This morning, the Tokyo news media had just reported on the Moon Shadow Island case. unexpectedly, barely half a day later, Hayashi Shuichi had cracked another major narcotics case.
This news was like a massive boulder cast into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves.
A horde of news media, acting like sharks catching the scent of blood, swarmed in instantly, surrounding Hayashi Shuichi until not even a drop of water could trickle through.
Camera flashes blinked incessantly, and microphones were thrust toward him one after another, as if threatening to swallow him whole.
Hayashi Shuichi had not expected these reporters to arrive so quickly. Caught off guard, it was obviously impossible to forcibly break through this heavy encirclement.
Helpless, he had no choice but to stay and accept the interview.
With the "experience" from the last time Hayashi Shuichi read a "prepared official statement" for over half an hour during a live broadcast, the reporters had clearly learned their lesson.
They didn't dare let Hayashi Shuichi speak freely again, lest they be subjected to another pile of lengthy nonsense. Instead, they chose to fire questions at him one by one for him to answer.
"Shuichi-kun, the Organized Crime Control Department's 5th Division also received information about drug trafficking near the library, but they only considered it a smokescreen by the dealers," a male reporter with glasses and sharp eyes asked the first question. "Compared to them, why were you able to determine that the traffickers were hiding inside the library and apprehend them so quickly?"
This question was clearly hostile. If Hayashi Shuichi answered carelessly, it would be very easy to offend the 5th Division.
Inspector Yuminaga, watching from the side, immediately frowned. He had just shown off to Officer Kinoshita that Hayashi Shuichi was one of Investigation Section 1's own. If Shuichi gave the wrong answer, it would undoubtedly affect the relationship between Section 1 and the Organized Crime Department.
Thinking this, Inspector Yuminaga prepared to step in and answer for him.
However, Hayashi Shuichi beat him to it, speaking with calm composure: "Actually, catching the drug dealer this time was entirely due to accident and luck. My childhood friend is a girl who loves to read, and she often comes to the Beika Library. I came here today not to look for drug dealers, but to accompany her while she read."
"Discovering drugs in the bookshelf was completely accidental. Even without me, since the officers of the 5th Division already knew about the transactions near the library, with their professional capabilities, they would definitely have noticed the irregularities at Beika Library very soon."
Hayashi Shuichi's answer made Officer Kinoshita nod with satisfaction. A look of appreciation appeared in his eyes: This young man is not only exceptionally capable but also humble. He doesn't try to hog the credit at all. How was such a talent snatched up by Investigation Section 1?!
"Shuichi-kun, yesterday during your arrest of the criminals on Moon Shadow Island, two people were seriously injured and are still being resuscitated in the hospital. This time, in capturing the Director of Beika Library, you caused him to break his leg," a tall, stern-faced female reporter spoke up to question him. "Although you successfully caught the criminals, aren't your methods too cruel?"
Why are there sanctimonious people everywhere? Hayashi Shuichi frowned slightly.
"First, you need to clarify one issue: Why were these criminals injured?"
"Of the two seriously injured people on Moon Shadow Island, one was accidentally shot by his own accomplice. Blaming that on me is clearly inappropriate."
"As for Director Tsugawa of Beika Library, in order to destroy evidence, he set fire to the library and then attempted to kill me to silence me. That is why I knocked him unconscious."
"If I hadn't let go of past grievances and risked my life to save him from the fire, he wouldn't just have a broken leg right now—he would likely be dead."
"Miss Reporter, you say I am cruel, but may I ask, where exactly is the cruelty?"
"Be that as it may, they were all seriously injured. As a police officer, your law enforcement should have some warmth..."
The female reporter was relentless. Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Hayashi Shuichi.
"Who told you I am a police officer? Although I am an investigative consultant for Investigation Section 1, I am just a sixteen-year-old child still attending high school!"
"Miss Reporter, don't you think your demands are a bit too excessive for a minor?"
By the end of his sentence, Hayashi Shuichi's face was filled with grievance, and his voice began to choke up.
He slowly lowered his head, bowed deeply to everyone present, and then said in a trembling voice, "I apologize to everyone. I only wanted to do my best to contribute to the safety of Beika, so that all citizens could live in a healthy environment free of drugs."
"If I really did something wrong, please forgive me!"
The reporters' interview had long since attracted many onlookers.
Hayashi Shuichi's "performance" immediately aroused their sympathy.
Many people shouted in righteous indignation:
"That's too much! What kind of questions are these?"
"He's just a child, why are you making things so difficult for him!"
"Sympathizing with drug dealers but making things hard for the hero who caught them? Is this female reporter an accomplice of the drug dealers?"
...
Hearing the comments from the surrounding crowd, the sanctimonious female reporter's face turned red, then green.
She finally remembered that the person in front of her was not one of those adult officers from the Metropolitan Police Department, but a genuine minor!
She had intended to manufacture a big scoop about Hayashi Shuichi "abusing suspects," but she hadn't expected to be outmaneuvered by him using his age against her.
Facing the angry condemnation of the crowd, the female reporter panicked. She stammered an apology and hurriedly scurried away, hiding behind the other reporters with her tail between her legs.
With her as a warning example, the remaining reporters dared not underestimate Hayashi Shuichi again. The questions became much more normal, and the atmosphere at the scene gradually relaxed.
Half an hour later, the crowd had dispersed slightly.
Spotting an opportunity, Hayashi Shuichi grabbed Officer Kinoshita of the 5th Division and pulled him in front of the reporters, while he used the distraction to sneak into Investigation Section 1's police car.
"Are you alright, Shuichi-kun?" Inspector Yuminaga chased after him. "Those reporters are just like that. Their heads are full of making big news, and they always like to exaggerate..."
"Do I look like I'm not alright?" Hayashi Shuichi raised an eyebrow in amusement. He reached out to take the water Kisaki Eri handed him and gulped down a large mouthful. "I was just a bit thirsty. Dealing with those reporters is really troublesome."
"This..." Inspector Yuminaga was stunned, a look of confusion on his face. "Weren't you about to cry just now?"
"He was faking it," Kisaki Eri rolled her eyes and reached out to poke Hayashi Shuichi's cheek lightly. "His skin is thicker than the walls of Osaka Castle. How could he possibly wipe away tears of grievance over a few questions?"
"I thought so... wondering how you recovered so quickly." Inspector Yuminaga couldn't help but chuckle. After smiling, he continued to lead his officers to assist the fire trucks in extinguishing the blaze.
Inside the police car, only Hayashi Shuichi and Kisaki Eri remained. The former asked with a face full of innocence, "How was I faking it? I truly am still a child!"
Looking at Hayashi Shuichi, it seemed as if he really had suffered a massive injustice.
Kisaki Eri glanced at him, her eyes filled with disdain. "You might as well say you're a nursing infant!"
"Did I not feed last night?" Hayashi Shuichi blinked, the corners of his mouth hooking into a wicked smile. "How about letting me have another taste now?"
Kisaki Eri's face instantly flushed red. She covered her chest and looked around in a panic. Only after seeing that no one had heard Hayashi Shuichi's words did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"Hayashi Shuichi, how are you becoming more and more shameless!"
(End of Chapter)
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