Unexpected Gains

In the dead of night, a huge figure agilely climbed over a window and emerged from the Beika Police Station. He carefully used various obstructions to avoid two reporters who were "lying in wait"...

Even though he was large, Shiraishi's counter-surveillance skills were top-notch. It was difficult for Shiraishi to track someone else, but it was much easier to avoid being tracked!

Just then, Shiraishi noticed a small figure in the alley beside him, seemingly waiting for him...

Much smarter than those two reporters! She avoided the easily visible front entrance of the police station and chose a side alley along a necessary route.

After confirming the other person's identity, Shiraishi, puzzled, flipped into the alley and approached her from behind.

Mononobe Gina waited impatiently near the police station for something. Just then...

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her, blocking out the moonlight and streetlights!

Gina felt the change in light and her body stiffened. She shakily turned her head...

The moment she saw the massive Shiraishi, Gina almost cried out. She quickly covered her mouth—even though she was waiting for him... a colossal figure, seven and a half feet tall and weighing 300 pounds, suddenly appearing behind her still startled her heart.

"What are you doing here?" Shiraishi recognized her too—the thief he had saved not long ago. She should still be a minor; no wonder she was released so quickly.

"I... it's none of your business!" Gina retorted stubbornly.

"Oh, be safe." Shiraishi shrugged, appearing to walk away.

Shiraishi could tell she was waiting for him, so he wasn't in a hurry.

But just then...

"Hey!" Gina called out to his retreating back as he walked away.

"Hm?" Shiraishi turned his head slightly to look at her.

Although Gina's face was full of defiance, she still said, "You seem to be... in trouble, right?"

"It's not trouble, no need to worry," Shiraishi said calmly.

"Huh? Worry? What would I worry about? I... I'm here to warn you..." Gina quickly said.

"Warn me?" Shiraishi looked at her suspiciously.

"I'm warning you... on September 3rd, I was at that apartment in Sanchome. Around 6 PM, police officers put up a cordon there... that should be the crime scene, right?" Gina whispered.

Shiraishi immediately became interested and turned back to confirm with her, "You were nearby that day? Did you see anything?"

Gina pouted at this, but still said, "That day... I had something to do, so I went there. I prefer taking small roads, and I entered from the alley behind the apartment. There was a car parked there that I hadn't seen before.

"That alley is very narrow, not much wider than the car. The car parked there made the passage extremely narrow; I had to squeeze through sideways... Normally, people wouldn't park like that, right?"

Gina had been cursing at the time, so she remembered it vividly. It wasn't until she saw the news today that she suddenly realized that car might have been problematic—after all, parked like that, it would be difficult for the driver to get out!

The only reason it was parked there, just like why Gina insisted on passing through, was likely because there were no surveillance cameras!

As for what Gina's "something to do" was, and how she knew it was a "car she hadn't seen before," Shiraishi politely didn't ask further...

She had probably scouted the place before!

And when she was preparing to leave that day, she saw the police cordon off the scene, which naturally startled her, so she remembered the incident.

"That car..."

Grumble—

Just as Shiraishi was about to ask more, he heard Gina's stomach growl. He immediately realized the clue Gina provided was important, and this wasn't a place for a long conversation. So...

"Wait a moment..." Seeing this, Shiraishi called Fujisato Seiko—he had looked through the police station's directory before and saved everyone's phone numbers.

"Patrol Officer Fuji, it's me... Haven't gone too far, have you? Could you come over to East Alley for a bit? Something's come up... You'll get overtime pay, and I'll treat you to a late-night snack."

Shiraishi called Fujisato Seiko over...

After all, it was late at night, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Shiraishi to treat a young girl, who would only turn eighteen next month, to a meal alone. He had to avoid suspicion!

And among the female officers, Fujisato Seiko had just been at the police station, so she must be nearby and hadn't left yet. Shiraishi called her over.

When Fujisato Seiko received the call, she was a bit confused—she didn't have the Chief's phone number!

"Huh? Isn't she that..." Fuji immediately recognized Gina.

"This is Miss Mononobe Gina. On September 3rd, she saw some things near the crime scene... Let's talk while we eat," Shiraishi explained.

Hearing Shiraishi's words, Fujisato Seiko immediately understood the reason. Gina saw Shiraishi's careful avoidance of suspicion and pouted.

Around 10 PM, Shiraishi found a 24-hour small restaurant nearby and generously said, "Order whatever you like!" He then specifically added to Gina, "But you can't order alcohol."

"I wasn't planning on drinking anyway!"

"I see, so you went to the apartment at the crime scene around 3 PM and found a car parked where it shouldn't be? A car you 'hadn't seen before'?" Fujisato Seiko said, giving Gina a glance after hearing Shiraishi's account.

She clearly understood why Gina knew it was "not normal"!

At this moment, Gina and Fujisato Seiko sat facing each other. Shiraishi added a chair on the outside. After all... in such a small restaurant, he couldn't fit into the normal seats!

The boss was even looking at the chair he was sitting in with concern...

"What color was the car? What did it look like?" Fujisato Seiko wanted to confirm the car model.

Although Shiraishi didn't really want to make her work overtime, and just wanted to find a police officer who didn't seem too intimidating to sit there as a third party to avoid suspicion, Fujisato Seiko naturally began to assist with the investigation...

And Gina said directly, "A Tesla Model S, the red one."

Fujisato Seiko: ...

Fujisato Seiko forgot, she has "professional knowledge," and knows car models better than she does!

"Um... do you remember the license plate number?" Fujisato Seiko felt that her question was excessive – how could she possibly remember!

As expected, Gina said as a matter of course, "Why would I remember that? I don't do low-skill things like smashing car windows to steal bags!"

Fujisato Seiko: ...

Do you have to be so blunt? What skill do you have that you're so proud of?

"Chief, I'll have someone check the nearby surveillance cameras. They should have recorded this car passing by," Fuji requested from Shiraishi.

That alley not only had no surveillance cameras, but it was also usually deserted, unlike the main entrance. Otherwise, Gina wouldn't have been there. However, the car couldn't have appeared out of thin air, and the surveillance cameras on the surrounding roads should be able to find it.

As long as they could confirm its license plate number, it would be easier to handle!

Shiraishi glanced at his watch and then said, "It's already this time... let's do it tomorrow..."

"It's okay, Gen and Yamada should be nearby!" Fuji said professionally (on behalf of someone else).

Then Fujisato Seiko also muttered, "But we still can't be sure if it's really related to the case... Three o'clock is already half an hour after the estimated time of death."

Moreover, Shiraishi understood that if the owner of this car was the perpetrator, it would completely contradict the previous investigation results!

Whether Tsubokura's alibi was true or false became even more perplexing.

"Since there's new information, of course, we have to investigate it. Consider it a new line of inquiry," Shiraishi decided.

Dongdong: Tomorrow is Monday, bonus updates for the rankings! Three consecutive updates at midnight, please vote for me, pursue everything! (I'm not asking for votes now, but for monthly votes tomorrow)