The Strange Cat from Fuuto

After flicking Shotaro's forehead, Isamu Oto asked the stall owner next to him, "I'm Oto, who has been setting up a stall here for a long time. I'd like to ask where my little brother Malle... uh, no, Arima Maruo is now. I'd like to see him!"

"Uh, I don't know Arima Maru!"

Upon hearing this name, the stall owner fell silent as if he had heard of a tiger or wolf, and immediately went about his business!

"Xiao Xiang!"

When Shotaro heard someone calling his name again, he looked up and saw the information broker smiling and waving at him.

"I might know about that Arima Maru guy you're talking about!"

"Huh, really!?"

Shotaro exclaimed in surprise, but then he thought that this guy was in the intelligence business, so it would be strange if he didn't know some things!

"Arima Maruo is the president of the company that oversees the civil engineering and construction industry in this area!"

"Is Malle the president?"

Chapter 66: Shotaro's Driver Resists Him!

"I never would have guessed, Uncle Fujito, that your former underling had fallen to such a state!"

Shotaro, trying to make conversation, teased Oto Isami, only to get flicked on the forehead and become quiet!

"If you can't speak properly, then shut up!"

Isamu Oto straightened his clothes and solemnly rang the doorbell.

"Ah!" The mature woman in the kimono who opened the door exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Sam!"

"Long time no see, Bell!"

After being led into the house by Yuma Suzuko, before they could even exchange a few pleasantries, a very rough voice interrupted.

"Oh ho, look who this is!"

"Isn't this Mr. Oto?"

Arima Maruo stood at the junction of the living room and the inner room, his arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture.

But the cold smile on his face proved that he was not as friendly as he claimed!

"Malle, why don't you recognize me as your older brother anymore?"

Oto Isami stood casually in the living room, hands in his pockets. Arima Maruo carefully adjusted his cuffs, walked up to Oto Isami, and poked Oto Isami's chest repeatedly with his thick fingers, saying, "Mr. Oto, don't you know what era we live in now!"

"Nobody plays that game anymore!"

"Besides, your presence here will spread bad rumors!"

Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two, Yuma Suzuko quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Maru, don't say that. After all, Brother Sam took such good care of us back then!"

"When a man speaks, a woman should shut up!"

With a swift swing of his arm, Arima Maruo mercilessly threw his wife to the ground. Seeing this, Oto Isao grabbed Arima Maruo by the collar and said sternly, "I don't care what rumors spread after I come here, but I've heard about the Beastman lately!"

"You should think this over carefully, Malle!"

"If this happens again, you know what will happen!"

Despite the threat, Arima Maruo nonchalantly straightened his slightly disheveled collar. "That detective is dead. Could it be that he left behind some memento?"

"Hmm, if you're talking about the one my master left behind, I do know a little about it!"

"After all, which one is it?"

"So please be careful!"

Shotaro spoke in a mysterious manner for a while, then pulled Isamu Oto away from there.

The two walked in silence to a pier, where Isamu Oto spoke first: "I didn't expect Mr. Narumi's belongings to be in your hands!"

"What relics? There's no such thing!"

Shotaro, adjusting his hat, said confidently, "Those words were my bait to catch the fish. Now we'll see if that guy will bite!"

Are you an idiot?

"Do you know what the consequences will be for saying those things?"

Oto Isamu spoke sternly, originally not wanting to involve this kid, but this half-baked idiot had brought this upon himself!

"I really don't understand why Mr. Narumi would choose you as his disciple!"

At that very moment, a rough voice rang out: "Where is the bear?"

A deep blue, beast-like hybrid suddenly appeared and ran towards Shotaro.

"Kid, tell me right now, where's the bear!"

The monstrous creature grabbed Shotaro's collar viciously, swung his arm, and sent Shotaro flying a considerable distance.

"Philip, the fish has taken the bait, it's transformed!"

Shotaro, having installed the driver, took out his own memory and pressed it directly.

"JOKER!"

"CYCLONE!"

Shotaro, who habitually pressed the Hayate Memory on his waist driver, felt a sharp pain in his palm and pulled his hand back.

"Why does the Gale Memory feel so strange today?"

"never mind!"

"Transform!"

After transforming, Shotaro flicked his wrist and shouted at Oto Isao from afar, "Just you wait and see, Uncle Oto!"

Shotaro lunged forward with a flying punch, but as he leaped into the air, he felt something was wrong; W seemed to be losing his balance. The Beastman recoiled and slapped back.

This triggered a chain reaction, and for some unknown reason, Shotaro kept getting the short end of the stick until A-ge came to his rescue.

Having taken a hit from A-Ge's Ultimate Drive Beastman, he wanted to attack again but was stopped by Oto.

"Stop it, Malle! That kid's just lying to you, he doesn't know anything!"

"What a disappointment!"

The beastman, having deactivated his transformation, revealed his true form: Arima Maru, whom Shotaro had met before.

"Don't let me see you again, Mr. Oto, not only for your sake but also for mine!"

Arima Maruo, having transformed once more, vanished from the three's sight with a single leap.

Shotaro, dejected after deactivating his transformation, returned to the agency, but unexpectedly, Philip did not return to his body but instead ended up in the Earth Library!

"Why am I in Earth's library? Based on past experience, I should have returned to my body long ago!"

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Deep, powerful footsteps sounded, and a figure he had never seen before appeared in front of him!

"This is......."

.........

"Father, I'd like to take Miku out for a walk, what do you think...?"

Wakana clung to the old man's arm and spoke sweetly. The changes in Wakana these past few days had truly astonished him. She was such a sweet and considerate daughter!

"Is it okay, Dad?"

Saeko was quite annoyed by Wakana's coquettish behavior.

"Ruocai, don't bother Father anymore. There's a work matter that requires you and me to go out tonight!"

After glancing at the old man, Wakana reluctantly agreed only after seeing her father nod.

"I understand, sister!"

Night falls in a bar.

The melodious sound of a piano echoed softly in the bar. Arima Maruo, who had just finished a glass of strong liquor in frustration, said angrily, "Damn Narumi Shokichi, where did he hide that thing?!"

"If you're looking for that item, I can offer some assistance!"

Saeko, sitting not far from Arima Maru, spoke softly. "Women in the organization, huh!" Arima Maru stood up and moved closer to Saeko and Wakana. Miku, who was lying on Wakana's lap, rolled her eyes, revealing a pair of emerald green pupils.

"Meow....."

"Hey big guy, I advise you to stay away from me, or you'll get hurt!"

Wakana, with her back to Arima Maru, spoke coldly. Arima Maru scoffed, "To put it bluntly, you're just lackeys of the organization. What right do you have to be arrogant in front of me?!"

"Alright, that's enough!" Saeko looked at Isaka. "It's not me looking for you today, it's him!"

As soon as the piano music stopped, Isaka stood up from the piano. Miku smelled Isaka's scent and turned his head away in disgust. He wouldn't do anything foolish again until he had sufficient power.

The passage of time brought not only deeper hatred, but also a suppressed murderous intent, like the eve of a storm!

On the other side, Isaka, who was walking straight toward Arima Maruo, was filled with an indescribable sense of fear!

"Mr. Arima, would you like to go hunting with me?"

........

The next morning, the wind blew across the mountain.

Shotaro, who had gone into the mountains early in the morning, took Isamu Oto to the forest villa that his master used to hide his informants. After searching around, they found the wooden bear carving that Maruo Arima had mentioned!

But then, an unpleasant guest arrived!

The sneaky attack by Isaka caused Shotaro to lose his grip on the wooden bear during a moment of carelessness. Not only that, but Isamu Oto was also frozen by the cold mist that Isaka exhaled.

"Uncle Oto, hang in there!"

"Don't worry about me, go and get the things back!"

With his body covered in frost, Isamu Oto spoke tremblingly. After glancing at Isamu Oto, Shotaro took out the driver, fastened it to his waist, and chased after him.