Kriee!

Su-Yeok!" Doppy’s sharp cry interrupted my thoughts.

I felt a flicker of hope sparked within me. Doppy only spoke up when it sensed something significant. It clutched Denzel’s shirt and shook it purposefully. “

Kriee!

Here! Smells like poison from earlier!"

“What?" I was confused at first but quickly remembered that it had sniffed Moruk’s shirt. It probably picked up the scent then!

Doppy handed me the shirt. The pockets were empty, so the poison had to be concealed within the lining.

“Can you pinpoint where the smell is coming from?"

“

Kriee!

Right here!"

Following Doppy’s direction, I tore at the cloth and exposed a small plastic pouch. A few droplets of clear liquid glistened within.

He had hidden poison in the fabric. Now there was no doubt in my mind that Denzel was the killer. “This settles it. We’ve identified our murderer."

“Tie him up!" As the captain’s voice boomed across the deck, Denzel dropped to the ground.

His eyes dart toward a discarded dagger, and he swore, “Damn it!"

He dove for the dagger and was mere moments from collecting it, but I got to it faster. I delivered a swift kick to his outstretched hand, sending the dagger skidding away.

“Argh!"

The dagger clattered across the deck as Denzel clutched his injured wrist, writhing. The other sailors seized their opportunity and tore into him with harsh kicks.

Smack, smack!

Coarse curses mingled with the heavy sounds of impact. As hardened sailors, their language was brutal enough to catch even me off guard.

Their kicks are even more brutal.

They weren’t merely attacking him; they were aiming to end his life. Well, sailors adhered to their own code of justice, and I had no intention of defending a murderer.

“Enough!" At the captain’s command, the kicking ceased.

Denzel doubled over and hacked hoarsely, likely from the strikes to his stomach.

“Denzel, why did you do it?"

“

Heh...

do I need a reason? I killed him because I wanted to."

The captain spat at him, repulsed. “Disgusting scum."

Turning away from Denzel, he cast a nod to the other sailors. They resumed their assault, the harsh sounds of their kicks echoing across the deck. Within moments, Denzel’s body fell limp.

“Tear him to shreds and toss him to the fish!"

“Aye, Captain!"

The sailors prepared to carry out their captain’s orders. The captain himself stepped closer to me and bowed respectfully.

“It’s all thanks to you, Sir Knight. If you hadn’t intervened, even I could have met my end at that bastard’s hands."

I replied and gazed into the sky, “I merely did what was just. The guilty always face consequences."

According to protocol, I should be transported back to the waiting room upon apprehending the killer. Strangely, no notification appeared.

Wait. Was he not the murderer? Was the poison hidden in his clothing part of some larger scheme?

Just as the thought crossed my mind, a notification flashed.

Ding—

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has apprehended a murderer, the sailor Denzel.]

[Remaining murderers: 1. Identify the murderer. Time remaining: 72 hours 53 minutes.]

Its contents left me momentarily speechless.

“What the fuck?"