18 Chapter 18 (Revised)
Although Yokohama is a chaotic city, it seems that criminals have a deep respect for traditional festivals in their hearts. The robberies that occurred frequently at the end of the year disappeared on New Year's Day.
But even so, Murase still declined Bailibian's invitation with an apologetic attitude.
Murase was the only one who worked seriously in the Yokohama Police Department. After three years of hard work and with his existing qualifications, he was successfully promoted at the end of the year.
For Murase, promotion is not just a salary increase. It also means that he is now qualified to investigate cases that he was not qualified to handle before, and he can also participate in the recruitment activities next year to add some fresh blood to the Yokohama Police Department.
The heavy workload forced Murase to remain on duty during the New Year holiday. Bailibian wasn't disappointed. Although it felt a bit unfair to the village police officer he had taken such good care of, he hadn't actually expected him to accept his invitation from the start.
As a witness to Murase's transformation, no one knows more about Murase's hard work in recent years than Bailibian. After he learned of Murase's promotion, he knew that this invitation would definitely be rejected.
However, judging by the number of people alone, this year's New Year is more lively than previous years - Bailibian accepted the invitation from Edogawa Ranpo and Yumeno Hisasaku, and went to President Fukuzawa's house on New Year's Eve to celebrate the New Year.
After learning the truth from Edogawa Ranpo, Momobi was still hesitating whether she should adopt Yumeno Hisasaku herself. However, Dr. Yosano, who had just finished the physical examination, made the final decision and said that she hoped Yumeno Hisasaku could stay.
As an outsider, Hyakurebe was unable to participate in the internal discussions within the Armed Detective Agency. However, Edogawa Ranpo ultimately informed him that the president had approved Yosano Akiko's request, and Yumeno Hisasaku would be raised by the Armed Detective Agency. As for the Port Mafia, they would personally address them.
As if worried about Bai Libian, the famous detective also specifically reminded him not to agree to any additional conditions from anyone in the Port Mafia because of what happened to Yumeno Hisasaku.
Baili Bian didn't know exactly how the matter was resolved, but Yumeno Hisasaku did indeed settle down at the Armed Detective Agency. Perhaps because of his feelings for the fledgling, Yumeno Hisasaku took the initiative to keep in touch with him, and sometimes when the detective agency was too busy, they would entrust him to Baili Bian's care for a night or two.
As a visiting guest, in addition to bringing the sweets that Edogawa Ranpo specifically instructed, Bailibian also prepared some other gifts - tea that President Fukuzawa was interested in, dolls that Yumeno Hisasaku liked, and red wine that Dr. Yosano loved.
Although it looked no different from other buildings on the outside, when Bailibian entered, he was surprised to find that the home of President Fukuzawa, who always wore a kimono, still retained traditional style decoration.
Because it was New Year's Day, Bailibian was the only one in the room wearing a modern woolen coat, while everyone else was wearing traditional kimonos.
This made Bailibian, the last guest to arrive, seem even more out of place.
Just as Bailibian was slightly stunned, Edogawa Ranpo had already rushed to the entrance impatiently and accurately took the snack he wanted from Bailibian's hand.
"Ranpo."
Fukuzawa Yukichi subconsciously wanted to stop Edogawa Ranpo's disrespectful behavior towards the guests, but Bailibian smiled and shook his head. He nonchalantly called out to Yumeno Hisasaku and, under his guidance, distributed the gifts he had brought to everyone. He also gave Yumeno Hisasaku an extra portion of New Year's money.
"It's better to be happy in the New Year, and besides, this was originally a gift I wanted to give to Mr. Ranpo." Bailibian blocked Fukuzawa Yukichi's apology in time.
Maybe because there were so many people, maybe for convenience, or maybe because the hosts present were not very good at cooking, the New Year’s Eve dinner was served in the form of hot pot.
"Since Baili ate the detective agency's New Year's Eve dinner, he should come to work at the agency next year." Edogawa Ranpo looked at Baili, who was hesitant to speak, with a smug look on his face, and continued, "Did you think I would say that? No way!"
The famous detective, with his tail cocked, proudly made his own request: "Baili should also treat the detective agency to a meal!"
Fukuzawa Yukichi frowned, and before he could say anything, he met Yumeno Hisasaku's expectant gaze. "Anyway, this request is extremely rude, Ranpo. You shouldn't use this as a bargaining chip." Although he was somewhat curious about why Edogawa Ranpo suddenly made such a request, and even Yumeno Hisasaku was particularly expectant, Fukuzawa Yukichi still gave the education that an elder should give.
You are a very competent parent, Mr. Fukuzawa.
Bailibian didn't think this request was rude. Instead, he found the reason why the famous detective grew up with such a unique personality from Fukuzawa Yukichi's education of Edogawa Ranpo - most smart people would shrewdly put everything they have on the scale, but Edogawa Ranpo seemed to have never measured his own weight in this way.
He had also been planning to find a time to treat the detective agency to a meal, so he agreed without hesitation and set the time for three days later.
After dinner, Bailibian said goodbye to the detective agency and walked home alone. Although it was late, it was New Year's Day and many people were setting off fireworks on the street. Bailibian walked and watched, not feeling bored at all.
Just as he was about to turn the corner, he subconsciously looked towards the river. The clear river water just happened to become a stage for stars in the dark night. The messy stars were neatly spread all over the winding river, showing the brilliance of the galaxy on the earth.
Maybe he should get a cat of his own.
Bailibian thought.
The calico cat on the corner had been eating his food for several months, but it never let him get close and always just let him watch from afar.
When he was two or three steps away from the front door, Bailibian stopped, squatted down, and said to the calico cat guarding the door, "Happy New Year, Sansan. Do you want to come in? I have a nice warm blanket and some delicious canned food." Was it a miracle brought by the New Year? This was the first time the chubby calico cat had let him get so close.
But magic has its limits. After a polite meow, the calico cat disappeared in front of Baili Bian as usual, without being tempted at all.
It seemed that it just came to send New Year's blessings to the humans who often take care of it, and after that it returned to its own country.
Baili watched the calico cat's back as it walked away step by step, and then he realized that the calico goddess who had monopolized his cat food for several months was actually a male, and it seemed that he had not yet said goodbye to his offspring.
"Cats' mating season seems to be spring, right? But male calico cats seem to be castrated... But San San looks very different..."
In theory, in order to control the number of cats and prolong their lifespan, it is a very good thing to send stray cats for sterilization - many pet hospitals even provide free services for stray cats and dogs.
But Bailibian still didn't do so - he always felt that it would bring unexpected problems.
In fact, at first, Bailibian liked to call the calico cat Huahua, but he later found that the kitten seemed happier when he called it Sansan. Especially when he called it that for the first time, the kitten jumped up excitedly and directly climbed over the wall.
Although Edogawa Ranpo mentioned the detective agency when they made the appointment, in reality, only Fukuzawa Yukichi, Edogawa Ranpo and Yumeno Hisasaku came to visit Momobi's house three days later.
However, none of the vegetables I bought were wasted.
It was not until Fukuzawa Yukichi actually tasted the dishes made by Bailibian that he realized the real reason why Yumeno Hisasaku always liked to take the initiative to share his worries, and proposed to stay at Bailibian's house, and why Edogawa Ranpo insisted that he come to visit with him no matter what.
Although wolfing down the food was not in line with etiquette, Fukuzawa Yukichi did not stop Edogawa Ranpo, who was not picky about food. He just apologized to his host, Bailibian.
Then, amidst the famous detective's apparent satisfaction, he received a question from Baili Bian - he just opened his mouth a little too much, what's so rude about that?
After dinner, Yumeno Hisasaku, who had already agreed to stay at Bailibian's house, said goodbye to Fukuzawa Yukichi who was hesitant to speak and Edogawa Ranpo who was indignant, and smoothly entered the bedroom next to Bailibian, waiting for the bedtime story.
Although Bailibian's home was quite large, he only kept three bedrooms. Although the one on the first floor was also unoccupied, Bailibian chose to let Meng Ye Jiuzu live next to his bedroom on the second floor to prevent him from having nightmares on the first floor.
Although Mori Ogai couldn't raise a child, the Armed Detective Agency took good care of Yumeno Hisasaku. In just six months, not only did he grow taller, his scars faded, and his personality became more lively.
Baili Bian couldn't help but sigh again, Mr. Fukuzawa is really good at raising children, he is a gentle and persuasive parent who is completely different from his appearance.
Ordinary fairy tales no longer held much appeal, even for Yumeno Hisasaku. What he longed for was Baili Bian's large-scale legendary story, adapted from real events and spanning thousands of years—The Rise and Fall of the Baili Clan.
This was also the story Baili Bian heard when he was a child. According to his father's recollections and his grandfather's words, their Baili family had always been powerful in the era when princes were still very valuable. It was not until the modern era when the monarchy was overthrown that they gradually declined.
Meng Ye Jiusaku looked at Bai Li Bian, who had arrived late, with shining eyes, and said impatiently: "Last time we talked about Bai Li Gu. He lifted the veil and found that the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion had been replaced by the second daughter. But he found that the second daughter was different from the legend."
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