"Arima, I know what you're scheming."
Usui rested his left hand on the desk before him, tapping the surface rhythmically with his index finger.
"Having Butagaya and Aoto jointly handle this case serves two purposes. First, it allows Aoto to learn investigative techniques from Butagaya and gain practical experience."
"Second, if they're fortunate enough to solve the case, Aoto's performance record would beco much more impressive, increasing his chances of passing the Elder Council evaluation in a month and a half."
Here, Usui sighed lightly.
"Arima, I know you've always been soone who cares deeply for your subordinates. You want to secure more opportunities for rit as the Elder Council evaluation approaches."
"But such matters require considering one's actual capabilities."
"Given Aoto's current abilities, is he truly capable of handling such an important case?"
"As I ntioned earlier, regardless of whether this case gets solved, our magistrate office must at least demonstrate a serious attitude."
"If we send Aoto and he creates another ss like before, how would we explain ourselves to all those who received kindness from Granny Apple and her husband?"
"Even with Butagaya assisting him, I can't feel at ease entrusting this case to Aoto!"
"We could consider assigning Butagaya to handle the case, but sending Aoto is absolutely out of the question."
Usui's tone brooked no argunt.
Arima pressed his lips together, brows slightly furrowed as if carefully considering his words for debate.
The office fell into brief silence.
Soon—this silence was broken by a lazy, deep male voice:
"Ah... I just rembered... Nishino happens to be available right now."
The speaker was Tōjō, who had been standing silently beside Arima until now.
After yawning loudly and scratching his ample belly, Tōjō continued unhurriedly:
"The case Nishino was handling was successfully resolved several days ago."
"He currently has the ti and energy to take on another investigation."
"Oh? Nishino is available?"
Upon hearing Nishino's na from Tōjō, Usui's expression imdiately changed completely from when Aoto's na was ntioned.
His lips curled upward, eyes lighting up.
Tōjō nodded: "He should be patrolling his assigned district now. I can recall him at any ti."
Usui placed his right hand on the desk again, tapping rhythmically with his index finger.
"Hmm... Since Nishino is available... let's assign him to this case!"
"By sending our Northern Watchhouse Teimachi Squad's 'top cri-solver' to handle this, even if it ultimately goes unsolved, no one can accuse our magistrate office of not taking it seriously like they did three years ago."
"Understood." Tōjō replied flatly, "I'll recall Nishino imdiately."
Seeing Usui decide to assign Nishino from the "Tōjō Group" to the case, Arima froze montarily before gritting his teeth:
"Magistrate, please..."
"No more words, Arima." Usui said dismissively, "I won't repeat what I've already told you."
"I've decided Nishino will handle this case."
After a mont's hesitation, Arima slowly lowered his head:
"...Yes. I understand."
......
......
Edo, Kiyayanagi Town, Granny Apple's murder scene—
—What's this idiot Aoto doing... why's he staring at Granny Apple's house like that?
Watching Aoto who had been contemplatively observing Granny Apple's house, Hairo couldn't help curling his lip.
As the household head working at Kiyayanagi Town's jishinban office, Hairo was semi-official himself.
Thus—he'd heard of "Idiot Aoto" and how the nickna ca about.
Hairo particularly despised incompetent officials who held positions without rit.
As a commoner, unless he sohow obtained samurai status, he could never hold an official position.
This caste restriction dood him to remain a "town official" forever.
These born samurai possessed privileges commoners could never achieve through lifeti effort, yet they squandered such fortunate birthrights!
Regarding "Idiot Aoto," Hairo felt not just disgust but utter contempt.
Only soone truly talentless could accumulate so many ridiculous incidents—like accidentally destroying cri scenes or mixing up victim information—within just half a year of appointnt.
"...Hairo."
Hearing Aoto's sudden address, Hairo quickly straightened his expression: "Yes?"
Aoto shifted his gaze from Granny Apple's house to Hairo: "Could you gather Granny Apple's neighbors for ?"
"Granny Apple's... neighbors?"
"Yes, I have so questions for them."
—Questions... what's this idiot planning now...
Despite his disdain, Hairo dared not show his true feelings.
However incompetent, "Idiot Aoto" remained a samurai—a Teimachi Squad constable responsible for maintaining order in Kiyayanagi Town and surrounding areas.
Not just a minor household head like himself—even their "town self-governing organization's" leader wouldn't dare show Aoto disrespect.
Not daring to voice any objection, Hairo outwardly smiled while inwardly cursing as he obediently sent people to summon the neighbors.
Soon, jishinban clerks brought over a dozen neighbors—n and won, old and young.
Most wore grief-stricken expressions, with children and won shedding tears.
After confirming their ho locations, Aoto got straight to the point:
"Granny Apple was perfectly fine yesterday dayti, correct?"
"Yes..." A balding middle-aged man wiped his eyes while answering weakly, "She was fine yesterday... even chatted with my wife in front of our house yesterday afternoon..."
"Recently, have you noticed Granny Apple behaving unusually? Doing things she normally wouldn't?"
"No..." the sa balding man answered first, "She seed completely normal... nothing unusual..."
Others echoed this, all claiming they'd noticed nothing abnormal about Granny Apple recently.
"Then... last night, did you hear any strange noises from Granny Apple's house? Or notice anything odd? Like lights still on very late?"
After exchanging glances, the neighbors all shook their heads—they'd gone to bed early and noticed nothing.
This era lacked entertainnt. For commoners, nightti offered little beyond procreation after dinner. Sleeping by 7 or 8 pm was utterly ordinary.
After more questions, Aoto dismissed them.
"...Hairo." After the neighbors left, Aoto looked back at Granny Apple's house.
Hearing Aoto call him again, Hairo imdiately leaned slightly forward attentively.
"I need to examine the cri scene inside."
"Please continue guarding this place strictly—don't let anyone enter."
*******
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