Chapter 19: More Strange Things Are Appearing

The part-time job arrangement was finalized.

Amuro Tooru asked a few more follow-up questions.

Upon learning that Natsume had worked many part-time jobs before and was familiar with common roles, Amuro realized that this new apprentice, whom he had been forced to accept, might actually be very practical.

—Amuro Tooru frequently had to work various part-time jobs.

However, many establishments looking to hire required staff who could commit to a stable schedule.

Amuro himself held multiple roles and was extremely busy, often resulting in him "flaking" on his employers.

Consequently, even though he was highly capable and performed his duties well, he inevitably faced dismissal from some shop owners.

Amuro worked these jobs to gather intelligence, a situation that often interfered with his primary work.

But with Natsume, everything changed.

—When he was busy, he could simply have Natsume fill in temporarily.

This way, as long as the serious issue of "being understaffed during peak hours" didn't arise, the risk of Amuro being fired by shop owners would be significantly reduced.

...

Although Natsume had mentioned that the shop he worked at carried a risk of being vandalized by thugs, he had also noted that those people were clearly outmatched in a direct fight and preferred underhanded tactics; therefore, they likely wouldn't follow him constantly.

It was only when Natsume stayed at a shop for a long time and was inadvertently spotted by them that they would show up to cause trouble.

By hiring Natsume to cover shifts for only half a day at a time, it would be difficult for anything to happen.

And if the vandals proved particularly troublesome, he could secretly arrange for a few police officers to patrol the area, providing a convenient excuse to catch them in the act...

...

As Amuro listed Natsume's advantages—1, 2, 3, 4, 5—in his head, he felt much more at ease.

He rummaged through a drawer, pulled out a set of spare keys, and handed them to Natsume. "Do you know the procedure for receiving clients?"

Natsume glanced at the teacup on the desk. "Just like how you received me just now, I assume?"

"Mm." Amuro nodded, then pointed to the nearby bookshelf. "The commission forms are there, the tea is in the upper cabinet, and there are cold drinks in the fridge... If you find it too much trouble, you can just serve them water. It's not like this shop needs to meet sales targets."

Natsume: "..."

People with organizations providing their funding were truly arrogant.

...

Amuro then pulled out a contact list

"If you encounter a commission that you aren't confident about handling, just tell them our appointments are full and introduce them to another agency—the names are all here. I've added notes regarding the specialties of the other detectives, so you can refer to them."

Having finished his instructions, Amuro began to usher him out. "Alright, you can head home for today. Starting tomorrow, you can come by to watch the shop whenever you're free."

He planned to tidy up the agency after Natsume left to ensure no items that might expose his identity were left out.

He also intended to install a few more cameras and listening devices.

No matter how "savable" Natsume seemed, precautions still had to be taken.

...

It was still early when Natsume left the agency.

He observed the surrounding buildings and realized that if he wanted to attract more clients with supernatural needs, he might need to order a billboard.

—Walking about ten meters forward from the Amuro Detective Agency would lead to the main road.

And diagonally across from the main road was the Metropolitan Police Department.

Police officers were not omnipotent; many people, after leaving the station in disappointment, would seek out detectives.

This was likely one of the reasons Amuro dared to choose a location near the police department—it provided a legitimate reason and made it easier to attract clients.

Therefore, Natsume thought that if he had a more eye-catching billboard, clients coming out of the police station might see the "Amuro Detective Agency" sign at a glance... and perhaps wander in out of convenience.

...

One week later.

Amuro Tooru was returning from a business trip.

When he arrived, he originally intended to go straight home to organize the information he had collected.

However, as he passed the Metropolitan Police Department, he suddenly noticed a small crowd gathered on the street, looking up at something on a utility pole.

Perplexed, Amuro raised his head and followed their gaze.

A bizarrely shaped billboard caught his eye.

The sign had a black and silver background, a bold design, and was extremely striking. It bore several large characters: *Amuro Detective Agency*.

Amuro: "..."

...What on earth is this?

...

Normally, Amuro should have kept walking straight.

But he stared at that billboard at the intersection for several seconds before finally turning into the alleyway toward the detective agency.

He remembered telling Natsume that the agency didn't need to meet sales targets.

Furthermore, the funds he allocated to Natsume were ostensibly "agency operating expenses." In reality, Amuro assumed they both understood the unspoken truth—it was essentially a subsidy for Natsume.

But looking at it now...

Was that "understanding" purely one-sided?

Was Natsume unexpectedly an honest person who hadn't understood his implication, and thus actually used that money to buy billboards and advertising space?

"..."

Amuro walked into the agency with complex emotions.

He immediately saw Natsume sitting on the shop's sofa, clutching a bottle of Coke, waiting expectantly for business.

Upon seeing it was him entering, Natsume seemed a little disappointed.

Enduring the "Why is it you?" look from his employee, Amuro's mood grew even more complicated. "What's the deal with that billboard at the intersection?"

Natsume first stood up to bring Amuro a glass of cold water, practicing the agency's hospitality once more.

Then he said, "I put it up a few days ago. The massage parlor next door happened to go out of business, and its advertising space was being transferred at a low price. I checked the cost and felt that the influx of customers would cover the advertising expenses, so I bought it."

Amuro nodded. "I see..."

Having said that, he found himself somewhat speechless.

Mainly because he couldn't think of a way to tactfully and decently say, "You don't need to advertise; just embezzle the organization's funds for yourself."

However, looking at the current situation, this new apprentice was very dedicated to the agency.

And on second thought, being hardworking was actually a virtue.

This was a good thing, a good thing...

Amuro forced himself to swallow the topic of "misappropriating public funds."

Moreover, setting the funding aside, the effect of the billboard was clearly different.

—Amuro noticed a pile of photos spread out on the desk, presumably brought by a client.

He walked closer to inspect them. "You received a commission?"

...

This wasn't actually Natsume's commission, but one received by the neighboring detective a while ago.

The case was related to a murder that had occurred in Gunma Prefecture.

—Someone had paid a large sum to the neighboring detective to tail a specific individual. The detective followed the target for three days and collected the fee. On the fourth day, the person being tailed was burned to death in a ritual bonfire.

Now, many suspicions pointed toward the person who had placed the commission, but neither the police nor the neighboring detective had any evidence.

...

Originally, this matter had nothing to do with Natsume.

But this morning, when the neighboring detective and the suspect—the former client—were leaving the police station together...

Natsume happened to be passing by. As he turned his head, he saw a very flat, paper-like soul clinging tightly to the suspect's leg.

Natsume stopped as he watched it.

—This type of soul had a common name: the Leg-Clinging Shikigami.

Ghost embryos and Leg-Clinging Shikigami are both formed after a person dies.

The strength and intelligence of a Shikigami are far inferior to a ghost embryo, but they are equally useful—for example, as raw materials to construct and reinforce certain unscientific puppets.

In short...

He wanted it.

...

So, after the neighboring detective and the suspect parted ways on bad terms, Natsume entered the neighboring detective agency and spent some effort "borrowing" the photos related to the case from him.

—Although Leg-Clinging Shikigami are somewhat dim-witted, it is precisely because of this that their thinking doesn't deviate; they are exceptionally persistent.

To collect it, one had to ensure the perpetrator received a certain level of punishment.

If the culprit continued to live a carefree life, even if one were to forcibly tear the Shikigami off, it would simply break, turning into a useless, wasted soul.

...

A mature medium would, of course, not engage in such a soul-damaging and self-defeating act.

Thus, Natsume planned to try and find evidence to send the killer to prison, allowing the Leg-Clinging Shikigami to fulfill its wish and let go, making it easy to pick up.

That was Plan A.

And if Plan A failed, Natsume had a Plan B.

—Stuff the suspect in a sack and beat him until the Shikigami felt satisfied enough to detach from his leg.

...

Originally, Natsume was debating which plan to execute.

But now, whether by divine providence or not, Amuro Tooru had made a rare appearance at the agency.

Furthermore, without Natsume even having to hint at it, Amuro had noticed the case-related photos Natsume had left on the desk.

...

Amuro was looking at the photos.

Natsume was looking at Amuro.

Deep in his eyes, a few words were faintly reflected—Plan C.