It was a rare opportunity, using her dental appointment to create a chance to pull off a switcheroo and commit murder. Giving up now would mean not knowing when the next chance would come.
Shimabukuro Kimie felt this wouldn't do, so she said, "Saori, you're just too nervous. I already told you, the Dugong's Arrow doesn't have a curse. That's just an excuse I made up to scare those who got the arrow but didn't gain the power... There's really no such thing as bad luck if you lose it or doubt its power."
"How can you say that?!"
Kadowaki Saori clearly didn't believe Shimabukuro Kimie's explanation. She said excitedly, "You must know about the incident three years ago, right? In that burned-down warehouse, there were mermaid bones!"
Shimabukuro Kimie's expression froze at that, and a hint of killing intent flickered in her eyes.
Even though she already knew the truth and was prepared for revenge, hearing the other person bring up the incident from three years ago again still made her feel a suffocating, irritated sensation.
"I also investigated the incident on your island from three years ago."
Fujino suddenly interrupted then. "It was a skeleton without lower limbs, right? Called the remains of a mermaid."
"Exactly!"
Kadowaki Saori said seriously, "That was definitely a miracle from a mermaid!"
"But how can you be so sure it was a mermaid..."
Fujino narrowed his eyes slightly. "After all, it could have been an ordinary tourist who went into the warehouse, accidentally started a fire, and their lower body was crushed by falling beams or something. How can you be so certain it was a mermaid?"
"How can I not be sure, but I..."
Kadowaki Saori wanted to say more, but after thinking for a moment, she stopped.
She remembered that the person was supposed to be a consultant for the Metropolitan Police.
It wouldn't be appropriate if she mentioned setting the fire three years ago after getting drunk and burning the "mermaid" to death.
If he took it seriously, she might even end up in jail.
On the other side, Shimabukuro Kimie looked at Fujino in surprise, feeling as if he was testing Kadowaki Saori...
No way...
It seemed a bit too much of a coincidence to just hear those two sentences.
But if it were a famous detective, she felt it might actually be possible.
Had he already discovered that Kadowaki Saori had set the fire?
Shimabukuro Kimie suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
If that were the case, wouldn't her plan fall apart even more?
Although she was reluctant, she gritted her teeth and tried to smooth things over. "Detective Fujino is right. The police also said it was probably just someone who was resentful about not getting a Dugong's Arrow and went to the warehouse to look for backup arrows, accidentally causing the fire."
"But..."
"Alright, Miss Saori, I think I understand your situation now."
Kadowaki Saori still wanted to say something to insist that mermaids did exist, but she was interrupted by Fujino. "Fifty-thousand Yen to find the Dugong's Arrow, I accept this request. Aside from the previous deposit, you just need to pay the remaining forty-five thousand Yen in full now."
Fujino took the mobile POS machine out of his pocket. "After payment, I will start investigating the case. However, there are some things I need to state beforehand."
"State beforehand?"
Kadowaki Saori was taken aback, but then she thought about it and realized that in a proper situation, there should indeed be such a point. She nodded. "Go ahead."
"It's like this: my request is only to find the Dugong's Arrow. If the Dugong's Arrow is damaged, I am not responsible. If the Dugong's Arrow was stolen, then I will find the thief. As for retrieving the arrow, you will have to do that yourself..."
Fujino skillfully handed the mobile POS machine to her. "That's basically it. I'll write it in the contract later. If you think it's okay, after paying the commission fee, we can sign the contract... By the way, we support mobile payment here."
Fujino still felt that the 50,000 Yen price was a bit low.
But it was just a request to find something.
If he charged too much, it would be a bit excessive...
Even though the other person was a scoundrel, he couldn't openly act like one.
On the other side, Kadowaki Saori seemed a little hesitant about the preliminary conditions.
After all, her goal was to retrieve the Dugong's Arrow to avoid being killed by a mermaid.
But if the arrow she found was broken, then essentially, it was no different from not finding it at all.
However, she changed her mind, swiped her card, and signed the contract in one smooth motion.
If the Dugong's Arrow was already broken, it was broken; she had no choice.
It was better to hope it wasn't broken now.
After all, even she couldn't guarantee the current state of the Dugong's Arrow.
Helplessly, she could only try to make the best of a bad situation.
"So, when can you go to the island to investigate?"
After signing the contract, Kadowaki Saori remembered this and asked Fujino.
"Regarding the time, let's say the day after tomorrow, or the day after that."
Fujino pondered. "I have a very important matter to attend to tomorrow, so I can't go to the island yet..."
"Huh?!"
Kadowaki Saori was stunned, then quickly said, "I'm about to be killed by a mermaid, are you kidding me?! And I've already paid the commission fee, why do I have to wait so long?!"
Shimabukuro Kimie was also surprised, but felt relieved in her heart.
"That can't be helped. After all, everything needs to be done on a first-come, first-served basis... That person is also a client, and their request is also a matter of life and death."
Fujino shook his head regretfully. "If Miss Kadowaki feels this is inconvenient, this request can be canceled... You can find other detectives."
"Alright, Saori."
At this point, Shimabukuro Kimie's attitude began to change. "Anyway, it's just waiting one or two days. Nothing will happen in these two days."
"Uh..."
Kadowaki Saori looked at the two of them, feeling somewhat bewildered.
Just a moment ago, Kimie thought the other person was black-hearted.
Now she was actually speaking up for him.
What's going on...?
However, after thinking about it for a moment, Kadowaki Saori still agreed to Fujino investigating the day after tomorrow.
After confirming the details, Kadowaki Saori and Shimabukuro Kimie left the detective agency, planning to take the Shinkansen back from Beika Station and catch the last ferry.
In front of Beika Station.
"Kimie, why did you speak up for that detective just now?"
Kadowaki Saori asked Shimabukuro Kimie beside her with a hint of resentment.
"What he said is right, though."
Shimabukuro Kimie smiled. "After all, everything has to be first-come, first-served, and things like mermaids are just legends."
"Huh... could it be that you're interested in him?"
Kadowaki Saori clearly didn't believe that. "But that's fine... If things can't move faster here, we'll just have to rely on the other two."
Hearing that, Shimabukuro Kimie was startled. "The other two?"
"Yeah, besides him, I also hired two other detectives, but they're high school detectives. A friend who lives next door recommended them to me."
Kadowaki Saori nodded and said truthfully.
Strictly speaking, this time she had hired three detectives: Fujino Touji, and two others recommended by her good friend, Kudo Shinichi and Hattori Heiji.
As for why she sought out Fujino...
She simply believed that a famous detective with an impressive track record who professionally took on cases would definitely be more professional than the other two high school detectives.
She hadn't seen reports about Kudo Shinichi in a long time, and Hattori Heiji was clearly not as good as Fujino.
She had one million Yen on hand, expecting to pay Fujino 500,000 Yen and Kudo Shinichi or Hattori Heiji 250,000 Yen each.
Everything was for the sake of being prepared.
It was just that this detective was busy now, so she would have to wait for responses from the other two.
If neither of them responded, then she could only rely on Fujino.
"I wonder if we can still catch the ferry back..."
Shimabukuro Kimie raised her wrist to look at the time on her watch. "If we miss it, we'll probably have to stay outside for the night."
"We should be able to make it, right?"
Kadowaki Saori didn't seem to be in a hurry. "Though staying off the island for a few days wouldn't be so bad either..."
"Are you still worried about that?"
Shimabukuro Kimie looked at her speechlessly, not knowing what to say.
If she said she was worried about the mermaid, it might sound a bit silly.
But then again, she did want to kill the other person.
This series of events had indeed caused her considerable trouble.
Three detectives, plus heightened vigilance.
If things continued like this, executing her murder plan might be difficult.
After all, the core premise of her murder plan was to kill the other person on the island.
"Actually, you don't need to worry too much, even if..."
But before she could finish speaking, she noticed something was wrong.
The latest novel is released first on 69...!!
Turning her head, she saw a "black figure" who had somehow knocked out Kadowaki Saori, who had just been talking to her, and was now supporting her body in a mysterious posture.
Shimabukuro Kimie: "..."
Black Figure: "..."
The two of them looked at each other.
The scene instantly became awkward.
All that was missing was some weird background music.
"?"
Shimabukuro Kimie looked at the "black figure," then at her 'good friend' being carried on his shoulder. She tilted her head, a big question mark appearing in her small eyes.
The "black figure" didn't panic, just silently stared back at Shimabukuro Kimie.
"Leave it to me, young lady!"
A moment later, the "black figure" left behind a meaningful sentence, and then, carrying Kadowaki Saori, he ran off at full speed.
Shimabukuro Kimie: "..."
She watched the receding "black figure," completely confused about what had happened.
A moment later, snapping back to reality, she realized a fact.
Kadowaki Saori had been kidnapped!
That's right, just like that, kidnapped in broad daylight...
She had heard that the crime rate in Beika was a bit high.
But had it become this blatant?
Kidnapped in broad daylight, and the kidnapper was...
A "black figure"?
A "black figure" whose face you couldn't see, but was completely black?
And he was bald...
So, what exactly was going on?
And that line, "Leave it to me, young lady!"
Why did it feel a bit chuunibyou?
Shimabukuro Kimie stood there, bewildered again.
...
Her 'good friend' being kidnapped was something she definitely couldn't ignore.
Shimabukuro Kimie immediately called the police.
Even though she wanted to kill the other person, they had come out together, and if she suddenly went missing due to kidnapping, she would certainly be held responsible.
"So, the person who kidnapped your companion was someone completely black?"
Sato Miwako sat in a chair in the Metropolitan Police reception room, wearing her usual suit uniform, and asked Shimabukuro Kimie.
"Yes, just as we were about to leave Beika."
Shimabukuro Kimie nodded seriously. "It was someone who was completely black, whose face I couldn't see, with strange eyes showing. He even looked at me when he was kidnapping her."
"..."
Sato Miwako raised her eyebrows at that and continued to ask, "Are you sure it was someone completely black? No other physical characteristics?"
"Physical characteristics..."
She thought for a moment and continued, "He was bald."
Sato Miwako: "..."
The black figure is bald.
What kind of characteristic is that?
"Well?"
Sato Miwako turned to the sketch artist Shikawa beside her and asked, "Can you get a criminal profile from the description?"
"Hmm... ahem."
Shikawa impolitely held back a laugh, then handed the sketchpad to Sato Miwako. "Based on Miss Kimie's description, it's roughly like this."
"..."
Sato Miwako took the sketchpad and was also stunned. "Is this it?"
"Yes!"
Kimie pointed at the drawing and confirmed, "He's the one who kidnapped Saori."
Sato Miwako looked at the "black figure" on the sketchpad and fell into deep thought.
It wasn't that there was no information at all, but there wasn't much *useful* information.
These "black figures," no matter how you looked at them, seemed like strange characters from a manga, didn't they?
Looking at the "black figure" in the drawing, Sato Miwako couldn't help but let a slight smile creep onto her lips.
A bald "black figure" carrying someone and running off in broad daylight.
You couldn't say it was unbelievable, just a bit too comical.
"Are you two laughing?"
Kimie saw the strange expressions on their faces and asked, confused.
"No!"
Sato Miwako quickly straightened her face and shook her head repeatedly. "We have professional integrity."
Yes, as police officers with professional integrity, they would absolutely not laugh.
Unless they couldn't help it.
"In that case, Miss Kimie, please wait a moment. I'll go and look at the sketches from other witnesses to see if we can match anything useful."
Sato Miwako said dismissively, then took the drawing and left the reception room. Taking a deep breath, she happened to run into Fujino, who was also coming out with drawings and Inspector Megure Juzo. She showed them her drawing. "Inspector, Consultant, how did things go on your end...? I couldn't get anything useful here. She just said it was someone completely black..."
"Same here."
Inspector Megure Juzo seemed much calmer. He held up his drawing and said seriously, "The same characteristics, completely black."
Sato Miwako: "..."
So the criminal who kidnapped a young woman in broad daylight was actually a "black figure"?
When "Beika Batman" first appeared, she thought things were already unbelievable enough.
Actually, that one was alright, at least he helped alleviate some of their workload...
But now, a "black figure" kidnapping women in broad daylight had appeared.
She sighed slightly.
It felt like Beika was getting more and more chaotic.
(End of chapter)