My life in the underworld begins at the Takayanagi family!

It wasn't because Kogoro Mouri restricted her relationship with Shinichi Kudo, but because Kogoro Mouri had already drunk several cans of beer and was quite drunk, his face flushed.

Doesn't Kogoro Mouri think it's a bit dangerous for him to let his daughter live with a handsome, young, and wealthy stranger in his house while he's drunk?

Of course, Ran Mouri also has ways to protect herself.

She is a star player in the Teitan High School Karate Club and recently won a karate championship.

If her neighbor, Takayanagi Ichiro, dared to cause trouble, she would definitely use force to protect herself and send him to the police station.

Furthermore, there are accompanying legal services provided by her mother, Eri Kisaki.

"Detective Mouri, your daughter is really beautiful."

Ichiro Takayanagi hadn't been drinking and was perfectly sober, so he immediately praised Ran Mouri.

Hearing this, Kogoro Mouri was very happy, but Ran Mouri blushed deeply, since even Shinichi Kudo had never praised her like that in front of Kogoro Mouri.

Of course, there's also the reason why if Shinichi Kudo dared to say that to Kogoro Mouri's face, Kogoro Mouri would definitely not let him off the hook.

Just as Ran Mouri was about to use her eyes to remind Ichiro Takayanagi not to talk nonsense, Ichiro Takayanagi spoke up again.

Chapter 4: The Girl's Sense of Justice and Her Brother Who Recognizes a Thief as His Father

"Detective Mouri, thank you for your hospitality. I have already finished my dinner."

It's time for me to go back; I still have some things to take care of back home tomorrow.

After Ichiro Takayanagi said this, both Kogoro Mouri and Ran Mouri were stunned, not expecting that Ichiro Takayanagi would take his leave so decisively.

Moreover, Takayanagi Ichiro wasn't just talking; after he finished speaking, he got up, clearly intending to leave the third floor immediately.

"Xiao Lan, could you see Takayanagi-kun off for me?"

Kogoro Mouri is currently drunk, and if he were to personally escort Ichiro Takayanagi, there is a high possibility of something going wrong. Therefore, it is better to have his daughter escort Ichiro Takayanagi instead.

When she was busy at the office downstairs, Ran Mouri often did this kind of thing.

The only difference is that back then she was dealing with a client, but now she's facing a man who came to her house and ate the dinner he cooked.

"I see."

Ran Mouri also got up from her seat; she also wanted Ichiro Takayanagi to leave this house as soon as possible.

Upon hearing Ichiro Takayanagi and Ran Mouri's footsteps leaving the third floor and heading downstairs, Kogoro Mouri, who had been drowsy, stopped swaying.

His face was still flushed, after all, he had drunk several cans of beer, but his eyes were not too glazed.

It seems he wasn't too drunk; he was probably using this opportunity to test Takayanagi Ichiro.

If Ichiro Takayanagi tries to take advantage of his drunkenness to force himself on Ran Mouri, or does anything illegal with her, Kogoro Mouri will know very well that Ichiro Takayanagi is no good, and that he will not have any further dealings with her after repaying the money.

Now, Takayanagi Ichiro has indeed made a very good impression on him, and upon seeing that he was drunk, he immediately got up and left.

As for whether it would be dangerous to send Ran Mouri to escort Ichiro Takayanagi, that was a situation Kogoro Mouri never needed to consider.

After all, if any danger were to occur, it would be Takayanagi Ichiro who would be in danger; Ran Mouri's karate championship skills are no joke.

Last time, he finally made some money by catching his mistress, but he lost it all at the pachinko parlor. When he got home, he saw Ran Mouri smash his desk.

So as long as Ichiro Takayanagi doesn't do anything reckless, his life will be safe.

.............

Takayanagi Ichiro's loan office was right next to the Mouri Detective Agency. Logically, Ran Mouri should have just seen Takayanagi Ichiro off at the entrance of the agency, but instead, she followed him for a while.

"Miss Mao Lilan, is there anything else?"

Takayanagi Ichiro stopped and turned to ask Mouri Ran.

Ichiro Takayanagi and Kogoro Mouri have a slight connection, so it's acceptable for one to call the other "Takayanagi-kun" and the other "Detective Mouri."

Earlier during dinner, Kogoro Mouri asked Ichiro Takayanagi to call Ran Mouri "Ran," but Ichiro refused, as their relationship hadn't reached that point yet.

"Mr. Gao Liu, why did you decide to start a loan company?"

Ran Mouri stopped in her tracks at this moment and maintained a safe distance from Ichiro Takayanagi.

Earlier during dinner, everyone wasn't quiet; they were discussing things together, which convinced Ran Mouri that Ichiro Takayanagi was definitely a graduate of the University of Tokyo.

The question is, why would graduates from the University of Tokyo start a loan company instead of working for a large corporation to earn money?

In Ran Mouri's mind, credit companies are not good entities.

Moreover, when she was a child, she also experienced being chased for debts by loan companies for her father.

Fortunately, her mother secretly helped resolve the situation, which prevented it from having a significant impact on the detective agency. Otherwise, the father and daughter might have ended up homeless.

"Our credit company exists because there is a need for it."

Just like your father's detective agency, Miss Mori, if cases are handled by the police, why do detective agencies even exist?

Ran Mouri was at a loss for words after Ichiro Takayanagi's response. She could only remain silent, wishing that Shinichi Kudo, with his quick wit, was by her side.

Although he had already made up his mind about meeting Ran Mouri during the meal, what Ichiro Takayanagi needs to do now is return to the Takayanagi family headquarters and seize the position of head of the family.

Ran Mouri, being a high school student, will definitely have some interaction with him in the future, because Kogoro Mouri still owes him money.

There was no need to press him too hard now, as that would likely expose his true intentions, so Takayanagi Ichiro turned and walked toward his shop.

"Mr. Takayanagi, I will keep an eye on you from now on."

If you do anything like what those shady loan shark companies do, I will report you to the relevant authorities.

Ran Mouri's words made Ichiro Takayanagi pause in his steps. He didn't turn around again, but he still responded to Ran Mouri.

"My righteous young lady, I hope you can persevere."

Ran Mouri's words are a bit naive. A loan agreement written in black and white, is it going to be just empty talk when the time comes?

If someone truly cannot repay the debt, then Xi'er must be used to settle the debt, or her own property must be used as collateral, even if her mother, the lawyer Eri Kisaki, comes.

Hearing herself called the girl of justice, Ran Mouri knew it was a sarcastic remark, and anger appeared on her face.

Today, Ichiro Takayanagi went to her house for dinner. Apart from praising her once in front of Kogoro Mouri, he didn't think she was a particularly outstanding woman. This is different from his previous experiences.

Ran Mouri might have shouted that sentence just now in an attempt to attract Ichiro Takayanagi's attention.

However, Ran Mouri is now preparing to return home to ask her father what exactly is going on between him and Ichiro Takayanagi, as it is definitely not as simple as a good neighborly relationship.

................

The head of the Takayanagi family.

The Takayanagi family was originally a family of loan sharks, which had existed since the Warring States period.

Although times are changing, the Takayanagi family does not frequent luxurious metropolises but continues to live hidden deep in the mountains and forests.

"Uncle, will my eldest brother really come back and give up inheriting the Takayanagi family?"

At this moment, two men were sitting in the conference room of the Takayanagi family's main residence.

One was an elderly man who was thin but still looked strong.

He was in fairly good spirits; this man was none other than Takayanagi Musashi, the uncle of Takayanagi Ichiro.

Sitting opposite the old man was a very fat man whose physique, appearance, and knowledge were worlds apart from Takayanagi Ichiro's; they shouldn't even be brothers.

Moreover, this fat man actually called Takayanagi Musashi "uncle," almost treating him as his father. It could be said that he had already recognized a thief as his father.

After hearing the fat man's question, Musashi Takayanagi smiled, but it wasn't a kind smile; rather, it was a rather wicked one.

Chapter 5 Waiting to be Redeemed

“As long as I live, your elder brother will never be able to take back the rights of the Gao Liu family.”

Even if he seeks help from outside sources, it will have absolutely no effect.

When your older brother comes back, I will explain to him that I will promote you to assist me in my work.

"When I'm a bit older, you can finally settle things."

Musashi Takayanagi is still using the same old deceptive tactics, directly stating that Ryuji Takayanagi is much stronger than his older brother, Ichiro Takayanagi.

Only he can inherit the Takayanagi family in the future; Takayanagi Ichiro has no such opportunity.

After the brothers' father passed away, Musashi Takayanagi separated Ichiro Takayanagi and Ryuji Takayanagi.

He gave Takayanagi Ichiro enough money to go out and study, while keeping Takayanagi Ryuji by his side to cultivate him into the most loyal person, so that he could be controlled in the future.

It could also cause direct conflict between the two brothers; he found the most enjoyment in watching the show.

After years of brainwashing, Takayanagi Ryuji has come to believe that his older brother, a graduate of Tokyo University, is a good-for-nothing and unworthy of inheriting the Takayanagi family business. Only he, who is by Takayanagi Musashi's side, is qualified.

After receiving this promise, Takayanagi Ryuji chuckled. His chubby face made him look more like a hooligan than one of the heirs of a loan shark family.

Takayanagi Ryuji was utterly fed up with his older brother.

After all, every time they contacted each other, it was to teach him to study hard and not listen to Takayanagi Musashi.

He's grown up now and can make his own decisions.

Moreover, with Musashi Takayanagi's help, he can eventually become a member of the Takayanagi family. Why should he listen to his older brother who only knows how to study?

"Uncle, should we use some tricks at tomorrow's banquet?"

Since they've already decided to go against their elder brother, they must go all out, ideally crippling Takayanagi Ichiro in one fell swoop.

Musashi Takayanagi's face showed satisfaction at Takayanagi Ryuji's idea; the puppet he had trained was somewhat useful. However, he ultimately shook his head.

“Your older brother is a graduate of the University of Tokyo, after all. He will definitely see through your tricks, so it’s better if I make the arrangements.”

Takayanagi Ichiro is a bookworm, but his intelligence is far superior to that of Takayanagi Ryuji.

"I see."

Ryuji Takayanagi felt a little resentful, because this meant that Musashi Takayanagi still didn't quite trust him.

It's not that I don't trust his loyalty, but rather that I don't trust his abilities.

"Don't complain. After this is over, your older brother will definitely leave the Gao Liu family with his tail between his legs, and I will give you some rewards."