Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

……

The next day was another brand new day.

Sano finally received a brand new mission.

[Please accept and complete ten assassin missions within the mission time limit. Completion will reward you with 200 enhancement points. Mission time remaining: 119:59:59.]

Yes, a mission for a professional assassin.

Detective-related missions, delinquent-related missions, organization member-related missions, superhero-related missions, and now it's finally assassin-related missions' turn.

Sano got up and turned on the computer.

After a series of steps, I logged into a platform website.

Click on the region distribution, select Neon, and a bunch of... a few scattered tasks will appear.

...Is this some kind of monster? Why are there so few quests??

Sano rubbed his eyes, refreshed the network again, and confirmed that there was no problem on his end. The problem wasn't with him, but with the damn platform!

No wonder they didn't even set up a branch in Japan; apparently, they simply didn't have any business there.

Sano sighed and lit a cigarette.

That's right, there's no "branch" in Japan.

To register for the identity of a professional assassin, Sano even made a special trip abroad to complete an "entry test"—a task that wasn't too difficult.

That's how I gained access to the platform.

This caused a minor, insignificant commotion.

But that's not important.

The important question is, is the living environment for professional assassins in Japan really that bad?

Various cases are happening every day.

I can't understand it, I can't comprehend it.

Given this kind of workplace environment, the number of professional assassins in Japan is probably not too many... or rather, it can be said that they are extremely few.

Or perhaps it's actually the other way around.

Because there are too few professional hitmen in Japan, they have no clients and no orders.

Coming to his senses, Sano opened the forum option again.

After searching several times, I found the relevant post.

"On the differences and reasons between the professional assassin circles in the East and the West."

Upon opening the post, Sano realized that it wasn't just Japan.

Professional assassins are extremely rare in all countries of the East.

The main reason is not official suppression or anything like that, which sounds sophisticated, but it's just a very simple and realistic reason.

The existence of "professional killers" originated in the West.

By the time it reached the East, its resources had already been completely consumed by other entities.

...Most of them are hitmen who make a living based on their reputation. They don't have a platform and rely entirely on old customers and referrals. Of course, there are also a large number of them.

He was unwilling to admit that he was a killer.

They just take money and do things.

Just use another name... like Sano's Armed Detective Agency.

Is this considered stealing business from oneself?

all in all.

This job is not easy.

After closing the post, Sano browsed the task list and, after confirming that there were no issues with the timing, took over most of them.

The sequence and process have been arranged.

As for why it's the majority rather than all.

This is because some of the commissions were just a joke, some of the commission fees were just a joke, and there were also some rather unusual ones.

For example... a commission to "kill the rye".

Yes, even Sano's Black Mask costume is on the list.

Even characters like Gin, Vermouth, and Kogoro Mouri exist.

Some goals were very clear, while others were vague, all because of Sano's acquaintance.

Only then can they be distinguished.

...This reminded Sano of a meme.

After being released from prison, I went from being destitute to becoming rich overnight.

why?

Because the wanted posters all feature people we know.

Okay, let's get back to the main topic.

These tasks, besides being bizarre in terms of their objectives and content, also have fees that are completely uneconomical, combining the characteristics of the two bizarre tasks mentioned earlier.

Extremely bizarre.

Therefore, Sano had no desire to accept the offer.

Excluding these, Sano only has less than ten missions left to request.

Now we can only hope that a new mission will appear within Sano's mission time limit.

Otherwise, Sano would have no choice but to turn his attention to those low-level commissions or the tasks related to his acquaintances and their pseudonyms.

After rubbing his fingers together, Sano picked up the trash bag next to him and went out.

Then they encountered Amuro Tooru at the stairwell.

Or rather, it was Sano who took the initiative to approach Amuro Tooru, who was waiting for him.

"Oh, boss, are you just sitting here enjoying the breeze because you have nothing better to do?"

"Hmm, how was the free meal last night? Was it good?"

Amuro Tooru nodded in response to Sano's greeting.

Sano replied, "It's hard to say. Because of the case, I didn't get to enjoy it properly. And just when the case was finally over, my friend collapsed, so we had to end it hastily."

"I see."

Amuro Tooru nodded again. Although he already knew these things, he pretended not to, so of course he had to ask.

...Despite being questioned twice last night, Kazami Yuya's rapid and dramatic change in attitude left Amuro Tooru somewhat bewildered.

When inquiring about the situation for the first time and issuing instructions.

Kazami Yuya still maintained a very serious and vigilant tone.

It was as if they were following some heinous and extremely dangerous terrorist.

But when he was questioned a second time... or more accurately, when Kazami Yuya took the initiative to report the unusual situation, he suddenly started praising Sano again.

This person is said to be kind-hearted and polite.

He's also popular with children, so he doesn't seem like a bad person.

Well, actually, Amuro Tooru can probably understand why things are like this.

The key point is simply being "polite".

On his way back to Tokyo, Sano bought a sweet potato for Kazami Yuya.

...Did I treat this guy badly all the time? Did I not give him any food or water?

How could someone be bought off with a roasted sweet potato?!

Amuro Tooru felt a little depressed. Although, if you put aside the possibility of rye, just looking at Sano himself, even he would think that Sano was a very good person, or rather, a very good kid.

...For example, someone might have worried that I wouldn't be able to afford a meal because of a random excuse I made up, and then invite me to eat with them.

"Speaking of which, it seems like someone's been keeping an eye on me lately."

Just as Amuro Tooru was lost in thought, Sano suddenly brought up a new topic and then pulled a bunch of crumbs out of his pocket.

"First they arranged for someone to follow me, then they installed surveillance cameras and listening devices in my house. It's really terrifying... By the way, I had a brief conversation with the person who was following me yesterday, and I temporarily used your name, boss."

Hearing Sano's "reminder," Amuro Tooru turned his gaze away from the pile of slag and nodded again: "Yeah, I understand. I'll investigate later to see what their purpose is. If it has nothing to do with the organization, then I'll help you out in my own name."

"Oh, thank you in advance, boss."

Sano waved his hand, went downstairs, and left.

Amuro Tooru, watching Sano's retreating figure, breathed a sigh of relief... He hadn't expected that the little things he had planted in Sano's house would be discovered in an instant, and that Kazami Yuya had indeed been discovered to be following him.

How come this guy is so vigilant?

According to his good subordinate, Sano borrowed his pseudonym. Did he already realize something, or was it just a coincidence?

But at least the rye that I spent last night with was definitely real rye.

It's impossible that Sano from last night was fake, right?

After tapping his toes, Amuro Tooru scratched his hair in frustration.

Okay, let's observe for a while longer. If we really can't find any flaws...

There's nothing we can do about that.

Now, I need to do some tasks.

Amuro Tooru took out his phone and made a call, then drove to the back door of a bar.

Several peripheral members were already waiting here, and the two or three small trucks next to them indicated that Amuro Tooru needed to purchase a considerable amount of weapons and equipment today.

"...Hey you, stop stirring up trouble. Big business, my foot! Do you think you can just see our boss whenever you want? You don't even have an introducer, and you're already spouting nonsense. So what if you're a foreigner? Or if you really want the goods, you can pay a little more, and I'll give you some privately."