Tokyo Heart Thief's Daily Life

"That gold medal is the core of Kamoshida's obsession, powerful enough to form the origin of the temple. It was precisely because his desire was so strong that we were able to bring that treasure out."

"But other than that, things from other worlds don't have such a strong presence. We can only take out the core treasures of the hall master, but we can't take out anything else. So it's not that easy to get rich."

So that's how it is... Everyone thought it made sense, although it was a bit of a pity.

But actually, Luo Zhen didn't say one thing.

It is true that only core treasures can be taken out of the palace.

But in this world, there are countless people who have built palaces because of their greed for wealth.

If you really want money, then just find a few hall masters who have valuable treasures and conquer them, and you can quickly collect more valuable things.

Not to mention the shadow threats, which actually threaten to extort money from you, or even directly ask for your bank password and other dirty tricks.

Luo Zhen had previously tried to find the shadow of a large corporate boss, asked about the company's future operating arrangements, and then used insider trading to buy and sell a wave of stocks to make money.

However, that was just part of his experiment to study the credibility of Shadow. He didn't invest much capital, which was far from enough to achieve financial freedom.

Means are means, but whether to use these methods is another matter.

Luo Zhen didn't want to pollute the pure hearts of his new juniors, so he kept these practices secret.

"...But no matter what, we really punished the bad guys."

After eating three servings of barbecue and steak in a row, Ryuji Sakamoto burped and collapsed on the sofa.

He seemed very satisfied, his eyes, untainted by knowledge, were filled with pure joy:

"Because I met you, Boss, I not only got my revenge on Kamoshida, but I also made him face a true trial. We did a good deed and punished the adults who were protected... It feels great!"

"I can't wait to get started on the next campaign! Boss, when do you think we're going to get back to work? Who are we going to change next? Should we start with those TV station directors that Kamoshida revealed?"

Luo Zhen shook his head cautiously: "No, it's best not to stare at one line."

"Komeshida has already confessed, and those with ties to him will also be investigated. If we take action any further, we'll have twice the result with half the effort. At a time like this, it's best to let things cool down for a while and then target completely unrelated villains."

That’s true, everyone nodded in agreement.

As expected of the ancestor of phantom thieves who has been working for three years, Luo Zhen has considered almost every detail in every aspect.

It is precisely because of his clear thinking that there have been no loopholes in the past three years, and even made the superiors believe that the Phantom Thieves are a huge criminal organization.

At the same time, Luo Zhen also hoped that Long Si and the others would maintain their current enthusiasm, so he continued:

"There are as many bad people in this world as there are people. I think you can just use a navigation app to test the names of people and see how many people have temples. The results will be shocking."

"But precisely because of this, I don't want to act haphazardly. We can do our best to help those in need, but if the only criterion is whether or not there is a temple, that would be too arrogant."

So, Luo Zhen looked around at everyone:

"I wonder if we can establish a rule. Unless there's a pressing need, we can only begin attacking someone else's palace when everyone agrees."

"And one more thing: we shouldn't attack complete strangers. Only when someone asks for help and we've confirmed someone has been harmed by the Hall Master's oppression should we hold a collective vote."

"Just like you, An and Ryuji, we took action because you were oppressed by Kamoshida and knew how terrible he was. This way, we can maximize our legitimacy and rationality. What do you think?"

"...Well, I believe in Luo Zhenjun."

Xing was the first to express her opinion, nodding vigorously.

They were not stupid and knew the subtext of Luo Zhen's words.

We must first understand and recognize the victims, and then consider whether to take action to solve the problem. This will have an obvious problem: lag.

But there is nothing we can do about it.

The power of the Phantom Thief is to solve crimes after they happen, and it is impossible to prevent crimes.

Their behavior as private law enforcers is more of a supplement to the deficiencies of real society, and they should deal with those who should be punished by law.

Therefore, even if they know there is a lag, they should use this power with caution in order to ensure that their actions are absolutely justified.

Takamaki An was so serious that she even put down the cake:

"If it weren't for you, Luo Zhenjun, saving me in time, I don't even know if I would have died in Kamoshida's palace. In reality, I might have given in... I couldn't resist the protected Kamoshida, and I might have really compromised."

"But even so, after actually changing Kamoshida's heart, I realized how outrageous this power is. So many police officers entered the school, all the teachers were taken away for questioning, and even the students had to take statements one by one... We are truly working to change society, so of course we have to be more cautious."

"Yeah..." Long Sidu sighed.

Even he, the most direct victim of Kamoshida, felt a little uncomfortable:

"Last week, after Kamoshida was arrested, the students' revelry really made me uncomfortable. Many people had clearly admired Kamoshida the day before, but then they turned around and said things like, 'I knew he wasn't a good person!'... They even started to make trouble in other teachers' classes. The whole class was in turmoil. Honestly, it made me sick to my stomach."

"So I agree. We should have a clear conscience! We act for those who are oppressed like us. We are true Phantom Thieves who rob the rich and give to the poor! So I also agree. We should first investigate the villains' actions and the victims' circumstances, and then, with unanimous agreement, attack the temple. Is that alright?"

"【Um!】"

The Phantom Thieves, consisting of five members and one, collectively agreed and passed the first vote.

-------------------------------------

So...

After the girls couldn't resist the temptation and ate until they vomited, Luo Zhen and Long Si went to the elevator to wait for them.

Even the Yoshizawa sisters, who are very careful about their salt intake, couldn't help themselves today, saying things like "Let's just treat it as a cheat day!" and ate as much as they could.

The big eaters of these two athletes were fully displayed, making both boys full.

"--Hello!"

Just as the two men were chatting, Long Si was suddenly bumped into by a group of strong men in suits.

They stopped other guests waiting for the elevator, forced their way into the queue and squeezed to the elevator entrance, behaving very domineeringly.

This made Long Si angry:

"Hey, you guys don't have eyes. We're standing here waiting for the elevator! Don't you know how to queue?"

The tall security guard in a suit glanced at him and said, "This is the elevator the congressman wants to take. It's for security reasons. Kids, just wait a little longer. Why are you making such a fuss?"

"Huh?! What Mr. Congressman? Just because you're a congressman, you can cut in line?!"

Of course, the hot-tempered Long Si could not accept this condescending explanation, and took a step forward unwillingly.

......Luo Zhen originally wanted to comfort Long Si.

But when he saw the people surrounding the security team, he was stunned.

"—I'm so sorry, young man."

Among the crowd of security guards, a bald middle-aged man stood out with a smile.

Although he is bald, he has a muscular body that cannot be concealed by a suit. He is a middle-aged man with a majestic appearance.

But his smile at this moment seemed amiable, and he even took the initiative to bow to Long Si:

"My security guard's actions were very rude. I will definitely teach him a lesson next time. We were really in a hurry because we had to attend a meeting right away due to a temporary work schedule."

"I apologize again for my subordinate's disrespect. This is my business card. If you have any questions later, you can contact my secretary. He will compensate you appropriately. I am truly sorry."

"Ah... Yeah. You're welcome, uncle."

As the saying goes, don’t hit the smiling person.

Long Si's temper suddenly subsided after seeing the bald uncle's attitude, and he obediently took the business card.

When the elevator arrived, a group of men in black immediately filed in and filled the elevator.

And at the end, a bright light flashed in the corner of Luo Zhen's eyes:

"I'm so sorry. I also apologize on behalf of my dad. I'm sorry for cutting in line."

A girl with long chestnut hair, with a very pleasant smile, extended her hand to apologize and winked at Luo Zhen and the others.

She immediately got into the elevator.

At the moment the door was closed, Luo Zhen could still see the bald man patting his daughter's head with a kind face. The story of the loving father and filial daughter was quite touching.

"...That sturdy bald uncle actually gave birth to such a lovely daughter? The power of genes is truly terrifying."

Luo Zhen: "Is this your first complaint?"

Luo Zhen spoke for the first time, looking amused.

The girls' group arrived just at this time.

The Fangze sisters came to Luo Zhen and hugged him:

"Senior, senior! That bald uncle just now, is he [Shido Zhengyi]? The councilor happened to come to this restaurant for dinner. Is this our good luck or bad luck?"

Takamaki An: "That's right! And that cute girl is his daughter [Akechi Tamako], right? This is the first time I've seen her in person, she's even prettier than on TV."

"...You all know them?" Luo Zhen was quite surprised.

The girls nodded collectively.

The bald man, Shido Masayoshi, has become a well-known council member in recent years. He's said to have made many achievements, and there are even rumors that he might run in the next election.

As for the daughter of Shi Tong Zhengyi, her story is even more legendary.

Gao Juanxing, who also reads gossip magazines, knows all about them:

"Shido Masayoshi's daughter is said to be an illegitimate daughter they just recognized two years ago! Originally, the fact that a congressman had an illegitimate daughter would have been a huge scandal, but he admitted it so frankly, openly admitting his mistake of not knowing about his lover's pregnancy, and re-taking responsibility for his daughter."

"It's said that it was to commemorate her deceased mother, so her daughter still kept her mother's surname. Although it's definitely a bad thing, the father and daughter are both kind and filial. And Akechi Tamako is also praised as a talented woman rarely seen in ten years! It's a beautiful story."

The story of an illegitimate daughter... Luo Zhen's brother Da Huang seemed a little unimpressed and was already yawning beside him.

Luo Zhen did not comment on this and listened to Gao Juanxing recount the various legends of Akechi Tamako.

It is said that the girl is the same age as them and is in her second year of high school.

Not only does she have excellent grades, always ranking at the top in national tests, but she is also a fashion model and variety show star, and she has become a young idol.

"...Brother Luo Zhen? Are you thinking about something?"

While Takamaki An was excitedly telling her story, Yoshizawa Kasumi was the first to notice that Luo Zhen's expression was a little subtle and asked a question.

Luo Zhen thought about it, and finally decided to tell them:

"I actually knew Shido Masayoshi. But I didn't know he had a daughter at that time. I think he adopted her after that. I don't pay much attention to variety shows, so I probably missed it."

Takamaki An: "Hey~, Luo Zhen, you know the councilor? That's impressive! Then how did you know Shido Masayoshi?... Eh? Could it be that it's what I thought..."

Even the thick-skinned Gao Juanxing opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth when she thought of this step.

Luo Zhen nodded frankly:

"Shitong Zhengyi, a person I once changed my mind about, is the leader of the evil forces who owns the palace."

"Even if you count all the targets I've targeted in my three-year career as a Phantom Thief, he's still one of the strongest opponents. I spent almost my entire first year fighting him and his gang, and only then did I finally follow the clues and take down his temple."

That was really a tough nut to crack, and Luo Zhen feels tired when he thinks about it now.

But he said it so lightly that the others were shocked!

Gao Juanxing caught him at that time:

"No no no no, is this true?! Shido Zhengyi is also a bad guy in the temple? And his heart has been changed a long time ago?!"

"Then...then how is he still able to serve as a councillor?! He even only became famous in the past two years, right? Doesn't that mean he had a change of heart?!"

"What's so strange about this?" Luo Zhen was actually calmer than all of them.

He went on to explain, "Reforming one's heart can indeed eliminate the person's desires, and the guilt of having done something wrong can overwhelm the person. However, this does not mean that all those who have changed their heart will publicly repent and accept punishment."

"Especially for a government official like Shido Masayoshi. Even if he truly repents, those around him will do everything they can to stop him. If his rationality is strong enough to suppress his guilt and remorse, he naturally won't turn himself in."

Luo Zhen thought: The reason why he acknowledged his illegitimate daughter in the past was probably because of this reason.

It is true that Shitong Zhengyi has repented.

But for various reasons, he did not make all his crimes public.

This kind of thing is rare, but not impossible.

However, Luo Zhen was indeed surprised:

"Logically speaking, even if he didn't turn himself in, or if his surrender was suppressed because of the huge impact, he probably wouldn't have the energy to continue in politics."

"Like Kamoshida, those who repent will experience a huge emotional backlash, which takes a long time to calm down. But Shido Masayoshi was able to make a quick comeback and continue to work as a member of parliament... This is truly incredible."

Is this because that man's willpower is too strong, or is there some other reason...

Luo Zhen fell into deep thought, but it was difficult to come up with an answer.