Municipal Public Security Bureau
Aya Tone, still bewildered by the turn of events, was led by several officers into an interrogation room. Passersby watched with a mix of curiosity and awe, their gazes like a constellation surrounding him.
“Um, can I make a phone call?”
The situation had unfolded so suddenly that when he’d left, he’d only grabbed his keys, leaving his phone on the desk.
To be honest.
He felt remarkably little about being escorted away by the officers.
‘What’s there to worry about?’ he mused. ‘I’m a person of some standing now. I’ve weathered far greater storms; why should this bother me?’
“You may, but it must be done in our presence,” an officer replied.
“No problem,” Aya Tone agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
He knew his conscience was clear, and having someone observe him might even prove beneficial.
The few police officers standing nearby exchanged subtle glances.
Aya Tone’s composure was entirely unexpected.
Even innocent individuals typically became flustered when brought to a police station, yet he remained remarkably unperturbed.
The call connected.
“President, I’m at the station. Come bail me out.”
With those words, Aya Tone said nothing more, promptly ending the call.
Explaining was too much trouble, and he wasn’t sure how to begin. It would be simpler to wait for the officers to explain everything once the President arrived.
The officer beside him took back Aya Tone’s phone, and perhaps due to Aya Tone’s excessive calm, he asked curiously, “You didn’t mention the address. Should you call them back?”
Aya Tone: “……”
‘Damn it! I completely forgot about that!’
Still, he feigned composure, waving a hand in refusal.
‘The call’s already ended. Calling back now would completely ruin my cool.’
‘I hope the President can find me!!!’
Aya Tone silently prayed, ‘Putting on a show feels good in the moment. As long as I maintain it, it’ll feel good forever!’
****
Hearing the familiar voice from the unfamiliar number, Fire Finch gestured for her secretary to take over her current tasks.
“I’m heading out. You can handle the rest.”
A few minutes later.
Outside the Municipal Public Security Bureau, a Vermillion Bird, its form compressed, descended rapidly. The instant it touched the ground, it transformed back into human shape, striding directly inside, oblivious to the astonished gazes of everyone present.
“President Fire, what brings you to the bureau? For anything, a phone call would have sufficed.”
Fire Finch smiled at the veteran detective who approached her.
“Long time no see, Old Zhou.”
“My visit today is a personal matter. I heard you brought a young man back here recently. Is that true?”
At her words, Old Zhou’s pupils constricted.
Her mention of it had jogged his memory; he knew exactly what she was referring to.
After all, he had been the one leading the team.
Yet, for such a seemingly minor incident, the President of a guild had come in person. Could that young man possess some extraordinary status?
No, that wasn’t quite right. Fire Finch wasn’t merely the president of an ordinary guild.
His gaze flickered with suspicion and uncertainty, but he ultimately decided to let Fire Finch meet the young man first.
“President Fire, please follow me.”
Soon, in the interrogation room, Fire Finch found Aya Tone animatedly chatting with the young police officer beside him.
“……”
‘I’ve truly come at the wrong time. Perhaps I should just leave.’
Old Zhou deliberately cleared his throat.
Hearing the sound, both individuals immediately ceased their conversation, sitting upright as if nothing had happened.
Then, as if just noticing Fire Finch, Aya Tone’s face lit up with surprise, tinged with a hint of grievance.
“President—save me! The officers arrested the wrong person! I didn’t do it! I’m innocent!”
‘Ahem, I got a little carried away talking…’
Fire Finch: “……”
Ignoring Aya Tone’s dramatic antics, she turned to Old Zhou beside her.
“He’s not the culprit. I’ll vouch for him.”
“This… isn’t quite by the book, is it?”
In truth, Old Zhou didn’t believe the young man before him was the murderer.
As a seasoned detective, he found Aya Tone’s demeanor remarkably composed. From the moment he was brought in until now, he had remained as calm as a child on an outing, not someone arrested by the police.
Emotions like curiosity and exuberance were palpable from him.
There was no trace of guilt or fear whatsoever.
Furthermore.
As a father himself, he understood perfectly the desire to surprise a child.
The streamers displayed at home clearly indicated a child’s birthday celebration.
When his son was younger, he had wished for a birthday party, but Old Zhou had been too busy at the time and had put it off.
Later, his son grew up, and the desire for such a party faded.
“Old Zhou, are you questioning my character?” Fire Finch asked, as a wisp of Undying Flame, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, coiled around her arm, its threat utterly undisguised.
“Since President Fire is willing to vouch for him, we’ll just do a quick registration, and you can both leave.”
GazIng at the Undying Flame that constantly teased his nerves, Old Zhou offered a strained, awkward laugh.
If he didn’t release Aya Tone, he genuinely feared that this individual might accidentally twitch her hand. Never mind the police station; he would undoubtedly be the first to turn to ash.
Seeing his concession, Fire Finch smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Old Zhou. I’ll take him now.”
“Brother, I’m off now!”
Aya Tone, with mock tears in his eyes, waved goodbye to the young police officer. He hadn’t expected to meet a ‘comrade’ during his stint at the station.
‘This truly is fate’s arrangement!’
Upon leaving the Municipal Public Security Bureau, the expression on Aya Tone’s face instantly darkened.
“That man’s death was a trap.”
He had good reason to believe so.
Not long after the Qian Mian organization incident concluded, a bizarre death had occurred.
The young officer had shown him photographs from the scene: there were no external injuries, nor any signs of struggle on the victim.
Yet, the manner of death was exceedingly strange, as if the connection between the body and head had been severed.
The face was contorted, but the body appeared as peaceful as if asleep. Merely looking at the photos evoked a profound sense of distortion.
Aya Tone had never witnessed such a grotesque death before.
‘If you’re going to kill, just kill. Why resort to such perversity? Is it some deep-seated hatred, or simply a twisted mind?’
“Do you intend to investigate?” Fire Finch asked, her eyes cast down, giving him a slight sidelong glance.
“No, no, no, I don’t have time recently. Aya Jiu’s birthday is coming up soon, so I’ll let them off the hook for now.”
‘To dare to frame me? If I don’t annihilate them, I’ll feel utterly disgraced!’
Fire Finch paused for a moment, then quickly resumed her pace. “Just handle it as you see fit…”
“Aya Jiu’s birthday is approaching, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. Have you prepared your gift?” Aya Tone quipped.
Ever since Aya Jiu moved into the Fated Apartment, Fire Finch had been present at her birthday celebrations every year.
She was also the biggest contributor to the birthday party.
Her gifts were always the most numerous.
“Do you think I’m like you?”
“Hey, hey, don’t expose my shortcomings!”
“Well, you’d need something to expose first. I wonder who once just gave a greeting card.”
At the mention of “greeting card,” Aya Tone gave an awkward smile, muttering in protest, “It’s the thought that counts…”
That time, his pockets were empty, and his mind was blank; he simply couldn’t think of anything appropriate to get.
So…
Regardless of its monetary value, that greeting card was something he had made with great care. It was priceless, alright.
What’s more, Aya Jiu had clearly loved it and kept it safe in her little treasure trove.
He mumbled softly.
Fire Finch simply chuckled.
‘Here’s a look; figure it out yourself.’