There is no darkness, but only ignorance of Kung-Fu.

–William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night1

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You’re telling me that… Someone can be killed over the phone…?

Watson still seemed incredulous about the true nature of this case.

Perhaps my explanation was too succinct, focusing only on the key points, and she needed more time to fully grasp the situation.

Holmes, have I understood you correctly?

“If you’re worried, why not repeat it back to me?”

Watson cleared her throat and, using the neutral tone she adopted when disguising herself via face-changing, spoke.

So, in summary, you’re suggesting that the perpetrator sent out a fist blast, intensely vibrating the receiver’s diaphragm, using same principle as increasing the phone volume with Brain Stopper.

“Exactly.”

Hah…

She seemed to want to express disbelief.

It seemed a more detailed explanation was needed.

“Listen carefully, Watson. When the force of a punch is converted into an electrical signal through a receiver and Brain Stopper channels that large amount of energy through, it can carry that impact to the distant receiver.”

I understand that part.

“The technique of sending out a fist blast is essentially an art of concentrating Essence into the air. So, when the receiver held by the victim is vibrated by Brain Stopper—”

The shock of the punch resonates through the receiver, releasing the fist blast…!

“Exactly. That’s why you’re my assistant.”

By now, the questions she had been harboring should be gradually resolving in her mind.

Now I understand. If the weapon was a telephone, it explains all the mysteries of the case.

The reason the culprit could commit four impossible murders around London in just fifteen minutes.

The reason all four victims of the locked-room murders died after receiving a phone call.

The reason there were distinct fist marks on their temples.

It all makes sense if the culprit used a telephone to execute a trick2

This is why you said you realized the culprit’s method while observing the telegraph boxers at the post office.

“That’s right. When I saw the scene of them sending a telegraph with Brain Stopper, all the clues came together.”

The reason the telephone lines didn’t burn despite the powerful Brain Stopper is simple.

Brain Stopper is a force resembling the nature of lightning, distinct from electricity itself.

Essence varies in type and strength depending on the imagery, formulas, and depth of training of the martial artist.

The culprit is someone who has repeatedly trained to perfect his trick.

He must have made every effort to avoid burning the telephone lines.

Indeed, I am always impressed by your deductions. Now we just need to narrow down the suspects among those who are capable of executing Brain Stopper.

Watson’s understanding of the case was slower than expected, but she grasped it well enough.

Based solely on official records, this case will proudly mark the first instance of long-distance murder in the history of European Murim Kung-Fu crimes.

In hindsight, it makes sense why you visited Ulrich Zuckerberg’s office. He had two telephones on his desk, making it a perfect setting to test your hypothesis with Meissen Bespoke Ceramic.

As befitting a prodigy with a medical background, Watson was resolving her queries one by one without needing my explanations.

Wait a moment. Having two telephones isn’t exclusive to Zuckerberg & Co.‘s England branch manager’s office, so why specifically…?

It seemed she still hadn’t grasped the most crucial part.

“We’ll discuss Zuckerberg later. There’s a more important topic right now.”

I almost forgot that the Phantom Fist is sitting just a stone’s throw away.

“Good thinking. Make sure to keep an eye on them without letting your guard down.”

I brought Watson back to the present from the world she was about to get lost in.

Even though there was a contingency plan if the culprit attempted to flee, I felt reassured knowing my vigilant friend was watching the suspect.

Of course. We can’t afford to let the murderer slip away if Sir Fawcett is to rest in peace.

I had much to say about this, but I held back.

Isn’t it true that the Minister comfortably closes his eyes on a regular basis?

“If you detect any suspicious movements, don’t hesitate to subdue them with Fingertips.”

Don’t worry, Holmes. I’m watching the people involved with an eagle eye, just like when I guarded the general’s camp in Afghanistan.

Don’t forget that I’m also present. I, Lestrade, will capture the Phantom Fist with the Kingswood’s Ghost Shadow Grapple.

Lestrade, emboldened by the knowledge that the culprit was human and not a ghost, raised his voice to pressure the Phantom Fist hidden among the people involved.

Now, according to the plan, it’s time to press the quarry even harder.

“Now that we’ve explained the Phantom Fist’s Howdunit3, let’s move on to discovering the Whodunit4.”

Imagining the Phantom Fist, who was likely hiding his tension by now, I began to weave the linguistic ropes to ensnare him.

“It’s often said that Kung-Fu tricks are a mirror reflecting the martial artist. Through the Phantom Fist’s murders, I was able to discern what kind of person he is.”

The large fist marks left by the fist blast on the victims’ heads initially conjured the image of a massive and robust figure.

However, after uncovering his method of killing, his inner character became as clear and tangible as if I could grasp it, rather than his external traits.

“As is the case with most gentlemen gathered in the lobby, the Phantom Fist is highly educated.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the voices of discontent that occasionally echoed beyond the receiver vanished in an instant.

These intellectuals, who prided themselves as elites, were undoubtedly anxious about being mistakenly identified as the murderer.

Anyway, those who couldn’t execute Brain Stopper would be excluded as suspects, but it seemed their intelligence only made them unnecessarily fearful.

They probably worried like that because they habitually thought others were less intelligent than themselves.

That’s an intriguing story. How did you deduce that?

“The approach to martial arts by the perpetrator is rooted in the knowledge of Newton Qinetics, Kung-Fu Physics, and Electromagnetic Qi Engineering.”

The way martial artists in the European Murim pursue Kung-Fu can generally be divided into two types.

One is the type that values intuition and enlightenment, pursuing the sensory aspects.

Another group delves into the concept and verbalized Kung-Fu principles.

While there are indeed those like myself who have grasped both methods from a young age, such individuals are exceedingly rare and thus can be excluded.

And, considering the bold idea of using a telephone as a weapon, it was clear that the Phantom Fist belonged to the latter type.

“He must be an elite who mastered Kung-Fu on the pilgrimage path of the Kunlun Cathedral and then honed his skills at universities like Oxbridge, where Kung-Fu principles are systematically taught.”

By this point, a reaction should be coming.

Wait a minute!! This is absurd!

As expected, someone among the gathered people shouted.

If Brain Stopper was used in the crime, isn’t the perpetrator obviously someone related to the Post Office? Why should those of us in the legal profession and the telephone company be trapped with a murderer when we have done nothing wrong?!

Exactly! Exactly!!

Right. Innocent people would certainly be uncomfortable sitting so close to a serial killer.

At first glance, it seems like a perfectly reasonable objection.

However, it didn’t faze me in the slightest.

“Please remain calm. Don’t make a fuss. I told you, didn’t I? I had the fortune of gaining a sliver of Kunlun’s teachings. Who can guarantee that none of you have had a similar experience?”

Despite firmly stating my position, grumbling could still be heard.

It seemed that since I was on the other end of a telephone line and not standing right in front of them, everyone felt free to say whatever they wanted.

S, still, can’t you let me go? I urgently need to visit the hospital. Blood has been flowing continuously from where I was hit by the Phantom Fist’s trick…

It was then.

The voice of a terrified man was heard.

“Hmm. It seems someone has been injured. Watson, what do you think?”

Ah, if you’re referring to Mr. Timothy Young, I saw the wound myself earlier. There was a large fist mark.

I remember. Timothy Young.

Wasn’t he the youngest among the telephone company executives?

“So, what is your opinion?”

It’s not a fatal injury, but it certainly seems better to send him to a hospital.

If that’s the opinion of Watson, my personal doctor and assistant, I have no choice but to trust it.

“Alright. Then let’s just ask a few questions before letting you go.”

Thank you…!

Originally, I planned to tighten the noose by listing the characteristics of the culprit one by one, but thanks to Mr. Young, it seems I can skip a few steps.

“Then, the first question.”

Yes, please go ahead.

Timothy Young’s voice was noticeably lighter.

He had no idea what was about to unfold.

“The evening before last, with the help of Sir Fawcett, I sent a homing pigeon to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the main base of the Kunlun Sect.”

Is that so? Since it’s a region that doesn’t use telegraphs, we’ll have to wait at least three days for a reply. But why are you telling me this—

“The Minister sent a spirit pigeon that can make a round trip and moves more than twice as fast as an ordinary homing pigeon. It went to Santiago, which is about 680 miles away, and returned within a day.”

Timothy Young still seemed unable to grasp what I intended to ask.

“The letter tied to the pigeon listed the names and positions of everyone here, asking them to check how many of Kunlun’s pilgrims are among them.”

I left Watson at Scotland Yard and went to meet Sir Fawcett alone before briefly joining her at the office of Zuckerberg & Co. for this reason.

The fact that the suspect knew how to execute Brain Stopper suggested that, barring any extraordinary circumstances, they had learned Kung-Fu on the Santiago pilgrimage, which would make it easier to narrow down the candidates.

“As a result, we found that, except for the postal officials, Mr. Young was the only one who had learned the Kung-Fu of the Kunlun Cathedral.”

……

“So my question is, why were you hiding your affiliation?”

Timothy Young’s heartbeat seemed to echo from just a short distance away, leaving him speechless.

1. TL/N: The original quote is as follows—There is no darkness but ignorance. (Act 4, Scene 2) ️

2. TL/N: Okay…. So the word for ‘a move’ is now ‘a trick’…. Geez… This author, *facepalm* ️

3. TL/N: A howdunit is type of mystery where the reader knows who committed the crime but not how it was done ️

4. TL/N: A whodunit is a complex plot-driven variety of detective fiction in which the puzzle regarding who committed the crime is the main focus ️