Lockpicking Isn't Something Every Detective Should Know?

Listening to the voice coming from the other end of the phone, the refined middle-aged man and the buzz-cut man both fell silent.

They both turned their gazes toward Fujino.

Fujino put away his phone and shook his head helplessly. "This phone can't be reached... If it really comes down to it, why don't you try again after paying the bill?"

"..."

The two fell silent at his words.

Well, damn. They had already given him the money and said all the polite things they were supposed to say.

And he pulled this at the crucial moment?

He must have tested it beforehand. This phone has already been disconnected, hasn't it?

"..."

Not far away, the people silently watching Fujino's little performance were equally speechless.

Fujino was far too practiced at this.

They could not help wondering, Was this an act, or was it real?

"Are you messing with us?"

The buzz-cut man had a fiery temper and stood up directly. "I advise you to hand over the phone right now. Otherwise, if you piss us off, you'll regret it!"

"Hm?"

Fujino immediately became displeased. "What do you mean by that? Do I look like the kind of person who finds someone else's phone and refuses to return it?"

The refined middle-aged man was clearly much calmer. "Of course, we don't mean that. It's just that..."

"Alas!"

Before he could finish, Fujino sighed, looking utterly heartbroken. "No good deed goes unpunished. If that's how it is, then I can only hand the phone over to the police and let them verify things with you."

"My friend has a bit of a temper. Please don't take it personally."

The refined middle-aged man called out, then gave Fujino an amiable, ingratiating smile. "We'll go to the telecommunications company and figure something out