Chapter 214
Usuha Izuki held his phone and pondered for a moment.
Someone calling him at this time... First, he ruled out illegal organizations and legitimate yakuza organizations.
Such organizations were quite cautious. Even if they wanted to recruit, they'd wait a while to see his next moves, wait for someone to test the waters and observe his attitude. They wouldn't be this impatient.
Moreover, his phone number wasn't something just anyone could easily obtain. He'd worked at Criminal Investigation Division One for two years, and not even every colleague had his contact information. If someone wanted to trace it, they could always find the source. That meant whoever was recruiting him now was at least an organization that could be explained on the surface.
However, although Usuha Izuki had his guesses, it didn't stop him from continuing to act.
Usuha Izuki directly stated the most impossible option: "Sumiyoshi Group?"
The other side: "...No, I..."
"FBI?"
The other side: "Also not..."
What was wrong with this guy?! Why was his first reaction to recruitment these organizations?!
You could have at least guessed Japanese Public Security!
Although he'd always known Samukawa Shinryu's situation was quite delicate with plenty of rumors surrounding him, only after real contact did he discover that those rumors definitely couldn't exist without Samukawa Shinryu's own efforts!
If Samukawa Shinryu had guessed Japanese Public Security first, he wouldn't feel this awkward!
He couldn't let the other party continue guessing, or his worldview might not survive. The caller quickly seized the conversational gap to introduce himself.
"I'm Kumano Yasunori. I was also a detective in Criminal Investigation Division One before, but like you, I resigned a few years ago. Now I've opened an investigation company and become a private detective."
This former Criminal Investigation Division One elite detective showed some pride when he reached this point.
"I've heard about Samukawa-kun's achievements before and deeply admire them. I just considered that while you were still a detective, it wouldn't be appropriate to mention invitations... Now hearing that Samukawa-kun chose to resign at such a young age, I imagine you might not quite fit with some of the Metropolitan Police's rules. But your talents would be too wasted in other work, so why not consider my company... I've achieved some success in the industry. Samukawa-kun can inquire about me—perhaps my place would suit you better than the Metropolitan Police."
"Mm, I understand." Usuha Izuki responded coolly, like an HR person facing hundreds of resumes daily confronted with new self-recommendations, emphasizing indifference.
However, former detective Kumano Yasunori didn't mind his attitude. He chatted maturely for a few sentences without more nonsense and hung up straightforwardly.
System: [A former detective turned private investigator. Speaking of which, Mouri Kogoro is the same—stopped being a detective and became a private investigator... No wonder this world has so many detectives.]
Usuha Izuki: [Actually I considered whether to become a detective after resigning... Being an advisor doesn't affect part-time work either. Why don't I go check it out?]
He had no intention of accepting, but was quite interested in referencing this senior's operations.
But who was this person? Actually being the first to come recruit him—was he that confident?
If he was a company president, could he be a murder victim from some episode? After all, company presidents in this world had a somewhat high mortality rate... But he had no impression at all.
Usuha Izuki called Inspector Megure with some confusion to inquire.
Yes, although he'd played disappearing and made his former superior Inspector Megure anxious, when he encountered something, he'd still righteously seek out Inspector Megure for intelligence.
Inspector Megure was first delighted to receive the call: "Samukawa-kun! Have you decided so quickly?"
The suspicion that he might not accept the advisor position could indeed farm some suspicion value, but so little it was negligible. Usuha Izuki was too lazy to spend effort on it, so he was somewhat honest: "More or less, but I'm not calling about that this time."
Inspector Megure was stunned, then his expression became serious and his voice lowered: "Samukawa-kun, have you encountered another case?"
Samukawa Shinryu could encounter strange cases even during work hours. Now that he'd resigned and was outside, without his police identity, he might encounter even more troublesome situations...
Inspector Megure was already prepared to rescue him.
So you see, if Samukawa Shinryu came back as an advisor, he'd still be police, making it more convenient to handle such troubles!
Fortunately, Usuha Izuki quickly explained: "No, I wanted to ask if you know someone named Kumano Yasunori?"
"Oh, Kumano. I do know him..." Inspector Megure said halfway before suddenly understanding: "Wait, did he recruit you to join his company?"
"Yes."
Without needing Usuha Izuki to ask more, Inspector Megure began worriedly explaining: "Kumano... When he was a police officer, he did quite well. He was best at reading micro-expressions, and if he wanted to get along with someone, few people would dislike him. But after his wife died, his personality became extreme. Fortunately he realized the problem and chose to resign before causing trouble, then opened that investigation company to do private detective work."
Up to this point, it was just a normal process of detective career change, nothing particularly worrying.
But then Inspector Megure began revealing more: "It's not that I want to speak ill of others, but Kumano... he's really gone astray."
Inspector Megure tactfully described what Kumano Yasunori had done after resigning.
Simply put, he had no professional ethics.
For example, when a politician's wife commissioned him to investigate the politician's affair, he'd immediately tip off the politician and sell him a favor... roughly these kinds of operations. Used repeatedly, he accumulated many favors and leverage, including even high-ranking police officials.
Reportedly he'd done many illegal things and even seemed connected to certain illegal organizations, with some of his subordinates being former yakuza members who'd served their sentences... It was just that regarding his personal illegal criminal behavior, police had never found evidence.
As a former colleague, Inspector Megure found it quite difficult to say these things, his mood very complex.
Especially with Kumano Yasunori running to invite Samukawa Shinryu... Inspector Megure even felt angry.
Samukawa Shinryu had always worked so hard to be a good police officer, enduring so many misunderstandings to struggle into Police Academy. Even though he hated getting up early so much, he still persisted for two years before finally giving up. How easy was that?!
How difficult it was!
Yet Kumano Yasunori, at this time, wanted to make Samukawa Shinryu's years of effort worthless, turning him into someone like himself, doing those false and potentially illegal things?!
Kumano Yasunori had probably seen Samukawa Shinryu and thought they were the same type, which was why he made such an invitation.
But what a joke!
Samukawa Shinryu wasn't that kind of person at all!
Although he might look more like someone who'd go down that path than the righteous-faced Kumano Yasunori, Inspector Megure, after years of interaction, believed Samukawa Shinryu's willpower was far stronger than Kumano Yasunori, who lost even his sense of justice after his wife's death.
Samukawa Shinryu, who had endured so much discrimination since childhood yet still steadily became a police officer, was definitely not the kind of person Kumano Yasunori thought he was.
Inspector Megure didn't advise Samukawa Shinryu against joining. After explaining Kumano Yasunori's situation, he said: "Consider his invitation carefully. More than that, have you agreed to be an advisor? If so, I'll help you with the procedures!"
Usuha Izuki casually responded: "I agreed."
Inspector Megure's irritation from Kumano Yasunori was instantly healed.
He said repeatedly: "Good, good, good! I'll go tell Chief Odagiri right away! The chief has always thought highly of you—it's wonderful that you're willing to come back!"
With the Japanese Metropolitan Police's work efficiency, this Special Advisor position would take at least a month to process, so Usuha Izuki could continue enjoying his happy vacation.
Anyway, he had nothing else to do, and Akai Shuichi's side also needed time to discuss with FBI people. So following his original plan, he went to visit Kumano Yasunori's investigation company. If he ever got bored and wanted to open a detective agency, he could have a reference.
Thus, a few days later, busy Inspector Megure received a call from Usuha Izuki.
"Inspector, do you remember Kumano Yasunori?"
Inspector Megure: "I remember. You just asked me about him a few days ago. My memory isn't that bad... What's wrong?"
"He killed someone."
Inspector Megure: "..........."
—Who gave Kumano the courage to recruit Samukawa while committing murder right under Samukawa's nose?! Did he really think Samukawa was the type who wouldn't care about such things?!