Tokyoites don't have martial virtue

"Have you and Officer Takagi always worked together like this?" Makoto Kyushu shrugged and sighed helplessly, "I'm not his front man."

"That's called the lawful avoidance of search. If it weren't for the fact that Officer Takagi and I are acquaintances, he wouldn't have been willing to risk violating regulations to help me!" Ken Yuugami shook his head and said:

So, are you coming or not?

Kyushu Makoto looked down at the scattered debt collectors on the ground and pondered for a moment.

The debt collectors have just described the general situation of the underground bank. There are only about twenty members in total. Apart from five operators, the rest are debt collectors and thugs.

Moreover, this money exchange specifically targets middle-aged and elderly people, so the so-called "thugs" are only capable of beating up ordinary elderly people.

"Once we deal with this underground bank, Momiji's problem should be mostly solved, right?" Kyushu Makoto readily agreed.

"Need I say more? I'll go with you!"

Fifteen minutes later, two police cars arrived at Hoshino's house. They were urgently dispatched by Officer Takagi from the neighboring town.

Several police officers put the debt collectors into the car, deliberately leaving one of them for Kyushu Makoto and his group.

"Now it's up to you to lead the way, little brother~" Kyushu Makoto and Yuugami Ken patted the debt collector's shoulder at the same time, and said with a sinister smile:

"Please take us to your company, and don't get lost!"

The debt collector turned pale with fright and nodded stiffly like a machine, his voice barely audible: "Yes, I understand."

Just then, Suzumiya Momiji rushed up and said, "Wait a minute, I'll come with you too!"

"What are you doing here?" Kyushu Makoto turned and asked. "If we encounter danger, you'll only be a burden, won't you?"

"Hmm, that's true." Suzumiya Momiji had no words to refute, but still forced herself to ask, "But this is my private matter after all. You all risked your lives for me, how can I hide behind you all alone?"

"What's wrong with that? We're friends, aren't we?" Kyushu Makoto smiled faintly.

"Even if we're friends, you don't have to go to this lengths for me." Suzumiya Kame clutched her collar. "We...we're just ordinary friends, aren't we? How am I supposed to repay you for this?"

"I would go to such lengths for a friend," Kyushu Makoto replied calmly, hands on his hips.

"If you want to repay me, then please treat your 'friends' the same way from now on."

"Little Harukawa" Ryoumiya Momiji stared blankly into the boy's clear and innocent eyes, speechless for a moment.

"Go to the police station with your mother to give your statement first, and leave the rest to us!" Kyushu Makoto stretched out his arm, leaving her with a thumbs-up gesture.

"You're pretty good at flirting with women, aren't you?" Yugami Ken patted Kyushu Makoto on the back, and the two left the Hoshino residence together.

The underground bank's headquarters were located in the next town, a twenty-minute drive away. The two drove there as fast as they could and then broke in like robbers.

"哐——!"

In just five minutes of fierce fighting, Kyushu Makoto used his umbrella to knock down the last thug in a suit and wiped the sweat from his temples with the back of his hand.

Yushin Ken also looked down at the bank thug lying unconscious in front of him, and casually tossed away the blood-stained landline phone.

"So weak~ No wonder they're a loan shark gang that only targets the middle-aged and elderly; they don't even have anyone who can fight." Yugami Kenshin gasped for breath, then looked at Kyushu Makoto beside him:

"Thanks to your help, Kyushu-kun. How about you consider working as a temporary employee at my detective agency?"

"Oh? What are the working conditions like?" Kyushu Makoto became interested.

"Part-time. Work when there are commissions, rest when there aren't, and get a share of the commissions based on your contribution," Xi Shenjian invited.

"I've heard about your situation from Mr. Yagawa. You must really need money, right?"

"That sounds good. I'll think about it seriously," Kyushu Makoto nodded.

"However, let me state in advance that I do not make commissions that violate my personal ethics."

"Understood, understood~" Yugami Ken took a cigarette out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Kyushu Makoto:

"Smoke?"

"Don't smoke."

"Only e-cigarettes?"

"I don't smoke electronic ones either."

"Haha~ Sorry~" Yugami Ken put a cigarette in his mouth, lit it with a lighter, and leaned against the window to enjoy it.

Twenty minutes later, Officer Takagi stormed in with a team of men.

As is customary, Officer Takagi handcuffed the two men with silver bracelets and then, in a perfunctory manner, took them to the police station.

The criminals in the money exchange were also rounded up, and a large amount of stolen goods and evidence were found at the scene—whether it was about the dozens of victims the money exchange had cheated or the local officials they had bribed.

The two stayed at the police station until evening before being released by the police.

As Kyushu Makoto stepped out of the interrogation room, he saw Suzumiya Kame waiting for him on a bench in the lobby.

"Have you been waiting for me all this time, Momiji-nee?" Kyushu Makoto asked.

"No, I just finished taking my statement myself." Suzumiya Momiji placed her hands on her knees and smiled gently at him.

"Oh, you're out so early~" Yugami Ken also came out of the interrogation room, shrugging in disappointment:

"I thought I'd be able to have dinner in the interrogation room, but this police station only serves barley tea. I was so angry that I drank more than a dozen cups and almost got diarrhea!"

"Are you treating the detention center like a cafeteria?" Kyushu Makoto complained helplessly, then turned to Suzumiya Momiji and asked, "Speaking of which, where's your mother?"

“The police took her home,” Suzumiya Kame replied. “I told her to go back and pack her things before coming to Tokyo with me.”

“But the people from the underground bank have all been arrested, so there’s no need to take her to Tokyo anymore, is there?” Kyushu Makoto asked.

“Yes, we can save on moving and subsequent security services,” Yugami Ken said. “The three of us can go straight back to Tokyo without any problem.”

"But I'm still worried about leaving Mom in this awful place," Ryoumi Momiji said with concern. "Who knows when that bastard Dad will sneak back and bully her again!"

“That makes sense. Your father is currently missing because he's trying to escape debts, but he might come home.” Kyushu Makoto expressed his understanding.

"Let us go with you again. We need to pick up your mother today."

The three drove back to the Hoshino house under the cover of night in the countryside. A warm orange light shone from the windows; Suzumiya Momiji's mother had clearly arrived home.

For some reason, there were two figures inside the window. One figure could be vaguely seen raising its arm to punch the other.

"Why is there a second person in your house?" Kyushu Makoto asked warily, gripping the umbrella next to his seat.

Suzumiya Momiji's body trembled involuntarily.

“That damned old man is back!” she gritted her teeth, forcing the words out of her mouth.

After saying that, Suzumiya Momiji opened the car door and rushed into the house.

Kyushu Makoto followed him inside and, sure enough, saw a disheveled old man punching Hoshino's mother while cursing.

"Damn it! We can't contact the people at the money exchange anymore, what happened?" The old man reeked of rotten alcohol, his dark eyes were bloodshot, his fists were flailing wildly, and his words were incoherent: "There must still be money at home! Hand it all over!"

Hoshino's mother knelt on the ground with her legs bent, covering her swollen face without saying a word.

"Stop!" Ryouko Momiji stepped forward and shoved the old man aside: "You damned old man, how dare you come back?!"

The old man took two steps back, using the table for support to stand up. After recognizing the newcomer, he grinned, revealing a toothless, cracked mouth.

"Is that Xiaohua? Xiaohua is back! You're rich now, aren't you? I heard you paid back a million to the money lender in just two months!"

"The first thing you do when you see your daughter is talk about money." Kyushu Makoto walked forward, leaning on his umbrella, his face serious: "Is this your father, Momiji-nee?"

"How pathetic," sighed Yugami Ken.

"Who...who are you two?" The old man was startled, grabbed a rolling pin from the table, and pointed it at them excitedly:

"I know. Could you be Xiaohua's lovers? Hahaha! Xiaohua is really something, she's hooked up with so many men! She must be very rich!"

Upon hearing this, Ryouko's face turned completely dark. She walked step by step to her father and said, "You damned old man, don't you want to listen to what you're saying?"

"Xiao Hua, what are you doing? Don't come any closer!" The old man was clearly not in a stable mental state. After noticing his daughter's anger, he subconsciously swung the rolling pin at Suzumiya Hua.

"Momiji-nee, back off!" Kyushu Makoto immediately moved his feet, trying to rush forward to save the day.

Instead, Suzumiya Momiji took a step forward and blocked the wooden staff with her arm.

Then, she clenched her other hand and punched her father's withered face.

"哐——!"

The old man was knocked to the ground by her, and he covered his cheek in astonishment.

Ignoring the pain in her forearm, Suzumiya Momiji kicked her father again, cursing loudly and completely lacking any ladylike demeanor:

"You bastard, I've put up with you for twenty years, it's about time you gave up!"

"All you do all day is drink, gamble on horses, and beat people. Have you ever done even one good deed for us, mother and daughter?! Huh!"

Suzumiya Kasumi grabbed a broom and swung it wildly like she was beating a dog, making her father spin like a top on the ground. The old man cowered in fear, completely losing the arrogance he had displayed when he was beating his wife.

"And besides, those two aren't my boyfriends! They're my friends! Friends! You bastard, watch your words!"

104. Kamurocho Escape Plan

Thirty minutes later, the police arrived and arrested Mr. Hoshino on charges of "domestic violence" and "intentional assault".

Yugami Ken suggested that Suzumiya Kame gather evidence and sue her father as well. Although Hoshino's mother had some reservations, Suzumiya Kame readily agreed.

"Thankfully, your arm is a little swollen, but the bone isn't broken." Kyushu Makoto treated the red and swollen wound on Suzumiya Momiji's forearm:

"You should have moved aside and let me handle him."