Not a detective

Page 70

"I have class that day."

"Why don't you just ask for leave? The place we're going to is quite far, so it's best to leave in the morning."

"...Don't make it sound as easy as skipping class. This isn't university, and final exams are coming up soon."

"For this operation, I will pay you an extra month's salary. If you successfully prevent the assassination, it will be a year's bonus."

"I go."

...

This sentence is in Japanese, so it's not an interjection, but rather a promise to accept a commission.

"You think I can be bought off with money? Don't underestimate me!"

He wanted to rebuke them angrily, but he had given them far too much.

Since I made a promise, I had to keep it. After school on Monday, I greeted Chizuko-senpai, took the train to Shibuya, and returned to the office.

This was the first time Asakawa Riku had worked overtime in a year.

"He might die in two days, so why does he act like it doesn't matter?"

Looking at his employer, who was sitting barefoot on the floor playing games, Asakawa Riku sighed, took off his coat, and sat down on the soft sofa.

"I have made full preparations..."

Without turning his head, Shinonome Sugetsuki muttered, "Look, as long as you use a couple more potions that increase attack points, you can kill Louis in one turn. Although that guy has two phases, it's not actually that difficult. The protagonist will also unlock a new form at the end. Although you can't use it in battle, it looks really cool in the story."

"Why are you giving away spoilers so casually right from the start... I don't want to use consumable items, it feels like cheating."

"This player is so unreasonable! They've filled an entire backpack with consumables by the end. Are they going to save them for the finale?"

She scoffed dismissively: "So, you're saying that the salary I give you is probably still safely in your account, and you haven't spent a single penny except for necessary living expenses?"

Asakawa Riku sighed, "Although we are in a superior-subordinate relationship, please don't use your superpowers to pry into my private life... wait."

He suddenly realized something was wrong, from the other person's words...

Why did the detective say, "The consumables have filled an entire backpack"?

"Ah... don't touch my save file! By the way, how did I even finish the final boss battle?!"

Asakawa Riku glanced at the screen, then immediately covered his eyes, his face filled with despair.

"It's okay, you can play through it again, or reload a save and start over. The protagonist is someone who can challenge himself again and again."

She tossed the handle aside, stood up, and stretched languidly, revealing her beautiful waistline beneath her T-shirt, making one forget it was winter.

"Remember to change the sign to 'Closed,' I'm going to sleep... Xingyu, we have a customer!"

The detective took out a medicine bottle from the drawer, chewed a few pills, and without even turning off the game console, slowly made his way into the lounge.

A blonde girl emerged from inside, her face beaming with a wide smile.

"Welcome! May I ask what you need—ah, it's Asakawa-kun."

"Don't change your expression so quickly."

Asakawa Riku walked over and turned off the game console screen.

"That's a professional smile; that's the attitude you should have when facing colleagues."

Hoshino stuck out her tongue, skipped over to the front of the agency, changed the direction of the signboard, and announced that the agency would be closing early today.

However, no customer would care.

One person was responsible for weekdays, and the other for weekends and holidays, so their working hours were basically separate. Asakawa Riku hadn't seen her for several months. She was a girl with beautiful blonde hair, who looked about the same age as him, with a high nose bridge, snow-white skin, and deep blue eyes that were hard to look away from.

According to Hoshimi Kou, she is of mixed race, but she was born and raised in Japan, so she speaks Japanese very well and doesn't have a foreign accent.

The fact that they could hire foreigners as maids gave Asakawa Riku a new understanding of the Shinonome family's wealth, but when he thought about the salary, he felt it was understandable.

"Would coffee be alright?"

"Thank you, no cream or sugar needed."

Asakawa Riku stood up, took the drink, and found the bitterness just right, which was very refreshing.

"So, why did Asakawa-kun come here today? Is it because he has a personal detective request?"

Xingyu sat down opposite her on the sofa. Compared to the strangely dressed detective, this common-sense person was much more normal. She was wearing a business suit, black stockings under her skirt, and high heels with very thin heels. She looked like an office lady working in an office building. Although she was too mature for her age, she looked quite professional.

At least it accentuated those beautiful legs very well. Asakawa Riku was actually quite curious about what she would look like in a maid outfit, but now was clearly not the time to talk about that.

"On the contrary, I am the one being entrusted."

"what?"

Next, Asakawa Riku recounted what had happened yesterday, as well as the inexplicable words spoken by Shinonome Suetsuki.

He made a special trip to the agency today to discuss things with Xingyu. After all, this girl is the young lady's personal maid, and they supposedly grew up together. She must know much more about the situation than he does. He needs to find out in advance where they are going on Christmas Eve, what the banquet is all about, and the possible methods and culprits of the assassination.

Asakawa Riku is someone who likes to be fully prepared. Even when playing games, he will grind to level 99 before entering the final boss room.

I never expected that guy to steal my thunder... I'm so upset.

Leaving aside all that nonsense, Xingyu listened very attentively, even taking notes in her notebook, occasionally making sounds like "um" or "please continue."

"That's about it. I wanted to ask if you have any additional information for me?"

"I see……"

Finally, she nodded seriously.

"I thought you would be more surprised."

On the contrary, Asakawa Riku was somewhat surprised. He thought Hoshino would panic and make a fuss about calling the police or calling for help.

I didn't expect you to react so calmly when you heard that the young lady's life was in danger.

"It's very simple. Since Miss brought it up, it's bound to happen. And since she hired Asakawa-kun as her bodyguard, it means this matter will definitely be resolved safely. With Miss's wisdom and intelligence, plus Asakawa-kun's strength and skill, there's nothing that can stump you, right?"

Winter of Demons: Chapter 3, Mount Ooe, the Sake Heaven Pavilion

Seeing Xingyu's eyes shining and her face full of admiration, Asakawa Riku suddenly remembered that she was a complete and utter fanatic of the detective.

"It's more accurate to say that you spoiled that guy's arrogant and conceited personality."

"Who?"

Seeing that she seemed completely unaware of her own ignorance, Asakawa Riku had no choice but to let it go.

He cleared his throat: "I'm serious. No matter what kind of palace intrigues you rich people usually experience, if assassination is used, I can't just sit idly by. Besides, I've already received payment for the commission. It's true that I can protect Dongyun Moyue, but the prerequisite is that I need to know enough information, and that's for you to tell me."

"Of course, I will tell you everything I know." Xingyu was also very serious: "Please feel free to ask."

"First of all, where is the banquet we're going to on Wednesday?"

Asakawa Riku took out his notebook.

This notebook is the same model as Chizuko's; it has a black cover, is small in size but very thick and sturdy, and even has a special slot to prevent water-based pens from getting stuck. Ever since the last incident, he's felt that having a notebook to take notes anytime is very convenient and much more ceremonial than using a phone, so he borrowed hers a while ago, intending to buy the same one.

Chizuko refused, saying that the contents of the notebook were a girl's secret. She only showed him the cover and told him that he could buy it at the stationery store next to the school.

However, Asakawa Riku still found the same one. This was the first time he had used it, and he turned a new page:

"It's near Kyoto, in a place called [Shutenkan]. Ah, you can't find it on the map."

Hoshino pressed his phone down and explained, "That's the Shinonome family's private residence. It's not open to the public and is only used around Christmas and New Year's each year. After that, it's sealed off for a whole year, waiting to be opened the following year. So even if you ask the locals in Kyoto, they won't know where it is. Just search for the name 'Mount Oe'."

Asakawa Riku first wrote down "Mount Oe" and "Saketenkan" in his notebook before starting his search.

Located in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, about a 20-minute drive from Kyoto, also known as Tambayama, a tourist website describes a sea of ​​clouds appearing at the summit of Mount Ōe during the early autumn and winter mornings due to the significant temperature difference. Before sunrise, the sky gradually turns a beautiful purple, and from the summit of Mount Ōe, the sea of ​​clouds flowing between the mountains below constantly changes its expression. When the red sun rises, a breathtaking and spectacular view unfolds. The sunrise and sea of ​​clouds here are well worth the early start for visitors.

This is actually a tourist attraction.

Asakawa Riku glanced at the calendar. Although the end of December wasn't exactly early winter, it still seemed like a good season.

"So this Jiutianguan is the banquet venue?" Asakawa Riku asked, "The mysterious villa nestled in the mountains?"

"Yes, it was built specifically for winter snow viewing and family gatherings; it was an unimaginably massive structure."

Hoshino's smile was mysterious, as if she thought Asakawa Riku would be shocked by the scene.

But Riku Asakawa was actually thinking about some unpleasant memories.

He thought of the mountain near Chizuko's home, the Kazamatsuri Shrine, the Migoshi Nyudo Temple, the mountain path framed by the torii gate, and of course, the blizzards of midsummer.

At that time, he was also in a Western-style mansion in the mountains. Although everything he experienced there was a dream, the memory was clear and real enough.

...This is a real winter, and it might even snow on Christmas Eve.

...Are we going to have to go through another "locked room mystery" incident again?

“Building a house like this in the mountains must be very expensive, especially since it’s land in a tourist area… It’s really a luxury to use it only once a year.”

Asakawa Riku shook his head, still focused on the incident: "You said 'family reunion,' does that mean everyone attending this banquet is from their family?"

"Roughly speaking, that's how it is. Of course, there are also servants like me, chefs who prepare meals, and other staff who maintain the operation of the entire building. Actually, there are quite a few people. But of course, we can't sit at the banquet, so the only people who are nominally invited are Shinonome's family and relatives."

"In name only?" Asakawa Riku caught her subtle choice of words.

"Um……"

Xingyu hesitated for a moment, seemingly feeling that this was not a good thing to say, but considering that this matter was related to the young lady's life, and that she had promised to tell the whole story...

After a moment of silence, she said, "Alright, anyway, Asakawa-kun is an upright person and shouldn't spread rumors. In fact, the guests at this year-end party are not only relatives of the Shinonome family, but also some social celebrities and famous people. Actually, you can't be kept in the dark about this. You will see many big shots who are often on TV there."

I see… Asakawa Riku wisely refrained from pressing the matter further.

The interactions between chaebols and various sectors of society are ostensibly family gatherings, but in reality, they are marketplaces for fame and fortune, and one might even encounter important figures from the political world.

Sure enough, this matter is not easy to spread.

"And there's more." Once she started, she couldn't stop. Xingyu added, "Some spots are also awarded to employees, executives, and outstanding contributors of companies under the Dongyun Group. They consider this opportunity to attend the highest honor and desperately try to use it to climb the ranks and curry favor with the owners of this family business..."

"They acted like local tyrants."

Asakawa Riku retorted sarcastically without any mercy.

"Haha." Xingyu laughed and said, "Just pretend I didn't say any of that. That's roughly the situation."

"Couldn't you just refuse to go?"

Asakawa Riku asked, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

In his eyes, Higashion Suetsuki wasn't a lapdog who would kneel on the ground begging for food. Her status probably didn't require any more wealth. If she cared about these things, she wouldn't be running this makeshift detective agency. If someone like that knew there would be danger there, why couldn't she just ask for leave and not go?

“Of course Miss can’t not go!” Xingyu said in surprise, emphasizing, “Perhaps others crave an invitation, but some people have no choice but to go.”

"How so...?"

“That local tyrant… no, no, no, the patriarch of the family, Higashino Kosuke’s biological children.”

Xingyu was startled by her own unconscious words and quickly corrected herself. She straightened her posture slightly and spoke in a serious tone:

"He wants to review all his children's careers, achievements, changes, and future prospects over the past year, and then revise his new will every year. This is the most important part of the banquet."

"Miss, of course, is one of them too."

Winter of the Demons: Chapter Four: Desire and Motives

"Change your will? Change it every year?"

"Yes, after all, it's a huge business empire. How to inherit and divide it after the patriarch's death is also a headache."

Xingyu explained, "So every year he would gather his children to review their achievements and changes, and make changes according to different situations. Although the content was kept secret, only the lawyers hired by the family knew the content. After it was drafted, it was sent to the safe deposit box of the National Bank and sealed. It would be taken out again the following year to be discarded and rewritten, and this process was repeated continuously."

...He really is a local tyrant, Asakawa Riku felt more and more that he was absolutely right.

Over the years, he had heard the name of Dongyun Group in various places in his life, from electronic products to household appliances, from housing to vehicle manufacturing, from food and catering to luxury clothing. It seemed to permeate every aspect of life, and its ubiquitous product cluster was enough to prove that this "business empire" was by no means an exaggeration.

He couldn't remember whether the original world existed or not; it was probably only in this parallel world that he transmigrated to.

Inheriting such a massive asset appears to be an invisible business war, but in reality, it is a tangible bloody battle.

"I understand. So the risk of being killed that the detective encountered must be caused by this."

Asakawa Riku pointed to the words "change of will" that he had just written in his notebook.

Money is the devil, and a huge amount of money is the most reasonable motive for murder, even here.

he asks: