Tokyo, the shady intelligence of private detectives

The older police officer was Yamamoto from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Nishi-Arai Police Station, and the younger officer was Patrolman Nakamura.

Upon seeing Masahiro Hanyu, Officer Yamamoto bowed slightly. "Mr. Hanyu, it's nice to see you again."

"Officer Yamamoto, did you come to the detective agency to see me?" Upon meeting here, Masahiro Hanyu felt it was necessary to ask.

Yamamoto shook his head. "We're here to see President Satsuki. We have other things to take care of, so we won't bother you any longer."

The two police officers left in a hurry, and Masahiro Hanyu knocked on the door and entered President Satsuki's office.

Satsuki Yui was standing in front of the bookshelf, rummaging through stacks of labeled manila file folders.

She didn't turn around. "Hanyu-kun, has Takizawa Reika's request been completed?"

Masahiro Hanyu took out the investigation report and placed it on the table. "Yes, President."

"I wrote the report while I was on the bus just now. My handwriting is a bit messy, please forgive me."

Masahiro Hanyu always behaved with utmost respect in front of President Satsuki.

"Please sit down, Mr. Yuzuru. The tea is freshly brewed; please help yourself," said Yui Satsuki politely.

She has gradually come to recognize Masahiro Hanyu's abilities as he consistently completes client-commissioned investigations on time and even ahead of schedule.

A dozen minutes later, Satsuki Yui returned to her desk and placed a yellowed file folder on it.

Then she picked up the investigation report, read it carefully, and nodded in satisfaction. "Very good."

"Hanyu-kun has been working day and night for several days in a row. You must be exhausted. Please go back and rest."

Masahiro Hanyu hesitated slightly, "President Satsuki, are there no new requests... Shall I take on this?"

Satsuki Yui's peach blossom eyes blinked slightly. "Hanyu-kun, you want to become a full-fledged detective in the agency, right?"

Masahiro Hanyu straightened his back. "Yes, without a doubt."

Becoming a full-fledged detective doubles your commission; only a fool wouldn't want that.

Satsuki Yui tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "It's like this, the detective agency has received a very important commission that I must handle personally."

"However, I lack a partner. If you're willing, Yuzuru-kun, you can become a full-fledged detective in the agency once this commission is completed."

Masahiro Hanyu stood up and bowed deeply. "Thank you, President. Of course I'm willing."

Yui Satsuki said approvingly, "I have always admired Hanyu-kun's work ethic."

"There's just one thing I need to make clear beforehand: there's no commission if you become my partner."

No commission! Is Yui Satsuki trying to get something for free?

Satsuki Yui scrutinized him with her peach blossom eyes, "Hanyu-kun, there's no need to force yourself."

"If you're not willing, I can assign you other tasks, but it will take a few days, and..."

She poured herself a cup of tea. "Ordinary commissions are hardly proof of Yuzuru's abilities, and I haven't been able to witness them firsthand."

He just wanted to get something for free, and he even threatened him. Masahiro Yuzuru gritted his teeth inwardly, but when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head!

"President Satsuki, it is my honor to work with you. Of course, I am very willing."

Satsuki Yui smiled, a rare occurrence. "Hanyu-kun, please have a seat."

"This old woman who can't get married," Masahiro Yuzuru thought to himself, but his emotions showed no change.

Sha Yue handed over the yellowed file folder. "I know you've had a tough time these past few days and need to go home and rest. But before you leave, please take a look at this file so you can understand this request!"

She paused for a moment, then said, "Hanyu-kun is currently renting room 502, 2-11-8 Nishi-Arai Einecho, Adachi-ku. His landlord is Keiko Tanaka."

"Keiko Tanaka hanged herself not long ago. The criminal investigation team from the Nishi-Arai Police Station came to your apartment to ask you about some things."

Masahiro Hanyu nodded. "Yes, I ran into Inspector Yamamoto and Inspector Nakamura when I came in."

"Officer Yamamoto said he didn't come to me because of this case."

Satsuki Yui held her teacup. "Officer Yamamoto was my partner at SIT. I know him very well."

Within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the Special Crimes Investigation Unit (SIT) is a highly specialized unit under the Criminal Investigation Division 1, dedicated to handling high-risk and special cases.

SIT officers are all elites of the Metropolitan Police Department, with very generous salaries and benefits. President Satsuki's decision to leave and open a private detective agency must have a special reason behind it.

"Officer Yamamoto didn't come here because of Hanyu, but because of the Tanaka Keiko case."

"Hanyu-kun, please take a look at this file."

Masahiro Hanyu opened the file, which contained records of five suicide cases that occurred in Tokyo in 1989.

The deceased varied greatly in age and background, including a high school student, a housewife, a female college student, a civil servant, and a construction worker.

These five suicide cases occurred less than seven days apart, and the victims all died by hanging.

The corpse's expression included a clenched fist, wide eyes, a protruding tongue, and a strange smile.

Masahiro Hanyu put down the file. "So, the circumstances of these deaths were the same as Keiko Tanaka's suicides?"

He didn't see Tanaka Keiko's body, nor did he hear any eyewitnesses say that the deceased had a strange smile on her face.

However, when President Satsuki mentioned Keiko Tanaka's suicide and showed him the files, Masahiro Hanyu had a gut feeling that this was the case.

Yui Satsuki's expression turned serious. "Not only that, after the Metropolitan Police Department's forensic investigators conducted on-site verification and autopsies, it was determined that all of these victims died by suicide."

"Hanyu-kun, please understand the situation for now. After you return to your apartment and rest, there is an important matter that I need you to accomplish."

With a solemn expression, Masahiro Hanyu said, "President, please give your orders!"

"Please, Mr. Yuzuru, investigate every single tenant in your apartment building within three days. Record everything in detail and compile it into a report for me."

Masahiro Hanyu was taken aback. "Wouldn't it be more convenient for Officer Yamamoto to come directly to our door to investigate?"

Yui Satsuki shook her head. "That won't work. It might alert the enemy and affect the subsequent investigation."

"Officer Yamamoto suspects that more people will continue to commit suicide by hanging, and the deceased are people from your apartment building."

"It's most suitable for Yuzuru to do this."

Masahiro Hanyu was somewhat troubled. "I'm not familiar with those tenants, so it's difficult to get them to cooperate with me."

"This will test Yuzuru-kun's abilities, won't it?" Satsuki Yui blinked her peach blossom eyes.

Test their abilities! Isn't this just making things difficult for oxen and horses?

Masahiro Yuzuru took a deep breath. "Alright, may I fabricate a usable identity? But I'm afraid I'll have to move to another place from now on."

Satsuki Yui slowly took a sip of tea. "Okay, changing one's identity is a means of investigation, but of course it must be done in moderation. I will speak with Officer Yamamoto."

"If I can fulfill this request, I can also provide Yuzuru-kun with other accommodations."

"The room costs 1, and the rent is the same as the rent for your current apartment."

Yuzuru's eyes lit up. "Thank you, President. This solves my worries."

Satsuki Yui raised an eyebrow, "So I'm not as harsh as Yuzuru-kun thinks, am I?"

Masahiro Hanyu was stunned for a moment. "President, I didn't!"

"I can read minds too, too." Yui Satsuki put away the file.

Explanation is just a cover-up, so Masahiro Hanyu didn't say anything more, but he should still control his micro-expressions in the future.

He returned to his apartment and went straight to sleep.

The next morning at eight o'clock, Masahiro Hanyu got up, washed up, dressed, and left his room, knocking on the door of his neighbor's apartment, 501.