bookrandom Chapter 1307 Undercurrent
Chapter 1307 Undercurrent
Chapter 1307 Undercurrents
"Is it strange? It's alright." Haga Kyosuke looked at the shadow that had turned into mud amidst the shrill screams and cries, seemingly unmoved. "No matter how the outside world sees us, the art industry ultimately relies on the master-apprentice system for its continuation. The path to advancement is narrow; there's nothing we can do about it."
"I understand the logic," Tang Ze shook his head slightly, "but it just feels really outrageous."
"Working in this industry means encountering many similar situations. I'm used to it." Yuga Kyosuke didn't seem to have any particular feelings, simply following Tang Ze back to the car. "Ultimately, my family background has already given me a very high starting point, which is why I have the leisure to evaluate these people. If I were just a child from an ordinary family, I might be even more ruthless than them in my pursuit of resources."
When an industry relies primarily on apprenticeship for education and advancement, competition and trampling become inevitable in the struggle for even a small path to upward mobility.
It should be said that the scenes we see today are the part of the past that Tang Ze, under the identity of Kitagawa Yusuke, happened to avoid. The reason why Tang Ze set up this identity with a background that could avoid this part was also intentional.
Looking back at Yusuke Kitagawa in the original work, the hardships he encountered were certainly partly due to his master, who was also his adoptive father, but equally, they were also influenced by the industry and circles that relied on the master-disciple relationship to spread resources.
His master was unkind, so he could only accept exploitation, because what he was taught was his livelihood, and if he wanted to earn that living, he had to be humble and subservient.
Domoto Kazuki has basically reached the limit of his industry status as an individual. Whether he can go further and make a name for himself in history is beyond the reach of his personal efforts. Therefore, he turned his pursuit to music education, wanting to expand his personal influence and the influence of his philosophy in this way.
This is very common in the industry, but when all interests are concentrated and ignited in a concert, all the contradictions and conflicts that were hidden underwater in the past are brought to the surface as the water is boiled.
Kawabe Kanade's intervention stemmed from this, as did the problems she caused involving Akiba Reiko and others.
Even without the interference of the musicians, Kawabe Kanade was clearly prepared to replace them after listening to their performances, dissatisfied with the choices made by Domoto Ikkei. The ensuing conflicts and disputes would only intensify.
Even the score and Takumi himself are examples of this. Domoto Kazuki had given up the piano for two years, so there's no reason for him to suddenly explode after two years. The reason he would choose to clash with him at this time is, of course, because he cannot accept the symbolic meaning of the concert itself.
After this concert, everyone would clearly receive the message of Domoto Kazuki's change of heart. He, the former sound engineer who had always been by his side, would completely separate from Domoto Kazuki's core team, this time as the director of the Domoto Concert Hall. How could Pu and Takumi possibly bear it?
"We've mostly cleared away the shadows related to the concert." After swiping through his phone and confirming with Noah, Tang Ze informed Yuhe Xiangfu, "The other two groups have also finished their work. So, have you figured out how to contact the sheet music and Takumi?"
Clearing away the shadows is a minor matter; their real targets are still the score and the craftsman.
Strictly speaking, both Akiba Reiko and Domoto Ikki certainly have their own temples. However, Akiba Reiko's temple was caused by a huge psychological trauma, which is now almost healed. Domoto Ikki's temple, on the other hand, is related to his decades of accumulated pursuit and obsession, and may not require the Phantom Thieves' unnecessary intervention.
Therefore, Tang Ze's real target this time is naturally still the score and the craftsman.
This gentleman, with his exceptional initiative, still has a lot of room for further action.
Since the bombs and triggering devices he planted would be related to the organ, he would wait until Hansmura had finished adjusting the organ again before installing them before the performance rehearsal began. Then he would also make Hansmura disappear, and similarly, he wouldn't forget to make Akiba Reiko disappear as well.
He's so busy every day; his life is so promising.
"Perfect pitch is a good starting point, isn't it? I'll act according to the circumstances after Ms. Akiba Reiko formally invites me to the Domoto Concert Hall." Haga Kyosuke nodded confidently.
He might not understand others, but having worked in this industry, he's come into contact with too many people and understands all too well the anxieties of everyone.
Otherwise, how could he have been assigned to the same team as the Joker today, watching the Joker display his prowess here?
Even when operating in groups, Tang Ze always reserved the toughest targets for himself.
"Be careful. This old man could really hurt someone if things get heated."
"I know, don't worry."
While the phantom thieves were making preparations for the concert, the police and detectives were also busy.
First and foremost, we must protect Akiba Reiko, who has already been attacked.
The police unexpectedly encountered a setback in what should have been the simplest project.
"She refused police protection and wouldn't let the police approach her. She didn't even mention going into her house. I was initially prepared to stake out her apartment for two days, but she still chased me away—"
As Takagi Wataru said this, his words inevitably carried a sense of helplessness.
Generally speaking, those who are so uncooperative with the police are usually suspects who have a guilty conscience. Although Akiba Reiko's suspicion has been basically cleared, it is still quite rare for her to resist the help of the police so much.
"She told you to leave, and you actually left?" Sato Miwako scolded, hands on her hips. "This is a matter of personal safety. If she were to encounter danger again, it wouldn't be something that can be resolved by simply writing a letter of repentance!"
The target that the criminal was likely to attack should have been under close police protection, but something still happened at this time.
Even if they aren't drowned in the spittle of their superiors and the public, they themselves will be too ashamed to face the matter. This is truly a matter that would cause the police to lose all dignity.
"She said she'll only be staying at home and at the concert hall for the next two days and doesn't need us to worry about her." Takagi Wataru patted his forehead. "Sounds like it's still quite unsafe—"
Will nothing happen if I stay at home?
It's worth noting that this perpetrator had just caused a gas explosion in a busy commercial district. The deceased, Osamu Shida, simply returned to his familiar shop, lit a cigarette, and was gone.
If the prisoner gets really annoyed and decides to get rid of Akiba Reiko regardless of the consequences, then the danger she faces will be unpredictable.
"Let's go then, let's figure out a way to set up surveillance. At the very least, we can't let anything happen to her on her way to and from the concert hall, right? What are we standing here for?"
"Yes, yes, I understand, Officer Sato—"
Takagi Wataru was pulled away by Sato Miwako, and the detectives who had overheard their conversation looked anything but relaxed.
"Her attitude is very unusual," Hattori Heiji said thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "Not letting the police into her home is understandable; many people don't want their privacy invaded, even if it's out of good intentions. But not even allowing them to stay downstairs for surveillance—"
Reiko Akiba acted like she was hard to talk to, but she really wasn't that harsh.
The only reason she refused to have police stationed downstairs was—
"Where is she going alone?" Shinichi Kudo reacted quickly.
"That's probably the only possibility left." Hattori Heiji nodded in agreement. "The culprit might know this very well."
The culprit who killed those four people has not yet found a reason why he would specifically target Akiba Reiko, but the more this is the case, the more it suggests that there may be a very complex interpersonal relationship issue behind it.
The deeper she hides herself, the greater the potential conflicts may arise. Her need to go somewhere alone might very well stem from this relationship.
If we really let her go somewhere alone and she encounters this very vicious criminal again, it would be truly dangerous.
"What do we do now? If I were still a child, I could probably find a way, but—" Shinichi Kudo pondered, his mind filled with hesitation.
If he were still Conan Edogawa, an ignorant child who relentlessly tried to sneak into Reiko Akiba's house and couldn't be driven away no matter what, then there would still be a possibility that he would closely protect Reiko Akiba.
Of course, correspondingly, children themselves may not be able to protect themselves, and if the criminal is more skilled, he may also take care of them.
But if it were Shinichi Kudo today, and he went and harassed Reiko Akiba, and Reiko called the police, he would really be taken away by the police for harassing a woman.
It's incredibly shameless of a high school student to insist on entering the home of a woman living alone.
"Well, with Ms. Suzuki's connections, you should have no trouble getting in and out of the concert hall, right?" Hattori Heiji pondered for a moment before offering his opinion.
"Indeed. After all, Sonoko's family are developers, and since the venue isn't officially open yet, she can come and go whenever she wants," Shinichi Kudo gave a definite answer.
Even if it's officially open, Sonoko Suzuki can still use it however she wants if she wants to.
Domoto Kazuki himself still needs the Suzuki family's donations in the next phase; they are a major financial backer.
"Alright then. It seems Officer Sato and the others will definitely be keeping an eye on the area around Akiba Reiko's house. Let's divide the tasks: you go to the concert hall and wait for Akiba Reiko, while I go to the Domoto Music Academy to inquire further." Hattori Heiji narrowed his eyes. "Ms. Suzuki, would you mind giving me some information as well?"
"Sonoko will definitely agree. But you can come and go freely from the music academy anyway, so what do you need a letter of introduction for?" Shinichi Kudo asked, sensing that Heiji Hattori had an idea.
"Simply investigating people within the academy might not be useful. Whether it's the deceased, Ms. Akiba, or everyone involved in the concert, they're all graduates now, aren't they?" Hattori Heiji shook his head, offering his consideration. "Just asking around the school won't be very effective. I want to contact the academy's academic affairs office and get some of the graduates' contact information."
It would be best to contact the students from the same year as the four deceased, and of course, we shouldn't forget Akiba Reiko's classmates.
The only thing these people have in common is their shared background from the same college, and it's worthwhile to investigate this aspect in depth.
The police have not yet discovered this part, which may not be because they lack specific information. It could be that some details of interpersonal relationships, such as friendships, romantic relationships, and family situations, have been overlooked or shelved because no obvious connection is visible.
More likely, relationships that occur within the small society of a school are not so easily understood when investigated outside the school environment.
Hattori Heiji's idea was that they should continue to dig into this part of the information. The murderer wouldn't kill so deliberately without a reason. He felt that there must be something going on.
"Yes, you're right. Just be mindful of how you ask the question."
"This is a basic skill for detectives. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
After whispering amongst themselves for a while, the two detectives parted ways and headed to their respective destinations.
After silently watching Shinichi Kudo, who had completely forgotten about them, for a while, Ran Mouri shook her head, took her father's arm, and led him in another direction.
"By the way, Dad, are you really not going to invite Mom along? Even though she might not be very interested, it's still a special occasion—"
"I invited her. She said she's busy lately, doesn't have time, and doesn't plan to come."
"Really? Did you do something to upset her?"
"What do I have to do to make her angry? Besides, she's angry with me even if I don't provoke her."
"Hmph, no matter how you look at it, it's all your fault, Dad!"
"Stop talking nonsense. I didn't do anything to wrong her. Besides, isn't Conan still sick? It's been several days since we left Higashi-Oku Village."
"Ah, Professor Agasa said his cold is quite severe this time, and he doesn't want to infect us—"
"Then why doesn't he go to the hospital and stay at someone else's house? Aren't he afraid of infecting Professor Agasa and that little girl?"
'
"Uh, Professor Agasa should know his limits—let's not worry about that for now, you should first figure out what to wear to the concert—"
The father and daughter left, hurting each other, and finally, for the time being, no one cared about Shinichi Kudo's whereabouts.
Shinichi Kudo, who was enjoying a rare moment of free time, rushed to the Domoto Concert Hall in Nishitama City, but he was still a step too late.
When he saw Kyosuke Haga and Reiko Akiba walking side by side into the performance hall, chatting and laughing, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
Akiba Reiko is not an easy person to talk to. Did these two just get together like that? Just because of Haga Kyosuke's status and a few flattering words?
Speaking of which, the person following behind Haga Kyosuke was quite conspicuous from afar; judging by the color of his hair, could it be—
"Let me introduce you. This is Ms. Reiko Akiba. She is a very talented soprano." After exchanging pleasantries with Reiko Akiba, Kyosuke Haga turned to her and introduced her, "This is Yusuke Kitagawa, a very talented young man. You may have heard of him; he is a painter."
"Hello." Tang Ze, who was introducing himself to Akiba Reiko for the second time, was not embarrassed at all. He nodded to Akiba Reiko and said, "Nice to meet you."
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