Looking at the lineup in front of her, and especially after hearing what these people had been discussing, Yoruichi Toyama felt an ominous premonition about to break through to the heavens.

However, it wasn't until lunchtime that they discovered this lineup wasn't even complete.

Upon entering the restaurant, Toyama Ichiya immediately spotted Akechi and Hakuba Saguru sitting opposite each other at a four-person table.

Sitting at the next table was Inspector Shiratori, also a detective in the First Investigative Division.

Without much hesitation, Yoruichi Toyama walked past Inspector Shiratori and sat down next to Akechi.

Then he asked, "Does your Metropolitan Police Department have any team-building activities?"

"The kind where you bring your family?"

He even added this thoughtfully after glancing at Hakuba Saguru.

Akechi and Hakuba Saguru laughed at the same time.

"Probably not," Akechi said, adjusting his glasses. "But Hakuba, oh, and Inspector Shiratori, were also there to attend the Schindler Group's new project launch, just like us."

Yoruichi Toyama stared wide-eyed in surprise.

This is quite different from the original plot!

They promised to invite political and business leaders and social celebrities, and even let their children experience the games?

"Hey, Toyama, you're here!" After a familiar and informal greeting, the newcomer unceremoniously sat down opposite Toyama Yoruichi, taking up the last seat at the table.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Shimomura Ima.

"Ikuma, you should show more respect to Mr. Toyama. Don't be so casual," Shimomura Shiho patiently advised her beloved son.

"Okay, okay! I... I just called him 'Brother Yuanshan,' right?"

Shimomura Ikuma clearly knew how to deal with his mother, waving his hand while winking at Toyama Yoruichi.

"Alright, we young people can sit together. Mom, go talk to your friends."

Even though they weren't familiar with Shiho Shimura, who was still standing by the table, Akechi and the others couldn't help but be polite to her.

But Shimomura Shiho didn't take it to heart.

"Alright, Shengma, don't cause any trouble for everyone here!"

"I had a very pleasant conversation with Attorney Fei and we made plans to have dinner together, so I went ahead first."

After saying that, she turned and left with a flourish, leaving behind the confident Shengma chuckling as he handed out business cards to everyone at the table.

“Shimomura…” Akechi’s glasses flashed, “the one from the bus hijacking incident…”

This statement is not accurate, because strictly speaking, Mailin Meijia did not control a real bus.

It should be said that she impersonated a bus driver and tricked those passengers.

Therefore, the police had a real headache when naming the case files.

However, just by saying that, both the speaker and the listener understood.

Shimomura Ikuma was even a little excited, gesturing wildly as he recounted his experience, as if he had personally witnessed Toyama Yoruichi subdue the imposter driver.

Upon hearing this, Inspector Shiratori, who had been sitting alone at the next table, couldn't help but reveal a meaningful smile.

"Therefore, to express his gratitude to Mr. Toyama, President Shimomura has also presented a generous gift."

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?” Ikoma replied curiously. “Toyama… Brother, he’s a detective, and it’s not illegal for him to accept commissions.”

Yoruichi Toyama lowered her head, stuffed a mouthful of rice into her mouth, and suppressed the smile on her lips.

I already knew that Inspector Shiratori didn't get along with me.

I just didn't expect that he seemed to be holding himself to the standards of a police officer.

Even if Yoruichi Toyama has a saint complex, this isn't the real world, so she wouldn't save someone and then refuse payment.

There are two women in the family, one older and one younger, to support!

Having received a confident response from Ikoma and without managing to discourage Yoruichi Toyama, Inspector Shiratori sullenly fell silent.

Meanwhile, Shengma, clearly a socialite, continued to enthusiastically introduce the "cocoon" project that the Schindler Group was about to announce.

"I heard it's a cocoon-shaped gaming pod, that's why it's called Cocoon!"

"A completely biomimetic motion-sensing system..."

"Immersive scenes in 3D virtual reality..."

"Alright, alright..." Yoruichi Toyama had to interrupt this chatterbox's rambling, "I'm telling you, Ikuma, if you keep going, you'll spoil the whole presentation!"

"What does it matter!" Ikoma said dismissively. "You'll all have to experience it for yourselves eventually anyway."

"I dare say, if you actually enter the game, it will be a hundred times cooler than I describe!"

VR games, huh! Yoruichi Toyama thought about it and felt that, for the times, this game mode was indeed very advanced.

No wonder that apart from Ikuma, who was making a big fuss, even Akechi and Hakuba Saguru looked eager to try it out.

“However,” Yoruichi Toyama quickly asked, recalling her earlier question, “wasn’t it said that the first group to participate should be children and teenagers below high school age?”

Of those present, only Hakuba Saguru fits this standard.

As for Akechi and Shiratori, aren't they way too far over the limit?

Ikoma blinked and smiled knowingly.

"I told you, Brother Yuanshan, you're an investor too, you can't just be completely indifferent to the project, can you?"

"However, the plan you heard about has been rejected."

"That's the plan that selected 50 children under the age of 18 as the first batch of participants..."

Speaking of this, Ikoma couldn't help but purse his lips.

"Imagine, they're all daughters and sons of celebrities and politicians, mostly in their adolescence, and there are 50 of them..."

"A whole 50 unruly kids!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!