Chapter 33: The Juvenile Protection Law Will Protect Me (2nd Update)
"Do you still remember why I kidnapped Sonoko before?" Baishi Hui said unhurriedly, a set of excuses already formed in his mind.
"I remember... because you were deeply in debt at the time." Shinichi certainly wouldn't forget, saying, "But later, the loan shark was burned down in a fire by someone, so you didn't have to repay the money and returned the 100 million yen to Sonoko."
"That's right... I thought so, but I realized I was too young." Baishi Hui sighed and said, "They said the IOUs were gone, but they still remember that I owe them money."
"There's nothing I can do. I can only work for them to pay off the debt."
"But what you're doing is illegal!" Shinichi felt this was wrong.
"They are also breaking the law," Baishi Hui reminded him.
Shinichi earnestly advised, "If you get caught, you'll be locked up for several years!"
"It's fine. The Police usually don't pay much attention to gang fights like these." Baishi Hui signaled Shinichi not to worry, saying, "Besides, I'm only seventeen this year! The Juvenile Protection Law will protect me."
"Once I turn eighteen, I'll quit. It won't even affect my ability to take the civil service exam later!"
"How about it? Isn't my plan perfect?"
"Uh..." Shinichi was stunned at that moment.
He thought the other person was desperate, but he didn't expect him to be breaking the law knowingly!
He sat up excitedly and said, "You... you're breaking the law knowingly!"
"There's nothing I can do. Who told me I couldn't come up with this money?" Baishi Hui showed a helpless expression and said, "How about you lend me some?"
"I... I don't have that much." Shinichi chuckled twice and said, "But you can borrow from Sonoko! Didn't you already borrow once last time?"
"When money is mixed into a relationship, that relationship is no longer pure." Baishi Hui shook his head and righteously refused Shinichi's suggestion.
Before the other person could speak, he suddenly added, "Shinichi, I remember your father's mystery novels are bestsellers worldwide."
"Someone who writes novels must be very rich. How about you ask him to lend me a little? I'll repay you when I have money later."
"This... he probably won't lend it, right? After all, it's such a large sum." Shinichi felt a bit awkward saying this.
He couldn't help the other person solve the problem, and he also felt embarrassed to keep telling him to turn over a new leaf, but the education he received since childhood made it impossible for him to ignore this!
This complex feeling was driving him crazy!
"Then... what about calling the Police? Can that solve it?" Shinichi still said, somewhat unwilling to give up.
"If calling the Police could solve it, would I need to go through all this trouble?" Baishi Hui glanced at Shinichi and said, "Aren't you a Detective? You should know very well what kind of people can afford to lend money at high interest."
"..." Shinichi fell silent at this.
He no longer talked about the other person leaving the gang, but just reminded him, "Baishi, no matter what, you can't kill anyone!"
"I understand that. I only get paid this little amount a month, so I certainly won't risk my life... I cherish my life more than you do." Baishi Hui indicated that Shinichi didn't need to worry.
"..." This made Shinichi feel very awkward. He felt that his rashness this time would probably be mentioned by the other person for the rest of his life.
"Sigh!" He lay back down on the hospital bed, feeling very uncomfortable.
He knew Baishi Hui was doing illegal work in the gang, but the other person had also saved his life!
He wanted to persuade Baishi Hui to turn over a new leaf, but he didn't have the ability to do so!
Shinichi was tormented by law and morality. For the first time, he realized that the cruelty of reality was far more complex than that in mystery novels.
Baishi Hui saw Shinichi's conflicted expression and knew that he was caught in an internal struggle.
He got up and left the ward, no longer disturbing the other person's contemplation of life.
Coming out of the ward, Ran and Sonoko were already waiting at the door.
"Alright, we're done talking. Go on in." As he spoke, he noticed that both girls' expressions were not good.
"Okay, I'll go in and get Shinichi some water." Ran forced a smile and turned to enter the ward.
Meanwhile, Sonoko handed a can of coffee to Baishi Hui and said, "Hui, here you go!"
"Thanks." After taking it, Baishi Hui asked, "Your expressions aren't great. What happened?"
"Ran just told me that she wants to re-examine her feelings for Shinichi. She feels Shinichi is too immature... He clearly said he wouldn't go, but he still went, always making people worry," Sonoko said gloomily.
"It's right to think more. Being cautious when falling in love is not wrong." Baishi Hui said this, then popped open the can of coffee with a hiss and started drinking.
Just as Sonoko was about to say something else, someone suddenly came over and greeted her, saying, "Sonoko! Long time no see!"
"Huh?" Sonoko turned her head and quickly greeted him, "Inspector Megure! Long time no see!"
"I didn't expect to run into you here!" Inspector Megure said enthusiastically, then gave a brief greeting to Baishi Hui, saying, "Is Shinichi awake? I'd like to ask him about the situation."
"Yes, he's awake!" Sonoko went to the door of the ward, knocked, and then pushed the door open, saying, "Shinichi, Inspector Megure is here to see you!"
"Shinichi, are you alright?" Inspector Megure asked caringly after entering the ward.
"I just got hit on the head, it's nothing serious!" Shinichi said with a smile and sat up.
"It's good that you're alright. I want to ask you what exactly happened at the scene." While Inspector Megure was speaking, Takagi Wataru quickly took out a pen and notebook to record.
Baishi Hui did not go into the ward. He was currently reeking of gunpowder.
If the Police smelled it, the trouble would be huge... Although they might not have a sense of smell as abnormal as Shinichi's, what if?
About half an hour later, Inspector Megure left the ward with Takagi Wataru.
And Shinichi also felt that he was fine and was discharged from the hospital with a bandage on his head.
However, just after coming down from the hospital, Sonoko said helplessly, "My Mother found out about what happened at Toro Tropical Land. She's very worried about me and told me to go home... It looks like I can't have dinner with you guys."
"Then it'll have to be next time." Ran could understand Suzuki Tomoko's worry as a Mother, and there was a hint of envy in her eyes.
"It's not too late to arrange it for tomorrow," Baishi Hui said.
"I have to attend a banquet in London tomorrow, so I don't have time," Sonoko said regretfully.
"It seems being a young lady of fortune isn't easy either," Baishi Hui smiled and said, "Let's go out and have fun together sometime when you're free!"
"Okay! It's a promise then!" Sonoko smiled and waved, saying, "I'll head back now!"
The three watched Sonoko get into the car and leave.
"It's getting late, let's find a place to have dinner!" Ran turned around and asked Shinichi and Baishi Hui.
"I'm not going. I lost too much blood, my head is a bit dizzy, and I just want to go home and lie down." Shinichi said, rubbing his temple, looking a bit tired, "For dinner, I'll just buy something from a convenience store on the way back."
"Then why aren't you still lying in the hospital?" Ran asked a soul-searching question with a puzzled look.
"How is lying in the hospital as comfortable as lying at home?" Shinichi said matter-of-factly, "At home, I can even lie down and read mystery novels!"
"How can I feel at ease letting you go back alone looking like this?" Ran said speechlessly, then glanced at Baishi Hui, wanting to know his thoughts.
"Then let's take Shinichi back first," Baishi Hui said.