Chapter 363: Don't do that, I

"You’re lying!" Takahashi Junichi trembled continuously while holding the dagger.

Oga Shinya’s father said: "I really didn't lie to you, Mr. Takahashi! These things can be known just by checking them properly."

Takahashi Junichi said in a breakdown: "Our boss wasn't such a useless person. He got up early every day and worked until late at night, and he tirelessly mentored me, his apprentice. How could he..."

"Takahashi Junichi," Akaso Kaze waved his hand, and the dagger instantly flew out of his hand.

"It’s meaningless to argue about this now. Even if the truth is as you say, Mrs. Myo doesn't deserve to die. I will help pay off Katori Akane’s debts. You should turn yourself in, it might reduce your sentence."

"I..." Takahashi Junichi slowly held his head and knelt on the ground.

"Hideyu, accompany Mr. Takahashi to the police station."

Mrs. Oga Myo watched Ikeda Hideyu and Takahashi Junichi leave and bowed to Akaso Kaze.

"I’m truly sorry, I’ve made you laugh. Your commission has been completed, and our family’s bank will waive all of Katori Akane’s debts."

Akaso Kaze was noncommittal.

He didn't care about this small amount of money at all.

Oga Myo seemed to see Akaso Kaze’s displeasure and said with her head lowered: "Lord Akaso, I’ve troubled you this time. Stay at the resort for a few more days, we will provide food and lodging. We will go back first."

Oga Miwa wanted to say something else, but Oga Myo pulled her.

The family just left like that.

Akaso Kaze actually admired this old lady; she knew when to advance and retreat and understood human relationships.

Katori Akane looked at him and said stammeringly: "Lord, Lord Akaso, I didn't know you were such a powerful person..."

Akaso Kaze smiled, "How am I powerful?"

Katori Akane was stunned, not quite understanding what he meant.

Akaso Kaze teased her deliberately: "I paid off your debts, so can you be considered my woman now?"

Katori Akane blushed and lowered her head.

Seeing the wedding dress on her body, she hurriedly said: "Oh my, I’m still wearing a wedding dress. Akaso-san, you go out for a moment, I’ll take it off."

"Why take it off."

Akaso Kaze locked the door with the Hand of Space.

"This, this wedding dress is..."

Katori Akane couldn't go on.

Because Akaso Kaze had already picked her up and placed her on the table.

"Akaso-san~"

The woman’s voice was sweet and greasy, with tenderness, with pity, with pleading.

Unfortunately, Akaso Kaze was a flower-plucking person.

If a flower has bloomed, it should be plucked.

The delicate white flower bloomed on the table.

Akaso Kaze plucked it gently.

The flower swayed, and a drop of dew dripped from the petals.

Late at night, it was time for fireworks to bloom again.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the scenery outside was the same as last night, but the state of mind was completely different.

Katori Akane’s little face was flushed red.

The fireworks shone through the glass window, casting colorful light on her face.

"Akaso-san, I didn't know you were such a powerful person..."

Akaso Kaze smiled again, "How am I powerful?"

Katori Akane pouted coquettishly: "You only know how to bully me~ No, don't do this, people outside will see."

Akaso Kaze smiled without saying a word.

With magic, no one could see.

But saying it out loud, the girl wasn't so nervous anymore.

Being so nervous... it’s quite good.

"Huh, that seems to be Miss Miwa."

Katori Akane said panting.

Akaso Kaze looked down.

It really was.

Oga Miwa was standing in a very obvious place below.

It seemed she was waiting for something.

"Akaso-san, let her come up."

"Hmm? You aren't jealous?"

"I, I can't take it anymore..."

Akaso Kaze picked up Katori Akane. The girl’s body was soft, and she really had no strength at all.

He had to put her on the bed.

Katori Akane soon fell asleep.

Akaso Kaze put on his clothes and went downstairs.

"Miss Miwa, why are you here?"

Akaso Kaze asked with a cold face.

Oga Miwa lowered her head, "I’m sorry, Lord Akaso, I didn't know it was you at the time, so my attitude was a bit disrespectful."

Akaso Kaze smiled slightly.

"It’s nothing, I am a very magnanimous person."

While saying this, he walked toward the lake, which was the best place to watch the fireworks.

"Lord Akaso, please forgive me." Oga Miwa was almost crying, "Grandmother said, if you don't forgive me, she will kick me out of the house."

Akaso Kaze looked at her puzzledly.

Is it that exaggerated?

She didn't seem to have done anything to me.

"Alright, I forgive you." He said casually.

"Did you really forgive me?" Oga Miwa’s eyes shone with bright light.

"Then, come over here."

Just as they passed a bush, Oga Miwa pulled Akaso Kaze behind the tree and handed him a branch.

Looking at the woman who turned her back to him, Akaso Kaze couldn't help but be a bit stunned.

"What are you doing?"

Oga Miwa pleaded: "Please, Grandmother said, if you don't punish me severely, then it’s not forgiveness. You, you can just hit me a few times..."

"This..."

Akaso Kaze was not a cruel person.

Asking him to hit a woman, it was really hard to start.

"Please, just do it for my own good."

Akaso Kaze used the branch to whip her lightly.

Oga Miwa turned her head and said pitifully: "My lord, hit harder. If there are no marks, Grandmother won't let me go."

Akaso Kaze pursed his lips.

He whipped her hard.

Oga Miwa trembled in pain, and a mark appeared on her back.

It was very conspicuous on the girl’s delicate and fair skin.

"Is this okay?" Akaso Kaze asked, smacking his lips.

"Can, can you give me a few more?"

Mao Li said, crying.

Akaso Kaze finally understood.

If certain things didn't happen, it probably wouldn't matter if she were beaten to death.

He sighed.

The old lady of the Mao Li family really knew his weakness.

He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Mao Li's slender waist, and asked, "Is your grandmother really willing to pass the position of family head to you?"

Mao Li turned her head, tears in her eyes, "As long as Lord Akaso requests it, she will do it."

These wealthy families really spare no cost for the sake of their lineage.

Akaso Kaze curled his lip.

"Will you be obedient?"

Mao Li nodded repeatedly.

"Then, you must endure it..."

Mao Li suddenly widened her eyes.

She wanted to say, "Wrong, not there."

But she held it back.

Does it matter if it's here or there?

As long as Lord Akaso is satisfied, that's all that matters.

She bit her lip tightly, enduring it.

For the future of the Mao Li family, she had to sacrifice everything.

At a shrine in Nishikoku City, Tokyo, three men leaned against a wooden hut in the quiet night, seemingly waiting for something, impatiently lighting a cigarette and checking their watches.

"Isn't that guy Benkei too slow?!"

"Yeah, he said the puzzle was solved; he should be the one most interested in this."

"Whoosh!" Suddenly, a cold arrow shot from the shadows, striking the heart of one of the men wearing glasses.

As the other two cried out in alarm, a figure flashed out like lightning, drawing a blade and performing a vertical slash and horizontal cut with fluid motion.

Accompanied by the sound of screams and bodies hitting the ground, the assailant didn't stop, flicking the blood off the blade before sheathing it, then leisurely picking up the three copies of *The Tale of Yoshitsune* and leaving.

The moonlight reflected off the old man's mask, revealing a hint of chill, while the headscarf and the blue-gray samurai garb he wore stood in stark contrast to the three victims, as if he had returned from the era of ancient swordsmanship.

A few days later, a joint meeting was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Inspector Megure stood at the head of the table with representatives from various parties and explained: "According to the investigation, the five people killed in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto have all been confirmed as members of the thief group Genji Hotaru. In view of this, this incident will be jointly investigated by Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture, and Kyoto Prefecture."

"We discovered that since the third year of Heisei, Genji Hotaru has been targeting famous Buddhist statues or artworks, centered in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. All members refer to each other by the names of Yoshitsune's retainers, and each person carries a copy of *The Tale of Yoshitsune*."

Officer Shiratori reported: "The leader goes by the name Yoshitsune, and there are eight members in total, including Benkei and Ise Saburo. Currently, except for the three Yoshitsune members, the other five have been killed one after another, and even the copies of *The Tale of Yoshitsune* they held have been taken."

"We only know the killer is a master of swordsmanship and archery. As for other aspects, there are no clues yet, including the age and gender of the three Yoshitsune members."

"In short," Inspector Megure raised his voice, "no matter what, we must arrest the killer and the other members of this thief group as soon as possible. For this reason, we have specially invited the famous Tokyo Yin-Yang Master, Lord Akaso Kaze, to conduct the investigation!"

The conference room erupted in noise, and reporters raised their hands to ask questions.

Yin-Yang Master Akaso Kaze—this was a figure who had recently become famous nationwide.

His news was very popular, especially among girls, who flocked to him; he was even more popular than a celebrity.

Kyoto, as the name implies, was the ancient capital of Japan and a city of history.

"What? The Police Agency asked Brother Akaso to investigate the Genji Hotaru case?!"

Conan was incredibly envious.

"What? Did the Police Agency also invite Detective Mouri?" Akaso Kaze asked casually.

"That, they didn't, but a temple called Sanno-ji asked Uncle to investigate a case."

Conan said somewhat coyly, "By the way, Brother Akaso, can you let me participate in the Genji Hotaru case?"

Akaso Kaze thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright then. It just so happens I invited Toyama Kazuha to Kyoto for fun. You can help me investigate first, but you'd better be quick. Once I make my move, you won't have a chance."

"Brother Akaso, you are truly the best!"

Conan was so moved he almost kissed him, but was slapped away by Akaso Kaze.

Outside Sanno-ji, a luxury car stopped at the gate, and Akaso Kaze, Kazuha, Mouri Kogoro, and Conan stepped out one after another.

Cherry blossoms could be faintly seen outside, and according to the driver, Sanno-ji was quite famous in the area, and the Buddhist statues and cherry blossoms in the temple were very popular.

It just so happened that in a few days, it would be the once-every-12-years consecration day for the temple's main Buddha, the Medicine Buddha.

Entering from the temple gate and crossing the stone path, they saw a group of people talking in the middle of the spacious courtyard, among whom were two monks.