books44 Chapter 319 Isn't disappearing into the shadows just a form of abduction?
Chapter 319 Isn't disappearing into the shadows just a form of abduction?
"Ha!" Kogoro Mori clenched the creases in his trousers, laughing angrily, "...I see, I understand what you mean."
This bastard, while showing off his theories, also admitted to a fact—over the years, he has been deliberately condoning residents' propaganda attacks against the Fan Ze family by abusing his position as a police officer!
Reality awakened faded memories. Staring intently at him, countless faces of his colleagues flashed before Mori's eyes, familiar as an electric current, sending chills down his spine.
'Tsk! I've finally remembered this annoying fact: yes, detectives are just human after all!'
People who choose the police force always have a more steadfast pursuit.
As he rose to become a top-tier officer, he inevitably came into contact with many different people. Some joined for their own sense of justice, while others joined for fame, salary, and career advancement; but there were also those who, driven by a desire for revenge or judgment, donned the police uniform with endless malice towards criminals.
Seeing that he no longer argued, Nitian thought he had won over another person and smugly wiped the tip of his nose:
"Ha, since there are no doubts, I hope you can bring this father and son to justice as swiftly as you did back then!"
"Like back then?"
"Oh right, you haven't seen his father's file yet."
Nitian turned around and took out an old file folder from his most convenient right rear side. The opening of the folder was worn from being opened and closed so often.
"His father's case was similar; he almost escaped punishment with a perfect crime, but luckily a young detective who happened to be passing by helped solve the case and bring him to justice. That kind of righteous indignation is what young people should have!"
That high school detective was quite a celebrity, known as the Sherlock Holmes of the Heisei era. I think his name was something like Kou, Kou...
"...Shinichi Kudo?"
...
The cigarette pack was thrown high into the clear sky. The unsealed lid flipped open at the top, and in an instant, the cigarettes scattered all over the ground, just like the clues he had collected.
"what."
Kuromon and Hanzawa, who were chatting while leaning against the torii gate pillar of the shrine, rushed over to help repack the cigarettes.
Kuromon Haruya: "Mr. Mori, did you not get enough rest last night? I heard that the shrine's bells have a refreshing effect. Why don't you join us?"
He took it with a pause, squinted his eyebrows, yawned, and secretly glanced between the two of them: "Hey, it's nothing! I just watched a few more of Ms. Yoko's videotapes!"
Since Kuromon and Hanzawa Masato are so close, would he know what Kudo Shinichi means to the latter?
Today is the fourth day since he arrived in Izumo. As time goes by, Kogoro Mouri's feelings become more and more complicated, as if the words on yesterday's case file are still vivid in his mind.
Ironically, just yesterday he was vehemently accusing Nida of being prejudiced, but today, after waking up, he found that his suspicions about "Hanze's motives for approaching the agency" lingered. That's why he seemed so uninterested.
He waved to them, brushed the ash off his cigarette, and walked toward the convenience store: "Besides, with so many young people being all lovey-dovey, having an elder around would only make things awkward. I'd better not make a fool of myself!"
"Oh ho ho ho ho!"
Before the words were finished, a laugh in the tone of a noble young lady flew out from behind. Sonoko raised her hands high, dancing a construction site version of the Four Little Swans while waving a fortune slip:
"Great fortune! As expected, I, Suzuki Sonoko, am a beauty protected by eight million gods!"
"Miss Sonoko is like a goddess descended from heaven!"
Before anyone else could react, Asahi Narumi clapped enthusiastically, leaving the emotionally inept Makoto Kyogoku looking livid.
Click.
Kuromon Haruya pressed the shutter, capturing a picture of Kyogoku Makoto, the rare animal whom Gin-sama personally instructed him to pay attention to last night, a picture of him as a loser.
"Kuromon-kun." His calves felt heavy. "Why did you take so many pictures of Kyogoku-nii?"
With a steady grip on the viewfinder, Haruya Kuromon circled her fingertips on the shutter button, revealing a mysterious smile: "Because I used love divination last night and found out that he is Sonoko's destined love."
[Gin: Focus on observing Makoto Kyogoku, gather relevant intelligence, and identify his weaknesses.]
What is more vulnerable to human weakness than love?
"Huh, divination?" A clear female voice suddenly interrupted. Kuromonji Shizuka, who had appeared behind them unnoticed, her eyes sparkling, "The head of the family actually knows divination? Could it be that our ancestors were great Onmyoji?!"
She and her younger brother, Kuromonji Akatsuki, walked out from the depths of the shrine, their wooden clogs making a series of crisp "clattering" sounds as they stepped on the stone steps.
"Most likely not." Kuromon Haruya ignored her disappointed expression: "Miss Shizuka, are you here to pay your respects too?"
"By the way," Kuromonji Shizuka waved her hand, "I mainly wanted to find the head priest to research a topic. Some shrines preserve local clan records, just like our family used to. I came to ask if there are any versions that have been passed down here."
“Any results?”
"We couldn't find the family genealogy, but we did hear about several cases of people disappearing from sight in the Izumo region."
"The disappearance incident?!" For some reason, Master Fanze's reaction was unusually strong.
“My friend is quite afraid of ghosts.” Receiving her questioning look, Kuromon Haruya nodded encouragingly: “Go on.”
"Izumo has been the dwelling place of gods since ancient times. There are many mountains and forests nearby, so there have been rumors of gods disappearing since thousands of years ago. However, with the development of technology and the advent of modern times, there have been far fewer rumors."
The most recent incident occurred ■■ years ago, in the month of Kamiyuzuki, which is October in Izumo. It took place at a prison halfway up a mountain in the city, coinciding with a rare storm that caused a mudslide, resulting in the collapse of part of the prison walls and the escape of some inmates…”
"The escaped prisoner was never found?"
"No." Turning her eyes to look around, Kuromonji Shizuka deliberately leaned down and lowered her voice as if afraid of being overheard. "On the contrary, most of the escaped prisoners have been caught. The only missing person is the one who did not take the opportunity to escape."
"What's his name?" Fan Ze pressed.
“I don’t know the specifics either.” Kuromonji Shizuka shook her head helplessly. “It was only yesterday, when the abbot was worried about our safety and advised us to stay because we were interviewing too late, that he mentioned it. Speaking of which, the abbot here is such a kind person!”
"Haha! I'm very pleased to meet a young man interested in Shinto." A hearty laugh rang out as an elderly abbot, his hair and beard white, strolled over with a graceful gait. "I am the abbot here, my Dharma name is Mo Shou..."
The words abruptly stopped. The old abbot's cloudy eyes suddenly widened, his gaze fixed intently on Kuromon Haruya.
Before anyone could react, he strode forward with lightning speed, grabbing the latter's hands and caressing them with a lewd, almost predatory, urge.
"This benefactor possesses extraordinary spiritual energy. Have you ever considered entering the priesthood? With such talent, given time, you will surely become the most outstanding priest of our time!"
Kuromon Haruya asked uncertainly, "Are you talking about me?"
"Yup!"
Kuromon Haruya slowly narrowed his eyes, a hint of amusement flashing across his face: Interesting.
Is this for real? Making a great demon their subordinate? Are Japanese gods really that arrogant now?