Tokyo: After years of stagnation, the heiress of the yakuza arrives.

Night fell over Tokyo, and the city lights stretched out in the distance.

The Miyazaki family mansion remained quiet. The ground lights on both sides of the courtyard lit up one by one along the stone path, and the neatly trimmed flowers and trees cast soft shadows under the warm yellow light. Occasionally, servants would pass by in the corridor, their footsteps very light, without any unnecessary conversation, and no one would make any unnecessary noise at such a time.

A black sedan slowly drove into the courtyard and stopped in front of the gate.

The driver got out of the car and opened the back door. Miyazaki Ritsuko stepped out of the car, still wearing her black work suit. Her long hair was simply tied back, and her eyes showed the fatigue of having just finished a day's work. The document she hadn't finished reading on the way was taken by the butler who was waiting next to her.

"Madam, welcome home."

Ritsuko Miyazaki nodded slightly. After changing her shoes, she didn't go straight to the reception room as usual. She paused briefly, looked up at the second floor, and asked, "Where's Kiyoshi?"

"Miss is at home."

The butler reported in a low voice: "Miss left home around 8:40 this morning and returned before 4 p.m. She did not use the family car or contact the driver. After returning, she took a shower, had dinner, and went upstairs. She should be reading in her room right now."

Ritsuko Miyazaki stopped unbuttoning her coat.

"Did she go out today?"

"Yes."

Did they say where they were going?

"No, when she left home this morning, she only said it was for exercise."

The butler answered cautiously, without adding his own guesses. After all, guesses are something that can be kept to oneself when dealing with others, but when it comes to Miyazaki Kiyoshi, it's no different from shouting them out through a megaphone. The Miyazaki family members have worked for many years and have long mastered the safest way to survive.

Think less, ask less, and only answer questions you are certain about.

Ritsuko Miyazaki glanced up at the quiet second floor and asked, "Were you injured or feeling unwell when you came back?"

"No, Miss looks pretty much the same as usual, and her clothes are neat. She just didn't stay downstairs after she came back."

"I understand, you can go ahead and get back to work."

The butler bowed slightly and quickly left through the entrance hall.

Ritsuko Miyazaki remained standing in the same spot.

More than seven hours.

For other young people, going out for seven hours on their day off wouldn't be anything special; shopping, eating, or watching a movie—any two of these activities combined could take up most of the day. But for Kiyoshi Miyazaki, this in itself is unusual enough.

Xiaoqing doesn't reject exercise, but she doesn't particularly like it either. She simply sees exercise as a necessary means to maintain her physical condition, just like eating on time, controlling sleep time, and maintaining nutritional intake. She completes it at a fixed time, neither reducing it because she's lazy nor adding extra exercise because she's in a good mood.

The training room has complete sports equipment, the courtyard is spacious enough, and there are quiet private areas nearby. Even if long-distance exercise is required, the driver and bodyguard can arrange the route in advance, so there is no need for someone to stay outside for more than seven hours.

More importantly, Kiyoshi Miyazaki dislikes going out without a destination.

There were too many pedestrians, too many noises, and even more chaotic and worthless thoughts outside. Even though Miyazaki Kiyoshi was used to filtering out those things, continued exposure would only bring additional information burden. Unless there was a clear goal, she would rather spend her time at home reading, organizing materials, or thinking about a question that she had not yet found an answer to.

He spends his time reading and studying, avoids contacting others unless necessary, and never leaves troubles to be dealt with after they occur – this has always been Miyazaki Kiyoshi's lifestyle.

But today is different.

While eating breakfast, I looked at my phone and didn't allow her to get close. Afterwards, I changed into clothes that were easy to move in, leaving behind a perfectly correct but obviously incomplete "exercise." I stayed outside alone for more than seven hours, and when I came back, I went straight upstairs.

The image she had seen that morning flashed through Ritsuko Miyazaki's mind again.

An unfamiliar room.

A boy with a cane is hurrying out the door.

Although I only managed to see his side profile and back at the time, looking at the whole of Tokyo, it seemed like there was only one person who could keep Miyazaki Kiyoshi glued to the screen while eating and move with a cane at a speed that even normal people couldn't keep up with.

Kuroba Shido.

Ritsuko Miyazaki remained silent for a few seconds, but ultimately did not go upstairs.

If you ask Kiyoshi directly, you will likely only get another correct answer, such as that you did complete the exercise today, that you were not injured, and that you did not encounter any insurmountable dangers. As for where you went, who you met, and what you did, Kiyoshi will not provide any details unless Ritsuko Miyazaki specifies the exact minute.

If the question is asked too precisely...

Before answering, Xiaoqing would first ask about the source of the information, the purpose of the inquiry, and whether she had arranged an investigation. Finally, she would use one question to dismantle the entire investigation chain.

Ritsuko Miyazaki changed out of her coat, asked the maid to prepare a glass of warm water, and then went to the small reception room located on the inner side of the first floor.

The door closed, shutting out most of the footsteps outside. Only a warm lamp was lit on the table, and a quiet courtyard could be seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The leaves rustled slightly in the night breeze. The entire reception room was less cold and hard than the office, but it still made people subconsciously lower their voices.

Ritsuko Miyazaki took out her phone, found Takari Shimotsuki, and made a video call.

The connection was established quickly.

Shuangyue Gaoli didn't ask why she was contacting her so late, she just glanced at her and said, "Xiao Qing is back?"

Ritsuko Miyazaki was taken aback: "How did you know I was going to ask Kiyoshi?"

"Ritsuko-neechan said this morning that Kiyoshi was looking at boys while eating, and then suddenly went out to exercise. It's not like she's calling me at this hour just to discuss the weather in Tokyo tomorrow."

Ritsuko Miyazaki: "..."

That makes a lot of sense.

And it's still the same familiar professional attack.

"She returned this afternoon, unharmed and without any discomfort."

Shuangyue Gaoli visibly relaxed: "That's good."

"But Xiaoqing stayed outside for more than seven hours."

Shuangyue Gaoli paused slightly: "More than seven hours?"

"I left around 8:40 a.m. and didn't return until before 4 p.m. I didn't use the family car, I didn't contact the driver, and I didn't explain where I was going."

"What did she say to Ritsuko-neechan this morning?"

"sports."

Shuangyue Gaoli was silent for two seconds, her expression gradually becoming subtle: "There is no problem with this statement. Walking is exercise, and going up and down stairs when changing trains is also exercise. If she was also following someone whose movements were rather erratic, the amount of exercise should be even greater than usual."

Ritsuko Miyazaki: "..."

Why have we started using tracking directly?

"Xiao Gao, I haven't confirmed that she has anything to do with Kuroba yet."

"This morning there was a picture of a boy with a cane on my phone. Xiaoqing saw him leave and immediately changed her clothes and left. He came back more than seven hours later. Now Ritsuko is calling me again. It's hard to tell who else is behind these clues."

Shimotsuki Kori paused to think for a moment before saying, "Of course, it's possible that there's another handsome boy in Tokyo today who has a leg disability and could make Kiyoshi break her eating habits, but the probability is relatively low."

Ritsuko Miyazaki: "..."

Okay, Xiao Gao, you can just say the name directly...

"If Xiaoqing really was with Kuroba-kun today, why didn't she say anything after she came back?"

"Because she wouldn't report it proactively in the first place."

Shuangyue Gaoli leaned back in her chair: "Moreover, tracking is only a highly probable speculation at present. It may not be tracking in the traditional sense. It could also be observation, confirmation, recording, or a club task that she believes is necessary to complete. The specific definition depends on how Xiaoqing interprets it."

"Why don't you just ask her?"

"You can ask, but it's probably useless."

Shimotsuki Kori gently tapped the table: "When Ritsuko asks her if she went out to exercise today, she will answer yes. When asked if she did anything else, she will ask you to clarify the scope of 'other things' first. When asked if she saw Kuroba-kun, she may only answer whether she saw him or not. As for why she went to see him and what she did after seeing him, that is still a separate question."

Ritsuko Miyazaki sighed softly.

This is the place she knows best.

Kiyoshi doesn't rely on low-level lies to evade problems. She rarely actually lies. It's just that when ordinary people's questions enter Kiyoshi Miyazaki's logic, they are broken down into countless independent parts. Kiyoshi answers whichever part Miyazaki asks, accurately, rigorously, without loopholes, and without any extra information.

"Should we have someone check her route today?"

"don't want."

Shimotsuki Kori answered decisively: "Kiyo doesn't need to do anything to counter-surveillance. She only needs to glance at the road to know who is watching her, what orders they have received, and who is preparing to report her itinerary to Ritsuko-neechan. Moreover, she is more familiar with the Miyazaki family's vehicles, drivers, and security personnel than we are."

"What if we use someone from outside?"

"The result won't be much different; strangers will stand out more."

Shuangyue Gaoli thought for a moment and then added, "To put it bluntly, normal counter-surveillance is about shaking off the other party after they start investigating. Xiaoqing makes the investigators start to doubt why they took the job as soon as they have their first thought."

Ritsuko Miyazaki: "..."

That's a bit of an exaggeration.

But it wasn't exaggerated too much.

Ritsuko Miyazaki could already picture the scene: the Miyazaki family's investigators had just approached, silently praying not to be exposed, when in the next second Kiyoshi Miyazaki stopped, turned around, accurately called out their names, and then politely asked her mother why she needed to know her private schedule.

The investigation concluded on the spot.

That evening, Ritsuko Miyazaki will also receive a full explanation regarding the boundaries of family members' privacy, the misuse of security resources, and the maintenance of trust relationships.

"So, we still have to ask Xiaoqing directly?"

"There's another person."

Ritsuko Miyazaki looked up.

Shimotsuki Takagi's face showed a hint of matter-of-fact: "Kuroba-kun."

"Even Xiao Qing couldn't discover this investigation, how could he?"

"Ritsuko-neechan, you've misunderstood."

Shuangyue Gaoli shook her head: "It's not about asking Heiyu to investigate Xiaoqing, but to ask him where he went today, what he did, and whether he saw Xiaoqing nearby. If Xiaoqing's outing today is really related to him, there is a high probability that the two itineraries overlap."

Ritsuko Miyazaki hesitated for a moment: "Wouldn't this count as investigating Kiyoshi behind her back?"

"Calculate."

Shimotsuki Takagi answered very honestly: "So don't ask questions like an interrogation, and don't treat Kuroba-kun as an observation sample. Just confirm whether the two of them met today, and stop when you're sure that Kiyoshi hasn't encountered any danger."

Will Kuroba cooperate?

"Observe the way you ask the question."

After thinking for a moment, Shimotsuki Takari said, "If I ask directly, 'Where did you and Xiaoqing go today?' Kuroba will first assess whether there is any danger to her life, then assess whether answering will result in owing money, getting beaten up, or losing her home. Finally, depending on the level of danger, she will choose to play dumb, change the subject, or remove her SIM card."

Ritsuko Miyazaki: "..."

Isn't Kuroba's defense mechanism a bit too specific?

"Shall we talk about something ordinary first?"

"Well, ask him things like whether he's eaten, where he went today, just ask slowly. As long as he doesn't feel like this is a planned investigation, he shouldn't run away immediately."

After finishing speaking, Shimotsuki Takari seemed to remember something, and her tone became a little more serious: "Also, don't let Kuroba-kun misunderstand that we're researching whether Kiyoshi needs treatment again. Ritsuko-neechan, do you remember what he said in the garden last time?"

"Remember."

Of course, Ritsuko Miyazaki remembered.

Kuroba Shido, holding a water bottle, stood beside the hydrangeas that had almost been drenched to death. Despite not usually saying anything reliable, he earnestly told her that Xiaoqing wasn't broken, nor was she a problem that needed fixing; she was simply different from everyone else.

If the questioning method is wrong, even if the child keeps saying that Xiaoqing is evil, dangerous, and not like a normal person, when it really comes down to choosing, he will stand on Xiaoqing's side first.

"I'm just checking on today's situation."

"That's good."

The two discussed it briefly again, but their final conclusion remained unchanged.

Miyazaki Kiyoshi's side cannot be forcibly investigated, nor is it necessary to do so. Now that she has returned home safely, the only thing that really needs to be confirmed is whether today's outing was related to Kuroba Shido.

The simplest way to find the answer is to start with Shido Kuroba.

The video call has ended.

Ritsuko Miyazaki did not get up immediately. She opened Shido Kuroba's chat window, paused her finger on the top of the screen, and pondered for a while.

You cannot ask the zoo directly.

We also can't mention Xiao Qing directly.

Let's start by addressing the issue of food.

[Kuroba-kun, have you had dinner yet?]

send.

A few kilometers away, luxury apartments.

Kuroba Shido was lying face down on the large bed in the bedroom, half his face buried in the soft pillow, his left leg straight and his right leg casually draped over the edge of the blanket, his cane leaning against the bedside table...

Galagigi was thrown next to the pillow by Kuroba Shido. The game was in progress when the male protagonist was blocked on the roof of the school building by three beautiful girls. A line of oppressive text appeared in the center of the screen.

Please explain to us where you went this afternoon.

The Black Feather Warrior said, "..."

What's wrong with this lousy game?

Playing a dating game requires reporting your movements. In reality, there's already a senior student, a vicious woman, a minister, a pink-haired online friend, and a group of dangerous elders. When I get home and open the corner of the internet, I'm even subjected to a joint interrogation by virtual beauties.

Is this still a game?

I'm going to walk the horses!

Watch your Uncle Kuroba manipulate you all, and show you what it truly means to be in a real backwater for the King of Wood...

buzz-

My phone vibrated next to me.

Shido Kuroba remained motionless. He first glanced at the screen out of the corner of his eye, and after discovering that the message was from Ritsuko Miyazaki, he slowly raised his head from the pillow.

Aunt Ritsuko.

It was a little after nine o'clock at night.

Ask if they have eaten.

This sentence, taken alone, seems perfectly fine; it's simply an elder's concern for the health of a younger person. However, Kuroba Shido is no longer the innocent, kind, and trusting young man who would believe strangers' text messages when he first arrived in Tokyo.

All the seemingly ordinary opening remarks from elders may hide a complete logic behind them. For example, a teacher might first ask how you've been feeling lately, then ask if you're free this weekend, and finally tell you to go to school to move forty cases of bottled water. The whole process is gentle and natural, but by the time you realize what's happening, your back is already gone.

Cannot reply instantly.

Replying instantly makes it seem like you're always on your phone, ready to be called at any time, which can easily give elders the wrong impression that you're a very useful person.

I can't not reply.

Although Aunt Ritsuko's danger level is not high, the Minister stands behind her. Prolonged loss of contact may cause the Miyazaki family to activate some kind of emergency plan to care for disabled students. When the door is opened tomorrow morning, the driver, doctor, nutritionist and staff members who are ready to take him for a full check-up will be standing neatly outside.

Kuroba Shido thought for two seconds, put down his phone, and reached for the corner to give to Mu.

The three beautiful girls in the game are still waiting for an answer; the system has provided three options.

I went to the library to study.

Second, I went to help a lost child.

Thirdly, this is my private itinerary, and you have no right to interfere.

Without hesitation, Shido Kuroba chose the third option.

[Favorability-30]

[Danger Level +50]

The rooftop exit has been locked.

The Black Feather Warrior said, "???"

"Passwords, legally protecting personal privacy and then deducting favorability points—does the production team even understand what personal independence means?"

He controlled the male protagonist to start looking for an escape route from the rooftop, and picked up his phone. A minute and a half had passed, which was a safe timeframe that neither seemed like he was waiting deliberately nor would it worry the elders.

"Aunt Ritsuko, I've already eaten."

The message from Ritsuko Miyazaki came quickly.

What did you eat tonight?

The second layer.

The discussion smoothly progressed from whether or not someone had eaten to the types of food consumed.

Kuroba Shido narrowed his eyes slightly, using one hand to control the male protagonist in the game to move behind the water tank, while typing with the other hand.

I ate some grilled skewers.

reality.

But it's incomplete.

The skewers might come from a convenience store's discount section, a street stall, or even a high-end yakitori restaurant. The specific location and companions are not revealed, which also creates a pitiful image of a poor, handsome young man in Tokyo who can only eat something casually to fill his stomach after a long day.

stable.

[You're off today. Did you go out with friends during the day?]

The third layer.

The game character in Kuroba Shido's hand had just climbed onto the water tank when its movements slowly came to a stop.

We've moved from discussing food options to planning the day's itinerary.

Sure enough, Aunt Ritsuko's questions at dinner weren't for nothing; the first two sentences were just a prelude, and the real questions were only just beginning.

There's no need to completely hide it. Going to the zoo today isn't illegal or criminal. As long as you cut out all the details about your companions and other information that aren't suitable to be made public, everything else is safe information.

[Yes, I went to the zoo during the day and had dinner with friends in the evening.]

After the message was sent, there was a moment of silence on Ritsuko Miyazaki's end.

Kuroba Shido wasn't in a hurry. He continued to control the protagonist as he climbed from the water tank onto the roof railing. Just as he was about to try to escape along the drainpipe, the next message appeared on his phone screen.

Xiaoqing was out for a while today. Did you run into her at the zoo?

Shido Kuroba stopped pointing.

The male protagonist on the screen lost his footing and fell off the drainpipe.

[Escape failed.]

You've been discovered.

You can't escape it.

The Black Feather Warrior said, "..."

Let's put the game aside for now.

Minister?

Did Miyazaki Kiyoshi go out today too?

Moreover, Aunt Ritsuko didn't know where he had gone, so she started asking him little by little, from dinner to the zoo, until she finally confirmed whether he had met Miyazaki Kiyoshi.

This is not a normal chat.

This is why the Miyazaki family's secret investigation team chose Shido Kuroba as their only breakthrough point!

Kuroba Shido slowly sat up straight, the laziness on his face gradually disappearing. The scenes that happened at the zoo today began to replay quickly: the entrance, the panda enclosure, the couples' tickets, the elephants, the souvenir shop, the fast food restaurant, the yakitori restaurant, and the pedestrians who had swept past him without attracting his attention.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki is not included.

At least, he didn't find Miyazaki Kiyoshi.

But here's the problem.

With the Minister's abilities, if she really didn't want to be discovered, the most normal outcome would be if she wasn't discovered at all. When she was a child, she could "just happen to pass by" over ten thousand times without Kuroba Shido not noticing. Now that she has completed her ultimate evolution, her stealth and counter-surveillance awareness will only become more sinister.

No, I didn't see the Minister today.

Kuroba Shido thought for a moment, then quickly added.

[Did the Minister go to the zoo today too?]

[My aunt doesn't know. She said she was going out to exercise this morning and wouldn't be back until the afternoon, so she wanted to ask if you had run into her.]

movement?

Kuroba Shido stared at the two words, his expression gradually becoming serious.

Walking to the station is exercise, going up and down stairs when transferring is exercise, visiting the zoo is also exercise, and if you follow a handsome young man from Tokyo who can run like an angel despite using a cane, your cardiovascular system can get an even more thorough workout than usual.

The minister said to go out for exercise.

But it didn't say it only involved exercise.

Aunt Ritsuko, did you ask the department head what he did besides exercising?

No, if my aunt asked directly, she probably wouldn't tell me.

【Too. 】

Kuroba Shido wholeheartedly agreed.

Ordinary people would fabricate a whole story to lie, but the minister doesn't need to. She only needs to make sure that every word she says is true, and then leave the really important parts out of the question.

How long did she stay outside?

[More than seven hours.]

Kuroba Shido has completely stopped playing games.

More than seven hours.

From the moment he left his luxury apartment, arrived at Ueno Zoo, explored several areas, to having dinner in the evening, the entire timeframe overlapped significantly.

A terrifying image quickly flashed through my mind.

Wearing clothes that allowed for easy movement, Miyazaki Kiyoshi stood quietly in a blind spot in the zoo, perhaps holding a book in his hand, watching him and Onodera Zannen go in together, watching the two buy couple tickets, watching his senior take his arm, watching Daikoku get a bow tied around his neck, and watching all the messy things that followed.

if it is real……

How much did the minister actually see?

Kuroba Shido slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the bedroom.

The curtains were drawn, the door was locked from the inside, the smart access control showed no abnormalities, and there was no danger in the ceiling, wardrobe, under the bed, or by the window. The whole room was so quiet that only the background music of the game could be heard, as well as the sound of Big Black licking its paws after finishing the last bit of chicken breast.

calm.

Don't scare yourself.

Miyazaki Kiyoshi may have just had other things to do temporarily, perhaps he went to the library, or perhaps he went to some quiet place for a long walk. Although seven hours is unusual, it cannot directly prove that the minister followed him all day.

Most importantly, Kiyoshi Miyazaki has returned home.

Several kilometers apart.

very safe.

[Aunt Ritsuko, where is the Minister now?]

[They're probably reading in the room upstairs.]

When Kuroba Shido saw the words "reading," his shoulders slowly relaxed.

At home.

upstairs.

Reading.

He didn't appear outside the luxury apartment, nor did he hide in the closet, nor would he suddenly reach out from under the bed to ask if his zoo visit with his senior was in line with normal club activities.

Safety.

"Then it's alright, Aunt Ritsuko, don't worry. The department head probably just has other arrangements to make. With her abilities, there aren't many things in Tokyo that could put her in danger."

[Auntie understands, thank you, Kuroba-kun.]

【You're welcome.】

Just as Shido Kuroba was about to put down his phone, Ritsuko Miyazaki sent him one last message.

Also, don't tell Xiaoqing what I've said tonight. Auntie doesn't want her to think I'm investigating her behind her back again.

Confidential mission.

You should have said so earlier.

Kuroba Shido had a confident expression on his face. He was the real expert in this area. Back when he lived in the sewers, he could even pretend not to know which hole his wife, Dahei, hid emergency food in, let alone a normal chat log.

As long as no one takes his phone and no minister stands in front of him to read his mind, this matter will absolutely not be leaked.

[Don't worry, Aunt Ritsuko, I'm very tight-lipped.]

After thinking for a moment, Shido Kuroba felt that the credibility was still not enough, so he added another sentence.

The Minister would never know.

send.

A few kilometers away, in the first-floor reception room of the Miyazaki family home.

Seeing the reply, Miyazaki Ritsuko finally felt relieved, placed her phone face down on the table, and picked up the lukewarm water that had cooled down a bit.

Although Kuroba is usually unreliable, he is still trustworthy when it matters.

He was very confident, at least in terms of keeping secrets.

At the same time.

The second floor of the Miyazaki family home.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki sat at his desk with an open book beside him, the page number still stuck at the position from more than half an hour ago, untouched.

The phone lay horizontally on its stand, displaying live footage of a luxury apartment bedroom. Kuroba Shido sat cross-legged on the bed, holding a wooden stick in his left hand and the phone in his right, studying the escape route through the roof drainpipe while confidently assuring the department head that he would never find out.

In the corner of the room, an inconspicuous little black dot slowly rotates as the camera adjusts downwards, capturing the entire chat content on Shido Kuroba's phone.

Don't tell Xiaoqing these things tonight.

[Don't worry, Aunt Ritsuko, I'm very tight-lipped.]

The Minister would never know.

The three messages were identical, word for word.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki: "..."

Data is still being transmitted.

In the upscale apartment, after replying to the messages, Kuroba Shido finally relaxed completely. He casually tossed his phone next to his pillow and picked it up again. The male protagonist on the screen had been cornered in the center of the rooftop by three beautiful girls, and the pink text reappeared.

You can't escape it.

"this one?"

Kuroba Shido, his face full of disdain, spurred the protagonist to charge towards the fence: "Do you know what a Tokyo escape master is? The door's locked, the curtains' drawn, and the department head is still reading at home a few kilometers away. Unless the walls of this room have eyes, nobody's going to mess with me today!"

The words fell.

The camera in the corner slowly rotated, its dark lens like a quietly opened eye, steadily aimed at Kuroba Shido on the bed.

Miyazaki Kiyoshi looked at the screen, his finger hovering over the control area, and turned up the radio volume by one notch.

Kuroba Shido, completely unaware of this, continued nodding rhythmically, giving a final summary of today's perfect secrecy: "The door was locked from the inside, the minister was reading, the conversation was kept secret, rounding up, it's absolutely safe... Solid!"

Miyazaki Kiyoshi lowered his eyes, glanced at the book beside him that he hadn't opened for more than half an hour, and then looked back at the confident Kuroba Shido on the screen.

Strictly speaking, Shido Kuroba only got one thing wrong.

The minister is indeed watching.

It's just that I wasn't reading a book.

The camera was flashing a faint red light, and it kept flashing...

Keep recording!