Not a detective

Page 20

He carefully read every line of the contract; there were no strange clauses, it was a perfectly legitimate employment contract.

"Don't worry, Miss is a true heiress. She's never experienced being short of money... By the way, the Dongyun family is a chaebol, you know?"

Xingyu said in a very serious tone.

As soon as he finished speaking, Asakawa Riku signed his name with lightning speed, faster than any of his punches.

Then there's no way……

As he signed his name, Asakawa Riku suddenly felt like saying something to Chizuko-senpai, who wasn't there:

"The devil really exists! Ah, I have found the proof of the devil."

Money is the real devil.

Even if Shinonome Suetsuki is an annoying rich kid, Asakawa Riku has no reason to refuse.

“Great, Asakawa-kun, please give me one copy of the contract, and you can take the other one back.”

The firm's official seal was affixed to the contract beforehand, so it was legally effective the moment Asakawa Riku signed his name.

Just as Xingyu was about to pick it up, she discovered that part of the contract had been taken back.

"Eh?"

"Wait a minute..." Asakawa Riku's face suddenly showed a suspicious expression: "Won't I steal your job by doing this?"

He suddenly remembered that Higashion Suetsuki had said that he and Hoshino were competing for the position of "detective assistant".

If he takes the job, does that mean Hoshino will have to leave?

"Haha... Asakawa-kun is so kind."

Hoshino covered her mouth and smiled, explaining, "No, don't worry about me. Miss was just joking. Besides, my job isn't an assistant, I'm just a maid who grew up with Miss. I have a contract with the Dongyun family. And you see, you work on weekends, and I work from Monday to Friday. It's just that we take turns working."

She gazed at the door to the living room with a look of deep affection: "Miss really has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You just wanted to give me a weekend off, didn't you?"

"Maid?"

However, the focus of what Asakawa Riku heard was something else entirely.

"Yes, maid."

Xingyu smiled, stood up, and although she was wearing a suit, she made a gesture of lifting the hem of her skirt.

What a wicked capitalist system, a feudal tycoon class! It's the 21st century, yet they still maintain the old-fashioned slave system.

Hoshino seemed to see the pity that flashed in Asakawa Riku's eyes, pouted, and leaned close to his ear:

My annual salary is—

"...!"

The devil's whisper reached him, and Asakawa Riku's breath caught in his throat.

What a wicked state of capitalism, that feudal tycoon class...

"Miss Shinonome, are you short of butlers... male... or something like that?"

"Ah, I don't think we'll lack it."

Xingyu instantly showed a strong sense of resistance; her competitive spirit had never been so intense.

Seemingly afraid that Asakawa Riku might change his mind, she quickly took one of the contracts while he was still in surprise and put it in the drawer.

Then, after hesitating for a moment, he opened the refrigerator and took out a bag of things.

Those were two cakes... no, to be precise, Asakawa Riku remembered that the thing was called a "strawberry tart".

Alice's limited-edition spring items.

"Consider this a celebration for your joining the company. From now on, I'll be your senior, Asakawa-kun."

Xingyu smiled insincerely, as if she was trying to reassure Qianchuan Lu and prevent him from having any inappropriate thoughts. She placed the strawberry tart on the table and said, "Miss asked me to buy this yesterday, but she said it was too sweet and she didn't like it. It's been in the refrigerator for a day, so it's probably still fresh. There are two servings in total. Let's try them together."

"Wait, don't say anything yet, I know what you're going to say."

Asakawa Riku sighed. Sure enough, the blonde girl he saw at Alice's shop yesterday was Hoshimi Kou herself.

He had already anticipated this: "You mean to say that Shinonome Suetsuki predicted this outcome, so she specifically instructed you to buy two portions, just to make sure I could have strawberry tarts today?"

"Hehe, that's it! You've already figured out what makes me so charming."

Xingyu had already started working on her own.

Haha, he wanted to laugh awkwardly. This wasn't detective work; it was the domain of fortune tellers.

Anyway… Asakawa Riku finally got to eat this legendary spring limited-edition dessert. Just as he was about to put his spoon down, he suddenly remembered something:

"By the way, regarding starting work, I might need you to talk to her about it. I'll officially report for duty next week—"

"Okay, you have something to do tomorrow, right? No problem, I'll cover for you for one day, and your salary will still be calculated from this week."

While eating a strawberry tart with her mouth full, Xingyu said casually, "Miss also asked me to tell you to be careful about tomorrow's events. The spider's nest is full of dangers, and she doesn't want to lose her future assistant on the first day... something like that. The original words might have been harsher, so I've embellished them for you... hehe."

Her expression was relaxed and natural, while Asakawa Riku's spoon froze in mid-air.

Earth Spider Spring: Chapter Thirty-Five Preview

[On Sunday, several hours remain unclear regarding the incident where Asakawa Riku received a murder threat via love letter.]

On the seventh day, the murderer "Tsuchigumo" will appear, take away the victim who sent him the love letter, and disappear without a trace.

This is the information that Asakawa Riku has compiled so far.

But since it's called "the seventh day," he's not sure exactly what time of day the murderer will come on Sunday. Could it be late at night?

So last night, after midnight, he didn't go to bed immediately, but sat at home and waited for a while.

But nothing happened.

Last year's victims were reportedly arrested before dinner, between 6 and 7 p.m.

At dusk, the time of twilight, there is indeed a strong sense of the presence of yokai.

Surely they wouldn't launch a sneak attack at night, so Asakawa Riku slept through the night and was woken up by his alarm clock at seven o'clock the next morning.

After having breakfast, he changed into clothes that were easy to change into and began practicing his boxing routine in his room.

The boxing style practiced by Asakawa Riku is neither traditional Chinese Kung Fu nor modern fighting techniques.

Of course, when he first started practicing, he definitely followed in the footsteps of his predecessors, but in the process of learning from the strengths of many, he gradually developed his own style.

Martial arts, Sanda, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Sumo, Boxing, Wrestling... including weapon-based techniques such as stick fighting, swordsmanship, knife skills, and gun fighting.

While they may seem to be categorized, upon closer examination, they all boil down to the study of "how to transform the human body into a weapon of maximum efficiency."

There are three thousand great paths, but the greatest path leads to the heavens.

Their methods of exertion, energy cultivation techniques, core muscle structure, and movement standards are all common, and each has its own area of ​​expertise. As long as you grasp that main thread...

While mastering the techniques, he also constantly honed his physical skills and tempered his spirit, combining the three to create the outline of a martial artist.

Every day, I did 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run—it was like imitating the incredible transformation of a comic book character.

He didn't go bald, but he definitely became stronger.

In his youth, he wanted to become the "male protagonist of a time-travel novel," but without the help of a "system," Asakawa Riku chose this path of self-development.

Although the process was extremely difficult and fraught with danger, and he even wanted to give up several times, he persevered.

Now, Asakawa Riku is practicing martial arts in his not-so-spacious room, but he hasn't knocked over anything on the table or bed.

His punches and kicks appeared slow, but were actually powerful and precise, each strike demonstrating his perfect control over his body.

The movements no longer show any trace of boxing or fighting techniques, but to an expert, they would seem familiar.

They have already achieved a level of "comprehensive understanding".

Asakawa Riku always blushes when this name is mentioned.

He couldn't help but recall the time when he was naming his boxing style.

Perhaps it's because when I'm exercising, I can't help but think of my younger, less sensual self.

Since that incident in junior high school, he hasn't had a real "battle" in almost half a year.

But this six-month break did not make him feel relaxed or regress; on the contrary, it gave him a sense of "enlightenment."

It seems that the human body is like a spring; if you keep it taut, you will be pushed to its limit, but if you relax it for a while, you will discover more potential.

After this six-month break... he's even stronger now.

Today, he will fight a "monster," something he has never experienced before. The extraordinary world he once dreamed of is now opening its doors.

Asakawa Riku felt an excitement that shouldn't have arisen. He slowly made a "closing" motion and steadied his breathing.

If today passes, I'll go back to being an ordinary high school student.

So at least let me have some fun today.

...

"Ding-dong—" The doorbell downstairs rang.

"Here he comes."

The boy showed a satisfied expression.

He rummaged through the wardrobe under the bed and pulled out a cardboard box, wiping off a thin layer of dust. Meanwhile, the doorbell was still ringing, but he wasn't in a hurry.

He took a police bulletproof vest out of the cardboard box, put it on solemnly, and decided that weapons were unnecessary. For him, his fists were more trustworthy than any weapon.

It's unclear whether the "Earth Spider's" attack methods are more powerful than "bullets," but Riku Asakawa thinks it's best to be cautious.

He put on a hoodie over his clothes, making him look a bit bulky, but for safety, he had to be fully prepared.

If possible, he should try to lead the spiders away from the residential area, without harming any innocent bystanders or damaging his own house in the process.

Thinking this, Asakawa Riku walked to the door where the doorbell rang more and more frequently and opened it.

"Are you still half asleep, Asakawa-dō? —Eh?"

"So it was you, senior."

"Is this outfit really suitable for a date?"

Asakawa Riku was dressed like a suspicious person loitering next to a kindergarten.

I could tell she was about to burst out laughing.

"please wait for a moment."

Asakawa Riku, expressionless, slammed the door shut.

...

Ten minutes later, dressed in normal casual home clothes, he opened the door for Chizuko-senpai again.

Talking nonsense with a straight face:

"Excuse me, that was my twin brother. He was being rather rude."

"Asakawa-san, it seems you're not as indifferent as you appear. If you're worried, just say so. It's okay, I'll comfort you."

The blatant lie was exposed by the president of the mystery club with a laugh, and the short girl, who was only 1.5 meters tall, put her hands on her hips and made an older sister-like expression.

"How could it be Tsuchigumo that would visit through the main entrance and ring the doorbell? A yokai wouldn't do such an unnecessary thing, otherwise the mystery of the secret room would have been solved long ago."

"I understand, come in and talk."

Asakawa Riku had no choice but to invite her into his home.

He then remembered that Chizuko-senpai had indeed mentioned on Friday night that she was coming to visit his house today.

He only mentioned it briefly on the phone, without any context, and didn't send any confirmation messages afterward, so he almost forgot about it.

It's also possible that he was too nervous.

Asakawa Riku led Chizuko-senpai to the living room and sat her down, then, while preparing tea, he couldn't help but think...

He should have thought of this a long time ago. Just now, he actually thought that what was waiting downstairs was a soil spider and didn't notice anything wrong. Looking back now, it's really absurd.

Keep a calm mind... It's just defeating a monster. If possible, it would be best to rescue the students who went missing last year as well.

Having adjusted his mindset, Asakawa Riku carried the tea to Chizuko's side: