All-rounder Artist

“Could it be that I’m a masochist?”

“Who would have thought a detective novel could be written like this!”

Dezhi tends to guess the murderer while reading the novel, suspecting one by one, excluding one by one, almost guessing the motives and methods of every person he suspects…

But still, he was outwitted by Chu Kuang!

So, when he saw Poirot reveal the name of the murderer, he was shocked, his hair standing on end, and cold sweat flowing.

Shocked, he also cursed, feeling like the author was making fun of readers –

Which was indeed true.

Chu Kuang was actually making fun of readers.

From any standpoint, the word “making fun” is not an exaggeration.

Because this was not a simple April Fool’s prank, it was an intellectual crushing!

Through confessions and case analysis, it can be seen that…

Except for some revealing clues that Chu Kuang had to avoid due to the way of narration, he didn’t deliberately hide any clues in the book.

In some places, there were even strong implications in the textual narration!

This would only be discovered when looking back and comparing it with the confession.

Therefore, this book could be considered a fair detective duel between the author and the reader.

The annoying part for Cao Dezhi was this…

Chu Kuang had already revealed the identity of the murderer through numerous foreshadowings in the early part of the book…

But it was Chu Kuang’s utilization of reader’s presumptions that created a blind spot in the deduction, that’s why Dezhi found the ending so unbelievable!

Dezhi felt like he had defiantly walked into Chu Kuang’s trap.

The evidence had been shown early on, he just didn’t as a reader spot it.

There are some detective novels that will keep the key evidence until the end, hidden in the detective’s mind. In such circumstances, it’s understandable for readers to have no clue about the murderer.

Because the author doesn’t write out the key evidence.

But Auntie Agatha is a very orthodox author. She almost never hides her evidence until the end!

She gives the reader the chance to solve the case, challenging the detective’s speed of solving it, it all depends whether the reader is able to spot the details she has hidden in the text.

“Despite reading so many detective novels…”

Dezhi was talking to himself, then suddenly slapped his thigh forcefully:

“No, it’s useless to have read many detective novels, because the narrative method of this novel is groundbreaking. There has never been such a writing style in the mystery novels circle before!”

That’s why would instinctively think that “I” am not the murderer!

Because Cao Dezhi identifies himself as “I”!

Who am I?

I am Xie Shepherd!

If Dezhi had seen a TV show called “Legend of the Martial Arts”, at this moment, he would certainly see the logic of a character named Ji Wuming.

“So it was me…who killed me?”

But who defined that “I” can’t be the murderer?

There’s no such rule!

He just subconsciously excluded “I” as the murderer.

What Chu Kuang did was simple.

Breaking the rules and redefining the detective’s “anything is possible”!

“This novel almost subverts the traditional method of writing mystery novels!”

Dezhi is almost certain that once this novel is published, it will provoke countless mystery writers’ imitations—

Dezhi’s prediction was not wrong.

Following the release of Auntie Agatha’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” on Earth, many writers imitated this writing technique.

This style has a unique name.

“Narrative Trickery”

As the name suggests.

It refers to the narrative ruse in which the author deliberately hides or misleads certain facts from the reader through the structure of the article or language skills, revealing the truth of the case only at the end, leaving the reader with a sense of indescribable awe.

Auntie Agatha is the pioneer of narrative trickery!

No wonder she’s known as the old pioneer of the world of whodunits.

Narrative trickery is just one of the methods she introduced, the trends she sparked with her other innovations were even more terrifying.

In fact, in terms of narrative trickery, later works homage it and imitate it, like “Dondon Bridge” falling and so on.

“The opportunity has come!”

After experiencing great shock, Cao Dezhi felt like he was floating: “This novel is sure to become a hot topic!”

Can’t Silver Blue’s detective novels do anything?

That was then!

We have Chu Kuang now!

At this time, Dezhi remembered the depressed and reluctant look on Ol’ Xiong’s face when giving him the novel.

Dezhi now understood the other’s feelings more and more, he could hardly help but burst out laughing!

Hehe.

Chu Kuang really was precious!

If Dezhi was now to send Chu Kuang back to the Fantasy Department, his face probably wouldn’t look much better than Ol’ Xiong’s.

Of course.

Who would want to lose such a big catch?

It must be due to our good luck, this big catch, has actually come to our mystery department!

It has to be said…

Chu Kuang, wherever he goes, would still be a big catch!

…

There is no doubt that “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” must be published, moreover, it must be properly promoted. For this reason, Dezhi has held a meeting.

“Everyone, check out this novel!”

The editors of the mystery department looked at each other, then looked to Dezhi: “Boss, do we have some good news?”

These editors had never seen Dezhi so happy.

Dezhi was usually glum, after all, Silver Blue Books held regular meetings and, as the chief editor of the mystery department, Dezhi bore the brunt of any criticism. Over time, how could he keep his spirits up?

“You’ll know once you read it!”

Brimming with pride, Dezhi began, “We have about three hours until the end of the day. That should be enough for you to finish it.”

“Sounds great.”

Everyone was thrilled. The chief editor had spoken; work could be set aside for now, so they could relax and enjoy a novel. How delightful!

Yes.

It indeed was quite delightful…

Some leaned back in their chairs, others crossed their legs, taking occasional sips of tea, contentedly engrossed in their detective novels—a truly ideal world for editors!

Dezhi made no comments.

It’s not like there was a pressing matter in the department anyway. Having decided to focus on ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’, it was only natural for his subordinates to familiarize themselves with it.

He himself also used this opportunity to re-read ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’.

Knowing the ending and intentionally scouring for clues, Dezhi saw many details this time around which he had overlooked during his first read.

For instance, when he got to Chapter Three…

“So right at their first meeting, the ending was foreshadowed. The first appearance of Poirot, misplacing his pumpkin, accidentally hitting Shepherd…”

Dezhi chuckled.

The hint reminded him of metaphors in movies, which first-time readers would never concentrate on as much.

Then upon re-reading Poirot’s character description, Dezhi found himself growing even more fond of him.

Furthermore.

Upon re-evaluating Dr. Shepherd, Dezhi couldn’t help but feel moved.

Poirot says in the book, “Everyone harbors some latent evil thoughts. If not triggered by specific circumstances, one might lead an honorable life. However, if they succumb to temptation, allowing their evil thoughts to overpower their will, they will never recover.”

Dr. Shepherd fits this precisely.

He wasn’t inherently bad.

Just imagine that if he had told the truth about Flora’s death, not been greedy for that blood-money, and remained a humble country doctor, he might have led a simple fair life. However, his obsession with wealth ruined everything. After spinning his web of lies, he had to keep adding to it to cover his tracks. What’s worse, is he went further down the path, becoming increasingly unhinged and losing self-control.

Lost in the world of greed, seeking constantly, fearing loss, he met his inevitable downfall.

But did he have any regrets?

Maybe this manuscript proves it. He still cared about his reputation, so when the truth was about to be revealed, he went as far as to kill Roger.

A risky and relentless approach.

His confession served both as a futile justification for the murder he committed and as a peculiar plea for forgiveness. Constantly highlighting others’ faults to comfort himself. Otherwise, why would he choose suicide to end his life-

He didn’t want his sister to know the truth.

Although his sister’s intelligence might have led her to guess why he committed suicide.

The concluding line in the novel is intriguing, “If only Poirot had not retired here to grow pumpkins.”

This shows Shepherd’s attachment to life.

By the time Dezhi finished re-reading the novel, it was getting late, and the other editors too had reached the ending.

“Pfft!”

The editor sitting to Dezhi’s right almost choked on his tea, spluttering it out, completely forgetting to clean up and blurted out:

“The killer is Shepherd!?”

Whoosh!

It was as if a bomb went off.

The other editors who hadn’t finished the novel stared at the one who spoiled it, their moods instantaneously shattered.

“I’ll kill you!!”

“Why the spoiler!!”

“I wasn’t finished!!”

“Even though I almost finished… I still hate you!”

“So Shepherd is the killer… why did you have to blurt it out! I hate you!”

“…”

Quite a few editors were furious.

But after venting their anger, everyone’s expressions collectively turned to astonishment. Evidently, they, like Dezhi, never saw it coming.

Amidst the shock…

Yet another shouted, “The murderer is Shepherd!”

Everyone gave him a weird look, “We know, didn’t someone already say it?”

“Huh?”

He scratched his head, “Sorry, I was so engrossed. I didn’t hear it.”

How engrossed must he have been…

Everyone shared a mutual eye-roll.

Claimed he hadn’t heard but still blurted it out, another damn spoiler!

Of course.

The ensuing discussion among the editors was inevitable:

“Who wrote this novel, the plot is twisted!”

“Boss, did you manage to snag teacher Carter?”

“The case wasn’t top-notch, but that ending, mind-blowing!”

“Felt like the rug pulled out from under me, demolished my understanding of detective novels…”

“If it weren’t for the spoiler, I’d have been too shocked to even speak.”

“This novel is gonna be huge!”

“Ah, I’d suspected Shepherd before, but dismissed it later. Who could’ve thought…”

“I guessed it in the penultimate chapter, but wasn’t quite sure. It’s not impossible to guess the murderer, it’s just… unbelievable. I’ve never seen a detective novel like this!”

“Who indeed wrote this?”

“…”

Dezhi met the eyes of everyone present, wearing a faint smile, “It’s by Chu Kuang.”

The author of this novel was Chu Kuang–

Chu Kuang’s rise to fame in the mystery genre started from this small editorial department!

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