Seeing the surprised look on the casually dressed middle-aged lawyer in front of him, Katsuki Uehara frowned subconsciously, and then glanced at the other relevant people he knew in the death case of Oikawa Kunihiko's sister.
His intuition told him that such a coincidence should not exist in this world.
"I should be asking you this, Lawyer Isaka? I didn't remember that you had a hobby of football three years ago."
With his eyes narrowed, Katsuki Uehara raised his hand and put it on the shoulder of the middle-aged lawyer, who was about 1.75 meters tall. He said with a professional fake smile: "If I throw a football to you now, I'm afraid I won't even know how to play football."
Do you know?"
"Not every football fan has played football, Officer Uehara."
Pushing up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, the lawyer named Isaka Tamanosuke chuckled without changing his expression, and said slowly: "I just like the feeling of a football coach planning tactics and coordinating everything on the sidelines.
"Arsene Wenger's football philosophy just fits my personal aesthetics. It is now rumored that he will leave Japan after the end of the season to become the head coach of Arsenal in England. Naturally, I want to seize this last opportunity."
"...Really?" Katsuki Uehara heard this and was noncommittal.
"Of course, although I prefer Ferguson's Manchester United in the Premier League."
When he said this, Isaka Tamanosuke turned around curiously and looked at the people behind him who had interacted with him because of the death case of Oikawa Kunihiko's sister three years ago: "Speaking of which, I also think it is possible.
Something fishy.
"Are you really fans?"
"Nonsense, I like Bayern Munich." A retired policeman curled his lips and said, "Are you worthy of liking Manchester United?"
"I like AC Milan." The former judge glanced at a few people, touched the sparse hair on the top of his head, and said proudly.
Immediately after him, those who like Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, and Real Madrid all expressed their favorite teams one by one.
This tall guy is middle-aged, and his eyes light up when he talks about football.
Katsumi Uehara, who listened to it all, still didn't believe it.
As a police officer, his instinct told him that this group of people had not seen each other for three years, but now they suddenly got together. Someone was definitely planning something.
Tamanosuke Isaka cheerfully approached and asked, "What about you, Officer Uehara, which team do you like?"
"Me? I don't have a particular favorite team. If I have to say it, I like the team coached by Arsene Wenger. I really like his philosophy of beautiful football, even if this set of tactics requires a lot of players.
.”
As Uehara Katsumi was speaking, the protagonist in his words walked into the meeting venue led by the organizer.
Wenger, who has not yet turned gray on his temples, looks gentle and elegant. Wearing a pair of glasses, he looks like a knowledgeable university professor. After taking a seat, he addressed everyone present in Japanese that he has learned to use everyday without stress.
People say hello——
"Welcome everyone, I hope you can have a pleasant football exchange here, I am Arsene Wenger."
After the usual meeting, taking photos, and signing autographs, Arsene Wenger began the highlight that Katsumi Uehara was looking forward to: the exchange of football tactics.
This was the moment Katsumi Uehara wanted to remember the most. He had a long conversation about football with his idol in the football world.
Wenger was also surprised: "Uehara-kun, your understanding of football tactics is beyond my expectation. There are some concepts that I have never thought of. It's hard to believe that you are actually a policeman."
"I did participate in youth training when I was in school, but I suffered a serious injury to my heel. The doctor said that after recovery, I would not be able to play high-intensity and long-term confrontational sports like football." Uehara Katsumi smiled and briefly explained the past.
's encounter.
Wenger, who cherishes talent, feels very sorry for this.
After some exchanges, Katsumi Uehara fulfilled his wish to meet his idol and talk about football tactics.
This trip was indeed not in vain.
In a good mood, even Isaka Tamanosuke and the other seven people were more pleased with him.
Since the ticket purchased had a villa vacation option, when night fell, Uehara Katsumi was also taken to a vacation villa sponsored by the Suzuki Foundation after today's meeting.
Early tomorrow morning, they will be picked up by a special car from the Suzuki Consortium to leave their holiday villa and go to the club to interact with football superstars.
And there are 10 people who have the same treatment as him.
However, what concerned Katsuki Uehara was that seven "acquaintances" including Tamanosuke Isaka also entered the final welfare section of the holiday villa, and the other three were passers-by that he didn't know.
Isaka Tamanosuke was obviously aware of this, and subconsciously looked at each other a few times, and then his eyes met those of Uehara Katsumi.
"Something doesn't seem right, Officer Uehara, did you arrange this specially?"
Tamanosuke Isaka, who looked wary, spoke before Katsuki Uehara: "Judging from your kindness in saving the eldest lady of the Suzuki Consortium, it shouldn't be a problem to ask them to help you."
"What a coincidence, that's what I wanted to ask too."
Uehara Katsuki, who noticed the changes in several people's eyes, sneered: "Now I'm really starting to wonder what is going on."
The vacation villa located in the deep mountains has a three-day and two-night vacation. There is only a suspension bridge connecting the road to the outside world, and the weather is so gloomy that it can rain at any time.
Just by moving in, Uehara Katsumi could smell a hint of murder.
"There are chefs in the villa to prepare meals for you. After choosing your room, you can go to the restaurant and order your own meals." The polite staff explained, and Uehara had been looking around him since he entered the villa.
Keji said nothing, taking out his cell phone from time to time——
There is a signal, which means that we can communicate with the outside world.
The three passers-by who didn't know why happily went to the second and third floors to choose rooms. Only the seven people who had been involved in the kidnapping and murder of Oikawa Kunihiko's sister were left in the living room, with different expressions, and... secretly wary of each other?
"Okay, let me express my position first. I will quit early tomorrow morning and I won't need the money to buy the tickets."
Isaka Tamaki pushed up his glasses and spoke first: "This thing is too weird and too deliberate. I think there is a high probability that someone is behind it. I will quit early tomorrow morning and I won't play anymore. I wish you all a good time."
joy."
While saying this, his eyes were always staring at Katsumi Uehara, who was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed and saying nothing. The meaning was self-evident.
Boom!
Under the dark sky, thunder suddenly roared!
The speeding lightning instantly illuminated the gloomy skyline. Katsuki Uehara, who had his back to the living room window, cracked his knuckles and looked over the seven people in front of him one by one with a slightly scrutinizing gaze amidst the sound of heavy rain:
"Isaka, if you don't want to play, why didn't you just quit before? When you get to the villa, you pretend to leave early tomorrow morning? Don't you think it's weird and unreasonable?"