Chapter 145
Although detectives will voluntarily work overtime when they encounter major cases, it doesn't mean they won't eat or drink. They will always have to go back to the investigation headquarters to communicate with their colleagues about the progress.
Therefore, when it got completely dark and it was no longer suitable to ask passersby or search abandoned buildings, people gradually returned to the investigation headquarters, where they organized their reports for the day and discussed the progress of the case with others.
"Huh? You said there's been big progress?"
Suddenly, a voice rose in the conference room: "What progress? Who told you that?"
Immediately, many people looked over, and some who were eating rice balls stopped chewing, afraid of not being able to hear the conversation over there.
Kitami also heard the commotion and felt somewhat anxious.
There's even progress, and significant progress at that... Isn't this efficiency a bit too high? It doesn't seem to fit the normal investigation speed of Japanese police!
He thought he could watch the police scramble around like a clown, not even understanding why the victim died, and have the case closed as a cold case. But less than a day later, his website had already been exposed, and they were even planning to find the filming location based on the background in the video...
Although he felt he hadn't left any evidence at the scene, he still felt uneasy.
The first and second time, he must have been very careful in cleaning up the scene, but he succeeded so many times without ever being caught. This not only made him more disregardful of the police, but also made his behavior more casual. Perhaps there will be some oversight.
If his hair or even fingerprints were left at the scene... current DNA technology is sufficient to match him. Although Bei Jianyi's previous crimes have not been discovered, he has not been caught, and his DNA has not been entered into the database, so it cannot be matched against him, it is still a potential problem.
That's why he's now actively accompanying his seniors to "search" for the scene, trying to come up with a plausible explanation if needed: "Because I went there during the investigation, this must have been left unintentionally at the time."
He initially joined the investigation headquarters for this case to watch the police have fun up close and seek thrills, but now he finds himself having fun, filled with anxiety.
This sense of frustration had already nearly driven Kitami to the brink of collapse, who was always on a smooth-sailing path. Now, with talk of new and significant progress... Kitami almost wanted to flip the table in frustration!
But he wasn't stupid, so he held back and patiently eavesdropped.
The person who suddenly released the information lowered his voice, but those around could still hear him if they listened carefully: "They said they pulled several more bodies out of the rowing area in Toda!"
The person he was talking to gasped in shock: "Just how many people did he kill?!"
"They said that based on the website information, that should be all. The murderer may have recently moved from Toda to this area and found that because of the parasites, there aren't many people here, making it a better place to dump the body, so they changed the address..."
Kita Kenji broke out in a cold sweat.
The investigation has progressed to this extent... This is indeed a huge breakthrough!
Further investigation reveals that he used to be a member of the Tokyo University rowing club, and the Toda Rowing Stadium was where they trained. When he was considering how to dispose of the body, that was his first thought. Later, when he became a policeman, he came back to that place, which is why he changed locations.
...But generally speaking, no one cares where an intern came from before, so maybe there's no need to be too nervous... Wait! The speed at which this case is progressing is clearly off; maybe he'll wake up one morning and the investigation will have already reached him!
Why, why so fast—
"Inspector Megure has done a great job this time!" The two were still chatting. "It's a pity the inspector isn't in the professional team; his promotion prospects are probably limited..."
"Aren't you surprised that Inspector Megure, whose investigation style used to be steady and methodical, has suddenly become so aggressive this time?"
"...Ah, could it be..."
"I and others also guessed that it might be thanks to that person."
Although they were inexplicably secretive and refused to reveal "that person's" name, Kitami Ichi guessed it.
...It must be Hanchuan Shenliu! Only Hanchuan Shenliu's strange aura could make everyone's attitude so weird when they're chatting!
Kitami gritted his teeth. The moment he saw Hanchuan Shenliu, he realized that this guy was different from others. But at the time, he did not realize that the newcomer was not friendly. He even admired and envied the other party a little. As a result, the other party turned around and pushed the case to an absurd level!
But the reason why the body was found in the lake is because Fukasawa suddenly passed away and the handover was not done properly. There is no reason why the body in the Toda rowing yard should have been discovered!
Now he truly believed that Han Chuan Shenliu might have known about the "Strawberry Night" website before, and might even have investigated it long ago, but simply kept it a secret. Now, he was stepping on Han Chuan Shenliu's hard work to claim credit...
However, if the other party even knew where he disposed of the body, they probably already knew his identity.
The way they're releasing information little by little now might be a way to force him to come and negotiate a compromise... This feeling of malice matches the rumor that he likes to toy with prisoners!
Kitami Ichi finally felt that all the logic made sense!
That guy, Hanchuan Shenliu, as a policeman, manipulates both police and criminals with ease. His methods are definitely more sophisticated than others. I admit defeat…
...No, he couldn't swallow this insult.
Otherwise, I could have someone assassinate Hanchuan Shenliu, but he has no connection with the Yakuza, so I don't know where to find him—ah.
Kitami suddenly remembered that he had met someone in a bar a few days ago who claimed to be the famous detective Conan, but whose real identity was a yakuza. Could he ask this person if he had any business in this area?
No, the other party already knows he's a policeman. He even pretended to be selfless and only had to deal with yakuza people to obtain intelligence... The previous excuse was fine, but what if he made a phone call and asked, "Can you introduce me to an assassin?" Wouldn't that be handing them leverage?!
It would be unwise to deal with Han Chuan Shenliu only to have that yakuza detective threaten him again, leaving him to fall into the tiger's den after escaping the wolf's den.
But I'm really not willing to give up without trying... so why not ask anonymously?
So, while Kitami was buying coffee from the vending machine in the corridor, he switched his phone's SIM card, found the contact information for the flamboyant detective, and sent him an email.
【I'm so sorry to bother you. Someone recommended you to me, saying I could contact you if I needed anything... Do you offer 'cleaning' services? The price is negotiable.】
After sending the email, Kitami took the coffee she had bought and went home, anxiously awaiting a response.
A moment later, his phone vibrated.
Kitami checked the emails discreetly, without drawing his partner's attention.
The other party replied: "The price varies depending on the difficulty. Please describe your goal."
Kitami Ichiro was more cautious. To avoid being exposed, he gave a random name first, intending to reveal his true target once it seemed plausible: ["He's a third-rate manga artist."]
Is it convenient to call?
Bei Jianyi hesitated for a moment. He had never commissioned this kind of work before. Was this step to confirm that he wasn't joking, or to confirm his sincerity?
He bought a voice changer before because he thought it was fun... let's give it a try.
So Kitami made an excuse to go to the rooftop again, carefully locked the door from the inside, and then replied to the email, saying it was convenient.
Soon, a phone call came in.
Kitami pressed the answer button, then remained silent, trying to let the other party make the first move so he could consider how to respond, lest he say the wrong thing and fall into a disadvantageous position.
Then he discovered that the other party was not playing by the rules at all, and directly stated his name: "Bei Jianyi?"
Kitami's heart suddenly started pounding.
Something's not right! How could they have guessed it was him so easily?!
He had clearly anticipated that if he had come up and said he wanted to kill Hanchuan Shenliu, the other party would have investigated and found out that Hanchuan Shenliu was investigating the case. Then, based on the "Strawberry Night" website, they would have connected it to him, who had given them the website address... So he didn't tell the truth. He didn't expect that this would still expose him!
Could it be that this email address was newly registered and only given to him?
Kitami I was, after all, someone who had been admitted to the University of Tokyo. Although he was arrogant and disdainful of others, he was still quite clever and quickly came up with a reasonable excuse.
It's okay, he can argue that he's entrapping the detective to see if he's really engaged in illegal activities... Anyway, he doesn't need this detective to join Strawberry Night anymore, so at worst they can just break off their friendship.
This guy wouldn't go so far as to report him to the police, so entrapment is a plausible excuse. Thanks to the "police entrapment" news that was all over the news before the New Year, he got the inspiration!
...Wait, that policeman looks like Shinryu Hanchuan! He doesn't want to thank Shinryu Hanchuan! He wants to get something for nothing!
Bei Jianyi took a deep breath, deciding to suppress this excuse for now and continue pretending to see if the other person was trying to trick him: "Who do you think I am?"
"Of course it's Kitami Ichi!" The yakuza detective's voice sounded utterly self-righteous. "You think I wouldn't recognize you just because you're using a voice changer?"
"...I didn't say a word just now, I don't understand how you came to this conclusion."
The yakuza detective replied very sincerely, "Oh, because I've only ever given this contact information to you."
Kita no Ichi: "…………"
It really was only given to him!
He couldn't believe his luck was so bad that he happened to run into the other person who had changed their email address... Could it be that the other person changed their email address every time they went out to exchange contact information?!
Is this person crazy?!
However, he had already prepared an excuse, so he could use it directly at this moment: "Sorry, actually... I wanted to test whether you would accept this kind of illegal commission, like entrapment... I haven't accomplished anything important during my internship, so I'm a bit anxious... You can take revenge on me if you want, but if we can resolve this with money, I think it would be better for both of us, what do you think?"
"So that's how it is. It was a sting operation. I thought you were trying to assassinate Hanchuan Shenliu."
Kita Kenji: "...???"
Huh?! How did they even guess that?! Does this person have special abilities?! Or is it...?
The yakuza detective continued his sincere apology: "I'm sorry, actually after I got that website, I investigated the situation of 'Strawberry Night'... You're really something, I saw today's news too, the mission's progress is entirely driven by Hanakawa Shinryu, right? I completely understand why you want to assassinate him!"
Kitami I almost vomited blood: "Why are you investigating this?"
"Uh, personal habit? After all, I'm an information broker, so I definitely have to investigate something this interesting. I haven't thanked you yet. Thanks to you for giving me this website in advance, I was able to close related deals faster than my competitors."
Kitami suddenly had a bad feeling: "...What request? Wait, could it be information about Suikawa Shinryu..."
The yakuza detective laughed heartily.
"Haha, yes, you got it from me. I was thinking of thanking you right then. Do you want me to give you a share?"
Kita Kenji: "………………"
I was the one who initially brought this information to your attention, and now you've betrayed me and are even thanking me for giving you a share?!
Do you think I'm short of money?!
What I lack is a time machine and a way to undo my mistakes!!! Why did I even mention this website to you in the first place?!
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Extra chapter, goodnight.
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How creative it is to ask Bo Ye to kill himself!
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Kitami: This yakuza detective seems a bit unorthodox, like a psychopath.
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