The more Yuu Hoshimiya spoke, the more absurd and speechless he felt. He delivered another kick to the other side of Takumi Fuwa's face, leaving another red mark.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Takumi Fuwa scrambled towards the lake.
However, the old man wasn't planning to drown himself; he wanted to jump into the white boat he had prepared beforehand and escape.
He had originally planned to knock out Yuu and Reiko Akiba, throw them into the boat, and let them drift downriver. But now, it had become his own escape vehicle.
But it was completely impossible for the frail and elderly Fuwa to escape right from under Yuu's nose.
Yuu simply delivered one more roundhouse kick, landing squarely on Fuwa's neck, and the old man instantly collapsed unconscious to the ground.
...
"Have you ever seen an artist who commits murder, slaughtering thousands like a butcher?"
Hearing Yuu's voice through the earpiece, followed by the piercing static of a destroyed bug...
Someone hiding in the shadows went mad with hatred, sweeping all the books on their desk onto the floor.
...
Back by the riverbank, Yuu pinched a button on Fuwa's clothes. It looked like a normal button, but it couldn't escape his superhuman vision.
It was a button-type bug, and a very high-end one at that, perfectly disguised.
He crushed the bug and tossed it into the lake.
Reiko frowned and asked, "Yuu-kun, what should we do now?"
"The choice is yours. If you want to continue singing, we'll hide this old geezer for now and call the police after the concert."
"If you don't want to sing, I'll call Inspector Megure right now and have them take this guy and his accomplice away. But in that case, the concert will definitely be postponed."
"But what about the bombs? Didn't you just say the concert hall's load-bearing pillars are wired with explosives?"
Yuu put his arm around Reiko's soft waist. "Don't worry about the bombs. I investigated it yesterday, and of course, I wouldn't just sit back and watch."
"In fact, I've already dismantled every single bomb in the concert hall—all eighteen plastic explosives, not a single one left."
"So, Reiko, if you want to sing, sing. If not, then don't. I've got everything handled." Yuu kissed Reiko's red lips.
Reiko's scarlet eyes lit up instantly. "Yuu-kun, I want to sing."
She then threw herself into Yuu's arms. The two figures, one in black and one in white, embraced tightly, looking like a perfect couple by the riverbank.
It was just a pity that the old geezer lying on the ground next to them ruined the picturesque scene.
Yuu released Reiko. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around the lake, he picked up Takumi Fuwa with one hand and headed towards the concert hall.
Reiko had seen Yuu punch away a truck, but seeing his strength now still filled her eyes with continuous awe.
Under Reiko's guidance, Yuu tied Takumi Fuwa up in a storage room on the third floor.
Just to be safe, Yuu also cast a sleep spell on him.
They still hadn't found Kazuki Domoto. Yuu had no choice but to climb up to the pipe organ himself and remove the sensor that had been installed that very morning.
Soon, it was time for the concert to begin, and the audience started pouring in.
Knowing that Yuu had handled everything, Reiko trusted him completely. She planned to wait until after the concert to tell Kazuki Domoto about Takumi Fuwa.
Reiko went backstage to prepare, while Yuu returned to the VIP box Sonoko Suzuki had mentioned earlier, where Ran Mouri and the others had already arrived.
The VIP seats were arranged in two rows. Only the seats in the very back were left, and the aloof fake loli, Ai Haibara, was looking forward expectantly.
Yuu smiled at Ai and then sat down.
This VIP box was specially designed so that people outside couldn't see inside at all.
Soon, the stirring sounds of music rang out from the stage. Shion Yamane, wearing a black gown, stepped onto the stage with her world-renowned violin.
The clear, crisp sound of the violin flowed out, intertwining with the music of the pipe organ.
It was Amazing Grace!
A spotlight hit the darkened stage, and Reiko, in her white gown, stepped forward. Pure and holy as a goddess, her aura instantly captivated the audience.
Sonoko couldn't help but praise, "I have to admit, Miss Akiba is truly charming right now!"
Ran also nodded in agreement. For a moment, everyone was immersed in the music, except for Yuu and Ai in the back.
Yuu had heard this piece, Amazing Grace, several times over the past few days, so he had no reaction to it at all.
Feeling bored after the music started, he reached out and scooped Ai from the seat next to him into his arms.
The aloof fake loli sat on Yuu's lap with her legs spread.
She panicked for a moment, then a smile appeared on her face, which quickly turned into shyness.
Yuu's large hand gently began to roam over her body.
The flat belly, the smooth, cute little face, the soft, short legs—it was irresistible.
Teasing the fake loli was much more fun than listening to music. Besides, they were in the very back; as long as the Detective Boys and Professor Agasa in front didn't turn around, they wouldn't be discovered.
The pure, holy music enveloped the entire hall, but it somehow failed to reach Yuu's seat. Ai lay on Yuu, her body trembling slightly.
More than halfway through the music, in another VIP box, a person watched Kazuki Domoto continuously pressing the organ keys on stage with a cold sneer on his face.
He pulled a button switch from his jacket. Besides Takumi Fuwa's detonator, he also had one.
The man's gaze sweeping over the audience gradually turned terrifying!
He hadn't heard Yuu and Reiko's conversation earlier, so he naturally assumed the bombs in the concert hall were still active.
"I don't know why you didn't notify the police, but the fact that they still aren't here proves my plan is a success. To die by my hand, famous police consultant, should be an honor for you."
However, he had no intention of dying with them. He planned to slip away alone and head out of the concert hall.
Standing outside the concert hall, he gazed at the oval building from afar, humming the tune of Amazing Grace, a smile appearing on his face.
He closed his eyes, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. Wearing a creepy smile, he pressed the red button.
Unfortunately, after pressing the red button, nothing happened. The concert hall stood firm. Let alone an explosion, not even a peep was heard.
"How is this possible?"
His face changed drastically as he repeatedly jabbed the button, but still, nothing happened to the concert hall.
"Damn it! Is it malfunctioning, or did I grab the wrong one?" This guy still hadn't realized the bombs had been dismantled.
Miwako Sato's voice suddenly rang out.
"Move!"
Instantly, a large group of people rushed out from both sides. Officer Shiratori immediately subdued the German man. It was the pipe organ tuner who had been missing since last night, Hans Müller.
Hans Müller panicked and started babbling in German.
"What are you doing? How dare you attack a German citizen! I'll complain to the embassy about you!"
Miwako sneered. "Mr. Müller, Consultant Hoshimiya already said you understand Japanese, so drop the act. Take him away."
The next moment, she immediately sent a text message to Yuu.
"Hans Müller has been arrested and taken to the MPD."
Feeling his phone vibrate, Yuu finally withdrew his large hand from Haibara's buttocks.
He opened his phone, and a smile appeared on his face upon seeing the message.
Others were naturally not allowed to bring phones into the concert hall, but since Yuu entered with Reiko, the staff didn't check him.
So, while listening to music and teasing the little loli, he was also commanding Miwako to set an ambush and arrest Hans Müller, who had been hiding in the concert hall all along.
Using Noah would also work, and it would be even more convenient. But then he would have to find an excuse to explain it to Inspector Megure and the other officers later. It was easier to just use his phone.
Lying in Yuu's arms, Ai saw the message and asked, "Is this the guy who wanted to kill Miss Akiba?"
Yuu nodded. Hearing that Amazing Grace was reaching its final movement, he reached out and straightened the fake loli's black dress and pants.
Then, he kissed Ai's cute little cheek, hugged the aloof fake loli tightly, and turned to look at Reiko on stage.
...
Miwako Sato approached Inspector Megure and saluted him. "Inspector, we've arrested Hans Müller as Consultant Hoshimiya instructed."
Juzo Megure asked, "What was that button just now?"
Miwako explained, "Consultant Hoshimiya said the concert hall's load-bearing pillars were wired with bombs. That button was the remote detonator for them."
Sweat immediately broke out on Inspector Megure's forehead. There were bombs in the concert hall, and there were over a thousand people inside!
If they exploded, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Why didn't you report this sooner? Contact the bomb squad immediately! Officer Shiratori, come with me into the venue to evacuate the audience."
Megure issued orders rapidly and ran toward the concert hall with Ninzaburo Shiratori.
Miwako quickly added, "Consultant Hoshimiya said he already dismantled all the bombs. It should be fine!"
Inspector Megure stopped. "Although I've always trusted Brother Hoshimiya, this is a matter of immense importance. It's better to be cautious. Let's evacuate the audience first."
With that, he led his team inside. They spoke to the staff members blocking the doors, who immediately opened the main doors to the concert hall.
As the doors opened, Inspector Megure and Officer Shiratori saw everyone inside standing up, thunderous applause filling the room.
On the resplendent stage, Kazuki Domoto, Shion Yamane, and Reiko Akiba were bowing together for their curtain call.
Seeing this scene, Inspector Megure swallowed hard, feeling somewhat intimidated. "Officer Shiratori, you go up on stage and evacuate the audience now!"
Officer Shiratori glanced at Inspector Megure next to him and, bracing himself, walked onto the stage.
On stage, Reiko was quietly explaining what had happened earlier to Kazuki Domoto. Domoto's expression shifted continuously before he finally handed the microphone to Officer Shiratori.
Officer Shiratori took the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Ninzaburo Shiratori from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. We received a report of an emergency situation in the concert hall. Now, please listen to my instructions and evacuate the hall in an orderly manner."
Hearing this, the audience in the hall began to murmur, but they all obediently followed instructions.
"First, the front row audience will leave. VIP guests, please use the exclusive exit..."
Officer Shiratori handled the situation with ease, while Inspector Megure and Officer Takagi maintained order below.
Soon, everyone had left the concert hall, leaving it completely empty.
Police officers outside set up a cordon, sealing off the entire concert hall.
Upon seeing Yuu, Inspector Megure smiled wryly. "Brother Hoshimiya, why didn't you tell me earlier? After all, it's bombs we're dealing with. With so many people, even one exploding is no small matter!"
Reiko, standing nearby, winked at Yuu.
Yuu smiled. "Well, they didn't explode, did they? Relax, Inspector Megure, everything is under control. By the way, Miwako, did you catch Takumi Fuwa on the third floor?"
Miwako nodded. "Takagi has already taken him back to the MPD."
Reiko chimed in, "Yuu-kun, what about the assassins in the storage room at home?"
"I've already arranged for someone to deliver them to the MPD."
Miwako nodded in confirmation. Reiko breathed a sigh of relief and then stood obediently to the side.
Then, Yuu briefly explained the situation to Megure and the other officers present.
"Those assassins were hired by Hans Müller. He seems to have connections with some gangs in Germany, which is how he was able to hire assassins and obtain the bombs."
"The previous cases related to the Domoto Academy were committed by Takumi Fuwa with Hans Müller's help."
"As for the plan to blow up the Domoto Concert Hall this time, it was a joint operation by the two tuners to take revenge on Kazuki Domoto..."
"However, I'm not sure what Kazuki Domoto did to incur such deep resentment. You'll have to investigate the specific motives yourselves."
Inspector Megure frowned. "It sounds quite complicated. Brother Hoshimiya, Miss Akiba, let's go back to the MPD together to explain the whole process."
Being a police consultant was now Yuu's official job, so it wouldn't be right for him to slip away.
He turned to Ran. "Ran, take Ai and the others back first!"
Ran nodded obediently.
Yuu, Reiko, and the concert's principal figures got into police cars and headed to the MPD.
...
A little past 3:00 PM, Yuu and Reiko stood in the empty concert hall.
Reiko looked up at the pipe organ, her face filled with emotion. She hadn't expected a conflict over musical ideals to end like this.
At the MPD, Hans Müller had persistently refused to confess. It wasn't until Kazuki Domoto appeared that he finally snapped, erupting into a hysterical argument with him.
The musical differences between the two were immense, right from the beginning of their collaboration. That they hadn't argued before was only because Hans Müller had held it in.
But this resentment had accumulated bit by bit during their partnership, eventually giving rise to murderous intent. That was why he manipulated Takumi Fuwa, who felt abandoned, attempting to use him to carry out the murders.
As for Takumi Fuwa, stepping down as a piano tuner had left him without a purpose in life. Coupled with the loss of his son in his old age, he felt utter despair, which led him to participate in planting bombs in the concert hall.
Honestly, Yuu couldn't understand the thought processes of these criminals who fancied themselves artists.
They were all over fifty, yet their tempers were so volatile, and when they acted out, it had to be a massive incident.
Especially that foreigner, Hans Müller. He didn't even seem to realize the severity of his crimes, constantly clamoring to be extradited back to his country.
But that was impossible now. This foreign tuner would likely rot in a Japanese prison.
And standing on the stage now, Reiko seemed able to comprehend this conflict of musical ideals. As soon as she left the MPD, she asked Yuu to bring her back to the concert hall.
The bomb squad had already searched the concert hall. The dozen or so bombs had been dismantled into countless components by Yuu and collected by the squad. The place was perfectly safe now.
However, the police cordon hadn't been removed, and officers were still standing guard outside.
Yuu had sneaked Reiko in, so no one noticed them.
Thus, they were the only two people in the resplendent concert hall.
Reiko, wearing her white gown, stood in front. With her graceful figure and pure, goddess-like beauty, she looked up at the pipe organ with her scarlet eyes, lost in thought for a long time.
Yuu turned his handsome face, surveying the entire concert hall. He had just closed both the left and right main doors, so the hall was completely empty.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, slowly walked forward, and placed his large hand on Reiko's snow-white shoulder.
"Reiko, what are you thinking about?"
Reiko turned around, her scarlet eyes staring intently at Yuu, before throwing herself into his arms.
"I was thinking that it's really hard for one person to truly understand another, just like the maestro, Mr. Müller, and Mr. Fuwa."
"They were originally the closest companions in music, but in the end, they grew to resent each other. At the MPD earlier, I saw the maestro crying secretly in the next room, and he kept sighing, saying he would never play the piano again."
Reiko's small face pressed tightly against Yuu's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.
"It's really hard to find a soulmate in music. But thankfully, I have you, Yuu-kun, who understands me."
With that, a moving smile bloomed on Reiko's face.
Suddenly remembering something, Reiko asked, "Yuu-kun, how did you know Mr. Müller was the other accomplice?"
Yuu couldn't reveal the details about Angel's Wings and Noah to the police, so he had spun some deductions at the time.
Telling Reiko the truth now wouldn't hurt, but he felt the crimson-eyed mature woman in front of him didn't want to hear boring facts.
Yuu chuckled softly and repeated the bogus deduction he had given at the MPD.
"The name 'Müller' means 'devil' in German. I originally found it strange that someone would have that name. But more importantly, the assassins were targeting us, planning to eliminate both of us."
"And the only ones who knew I had perfect pitch and could hear the anomaly were Hans Müller and Genya Domoto, who we had spoken to earlier. Genya Domoto was present the entire time, and he was in charge of this concert. I observed him for a long time and didn't notice anything unusual about him."
"Hans Müller, on the other hand, disappeared after sending the assassins last night. Isn't that obvious?"
"Reiko, you can rest easy now. With that guy caught, there won't be any more assassins coming."
With the employer caught and no one to pay the bounty, the assassin platform would naturally cancel the contract.
"Mmm. Yuu-kun, I believe you," Reiko said tenderly.
Yuu planted a kiss on Reiko's black, silken hair, inhaling a delicate fragrance.
He pulled back slightly, gently kissed her flawless forehead, then her high nose bridge, and finally her moist lips.
As he kissed his way down, a blush spread across Reiko's face.
Yuu chuckled softly. "Reiko, close your eyes."
The pure, flawless music of Mariage d'Amour played from the phone in his pocket. It was another piano piece that had never existed in this world.
As restored by Noah, it was almost indistinguishable from a live performance by a real person.