Xia Ye returned to his body, took out his phone, and tentatively sent Kinoshita Yoko a message: 【Thank you】.
The other party might have been busy, and after a few hours, replied: 【As long as you like it ^^】
Xia Ye: “……” It really was her gift. Given the number of these albums, he probably wouldn't need to queue up to buy them in the future.
She even gives out small toys when she sends ghosts; Miss Yoko is truly a good person…
…
Xia Ye rested at home for a day.
The next day, Golden Retriever and the others brought some newly caught cats and dogs. They were all pets lost by their clients.
Xia Ye distributed the clients' commission to them and carried the cats and dogs to the Detective Agency.
Then he brewed himself a cup of tea, waiting for clients to pick up their pets while secretly petting other people's cats a few times.
Currently, it's still difficult to get commissions for murder cases. The most popular services are indeed tailing mistresses and catching cats and dogs.
…
He waited like this for nearly a week.
Xia Ye finally received another type of commission.
The client was an elegant woman in a kimono. At first glance, she seemed like a wealthy lady, but from the content of the commission, it appeared that was not the case.
“I hope you can help me keep an eye on an antique ceramic piece—it was collateral I gave to a creditor when I borrowed money privately half a year ago.”
The kimono lady sighed sadly: “There’s still a month until the repayment deadline, and I’ll have enough money saved in about another week.
“But I’m worried that before then, the ceramic piece I pawned will be sold by the creditor as ‘interest’—Mr. Maruta, the creditor, is a rich man, but he’s always too… sigh, in short, there have been many such precedents.”
Saying that, the kimono lady secretly observed Xia Ye.
Considering that even though this child had gained some fame, he was still just a High School Detective, it wouldn't be good for him to contend with local bullies. So she didn't make an overly difficult request:
“Preventing him from selling the ceramic piece isn't very realistic… I just hope you can keep a close watch on it and inform me in advance if Mr. Maruta intends to sell it—if there isn't enough time, at least find out where the ceramic piece was sold.”
Xia Ye nodded thoughtfully.
It sounded like a somewhat boring commission.
However, after seeing the photo of the ceramic piece the client lady took out, the creditor's address, and especially the name and portrait printed on the creditor's business card, “Mr. Maruta”…
“Please rest assured.” Xia Ye showed a reliable smile, “I will complete your commission with all my effort.”
The client left contentedly.
Xia Ye also contentedly touched the creditor's business card she had left behind.
He looked at the photo of the Mediterranean uncle named “Maruta Denjiro” on the business card and thought: He finally got a commission involving ghosts.
…
By this time, it was evening, and the Detective Agency was about to close.
After receiving the commission, Xia Ye waited a while longer in the office to return the last remaining cat of the day to the client who came to pick it up.
Then he hung the appointment book on the door, locked up, and left.
He planned to go to Maruta Denjiro's house to check the situation before heading home.
…
A few minutes later.
Beihu Town, a bustling intersection.
Vodka held the steering wheel, working overtime and feeling a bit troubled.
In recent years, the Black Organization hasn't been very peaceful.
Five years ago, the FBI's ace agent, Akai Shuichi, infiltrated their Black Organization as an undercover agent, achieving remarkable results and almost apprehending Gin.
Fortunately, the Black Organization had a reliable second-in-command, and Akai Shuichi had a clumsy teammate. With their combined efforts, Akai Shuichi's plan not only failed but his undercover identity was also exposed, forcing him to flee in a hurry.
…
The opportunity for Akai Shuichi to go undercover was when he started dating a girlfriend from the Black Organization—who was Miyano Akemi, Sherry's older sister.
Therefore, two years ago, after Akai Shuichi's identity was exposed and he left the Black Organization, the situation for the Miyano Akemi sisters became difficult.
The Black Organization had always wanted to punish Miyano Akemi, this peripheral member who brought the FBI into their village, but they were also wary of Sherry, her genius younger sister.
Finally, they had a sudden inspiration and came up with a plan—they demanded Miyano Akemi steal 1 billion yen in cash, deceiving her by saying that if she succeeded, they would let her and her sister leave the Black Organization, and if she failed, they would kill her.
…Of course, that's what they said. But in reality, whether successful or not, in the Black Organization's view—Miyano Akemi had to die.
…
Miyano Akemi, upon hearing the Black Organization's proposal to “let them go if they successfully robbed the bank,” could not refuse such a temptation—she had long wanted to leave the Black Organization, shed her identity as a “Black Organization member,” find Akai Shuichi, and be with him again.
Previously, Miyano Akemi had not made any moves because she couldn't bear to leave her sister behind, and she didn't know where Akai Shuichi was.
Now, she decided to firmly grasp this “opportunity” given by the Black Organization.
…
The Black Organization originally thought that for Miyano Akemi, this was an impossible task. If the mission failed, they would have a legitimate excuse to kill this woman.
Who knew they underestimated Miyano Akemi's abilities—these past few days, Miyano Akemi, through a series of planning, actually succeeded in stealing 1 billion yen.
…
Vodka was currently driving to the agreed-upon location with Miyano Akemi for the “money for Sherry” exchange.
Vodka stopped at the intersection, looking at the red light ahead, and sighed: “I didn't expect her to actually get the money. This way, don't we have no excuse to execute her?”
Gin chuckled darkly: “If there's no excuse, just kill her directly. Just a mere useless person…”
Mid-sentence, he suddenly stared at something outside the window, his gaze slightly narrowed, vaguely catching sight of a familiar figure: “Who is that person?”
“What?” Vodka was startled and looked where Gin indicated.
However, this area was near the city center, and it was rush hour, with bustling crowds. Vodka stared for a long time but couldn't tell which guy Gin was pointing at.
So he thought for a moment, pulled out a pair of binoculars, and held them to his eyes: This way, even if it's hard to find, at least it proves he tried…
Beside him, Gin concentrated for a while and reminded him: “Diagonally opposite the intersection, second row from the left in the motor vehicle lane, a black motorcycle with silver stripes.”
“Oh, oh.” Vodka tried hard to look in that direction and finally found the target.
He watched for a while and felt that the motorcycle rider wearing a helmet did look a bit familiar… Was it Xia Ye?
Before he could look more closely, his nose felt empty; Gin had taken the binoculars.
…
Gin held the binoculars, watched for a few seconds, and showed a thoughtful expression.
A moment later, the red light ended.
As the car started moving again, Gin suddenly let out a cold laugh, and he said thoughtfully in a low voice:
“No wonder Miyano Akemi’s operation went so smoothly. Not only did she steal the money, but she also found her accomplice who absconded with the money and recovered the stolen funds from a city of tens of millions of people in just a few days…”
“…” Vodka took a while to react, gradually understanding what his boss meant, and he said in shock, “Are you saying Xia Ye helped her in secret!?”
Xia Ye was indeed very good at finding people; this had been proven countless times before, but…
Vodka thought about Sherry and her pile of health supplements that she never managed to give away: “He rarely interacts with the Miyano sisters, doesn't he?”
Gin snorted coldly: “Feelings can be faked.”
One-sided goodwill can also maintain a connection. Especially for someone Xia Ye's age… He always felt it was hard for him to truly dislike two beautiful women who consistently showed him kindness.
Previously, Gin hadn't thought so much.
But now, suddenly encountering Xia Ye… Gin, who had experienced countless undercover agents and countless betrayals, immediately became suspicious, and he gradually began to doubt.
—This intersection is very close to the Enjyu City Hotel where Miyano Akemi is staying.
Looking at Xia Ye's direction of travel, he was completely heading that way.
Gin: “…” At this time, appearing at this location, and being someone related to the Miyano sisters…
Coupled with Miyano Akemi's “extraordinary performance” these past few days, it also perfectly matched Xia Ye's expertise.
If this was because Xia Ye was helping her… then everything made sense.
…
With a starting point, Gin looked at Xia Ye again and immediately felt…
Suspicious, in short, very suspicious.
Gin pondered for a moment and took out his phone.