Chapter 192
In response to Vodka's question, Usoya Saiki calmly replied, "I suddenly remembered."
"……oh."
Vodka didn't think anything was wrong, after all, Usoppai was always impulsive, so he chose the most convenient answer: "Lost it."
So many years have passed, it's normal to lose it, right?
"Lost it?" Bo Yezaki's voice suddenly rose. "You could lose something so important? Why don't you just lose yourself!"
Vodka: "??? It's just a photo, is it that important...?"
Usoppai turned around abruptly: "FBI! Do you think that's important?"
They just called him FBI... Anyway, no one else reacted, so forget it, there's no need to get hung up on a title.
Shuichi Akai coughed, considered for a moment, and chose to speak on behalf of Saiki Usui: "After all, it's a photo of an organization executive. What if it falls into some base and something like this happens to Pramia? Potts might be in danger because of it... so it is indeed very important."
Bo Yezaki angrily accused Vodka: "Look at you, even the undercover agents know how important my photos are, they're practically organization secrets, yet you don't take them seriously. I think you're deliberately trying to betray me!"
Akai Shuichi: "…………"
I really spoke up for you for nothing...
But it doesn't matter. As long as he adopts an attitude of "I'm too lazy to explain," no one will doubt him.
Vodka still didn't take Usakata Saiki's words seriously, focusing on the issue related to himself: "It's been so long, isn't it normal to not remember where you put it? You should have come to ask me for it sooner!"
"So you're the kind of person who throws important documents around carelessly... I think I should remind the boss to let you handle fewer important tasks."
"...Once I finish this task, I'll go back and find you the photos, okay?"
“One month.” Bo Yezai held up one finger. “I want to see my photo. Is there a problem?”
Regardless of whether there were any problems or not, he had no choice but to agree now, so Vodka reluctantly nodded: "No problem... Is there anything else?"
If you don't have it, then hurry up and leave!
They couldn't help with Pramie's matter, and finding photos would only lead to accusations. With the arrival of Usui Saiki, the atmosphere here became very restless, not like a normal organization at all.
It was as if Bo Yezaki was just passing by, knowing they were nearby, and deliberately came to cause trouble. He had no serious business at all. He brought up the same old story again, accusing them of being undercover agents and ostracizing him, a normal person, before leaving.
About five minutes after Usui Saiki left, Gin, who had become mute, miraculously recovered instantly and immediately started to settle scores: "Who told him we were here?"
"Brother, you know me. I'm the last person I want to see."
"It wasn't me."
"It wasn't me either."
No one admitted it.
Gin sneered: "Which one of you is the rat? Don't let me catch you red-handed..."
Akai Shuichi was speechless for a moment.
Has the "rat" Gin mentioned been downgraded to someone who tipped off Usaku Saiki...?
Usoba Saiki single-handedly changed the organization's style, yet he never even wrote a proper report for such a character; it was a dereliction of duty on his part as an undercover agent.
However, when he tried to do some summarizing work, he found that he knew very little about Usui Seiki, and his impressions were all of some insignificant and crazy actions...
This method of avoiding being targeted and ensnared by intelligence gathering is something most people simply cannot learn.
While Gin was investigating who the rat was, Usui Saiki had already left the apartment where the safe house was located and was looking for a place to eat.
To be honest, he came here because he was bored during his vacation, so he came to ask about the situation in Pramiya and to ask for the photos he had just remembered a few days ago. He didn't have any other purpose and was too lazy to even raise suspicion.
But he couldn't resist Shuichi Akai's constant suspicion whenever he saw him, which made him regret not having played this game with Shuichi Akai sooner.
Hmm, I might consider hanging around in front of Shuichi Akai a bit more often and see how much more suspicion I can garner.
After taking a car to a nearby street, it was a bit deserted since it wasn't lunchtime yet, and there weren't many people in the shops. This made Usoppei unsure which shop was the best, and she hesitated.
Just then, he heard a hesitant call.
"...Brother Bo Ye?"
Usakabe Saiki turned his head and saw that it was Shinichi Kudo: "Shinichi? What are you doing here?"
"I'm out for dinner." Shinichi Kudo was pleased to see an acquaintance. "It's Usopp-nii too, right?"
His parents had gone back to the United States, and it was Sunday, so he had to take care of his own meals. Although he had only met Usakata Saiki once, after the Snow Woman Legend murder incident, he felt that the two of them had become much closer, and they didn't seem awkward talking to each other now.
As for why he missed the mealtime... it's because he was engrossed in reading in the bookstore, and by the time he came to his senses, it was already this late.
Bo Yezaki nodded: "Do you know which restaurant around here is good?"
"...Um, actually I'm not too sure either." Shinichi Kudo hesitated. "Should I just pick any place?"
"Okay, shall we go together?"
Shinichi Kudo naturally wouldn't refuse.
However, since there were two of them, they didn't have to limit themselves to fast food restaurants. They could have barbecue together, so they chose a barbecue restaurant.
"Welcome!" The waitress greeted us with a smile, but for some reason, her eyes were a little swollen, as if she had just been crying.
Just then, the man who looked like the owner came out, frowning: "It's no longer business hours."
Shinichi Kudo's gaze swept over the two of them, a hint of suspicion rising in his mind. However, since they were clearly trying to get rid of them, they couldn't insist on staying: "Sorry..."
"Huh? The guests are already inside, and you're trying to kick them out?"
At this moment, Bo Yezaki suddenly asked in a questioning tone, "Do you know whose people I work for? Are you sure you want to kick me out?"
These ambiguous words made the boss, who was about to kick him out, hesitate and subconsciously sized him up.
At first glance, he appears to be just a stylish young man wearing jeans and a Poirot tie at the collar of his white shirt. However, his black haori looks like it was taken out of a suit and has what appears to be a family crest that he can't understand—or the symbol of some organization.
The young man had several Buddhist prayer beads wrapped around his wrist, and his other hand was behind his waist, as if he wanted to take something out. Based on the boss's own experience, that spot was very likely where a knife was tucked.
This mix of tradition and modernity is, frankly, a bit unsettling.
Whether they were delinquent youths from a biker gang or low-level members of a local yakuza organization... the boss just wanted these two to leave and didn't want anything to happen, so he hesitated for a moment and had no choice but to back down.
"...I apologize for my rudeness. Please have a seat, as we are your guests."
After saying that, she went into the kitchen as if she were escaping.
Usakabe Saiki turned to Kudo Shinichi and said, "You see, this kind of person only bullies good people."
Shinichi Kudo: "…………"
Although he roughly knew that this guy, Bo Ye, might have also discovered something amiss and wanted to stay and investigate, this method was something he hadn't expected at all... To come up with such a method so quickly, wasn't his thought process a bit too unconventional...?
As if to ease the tension, the waiter quickly arrived with side dishes and a menu.
"This is bitter melon and tofu, a complimentary side dish for you two. Although it's not very juicy, it's quite delicious... Here's the menu, please take a look and see what you'd like to order."
As he spoke, the waiter seemed to notice something, and squatted down to pick up two coins: "Did the customer drop these two coins?"
Bo Yezaki calmly said, "Yes, it's fine to put it here."
The waiter gave him a questioning look, raising a level of skepticism.
System: [This isn't your money, is it? Are you really going to try and take advantage of such a small thing? This level of suspicion is a bit beneath you.]
"...She wasn't doubting that; she was doubting whether I had understood her hint." Usui Saiki was speechless. "Look, even Kudo Shinichi didn't think I did anything wrong... I was just trying to help her."
system:【……? ? ? 】
Shinichi Kudo didn't show any disdain. He calmly ordered and even asked Saiki Usaba what he wanted to add.
Bo Yezaki also ordered a few more plates of meat, and then asked the waiter to leave.
Shinichi Kudo scooped up a spoonful of the complimentary tofu with a small spoon: "...Hmm, this bitter melon tofu...Bo Ye-nii, please try it."
Usakabe Saiki also took a bite, and the two exchanged a glance and nodded with subtle expressions.
This tofu, which is supposed to be bitter melon tofu, doesn't taste bitter at all... and it's actually quite tender.
Bitter melon tofu (ゴーヤトーフ), if you remove the tenderness (フヤフヤ)... what's left is just a robber (ゴートー)?
Adding the five-yen and ten-yen coins just picked up from the ground, it can also be pronounced as "robber" (ゴートー)...
"I see," Shinichi Kudo thought to himself. "That store manager was definitely suspicious."
Perhaps this isn't the real store manager? The real store manager might already be...
Shinichi Kudo coughed, finding it a bit suspicious that they were just sitting there in silence, so he started a conversation: "Speaking of which, I wonder how that Yuki-onna movie we talked about before ended. I hope everyone is alright."
Bo Ye, do you think the real store manager is still alive?
“No problem,” said Bo Yezaki calmly. “The protagonist is very composed.”
Although the waiter's eyes were swollen from crying and his hands were shaking when he served the water, he seemed to be in good spirits and didn't look like he had seen a dead person, which means that the real owner of the shop is definitely okay.
Shinichi Kudo could actually guess this, but he was a little worried and wanted to confirm it with Saiki Usaku. So after receiving confirmation, he showed a relaxed smile.
The problem now is that although they have successfully entered the store, it is now difficult to call the police.
He didn't know any police officers he could exchange emails with, so the only way to report a crime was by phone. But a phone call would definitely be overheard, and he wasn't sure if the operator on the other end would understand if he tried to use a hint. What if they thought it was a prank call?
Why not find an excuse to go out...
As Shinichi Kudo was thinking, he saw Usui Seiki shake his head at him: "Eat first, we can talk about it after we eat. I'm hungry."
Shinichi Kudo: "...???"
Even though they were eating here and the kitchen wasn't soundproof, so the prisoner most likely wouldn't have killed anyone during that time, could Brother Bo really still have an appetite?!
"By the way, you said you went to the bookstore, right? What did you buy?"
Shinichi Kudo hesitated for a few moments before chatting with Saiki Usaku, trying to analyze whether there was any deeper meaning in Usaku's words. However, he found that Usaku was just having a casual chat with him and did not include any hints in the conversation.
Perhaps it was to lull the prisoner into a false sense of security?
Shinichi Kudo cooperated somewhat uncertainly, but it was the first time he had been so close to a criminal, and he was so worried about the real manager that he felt a tightness in his chest. Even though he had been very hungry before, he couldn't eat anything now.
In contrast, Bo Yezhai remained unfazed, ate at a perfectly normal pace, and even offered a comment or two, as if he were genuinely there to eat barbecue, without a care in the world...
Middle school student Shinichi Kudo: "…………"
Is it because he's not composed enough?
After finally finishing his meal, Bo Yezaki suddenly said, "There's something wrong with this meat!"
The waiter rushed over: "What? What's wrong?"
"I didn't call you, I called your boss over." Bo Yezhaiji crossed his arms impatiently, looking like he was about to cause trouble.
The fake shop owner, who was actually a criminal, cursed his bad luck inwardly and walked over from the back kitchen, lifting the curtain: "Guest, what's wrong with our meat?...You've already finished eating it all, haven't you?"
Yes, Shinichi Kudo has a poor appetite, but Saiki Usaba's appetite is unaffected. With no one competing with him, he eats with exceptional gusto, finishing all the grilled meat, to the point that he now looks more like he's looking for trouble.
The prisoner thought that it was probably because his attitude when he chased the person away earlier was bad, which made the other person feel uncomfortable, so now they were starting to cause trouble.
But back then, he had no idea the other party was so formidable! He had someone tied up in the kitchen! How could he have time to entertain guests! Hindsight is always 20/20…
Shouldn't he give me the money now? It's not like he earned it; he should just give it to me...
Just as the prisoner was pondering whether he should pay to avoid further trouble and send the guy away, he noticed the other man looking at him strangely.
"I'm calling for the boss, what are you doing here? Go and let the boss go!"
Prisoner: "...?!?!?!"
Shinichi Kudo: "...?!?!?!?!"
—Huh?! So direct?!
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I think if I keep delaying my update time, I can gradually adjust to an update schedule of 6 am to 9 pm... which seems to be a normal work-rest schedule.
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Usui Saiki, a humanoid poison that can turn Gin into a mute.
He recovered as soon as he left Gin; a medical miracle.
Gin: Which of you is the rat?
Vodka: Brother, you know me...
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If it were Han Chuan who came here, the prisoners wouldn't be so leisurely, and Bo Ye probably wouldn't even be able to eat.
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Kudo: Lost in thought, no appetite
Thin Leaf: I'm hungry, let's eat first.
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The case is adapted from "Don't Speak of Mystery".
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Speaking of which, the author of Katekyo Hitman Reborn!'s new work has been adapted into an anime!
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