IW: Chapter 289 - Internal Competition! Let the Internal Competition Rage!
"So, this should be correct, right?"
"How would I know? Why don't you ask him?"
Eriri found Kasumigaoka Utaha's question a bit strange.
Why did she have to ask her?
She actually wanted to ask.
Today, she, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and Kato Megumi went shopping for clothes.
Although they often bickered, the three of them basically had no friends at school.
So, they would occasionally hang out together.
"It should be Bai Ye-kun's, after all, there's even a photo of him on it."
Saying that, Kato Megumi pointed to Bai Ye's headshot published on the page.
"So he's a Phantom Thief of Hearts who's now helping the police solve cases..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha rubbed her forehead; this guy really could come up with new tricks every time.
As expected of the person she liked.
"Make a call and ask."
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought for a moment, still unable to suppress her curiosity.
She took out her phone and dialed Bai Ye's number.
The call connected quickly.
"Oh, the famous detective is actually here."
He answered in a second.
"If Utaha-chan wants to become a famous detective, then I can also make Utaha-chan a Sleeping Utaha."
Bai Ye on the other end wasn't surprised.
The newspaper's publishing speed was really fast.
Bai Ye hadn't expected it to spread so quickly.
"I don't want to, but Bai Ye-kun, don't forget your own identity."
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't want to become famous.
Although when she first became a writer, she had thought about becoming a famous one.
But as she acquired a side job, Kasumigaoka Utaha's ambition had somewhat faded.
Mainly because if she became a famous writer, it might attract many fanatical fans.
And then her other identities might be dug up.
"I haven't forgotten. Isn't this great? They're determined to catch me."
"So, Bai Ye-kun, are you planning to continue?"
Kato Megumi's voice came from the phone.
She was also a little curious. From Bai Ye's words, it seemed he intended to continue participating in this matter in the future.
A famous detective?
Speaking of which, Bai Ye had quite a few identities.
"A little, I guess. After all, I want to see their expressions."
Bai Ye initially didn't want to be famous or become a famous detective.
But after being interviewed by the media, Bai Ye simply didn't care anymore.
However, on second thought, he felt this didn't seem like a bad thing, did it?
And constantly flaunting himself in front of those who wanted to catch him...
That feeling seemed pretty good.
"I just saw Officer Sato Miwako standing next to you in the newspaper, looking at you."
Kato Megumi chuckled slightly.
Earlier, Officer Sato Miwako had insisted on bringing them to justice.
Yet, she hadn't even seen the Phantom Thieves of Hearts in front of her eyes.
"It's normal. After all, what we're doing now is quite secretive. You all should prepare; we're about to start as well."
Bai Ye muttered, then glanced at Ai Haibara, who was silently eavesdropping.
He didn't care anyway; Ai Haibara couldn't hear what they were saying on the other end.
What he said was also quite vague.
Ai Haibara was actually a bit troubled.
She had wanted to eavesdrop and find out what Bai Ye was talking about with the person on the other end.
What did he mean by 'what we're doing is quite secretive'?
What exactly were they doing?!
"Alright, if there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
Bai Ye chatted briefly with Eriri and the others.
He wasn't convenient right now, so he wasn't going to continue talking.
"You have other things besides the Office?"
Ai Haibara looked up and asked curiously.
"If I relied on the money from the Office, I probably would have starved to death long ago!"
Bai Ye pouted.
If he didn't have some side jobs, his Office wouldn't even be able to support itself.
As things stood, it seemed no one would come to him for help.
"Didn't you make a name for yourself this time?"
Earlier, when Bai Ye faced the news interview, he had briefly mentioned his situation.
So, perhaps in the future, people would come to Bai Ye for help through the Office.
"You're right about that, so I'm also planning to hire some more employees. I hope Sadako can be a bit more efficient!"
Bai Ye's first thought was for Sadako to gather all her ghost sisters.
Then, the employees would be more than enough.
"Ghost employees don't need to be paid; that's great."
When Bai Ye thought that these employees didn't need to be paid, and didn't even need to eat, he felt like he was flying.
"Evil capitalist!"
Ai Haibara complained.
This guy prioritized hiring those who didn't demand wages.
He even exploited ghosts.
"Let's go, time to go home."
Bai Ye cleared his throat. Was he considered a capitalist?
He felt like he hadn't done anything, really.
"Found you!"
Takamae Ann looked at the face in the newspaper, a slight smile flashing across her lips.
She was transferring to Bai Ye's school.
Here, she was ostracized.
Because of her model-like figure and beautiful appearance, her classmates felt a distance from her, and so she was isolated.
Therefore, she basically had no friends here.
And she had actually been involved in the previous Phantom Thieves of Hearts incident.
Although she had only followed along and watched, without taking any substantial action.
But it was one of the few things she found very interesting.
And so, after that, she proposed to join.
However, she was rejected.
Fortunately, she learned about Eriri's information.
Following Eriri's social circle, Takamae Ann also managed to find out who these people were.
Seeing Bai Ye's face in the newspaper, Takamae Ann was even more certain.
Her sixth sense told her that the face she had just seen must be the boy she had met before.
She was going to pursue him.
Being rejected once wouldn't discourage her.
The next time she found him, she would definitely make him agree to her joining.
"Hasn't Bai Ye come back?"
Sadako cautiously observed the Office through the television.
She was a bit on edge now.
She hadn't seen Bai Ye's Shadow here.
She didn't know if Bai Ye hadn't returned yet, or if he had just returned but left when he saw she wasn't there.
It would be fine if he hadn't returned.
But if he had, then she might be doomed.
Thinking about this, Sadako got a headache.
Her original plan was just to play for a while.
But then she got carried away playing, though she still had some sense at that time.
She estimated the time, roughly thinking when Bai Ye would return.
She was also preparing to leave.
But the others wouldn't let her go. She tried to persuade them, and finally said she'd play two more rounds and then leave.
As she played, Sadako forgot about leaving.
By the time she realized it, Sadako was so distracted that even her last winning hand was played half-heartedly.
In the end, she just ran away directly.
"He hasn't come back."
Miko looked at Sadako with dead fish eyes.
She was also helpless.
When she came back, she saw that no one was here and thought something had happened today.
Wasn't there a shift change?
But she hadn't seen anyone.
However, when she saw Sadako this time, Miko also felt that she probably skipped work earlier.
"It's good that he hasn't come back..."
Sadako breathed a sigh of relief.
It was good that he hadn't come back, otherwise she would be doomed.
But Sadako suddenly seemed to remember something and looked at Miko nervously.
Damn it.
Although she hadn't been caught by Bai Ye, that didn't mean she could relax.
If Miko told Bai Ye about her skipping work, wouldn't the outcome be the same?
Then her 'Excellent Employee' title would be gone?
In the afternoon, Bai Ye had just praised her once.
And then she made a mistake.
"I won't tell, don't worry."
Miko seemed to have figured out what Sadako was thinking.
Was she that afraid of her saying something?
Actually, Miko didn't want to tell Bai Ye about Sadako skipping work.
After all, she was actually an employee, just like Sadako, right?
Unless it was someone who liked to complain, or wanted to use the boss to catch the other party's weakness to achieve their own goals.
Otherwise, who would side with the boss?!
So, Miko had actually thought it through; this time, she also wanted to prove to Sadako that she would not engage in internal competition with her.
It seemed that Sadako had always thought she wanted to compete internally with her.
She didn't know what Sadako was thinking.
"You already know, and you specifically said that... Are you planning to secretly report me?!"
"I said... Can't you understand human language?"
Miko was exasperated.
She had already said so much, yet Sadako still thought she was going to make a small report.
So that's why she said it.
So, no matter what she said, in Sadako's eyes, she was always wrong, right?!
"Who knows..."
Sadako muttered softly. She had realized that Miko had a handle on her.
Miko could bring up this matter anytime in the future.
"I give up."
Miko slumped onto the chair, no longer bothering to talk about it with Sadako.
After all, from Sadako's appearance, she really wanted that 'Excellent Employee' title.
Speaking of which, was that really that important?
"Sadako, you're still here?"
The door was pushed open.
Bai Ye was somewhat surprised when he saw Sadako.
"You didn't work this afternoon, did you?!"
"I knew it!! Miko, you're really too cunning!!"
When Sadako heard Bai Ye's words, she instinctively assumed that Miko had told Bai Ye.
Otherwise, Bai Ye had just returned.
How could he tell at first glance that she hadn't worked?
"I didn't..."
Miko felt she was being greatly wronged.
She hadn't said anything at all.
"If you were here this afternoon, then you wouldn't possibly be here now. You've been very busy recently."
Bai Ye knew that Sadako usually left right after work.
Every day she couldn't wait to get off work early.
How could Sadako be here at this hour?
Unless Sadako left after he did in the afternoon.
Actually, Bai Ye was just guessing.
It was just that Sadako had asked him for leave before leaving.
This also made Bai Ye think of this matter.
However, Bai Ye didn't expect Sadako to admit it directly after he finished speaking.
"Ah!? Miko didn't tell you?"
Sadako's mouth hung open, her eyes a bit unfocused.
So Miko hadn't told Bai Ye at all.
She had been thinking that Miko had told him, which was why she admitted it directly.
"No, so Sadako, you're quite bold now."
He had just told her to stay here this afternoon.
He didn't expect Sadako to run off right away.
"Hehe, mainly they kept calling me to go, and I didn't want to go. Next time, I definitely won't go. Boss, please forgive me this once!"
Sadako awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
Actually, when she said she regretted it, she didn't regret running off in the afternoon.
What she regretted was admitting it directly without trying to argue a bit.
If she had known Bai Ye had no evidence at all, why would she admit it?!
"Sadako, oh Sadako, your 'Excellent Employee' title isn't for me, but for yourself. You disappoint me!"
"..."
This guy, he's starting to talk about the 'Excellent Employee' title again.
Miko's lips twitched, but she didn't say much.
She turned her head and looked at Sadako's expression; she understood now.
This time, Bai Ye would probably trick Sadako again.
"I... I was just playful. Boss, don't worry, I'll definitely work hard next time!"
"Sadako, don't you know an apology requires revealing... Ahem, never mind."
Bai Ye was about to say something.
But when he saw Miko and Ai Haibara looking at him with expressions like he was a pervert, Bai Ye decided not to say it.
Sadako was easy to fool, but Miko and Ai Haibara were not.
"Let's forget about today's matter. Miko, I have something to discuss with you. Do you want to stay here at night from now on?"
Bai Ye was going to talk to Miko about staying here in the afternoon.
After all, there might be a lot of things to do later?
Bai Ye wasn't sure, so he still had to see how Miko would decide.
"Me, staying at the Office?"
Miko would occasionally stay here.
But it was only occasionally, though staying here was actually fine.
There was just one problem...
She didn't have a place to wash up here.
So if she were to stay here, would it need to be renovated?
"That's right. All the facilities will be fully equipped for you later. Didn't you say before that even with a talisman, you can still see ghosts?
If you stay here, there won't be any ghosts, so relatively speaking, it might be better than going back to rest?"
Although protected by a talisman, Miko didn't want to see so many ghosts.
The ghosts around the Office had basically been dealt with by Bai Ye.
Plus, there was a formation here, so staying here was actually fine.
"I have no problem. If it needs to be renovated..."
Miko hesitated for a moment, and finally agreed.
Hearing Miko say that, Sadako's heart tightened.
Indeed!
She was coming to compete with her for the 'Excellent Employee' title.
How insidious!
Now she even wanted to rest here!
"Can I stay here?"
Ai Haibara raised her hand and asked.
This building had no one else besides Bai Ye, and she also wanted to set up her laboratory here.
The living conditions here before were a bit poor; Ai Haibara had stayed for a few days.
But she moved out later. However, if Bai Ye was going to renovate the environment here now, Ai Haibara would consider staying here too.
Mainly, it wasn't particularly far from the school, and there were no people, which would make it convenient for her to do experiments later.
At the same time, with Miko here, she would have a friend, right?
If she lived with Bai Ye...
That shameless guy, who knew what outrageous things he would do.
So she thought it would be better to stay here!