On the way to repair his car, Jiang Xia recalled what had happened recently.
Currently, he had encountered a Ghost Fetus once and a completely collectible murderous aura once.
Both things had appeared recently and were related to cases Jiang Xia had seen in the manga.
In other words…
To collect ghosts, does he need to come into contact with more cases of this type?
Jiang Xia: “…” Speaking of murder cases, the best case collector is probably Conan himself.
But now, Conan lives at Mouri Detective Agency, making him difficult to abduct.
And Jiang Xia also didn't want to be an apprentice to Mouri Kogoro.
After all, he was currently a worker for the Black Organization.
If he became a Detective, perhaps one day his Detective Agency would also be used as a useful tool by the Black Organization, and the people in the Detective Agency would certainly be targeted… In short, it would be very unfair to his master.
Moreover, judging from Kinoshita Yoko's incident, even if Conan wasn't present, Jiang Xia could still collect ghosts.
The Elementary School Student of Death was not a necessary condition for collecting ghosts.
After a moment of thought, a light bulb went off in Jiang Xia's mind.
—Why not open his own Detective Agency?
If he remembered correctly, the “handsome High School Detective” in this world were all very good at attracting murder cases.
He was also a High School Student.
Perhaps if he stacked another Detective buff, ghosts and murderous aura would come rolling in?
…
No sooner said than done.
The day after his car was repaired and he returned home, Jiang Xia went to the Mihana Library.
Then he successfully found a popular science handbook related to Detectives on the bookshelf in the professional section.
In his impression, the island nation currently stipulated 20 as the age of adulthood, but in reality, many things could be done starting from 18.
For example, taking various legal licenses, independently signing some purchase contracts, and of course, watching certain films and games…
…
Jiang Xia flipped through the Detective popular science handbook and found that it was as he thought: at 18, one could already engage in the Detective industry.
However, looking further down, Jiang Xia saw another rule.
—To open a Detective Agency, one needed to submit an opening application to the Public Safety Commission.
For those under 20, an additional consent form from a legal guardian was required.
Legal guardian?
Jiang Xia: “…”
He thought about the two gravestones of Jiang Xia Tongzhi's parents, and a certain elusive nominal tool guardian, and gradually lost his dream.
The hand holding the page loosened slightly, and the Detective popular science handbook flapped shut.
The serious and old-fashioned cover reappeared before his eyes, as if mocking his naivety.
…An 18-year-old minor was indeed still a minor.
Could he only find an adult to harm as an apprentice?
Speaking of adults…
Jiang Xia suddenly remembered something.
He thoughtfully picked up the Detective handbook and flipped back to the colorful front pages.
—Just now, when the pages closed, he saw a somewhat familiar name.
…
Every industry needs to make a living.
For example, on the colorful pages of this Detective popular science handbook, there were advertisements for several local Detective Agencies.
Jiang Xia flipped through them and quickly stopped on one page.
The photo showed a small but tastefully decorated shop.
On the sign at the entrance, it clearly read “Amuro Detective Agency.”
Jiang Xia stared at the words “Amuro” in the advertisement, lost in thought.
The surname Amuro was not common.
Putting it together with “Detective” easily led one to think of a person.
—Amuro Tooru.
Amuro Tooru was also a member of the Black Organization, and an Officer who had received a code name.
His code name was Bourbon, and he was skilled at gathering intelligence.
However, in reality, Amuro Tooru was an undercover agent sent by the Police Agency to the Black Organization, his real name was Rei Furuya, and he was wholeheartedly devoted to his country.
Jiang Xia: “…”
If he could find a way to infiltrate Amuro Tooru's Detective Agency, he wouldn't have to worry about the Black Organization coveting him and the Detective Agency after he became a “Detective,” thus implicating an innocent boss—because Bourbon himself was considered a member of the Black Organization.
And thinking about it carefully, if he could really get involved with Amuro Tooru, there would be other benefits.
—The identity of an outer member of the Black Organization had little confidentiality, and he could easily face legal sanctions in the future.
But if he became Amuro Tooru's teammate… he might be able to pass as a fake Red Side in the future.
The success rate wasn't very high.
But one should be brave enough to try; there's no loss in trying.
And the risk of this attempt was actually very low.
—Amuro Tooru, as a police Officer in the Conan world, even if he found him suspicious, it was unlikely he would shoot him dead.
In addition, even to avoid exposing his identity as a public security Officer, Amuro Tooru would not let the police arrest an ordinary outer member who had sought him out.
Plus the Spiritual Medium's natural affinity was already a notch higher than ordinary people, and Jiang Xia's luck had always been good…
The more Jiang Xia thought about it, the brighter the future seemed.
He borrowed that Detective handbook.
…
That afternoon, Jiang Xia followed the address in the advertisement and found the Amuro Detective Agency.
When he got closer, he saw a “Closed” sign hanging on the door.
…Well, understandable.
Most shops have a “regular day off,” closing for a day or two a week.
Perhaps Amuro Detective Agency's regular day off just happened to be today.
It didn't matter if he didn't see anyone; it was a good time to go back and carefully prepare his words.
Jiang Xia returned home calmly.
He went again the next day.
The “Closed” sign was still hanging there, unchanged.
…Closed for two consecutive days?
Jiang Xia stood in the whistling cold wind, silent for a moment, silently condemning such an unprofessional work attitude.
After condemning, he waited for a while nearby, but no one came to work.
Jiang Xia could only go home first.
…
A week passed like this, and it was “Closed” every single time.
Jiang Xia looked at the location and felt a little pain for the rent.
However, he then thought there was no problem—Amuro Tooru received N salaries by himself, and he also had two reliable employers who could reimburse him, so the rent for this Detective Agency was probably charged to the Black Organization…
…
A week later.
Jiang Xia habitually drove to the entrance of “Amuro Detective Agency,” habitually glanced at the Detective Agency, and habitually turned his motorcycle around to leave.
After turning around, he suddenly felt something was wrong.
“?”
Jiang Xia suddenly turned his head back.
The lock on the Daimon was gone, and there was no longer that heartbreaking “Closed” sign.
“…”
Jiang Xia looked at the open Detective Agency, feeling a little touched for a moment.
It was like visiting Zhuge Liang three times and finally catching him at home.
…
Ten minutes later.
Jiang Xia sat on the fabric sofa in the Detective Agency.
Amuro Tooru, like a proper Detective, brought a cup of tea, placed a registration form in front of him, and then sat opposite him with a polite smile:
“Our Detective Agency is quite busy, and we may not be able to take on your request.
However, I will recommend other suitable Detective Agencies based on your needs—the Detectives there are experts in solving related problems.”
Jiang Xia: “…” Busy?
Your Detective Agency is clearly closed and slacking off 99% of the time.
He silently picked up the pen and filled in his name, phone number, and email on the form.
The remaining sections for the request content were left blank.
Then he pushed the form back.
Amuro Tooru looked at the large blank space and pointed at it.
Before he could speak, he heard the person opposite him say: “I'm not here for a request—I want to work here part-time.”
Amuro Tooru was startled.
A moment later, he picked up the registration form and threw it into the shredder next to him.
Then he turned to see him out: “Sorry, we're not hiring.”
Saying that, Amuro Tooru made a gesture towards the door that seemed to say “This way, please,” but actually read “Get out quickly.”
Jiang Xia sat still on the sofa:
“But I feel like your shop is very short-staffed—it's been closed every time I pass by.
Don't you think it's a waste to still advertise in various places?”
As Jiang Xia spoke, he placed the borrowed Detective handbook on the coffee table and began to promote himself:
“My deduction skills are very strong, and I don't have any requirements for salary; you can pay me the lowest hourly wage.”
Amuro Tooru silently scrutinized him for a while, then suddenly walked to the door and clicked the lock shut.
When he turned around again, he had a gun in his hand.
His expression also became dangerous, like Gin who had smelled a traitor.
Jiang Xia instinctively sat up straighter, his gaze sweeping over Amuro Tooru.
Then he was disappointed to find that although their expressions were similar, there was no murderous aura emanating from Amuro Tooru.
“…” Heh, fake Bourbon.
The Ghost Infant on his shoulder also sighed.
Amuro Tooru did not have mind-reading abilities and did not know that Jiang Xia was secretly disdaining him.
Seeing Jiang Xia's reaction, he only thought his intimidation had worked.
So he continued: “Regarding the waste you just mentioned…” Amuro Tooru's voice was cold and imposing, “If it can lure out a petty thief with ulterior motives like you, it's actually worth it.”