Tokyo, the shady intelligence of private detectives

The murderous aura emanated from Izayoi Akira, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.

"Mr. Yuzuru, what is your purpose in impersonating a real estate agent?"

Masahiro Hanyu realized the danger posed by his female neighbor and involuntarily took two steps back, but he didn't believe she would actually kill anyone.

"Ms. Mingkong, please let me explain. I am indeed a real estate agent from Nishi-Arai Real Estate."

"Besides, I'm not a detective, just an clerk at a detective agency. I barely make enough to live on by taking on a few investigation cases."

"You should have heard that Sato came to me to collect a debt, right?"

"In order to earn more money, I asked Sato to introduce me to clients. I wonder if Ms. Mingkong heard me?"

Izayoi blinked but didn't speak; her expression clearly showed she had heard.

Masahiro Hanyu looked helpless. "I'm behind on rent, and Mrs. Tanaka has come to my door many times. You must have heard about it."

Izayoi Akira wrinkled her pert nose slightly. "Mrs. Tanaka has come to see you many times, and each time she knocked very loudly."

Masahiro Yuzuru sighed, "If I had money, would I be behind on rent? It's only because I'm forced to work as a real estate agent that I've taken on this part-time job."

"I take on another job simply to increase my income."

"I'm also new to this industry, so I have to make sure I complete any work I take on diligently."

The murderous aura emanating from Izayoi Akira slowly dissipated, a fact that Yuzuru Masahiro could clearly sense.

Her expression even held a hint of sympathy. "I'm sorry, I misunderstood Mr. Yuzuru. After all, it's understandable that people would have reservations if a detective came to your home."

Masahiro Hanyu was right; Akizo Izayoi was indeed simple-minded and easily trusting.

"Ms. Mingkong, you may not know that I am your neighbor in apartment 502, but I am telling you the truth because I want to treat you with sincerity."

He stared at the curtain on the wall. "According to the regulations, this wall needs to be photographed. If I cover it with the curtain, I won't be able to explain it to the landlord, and I could easily lose this job."

Izayoi Akira frowned in thought, looking serious. "I see. Then please come again tomorrow, Mr. Yuzuru. I will restore this place to its original state and remove the curtains."

Although she is simple-minded, she is not stupid, according to Masahiro Hanyu.

What's behind the curtain must be very important to her. If he insists on seeing it, she will do everything in her power to stop him, even if she doesn't actually kill him.

Considering the speed and strength she had just displayed, Yuzuru Masahiro had no intention of taking any risks. However, he still wanted to give it a try, after all, Miss Akira's heart was probably kind.

"Hey, I'm going to give the photos to the landlord today. Even if I can't take pictures, I'll explain why. I just want to see them once."

"I'm such an incompetent person. I couldn't even complete the task on my first try as a middleman."

"Ms. Mingkong, I won't bother you any longer." Yuzuru Masahiro turned and walked towards the door with a somber expression.

"If you don't want to take pictures, you can just look at it, but... you're not allowed to laugh at me." Izayoi's voice wasn't loud.

People with simple minds are compassionate, and Izayoi Akizo is no exception.

Having predicted it correctly once again, Masahiro Yuzuru turned around and said, "Ms. Mingkong, I promise I will never ridicule you."

Izayoi Akira reached out and grabbed the curtain. "Mr. Yuzuru, you must swear you won't laugh at me."

Masahiro Hanyu solemnly raised his right hand, "I swear!"

Izayoi Akira gently bit her lower lip and slowly pulled back the curtain.

Masahiro Hanyu's gaze fell on the wall, and he was genuinely startled.

Behind the curtain is a wooden frame recessed into the wall.

The wooden frame is divided into hundreds of squares, and each square holds a small wooden figurine about the size of a finger.

Some of these tiny people have one eye, some have one kidney, some have one heart, and some only have a large intestine...

The carvings depict anatomical structures painted in color: the blood vessels in the eyes, the texture of the glomeruli, the valves of the heart, and the folds of the large intestine are all clearly visible...

Although the human figure is only the size of a finger, the carving of each organ is detailed and lifelike, as if it were alive, with a vivid and almost provocative realism.

"I've been trying my best, but I'm just too stupid. I still can't carve all the organs on a statue." Izayoi said in a self-reproachful tone.

Yuzuru Masahiro looked puzzled. "Ms. Mingkong, do you sculpt these little figurines every night?"

Izayoi Akira nodded. "Yes, but mistakes often happen. If the power is slightly off, the statue will fall off the wooden frame."

Masahiro Hanyu suddenly realized, "No wonder I often hear the sound of something falling, and Ms. Akira's exclamations."

Izayoi Akira's cheeks flushed slightly. "Hanyu-kun, I heard you. I'm so sorry to have bothered you."

"When the statue hits the ground, the force in my hands dissipates, and the energy will come out of my mouth. But I will try to be more careful in the future."

Masahiro Hanyu was even more surprised, "During the sculpting, didn't Ms. Akira hold the statue with her hands?"

Izayoi shook her head. "The statue can only be placed in the grid. Only the carving knife can touch it, not your hands. Otherwise, I would have finished carving it long ago."

If Izayoi wasn't lying, her carving skills were simply divine.

"But Miss Mingkong, why did you choose to carve such a unique statue?"

"Because..." Izayoi hesitated, "I can't say it. I think Mr. Yuzuru probably doesn't need to tell the landlord either."

Masahiro Hanyu hesitated slightly, "The landlord doesn't need to know, I'm just a little curious."

Izayoi Akira drew the curtains. "Mr. Yuzuru, now you can explain things to the landlord."

So, in the coffee shop, would she give the scarred middle-aged man a statue?

Masahiro Hanyu initially wanted to inquire, but upon closer reflection, he realized it might arouse the suspicion of his female neighbor, so he decided to stop.

"Miss Mingkong, I'll take my leave now."

Masahiro Hanyu left room 501 and went to other floors to continue investigating the tenants' situations.

Some tenants were not home, and some were home but were not cooperating.

In comparison, the investigation into Izayoi Akizo was relatively smooth.

It took nearly three days for Masahiro Hanyu to finally conduct a face-to-face interview with every tenant in the building.

For the past three days, he has not seen Izayoi Akira again, nor has he heard any more sounds of objects falling or screams from next door at night.

Sato Takao never showed up, which also puzzled Hanyu Masahiro.

Could it be that Sato also had an accident like Mrs. Tanaka? But if that were the case, Takefuji would send someone else to collect the debt.

Forgetting his debts would be ideal, but Masahiro Hanyu knew that was just wishful thinking.

He arrived at the detective agency, where Yui Satsuki carefully read the investigation report he had written.

"Hanyu-kun, you did a great job. This investigation record is very detailed."

"Izayoi Akizo, your female neighbor is quite interesting. A human anatomical figure the size of a finger must have been sculpted with very high skill."

"She must have a very clear mind to do this kind of work, so there's no need to pay extra attention to her."

This situation doesn't need attention, so why investigate apartment tenants?

Masahiro Hanyu had questions, but he didn't ask them. President Satsuki would explain things clearly.

Satsuki Yui tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "During your questioning and investigation, did you notice any tenants who seemed mentally unstable?"