Chapter 1025: Chapter 37: Preparedness averts peril.

Ryosuke left the “Glow Restaurant” through the back door.

He didn’t take a cab.

Instead, he rode away on the bicycle he had left at the back door–this was something he had prepared in advance upon learning he’d be dining at “Glow Restaurant” that night, and of course, the preparations involved far more than just the bicycle.

Ryosuke knew he only had one chance.

Because the person he was searching was also a veteran.

Both parties were quite familiar with each other.

Any slight mishap, even with Jason’s cover, could help Ryosuke clear himself of suspicion, but there would be no next time.

Therefore, he had to make it work in one strike.

He had to find corresponding evidence!

Ryosuke thought this to himself as he pedaled the bike, accelerating continuously.

Under the night sky, Ryosuke avoided the main roads monitored by surveillance cameras.

After a series of turns, he entered an alley behind a street.

This was behind the apartment block where his target lived, standing under the shadow of an overhang, Ryosuke looked up at the apartment in front of him, placed his bike in a corner, and began to put on gloves, shoe covers, a mask, and other items, before pulling on a black camouflage raincoat.

He didn’t pass through the apartment lobby.

There were six cameras there, covering everything from the entrance to the elevator, all the way to the elevator exit, with no blind spots.

To avoid the cameras, the only option was to burst in from the staircase on the second floor.

After a running start to gain momentum, Ryosuke kicked off the exterior wall and flipped into the stairwell of the second floor of the apartment.

The window of the second-floor stairwell would generally not be closed unless it was raining.

This was something Ryosuke had scouted out beforehand.

The target lived on the 5th floor.

Ryosuke briskly climbed up until he pushed open the stairwell door on the 5th floor, and when he saw the door to room 505, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The first step was a success!

The target was working overtime tonight and wasn’t at home.

Nonetheless, to be safe, Ryosuke still peeped through the door’s peephole and used a stethoscope on the door to confirm that the person was indeed absent.

Empty!

After 10 seconds, Ryosuke confirmed.

Then, he took out his lock-picking tools.

2 seconds!

Click!

The door opened.

Such speed would leave many veterans speechless.

As to why Ryosuke was familiar with lock-picking?

Who said cops can’t pick locks?

In fact, the best lock-picking expert in the Silver District was in the police department.

Supporting the door gently, he slowly opened it.

Once it was wide enough for a person to enter, Ryosuke slipped inside.

Then, once again slowly closed it.

Throughout the whole process, the door didn’t make a single sound.

After the door closed, Ryosuke breathed another sigh of relief.

The second step was a success!

He leaned against the door, surveying the entire room.

It was a typical bachelor’s room.

Living room and bedroom combined, with a small bathroom, and the kitchen was even smaller than the bathroom, aside from a single gas stove, sink, refrigerator, and a wall-mounted storage cabinet, there was barely room for a person to sidle through.

However, even so, it was enough to provoke envy.

Ryosuke clearly remembered that after the person bought this place, he and several close colleagues had been invited to celebrate; they had shabu-shabu in this room.

One of the colleagues had said with envy.

“I probably can’t afford such a house even by the age of 60!”

Although there was some exaggeration in the words, it wasn’t overly exaggerated.

With Ryosuke’s previous salary as a police officer, even with careful budgeting, he would need to wait until 50 to buy this place, assuming there were no unexpected expenses; any minor mishap would make home ownership an unreachable dream.

For this reason, Ryosuke had been vigilant at the time.

Where did the money for the house come from?

Although the person claimed it was funded by his parents, Ryosuke had investigated this and found that his parents were just rural farmers from a remote mountain region, with no means to help him buy a house.

Not to mention paying for it in full upfront.

With such a suspicion.

Coupled with previous doubts, Ryosuke began his private investigation.

Perhaps it was the colleague’s sigh of envy at the time that raised the person’s guard.

Their relationship gradually became distant.

And the person had even requested a transfer.

From the front line to logistics, removed from Ryosuke’s sight.

The reason given was poor health, and a doctor’s report was produced, but, that doctor died in a car accident two months later.

Such obvious targeting made Ryosuke more suspicious.

If previously Ryosuke had merely suspected that the person had issues.

Then, since the doctor’s car accident, Ryosuke was certain in his doubts.

Carefully stepping around the piled-up empty bento boxes and beer cans on the floor,

Ryosuke began his meticulous search.

A small flashlight appeared in Ryosuke’s hand.

The first thing he checked was the bedside table.

Then, the desk.

After that, the closet.

But nothing.

Ryosuke stood up with a slight frown and his gaze naturally drifted to the storage cabinets in the kitchen.

Each storage cabinet became strikingly prominent in Ryosuke’s eyes.

However, just as Ryosuke approached the storage cabinets, his brow involuntarily furrowed.

A slightly familiar scent entered his nostrils.

The smell of blood!

Mixed with the scent of rust!

Blood!

Despite the overpowering air freshener, Ryosuke recognized the scent of blood.

Subconsciously, Ryosuke drew his gun.

A faint smell of blood was coming from a kitchen cabinet no more than 40cm in length, width, and height.

So, what could be inside?

After a vague conjecture in his mind, Ryosuke slowly pulled open the storage cabinet.

The flashlight illuminated the contents inside instantly, allowing Ryosuke to see clearly.