I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

"I remember this magazine was Kube's previous supplier, right?"

I don't know if this is a coincidence or not.

Of course, Aki Tomo didn't say that Kube Rokuro leaked the information. The research institute was only notified later to go to the scene to see the body. The person who took the photos was probably already at that location.

"It might just be a coincidence."

Leaning against the wall, he looked toward the room where the body had been found, and once again marveled at how well the location had been chosen.

Chapter 355 A Person with Something to Say (Second Update, reply to this post and get a mousepad; first person to reply gets one)

After the fire, the building and its surrounding area were completely closed off for repairs.

The body was discovered by repair workers as they conducted a room-by-room safety hazard inspection after the fire investigation was completed.

The main reason was that the door to that room wasn't closed; you could easily push it open and go inside.

If I recall this process...

After the case was closed and the fire department, police department, and research institute all provided complete explanations, there was nothing else to dig up regarding the fire.

Whether the reporter who took the photo followed them here or was already there beforehand, Aki Tomoya is currently unable to determine.

That reporter was really good; he found a spot that was hard to spot and got such a good angle.

If you can observe the entrance below, and if the building opposite is not obstructing the view, you should be able to perfectly observe the room where the body was found.

After confirming where the person who took the photo was, Aki Tomoya believed that the focus should still be on that room.

What was that room used for, and who owned it?

And the area where the deceased was last active before his death.

Unfortunately, he wasn't a police officer. If he had access to the police system, investigating these matters would take some time, but it wouldn't be too difficult.

"Editor: Riichi Shishido"

I don't know if Rokuro Kube knows this person.

This person might have some inside information.

……

Two days later, when Aki Tomoya arrived at UDI, he specifically asked Kube Rokuro if he knew someone named Shishido Riichi.

Kube Rokuro seemed a little awkward and asked in a low voice, "I know, but why?"

Why did he know about Shishido Riichi?

Kube Rokuro met Shishido Riichi because of Suetsugu Kosuke.

Previously, Kosuke Suetsugu was his superior, and Riichi Shishido was also a freelance journalist for the magazine.

Last night, Kube Rokuro met with Suetsugu Kosuke again, but it wasn't a transaction; they just had a few drinks. Suetsugu also had something to give him.

"Didn't the person who wrote this report clearly write it here?"

Riichi Shishido.

Aki Tomoya specifically pointed it out to Kube Rokuro.

"...What's wrong with him?"

"I just wanted to ask him if he had any information. Since we couldn't get anything out of the police, we decided to try here. I've been looking at all of Shishido Riichi's past articles these past two days, and he's also following up on this serial murder case!"

After returning home that day, Aki Tomoya found all the previous reports that Shishido Riichi had published.

Then, to everyone's surprise, it was discovered that this Shishido Riichi had previously reported on other related murder cases besides this one, and the identity of the killer remained a mystery.

This made him even more convinced that Shishido Riichi might know something.

Knowing that this person was also investigating this serial murder case, it might not seem like a coincidence anymore.

What this man had been waiting for on the building opposite where the body was found, only he himself knew.

Whether or not they were waiting for the police to find the body and then taking photos was no longer the point for Aki Tomoya.

Rather, this person knows something else.

Are you going to look for this person?

Kube Rokuro asked.

After thinking of Shishido Riichi, he couldn't help but glance at Nakado Kei, who was also in the office.

If that person finds out about this, they'll probably be very excited.

However, he dared not say that he knew Shishido Riichi.

The only thing that can be discussed openly in the past is with Aki Tomoya.

"I just want to know if this person has any more information. Sometimes, these paparazzi are more powerful than the police."

If Shishido Riichi has any information, it should be helpful to the investigation.

However, the person who knows Shishido Riichi now is Kube Rokuro, so if we really want to find this person, we still need to ask Kube Rokuro to make the connection.

"I can go and look for this person."

"Then please."

He had no objection to having Rokuro Kube find Riichi Shishido.

And there's something he doesn't know whether he should say or not.

Last night, when I went to see Kosuke Suetsugu, Riichi Shishido asked Kosuke Suetsugu to give him some things.

They said it was some kind of bombshell.

It does seem to be related to the case, but apart from a few photos and a painting of a pink hippo, nothing else can be discerned.

"By the way, if you're going to see Shishido Riichi, remember to say as little as possible in front of him. With someone like that, you need to know what you should say and what you shouldn't say."

At the same time, Aki Tomo also offered a reminder.

Although she thought Shishido Riichi might have some inside information, Aki Tomoya also remembered that he was a freelance journalist and his magazine had done a lot of coverage on UDI.

At least Aki Tomoya has a very bad impression of this person and the magazine he works for.

"Should we tell Dr. Nakado about this?"

"What are you thinking? Let him investigate if he wants to. I won't give him any clues. Anyone can find the murderer, but we can't let this person find the murderer!"

Aki Tomoya rolled his eyes at Kube Rokuro.

He spent a lot of time trying to find clues that could solve the case before the Zhongtang faction.

If the Zhongtang faction wants to investigate, they can do it themselves; there's no need to worry about them.

In any case, whether it's the police or anyone else, it's best if the person solving the case isn't from the Nakado faction.

His solving of the case means that people will die.

Suzuki's lesson was still fresh in everyone's mind, and Aki Tomoya certainly didn't want to see the same thing happen again.

"By the way, if you have a way, could you do me another favor?"

"what?"

"I want to know what Shishido Riichi has been doing lately and where he has been."

"...I'll give it a try."

Kube Rokuro's expression was somewhat unnatural. He had never imagined that he would end up becoming Aki Tomoya's spy.

At that moment, he remembered the things that Shishido Riichi had given him. Just as he was about to ask to take them out, Misumi Mikoto came over.

"Gentlemen, if you have nothing else to do, could you please help me out a little?"

"I'm sorry, Dr. Misumi, I have something to attend to. You can talk to Hisabe-kun instead."

"No, Aki-kun, have you forgotten what you just told me?"

Aki Tomoya initially declined, feeling embarrassed, but then Kube Rokuro also glanced at him.

He has plenty to do; he needs to help Aki Tomoya, he's investigating a case himself, and he also has things to do for Misumi Mikoto.

He's not some kind of superhuman, so why do they all treat him like a tool?

"Also, Aki-kun, there's something I think you should take a look at."

"What? What are you doing in secret?"

Before Aki Tomoya could speak, Misumi Mikoto asked curiously.

Since neither of them offered her any help, she was curious to know what these two were up to.

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