Undercover Training

When he heard the words "go become a cop," Lin Xinyi felt a complicated mix of emotions:

I'd already traveled to another world and ended up as a criminal.

Why did I still have to go back to working overtime?!

And setting aside his resentment toward overtime, Lin Xinyi had no desire to change jobs in the first place:

How great was being a security captain who coasted through life!

Low-profile, safe, easy, well-paid, and the cafeteria even served free high-end cuisine.

Once he had saved up enough money and figured out the organization's situation, an insignificant small fry like him could quietly run off with the money.

But if he were sent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department as an undercover agent and became someone both the police and the organization closely watched, getting away later would be much harder.

Lin Xinyi truly did not want to accept this assignment.

But—

"You have other thoughts?"

Lin Xinyi had only hesitated in silence for two seconds before Gin's questioning voice came through.

His voice immediately turned several degrees colder.

Before this, Lin Xinyi would have only thought that his boss was good at putting on airs.

But now that he realized the other man was actually an unfathomable executive of a criminal organization, that cold, sinister voice, faintly laced with killing intent, became rather chilling.

"I'm willing to accept the assignment."

Lin Xinyi immediately chose to follow his heart.

He also calmly used a question to conceal his earlier hesitation:

"Just, boss, I want to know exactly what I should do."

"Should I directly accept the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's invitation and slip into their ranks as a part-time Forensic Consultant?"

"Or should I find a way to obtain an official position from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and become a full-time police officer on staff?"

This question was crucial.

Because it determined Lin Xinyi's future workload:

The former meant his position within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department would be relatively flexible. As an externally hired Forensic Consultant, he could basically come and go whenever he wanted.

If it was the latter, he would directly become a cog in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's machinery. And given their shortage of forensic personnel, he would definitely work overtime until he dropped dead.

Lin Xinyi was somewhat worried. Since this was about planting an undercover agent, the organization would probably prefer for him to infiltrate the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department as an official police officer.

But unexpectedly, his boss did not make things difficult for him here:

"Of course, you'll infiltrate through part-time work first."

"This time, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department took the initiative to invite you. If you simply go along with it and work part-time as their Forensic Consultant, it'll be even less suspicious."

Gin began to talk more and more.

He was personally teaching Lin Xinyi how to be a proper undercover agent:

"And at the beginning, don't show too much interest in police matters."

"You can occasionally get involved in cases, but don't be available at every call or appear overly eager."

"Haste makes waste. You need to gradually display your abilities through your work. Wait until the police take the initiative to invite you into more important cases and bring you into more critical departments. Then you can use the situation to climb upward."

"I understand!"

Lin Xinyi caught on immediately and even drew further inferences:

"So first, I'll help the police solve cases as an 'outsider' and slowly make the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department become dependent on me."

"Once they take the initiative to ask me to take up an official post, I'll pretend to hesitate, go through 'repeated consideration,' and finally agree half-heartedly."

"Exactly."

Gin continued with satisfaction.

"You need to make the enemy invite you in of their own accord, not desperately squeeze your way in yourself."

"Only then can you gain the enemy's true trust."

"Besides that, there are a few more key points—"

Gin's instruction was extremely detailed and professional.

And he taught with great dedication. After all, it was rare for him to train an undercover agent.

But as he kept teaching—

A wave of sorrow suddenly rose in his heart:

Damn it, why am I so skilled at this undercover business?

Of course, it was because there were simply too many rats at home. In the process of catching them, he had unknowingly memorized all their habits.

Gin's face remained cold, and so did his voice.

His suffering was known only to himself.

Sigh, what a headache.

At noon, Beika Station, at the train station entrance.

Summer was at its height. Sunlight poured down upon the barbecue grill of reinforced concrete and asphalt, roasting the little ants scurrying through the streets until their bodies burned.

To escape the blazing sun, citizens coming to ride the Tohto Loop Line hurried into the station as soon as they arrived, eager to enjoy the air conditioning as quickly as possible.

Flies and mosquitoes, on the other hand, loved such heat. They buzzed around the station entrance, harassing every passing pedestrian.

Yet Kudo Shinichi and Mouri Ran were still standing at the station entrance amid the rising heat and swarming insects.

Because the place was conspicuous, and they were waiting for someone.

"Shinichi, Ran!"

A high school girl in a blue school uniform, with short brown hair and an energetic appearance, slowly squeezed through the dense crowd while waving in greeting.

She was one of the two friends they were waiting for: Mouri Ran's best friend, Suzuki Sonoko.

"Sonoko, over here!"

Ran waved at Suzuki Sonoko.

"Whew, I made it on time."

Suzuki Sonoko wiped the thin sweat from her forehead, a smile curling at her lips.

"Today is the important day when Ran wins the Tokyo Karate Tournament championship. I can't delay her."

"Don't say that. Whether I can win the championship is still uncertain." Ran maintained a martial artist's humility.

"Haha, Ran's so amazing. Winning a championship definitely won't be a problem!"

Sonoko laughed, half seriously. Then she briskly turned around and cast a meaningful look at Kudo Shinichi.

"Well, well, Mr. Heisei Holmes~"

"You've become really famous again this time! Hahaha~"

She teased him without any malice.

"Haha..." Kudo Shinichi could not quite laugh.

Because he knew that the "famous" Sonoko mentioned referred to the news report that had already spread throughout Tokyo that day: "A Showdown Between Detective and Doctor: Great Detective Kudo's Crushing Defeat!"

In this world, the people who attracted the most public attention and popularity were often not celebrities, but brilliant, high-profile detectives.

Kudo Shinichi had originally been a top traffic star beloved by the media, gradually elevated to godhood by countless news reports.

But while the media enjoyed creating gods, they enjoyed destroying them even more.

So long as they could create a news sensation and boost newspaper sales, they could turn around without the slightest guilt and fiercely tear apart the people they had once praised.

Thus, Kudo Shinichi's "small mistake" yesterday had been infinitely magnified beneath the spotlight that had always shone upon him.

"But that wasn't a mistake at all!"

"Shinichi had already seen through the killer's method yesterday."

"He was only a step slower than Mr. Lin and didn't get the chance to say it."

Although she knew Sonoko was joking, Ran could not help explaining on behalf of her childhood friend:

"It was all because that bastard Ishikawa talked nonsense!"

"What did he mean by 'even Kudo Shinichi confirmed it was suicide'? That was just Shinichi tricking him!"

"All right, all right."

Seeing Ran puffed up in anger, Sonoko smiled even more happily.

"As expected of the future Mrs. Kudo. You're already thinking of defending your boyfriend."

"W-What are you talking about?!"

Kudo Shinichi and Mouri Ran's cheeks reddened at the same time.

"We're not like that!"

"Hehe."

Suzuki Sonoko gave a mischievous grin. She had watched these two put on such insincere displays of affection since childhood.

"All right, no more joking."

"By the way, I think I've found a new romantic target this time~"

"I have a feeling he might really be my destined one!"

"Uh..." Kudo and Mouri Ran's expressions both turned strange. "Who have you set your sights on this time?"

Seeing a handsome guy and wanting to pursue him was practically Miss Suzuki's signature move.

It was not because she was promiscuous, but because she had a bold personality.

Ordinary girls would be shy and conflicted over major matters of love, but Suzuki Sonoko was straightforward. So long as someone caught her eye, she would take the initiative to chase and flirt with him.

However, according to what Kudo and Ran knew—

Sonoko was highly proactive, but her taste was atrocious.

If they wrote down the names of all the handsome men she had liked, they could practically compile Tokyo's Illustrated Guide to Scumbags.

"Who is it this time?"

Mouri Ran was very worried about her best friend's safety.

Although Sonoko had not suffered much before, walk by the river often enough and eventually your shoes would get wet.

If some scumbag really managed to deceive Sonoko and get his hands on her, then—

The Suzuki family head came home, discovered his seventeen-year-old daughter had been humiliated by a manipulative scumbag, and gave a single order. One hundred thousand corporate bodyguards charged in!

The girl was forced to break up, and the richest men of every country immediately sent their heirs flying over to propose. Her cheating boyfriend was dumbfounded!

One phone call from the girl, and eight thousand people appeared outside the door shouting, "Greetings, Miss!" The heartless scumbag was frightened senseless on the spot!

Ahem, ahem—

In short, the consequences would be severe.

But Suzuki Sonoko did not pay much attention to Ran's concern.

She was extremely confident in her taste this time:

"Hahaha, actually, you both know this man!"

As she spoke, Sonoko took a newspaper from her small handbag.

Then she pointed at the conspicuous crime scene photo on the newspaper's front page, her eyes shining like an obsessed fan's.

"Look, the handsome guy I've taken a liking to this time—"

"Is Mr. Lin Xinyi!"