Chapter 58
Matsuda Jinpei's guess was correct; Kisaragi Chiyo indeed intended to seek help from Amuro Tooru.
In that so-called snowy night disappearance case at the mountain villa, the Exorcist was correct in saying the snowy night was created by an Evil Spirit, the police were equally correct in judging it to be man-made based on the traces at the scene.
Kisaragi Chiyo, combining the two vastly different reports with information provided by her friend, deduced that the primary cause of Kamiko Tomomi's disappearance was human intervention. As for whether the appearance of a monster was a case of collusion between humans and monsters or merely accidental, that would only be known once the monster responsible for creating that snow is found.
Kisaragi Chiyo personally leaned toward the latter, because in the other five reports regarding the disappearance, no entities related to [Snow] had appeared.
One must realize that yokai are impulsive creatures that act on whims, so conspiracies with humans are quite rare. However, it still cannot be ruled out that the other party is a shikigami being manipulated.
Kisaragi Chiyo stopped in front of Amuro Tooru's door. When she had checked in at the front desk earlier, she had caught a glimpse of the number on his room card.
302, this is the one.
Kisaragi Chiyo raised her hand and knocked three times on the door, neither too lightly nor too heavily, soon the sound of footsteps approached from within.
Coming!
The door was opened from the inside, a face with a bright, cheerful smile appeared from behind it.
"Kisaragi-kun." The blond man looked at him with eyes full of smiles, his purplish-gray eyes curving slightly, a perfect arc playing upon his lips—not a bit too enthusiastic, nor a bit too distant.
"Please, come in." Amuro Tooru opened the door and stepped aside to make way for Kisaragi Chiyo. His expression was kind and calm, as if he wasn't surprised at all by Kisaragi Chiyo's sudden visit.
"Thank you for having me." Kisaragi Chiyo nodded slightly as she stepped inside from the doorway. Since it was the same room type, the layout of the room was almost identical; the only difference was likely the view from the window.
Kisaragi Chiyo's room offered a view of vast maple forests from the window, providing an expansive vista with almost no buildings obstructing the scenery; it was likely the room with the best view on this floor.
*
The door was closed and locked, isolating the conversation from all outside noise. Two cups of hot tea sat on the low tea table used for receiving guests, looking as if they had been freshly brewed just moments ago, waiting for the expected guest to arrive and take a seat.
"It seems you aren't surprised by my interruption, Mr. Amuro?" Kisaragi Chiyo sat down opposite Amuro Tooru, holding the cup of hot tea in her hands, but having no intention of taking a single sip.
He lifted his eyelids and stared unblinkingly at the blond man opposite him, perhaps because of Hara Kenji and Matsuda Jinpei? He had a fairly good impression of the other man.
But that wasn't the real reason he would choose to seek a partnership with Amuro Tooru.
"Because I think that perhaps Kisaragi-kun and I have come to Gunma with the same purpose." Amuro Tooru's eyes gleamed with cunning as he gave Kisaragi Chiyo a wink, having no intention of beating around the bush.
"Missing persons cases." Amuro Tooru tapped his fingers on the table, as he mentioned the cases, the smile on his face faded slightly, his expression became more serious.
The reason I came to Gunma is because I was commissioned by a family member of one of the six missing persons involved in the disappearance cases.
"I see." Kisaragi Chiyo nodded understandingly, not feeling surprised upon hearing this answer. Isn't it quite normal for a detective to appear wherever there is a case?
"I came for Kamiko Tomomi." Kisaragi Chiyo made no attempt to hide her purpose; although that wasn't the only reason, she wasn't wrong to say so.
The daughter of the Kamiko Financial Group?" Amuro Tooru mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I see.. So it really was that heavy snowfall that drew you here, wasn't it?
As a qualified detective, Amuro Tooru did not reveal to Kisaragi Chiyo which specific missing person's family had commissioned him, but judging from her reaction, he could at least rule out the Kamiko family for now.
“The police are currently focusing all their efforts on searching for Kamiko Tomomi as well,” Amuro Tooru said with a smile. “After all, she is the daughter of the financial group.. Of course, as a target who has been missing for less than three days, Kamiko Tomomi has the highest survival rate among everyone, making her the most logical choice.”
Although Amuro Tooru's words were somewhat heartless, the police's current search objectives did indeed shift all their focus onto Kamiko Tomomi.
Large-scale manual searches and police dogs.. even helicopters were deployed to conduct extensive searches around the villa, but even now, not a single trace of Kamiko Tomomi had been found.
Kisaragi Chiyo did not think the police's actions were wrong. Although it might be difficult for the families of the other missing persons to accept, based on the mobile phones and some personal belongings found by the police, the other five missing persons might all have been murdered.
Of course, I'm not complaining," Amuro Tooru smiled again. "I can understand the police's actions.. but I still want to hear the reason why Kisaragi-kun would choose to come to me for cooperation.
Amuro Tooru tilted his head and looked at him, the curve of his drooping eyes occasionally reminding Kisaragi Chiyo of Hara Kenji, that clingy Evil Spirit who was so good at playing innocent.
“Do I need to show some sincerity first?” Kisaragi Chiyo looked down, staring indifferently at the tea in her hands. Since it was a tea bag, there was naturally no risk of the tea leaves standing upright.
"Because you are the most suitable and convenient choice." Kisaragi Chiyo had chosen Amuro Tooru solely because he was suitable and convenient.
"First of all, we know each other. While we wouldn't call it being close, we aren't strangers either." A little bit of trust is the foundation of cooperation. Kisaragi Chiyo lowered her head to take a sip of tea, the slightly bitter taste lingering on her taste buds.
“Secondly, you seem to have some knowledge of non-scientific events.” Therefore, there was no need to waste words explaining, he wouldn't be treated like a lunatic.
“Kisaragi-kun, you mean a monster, don't you?” Amuro Tooru let out a chuckle, looking like a fisherman who had seen a fish bite the hook. He pulled a newspaper from behind his back, which was the exact one featuring the report on the snowy night.
"Hmm.. while I'm more inclined to believe Kamiko Tomomi is human, a night of snow certainly has nothing to do with yokai." Kisaragi Chiyo's gaze fell upon that newspaper; it was obvious that the other party had done sufficient research, or perhaps the information held by Detective Amuro was not lagging behind his own.
"It seems Kisaragi-kun holds a friendly attitude toward evil spirits." After hearing Kisaragi Chiyo's words, Amuro Tooru gave him a meaningful look, a smile playing on the blond man's lips, looking like a fox full of mischief.
In that regard, the Mechano Family's stance is completely different.
So, was that a provocation?
Kisaragi Chiyo lowered her eyes and pondered for a few seconds, thinking that she should casually let Tada So off the hook a few times next time—of course, that would have to wait until this collaboration was over.
"I am myself, the Mechano Family is the Mechano Family," Kisaragi Chiyo replied with a calm expression and tone, showing absolutely no sign of the wicked plan brewing in her heart.
“You can view me and the Mechano Family as being in a cooperative or employment relationship, just like you and your client.”
Nozono Shizuka was indeed his friend, but more often than not, the head of the Mechano Family was the leader of the Exorcists.
"I understand what you mean, Kisaragi-kun." Amuro Tooru tactfully did not continue with this topic.
After testing the waters slightly, Amuro Tooru began to share the intelligence he had obtained with Kisaragi Chiyo.
"Since you came here this time because of the Mechano Family, then you should know that the Kamiko Financial Group received a ransom fax for an amount as high as one billion at three o'clock this morning." Amuro Tooru leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped together; although he spoke with a smile, it involuntarily gave people a sense of pressure.
I know about this." Kisaragi Chiyo set down the teacup in her hands and let out a soft sigh. "This is also what makes it different from the other five disappearance cases.
It is a good thing that the culprit has a motive; at the very least, it means that Kamiko Tomomi is still safe until he achieves his goal.
“But this gives me another suspicion.” As Kisaragi Chiyo spoke, her brow furrowed, she lowered her eyes, a slightly solemn expression appearing on her face.
“Oh?” Amuro Tooru also frowned, pressing his lips together as he recalled the differences between Kamiko Tomomi's case and the other five.
Rather, compared to the other missing person cases, Kamiko Tomomi's disappearance seemed even more normal.
Missing, Extortion, Kidnapping
While it might sound a bit strange to say, compared to other missing persons where only belongings can be found and nothing else, both the Kamiko Financial Group and the police felt a sense of relief once they received the ransom fax.
Having clues is better than disappearing completely.
"So, speaking of which, it seems like it has nothing to do with yokai?" Amuro Tooru curled his fingers against his chin, his gaze slowly shifting toward Kisaragi Chiyo.
“So, Kisaragi-kun, you mentioned earlier that you had another suspicion?” Amuro Tooru looked at him with interest. “What is it?”
Do you think there is any connection between these six cases?
Upon hearing this question, Amuro Tooru raised his hand and then lowered it, his brows furrowed deeply.
The places where the missing persons disappeared don't follow any specific pattern," Amuro Tooru said in a low voice. "Aside from the fact that the missing persons are all female tourists from outside, there are no other commonalities.
"At least, the police are currently treating Kamiko Tomomi's case separately from the other five," he said.
"But in terms of being female foreign tourists and leaving absolutely no traces, they are the same, right?" Kisaragi Chiyo raised her hands clad in black gloves, her movements slow and practiced as she formed a gesture.
Amuro Tooru recognized that it was the Fox Window.
Inside the window, those misty-gray eyes watched him quietly.
If a Yokai wants to cause trouble for humans, it won't make such clear distinctions, but humans will.
Humans can't completely hide a person's existence, but if it's a Yokai.." Amuro Tooru's voice was somewhat dry and raspy as he continued from Kisaragi Chiyo's words, "Can the humans who have been taken by Kamikakushi by a Yokai ever return?
Maybe, maybe not." Kisaragi Chiyo lowered her hands. "Don't get your hopes up too high.
"Then what do you need me to do?" Amuro Tooru asked.
The mountain villa where Kamiko Tomomi went missing is cordoned off by the police, I want to go inside and take a look.
This shouldn't be difficult for you, right?" Amuro Tooru raised an eyebrow. "After all, the Kamiko Financial Group commissioned the Mechano Family, since you were sent by them, you could easily get in just by explaining your identity.
That is not what you need to do." Kisaragi Chiyo finally stated her purpose for this visit. "You are Mori's disciple.. you ought to be a quite capable detective.
I will go find Kamiko Tomomi, at the same time, I hope you can bring the kidnapper to me before the police find him.
Oh?" Amuro Tooru narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why?
I have some things I want to ask that person.. about the Evil Spirit he controls.
“So we really can't escape the evil spirits after all?” Amuro Tooru pinched the bridge of his nose, a troubled expression appearing on his face.
I understand. If I can find that guy, I will bring him before you.
"But why do you think the police can find the culprit in such a short time?" Amuro Tooru asked, sounding somewhat puzzled. It wasn't that he looked down on the Gunma police. But then again, according to Kisaragi Chiyo's words, someone capable of controlling an Evil Spirit didn't seem like the type who could be easily found by ordinary people.
“Well,” Kisaragi Chiyo recalled the rumor she had heard from Miss Rika Maeda when she borrowed the newspaper just now.
Word has it that the Gunma police have brought in outside reinforcements.
"So.." Amuro Tooru blinked, looking confused.
He is a Nagano police officer with the nickname Zhuge Liang," Kisaragi Chiyo judged subjectively. "He sounds like quite a formidable character.
Amuro Tooru: ".."
I will do my best.
For some reason, Kisaragi Chiyo always felt that Amuro Tooru's expression looked a bit strained.
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Author's Note: Thanks to all the little angels for your support, muah 030
Chapter 59
Kisaragi Chiyo left quickly, saying she needed to make some preparations to search for Kamiko Tomomi.
Amuro Tooru didn't ask many questions. He saw his guest to the door, as he was about to close it, he suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from the other side of the hallway.
Peering through the crack in the door, he indeed saw that clever child named Conan Edogawa.
"It's certainly lively." Amuro Tooru watched the adult man who was chatting with Conan with his back turned to him; because he was catering to the child's height, the man was leaning forward with his hands resting on his knees.
Even without seeing his face, Amuro Tooru could guess the man's identity just from the muffled sound of his voice.
Morofushi Takaaki, the Nagano police officer known by the nickname Zhuge Liang that Kisaragi Chiyo had just mentioned.
"You've really landed me in a difficult situation." Amuro Tooru quietly observed the two figures, one large and one small, in the distant corridor. Before they could notice him, the door, which had been left slightly ajar, was firmly shut.
"What's wrong, Inspector Morofushi?" Conan watched Morofushi Takaaki's sudden turn of his head with curiosity. He looked past him, following the direction of the gaze toward the T-shaped corridor, but it appeared to be empty, with nothing particularly noteworthy in sight.