Chapter 5: Rei Furuya: The Public Security Bureau Needs You

“Eh?”

A chill ran down Gao Mo’s spine as he turned around to meet the sharp gaze of a short-haired man exuding an air of professionalism.

The look seemed hostile.

Who was he?

“Officer,” one of the supermarket employees urged anxiously, “can we go back now? I have other work to do!”

“Me too!”

“Please wait a little longer,” Officer Megure said, clearly overwhelmed. Seeing the supermarket manager approaching, he prepared to wrap up and continue the investigation later.

“Keep your phones on. If there are any new leads…”

“Inspector Megure!” Takagi hurried over after receiving a call, whispering in Megure’s ear, “We found the manager’s wife’s whereabouts. Someone saw her around the time of the incident…”

New leads?

Gao Mo shook hands with the last employee, noticing the police were preparing to leave. He quickly confirmed his next task.

The female colleague definitely had serious issues; the manager’s wife was likely being framed.

Changing direction now would be troublesome.

“Hah!”

Time seemed to slow. The brightness of the entire field of vision plunged suddenly.

When it returned to normal, only a glowing text projection remained in his sight…

It was the female colleague’s task: “Avoid Arrest.”

Unlucky.

Was he supposed to protect this woman?

Gao Mo quietly looked at his bowed female colleague.

He vaguely saw her shoulders twitch slightly—not in tears, but as if barely holding back an expression.

Perhaps due to the passive effect of his eagle-eyed vision, he sensed the woman had the urge to laugh out loud, a triumphant smirk almost breaking free.

As before, whenever she was about to lose control of her expression, she lowered her head.

She had done the same at the supermarket yesterday.

At that time, he thought it was shyness; now he realized she was mocking him…

Activating the second chance!

Gao Mo’s gaze sharpened.

The task text quickly reassembled and transformed.

After a brief pause, just as Gao Mo thought about giving up the task, the system finally assigned it to Megure.

No need to solve the case, only to provide clues.

That was it!

But what clues should be given?

Gao Mo frowned in thought.

Looking back, the task information only indicated that this woman was the culprit or one of them.

She might not even have committed the murder herself—there was no concrete clue…

The manager’s phone call?

Gao Mo’s eyes brightened, recalling Zero Furuya’s earlier suspicion.

The female colleague’s alibi hinged on that phone call—using his call.

“Inspector Megure! I remember now,” Gao Mo called out amid the female colleague’s stunned gaze, “The manager did call me yesterday morning, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he was still alive then.”

“What do you mean?” Megure’s eyes went blank.

A call from someone who might already be dead? Ghosts?

“Maybe it was a pre-recorded message or something,” Gao Mo suggested thoughtfully. “You could investigate the manager’s phone more deeply. That bald guy… yesterday morning, the manager called me multiple times. I’m not an important employee; logically, the manager would only call me once, or perhaps not at all. That guy would rather dock my pay for being late anyway, since it’s slow in the mornings.”

“Is that so?” Megure asked, glancing at the others.

“The manager really is like that,” everyone nodded in agreement. “He only knows how to deduct money.”

At that moment, the atmosphere froze.

No one said it outright, but the female colleague became the isolated focus.

The testimonies conflicted.

“Mr. Kido…”

The woman covered her mouth, unable to believe it, tears welling as she stared at Gao Mo, panic flickering in her eyes.

She had never expected Gao Mo to say this.

It was almost like outright accusing her.

The faded idol seemed like a different person now.

His gaze was completely different…

“I really saw the manager call you, Mr. Kido!” The woman’s tears blurred her vision, as if bearing a grievous injustice.

Had Gao Mo not seen the task info “All Men Must Die,” he might have been fooled.

“Still going to lie now?”

Gao Mo turned away, not looking at the woman’s pitiful face.

Beauty held no sway over him.

He hated the bald manager, and he hated being used.

“The manager only said one thing in that call: ‘Do you still want to work here?’ He never mentioned me being late. I remember when I first started, the manager scolded me exactly like that.” Gao Mo’s thoughts crystallized.

“Mr. Kido, you… as expected, no good man exists!”

The female colleague was shocked, lowering her head to sob.

“I didn’t hear the call. I just saw the manager leave through the back door before work… I lied because I was worried about you, Mr. Kido. But who knew you…”

Gao Mo was speechless.

Did she mean to imply he killed the manager?

If he hadn’t met Megure investigating yesterday, he wouldn’t have been able to explain.

“Mr. Kido has no time of crime. We went to his apartment around nine,” Megure said sternly, approaching the woman.

“Besides, if you didn’t hear the manager’s call, how do you know it was Mr. Kido who hung up?”

“Can you come with us? We’ll get to the bottom of this soon.”

“I…” The woman’s limbs stiffened.

For the police, the important thing was direction. With a direction, they wouldn’t fail to find evidence.

Where had the plan gone wrong…? It should have been perfect…

The woman slowly glanced toward Gao Mo from the shadows.

It was all because of this man—because he suddenly changed.

That irritating vitality and hope, reborn, shining so annoyingly bright…

The boy idol from the stage before seemed to have come back to life.

Only she was cast down into hell…

[Task Complete]

Gao Mo’s worry lifted again, his gaze toward Megure growing warmer.

How could such a wise and resolute Metropolitan Police inspector be portrayed as a fool or mere tool in anime?

“Brother Kido,” Officer Megure smiled gently, his round face softening, “You don’t need to go to the station this time. Go home and rest.”

Gao Mo was relieved he hadn’t protected the female colleague with whom he was close.

She was quite self-aware.

“Don’t be too sad. There will definitely be a girl more suitable for you.”

“?”

“Hahaha!”

The female colleague suddenly broke into a terrifying laugh after a brief head bow, bloodshot eyes staring fiercely at Gao Mo, no trace of her previous sweetness.

“Damn it! They all deserve to die! That guy possessed me and won’t take responsibility. Impossible! All men must die! You too, Gao Mo Kido!

“I’ll be waiting for you in hell! Haha!”

“Take her away!” Megure snapped coldly, cuffing the woman.

“Gao Mo Kido—may you die a horrible death!!”

…

Gao Mo’s expression remained calm.

Compared to the malice he felt in the world after rebirth, the woman’s curses echoing down the street seemed almost ordinary.

Only a slight pang of emotion.

This world seemed intent on destroying his idealized image of women.

It was a little frightening.

How could he ever look at gentle, sweet women the same way again?

“I thought I’d have to remind you, but you reacted so quickly… You really are suited to be a cop,” Zero Furuya came up from behind, watching Gao Mo’s calmness, casually probing.

Recently, the organization had been recruiting everywhere for some reason, and he was assigned a mission.

He needed to recommend a potential cadre within a year, with a chance to meet a certain gentleman if successful.

The Public Security Bureau and other departments were heavily monitored.

Thus, he was scouting for suitable candidates everywhere, originally planning to meet a Public Security informant.

But unexpectedly, he got caught up in this incident.

After brief contact, Gao Mo seemed more satisfying than that informant, as if born to be an organizational cadre.

Though still just an ordinary civilian…

Yet precisely because of that, his background was absolutely clean, making it easier for the organization to recommend him—if Gao Mo was willing to be an undercover informant for Public Security.

As for other aspects, secret training by him was no problem.

He only needed help to meet that gentleman after a year.

With him around, security was basically guaranteed…

Gao Mo’s pupils trembled slightly; a sudden chill ran through him. He forced a dry laugh, declaring, “I never thought about becoming a cop. It’s too dangerous.”

Hah!

He didn’t know what Zero was scheming.

Yet again, he felt the looming presence of death.

The task system seemed able to provide clues to the culprit directly or indirectly, making it suitable for detective work, but he didn’t have to become a cop.

Once things settled, he could try saving some money to open a detective agency.

Following Kogoro Mouri’s path, cooperating with the police.

He might not get many cases, but at least it would be safe.

“Whoa!”

At the same moment the female colleague was taken away, Gao Mo’s vision was once again filled with glowing data.

Case settlement.

Unlike before, this time he only received a single book.

Slightly disappointed.

The extra reward was just one star.

The mechanism was still unclear—perhaps related to participation?

…

The reward book was “Green Tea Guide: How to Conquer Different Men,” rated three stars.

Gao Mo scowled in disgust.

The thought of having to read the entire book to earn stars made him uncomfortable.

Why did he have to get this one?

Anything related to Zero Furuya’s skills would have been fine.

Even the previous “Money-Saving Guide” was more practical—at least it revealed how wealthy Zero was.

But…

Three plus one.

Four stars would perfectly fulfill the actor career upgrade requirement.

“Mr. Kido,” Takagi suddenly approached before getting into the car, handing Gao Mo a business card, “Can we exchange contact info? You can call this number in the future.”

“…”

Gao Mo was momentarily at a loss.

Why did he feel that guy had ulterior motives?

Did he think Gao Mo would get involved in cases again?

“I don’t spend much time at home, so here’s my number too,” Zero also handed Gao Mo a card. “If you’re looking for work, I might be able to help.”

Gao Mo considered Zero’s identity. “Part-time? Nothing dangerous?”

Zero’s smile stiffened; he hadn’t expected Gao Mo to need it so soon.

Part-time, no danger…

“If you have a computer, you could help organize data. I have a friend in the Metropolitan Police who often outsources lots of files… but the schedule is irregular, and I don’t know when tasks will come up.” Zero’s smile returned.

No part-time jobs, but there was an assessment.

“Thanks for the trouble.”

Gao Mo felt a bit reassured.

With the manager killed this time, he might soon be unemployed again.

The previous manager didn’t care about his work ability; the new one might, and with the female colleague arrested, he couldn’t manage alone.

The arrival of the new manager would probably mean his departure.

Truly unlucky.

Why did the manager have to be killed now?