1

There are so many people.

There are a lot of people.

A sea of people.

Has Dongyang Road always been like this? It is a bustling city.

I exclaimed inwardly.

We were a group of four, and as soon as we got off the subway, we felt the 'pressure'. Obviously, there is not such a scary feeling on the subway.

Is there any activity going on today?

"Huh-"

I secretly accosted Qiao Mu.

"What's going on with this awkward atmosphere?"

I cast my color at him, but he didn't seem to pay attention.

"Didn't you say you were coming......"

He glared back at me.

…… What are you doing, what is the purpose of me calling the two of them out?

Now I can't even figure it out on my own.

I just wanted to find an opportunity to ask some questions about incense sticks in person. In that case, what is the meaning of my action......

In order to have a good relationship with her? Don't make a fuss, even if it's an arbor, I didn't ask anything. How could she possibly say that to someone who is meeting for the first time?

"So where are we going......"

Qiao Mu glared at me.

"I'm hungry, let's find a restaurant first."

"If that's the case — I know there's a good place."

The result is that the incense sticks open first.

"A newly opened shop, it's basically Chinese home cooking."

If you want Chinese home-cooked food, it shouldn't matter.

I don't know the way, I follow their butts, and it feels like I'm following the flow of people, turning left and right and then left and right, huh? How many times have you turned...... This makes me sure to get lost if I come alone.

But I don't blame Chisugi City, even in Minato City, I often get lost.

The sense of direction is very poor, and it's me.

Anyway, I didn't know what was going on, and we ended up walking into a restaurant.

It is indeed a very new restaurant, and there is still a little smell of paint that has not dissipated, and it is estimated that it has just opened.

The interior of the store is mainly golden yellow, and it has a feeling of wealth and wealth......

Well, even if it's an overseas Chinese restaurant, it's probably the same style. Quaint wooden pillars can be seen everywhere, and there are too many of them to be a bit of an eyesore. The restaurant was very crowded, and it was almost full, but luckily there was still a table to offer.

I sat down next to the wind chimes.

It's strange that the wind chimes haven't spoken much since just now.

This wife is not like her, every time she is like this, she is unwilling to say something.

I stared at her-ji-

"Why are you looking at me......"

Don't overdo it, what are you doing, that's what she looked at me in math class the other day.

On the other side, Qiao Mu was chatting with incense sticks.

The bag that the incense stick was carrying, the pendant of the 'stone god' still sparkling and attracting my attention.

“……”

That's when I noticed that the wind chimes had been staring at me, but as soon as I looked at it, she would look away.

Why are you avoiding me?

Today's wind chimes are really weird.

Where will you go......

I thought, in terms of this traffic, watching movies is definitely not a wise choice, and more importantly, watching movies can't communicate. Game Center may be good, but it's too noisy to communicate...... Sparkling pendant ...... Well......

"Arbor ......"

I secretly tapped him on the shoulder and leaned over.

"You know...... Are there any bookstores nearby? The kind where you can buy used books. ”

"You say second-hand bookstores ......? There are no second-hand bookstores, but there is a big bookstore that I remember selling used books. ”

"That's fine."

I muttered that it should be fine to speak quietly in the bookstore.

I wanted to see if I could find the old Dragon comics.

The atmosphere of the dinner was still very awkward, and after Qiao Mu finished ordering, the four of them didn't say a word.

“…… I went to the bathroom. ”

Qiao Mu stood up first.

"Me ...... too"

I also stood up.

"Joe."

"What's wrong?"

"It doesn't matter if you're so laid-back, I remember you said there was a 'gun' trafficking incident around here."

"That being said, I don't directly intervene in this matter...... In fact, there are people from the 'Hong Kong Association' and police patrolling around here. ”

"Is that ......?"

"Because I don't have any talent."

Qiao Mu's eyes darkened.

"I'm an ordinary person, in the face of this kind of thing, I can't be of any practical use, and I can't block bullets......"

"That's just as well."

I said.

"Only those who have received the gifts of the gods can play a role. ”】

He smiled wryly.

"And an ordinary person like me can't step through that most important door no matter what. It was a level set by the gods. ”

He clenched his fists.

"But there are always some people who have received the gifts of the gods, but they have not used them to repay the gods. Use it for evil, or even - simply turn a blind eye. ”

In his eyes, the sin of turning a blind eye is heavier than using it to do evil.

"I'm sorry then, maybe I'm the one who turned a blind eye."

I say.

"No, you've done a great job, you have your concerns, understandably. In fact, you have always cooperated with the work of the HKC. Well, for us, we naturally want you to join, after all, your strength is very strong. ”

"I can't afford this compliment."

No one dares to say that this kind of thing is powerful.

What's more, it's not something I've worked hard to get, and I always feel uneasy when I use someone else's stuff. It's like suddenly winning the lottery and becoming a billionaire, and there is always a feeling of unease when spending this money.

The gods have blessed you with great power, and one day they will give others even greater power.

The consequence of abusing this power is that you will be spurned by the gods.

It's just my own thoughts, and it may seem incomprehensible to others, but that's what I do.

For those who don't have talent.

What do they rely on to uphold their own justice?

2

Bookstore, our second stop.

"It's been a lot of peace lately."

Incense sticks complained while swiping their phones.

"Really?"

"A few days ago, it seemed like it was in the West End, there was a shooting at a bank."

Incense stick said.

"West End...... That's not far either. It's a little scary indeed. ”

Arbor took the incense stick.

“…… Does it have anything to do with your investigation? ”

I asked Qiao Mu in a whisper.

"I haven't heard of it...... It probably doesn't matter. But the origin of the guns may be the same. ”

"But the news rarely reports about it."

"Because there's no clue...... It just happened, and there is no need to panic people. ”

Qiao Mu continued.

As we spoke, we walked into a bookstore. It's more of a bookstore than a bookstore, and the bookstore is divided into five floors, each with a main type of book.

The floor tiles are so bright that they can be reflective. The whole space seems very open.

If someone is wearing a skirt, they may be able to see it through the reflection.

In this way, the wind chimes seem to be wearing a skirt.

Oops, I haven't found out for so long. I didn't look at her lower body much.

It's winter......

"Wind chimes."

"Huh?"

"Your dress is beautiful."

“…… Why do you say that all of a sudden. ”

She blushed suddenly, is it that hot today?

It does seem to be a little hot.

The first floor of the bookstore mainly sells magazines and popular science books. I symbolically went around and saw a familiar cover.

"Oh, isn't this 'The History of Steel'. I still have one in my desk. ”

I said.

The complexion of the incense stick changed.

Qiao Mu also frowned.

“……？”

I looked at the column where the author of the book was written—a familiar name, Zhang Minggang.

…… I seem to have heard this name somewhere.

Yes.

"Let me ask, incense-san, has your uncle ever written a book?"

"This book is his ......"

My eyes widened.

Well...... It's funny.

"Qiao Mu, that means you are going to see such a person tomorrow?"

"Yes...... So you know how nervous I am right now. ”

Qiao Mu said, and the incense sticks did not say a word.

It's shocking.

"You're too shocked, aren't you?"

The arbor counted me down.

"Oh no...... I always feel that there are two idol drama-like people standing in front of me. ”

It's a pity that the incense stick is too quiet, and it doesn't have that feeling of a big lady.

But I don't think that's what she wants. I don't think it's a good thing to lose my parents and go into a rich family.

Afterwards, we each picked up books in the store.

“……”

I looked up, and the top of the bookstore was covered with advertising banners, mostly advertisements for inconsequential books, and entertainment advertisements in addition to books.

On December 10th, the trial operation of the West District Hot Spring Entertainment Center began! 50% off all ticket prices during the trial operation period!

What is a hot spring entertainment center...... Looking at the poster, it looks like an indoor amusement park with hot springs.

It also feels good to go indoors in winter to warm up. December 10th is today.

But it has nothing to do with me, I'm not from Qianshan, and I don't know where the West Side is.

So I didn't care.

"Eh, Qiao Mu, what kind of person Zhang Minggang is, do you know?"

"If I knew, why should I be so nervous...... But ......"

As he spoke, Qiao Mu picked up a newspaper and flipped to a certain page.

"Recently he has been riddled with scandals......"

I looked at the newspaper, page 21, and the middle part was marked in large letters, [Manager Zhang Minggang was placed on file for investigation. 】

"It's ...... The newspaper from a few months ago. ”

"Hmm."

This is the used book section, and of course there are some old newspapers and periodicals.

"The result?"

"The result is over, and no one knows the follow-up, but recently Zhang Minggang seems to have been reported again."

"Didn't you find anything up there?"

"There really isn't...... It could be that someone deliberately dirty him. However, he is still working at his post and does not seem to have any problems. ”

He may or may have been targeted.

Anyway, for the small people in the market, there is really little to know.

Then I found the old version of the Dragon manga in the old manga area, which was also the first time I saw the smiling face of the incense stick tonight.