A Scientific Urban Detective

“At the time, we thought it was just an urban legend, so we didn't take it too seriously. Some of our colleagues even joked with him about it,” Snake Valley Tsugio continued. “Who knew, he never showed up again the next day.”

“In that case, it is indeed suspicious,” Kofuku Miwei also said seriously.

She didn't continue to ask for more details, because she knew that both Kurozuma Wataru and Snake Valley Tsugio cared a lot about their subordinates, and they must have already searched all the places Ishikawa Jiro might have gone.

If they weren't forced to, they wouldn't suspect an 'urban legend.' Snake Valley Tsugio wouldn't have come to Kofuku Miwei specifically to get clues about that 'urban legend.'

“Can you tell me more about the 'underground arena'? What kind of information have you gathered?”

“Understood.” Snake Valley Tsugio nodded again, “But we haven't gathered much information yet. They are all urban legends circulating among members of other clubs.”

——Legend has it that in the underground world of Academy City, there is a mysterious and passionate arena.

——Legend has it that anyone can participate in the arena competition, whether they are super power users or ordinary people, bare-handed or equipped with weapons… They can all participate. There are no restrictions, and no methods are considered. Whoever survives to the end in the arena is the winner.

“...Legend has it that the final winner will receive a prize of a full 10 billion!” Snake Valley Tsugio said in a low voice.

“You're kidding, right? How is that possible!” Kofuku Miwei subconsciously retorted.

One million is understandable, but ten billion… the number is too large, making it seem unreal.

Having been shocked once, I knew Snake Valley Tsugio was much calmer: “It's not entirely impossible. After all, that arena gambles with lives. The so-called winner can also be understood as the last survivor—equivalent to giving all the contestants' prize money to the last person, it's not surprising that it becomes such an exaggerated amount.”

“Gamble with lives? That competition… people really die?” Kofuku Miwei asked in surprise.

She originally thought that this was just an underground boxing match, which was certainly bloody and brutal, and occasionally contestants would die in the ring, but that was ultimately just a few isolated cases…

But now, listening to Snake Valley Tsugio's statement, it seems that the mortality rate is not low.

“Yes,” Snake Valley Tsugio nodded, “At least that's what all the rumors we've gathered say… Because the schedule is very dense, there is almost no time to recover and heal. Once injured, even if you win the game, you will be defeated in the next battle.”

The mortality rate exceeds 99%, and there are even cases where both people in the final die together, and the entire army is wiped out with no survivors.

If you calculate it this way, the prize pool of 10 billion…

“No, no, no, it's still too outrageous, right?” Kofuku Miwei couldn't help but complain.

The main reason is that this number is a bit too big. If you write it down, there will be a long string of 0s after it, which has already exceeded the normal range of understanding for ordinary people.

Even for a competition with an extremely high mortality rate, such a prize pool is…

But Kofuku Miwei thought again, compared to life, is 10 billion really that much?

“Okay, it's still quite a lot…” She complained to herself again, but that's not the point, “Assuming that the so-called 'underground arena' really exists, a prize of up to 10 billion is very reasonable. If there were no such huge prize money, it would not be possible to attract so many continuous competitors to participate in the competition, and it would not be possible to keep it secret to this extent.”

You know, until ten minutes ago, when Snake Valley Tsugio said this in person, Kofuku Miwei had never heard of the term “underground arena.”

Only an organizer who can easily take out a prize of 10 billion can keep the confidentiality work to this extent, right?

“That Ishikawa kid has some skills, but wanting to participate in that kind of competition is too arrogant!” Snake Valley Tsugio clenched his fist and hammered the table. “If he really ran to…”

“So, you want to investigate the underground arena?”

“That's right, Brother Kurozuma has mobilized all his contacts to inquire about news, but to no avail.” Snake Valley Tsugio looked at the girl in front of him with a complicated expression. “So, I can only beg you. Please help us, Kofuku!”

“Then…” Kofuku Miwei pushed her glasses up, suddenly feeling a little awkward. “Why didn't Kurozuma come to me himself?”

“Probably…” Snake Valley Tsugio rolled his eyes, “Brother Kurozuma can't save face, right?”

“Hmph, he's not a man who values ​​face so much.”

“Snake Valley!!!”

Just then, a roar suddenly came from the doorway.

Snake Valley Tsugio subconsciously lowered his head and lay on the table: “Oops, have I been discovered after all?”

“Kurozuma? What's going on?” Kofuku Miwei recognized the man at the door at a glance, and quickly lowered her head and glared at Snake Valley Tsugio.

“Actually, I came to you without telling my brother…” Snake Valley Tsugio had no choice but to tell the truth, “My brother actually doesn't want to trouble you with this matter.”

Kofuku Miwei raised her eyebrows: “Don't… trouble… me?”

Kurozuma Wataru, who rushed into the store, also saw Kofuku Miwei here. He didn't continue to cause a commotion. While apologizing to the clerk and the customers near the door, he hurried over here.

For a while, no one dared to step forward to stop this burly man.

“Kofuku!” Coming quickly to the side of this table, Kurozuma Wataru lowered his voice and asked Kofuku Miwei, “Did this Snake Valley guy say anything unnecessary?”

Kofuku Miwei slammed the table and stood up: “If saying words to save a companion is also unnecessary, he did tell me some things.”

“It's not what you think,” Kurozuma Wataru immediately smiled bitterly, “I also want to save Ishikawa, but…”

“But you want to exclude me, just because I'm a member of Judgment and have betrayed you?”

“Kofuku,” Kurozuma Wataru said seriously, “No one thinks you betrayed anyone.”

Snake Valley Tsugio buried his head even lower.

“It's about illegal competition, and it also involves the deaths of a large number of participants—if these are all true, then it's no small case,” Kofuku Miwei said, “Judgment and the Anti-Skill will definitely take action.”

Kofuku Miwei, who had already made a decision, said: “Don't worry, I will investigate immediately after I go back. If so many people have really died, there will definitely be some clues left.”

“No, there's no need to investigate anymore.” Kurozuma Wataru said, “I have already found out that the underground arena does exist, and I have also found a way to participate.”