It was the first time she had met an adult man like Yin Kong who could admit it so frankly.
"Mr. Yin Kong, that's wonderful!"
However, just as Ono Yoko was still thinking about how to salvage the awkward atmosphere, her manager, Yamagishi Ei, returned with an excited look on his face.
His face was flushed with excitement, as though he could barely stop himself from dancing on the spot:
"I asked the security center. Two guards said they had both seen someone who looked very much like Ikezawa Yuko entering the apartment building more than once."
With that, even without direct evidence, there was no longer any suspense over the stalker's identity.
But unlike her excited manager, Ono Yoko was not particularly thrilled. Instead, she seemed somewhat disappointed.
"So it really was Yuko?"
Yamagishi Ei failed to notice Ono Yoko's low spirits and said excitedly:
"Yoko, I'll contact reporters and lawyers right away. With a little maneuvering, this case will definitely become everyone's focus. Oh, and Mr. Yin Kong, your agency will surely become famous too, and business will boom..."
Sure enough, Ono Yoko really understood her manager. She had completely predicted what he was thinking.
"Wait, Yamagishi. I don't think things have reached that point yet."
Ono Yoko suddenly spoke up, interrupting her manager and voicing her true thoughts.
"No, absolutely not!" Her suggestion naturally met with fierce opposition. "Yoko, doing that will definitely put Ikezawa Yuko on guard. If she gets time to prepare in advance, the effect won't be nearly as perfect..."
"But—"
"No buts. Yoko, you're just too kind. Ikezawa Yuko has threatened you like this, yet you're still thinking about her. With such a soft-hearted attitude, you won't survive in this industry..."
Faced with Ono Yoko's pleading gaze, Yin Kong also gave a light cough.
"Mr. Yamagishi, would you like to hear the opinion of a professional?"
Yamagishi Ei froze for a moment, then said respectfully:
"Please enlighten me."
Yin Kong spoke slowly.
"I think you may only be seeing the benefits while overlooking one small risk."
"Mr. Yamagishi, I think you may only be seeing the benefits while overlooking one small risk."
Yamagishi Ei looked utterly confused.
"What risk is there? Yoko shouldn't have done anything blameworthy in this case, right?"
Yin Kong shook his head.
"No. I'm not referring to business or public opinion risks, but personal safety risks."
Yamagishi Ei paused, looking even more confused.
"Personal safety? Sorry, I still don't understand what you mean."
Yin Kong asked in return:
"Mr. Yamagishi, what kind of person do you think Miss Ikezawa Yuko is?"
Yamagishi Ei clearly had not expected Yin Kong to ask such a question, but after giving it some thought, he said:
"Didn't you just say? Vain, and jealous."
Yin Kong nodded slightly and said leisurely:
"Indeed. But beyond that, I think she's probably not very smart, and she has a very impulsive personality.
After all, what normal celebrity would go this far out of simple jealousy?"
Yamagishi Ei strongly agreed with that point.
After all, he was a fairly experienced manager, yet he had never encountered a similar situation.
"But what does that prove?"
Yin Kong smiled helplessly and finally stopped beating around the bush.
"Then has Mr. Yamagishi considered what someone like that might do once she's driven into a corner?"
That question was like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head, extinguishing more than half of the manager's excitement.
In fact, it was not just him. Even Ono Yoko, who had originally intended to handle things gently, could not help but feel a chill down her back.
Yin Kong continued his analysis.
"Even if we find evidence sufficient to prove Ikezawa Yuko's crimes, she hasn't had time to cause Miss Yoko any substantial harm. In the end, she'll most likely only be fined.
Even if she has to go to prison, it won't be for long.
Of course, no matter what, her idol career will probably be completely ruined."
Yin Kong was not merely trying to scare them. Even a normal person choosing to grab a knife and stab Ono Yoko under such circumstances would not be strange.
Not to mention that this was Beika Town, a place of simple folkways and exceptional talent.
"Mr. Yamagishi, I've always believed that unless there's absolute certainty, it's best not to let things develop to such an irreparable point. What do you think?"
Sweating profusely, Yamagishi Ei stood there in a daze for quite some time before finally bowing.
"You're absolutely right. I didn't think things through."
[Primogem ×10, Adventure EXP ×225, Mora ×3425, Affection EXP ×35, Fine Enhancement Ore ×2, Mystic Enhancement Ore ×1].
Yin Kong nodded in satisfaction.
All it took was moving his mouth. Among all the commissions he had encountered, this was probably one of the easiest.
Miss Ono Yoko truly was a treasure of a girl worth cherishing.
While he was sighing to himself, Ono Yoko immediately contacted Ikezawa Yuko by phone.
Having suddenly received a call from Ono Yoko, Ikezawa Yuko's state of mind was easy to imagine.
Naturally, the guiltier she felt, the more overbearing her tone became.
But once Ono Yoko said that she had already found evidence, she completely panicked.
After they agreed on a meeting place, Yin Kong naturally said:
"Since my commission has already been completed, it's time for me to say goodbye."
"Please wait, Mr. Yin Kong!"
Daily Commission: [Turn Enemies into Friends].
Looking at the exclamation mark floating over the popular idol's head once again, Yin Kong's strongest feeling at that moment was:
Miss Yoko, would you be interested in working at Cunning Rabbit House?
If he really had an employee like her, he felt that he would be able to complete several daily commissions without ever leaving home.
At Ono Yoko's enthusiastic invitation, Yin Kong finally went with the two of them to wait in her apartment.
Fortunately, the situation he feared most—opening the door to find a corpse lying in the living room—did not happen.
It seemed he really was quite normal after all. He had not caught some bizarre condition where people died wherever he went.
Yin Kong walked onto the apartment balcony and called Paimon again. He discovered that the little one had truly calmed down completely.
Human adaptability truly was no small thing.
How long had it even been? Both Yin Kong and Paimon had already basically adapted to the earth-shattering battle outside.
After all, loud as it was, as long as those things did not suddenly ask him some deadly question like the ordinary monsters did, the threat they posed was actually very small—almost nonexistent.
Not only that, they had actually helped him clear out many of the demons and monsters that had been wandering through the city.
Like the man-eating flower that had taken over Ono Yoko's little car. About five minutes ago, it had been smashed apart by the aftermath of the battle. What a cause for celebration.
If possible, Yin Kong even hoped that the battle between those two behemoths could last a little longer.
If they could clear out every monster in the city in one go, that would be even better.
Before long, Ono Yoko came over carrying freshly brewed tea and smiled.
"Mr. Yin Kong, please have some."
Noticing that Yin Kong had been standing on the balcony and looking into the distance almost constantly since entering, Ono Yoko asked curiously:
"Mr. Yin Kong, do you like looking at the scenery?"
"I wouldn't say I like it, but I do occasionally see things that interest me."
Miss Yoko seemed very interested in the work of the agency, so she stayed on the balcony and eagerly asked Yin Kong about the commissions he had taken before, as well as his hobbies and interests.
Of course, she also spoke of many troubles from her work and daily life, giving Yin Kong a better understanding of an idol's life.
In that relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, Ikezawa Yuko arrived very quickly.
Though she could hardly afford to be slow.
What surprised Yin Kong, however, was that Ikezawa Yuko was accompanied by a blonde woman with sunglasses and a stunning figure.
Was she her manager?
Chris Winyard.
The moment Yin Kong saw the name above her head, his previously relaxed mood vanished completely.
Others might not know, but how could he not know that this world-famous international actress was one of the official members of the villainous Black Organization, codenamed Vermouth?
But why was Vermouth here?
Yin Kong frowned inwardly. Whether as a member of the Black Organization or as an international actress, she had almost no reason to appear here.
"Tell me, Miss Busy Yoko. Why did you call me away from a busy party?"
Was it some kind of celebrity party?
"Yuko, let's talk this out."
"Talk this out? What is there for us to talk about?"
As the tense conversation continued, Chris, showing absolutely no awareness that she was a guest, sat down beside Yin Kong without ceremony.
She lit herself a cigarette and watched Ono Yoko and Ikezawa Yuko's heated exchange with great interest, as though she were enjoying a wonderful movie.
"Want one?"
Yin Kong did not understand what Vermouth was trying to do, but he still waved a hand and politely declined.
"Thank you, but no."
"What do you mean, no? Mr. Yin Kong, were you talking to me?" Ono Yoko immediately turned toward him in confusion. "What do you mean, no?"
It was not only Ono Yoko. Ikezawa Yuko and Yamagishi Ei also wore strange expressions.
Yin Kong shuddered and suddenly realized something. He looked in horror at the "Chris Winyard" sitting beside him.
The great actress had removed her sunglasses, revealing her exquisitely beautiful face.
Yet on that lovely, seductive face, there was only the delight of having found prey.
"Just as I thought, you can see me!"
"Just as I thought, you can see me!"
Hearing those familiar words, Yin Kong immediately understood that he had let his guard down.
The markers floating above targets' heads were convenient, but they were not one hundred percent reliable.
Just like that Pyro Abyss Lector who called himself Enjou: before revealing his true form, he had looked no different from an ordinary NPC.
More importantly, Yin Kong should have realized long ago that not all these demons and monsters were mindless beasts that acted only on instinct.
"Meeting is fate. Why don't we have a little talk first?"
Yin Kong put on a friendly smile and tried to use [Persuasion] on this "Miss Chris," whose true form was unknown.
Before you continue