"Besides getting angry, what else can they do?" Kishin Eri frowned slightly. "Even if they want to do something illegal, they haven't started yet. Mr. Aso's friends shouldn't be too unreasonable, right?"
"They're preparing to traffic drugs. Mr. Aso is only responsible for transporting the drugs in this plan, and he's going abroad in a few days," Hayashi Shuichi reminded her. "This means that his friends have already arranged the channels for purchasing drugs abroad. It's even possible they've mostly sorted out the sales domestically too."
"Now, suddenly learning that Mr. Aso wants to back out, besides being furious, they'll definitely worry that Mr. Aso will leak their secret…"
"You mean," a flicker of fear crossed Kishin Eri's eyes, "they might kill him to silence him?"
"That's highly likely," Hayashi Shuichi nodded. "Let's go. We'll check out the police station on the island."
…
Moonlight Island was truly too small. The island's residents numbered only a few hundred in total. The police station built on the island was not only pitifully small, but its internal furnishings were also very simple: a worn-out desk, a few chairs, and some old rules and regulations hanging on the wall.
After Hayashi Shuichi and Kishin Eri entered, they found that there was only one middle-aged police officer in the station.
"Can I help you two?" the police officer asked warmly.
"Uncle," Kishin Eri looked left and right. "There's only you here. If something big happens on the island, can you handle it alone?"
"What kind of earth-shattering event could happen on such a small island?" the police officer leaned back in his chair, casually waving his hand. "Usually, the most I get are reports of someone losing some small, worthless item. If a murder really happens, the Metropolitan Police Department will naturally send people over to handle it."
We can't rely on the local police station…
Hayashi Shuichi and Kishin Eri exchanged glances, the same thought crossing their minds.
After leaving the police station, Kishin Eri worried, "What should we do? If something really happens to Mr. Aso, with only this one officer, I'm afraid…"
"What else can we do? Of course, we'll ask Inspector Samezaki and his team for help," Hayashi Shuichi said decisively. "We'll say there's been a drug trafficking and murder case on the island and have the Metropolitan Police Department send reinforcements."
"…What if Mr. Aso's friends don't make a move?" Kishin Eri's eyes widened. "How will you explain that to Inspector Samezaki then?"
"Mr. Aso is about to go abroad and is worried about his son's health, so he'll definitely confront his friends as soon as possible," Hayashi Shuichi analyzed. "And those people, fearing that their crime will be leaked, will choose to kill him immediately to silence him. This will most likely happen tonight…"
"Even if I'm wrong, it's just a bit of lost face at most. Besides, even if they don't make a move, we can persuade Mr. Aso to report them."
Hayashi Shuichi's lips curled into a slight, confident smile.
"As long as he isn't truly confused, he should know what is the best choice for himself and his family."
…
After finding a public telephone on the island and calling Inspector Samezaki to bring reinforcements, Hayashi Shuichi took Kishin Eri to a small restaurant for some grilled fish. Afterward, they went to the Citizens' Hall to wait for the piano concert to begin.
The audience consisted of some outside guests and mostly island residents.
In the square outside the Citizens' Hall, people gathered in small groups, making for a lively scene.
Among the crowd, two people stood out.
One was the village chief of Moonlight Island, Kameyama, who, with his slightly corpulent belly and neat shirt, carried himself with considerable authority.
The other was the island's largest capitalist, Mr. Kawashima, who wore a sharp suit, his eyes full of shrewdness.
At seven in the evening, shortly after dusk, the outdoor concert officially began.
Mr. Aso sat at the piano. His hair was a bit disheveled, and his eyes revealed a hint of fatigue, but when his long, strong fingers rested on the keys, he seemed to instantly regain his vigor.
As his fingers danced across the keys, beautiful music slowly flowed out, like a gurgling stream.
Kishin Eri was quickly captivated by the exquisite piano music. She gently closed her eyes, a look of enchantment on her face, listening intently.
Hayashi Shuichi, however, had no artistic cells. As he sat there listening, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he found himself dozing off.
Time flew by with Mr. Aso's performance. His final piece was Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."
As his music flowed, tonight's moonlight also seemed to become much brighter.
…
The piano concert ended, and a warm, sustained applause filled the air.
People stood up one after another, cheering for Mr. Aso's brilliant performance.
Mr. Aso bowed slightly, thanking everyone, then had the piano moved and left with his group.
The crowd in front of the Citizens' Hall began to disperse. Hayashi Shuichi looked at Kishin Eri. "You go to Mr. Shimizu's house first. Once things are resolved, I'll come over."
Although Kishin Eri was worried, she understood that staying would likely be a burden to Hayashi Shuichi. She nodded slightly and left, looking back repeatedly.
Hayashi Shuichi pursued in the direction Mr. Aso had left. Soon, he caught sight of their group.
The piano must have already been carried away by the workers. Only four men accompanied Mr. Aso.
Hayashi Shuichi followed from a distance, cautiously hiding in the shadows, maintaining his distance.
Upon arriving at the courtyard gate of Mr. Aso's house, the group seemed to get into an argument.
Hayashi Shuichi, hidden in the distant bushes, vaguely heard Mr. Aso shout, "Even if the money earned that way saves Narumi, he won't have a good life in the future."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a man with spiky hair punched him, knocking him to the ground.
Mr. Aso fell heavily, letting out a muffled groan, a look of pain on his face.
Then, he was roughly carried into Mr. Aso's house by the four men.
Hayashi Shuichi quickly followed, climbing over the low courtyard wall, and silently approached a window to peer inside.
Mr. and Mrs. Aso and their daughter had already been tightly bound with ropes by the four men.
Mrs. Aso's face was filled with terror, and the little girl was trembling all over from fright, tears constantly welling up in her eyes.
The round-faced Village Chief Kameyama was still not giving up. With feigned concern, he said, "Keiji, we're doing this for your own good, that's why we brought you in! This is a hugely profitable business! If you weren't our friend, how could we possibly invite you to something this good?"
"There aren't that many philanthropists in this world," Mr. Kawashima, with a small mustache, chimed in. "Do you really feel at ease entrusting Narumi's life to the kindness of an outsider?"
(End of Chapter)
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"