"Why in a shrine?"

"Yeah, unexpected right? It's because no one would think of it, that's why it's safer."

That does make sense.

But it's also suspicious.

Shrines are indeed unexpected, but in turn, once exposed, it becomes the most dangerous place.

It's too big of a target, not easy to defend, with so many disadvantages that it's impossible to consider it as a hiding place.

It's like hiding important treasures under a tree in a park.

It might be acceptable for a child to hide something there, but for an adult to hide gold, diamonds, or important documents in such a place would only be seen as foolish.

However, Chongzong didn't delve into it further.

He wanted to find out what this woman was up to first.

"So, in those financial records, there is evidence of Bai Yaxin's crimes, right? Which specific one? I imagine there must be many."

Chongzong asked.

"You're very astute."

Ayaki Yuriko's eyes lit up, and for a moment, she showed an expression of admiration towards Chongzong.

But it was only a moment.

"I don't know which specific one, that's not something I at my level would know."

Ayaki Yuriko replied.

"Then, how many of Bai Yaxin's documents are hidden in the shrine?"

Chongzong asked.

"I don't know either, a few hundred? Several thousand? It's hard to say."

"So, I have to find one piece of evidence of Bai Yaxin's guilt from among those few hundred or several thousand?"

"It might not be just one, it could be two, three, or many more."

This answer was devastating. Chongzong and Ayaki Yuriko locked eyes for a few seconds, forcefully suppressing the anger rising within them.

"Fine, do you have any more information to offer?"

Chongzong relaxed his body and released the tension in his nerves. He had concluded the conversation.

"Of course I do, but how we exchange it depends on how many conditions you can fulfill for me."

Ayaki Yuriko felt that the balance of negotiation was still tilted in her favor. These two little brats were no match for her.

But this time, her calculations were off.

"If you want to think that way, it's up to you. This is where we part ways. Goodbye."

With Suzumi and Yuki, Chongzong left the baseball center and locked the door behind them.

At the intersection where they had to go their separate ways, Suzumi asked Chongzong, "What's your next move?"

"Hmm?... Ah, you're asking about that."

Chongzong paused for a moment before realizing.

"I already have a plan, but didn't you say earlier that you didn't want to get too deeply involved?"

Chongzong asked Suzumi in return.

"Ah, well, hehe, yeah, I couldn't control my curiosity for a moment."

Suzumi scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.

"Alright then, I'll go this way. Goodbye, little Yuki."

Suzumi smiled and was about to bid farewell to Yuki, but Yuki was still afraid of him and hid behind Chongzong. Suzumi could only awkwardly wave goodbye to Chongzong.

And so, it was just Chongzong and Yuki, walking in the darkness.

"Well, brother," Yuki held onto Chongzong's sleeve. "That lady just now, is she a bad person?"

"Hmm?" Chongzong was perplexed, not because he didn't understand Yuki's question, but because he couldn't comprehend why she would ask such a thing.

A bad person? This woman had committed an unforgivable sin, and yet she still needed to be questioned to confirm it?

"Why would Yuki ask something like that?" Chongzong replied with a question of his own.

"Because... maybe she has some hidden secrets or something?" Yuki was just too kind-hearted, even in this situation, she didn't want to believe that this woman truly meant harm to Mizuo.

Faced with such innocence, Chongzong hesitated as well.

Should he rudely tell her that the world was just like this?

Or should he choose to protect her purity and kindness?

"Even so, she still harbored the thought of hurting Mizuo. Regardless of the reasons, it's wrong to harm others, to want to harm others," Chongzong said.

"If you do something wrong, you should face the corresponding punishment and bear the corresponding responsibility."

Finally, Chongzong gave Yuki this answer.

Though it was expressed in a gentle manner, the underlying meaning was the same.

Chongzong was about to take action.