As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

Lin Chen's heart sank.

He thought Kimura was transparent enough, but he didn't expect that the other party had already investigated his every move clearly.

Kirihiko seemed to notice his slight stiffness, but said nothing, and continued to state the facts in his steady tone.

“Your performance is very poor, ranking third from the bottom in the region. Others can complete your annual transaction volume in a month.”

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously touching the leaves of the hyacinth on the windowsill, a very light touch, as if it were some kind of unconscious habit.

"But they were all causing trouble. Some people got into fights over customers, and others were caught by W and almost gave away the whole area."

"Only you."

His gaze returned to Lin Chen, this time lingering a little longer.

"For a year, there were no complaints, no investigations, and no extra records. In the files of this area, you are the only one who is so clean that it seems unreal."

Lin Chen's back tensed slightly. He didn't know whether these words were praise or criticism, so he could only remain silent.

Kirihiko withdrew his gaze, his tone unchanged, as if stating an observation unrelated to himself: "There are many people in the museum who can sell things. But there are very few who can work quietly and without causing extra trouble."

"From today onwards, you no longer need to report to the area manager. You will be under my command and become my direct subordinate."

Lin Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

Wu Yan didn't look at him and continued, "You don't need to sell memory chips anymore. Your salary will be ten times what it is now. You will have higher authority. In return, I need you to handle some things."

He paused for a moment, as if he was considering his words, or as if he was giving the other person time to process it.

"Some things that are not suitable for too many people to know."

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Lin Chen's mind raced; this wasn't part of his plan. But it was still good news—he'd taken a direct leap to becoming a direct subordinate of a cadre, bringing him closer to his goal.

But he couldn't understand why.

Osamu Kimura was so mediocre that he was forgettable. His performance was at the bottom, and he had a dull personality. There was no reason for him to be promoted.

"You must be wondering, why you?"

Wu Yan's voice interrupted his thoughts. Lin Chen looked up and found Wu Yan looking at him, with a subtle change in his eyes, like the slight relaxation that came after a period of scrutiny.

“You’re a smart person, smarter than most people I’ve ever met. But you haven’t used your intelligence to do those things.” Kirihiko’s speech slowed down, and his voice became lower than before. “Your resume is too clean. So clean that it doesn’t seem like it was done intentionally, but more like an instinct.”

He looked at Lin Chen with no admiration or probing in his eyes, only a faint, almost weary understanding.

"A person who can persist in this kind of environment for a year without crossing the line is either a saint or has a compelling reason to persist."

Lin Chen understood.

Does he know about Osamu Kimura's sister?

Kirihiko didn't spell it out, but the moment he paused was enough to tell the story. He looked away and gazed at the hyacinths on the windowsill.

“An organization is a huge machine. Everyone is a cog, and desire is the fuel that drives the cog. But a machine driven solely by desire will eventually go out of control.”

He turned his gaze back to Lin Chen.

"I need someone who is not so easily driven by desires."

This statement was made very plainly.

You can refuse.

He spoke in the same calm tone as he had before.

"If you refuse, walk out this door, and we'll pretend today never happened. You can continue being a junior salesman; no one will give you a hard time."

He paused.

"But if you accept—"

Wu Yan stood up, straightened his white gloves, and his gaze fell on Lin Chen. His eyes still didn't show much emotion, but in the afternoon light, Lin Chen caught a fleeting, indescribable glimpse of something.

"I need someone I can trust to put my back on."

This statement was made lightly, but it carried more weight than all the previous official business.

Lin Chen kept his head down. Of course he could refuse. Given Kimura Osamu's personality, refusal would have been more reasonable. A taciturn, timid person who doesn't cause trouble wouldn't actively try to squeeze into the center of power.

After a few seconds of silence, he raised his head, met Kirihiko's gaze, and said in Kimura Osamu's characteristic, slightly wooden tone, "Yes, Lord Kirihiko."

Kirihiko looked at him.

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock."

Wu Yan pushed a note in front of Lin Chen.

"Report at this address."

He turned and walked towards the door. When he reached the door, he stopped but did not look back.

"I've already retrieved your file. I know something about your sister's situation."

His voice was a little softer than before, but he still maintained that businesslike tone.

"If there's anything in the medical field that needs coordination, you can come to me. That's within your authority as my direct subordinate."

After saying that, he walked out of the office. The door closed softly behind him.

Lin Chen stood there, silent for a long time.

Kirihiko did not investigate his identity.

This was his most direct judgment. If Kirihiko truly suspected him, he wouldn't have given him this position, much less bring up his sister. Kirihiko's promotion was based on his long-term observation of Kimura Osamu—or rather, on his long-term observation of this "bottom line."

The problem is that Osamu Kimura himself is unaware that he is being observed.

When did Kirihiko begin to notice this unassuming grassroots salesman? How long did he observe him? To what extent did he investigate?

These questions have no answers. But one thing is certain.

Kirihiko saw something in Osamu Kimura that he admired. It wasn't ability, nor ambition, but self-control. In this organization driven by desire, someone who could control themselves was a rare resource.

And Kirihiko needs just that kind of person.

Not as a fellow traveler, not as a confidant, but simply as a subordinate he could entrust his back to with peace of mind.

Lin Chen walked out of the building, and the afternoon sun shone down without any obstruction.

A smile crept onto my lips; things really went smoothly!

Chapter 125 Sonozaki Ryubei

After searching everywhere, Philip and Akiko finally found Inamoto Dango. The boy was wearing a white jacket, leaning alone against the railing, with a black bag at his feet containing the speaker he used for street dance.

Before Akiko could even greet him, Philip had already rushed over and pressed play on the radio. The moment the powerful drumbeats began, he immediately started dancing to the rhythm.

Akiko tried to grab him but couldn't. After Philip finished jumping, Akiko said, "Wow, that's amazing!" Philip explained that he had retrieved all the standard techniques from the Earth Library.

Then he approached Inamoto Dango and begged him to demonstrate "Heavenly Tornado".

Tanwu looked at him, then turned around and stared at the ground as he replied, "I can't do that anymore."

He looked up at Philip and whispered, repeating, "I simply couldn't do it alone."

Akiko stepped forward to stop him, earnestly pleading with him. She knew Philip's personality well; if he didn't see the Heavenly Tornado today, he wouldn't give up and wouldn't be able to calm down all day, endlessly pestering her for answers.

But Inamoto Dango completely ignored her pleas, his face still showing dejection. He silently picked up the backpack at his feet, turned around and walked down the steps, intending to leave directly.

Seeing that Inamoto Dango was about to leave completely, Akiko became extremely anxious and continued to plead.

"Please! This matter truly concerns the life and death of the Narumi Detective Agency!"

Inamoto Dango, who was steadily descending the stairs, stopped in his tracks and turned around after hearing those words.

His gaze fell on Akiko.

"Narumi?" The tone was questioning. So it turned out that the person who had used that annoying method to request his services was him.

After receiving confirmation that he was the head of the Narumi Detective Agency, he looked Akiko up and down. Seeing that she looked like an ordinary high school student, he couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.

"A female high school student? That's a lie."

As soon as he finished speaking, Inamoto Dango turned around decisively and ran away.

Seeing the other person leave, Philip and Akiko quickly followed behind, running after the boy's figure.

This entire scene was observed by a British Shorthair cat perched atop the high wall. The kitten lay quietly on the wall, its amber eyes watching everything unfold below. As the figures of the people gradually disappeared into the distance, it deftly twisted its body, leaped, and landed steadily on the wall before vanishing around the corner of the alley.

When Shotaro arrived at Fuuka High School, the campus should have been quiet in the afternoon, but as soon as he stepped into the school gate, several security guards surrounded him with vigilant expressions.

"Who are you? Outsiders are not allowed on campus!" The security guards looked on warily and stepped forward to stop them.

Shotaro hurriedly explained, "I'm from the Narumi Detective Agency, here to investigate..." Before he could finish speaking, a scream came from the school building.

His expression changed, and without bothering to argue with the security guards anymore, he broke free and ran wildly toward the source of the sound—the principal's office.

They burst through the principal's office door.

The room was a mess; desks and chairs were overturned, and tattered papers were scattered everywhere. In the center of the room, a strange figure resembling a cockroach stood silently, a tattered black cloak hanging down. At the figure's feet, Principal Hoshino Takeshi lay motionless on the floor.

It's a cockroach infestation! It's the same "Dark Arbiter" from this morning's radio broadcast!

"You bastard!" Shotaro's anger surged, and he immediately charged forward. But he hadn't transformed yet; he was just a normal human, and had no chance against the monster.

The cockroach moved swiftly and easily dodged Shotaro's attack, throwing him aside with a backhand. Shotaro staggered back several steps, crashing into the wall, feeling his chest heaving.

Knowing he was no match for Philip, Shotaro immediately reached for the Lost Driver at his waist, intending to contact Philip to transform. However, on the other end of the line, Philip was currently chasing Inamoto Dango with Akiko.

"Philip! Transform! Transform now!" Shotaro shouted anxiously, but received no effective response.

Philip finally had some time after chasing the cockroach infestation all the way to the rooftop.

"Cyclone! Joker!" The sound effect rang out.

A crisp transformation sound effect rang out, and black and green light instantly enveloped Shotaro Hidari, marking the official debut of Kamen Rider W Hayate Joker form!

Shotaro assumed a fighting stance and stared at the cockroaches in front of him.

The cockroach looked at W, who had completed his transformation, and exclaimed, "What? You're the Kamen Rider who protected Fuuto?"

Before W could respond, it arrogantly declared, "This Wind City doesn't need two guardians!"

Philip's voice came through: "Hurry up and resolve this, I have urgent business to attend to!"