Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner-Chapter 816 - 494: Finding a Partner_2

"I assure you, as long as we solve the case, we will definitely get the bonus! This check can be cashed at any time, and you can call the bank to verify!"

Tsuboi Michiaki spoke in a strained voice, changing his tone: "But the time you’ve given us is too tight, it’s an impossible task. What’s the point of promising so much? It’s like asking for stars in the sky; even if you offered a billion yen, we couldn’t achieve it..."

Tsuboi Michiaki talked a bit too much this time, not noticing as the crowd parted, exposing him to the sight of Minamoto Tamako and Fushimi Roku.

Realizing something was wrong as he spoke, he looked up and felt slightly embarrassed. Fortunately, he had a thick skin, straightened up, adjusted his clothes, and said seriously: "As I said before, this is something that can’t be done..."

"No, it’s possible," Kensaka Takataro interrupted.

"Huh?" Tsuboi Michiaki said, "Which side are you on? Don’t waste everyone’s time with self-directed talk..."

"I’m on the side of truth." Kensaka Takataro bowed his head to light a cigarette: "Mr. Fushimi is right, not just anyone can claim the 10 million yen bonus; if you’re not confident or capable, leave now!"

He spoke without sparing anyone’s feelings, as everyone present was his potential competitor.

"Easy to say, what will you do? Have you already deduced the truth?" Tsuboi Michiaki’s last sentence was full of sarcasm.

Kensaka Takataro had already sorted out his thoughts: "It’s simple, it only takes two people working together."

He paused and explained: "One person investigates outside, while the other takes time to return to the hall to analyze new case developments. Since the four cases are linked, we’re not solving four separate cases but one case."

"Miss Minamoto also mentioned before, the bonus can be negotiated to be shared. I’m willing to share it equally, and I’d get at least 1,250,000 yen. That’s enough for me."

"Two people, five days, to solve one case—I think I can do it."

Kensaka Takataro raised his head, his pupils reflecting the spark of his cigarette: "Who among you would like to solve the case with me?"

The crowd was overwhelmed by his determination.

The writers’ eyes lit up, finding great material for their stories; this trip was truly worthwhile.

The unfolding turned out as they hoped, a two-person detective team, a staple in detective novels.

Like Sherlock and Watson, Yukawa Manabu and Utsumi Kaoru, Hercule Poirot and Arthur Hastings...

"Me!"

Mori Na was the first to raise her hand: "I excel at organizing information and am willing to go to the hall to sort out the new cases... and I’m willing to take a smaller share! I only want 1 million yen! 800,000 is fine too! If someone is willing to go lower, I’ll always undercut them by half!"

At these words, everyone lost interest in competing.

Following Kensaka Takataro seemed more likely to solve the case, but no one wanted a smaller share of the bonus.

Aoshima Harano was a bit disappointed; he realized this too, but had planned to discreetly select a suitable partner after everyone else was disheartened.

After Kensaka Takataro laid everything out, Aoshima Harano initially thought of partnering with him. With two capable people working together, the effect might be greater than the sum of its parts.

Unfortunately, Mori Na beat him to it, disturbing the market rate.

Aoshima Harano even felt that this female writer didn’t care about the bonus at all, or she wouldn’t have said, ’If someone is willing to go lower, I’ll always undercut them by half.’

However, Mori Na also reminded him that a partner shouldn’t necessarily be highly capable.

A highly capable partner would lead to competition, mutual suspicion, and withholding of information. If you’re confident in yourself, it’s best to find an assistant who trusts you unconditionally, someone diligent and reliable, who makes you feel comfortable using them.

Aoshima Harano looked around at his peers, realizing that anyone who had made a name in the detective field couldn’t be without some cunning.

It seemed that choosing a writer as a partner was the best option.

Some detectives had already realized this and took the initiative to leave, engaging with the novelists.

The detectives gradually spread out, looking for suitable partners.

In less than half an hour, everyone had spontaneously paired up, each duo finding a place to discuss the case.

Coincidentally, the number of guests was odd, meaning one unlucky person would be left without a partner.

Tsuboi Michiaki was that unlucky person.

He cheerfully tried to team up with Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako but was rejected by both.

Fushimi Roku’s reason for refusal was ’The two of us are partners, the team is full’; Minamoto Tamako’s reason was ’Teaming up with us might make others feel it’s unfair’...

In the end, Tsuboi Michiaki could only work on the case alone.

He squatted at the hall entrance, idly picking at the grass in the flowerbed, venting his frustration, muttering under his breath: "What’s so great about them, those so-called famous detectives, just a bunch of paupers..."

With their intelligence, how clever can they be if they can’t even make money?

What nonsense about splitting the bonus—only a fool would split the bonus!

Just wait, that 25 million yen will all be mine!

Tsuboi Michiaki stood up, already having a plan in mind.

...

Inside the hall, after everyone finished discussing the case, they set off to investigate the murder, leaving only a few people in the hall, who gave up investigating the hall’s shooting incident, planning to find a breakthrough in the subsequent cases.

Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako suddenly found themselves with some free time; it was their wedding, yet the bride and groom were ignored.

Minamoto Tamako took the opportunity to call Kujo Yua, still hoping her mother could attend.

But unfortunately, Kujo Yua didn’t pick up, probably because she was in a meeting and had no time.

Minamoto Tamako sighed, then called other seniors, only for Sister Yasurou to answer, sounding particularly tired: "Moshi moshi?"

"Sister Yasurou, did you receive my message?" Minamoto Tamako asked.

She had sent wedding invitations to friends and family a few days ago, and yet no one had come.

Very strange.

"Ah, I did. Congratulations, congratulations! You better keep a close watch on Mr. Fushimi from now on." Moriyama Yasurou said.

Minamoto Tamako thought the implication was, ’You won’t find a better man if you miss this one,’ or ’You better keep a close watch on your husband, don’t let him get enticed by other women outside’...

Hearing this, she finally felt the reality of marrying Mr. Fushimi.

Marriage isn’t just about living together; it’s about binding two people’s futures together, guaranteed, witnessed, and blessed by the law.

From now on, she would become ’Mrs. Fushimi,’ and the nameplate at their door would change to ’Fushimi’s home’...

But Fushimi Roku might become part of her family. Her grandfather had been keen on him joining their family, though he could change his mind on his deathbed.

If Fushimi Roku joined their family, she would become ’Mrs. Kujo,’ and the nameplate would say ’Kujo Family,’ sharing her mother’s surname, as well as the Kujo Family’s surname...

It felt a bit odd.

Minamoto Tamako drifted off in thought, hearing Moriyama Yasurou’s voice but not registering it.

"Moshi moshi? Is it a bad signal?" Moriyama Yasurou spoke for a while without receiving a response, prompting her to ask.

"Oh, what? Sorry, I was a bit preoccupied and missed that." Minamoto Tamako snapped back to reality.

"...Nothing much," Moriyama Yasurou said. "Happy wedding; we’ve all prepared wedding gifts for you."

"Thank you! I’ll be back soon." Minamoto Tamako subconsciously felt her grandfather wouldn’t live long, which often came out during conversations.

"Aren’t you going on a honeymoon?" Moriyama Yasurou asked.

"The best honeymoon is solving a case. Surely Mr. Deer would love it." Minamoto Tamako glanced at Fushimi Roku, holding the phone and her mouth with her hand as if beatboxing: "You’re still investigating the Cat Island case, right?"

Moriyama Yasurou didn’t answer directly: "Focus on the wedding. A bride shouldn’t worry about things outside of it... Alright, I’ve got to go, we’ll chat later, bye."

With that, she hung up the phone.

Minamoto Tamako closed her flip phone, unable to resist complaining to Fushimi Roku: "I keep feeling that everyone’s been acting a bit strange recently, could something have happened in Tokyo?"

"It’s nothing, what could possibly be wrong? You’re overthinking things..."

Fushimi Roku said, while his phone vibrated. Not looking at it, he continued to comfort Minamoto Tamako and took her to the makeshift restaurant for desserts.

Only when Minamoto Tamako was happily licking her ice cream did Fushimi Roku find an excuse to go to the restroom.

He opened his phone, seeing a text from Watanabe Shun. That guy was still the same as always, stingy with operational fees, sending a message of just six characters:

——[Abe Rokuro is dead]