Chapter 230: Questions

Translator's Note: Merry Christmas to all readers! I hope you spend this time happily with your loved ones. I know there are some mistakes in grammar or names, and I've recently realized I wasn't paying much attention to gender (a habit from reading Wuxia). I'm doing my best to correct what I can, so if you spot any errors, feel free to comment on them.

Today, only 5 chapters! :p

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The next day, March 26th.

The day before the official opening of the exhibition.

When Akikawa Kyousuke arrived at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center, he noticed that the atmosphere at the venue was no different from the previous two days.

The staff on-site were just like yesterday and the day before—each busy with their tasks.

And there was no police presence at the Tokyo Big Sight venue.

Around ten in the morning, the guests invited for the interview gathered once more to prepare for the final rehearsal.

But today was different from the previous two days.

The new department head and successor of Tsukino Company, Takashi Tsukino, who had been absent from the rehearsals, arrived at the venue.

However, he looked different from what had been seen on television in the past two days.

Takashi Tsukino seemed somewhat haggard and lacked energy today.

He was also wearing a mask.

"Mr. Tsukino, are you feeling well?"

The host, Haruna Nakamura, looked at Takashi Tsukino with some concern and asked.

"I'm fine. That damned Kaitou Kid has kept me from resting properly these past two days, and now I've caught a cold. Cough!"

A muffled cough sounded from under Takashi Tsukino's mask.

Although he appeared a bit worn down, his energy surged when he mentioned Kaitou Kid.

"Mr. Tsukino, I think you should rest properly at home."

"Since Kaitou Kid won't show up until tomorrow, you should take the opportunity to recover your strength today!"

Rin Seto, a third-year student, also spoke with concern.

Takashi Tsukino waved his hand, signaling that he was fine.

Immediately after, he took the initiative to walk to the table and sat in the front-center position.

Haruna Nakamura and Kenichi Matsumoto sat on either side of Takashi Tsukino.

This seating arrangement had been decided from the start.

As the organizer of this exhibition, Takashi Tsukino was also the person most familiar with the "Heart of Scarlet Shadow" gemstone.

It made sense for him to sit in the center.

The main guests took their seats, while Akikawa Kyousuke and the other secondary guests returned to their seats in the back.

The rehearsal officially began.

With Takashi Tsukino's participation, the host's order of questions changed slightly.

Even though Tsukino had barely participated in the rehearsals, he could fluently share the history of the displayed collection when Haruna Nakamura asked about it.

Rin Seto, the junior student, and Toru Amuro, an employee at a luxury store, received many questions from Haruna Nakamura, just like the previous days.

Meanwhile, Akikawa Kyousuke, who served more as a background figure and had no relevant expertise, interacted with Haruna Nakamura only twice in the morning.

Two hours passed quickly.

Soon, it was time for lunch.

Akikawa Kyousuke accepted Toru Amuro's lunch invitation, just as he had the past two days.

After ordering their meals and waiting for them to arrive, Toru Amuro once again struck up a conversation with Akikawa Kyousuke.

"Akikawa-kun, do you always eat so little at lunchtime?"

"As an artist, I feel like my physique should be well-proportioned to look better," Toru Amuro said.

"I'm not in good health, so I can't eat much," Akikawa Kyousuke told him.

"I see. That's really unfortunate."

A slightly surprised expression appeared on Toru Amuro's face, and he quickly apologized to Akikawa Kyousuke.

"By the way, I always feel that Akikawa-kun is a bit different from other young artists."

"Other young artists seem to spend most of their time participating in various events and programs, or singing and acting to attract young fans."

"But Akikawa-kun, you're involved in this type of work with very little exposure.

I think, with your appearance, Akikawa-kun, it wouldn't be hard to get those jobs, right?" Toru Amuro asked.

"I've participated in such events before, but I've been really unlucky. Every time I work, I seem to encounter a murder case, so gradually, I stopped getting good jobs."

Akikawa Kyousuke made a helpless expression and sighed softly.

"A murder case?!"

A look of horror briefly appeared on Toru Amuro's face.

However, this expression of surprise didn't stay for long; it vanished almost instantly.

In fact, Toru Amuro already knew these details, but when facing Akikawa Kyousuke, he deliberately acted as though he were hearing them for the first time.

Akikawa Kyousuke continued, prompted by Toru Amuro's reaction:

"For example, during my first job, a fellow artist grew jealous and tried to frame me for murder after committing the crime themselves.

If Detective Mouri and Detective Sera hadn't been there at the time, I might have been accused as the murderer."

"That really happened?" Toru Amuro said in surprise. "So, Akikawa-kun, have you experienced this kind of thing multiple times? That's incredible!"

"Yes, there was also a time in Hong Kong when a doctor I didn't even know almost killed me during a film exhibition."

"What happened next?"

"When I was about to seek help, Miss Yoko stopped me and suddenly intervened. Later, I learned the doctor had been murdered."

"That's quite something," Toru Amuro said, his face filled with amazement.

At that moment, their ordered meals were served.

Akikawa Kyousuke picked up his chopsticks and stopped looking directly at Toru Amuro.

As he focused on the food on his plate, he picked up a piece of tomato.

"By the way, Mr. Amuro, are you working another job?"

Akikawa Kyousuke asked casually.

Toru Amuro was slightly surprised by the question.

But he soon noticed that Akikawa Kyousuke didn't meet his eyes when he asked, instead keeping his attention on the food on his plate.

It seemed Akikawa Kyousuke wasn't trying to gauge his reaction for lies.

However, Toru Amuro knew that Kyousuke's perceptiveness was far from ordinary.

Even so, Toru Amuro remained vigilant.

"I have more than one part-time job. How did Akikawa-kun figure that out?"

Toru Amuro didn't deny Akikawa Kyousuke's claim; instead, he asked in return.

"When Mr. Amuro suggested I eat more, I noticed your well-built physique—it seems like you exercise regularly."

"My physique is simply due to regular workouts; it has nothing to do with any other jobs I might have," Toru Amuro said with a smile.

"In addition to working at a luxury store, I also work part-time at a café."

"If Akikawa-kun ever visits, I could prepare you a sandwich."

Toru Amuro didn't deny the question outright.

For information that could be easily verified, hiding it deliberately would only make others suspicious.

Sometimes, revealing a bit of truth makes people trust you more.

As for his identity as a police officer and undercover agent for the organization, that was something Akikawa Kyousuke could never know.

"Is that so? Thank you very much!"

Akikawa Kyousuke thanked Toru Amuro, a surprised expression on his face.

He then picked up a piece of meat with his fork and put it in his mouth.

(End of the Chapter)