Chapter 237: A Dog That’s Picky About Strangers
He Jia’an understood the reason for the rampant urban legends on Sakura Island and silently fell into thought.
Matsumoto Gin looked at He Jia’an who was thinking and curiously asked: “Aren’t you dissatisfied at all with us using you like this?”
“Same to you.” He Jia’an raised his head upon hearing this and said calmly.
From the moment he escaped the hospital so smoothly, He Jia’an clearly realized that the Chosen Alliance investigator behind Matsumoto Gin had deliberately let him leave.
On one hand, it was to probe He Jia’an’s ability and background, after all, everyone could see that what He Jia’an revealed and confessed in the hospital was far from the full truth, and he definitely held back on the truth they had already investigated.
On the other hand, it was to use He Jia’an to investigate deeper, the Inner World was too dangerous, Matsumoto Gin could disregard his own safety, but he had to consider the risks to other investigators in the organization.
Finally and most importantly, He Jia’an himself was a huge uncertain risk factor, as he had been severely mentally polluted by the Lord of Yellow Sand, although Matsumoto Gin didn’t know how he maintained a calm and calm appearance on the surface after escaping mental drugs and mental treatment, and drifted across the sea to Sakura Island, he knew that He Jia’an was a ticking bomb that could mutate at any time, and if he mutated into a kin servant of the Lord of Yellow Sand, it would be a monster that humans couldn’t confront and solve.
A person who dared to defy his organization’s taboo and escape privately, Matsumoto Gin knew He Jia’an was a “bald” vulture that could never be tied down no matter what.
Since that was the case, rather than worrying about stimulating his spirit during a conflict with him, it was better to go along with the plan and use him.
However, Matsumoto Gin had still underestimated He Jia’an’s “audaciousness”, having just escaped death from the Inner World, he dared to run back into the Inner World.
Helplessly, at least before he could still be seen as a human, before He Jia’an still had use value, Matsumoto Gin had to ensure his personal safety and could only follow inside.
Although He Jia’an couldn’t guess all of Matsumoto Gin’s thoughts, he knew the other party wouldn’t sit idly by regarding him, so in action he would be even more unrestrained than normal.
Matsumoto Gin saw the slightly mocking gaze in He Jia’an’s eyes, was stunned for a moment, then probably understood the meaning behind He Jia’an’s smile, and couldn’t help but smile helplessly.
“Don’t you have anything you want to ask about that blade of mine?” Matsumoto Gin asked again, but this time he appeared calmer.
“It’s your Chosen Alliance’s taboo weapon, right? Although I had never seen it with my own eyes before seeing you use it, after seeing the ability and effect it displayed when you use it, I still guessed it.” He Jia’an took a wrinkled cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and said faintly, “It’s the demonic blade recorded in the legends of Sakura Island, the Heavenly Cloud Sword.”
“You also know about the Heavenly Cloud Sword.” Seeing He Jia’an take out such a rotten cigarette, Matsumoto Gin said while getting a good cigarette and a lighter from a colleague who was also smoking, but He Jia’an refused.
“Thanks, I don’t smoke, just used to holding something in my mouth when thinking, and I prefer the natural scent of this brand of cigarette, not used to others.” He Jia’an waved his hand, then continued, “I heard about the Heavenly Cloud Sword because when I was still a rookie newcomer, the teacher who brought me into the field gave us a popular science on taboo weapons during a certain mission, using the ‘Heavenly Cloud Sword’ in your hand as an example.”
“I see.” Matsumoto Gin was somewhat emotional, looking at the ancient tachi in his hand that now looked ordinary, and said, “As a taboo weapon, it is indeed typical enough; using however much power from it requires feeding it the corresponding price, and that price is the life of anomalies and humans.”
“Better not to use it if possible, I heard that the owners of this demonic blade all die unnaturally in the end, and bring great trouble to those around them.” He Jia’an kindly reminded him.
Matsumoto Gin chuckled lightly and said softly: “I have my reasons for having to use this blade, and if I lose control, I have a backup plan.”
“Backup plan?” He Jia’an raised an eyebrow, but the other just smiled as before without further explanation, and he was too lazy to pursue it.
“Alright, I’ve satisfied your doubts, now it’s our turn to ask you.” Matsumoto Gin retracted his smile and asked seriously, “Did you break the curse of Kisaragi High School?”
He Jia’an scratched his head, “Don’t overestimate me, actually just one, the others were incidental.”
His original intention was to break Hanako’s curse, but the “inescapable biology classroom” shared the same source as Hanako’s curse, so it was handled together conveniently.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the car showed expressions of surprise followed by solemnity.
After arriving in the Inner World, they found Kisaragi High School where He Jia’an had been, and also discovered some hidden clues, following them led to the biology classroom that should have no doors in the school, they were incredulous at the time, and after confirming that the space channel that should have been in the biology classroom had indeed disappeared for unknown reasons, they immediately guessed it was He Jia’an’s handiwork.
Now, He Jia’an’s frank admission made everyone involuntarily scrutinize this S-class investigator from the Shenzhou Region; his somewhat playful and unflappable demeanor instead added a sense of mystery to him.
“Can you tell us how you did it?” Matsumoto Gin asked seriously, tightening his grip on the scabbard, as if ready to use violence to force answers at any time.
Not just Matsumoto Gin, the others in the car were the same.
Tsk, these beasts in human clothing, hypocrites. He Jia’an glanced at their all undisguised, blatant little movements, and decided not to hide anymore, simply saying: “Actually nothing else, you have your Heavenly Cloud Sword, I have my secret treasure, that thing is very effective at handling curses.”
“Can you take it out for us to see?” Matsumoto Gin asked.
He Jia’an heard the implication in Matsumoto Gin’s words, or rather guessed the other’s intention to push further, smiled: “You can look, but I know what you want, so I won’t take it out, of course, now surrounded by you, with no way out here, I won’t resist, if you want to search me, you can definitely find that thing.
But don’t blame me for not reminding you, if you want to take that thing from me, you might bear a price more painful and adverse than the curse, believe me, that price… death is not the end.”
Matsumoto Gin frowned slightly, his gaze flickering, he was pondering, not pondering if He Jia’an was deceiving him, but considering whether to give up on taking the thing.
But the other investigators present didn’t think so, an inch-headed investigator crossed his arms and said gravely: “You’re deceiving us, trying to scare us from taking your taboo weapon, right?”
He Jia’an smiled slyly, seeing his somewhat cheeky look, the others immediately glared angrily with displeased faces, several investigators even got up from their seats and grabbed his collar.
“Figure out your situation, you’re in our hands now!”
“Hurry up and take out the thing.”
Some people didn’t waste words and directly started groping up and down He Jia’an’s body to search.
He Jia’an said with a grin: “Actually you don’t need to do this at all, that thing is much higher value in my hands than in yours, listen to me finish first, if you still think it makes no sense, then grab it however you want.”
Matsumoto Gin thought for a moment, still not planning to acquiesce to his teammates searching He Jia’an, one sentence made all who came forward retreat to their seats, then said to He Jia’an: “Mr. He, then we’ll tentatively hear you out, see if what you say next makes reason.”
He Jia’an leaned on the chair back, straightening his clothes while explaining: “My goal is the same as yours, I want to solve the curse problem, you also want to solve the curse problem, at least in this aspect, our interests are aligned, right.”
“Makes sense, continue.” Matsumoto Gin nodded.
“Then, what I said earlier is indeed true.” He Jia’an took out that half-blackened New Year’s red envelope, like the half had accidentally been soaked in water, and said, “This is the secret treasure I mentioned, and I wasn’t lying earlier, this red envelope recognizes its master, it has already recognized me as master, believe with your knowledge you all know some taboo items do have the function of recognizing a master, arbitrarily snatching from the master, the snatcher pays the price, it’s the same.
I know some of you don’t believe me, but think about it, what if it’s true, I don’t want anyone to die because of me.
Besides, even if I’m deceiving you, taboo items are taboo by nature, using them requires paying a price, if in my hands, the one bearing the price is me, unrelated to you, you don’t bear the risk.
So, since our goals align, neither you nor I want to bear the consequences of any impolite actions, why not cooperate fully? Let it stay in my hands, I use it, it can guarantee your safety and complete your mission, isn’t it the best of both worlds?
Moreover, think about it, me this resentful guy charging ahead to handle the dangers for you, I’m very likely to die at any time, if I die, won’t this treasure still be yours?”
Hearing He Jia’an’s glib defense, everyone exchanged looks, finally all turning their gazes to Matsumoto Gin, deciding to let their leader make the call.
Matsumoto Gin looked deeply at He Jia’an, “I have to say, your eloquence has convinced me.”
“So… cooperate?” He Jia’an extended his hand, issuing an invitation.
Matsumoto Gin reached out to shake it, withdrew his gaze from the red envelope in He Jia’an’s hand, took a deep breath and said: “Then, partner, how do you plan to act next?”
He Jia’an put the New Year’s red envelope back inside his pocket, stretched lazily, and said leisurely with a comfortable look: “Next, I want to…”
Knock knock knock…
“Hi, I’m here, please wait a moment.”
The door opened, and a middle-aged woman with average appearance appeared before everyone.
The middle-aged woman first raised an eyebrow upon seeing He Jia’an, but when she saw the elegant white-haired man beside He Jia’an, she said in surprise: “Ah, Mr. He, it’s you who came, after a few days no see, how did you… uh, and this is?” She was actually a bit confused, after seeing He Jia’an after a few days, finding him bandaged all over like a patient who just escaped the hospital.
“Long time no see, Miss Uda Ryoko, sorry to bother you again.” He Jia’an smiled slightly.
“Hello, I am a law enforcement officer, my name is Matsumoto Gin.” Matsumoto Gin took out pre-prepared false documents and showed his identity to her.
After Uda Ryoko saw the documents shown by Matsumoto Gin, she actually didn’t know if they were real, but seeing Matsumoto Gin’s composed demeanor, she immediately believed more than half.
Uda Ryoko felt the visitors were not friendly, perhaps feeling guilty, asked somewhat uneasily: “May I ask what matters you two have come to me for?”
“Not at all, just want to ask some questions.” Matsumoto Gin said lightly, then glanced around, “See, is it convenient for us to go inside, spend a little time, and talk?”
Facing the gazes of two adult males, Uda Ryoko felt great psychological pressure, silent for a moment, could only nod stiffly and let them in.
After entering the house, Uda Ryoko made tea for the two who sat in the living room.
Woof!
When sitting in the living room, probably the commotion inside the house attracted the dog outside, soon the long-unseen Shijiro seemed to smell a familiar scent, dashed in like smoke, circled around and pounced onto He Jia’an’s lap.
“Oh, Shijiro is still full of energy.” He Jia’an had a strong impression of this clingy and cute dog and liked it very much, so he madly petted the dog frolicking on his lap.
Matsumoto Gin saw this scene, somewhat surprised, murmured: “This dog… you two are very familiar?”
“No, this is the second time meeting.” He Jia’an said smilingly.
“Yes, Mr. He is here for the second time.” Uda Ryoko confirmed to Matsumoto Gin while bringing over the tea set, “But not sure if it’s really fate or something, Shijiro liked him like an old friend the first time it saw Mr. He, willing to actively get close to him.”
“Is that so?” Matsumoto Gin was a bit surprised, probably also finding the dog cute, reached out to pet its head.
Ah-woo!
However, before Matsumoto Gin’s hand touched it, Shijiro suddenly changed from its obedient and cute appearance in He Jia’an’s arms, bared its teeth ferociously and bit towards Matsumoto Gin’s hand, luckily Matsumoto Gin dodged quickly or he’d be bitten.
“Shijiro!” Uda Ryoko cried out in shock, scolded the dog, seeing Shijiro act like nothing happened after Matsumoto Gin withdrew his hand and continued to act spoiled on He Jia’an’s lap, couldn’t help but say helplessly to Matsumoto Gin, “Sorry, law enforcement officer, Shijiro this dog is quite shy with strangers.”
Matsumoto Gin: “…”
