We Ordinary Citizens Are Just Like This

The young man was dressed in a simple brown suit, his hair was a little messy, and his eyes were very sincere, like those of a beggar begging for food and rewards. It was hard for people to be wary or vigilant with such eyes, but Trist knew that this was the kind of person who would stab him in the back and chest when he wasn't paying attention, and might even say something like "The Catania Family pays its respects to you".

"If I were you, I wouldn't be playing the violin here without chasing after the people behind me."

Trist spoke calmly.

"No need, that's not my purpose."

The young man found a sofa and sat down, gesturing for Trist to sit down as well.

"You may not remember my name, but that's okay. My name is Stone now, Stone of the Catania Family, and also the family's strategist."

Upon hearing the name, Trist suddenly remembered.

More than two years ago, during the time of "The Mouth of the Madman," they rented a car cheaply from a car rental shop in the Ruined City, and this young man was in charge of collecting payments at the shop at that time.

At that time, he was called Stone.

What do you want?

Trist had no idea what price this young man had paid or how he had climbed up here.

The strategist of a gang is someone who assists the gang leader in handling various daily affairs. Usually, such a person must be a blood relative of the family. Stone, an orphan, is obviously not a relative of the Catania Family. He must have something extraordinary about him to have reached this position.

Not to mention, the rise of the Catania Family during this period is said to be related to their new strategist, who seems to be far more capable than Trist had imagined.

"I have no interest in what my immature older sister likes to do. I heard you're investigating Dr. House's case?"

Stone placed his hands, fingers interlaced, on the coffee table.

"Right."

Trist couldn't grasp Stone's thoughts and simply replied.

"Relax, I have no grudge against that doctor. If possible, I would like to talk to him about my god-sister's fetishes. I don't mean to stop you from investigating."

Stone said calmly.

"Actually, I would like to ask you to continue the investigation, but please keep me updated on the case regularly."

"Some of your men died, and in the same way as them?"

Almost instantly, Trist thought of what Lu Ban had said: a doctor, a prostitute, and probably a gang member, all of whom died at the Glass Flower.

Now that Stone, the Catania Family's strategist, has come to him and wants him to continue the investigation and keep him informed of the case, he certainly doesn't want to play detective games.

Combining these points, Trist immediately realized this possibility.

"As expected of a great detective, amazing."

Stone gave a dry laugh, his emotions unreadable. He beckoned, and one of his henchmen handed Trist a paper document—a simple autopsy report and investigation.

"Glass Flower".

Trist immediately understood when he saw the photo of the corpse.

This gang member's internal organs were also arranged in a flower-like shape, frozen in place by the glass.

He reviewed the autopsy report. The man had died a day earlier, on the night he received the mission and met with Trist Xiya. He and a few others were playing cards in the warehouse when he went to the toilet and didn't return for a long time. When his companions went to look for him, they found him lying on the ground outside the warehouse in this position.

From the time the deceased left until he was discovered, he made no sound that would attract the attention of the people in the warehouse.

The fact that the deceased was a distant relative of the Catania Family caught Stone's attention.

"Our family has expanded rapidly recently, and it's normal that some people are unhappy with us. I would like to ask you to investigate the murderer. For the safety of the Black Street, I think you will not refuse, Mr. Trist."

Stone said in a deep voice.

"Is the Black Street safe?"

Trist gave a sarcastic laugh.

"What? Since we took control of more than 70% of the underground transactions in Black Street, don't you think Black Street has become much quieter? An evenly matched force leads to chaos, chaos leads to war, and war leads to death. Only an absolute force can bring peace to the entire Black Street, and only in peace can business be done properly."

Stone was not stingy with his words in explaining his thoughts.

"Gangs? Trying to do business properly?"

Trist felt that the gangsters described by this young man were quite different from what he knew.

"Detective, you don't understand gangs. Those who rise to power through coercion and bribery are low-level gangs. The Catania Family used to be such a gang, but I believe that these underworld methods can only alleviate the problem temporarily. What I'm proposing is a sustainable family business. We started with those illegal things, but now we also do legal business, trading with the big shots in the Ruined City. We'll establish schools to provide shelter for homeless children, and tomorrow's charity gala will be part of our fundraising efforts."

Stone tapped the coffee table lightly with his fingers.

"It is short-sighted to think only about making profits through illegal and high-risk means. Truly smart people know how to make their wealth clean, beautiful, and impeccable."

Trist looked at Stone and for a moment had the idea that this guy must get along very well with Lu Ban.

"So, Mr. Trist, we won't hurt you. As a detective, you Ruined City, and everyone trusts you. We also want to build a good relationship with you. This case involves a member of our family, and I hope that the person who killed him will be punished. This doesn't violate fairness and justice, does it?"

Stone smiled.

Trist looked at the autopsy report again.

"I need to see the body on site, and also give me a record of this person's whereabouts over the past month, including who they met and what they ate."

He provided some information needed for the investigation, and once he entered his area of expertise, Trist became much calmer.

Moreover, this young strategist doesn't seem to be that violent, at least not towards Trist.

"No problem."

Stone stood up and shook hands with Trist.

" With Ruined City, I, as an ordinary citizen, truly feel incredibly safe."

"."

Trist twitched his lips and watched the other person leave.

He thought for a moment, then went back to the small room behind the music store.

The two people in the room were still sitting there, smoking, whether they genuinely hadn't noticed the commotion outside or were pretending not to.

He glanced at the music store owner, said nothing, and left the music store.

"Things are getting more and more complicated, but at least we have another lead."

Trist sighed and prepared to go back to find Lu Ban and the others.

*

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