Night fell. Once midnight passed, the temperature plummeted.
Haibara Ai and Koizumi Akako still had school the next day, so they logged off and went to sleep after ten o'clock in the evening.
Chi Feichei played in the game with Amuro Toru and Non-Ink for a while, noticed the weather suddenly turning cold, and looked at the date displayed on the computer. Yesterday was the end of November, and today it was suddenly December 19th. No wonder it was so cold.
Not Black: Boss, it's too cold, I'm going to curl up in my nest. I'll look for you when I wake up, don't forget!
Chi Feichei then remembered that it seemed to be the Memorial Service tomorrow. He told Amuro Toru and logged off to sleep as well.
…
The night passed.
Not long after dawn, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and they continued until noon without stopping.
At the Kitchen Entrance, Masuyama Kenzo stared at the Maid making lunch.
The Maid only came to cook every day. After preparing the meal and placing it on the Dining Table, she always felt uneasy. She didn't know why, but since the day before yesterday, Masuyama Kenzo had been standing at the Doorway staring at her while she cooked.
Could this Old Man be up to something?
However, the other party was the Chairman of a large car manufacturing Corporation, without a Wife, and old. He probably didn't have many good years left. He might be a good choice…
"Mr. Masuyama, is there anything else you need me to do?"
"No," Masuyama Kenzo said, "You can go."
The Maid was stunned, a little surprised by Masuyama Kenzo's coldness, but she couldn't say anything. She smiled, turned around, and left.
As the Maid opened the Door, a Black Shadow brushed past her, and with a whoosh, flew into the Home from Outside the Door, carrying a few snowflakes, and landed inside the Door.
"Ah!" The Maid was startled, turned her Head, and saw a Crow fly to the Stair Railing and stop. "C-Crow? Mr. Masuyama…"
Masuyama Kenzo was also taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "It's okay, probably because it's snowing today and it's too cold Outside. It wants to come in to shelter from the cold. Just let it stay here."
"Ah, okay, then I'll take my leave first." The Maid turned and went Outside the Door, closing the Door behind her, recalling Masuyama Kenzo's attitude.
So cold to her, but so kind to a Crow in the blink of an eye, weird.
And she didn't know why, but these past few days when she came over, she seemed to faintly smell a strange smell, like Disinfectant, mixed with something else, like… Bloody Smell…
Disinfectant and Bloody Smell?
Thinking about it carefully, the Maid quickly quickened her pace and left the Courtyard.
Inside the Home, Masuyama Kenzo looked at the Crow, wondering if going forward would startle it. He saw the Crow Turn Head to Look at the Staircase, and in the instant Chi Feichei's figure appeared, it opened its Wings and flew over, landing on Chi Feichei's Shoulder, and cawed.
"Master, I'm here!"
Chi Feichei Reached Out, grabbed Non-Ink's Wings, and lifted Non-Ink down.
"Uh, Mr. Chi, it…" Masuyama Kenzo was worried that Chi Feichei would take it to wash, disinfect, and bite it to death again.
Now, when he saw Chi Feichei for the first time, his Mind couldn't help but recall the strange scene he saw yesterday, that extreme calmness, suppression, and bizarreness.
Moreover, he didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that Chi Feichei's Fangs seemed to have grown these past two days. If he didn't look carefully, he really wouldn't have noticed…
"My Pet, it used to be free-range, I don't know how it ran back," Chi Feichei said, and took Non-Ink to the Washroom.
Masuyama Kenzo: "…"
Wait, speak properly, why are you going to the Washroom?
Are you sure you're not planning to wash it clean and bite it to death?
And you said it's a free-range Pet? Is it the kind that lives in nature's Home?
Look, that Crow is so scared it's cawing wildly.
Non-Ink was being carried by Chi Feichei, feeling that being carried by the Wings was not very dignified. "Master, put me down, or let me stand, being carried like this is so undignified, people who don't know would think you're carrying a Chicken to slaughter!"
When they arrived at the Washroom, Chi Feichei put Non-Ink on the Sink, dipped a Handkerchief in Water, and wiped Non-Ink's Claws. "Your feet are full of Black Ash, look at the prints on my Clothes."
Non-Ink let Chi Feichei carry it and wipe its feet, glanced at it, and found that there were indeed two black Footprint marks on the Shoulder part of Chi Feichei's Clothes. "I went to Beito Municipal Hotel to scout the Place! Those Things are better installed today, so as not to be accidentally cleaned up by the Staff. Now everything is ready!"
Chi Feichei turned his back to Masuyama Kenzo, silently said a Sentence of 'Hard work', looked at Non-Ink's Head, and stretched out his index finger to press it.
Non-Ink: "…"
Is this Mean to pat my Head?
However, can it refuse finger pats on the Head? Just because a Crow's Head is small, is that okay?
Masuyama Kenzo watched Outside the Washroom, and when he saw this, he was relieved. The Crow didn't Dodge, so it seemed that it might indeed be Chi Feichei's Pet.
After Lunch, Masuyama Kenzo suggested that Chi Feichei Keep Company with him to go to a Place.
Before Going Out, Chi Feichei measured his Fangs. This morning when he woke up, he used his Tongue to feel that his Teeth had not grown longer.
After measuring, it was exactly 5 millimeters longer than the Incisor.
He didn't know if it was stuck at his psychological tolerance range.
Although it was still within the Normal Person range, not very much like a vampire or zombie, the white tips of the Fangs could still be seen when speaking.
Suddenly, he didn't want to open his mouth to Say Words anymore…
…
Outside the Door, a shallow layer of Snow had already fallen on the Ground, and Snowflakes were falling lightly all over the sky.
Masuyama Kenzo personally drove the Car, and drove all the way away from Beihu Town.
Chi Feichei wore the Black Clothes Suit he would wear for the Memorial Service, and lowered his eyes to tidy his Cuff.
Non-Ink stood on Chi Feichei's Shoulder, looking at the Snowflakes Outside the window.
Beside him, Masuyama Kenzo Turn Head and glanced at Chi Feichei's calm profile.
Why did he feel that Chi Feichei was more like a member of the Organization than him?
Thinking carefully, Chi Feichei seemed to have always been wearing Black Clothes, but today he changed into Formal Wear, and his cold Aura seemed to be a little stronger.
If he didn't know, he would have thought that Chi Feichei was the one going to complete the Assassination Mission today…
Suddenly, the Mobile Phone Ringtone rang.
Chi Feichei's Mobile Phone was always set to Vibration. Non-Ink curiously Turn Head to Look at Masuyama Kenzo.
Masuyama Kenzo answered the Phone Call, "Hello, Gin…"
Chi Feichei glanced at it and then withdrew his Line of Sight, without saying a word.
He didn't even hide from him when making Phone Calls, he didn't think this was Masuyama Kenzo's own Intention…
Non-Ink turned its Head curiously to Look at Masuyama Kenzo making a Phone Call.
"I'm just about to go over… It's that kind of Medicine, right? I understand…" Masuyama Kenzo hung up the Phone Call, and while driving, he said to Chi Feichei, "Let's go get something first, and then go to Beito Municipal Hotel."
Chi Feichei nodded, looked Outside the window, and sorted out his Clue.
Surveillance is not only for Knowledge, but also for Test.
Arranging a sniper attack to Test whether he was still brooding over what happened back then. If he still cared, he would definitely recognize who the person being killed was at a Glance.
The original consciousness did have this knot in his Mind, coupled with his observation Ability, he recognized it at a Glance, which allowed 'The Boss' to confirm his knot, contacted him that Night, and used Psychological Tactics.
Masuyama Kenzo should also be asked to observe his Reaction after seeing the Corpse—
If he was horrified and lost his mind after seeing the Corpse, he would not be a great asset and would be disposed of as a pawn sooner or later.
If he showed relief and the pleasure of revenge after seeing the Corpse, his psychological Flaw would be very big, easy to control, but not calm enough, and further observation would be needed.
These two situations, in addition to the emotional Reaction at the Time, would also show some Performance afterwards.
For Example, being terrified afterwards, being suspicious of ghosts, worrying that the other party was threatening him, worrying about his Safety, or being in a happy Mood, complaining to Masuyama Kenzo about past Matters, and he would inevitably be emotionally unstable when 'The Boss' contacted him at Night.
The last Situation is to remain silent after seeing the Corpse, which Means that he is extremely deep and good at restraining his Emotions, not talkative, and can keep Secrets. Even if he does not show his skills or criminal Ability, he is the kind who is worth cultivating in addition to being used.
He also did this. The disadvantage is that he Performance is difficult to control, but he believes that 'The Boss' will be very confident. After All, he recognized the deceased. Recognizing it Means caring. Therefore, compared to eagerly taking the bait, the most important thing is to show value.
Moreover, if he eagerly took the bait and couldn't calm down when contacting him, not only would he not bite deeply, but if he showed completely opposite composure in the future, it would also make people suspect that he deliberately mixed into the Organization. It would be better to reveal his true Personality from the beginning, and it would not be too Weird in the future.
At the same Time, the sniper attack was also revealing News to him—we kill people, we commit crimes, we kill people without blinking an eye, and we are extremely dangerous.
Afterwards, letting Masuyama Kenzo monitor his Reactions and Behaviors, this step is to Test whether his Mentality is Light or not, and whether he can be regarded as a fellow traveler.
If it was Conan, a person full of Justice, he would definitely try to inform the Police.
He believed that before he contacted the Police, Masuyama Kenzo would cut off Communication or contact channels.
He was not sure whether to kill him directly or Subdue him. That one should have a backup plan, For Example, after Subduing him, tell him 'it was for the person you killed, you are also responsible', and a person full of Justice is prone to fall into self-blame, and then another set of Psychological Tactics.
However, in this way, even if the desired effect of that one is finally achieved, Vigilance will definitely be increased—even if this kind of person is to be used, they will Betrayal because of some choice, they cannot be close to the core, and they must be highly defended against in the future.
If it were an ordinary Human, they might be Fear, might be hesitant, and after a period of psychological struggle, they would choose to hide it or contact the Police.
Then, that one's assessment should be that he is not a great asset, and no matter what, he must be moderately defended against or abandoned when necessary.
And he chose to do what he should do, not contact the Police, not make other Reactions, and continue his Life as if nothing had happened. Uh, although the Behavior of playing Game and researching Venom might be a bit confusing, it should be the most in line with that kind of person in a criminal Organization.
The dark side of Human nature, Fear, selfishness, hatred, indifference, greed, arrogance, meanness… The other party wants to know how much he has, and what exactly it is, so as to facilitate the next step.
Fools are easily deceived, the unworthy are easily frightened, and the greedy are easily tempted.
Fearful people are cowardly and can be deterred and threatened by excessive control.
For the greedy and selfish, the Benefits must be made clear, or they must be deterred and threatened by Benefits.
If Performance is mean, then recognition should be expressed, and radical remarks should be used to draw closer Relationship, further stimulate the dark side, and incite and encourage.
For those who hate, hatred needs to be further induced, from a single hatred to hatred for most people or for society, making people feel that crime is their own choice, and the next step is to throw out a criminal Organization with many 'like-minded people' that can be used as a backer.
Indifference is the most difficult to deal with, but people cannot be absolutely indifferent. At least they will care about Oneself. That one feels that he has grasped his knot and will not worry about being unable to cope.
And indifference is generally accompanied by arrogance, disdain for other people, and inner pride. After appropriate impact, give recognition. Wanting to control is a long-term Process, but it is not difficult. Desire for power, desire for domination, and sense of superiority. Grasp this point well, and give appropriate blows or empowerments. In the end, the control is more stable.
(End of Chapter)