Chapter 15 : Jiang Lai - The Audience Has Arrived!
Winter nights always come quickly. The sunset struggles on the horizon as dusk's curtain slowly devours the light. Street lamps light up one by one, cold wind chills people to the bone, and there's hardly anyone on this street.
However, no matter how cold the wind sweeps through, it can't sober up the minds of several drunk thugs on the street.
They sway unsteadily, leaning in the alley, counting the scattered coins in their palms, mumbling: "What's going on... damn it, how did the money run out so fast..."
A red-haired thug heavily places his hand on his companion's shoulder: "Running out doesn't matter, let's go get some more! Kato-kun!"
"Go home to get it? Ah, that's quite a walk... and I don't know if my dad will give me money again. Last time he kicked me out. I'm his own son!" The youth called Kato hiccups and says.
"No need to go home." The red-haired thug waves his finger, grinning widely, his words slurred: "From the roadside, find, find someone... 'borrow' some money!" He deliberately emphasizes the word "borrow," indicating a meaning different from its original sense.
The cap-wearing man on the other side agrees, flicking his cap brim proudly: "I know this road well, no cameras on the street, and the person in charge at the nearby police station is my uncle. So..."
"Finding someone to 'borrow' from couldn't be more perfect!"
They look at each other and all laugh out loud.
At dusk, there are hardly any pedestrians on this road. Passing vehicles speed by without any sign of slowing down or stopping.
They crouch in the alley, becoming impatient after waiting less than a minute.
"Really, there's not even a ghost here, freezing to death. Might as well find a house to break into and grab something. I know there's a small house on the street ahead with an old man living alone. We could go there and take whatever we want."
"Still have to walk another street? ...Tch, fine, let's go... oh, someone's coming outside!!"
The cap-wearing thug is first to spot a pedestrian walking slowly outside!
The passerby is an ordinary black-haired youth with several soft strands of hair close to his temples, carrying a medium-sized shopping bag. He seems to have walked quite a distance, half-lowering his eyes, breathing slightly, exhaling white mist from his mouth.
He looks like the kind of weak office worker who sits at a desk all year and doesn't exercise much.
His left jacket pocket bulges slightly, with a corner of a brown wallet barely visible.
These features all reveal: this is a suitable target for easy action.
The thugs in the alley's faces gradually spread with smiles as they walk with swaying steps, speeding up to surround him.
The three aren't doing extortion for the first time, so their actions are naturally smooth. They spread out yet stay compact, forcefully blocking the black-haired youth's path.
After his forward path is blocked, this passerby finally stops walking.
"Hey, nice weather today, right?" The red-haired thug says casually while pressing forward step by step, forcing the target in front to move toward the nearby alley. "Since the weather's nice and we happened to meet... just right, we guys are a bit short on cash right now, how about you lend us some?"
Though the words are still somewhat polite, the red-haired thug's expression isn't friendly at all.
He holds his head high and proud like a big goose, his golden nose ring glinting in the remaining sunlight.
"Yeah yeah, meeting is fate, how about contributing some money for us to drink?"
Beside him, the one called Kato and the cap-wearing man speak casually while surrounding and forcing the black-haired passerby into the dimly lit alley.
The black-haired youth carrying the shopping bag doesn't speak. He retreats step by step, melting into the shadows deep in the alley. Only when his back hits the wall does he stop.
"Stop running back, obediently hand over your wallet, and we definitely won't make things difficult for you." The thug named Kato raises his voice, reaching forward, still reeking of alcohol. "Give money! Hurry!"
The black-haired youth... that is, Jiang Lai finally raises his face and smiles: "Why should I give it to you?"
"Hah? Why should you give it to me?" The thug named Kato picks at his ear, saying righteously: "Of course because we want to drink...!"
"Oh." Jiang Lai says. "But what does that have to do with me?"
"You..." The person named Kato seems angered by the calm attitude of the person in front, but alcohol's influence makes him mumble incoherently, unable to produce clear threatening words, only glaring with bloodshot eyes.
The red-haired thug beside pushes Kato aside, stepping forward menacingly, his voice fierce: "Cut the crap! If you don't want to get knifed, be smart and move fast!"
A finely crafted military-style folding knife appears in his hand, its sharp blade reflecting cold light. Quite threatening in appearance.
Facing the blade so close, Jiang Lai's warm brown eyes blink, looking unafraid. He tilts his head slightly, still making no move.
"Hey! Can't you hear!? Bastard!!" Feeling ignored, the red-haired thug roars, veins bulging on his neck.
"..." The black-haired youth lifts his eyes slightly, maintaining his demeanor, his expression one of calm composure, as if watching a farce currently playing.
"You're asking for death!!!" Enraged by this gaze, the red-haired thug's anger rises from his heart, his alcohol-impacted thinking driving him to swing his arm, thrusting the folding knife straight forward...!
The sound of cutting air lasts only an instant, but the expected sound of piercing cloth and penetrating flesh doesn't occur.
The folding knife thrust forward with force gets stuck in mid-air, its sharp tip stopping less than a centimeter from the body, unable to move any further!
As if an invisible barrier stands between them.
"Wh... what?" The knife-wielding thug is stunned for an instant. He grits his teeth, his arm trembling, stubbornly continuing to try piercing forward.
But the knife tip still hangs a centimeter in front of the black-haired youth, unable to advance.
How is this possible!? Are you kidding!? Kato and the cap-wearing man stare wide-eyed at the current scene.
The shock of this unbelievable scene makes the alcohol in their heads dissipate considerably. They all stare with wide eyes, hearts pounding like drums.
In front, Jiang Lai calmly raises his hand with an indifferent expression, gripping the red-haired thug's knife-holding wrist in reverse.
Contrary to his earlier weak appearance is the instant strength when he grabs the other's wrist!
"Hisss...!!!" The red-haired thug, stimulated by pain and tension, instinctively loosens his grip. The metal folding knife falls to the ground with a crisp clang, like striking the heart.
A gust of wind suddenly blows through, carrying winter's cold air up their pant legs and into their sleeves, making Kato and the cap-wearing man behind feel chilled throughout.
...Or perhaps the reason for feeling cold all over isn't the wind.
They both stagger back two steps, with a vague tendency to flee.
The black-haired youth in front curves his lips in a smile, the hunter removing the prey's skin.
"Why run?" he says softly.
Jiang Lai, who once handled Black Organization missions in the Detective Conan world with ease, though essentially a technical professional, naturally has considerable combat ability.
Dealing with three drunk street thugs with some weapons poses no problem for him at all.
After creating the basic suspension scene, Jiang Lai immediately strikes without hesitation, cleanly taking down the three in front... at tongue-clicking speed.
Naturally he doesn't kill, but a merciless beating is unavoidable. Jiang Lai never shows mercy to this kind of social scum who bullies the weak and fears the strong.
As for whether these three will report to police... Jiang Lai isn't worried internally.
They were the ones who robbed and attacked first. Moreover, judging from their earlier behavior, these three are terrified of his supernatural suspension performance. They'll probably crawl away and run after he leaves, not caring about reporting to police.
After running away, they'll probably feel uneasy inside, worried the black-haired youth might come back for revenge when in a bad mood.
Besides, this street has no surveillance to begin with. Even if there were, Jiang Lai is confident he can perfectly erase nearby camera records without leaving traces of his presence.
In short, Detective Conan mission handling experience is very rich.
"The suspension just now was very timely." Jiang Lai doesn't forget to pick up his shopping bag, telling the ghost gentleman beside him: "Thank you."
Their conversation is very quiet, basically only audible to each other.
"Professional duty." Fushiguro Toji lazily answers, then says with unclear meaning: "...But you do trust me, not afraid I'd let go at the last moment?"
"You're naturally a competent bounty hunter." Jiang Lai first gives a surface compliment, then says calmly: "You don't do unprofitable and meaningless things. Letting me get hurt obviously has no benefit for you."
The ghost gentleman snorts with laughter, somewhat acknowledging Jiang Lai's words.
He floats to the side, leisurely changing the topic, commenting: "Accurate striking force, also very fast. Looks like an expert."
"Mm." Jiang Lai responds simply, not revealing much personal experience here.
He's still looking down organizing the items in his shopping bag, accidentally kicking during the takedown of those three.
After simple organization, Jiang Lai casually laughs: "Thanks to your good cooperation too, right?"
However this time, Fushiguro Toji doesn't respond, his gaze staring straight ahead.
Jiang Lai seems able to sense something from this sudden atmospheric change. He shifts his attention from his shopping bag, adjusts his expression, and looks ahead with natural composure like the ghost gentleman beside him.
Beyond the extending shadows, at the alley entrance, stands a familiar figure. The last trace of golden red from the setting sun coats the sea urchin-haired youth.
He carries a backpack, his expression unclear in the backlighting, only glimpsing lips pressed into a straight line.
It's Fushiguro Megumi.