Introduction

1

“It’s been a while, Aoi.”

“Y-Yes, it has.”

Aoi Mashiro smiled awkwardly at the woman who had suddenly shown up at the antique store Kura. Her name was Yilin Jing, and she was the daughter of Zhifei Jing, one of the richest men in the world. Aoi and Kiyotaka had met her on the luxury overnight train “7 Stars,” where she’d been accompanied by Shiro Kikukawa (formerly Shiro Amamiya).

“Sorry to pop in without notice. Is the Holmes of Kyoto here?”

“Do you have business with him?”

“Yes. I want to ask him to do a job for me,” the Chinese woman said, narrowing her large eyes elegantly as she smiled. Her Japanese was as fluent as ever.

“A job?”

Shortly before Yilin Jing’s arrival, Kiyotaka Yagashira and Ensho had left for Komatsu’s office after receiving a call from the detective. Her visit would set various things in motion, but the next part of the story actually takes place at the Kom