Tokyo Trickster

Xiaozhongda was silent. He lit a cigar and began to wonder if he had gone in the wrong direction.

"Call the leader of the frontline team. Ask him to bring the video recorded at the autograph session of Amamiya Ren during the Cultural Festival."

"Yes." The secretary left the office.

After a while, there was a knock on the office door.

Xiao Zhongda lit up his second cigar, "Come in."

A middle-aged man in a suit and tie pushed the door open and walked in.

The president asked him for yesterday's video.

Then he became more and more annoyed the more he looked at it, and smoked one expensive cigar after another.

Finally, the video ended, and Xiao Zhongda sighed heavily, "Kuno, you are becoming more and more insensitive."

The man called Kuno didn't even understand where he went wrong.

"The boss of Xiangyingshe is quite capable," Xiaozhongda did not reprimand his subordinates any more. They have been hanging around in Tokyo for more than ten years, and a little reminder would be considered torture. "It's a great trick to be able to handle an emergency in such an occasion."

"If you want to destroy Xiangyingsha's business plan, some gossip that can't be brought to court won't do it," Xiaozhongda knocked hard on the camera screen, "The eldest daughter of the Okumura Group was the best opportunity, but unfortunately, you didn't seize it."

"I'm sorry, President Kozunari, it was my incompetent leadership that led to such a serious mistake in the team," Kuno bowed deeply, "Please dismiss me from my position!"

"Don't let your current life blind you." Xiao Zhongda finally chose to handle it with care. He said earnestly, "Don't forget what it took to get to where we are today."

"Yes!" Kuno left the office.

Bang. Xiaozhongda pounded the desk angrily. He had just wanted to smash the ashtray on Kuno's head countless times. The club had consumed a lot of resources and connections. Just to publish these false gossip reports?

Do you really think Amamiya Ren is some kind of city idol? Falling in love means her career is a failure.

In Japan, when you are a young writer and extremely talented, people are very tolerant of gossip and bad behavior.

If I had a handsome face.

Hey, even if someone is sent to jail for assassinating a popular congressman in the street, there will still be a lot of fans petitioning on the streets for his acquittal.

If you want to bring down a best-selling author who stands at the top of the industry's contempt chain, you can only rely on the rules by which this city operates.

Those chaebols are the rules.

Right?

Amamiya Ren proudly shared it with Lavenda.

"It has to be Nao Tomori. Her acting is pretty good. She can actually show the sadness and anger of 'bitter and deep love' in front of the camera. It's just a waste of my 500,000..."

The secretary gave him a gentle and doting smile, rubbed his cheek with her fair hands, and then gave him a gentle kiss.

The thief's smile suddenly stopped, and he stood up silently, feeling a slight pain in his waist.

112. If you kill your ideal

November 11. Evening.

Morgana did not go to bed at night.

11 month 2 day.

Bought a plate of deep fried chicken legs.

Morgana came back and ate the chicken leg while I was taking a shower.

So he put down his paintbrush and chased the cat away.

November 11. Cultural Festival.

Participated in the "Sekiro Speed ​​Run Challenge" organized by the school's e-sports club and won the first place. Won a prize of 8000 lottery tickets.

Chase the cat.

11 month 4 day.

Amamiya Ren said that we should be nicer to Morgana as it is busy monitoring Madarame's movements every day.

Morgana had a late-night snack and secretly ate the strawberry daifuku that was reserved for Amamiya Ren and Lavenda.

Chase the cat.

11 month 5 day.

Morgana stole the Ise lobster that I bought with the last of my salary.

Chase the cat.

Kitagawa Vsuke watched the big cat nimbly crawl out of the door and disappear into the night of Shigenjaya.

The real "Sayuri" hangs on the wall of the living room, and the woman looks at the boy next to the refrigerator with a loving and gentle gaze.

Ever since the rainstorm that night, this carefully framed painting has appeared in the secret base of the Phantom Thieves of the Mind.

Kitagawa Vsuke seemed to feel the gaze of the person in the painting. He tilted his head to look at Sayuri, the "mother" who only existed in the few words of others.

On the same night, another person looked at Sayuri.

Madarame Ikryusai was lying on the bed, his eyes empty and silent. His assistant had already moved the works that made him famous into the room as he requested.

The old man's eyes were cloudy, no longer as clear as before.

As he looked at Sayuri, he thought of the woman who kept coughing in front of the drawing board, with a sallow complexion and an emaciated figure.

You are Kitagawa Vsuke's mother. Do you really resent me for deceiving and using your child?

Well, are you going to kill me? He suddenly saw the woman holding a sharp pencil-sharpening knife and walking towards him.

Madarame Ichiryusai's face turned pale. Come on! You can take away this life that is like a candle in the wind.

The shining blade stabbed down, and the old man groaned with a hoarse sound.

It is not pain that comes with it.

A familiar yet unfamiliar cry.

"Madarame, Madarame Ichitaro!"

"Master, I'm here." The young man who was taking a nap in the lounge suddenly woke up. He has an outstanding appearance in the art circle, and can even be described as "handsome and elegant", with an image of a "painter" in novels or TV dramas.

The wealthy old man with pale hair took off his square-framed glasses and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a rag. He put his glasses back on and said, "Thanks to you for your help, Madarame. Thank you."

"No, this is also the duty of an apprentice." Madarame Ichitaro lowered his head and said, "So, you want to see me for something?"

"Well, it's about the matter we discussed before," the plump master patted his fat arms, "I know a person who works at a TV station. He has heard about your deeds and he really wants you to be famous."

The black-haired young man frowned, "I should have refused before."

"Why? You can make money by painting! This is the dream career of all painters!" The old man didn't understand the student's idea.

"That would just be a waste to earn some pocket money, it has nothing to do with the painter's ability."

The master looked at the apprentice carefully for a while, then smiled helplessly, "You dare to talk back to me... You were more obedient before."

"......" Madarame Ichitaro remained silent.

"You should have understood this a long time ago, right?" The master stared into his eyes. "If you really had the ability, you wouldn't be affected by the surrounding factors and would have become famous a long time ago."

"What do you mean?!" Madarame didn't want to hear that answer.

But his master thinks that he can no longer use lies to cover up an unrealistic dream. The apprentice has grown up and has to face the society independently. The reality is cruel. If he cannot recognize his position, he will be skinned and stripped of his flesh and bones in the future!

He finally said the most hurtful words, "Madarame, you have no talent."

"No...that's not right! There is absolutely no such thing! I have practiced painting more diligently than any of your disciples, and I have put your teachings into practice!" In the chilly early spring, Madarame Ichitaro was sweating profusely. He seemed to be cornered by a ferocious beast, his eyes trembling and his muscles tense.

The old man walked to a certain place in the exhibition and showed him a painting depicting "the setting sun blooming from the sea of ​​clouds to the trees". "The artist is the same age as you, and he is your junior fellow apprentice."

His eyes showed sincerity and expectation, "Now is a great opportunity while you are still young. With your looks, there are many ways to make you famous."

A young man without any talent has a master who treats him well and keeps looking for a way out for his useless apprentice.

But at that time, Madarame did not understand the reality, nor did he see the regret in his master's eyes. He just said to himself, "Disciple has learned the lesson."

The long-term contact inspired Ichitaro Madarame to say, "Although your painting skills are first-class, your ability to judge people is not good enough."

This was spoken in anger, but Madarame already began to feel regret as he said it.

The old man was not angry, but looked at him calmly, "So, are you planning to start your own business?"

He considered it for a moment, then said, "I can't guarantee it, but you may never get the chance to call yourself 'Madame Ikryusai' in your lifetime."

The young man lowered his head. He did not understand the old man's advice, nor did he notice the moisture in his eyes.

If he had the courage to look his master in the face, perhaps the future would have been different.

But Madarame Ichitaro was just a passionate young man, so he clenched his fists and left the master's exhibition.

"I will definitely reach the pinnacle of the painting world with my own strength..."

This is how Madarame said goodbye to the old man who persuaded him to find another way.

When he suddenly looked back, his hair was already white.

Madarame Ichiryusai's eyes became a little clearer, and he looked at his wrinkled, old and skinny hands in shock and sadness.

The master who had sincerely planned a way out for himself and couldn't bear to see himself being destroyed by society had been dead for a long time, but he didn't even attend the funeral, nor accepted the condolences of other fellow apprentices. He just practiced painting day after day in poverty, in a cramped hut without air conditioning or any electronic facilities.

When did that passionate and sincere ideal become distorted until now?

Madarame Ichiryusai wanted to shed tears. The shame towards his teacher and the regret towards the students who had been exploited and oppressed by him surged into his heart.

He clenched his fists, as if trying to squeeze out some strength from his withered body, sat up, walked around, and tried his best to make up for his mistake.

But he failed, and lay on the bed in a daze like a dying patient.

Just like Madarame Ichiryusai's dead ideal.

113. The best Glock user in the world

Morgana jumped onto the balcony and tried to scratch open the curtains that blocked the view.

Suddenly a hand stretched out from the curtain, grabbed the big cat by the scruff of the neck, and lifted it into the house.

Amamiya Ren operated a few times on the laptop running Word and looked at Morgana, "Is Madarame still ill?"

"Yes." The big cat broke free from his restraints, fell to the ground, and licked his paws. "I have been observing him for a few days. He occasionally gets out of bed and wanders around the studio. As for repentance... He seems to be actively contacting his former disciples."

"We have received quite a few commissions recently," Amamiya Ren said suddenly, and took out a piece of still warm printed paper from the clacking printer. "After the cultural festival of Xiuhua High School, a first-year student named Kita Ikuyo was harassed and harassed by a boy from the next class. It seems that the boy was almost crossing the line. If Miss Kita had not known how to protect herself, it would have been a crime."

"Can't you call the police?"

"The perpetrator's parents are investigators. How could the children of investigators do such a thing?" Amamiya Ren looked through the information that Sakura Futaba helped to collect. Since there was a hacker in the Phantom Thieves, it seemed that everything became easier. "It must be a twisted desire."

Morgana's paw-licking movement froze instantly. He sighed, "I'll start investigating right away."

"If it's true, we should take action." The leader of the Phantom Thieves stood up and went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, took out a box of salmon and threw it to Morgana, "Let him repent."

Amamiya Ren looked at the black cat who was eating heartily and said, "Don't fight with Kitagawa for food in the future. He doesn't have much money anymore."

"Ka... I see he often buys some very high-end food..."

"Most of the money he used was from his art work, which wasn't a very lucrative income." Amamiya Ren gently kicked its hind legs. "Corporal Morgana, did you hear that?"

The big cat nodded repeatedly while chewing on the salmon to show that his attitude was correct.

Amamiya Ren frowned, "Follow orders?"

"Yes! General!" Morgana was startled and answered loudly.

The Phantom Thief patted its head in satisfaction and said, "Let's get going once we're done eating."

After the big cat left, Amamiya Ren turned around in her chair and opened her laptop. A new MSN message notification flashed in the lower right corner of the screen.

(CS:GO game chat group - now included in KFC deluxe lunch.)

【】：Log in!

【】：Log in!

【】：Log in!

Alice: You have to repeat the same thing three times. Isn't that annoying?

【】: If I wasn’t afraid of making you feel uncomfortable, I would have filled up the entire screen.

Please, send a sniper rifle: it was you who called for the number, don't run away halfway through the fight.

【】: How dare you! Aren't you the one who runs away the most? Yesterday you only played two games and then quit the game. I wanted to send a hundred letters of complaint to Valve.