35. Is it not time for you to ravage me?

Private investigators have a long history in Japan, emerging as early as the Meiji era. While there may not be one on every street corner, the number of detective agencies today is quite significant.

However, the profession is not as glamorous as one might imagine, nor are these detectives the all-powerful figures of legend. Their primary business is actually quite simple: catching cheating spouses.

In a country where the crime rate is among the lowest in the world, the opportunity to assist the "inept" police force in investigating complex murder cases is rare. Relying solely on that line of work might not lead to starvation, but it would certainly be a meager existence. Therefore, compared to helping the police solve homicides, modern detectives are much more adept at tailing and secretly photographing unfaithful husbands and wives—their skills rivaling those of the paparazzi.

This was exactly why Haruno Tsukasa had come here.

A crisp chime of the doorbell caused the middle-aged man hunched over his desk to look up.

"Welcome to the Miyazaki Detective Agency."

"Do you have an appointment, sir?"

"Yes, I do. The name is Haruno."

"Ah, Mr. Haruno! We just spoke on the phone not long ago. I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly."

"I happen to live nearby."

"That explains it."

A moment later, the middle-aged man stood up to greet Haruno Tsukasa and the accompanying Shigeeda Shiori, presenting his business card to identify himself as the owner. As the proprietor and a detective himself, Miyazaki Masahiro looked to be about forty-five. He was of average height and build, with slightly graying temples and rimless glasses. His appearance was the definition of forgettable—the kind of face you would never pick out in a crowd. In that sense, he was perfectly suited for the job of tailing others; after all, the lower one’s presence, the better.

They had already discussed the basics over the phone, and since Haruno had simply picked an agency at random online, the other party was already familiar with the situation. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they got straight to the point.

Miyazaki served them tea and, without beating around the bush, got down to business. "I basically understood your request over the phone, but after analyzing the case, I must remind you: since Miss Kato Masami is neither your spouse nor a relative, we have no legal authority to tail her or take candid photos. If she discovers us and reports it to the police, we would be held legally liable."

He paused, observing Haruno as he sipped his tea, and sighed. "Therefore..."

His implication was clear: he was essentially willing to take the case.

Before starting an investigation, detectives are required to submit an application, and the authority to conduct surveillance or wiretapping is strictly limited to the client or the client's spouse. It cannot be applied to a third party. In other words, one could install a camera or a bug in the client's own car, but not in the car of the person having the affair. Consequently, most Japanese detective agencies focus on infidelity cases, or other legal matters like background checks on potential marriage partners, which do not involve stalking or candid photography.

Since Haruno Tsukasa and Kato Masami were clearly not married, nor even in a relationship, he had no right to hire a detective to investigate her. However, regulations are rigid, but methods are flexible.

Haruno beckoned to Shigeeda Shiori, who was sitting beside him staring blankly at her teacup. Once she snapped out of it, he signaled for her to bring his briefcase. He reached inside, pulled out an envelope, and placed it on the coffee table.

"I’ll pay extra," Haruno said directly. "The original price was 300,000 yen? Let’s double it. Would 600,000 yen be enough to reconsider?"

Miyazaki, who had been drinking tea, paused. His eyes narrowed slightly as he discreetly measured the thickness of the envelope. He was clearly tempted, but he continued to drink his tea, sighing with a hesitant expression. "You’re joking. This isn't about money. Even if there is no legal liability, as a detective, I have my professional ethics. You’re putting me in a difficult position..."

Seeing this, Haruno smiled and pulled another white envelope from his bag. "One million yen."

"If that’s not enough, I’ll find another agency."

Miyazaki’s eyes lit up, and he quickly set down his teacup. "Wait! Mr. Haruno, I think you may have misunderstood my professional ethics!"

"Mr. Haruno, the truth is, I despise people who betray their partners, regardless of gender. Even though you and Miss Kato are not legally married, I am still willing to put in the effort to help you. Besides, I won't be secretly filming or wiretapping Miss Kato; I simply intend to find an appropriate time to have a proper conversation with her to uncover the truth for you. You don’t need to persuade me—I’ve decided to help you!"

Compared to his earlier reluctance, Miyazaki now looked full of righteousness, just like a high-ranking official at a press conference claiming everything he did was for the public good. He might as well have had "self-sacrifice" written on his face.

"Then the payment will be made in advance. The timeframe is half a month. I hope to hear of substantial progress." Haruno’s requirements were straightforward.

"What payment? Please, don't be so formal, Mr. Haruno. Rest assured, I am helping you free of charge, and I will certainly not break any laws."

While Miyazaki spoke with grave sincerity to avoid leaving any verbal evidence, his hands didn't stop moving. He swept the two envelopes off the table without even glancing at them, and he made no mention of signing a contract.

Of course, a contract was impossible. After all, this was a matter that had to be handled in the shadows. Haruno wasn't worried about the man reneging on the deal; he knew that many detectives took on "private" jobs this way. If they followed the official regulations with all the reporting and auditing, the mistress would have already fled to Shikoku.

While it was against the rules, there was a reason the Japanese police were often called an "inept group," and few officers would be bored enough to meddle in such affairs. Moreover, in the detective business, one usually had a few police connections; even if caught by the subject, they had ways to resolve it. Thus, whether or not to take the job depended entirely on the thickness of the client's envelope.

"In that case, we'll keep in touch by phone." With the matter settled, Haruno had no intention of lingering.

Actually, this should be easy. Based on his understanding of Kato Masami, her penchant for playing around was impossible to hide. If she had any self-control, she wouldn't have played around until she ended up pregnant without even knowing who the father was. Coupled with the phone call he had received from her husband two days ago, her promiscuity was all but confirmed.

Infidelity is like gambling; once you get a taste, it’s impossible to stop. Even if you hold back rationally for a while, you will seize the opportunity the moment it arises.

"Mr. Haruno, please wait a moment." Just as Haruno was about to leave with Shigeeda, Miyazaki called him back.

"Is there something else?"

"Actually, I have another piece of information for you, free of charge. I don't know if you’d be interested."

"Oh? I’m listening."

"Well, about a week ago, a young lady came to me to request long-term surveillance on someone. I didn't take the case because the duration was too long, but come to think of it, this request involved you." Miyazaki didn't beat around the bush; he seemed quite pleased and explained it with a grin.

"I am the one being tailed?" Haruno asked without hesitation.

"Yes," Miyazaki confirmed. "When I saw your basic information, I remembered it a few days later when you came to me for other matters. I don't know if anyone else took the job, but I do know that the lady who wanted to hire me was named Suzumiya. That’s all I know."

Haruno frowned slightly upon hearing this, but then relaxed, his expression returning to normal. "Thanks."

"You’re too kind."

Miyazaki said nothing more. After saying their goodbyes, they left.

However, the information he had just learned made Haruno feel a sense of vigilance, and he began to think of countermeasures. To be honest, Suzumiya Sayaka was easy to deal with. The "Ice Queen" supervisor’s weakness was obvious: as long as you didn't touch upon her core dignity, she rarely made mistakes. If he wanted to continue, he might even be able to "reach home base" one night.

But the downsides were also obvious. They had only hugged a few times after meeting, and he was already being entangled. If things progressed further, who knew what would happen! A woman with such intense possessiveness could not tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes. A situation like Haruno’s—destined to be entangled with many women—would never be tolerated. Being with her would lead to endless trouble.

He had no good solution for now. He could only hope that as time passed, Suzumiya Sayaka would lose interest in him, just like any normal person.

The detective agency was close to Ikebukuro, and since the evening rush hour had passed, they arrived home in about ten minutes. During the ride, Haruno was deep in thought about how to deal with Suzumiya Sayaka, while Shigeeda, ever since their "transaction," had been in a daze, as if she had lost her soul, following him step by step in silence.

He only noticed this when he pulled out his key, opened the apartment door, and was about to go inside.

"Why are you still following me?"

"Ah?" Shigeeda looked up, confused. It took her a moment to realize what he meant, and she stared at him timidly. "Isn't... isn't it time for you to ravage me?"

Haruno’s face darkened. Why was this girl so tactless? However, her words reminded him that he had almost forgotten to make temporary arrangements for her.

He looked at Shigeeda’s petite, thin frame and organized his thoughts. "I’m not in the mood today. Go home and rest. Also, don't go to your part-time job for the next two days; I’m afraid I might need you and you won't be around."

He paused and pulled another white envelope, about two fingers thick, from his briefcase. "Also, this is your salary for this month—I’m paying you in advance. Everything I said this afternoon still stands. If your father needs money for his surgery urgently, contact me at any time, day or night."

"Do you understand?"

"I... I understand..." Shigeeda lowered her head, staring blankly at the envelope she had just been handed.

"Remember to eat dinner, and get some rest."

With that, Haruno stepped directly into his apartment, not giving Shigeeda a chance to respond, and shut the door behind him.

The action left Shigeeda feeling a bit dazed. It was as if Haruno had moved so quickly because he was afraid she would take his innocence today. And... was money really this easy to come by?