"Anyone could do this kind of job. Is ten million yen really a fair price?"
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone before Hasegawa finally replied.
"Kid, once you start digging into the entertainment industry, you're not just dealing with a handful of people. It's tens of thousands. So honestly, ten million isn't high. I'm barely making anything off this."
"If that's the price you're sticking to, then we're done here," Hiro Saitou replied flatly.
"Nine million, then," Hasegawa tried again. "This isn't a quick job. It's going to take time and resources. And you want matched photos, too—I'll need to hunt those down. When you break it down, it's less than 500 yen per person."
"That's your problem," Hiro said coldly. "Even that still sounds inflated."
He shifted gears without missing a beat. "A typical office worker earns about 300,000 yen a month. For that much, I could hire thirty students. Build a data team from scratch."
"I don't need them to be fast. If each one handles 100 names a day, they'll gradually pick up speed. And as they get better, their output increases."
Hasegawa scoffed. "This isn't some math assignment. You'd need to set up a proper office, manage them, and pay benefits. No one works for free."
"I'll just recruit college students with laptops," Hiro shot back. "No office. No salaries. I'll pay per result—100 yen per completed profile."
"And what do they know about proper investigation?" Hasegawa asked. "Relying on students? That's a logistical nightmare."
"Yeah, I've thought about that. You're worried about overlapping targets, right? I'll divide the work into separate blocks from the start. No duplicates."
He wasn't bluffing—he had already mapped this all out in his head.
"…If you've got it all figured out," Hasegawa muttered, "why haven't you hung up yet?"
"What I want is efficiency," Hiro said, ignoring the jab. "So I'm offering you five hundred yen per person. Prioritize currently active people in the industry. Full profiles—name, age, height, weight, hometown, and so on."
He had planned on this number from the beginning. The rest of the conversation was just negotiation strategy to drive down the price.
Five million yen—that was the max he could spend.
The other half of his savings needed to be reserved for Ai's upcoming venue.
Until she officially debuted and started performing, there was no telling when the system would trigger another income stream. So this was all he could afford for now.
But once Ai took the stage, the system would definitely recognize it as a milestone in her idol development. And with that would come rewards—maybe money, maybe something even more useful.
He didn't know what it would be, but he was counting on it.
After all, making a profit on your first show? That kind of miracle didn't happen without divine intervention—or in this case, a system reward.
Even if the data gathered wasn't perfect, it would become a valuable intel source later on. Some info might be outdated—like old photos or incorrect ages—but having something to work with was better than nothing.
"…So this five hundred yen thing," Hasegawa said after a long pause, "that was your plan from the start?"
Hiro didn't answer the question directly. "So? Are you taking the job or not?"
"…Tch. Fine. I'll take it," Hasegawa finally relented.
"Good. When can you start?"
"We'll need to meet in person. Sign a contract. You'll pay a deposit, and then I'll get started."
"If you're free now, come to my office."
"Alright. Send me the address."
Later, Hiro followed the address Hasegawa had given him.
He arrived in a quiet, somewhat rundown neighborhood. A worn sign above the building read:
[Hasegawa Detective Agency]
"...Seriously?" "...Seriously?" Hiro muttered, raising an eyebrow.
He had expected a professional firm, especially with a recommendation from his uncle. But this? It was remote and… shabby.
Still, he'd come all this way.
He climbed to the third floor, following the creaky wooden sign that pointed toward the agency. At the end of a narrow hallway, he found another small placard on a plain door.
"...Please don't tell me this office is just a rented room," he muttered.
Still, he pressed the buzzer.
"I'm coming!" a dull voice called out from inside.
The door opened to reveal a man in his thirties. Stubble on his chin. Loose-fitting suit. Collar undone. Slippers on his feet.
Definitely not the professional look Hiro expected.
"You the client?" the man asked, squinting at him. "You sound like the guy from the phone."
"I'm the client. Hiro Saitou," he replied. "Ichigo Saitou's my uncle. He said you were reliable."
The man's brows lifted slightly. "Ah, Ichigo-kun's nephew? That makes more sense."
As Hiro stepped inside, he glanced around the office.
Cardboard boxes. Tripods. Lenses. Spy cameras. Random electronics were scattered across the clutter. It was cluttered, but… at least it didn't smell bad.
"The place is cluttered and a bit messy. Don't mind it," Hasegawa said, brushing some files off a chair. "Come in. Let's get to work."
The room wasn't big—maybe 50 square meters—but all the junk made it feel even smaller.
Still, Hasegawa moved with practiced ease, guiding Hiro to a battered desk with an ancient-looking computer on it.
"Alright. Here's the draft I made. Check it over. If everything looks good, I'll print it out."
Despite everything, the contract he pulled up looked solid. The formatting was professional, and the clauses were clearly written.
Hiro reviewed it quickly, then pointed out a few areas.
"Here. And here... change these parts," he said, helping Hasegawa revise it on the spot. "It needs to reflect exactly what I'm paying for."
For a guy with such a sloppy appearance, Hasegawa had done his homework.
Not bad.
But Hiro still kept his guard up.
After all, in this business, looks could be deceiving.
Read 15+ Advanced Chapters On Patreon
POWER STONE!!!?
Support me at patreon.com/Qsamabin