Chapter 141

When Hoshikawa Kazuaki heard that Kou Ida came to the cafe not to see him but to pick up takeout, he realized that Kou Ida's real purpose was to target Toru Amuro. And according to his reliable character, Kou Ida would never disturb Toru Amuro's undercover mission without any special reason.

So, did something happen that required Amuro Toru to be informed? Or did Date Kou accidentally discover some confidential information about the organization?

Hoshikawa Kazuaki thought about how Date Kou intentionally concealed the sniper attack and secretly contacted someone when he first entered the dungeon. It was not difficult to guess that he must have been exposed to information channels other than his overt work as a detective in the investigation section. Now it seems that it is very likely that that was his undercover colleague in the organization.

Could it be that the reason why Date Kou came to see Amuro Toru this time is also related to the organization? Did he accidentally get some unexpected information and inform his colleagues who were in danger? Or is it that because of some different development trajectory from the original work, Date Kou also participated in the fight against the organization, and the current meeting is actually a cooperation or help between comrades?

Hoshikawa and Ming couldn't help but look towards the coffee table in the corner out of curiosity, but immediately Nishihara Tadahiko's voice came into their consciousness.

"Don't look over there. The vigilance and sensitivity of those two people are far beyond your imagination. Any purposeful gaze may attract their attention. It is very unnecessary to arouse their vigilance just to satisfy curiosity."

Upon hearing this, Hoshikawa Kazuaki froze in his tracks as he was about to turn his head. His eyes swept across the green plants in front of the coffee table, and then turned back to Nishihara Tadahiko's table very naturally. He looked like a dedicated waiter who was always paying attention to the customers' needs.

"These policemen and public security undercovers are really troublesome. Do they have to be on guard even when being stared at by familiar faces like this? Fortunately, I don't have Conan's deadly curiosity, so I don't really care about the reason why Date Kou is so secretive."

Hoshikawa Kazuaki naturally continued his work, while consciously comforting Nishihara Tadahiko. At the moment when the other party reminded him, he could clearly feel the tension in his emotions. Although he was a little confused about Nishihara Tadahiko's sudden emotion, Hoshikawa Kazuaki knew that this vest had always been very opinionated, so he naturally didn't want to ruin the other party's plan because of his own reasons.

"Trouble? Did you go? I am also one of the troublesome policemen you mentioned." Nishihara Tadahiko's laughter came to his consciousness. His mood had relaxed. He seemed to feel the cooperation and concern of Hoshikawa Kazuaki. His voice paused for a moment and continued to explain:

"Don't worry. There is no danger beyond the plot. It's just that as an outsider you still need to avoid suspicion. According to my analysis, you are not suitable to attract too much attention from the Red Team right now. And I suggest that you don't try to spy on their conversation from the comic book. So it's better not to pay too much attention to such confidential conversations."

Hoshikawa Kazuaki was wiping the coffee cup with a clean rag in his hand, his expression still showing a gentle smile, but he had unconsciously become serious in his mind.

"Avoid suspicion? I understand that what they are talking about needs to be kept strictly confidential, but why do they say 'avoid suspicion'? Could it be that what they are talking about is related to me? Why can't I learn about the content from the comic book? Officer Nishihara, do you know something?"

Nishihara Tadahiko's voice paused slightly, followed by a low laugh from an adult man. It was completely different from his usual gentle laugh, but rather a happy laugh like that of a bored mastermind whose secret was suddenly exposed.

Xingchuan and Ming rolled their eyes silently. If they didn't know that the other person was actually another version of themselves, they might have been shocked by this atmosphere.

"Hiroshikawa, your observation and sharpness are indeed the best among our four vests. When the manga ends and the world returns to normal, you can actually consider applying to the police academy. I believe you will become an excellent police officer in the future."

Hoshikawa and Akira are somewhat puzzled by Nishihara Tadahiko's behavior. There are no secrets between the vests, not only because they are the same person in essence, but also because they can more or less feel each other's emotional fluctuations, and can even check each other's memories when necessary, and will instinctively recognize and protect each other. So from the beginning, they are each other's closest family and partners.

Because of this, Hoshikawa Kazuaki and Kagano Satoshi can share any secrets and will unconditionally help each other at the first time. Hoshikawa and Akira have become accustomed to this mode of getting along. However, the newly awakened Nishihara Tadahiko is obviously more accustomed to putting himself in the position of protector and guide, and regards Hoshikawa Kazuaki and Kagano Satoshi as juniors who need to be supported and protected.

That is why Nishihara Tadahiko arranged today's meeting to reveal the secrets of Hoshikawa Kazuaki, and naturally took over the script from Hoshikawa Kazuaki. Hoshikawa Kazuaki once thought that this was due to the other party's personality and way of thinking as a policeman, so he cooperated and let the other party arrange it. But now it seems that Nishihara Tadahiko has more secrets and plans than he thought.

He even controls the speed and depth of Xingchuan and Ming's participation in the plot from the perspective of a regulator.

Hoshikawa and Akira subconsciously glanced at the coffee table where Nishihara Tadahiko was sitting. At this time, he was chatting casually with Matsui Naoto who was sitting opposite him. His expression was still gentle, but he couldn't hide the solemnity in his eyes. Matsui Naoto was looking out the window in a trance, as if he was lost in some memories that were difficult to let go.

Hoshikawa and Akira suddenly realized that Nishihara Tadahiko was not only controlling the extent to which other aliases could delve into the plot, he was even intentionally guiding the direction in which they could delve into the plot. For example, Matsui Naoto in front of him might be an entry point he chose for Hoshikawa and Akira.

"Officer Nishihara, since you planned this conversation with Matsui Naoto this morning, you have been laying the groundwork for some plot developments. And you were not surprised at all that Date Kou came to see Amuro Toru. Do you... know something?"

In the two people's consciousness, Xingchuan and Ming's voice is calm and straightforward.

The independence between the vests is relative, but trust is absolute. Hoshikawa Kazuaki believes that Nishihara Tadahiko must have his reasons for doing this, but he also cannot completely accept the other party's arrangement without knowing anything.

This is not the curiosity about the truth behind the scenes like a detective, nor is it the instinctive defense against unknown things like Amuro Toru, but the manipulating instinct of a cartoonist who likes to use the script to control the plot and the arrangement of the plot.

Nishihara Tadahiko was also not surprised by Hoshikawa Kazuaki's reaction, and his tone was still filled with the familiar gentle smile:

"Of course, the script you wrote is the best. These small plans of mine are only suitable for dealing with the current crisis, but they are not enough to support the completion of the entire comic task."

Nishihara Tadahiko, who was sitting at the coffee table, seemed to smile as well, but except for Hoshikawa and Ming, no one knew why he suddenly made such an expression while he was leisurely stirring his coffee.

"I woke up a little too hastily. I had planned to tell you after I finished talking with Matsui Naoto today, so you would understand more easily. But I didn't expect that Date Kou would come to see Amuro Toru at this time, and even caught your attention. There was no other way. In order to ensure that you can sever your ties with other timelines, I had to take the initiative to stop your curious behavior."

Xingchuan Heming said thoughtfully:

"You were really guiding me on purpose, and it started after the dungeon ended. Before I left the dungeon timeline, I was you, so of course you also had my previous memories, and I was also very clear about my plans. At that time, I didn't have any plans to guide my future self.

So, in the three years since I left the dungeon, you were exposed to many secrets that I didn't know during your time as an independent Nishihara Tadahiko, and that's why you made such a temporary arrangement after you fully awakened and connected with my consciousness?"

"Ah, you're right. To be honest, I've learned a lot of secrets in the past three years."

There was some deliberate teasing in Nishihara Tadahiko's voice, but Xingchuan Heming could clearly sense the anger and resentment he was suppressing. He paused and guessed:

"It's about the winery? You were also involved in the confrontations with the Red Camp?"

Nishihara Tadahiko sighed and quickly recovered.

"Didn't I arrange it before you left the dungeon? I would use the clues I found about Toshiya and the brotherly relationship I deliberately revealed with Toshiya to first attract the attention of Morobushi Kagemitsu, and then join his Red Team. In fact, I later became his assistant, working with him to investigate everything about the brewery and the laboratory. Of course, the biggest discovery is actually related to your identity as Xingchuan and Ming. This is also the fundamental reason why I arranged this meeting today."

Hoshikawa and Ming were stunned. This development was exactly what they had expected. And from the information leaked from the comics, there was no obvious intersection between the tasks that Toru Amuro and Keimitsu Morobushi were responsible for after their fake death. He didn't even know that Tadahiko Nishihara was also secretly working for the public security. Then why did Tadahiko Nishihara suddenly call him over just now? He even guessed that Kou Date would come to see Toru Amuro before that? And he even asked him to "avoid suspicion"?

"Since they specifically asked me to avoid suspicion, could it be that the secret they are talking about is actually related to me? No, to be more precise, it should be related to the past 'Xingchuan Kazuaki'? And you obviously know this secret, could it be that you are also involved?"

"Wait, even if you participated in some actions of the Public Security Bureau, that is part of the normal development of the plot and does not affect what I saw in the comic book. But you prevented me from finding out their secrets through the comic book. Does that mean that this secret itself is related to the comic book?"

Xingchuan Heming's eyes gradually widened, and he said in disbelief:

"It's related to your experiences over the past three years, and it's also related to the comic book. Could it be the remaining fourth copy of the mission?"

The author has something to say:

Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution during 2022-09-26 15:17:23~2022-09-28 11:55:23~

Thanks to the little angel who cast the mine: Leng Yue 1;

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!