novel bin Chapter 317 The Closed Door
Chapter 317 The Closed Door
Chapter 319 The Closed Door
"So this is the Feathered Residence? Although I was mentally prepared, I'm not too surprised. But it truly lives up to its reputation."
Mary stood in front of the courtyard gate of the villa in the city, curiously looking at the two-story building in front of her that contrasted sharply with the surrounding scenery.
The sound of camera shutters clicking continuously came from around her; photographer Dai had already found the right angle and was holding the camera high to start shooting.
"This should be the doorbell. I wonder if Detective Hugo is in the office."
The reporter tidied her hair, pressed the button on the electronic communication device in front of Yuqi Residence, and anxiously awaited the resident's response.
"Hello, this is Hugo Detective Agency. Hmm, these are unfamiliar faces. Have you two made an appointment before?"
A friendly female voice came from the speaker of the communication device. It didn't seem to be the obviously male Detective Hugo from the files; it was probably an employee of the detective agency.
"Hello. We are the interview team from Violet TV. We had previously obtained the interview permission from Detective Daigo via email. Although the original plan was for a remote online interview, we received a last-minute request from Daigo to escort valuables, so the TV station increased the budget and decided to conduct a face-to-face interview. That's why we have taken the liberty of coming to the Unova region."
"If the interview method needs to be changed at the last minute, shouldn't they also need to communicate with us in advance?"
The female voice from the loudspeaker raised a question with a hint of doubt, which was actually quite reasonable. In previous incidents, someone had used the trick of impersonation. The officers of Team Aqua even wore masks and disguised themselves as President Zvoich, making their appearance in the Unova region across the ocean to carry out illegal transactions.
As an employee of Hugo Detective Agency, it was perfectly reasonable for that lady to verify the visitor's identity repeatedly.
Mary replied sincerely, "Of course we also wanted to make contact in advance. But for some reason, when we tried to contact them last week, we found that the email address we had been using to communicate had suddenly stopped working. Since we accepted Mr. Daigo's request, we couldn't cancel our trip to the Unova region on our own, so we had no choice but to take the liberty of visiting them in person."
"Moreover, our original online interview date was today, so we guessed that Detective Hugo might be able to find the time to accept an in-person interview today," the photographer added, holding his camera.
"Oh, I see. It seems there's a reason for it after all—"
One of the acting directors in the firm was silently sweating.
A week ago, a girl's smug voice still echoed in her ears: "What era are we living in? Still using email? Sister Lan, if you ask me, if you want to contact someone, it would be much more convenient to just use a social media account!"
I really shouldn't have listened to that junior's instigation...
The reporter outside still hadn't heard the door unlock, but calmly rummaged through her pockets, preparing to list evidence to prove her identity. "We understand your concerns, sir. We also have our Hoenn region press credentials to prove our identity—"
"Oh? You're here to see Detective Hugo too?"
Behind the reporter came a voice that was clearly not the cameraman's partner; it was another unfamiliar female voice.
Turning around, he saw a beige police uniform from the Unova region suddenly appear before him as if he had used "teleportation".
It turned out to be Ms. Officer Jenny, who was on official business.
Behind her followed a bespectacled police officer who seemed to be her deputy. Mary's photographer partner, under the latter's sharp gaze, awkwardly put away his camera.
"I don't know if you're clients or reporters, but I'm sorry, we have official business to attend to and have to cut in line."
The sharp-tongued policewoman adjusted her cap in apology and pressed Mary's hand, which had just been pulling out her press pass, back down.
Then, as if by magic, he flicked his fingertips, producing a police handbook bearing the emblem of the Alliance Police. While shaking it repeatedly, he shouted into the communicator by the door—
"Miss Azure, I have some regrettable news to share. Mr. Hugo, the head of your detective agency, is a prime suspect in a recent heinous crime. On behalf of the Flying Cloud City Police Department, I request that you immediately open your doors and cooperate with the investigation."
"ha?"
The acting director stood speechless in front of the monitor.
Now that things have come to this, she doesn't know whether she should open the door or not.
Why is it that Hugo has been out for only a few hours, yet so many inexplicable old debt lawsuits have come knocking on his door?
Didn't that guy go challenge the Unified Champion last week? And he caused such a huge mess. How could he be back at the same time?
Was he implicated in a heinous case being investigated by the Feiyun Police Station?
The thought of Hugo winning the championship gave Azure another headache.
She's even started to wonder recently if she has some kind of doom aura similar to that of a detective, which might unknowingly turn the people around her into league champions—this is the third one already!
"Sir, I think it would be better if we made things clearer to avoid being turned away."
Sierra's deputy's voice rang out behind Officer Jenny.
The deputy then bypassed his superior, who was basking in the satisfaction of delivering a cool line, and presumptuously spoke into the communication device connecting the agency—
"Miss Azure, it's like this. Although Detective Hugo does have some connection to the case we're investigating, it's only a slight, far-fetched connection. Knowing him well, we can see that his suspicion was immediately eliminated. We're here primarily because the case is extremely serious and needs to be resolved quickly. That's why we wanted to ask Mr. Hugo for his opinion on the case."
"Oh, is that so? Well, that's alright then—"
The acting chief breathed a sigh of relief and was about to unlock the door when Officer Jenny added, "Yes. We also need to ask Hugo about his alibi for these past few days; we haven't seen him in Flying Cloud City recently."
The sound of the lock being opened—snap—snap—did not come.
Conversely, a blinding flashing red light suddenly lit up the entrance of Yuxi Mansion, and a bright burglar alarm instantly resounded throughout the city center street, attracting the attention of passersby.
"Detective Hugo is not here, and the agency is closed today. Please come back another day."
Acting Director Bilan quickly summarized his remarks and then abruptly hung up the communication.
Only two police officers and two interviewers remained, silently facing each other in front of the courtyard gate of the Yuxi Residence.