Chapter 609
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Chapter 609: IOU
“Are you saying that Yuzu Rina went to a nearby store to buy something and never came back?”
Lin Qiye furrowed his brows slightly after hearing Grandma Crane’s account.
“Yes, I’ve been looking for her around here for a long time, but I’m old and really don’t have the strength…” Grandma Crane looked down at her legs, a bitter expression in her eyes, her voice trembling slightly. “Could you please help me find her?
I’m begging you, really begging you!”
Grandma Crane grasped Lin Qiye’s hand and bowed deeply, her silver hair nearly touching the ground, her figure hunched and frail.
Lin Qiye quickly helped her up.
“Don’t worry, I will definitely help you find Yuzu Rina.” After hesitating for a moment, Lin Qiye turned to Hong Yan beside him.
“Hong Yan, please take Grandma Crane back to the container we came from. I’ll take a look around here.”
Hong Yan nodded, taking Grandma Crane’s arm and helping her back along the path they had come.
After watching the two leave, Lin Qiye turned around, his gaze scanning the surrounding streets as he fell into deep thought.
Although Lin Qiye hadn’t spent much time with Yuzu Rina, based on her level of filial piety towards Grandma Crane, she shouldn’t have felt comfortable letting Grandma Crane walk home alone.
Even if she needed to buy something, she would likely have taken Grandma Crane home first before heading out, especially since the distance to the container was very short; it wouldn’t take more than ten minutes for a round trip.
Yet she did the opposite, and according to Grandma Crane’s description, she seemed a bit anxious at that time?
Lin Qiye wasn’t present and couldn’t deduce the situation back then, but from the information he had now, this matter might not be as simple as Grandma Crane perceived…
He hadn’t forgotten that just yesterday, Yuzu Rina had attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the sea.
As Lin Qiye pondered, he walked to the entrance of the shrine they had visited earlier, wandered around for a bit, but found nothing.
He then walked down the shrine’s steps, facing a road that stretched before him, leading either left or right… However, the left was the path Grandma Crane had taken when she left. If Yuzu Rina had indeed encountered trouble, she likely wouldn’t choose that direction.
So, she would head right?
With a mindset of giving it a try, Lin Qiye followed the road to the right, moving forward while his mental energy constantly scanned the surroundings for any sign of Yuzu Rina.
After crossing an intersection, he seemed to discover something and walked in a certain direction.
A few seconds later, he picked up a light pink cherry blossom hairpin from the greenery at the edge of the road. Not far from the hairpin, there were a few drops of dried blood on the ground.
Lin Qiye’s brows furrowed tightly.
He recognized this hairpin; it was used by Yuzu Rina to style her bun. Its delicate appearance contrasted sharply with her tattered kimono, leaving a deep impression on Lin Qiye.
Why would this hairpin be in the bushes?
Lin Qiye didn’t believe Yuzu Rina had discarded it voluntarily; she had clung to her worn black cherry blossom kimono and wouldn’t have thrown away such an exquisite hairpin.
Lin Qiye’s gaze shifted to the two drops of dried blood on the ground, his eyes narrowing as his expression darkened.
Yuzu Rina had most likely run into trouble.
…
Splash—!!
A bucket of icy seawater was poured down, and Yuzu Rina suddenly opened her eyes while lying on the ground.
She began to cough violently, her wet hair falling messily behind her, seawater dripping from the hem of her black kimono, pooling into a puddle on the ground.
After coughing for a long time, Yuzu Rina slowly lifted her head, her damp eyes surveying her surroundings.
This was a large warehouse, about three meters high, with the windows on the walls covered in newspapers, allowing only dim sunlight to filter in. The environment inside the warehouse was extremely dark.
Around her stood about twenty adult men, scattered about, fiddling with baseball bats, butterfly knives, or steel pipes, occasionally grinning at Yuzu Rina with sinister smiles, looking fierce and menacing.
In front of her, a black leather sofa was neatly arranged, its edges peeling to reveal the sponge inside, a second-hand item likely salvaged from some junkyard.
On the leather sofa sat a man in his forties, wearing a floral shirt, who slowly stood up.
“Well, if it isn’t little Yuzu,” the man sneered as he approached Yuzu Rina, squatting down. A thick gold chain hung around his neck, glinting with a cheap shine. “Finding you was no easy task, wouldn’t you agree?”
Yuzu Rina glared at the menacing face, struggling with all her might, but her hands were tied behind her back, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free.
“Iwa Mai Yusuke…” Yuzu Rina shouted angrily, “Let me go!”
“Sure,” Iwa Mai Yusuke chuckled. “Pay back the money you owe, and I’ll let you go right now.”
“I don’t owe you any money!”
“Don’t you?” Iwa Mai Yusuke calmly stood up, pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, waved it in front of Yuzu Rina, and said, “Look, it clearly states here that Yuzu Kurotetsu owes 3 million yen, and there’s your father’s signature and fingerprint below…”
“Why should I pay for the money he owes?” Yuzu Rina glared at Iwa Mai Yusuke. “Our family has long severed ties with that scum who abandoned his wife and child. If you want money, go find him!”
“Of course, we want to find him to collect the debt…” Iwa Mai Yusuke said lazily, “but we can’t. We can’t just go to Osaka and drag him out of his coffin to make him pay, can we?”
At that moment, Yuzu Rina froze in place.
She stared blankly for a long time, then lifted her head, looking at Iwa Mai Yusuke with a dazed expression. “What did you say?”
“The wanted criminal Yuzu Kurotetsu was killed by the police four days ago. Haven’t you seen the news lately?” Iwa Mai Yusuke raised his eyebrows slightly. “We’ve been looking for this guy for five years without a trace, and then we received this news…
It doesn’t feel good for us either, especially since he still owes us 3 million yen. That’s going to be hard to collect.”
Iwa Mai Yusuke tucked the debt note away and returned to the black sofa, crossing his legs and smiling at Yuzu Rina.
“However, a father’s debt must be repaid by the son; that’s only fair. Since your father is dead, it’s only right that you pay it back.”
“But I don’t have any money.”
“That’s not my concern.” Iwa Mai Yusuke said indifferently. “If you don’t have money, then you can exchange it for something of equal value—property, a car, or… some treasures your parents left you?”
“I’ve already told you! We have nothing!” Yuzu Rina gritted her teeth and shouted, “The only house my mother left me is now surrounded by your people. I can’t even go home; what more do you want from me?!”
Iwa Mai Yusuke’s expression gradually darkened.
“You’re quite loud, aren’t you?” he said coldly. “Hit her.”
Among the many thugs behind Yuzu Rina, the largest man stepped forward, grinning as he looked at the fallen Yuzu Rina. He grabbed her by the collar, lifting her as if she were a chick, and then slammed her down hard onto the ground.
