Slacker Assassin's Multiverse Daily

Handing the big credit to the police and playing a minor supporting role was a good move—it meant he could keep comfortably using Officer Takagi as his go-to helper without any trouble down the line.

Besides, drug trafficking involved too many tangled threads. Jiang Hang had no desire to be propped up by the police as a target and end up on some dangerous group's radar.

Anyway, after a round of mutual back-patting with Inspector Megure, Jiang Hang found an excuse to take his leave.

Before leaving Moon Shadow Island, he still had one person to see.

While everyone's attention was fixed on the police's sudden operation, at the island's only clinic, a doctor with a ponytail and delicate features stood at the entrance, also watching the officers swarming around the harbor.

There was a trace of confusion and relief in his gaze. Sensing someone approaching, he quickly said to the newcomer, "Sorry, I've got something going on today. Could you come back tomorrow..."

Suddenly, the words caught in his throat.

Because he recognized the person coming toward him.

"Doctor Narumi Asai—or more accurately, Seiji Aso, Keiji Aso's only surviving son from back then," Jiang Hang said, approaching the clinic for the first time since arriving on Moon Shadow Island, also meeting Seiji Aso for the first time. "You were seriously ill back then, hospitalized in Tokyo, so you didn't go to Moon Shadow Island with your parents and escaped the tragedy. After your parents and sister died, you were adopted by the Asai family and changed your surname. After graduating from Todai Medical School with top marks, you quickly got your official medical license, but instead of taking a job at a big hospital, you came back to Moon Shadow Island, disguised yourself as a woman, and worked as a doctor at this clinic for two years."

"These years must have been tough on you." Jiang Hang spoke with a hint of sympathy as he laid out the man's identity and past.

Even though he knew from the anime that Seiji Aso was a genuine crossdresser, meeting him in person made Jiang Hang realize the guy was leagues above the so-called "crossdressing guys" he'd seen before his transmigration.

At least without activating Eagle Eye, Jiang Hang couldn't spot any flaw in Seiji's disguise. Even his Adam's apple was naturally much smaller than the average man's—Jiang Hang only noticed it after using Eagle Eye.

"Mr. Jiang Hang..."

Seiji Aso clearly recognized Jiang Hang—after all, he was the one who'd sent the invitation letter.

For a split second, his mind spun out all kinds of scenarios for Jiang Hang's arrival.

A bitter smile crept onto his face.

"As expected of the famous Detective Jiang Hang. I was planning to transfer your fee to you today, but it turns out you've already solved the case before I could even pay you." He was now speaking in his natural voice, though it still sounded quite androgynous.

"Ah... sorry for stopping your revenge plan, but I don't think you'll hold a grudge and come after me for revenge, right?" Jiang Hang was joking, and Seiji Aso shook his head firmly.

"Of course not. I was actually hoping someone would stop me. Now that those people have been arrested and received the punishment they deserve, my revenge is no longer necessary."

"Then I'm relieved." Jiang Hang smiled. "Two years ago, the death of Mayor Kameyama—that Moonlight Sonata coming from the piano room—that was connected to you, wasn't it?"

This was the last question of the case.

Seiji Aso didn't deny it.

"I came to this island disguised as a woman to investigate the cause of my parents' and sister's deaths back then, and Mayor Kameyama was the target I wanted to get close to." A look of recollection crossed Seiji's face. "That man had improper intentions toward me. He called me to the piano room late at night, but when he found out I was Keiji Aso's son, he died of a heart attack from fear. But before he died, I learned the truth of what happened back then, and I decided to take revenge on all of them... but now it seems my revenge ended the moment you set foot on Moon Shadow Island."

Jiang Hang was silent for a moment and didn't press further. Kameyama Isamu had died of a sudden heart attack—that was the police's verdict, and it was the best outcome for him.

He handed the copy of the sheet music to the other man.

"This is the last thing your father left behind. The original has been taken by the police as evidence, so it'll probably be a long time before it gets back to you. There's nothing I can do about that. Until then, keep this copy."

Hearing Jiang Hang's words, Seiji Aso was stunned for a moment before taking the copy of the sheet music from him.

"I've lived on this island for two years and never knew my father left this behind... Thank you, Mr. Jiang Hang..."

"I think you already know the code hidden in it. The first part records the criminal evidence against Nishiki Ken and the others, and the latter part is the last thing he wanted to say to you."

Seiji Aso nervously flipped to the back of the sheet music and, with Jiang Hang's explanation, began reading from the final section.

Familiar with the code, he quickly understood his father's last words to him.

"Seiji, you have to live on strong alone."

Though it was just a simple sentence, reading it made the corners of his eyes involuntarily wet.

Seeing that Seiji Aso seemed unwilling to cry easily in front of him, Jiang Hang didn't say anything more.

At this point, leaving him some personal space was enough.

He turned and walked toward the inn.

But just as he turned, he heard the soft sobbing from behind him.

He glanced up at the clear blue sky and let out a quiet sigh.

Then, without looking back, he left the spot, leaving Seiji Aso, unable to hold back his tears, alone to vent his emotions.

Chapter 54: Forensic Medicine Is a Profession for the Future

Jiang Hang had originally thought he'd have to rely on fate to see Seiji Aso again.

But to his surprise, the next day, as they boarded the ferry back to Tokyo, they ran into him at the port, dragging a suitcase.

Today, Seiji Aso wasn't dressed as a woman anymore. Instead, he wore a relatively androgynous outfit.

Still, most people would probably mistake this strikingly handsome young man for a woman.

Seeing Jiang Hang and his group, Seiji Aso looked a bit surprised. After hesitating for a moment, he came over to greet Jiang Hang.

"Mr. Jiang Hang, are you leaving Moon Shadow Island?"

Seeing a handsome "girl" suddenly walk over to say hello, Koharu Yoshino couldn't help but glance at Jiang Hang, as if suspecting there was some secret between him and this "girl."

"Yes, since everything here is settled, we should head back to Tokyo too," Jiang Hang said, greeting the other party before asking, "Dr. Aso, are you also returning to Tokyo?"

When she heard Jiang Hang address the other as Dr. Aso, Shizuka Sakaki's face showed a flicker of surprise. They had only learned yesterday, after following the sheet music to uncover the truth of that year, that Keiji Aso had a surviving son.

But Jiang Hang hadn't told them the full truth of the incident yesterday, so they didn't know that Seiji Aso also lived on this island, just under a different name.

"Aso... could it be that you're?" Koharu Yoshino's eyes went wide as she directly asked.

"Keiji Aso was my father. I'm truly grateful to you, Mr. Jiang Hang, for uncovering the truth of that year and letting me see the sheet music my father left before he died." Seiji Aso gave Jiang Hang a slight bow. His emotions were much more stable than yesterday, and he continued to explain.

"I came to Moon Shadow Island originally to investigate my father's death. Now that everything has come to light and the criminals from that year have received their due punishment, there's no reason for me to stay on Moon Shadow Island any longer. I'll first return to Tokyo to inform my adoptive parents, then come back here to handle the resignation procedures."

The group boarded the ferry together. After the other party separated from them, Koharu Yoshino quietly asked Jiang Hang what was going on.

"He's Keiji Aso's son?"

"Not she, he. He just looks a bit delicate, but he's actually male." Jiang Hang specifically corrected her.

"No way, I thought she—no, he—has such good skin, you can't tell he's a man from the outside at all!" Koharu Yoshino exclaimed softly, as if she couldn't believe it was a man. "Jiang Hang-kun, you're not joking with me, are you?"

Jiang Hang rolled his eyes at her. "You think Keiji Aso couldn't tell his own child was a son or daughter?"

Koharu Yoshino seemed to nod in understanding, but the next moment she suddenly caught on.

"Wait, Jiang Hang-kun, how did you find him? I asked around, and there's no one named Aso on the island!"

"Because after he was adopted, he changed his name to Narumi Asai. Isn't it normal that you couldn't find anyone named Aso?" Jiang Hang said offhandedly.

"Then where did you learn he changed his name to Narumi Asai? No one on the island seems to know he's Keiji Aso's son!" Koharu Yoshino, who had just upgraded her information gathering to beginner level last night, successfully spotted the blind spot.

Jiang Hang coughed dryly. He'd planned to brush it off with "it's basic deduction," but seeing Koharu Yoshino's curious eyes, he ended up telling her the truth anyway.

"I asked Inspector Takagi. Before coming to Moon Shadow Island, I already knew his identity." Jiang Hang briefly explained his source of information.

Then Koharu Yoshino went off to sulk by herself.

"What's... wrong with Yoshino?" Shizuka Sakaki, who hadn't heard Jiang Hang and Koharu Yoshino's earlier conversation, asked curiously.

"She took a bit of a hit, but it's fine. She'll probably recover before we reach Tokyo." Jiang Hang smiled, telling Shizuka Sakaki not to worry.

He sat in his seat for a while but grew restless, so he went up to the deck to feel the sea breeze.

Unexpectedly, someone else had the same idea.

Seeing Seiji Aso staring at Moon Shadow Island, now only a silhouette in view, Jiang Hang walked over, greeted him, and asked.

"Still thinking about your father?"

Seiji Aso nodded. "Even though I learned the truth two years ago, thinking about it now still feels a bit strange."

He had felt his father's love and regret in that sheet music, but the mistakes his father made back then and the tragedy they ultimately caused couldn't be washed away.

Sensing his complicated feelings, Jiang Hang didn't dwell on the topic and instead asked about his future plans.

"After you resign from Moon Shadow Island, what are your thoughts?"

Jiang Hang asked. He hadn't considered it before, but just now he'd suddenly thought of recruiting the other man.

Seiji Aso was truly talented—at the very least, the name of a Todai Medical School graduate carried weight. Countless high school students dreamed of becoming Todai Medical School students in the future.

If he could train the man into a renowned doctor, it might be quite fulfilling.

Unfortunately, the other seemed to have already made up his mind.

"Yes, I plan to become a forensic pathologist." Seiji Aso's words surprised Jiang Hang.

Even though a forensic pathologist was still a doctor, even he knew that in terms of status and treatment, forensic pathologists were far worse off than regular doctors. Many people didn't understand the profession, thinking it was just a job spent staring at corpses all day. After all, doctors could save lives, while no matter how skilled a forensic pathologist was, they couldn't bring the dead back to life.

Dangerous, dirty, exhausting, harsh, no holidays, no makeup, unable to marry. Since these words all started with "K" in Japanese, those in the profession often joked it was a "7K" job.

Doctors had high treatment, while forensic pathologists had low treatment and faced disdain. Combined with Japan's already low autopsy rate, this meant that while countless people wanted to get into medical school, only a handful chose to become forensic pathologists.

Of course, perhaps due to the frequent homicides in this world, the number of forensic pathologists was higher than in the world Jiang Hang knew, but even so, the total in Japan was pitifully small—probably just over 200.

For a country with over a hundred million people and more than a million deaths each year, that was almost unimaginable.

"Are you sure?" Jiang Hang looked at him. "The path of a forensic pathologist is very hard."

"For the past two years, I've actually been self-studying this field for that revenge plan," Seiji Aso admitted without denying his past thoughts of murder for revenge.

"I once heard someone say that forensic medicine is work that exists for the future. I didn't understand it at the time, but now I think I get it a little."

"Every year in Japan, over a hundred thousand people die unnatural deaths. Of those hundred thousand who die in accidents, fewer than a thousand bodies are autopsied."

"When my father died, the police ruled it a suicide and didn't have a forensic pathologist perform an autopsy. I've always thought that if a forensic pathologist had autopsied my parents' bodies back then, maybe the truth of their deaths would have been discovered."

Seiji Aso met Jiang Hang's gaze frankly.

"I can't become a great detective like you, Mr. Jiang Hang, but I don't want to see tragedies like mine happen again."

"All I can do is become a forensic pathologist, to speak for those who died unexpectedly and uncover the buried truth for those still alive."

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Damn System, You Set Me Up!

Seiji Aso had found a new goal, and Jiang Hang felt gratified that he had successfully saved someone's future.

He wasn't sure what his own future held, but at least for now, he felt what he was doing had meaning.

After getting off the ferry and waving goodbye, Jiang Hang thought that maybe the next time they met, Seiji Aso would already be a forensic pathologist capable of standing on his own.

Although the other person's words—"Forensic pathology is a profession that exists for the future"—sounded somewhat familiar to him, he didn't dwell on it.

Instead, he began tallying up the gains from this trip to Moon Shadow Island.

Strictly speaking, he had resolved three cases on Moon Shadow Island this time: the self-immolation case of Keiji Aso twelve years ago, the Moon Shadow Island drug trafficking ring, and the revenge plot by Seiji Aso that he had prevented.

However, in the system's final assessment, these three events were consolidated into the "Moon Shadow Island Incident," and Jiang Hang had completed his first case rated as a Five-Star Case.

When Jiang Hang learned from the system that this was a Five-Star rating, he was quite surprised.

After all, he hadn't made much of a splash in this case—no "boom" explosion effects, no thrilling peak moments. Compared to the grand spectacles in Conan's theatrical releases, like satellites crashing into buildings or helicopters strafing Tokyo Tower, it was nothing.

But the Moon Shadow Island drug trafficking ring had been operating for over a decade, entangled with countless upstream and downstream connections. The amount of drugs flowing from Moon Shadow Island to Tokyo was likely staggering. Considering the harm of drugs and the social impact this case could have, it wasn't strange that the overall assessment earned a Five-Star rating.

And for resolving a Five-Star Case, the system was quite generous with its rewards.

First came the monetary reward—nothing much to say about that. Jiang Hang planned to go back and buy out his own agency.

Next was an advanced training manual, something Jiang Hang was getting for the first time. Its function was simple: it could train any skill Jiang Hang currently possessed to an advanced level. However, abilities like 'Eagle Eye' or 'Presence Concealment,' which were more like innate talents, couldn't be improved through training.

Jiang Hang looked over the skills eligible for this advanced training manual. Lockpicking, Assassin's Footwork, and Sword Cane Mastery—these three skills didn't need upgrading to advanced for now.

That left only two skills: Disguise and Combat Techniques.

Jiang Hang wasn't in a hurry to make a choice just yet. Instead, he turned his attention to the last skill.

Mind's Eye (Advanced).

This was the third advanced skill Jiang Hang had acquired. According to the skill description, it would greatly enhance his perception of danger. At the same time, he would need to enter the training space for corresponding exercises to improve his insight and mobility, ensuring that even in a disadvantaged position during combat, he could grasp his own condition and the enemy's capabilities.

Based on the description, this was an incredibly useful ability. For Jiang Hang as he was now, if he suddenly had a bad gut feeling, it was mostly nonsense. But after mastering this skill, if Jiang Hang ever sensed danger, it meant real danger was present.

However, Jiang Hang's head ached just thinking about skills that required entering the training space.

Beginner-level skills were manageable—just endure a bit of hardship and he could master them. But advanced skills were a different story.