Akai Shuichi continued, "So my friend called the police, but after investigating recently, they said they had contacted Mr. Shitara Jukichi—he said over the phone that he'd gone to Izu for a vacation."
Jiang Xia listened and nodded as though experienced. "There are many possibilities. Maybe you saw wrong yesterday, and the kidnappers weren't chasing him. Or perhaps Mr. Shitara has already been completely controlled by the kidnappers and had no choice but to cooperate with their lies."
He got up, returned with a sheet of paper, and placed it in front of Akai Shuichi. "How about this? I'll investigate. Fill out this registration form, and I'll notify you if there's any news."
The Mermaid was startled and floated over to tug at Jiang Xia: This was a rare chance delivered right to their door—they couldn't let him go so easily!
Xiao Bai nodded repeatedly, gesturing as he offered his Spirit Medium Master advice: Why not put some anesthetic in Akai Shuichi's drink, then pin it on Amuro Tooru? Pretend the drug had been in the Detective Agency's coffee or tea leaves all along, or... or blame that Hashimoto Maya! He'd been in the Detective Agency too, so he had the opportunity to do it!
Jiang Xia was briefly tempted, but quickly refused with calm detachment: He couldn't give up a long-term opportunity to walk into a trap of his own accord for a momentary burst of Killing Intent.
Sure enough, Akai Shuichi swiftly filled out the form, and his next words were, "I'll go with you. My friend failed to stop the kidnapping yesterday, and his conscience has been deeply troubled. He asked me to personally confirm whether old Mr. Shitara Jukichi is safe."
Don't talk nonsense. What conscience could your friend possibly have... Jiang Xia refuted inwardly while