Fushimi Roku smelled something fishy and felt that Kujo Mutsumi was setting a trap, so he tentatively asked, "Since it's an investigation, why not entrust it to Tamako?"

Kujo Mutsumi replied, "I heard Little Wei mention Tamako's personality. I heard she's inherited Little Wei's shortcomings—being particularly nitpicky about everything. Some matters are inconvenient to discuss with her."

"What matters?" Fushimi Roku asked.

Kujo Mutsumi fell silent and didn't respond, so Fushimi Roku prodded, "You can't just blindfold the horse and expect it to run, can you?"

"Indeed," Kujo Mutsumi sighed, "You should know, Hokkaido has some islands bordering another country..."

"Oh!" Fushimi Roku instantly understood, "That northerner is from that country, right?"

Kujo Mutsumi nodded and added, "She's also my daughter-in-law, and her family isn't easy to deal with; otherwise, I wouldn't have let my son marry her."

"I see." Fushimi Roku could already sense how troublesome this case was.

How coincidental, just when they returned to see Kujo Mutsumi, such a thing happened...

"Yes, lately the northern country has been unstable. Having their daughter married here was probably a way to leave a backup plan. But now the daughter has died in a foreign land, how do you expect me to explain that to them?" Kujo Mutsumi said.

Fushimi Roku nodded and asked again, "Is there a suspect?"

"Unclear," Kujo Mutsumi said.

Fushimi Roku felt that Kujo Mutsumi was hiding something but didn't expose it. He caught another carp and decided to take on the case.

On one hand, it was to get on good terms with Minamoto Tamako's family, treating it as appeasing the father-in-law; on the other hand, it was to find something to do in the mundane countryside life. Minamoto Tamako had mentioned earlier that they would be staying here for a week, and without something to do, they'd be bored to death.

"So who should take on this case?" Fushimi Roku removed the fishhook and packed up his fishing rod.

"Go to the Otaru Canal. There's a 'Shuitan Fish Shop,' go find the owner and say I referred you," Kujo Mutsumi said.

"Hey, isn't there a token or something?" Fushimi Roku asked.

"Here, no one dares impersonate someone from the Kujo Family." Kujo Mutsumi reminded him again, "When you go, it's best not to let Tamako know."

Fushimi Roku suspected he was bluffing, thinking the other party would definitely call to confirm, but he didn't say much. He put down the fishing rod and shifted the topic, saying his cooking was quite good and he could help prepare these carp.

Kujo Mutsumi also felt the conversation had reached its limit and stood up with the aid of his cane, instructing an attendant to lead Fushimi Roku to the kitchen. Today's lunch was in Fushimi Roku's hands, also serving as a gesture of goodwill.

In affluent families, meals have their etiquette. Cooking personally constitutes a family banquet, and being invited to dine on someone else's cooking is also a gesture of goodwill. Otherwise, how could one ensure the dishes aren't poisoned? Dining itself carries risks.

Once Fushimi Roku had walked far, Kujo Mutsumi reverted from his elderly demeanor, briskly walking back as he was in a hurry. He returned to the tatami room, sat again in front of Minamoto Tamako, and pretended to cough a couple of times.

Minamoto Tamako patted his back to soothe him and subtly inquired how the talk with Fushimi Roku had gone.

Kujo Mutsumi shook his head and sighed, wearing an utterly disappointed expression. Minamoto Tamako's heart was tense as she hurriedly asked, "What happened? Did Mr. Deer say something wrong? He tends to be quite blunt usually..."

"Oh, it's actually nothing much."

The more Kujo Mutsumi said this, the more eager Minamoto Tamako became to know what happened.

She kept pressing for answers, and Kujo Mutsumi showed a hesitant look but finally sighed softly and said, "It's like this, I have a daughter-in-law who recently encountered an accident... Both the police and the underworld are at a loss. I've heard Mr. Deer's excellent investigative skills, so I wanted to ask for his help, with a bit of a mind to test his capability as well."

Hearing this, Minamoto Tamako instantly recalled her usual preconceptions, instinctively assuming Fushimi Roku must have refused, seeing it as bothersome.

Minamoto Tamako hurriedly covered for Fushimi Roku, saying on one hand that Mr. Deer had just finished handling a major case and needed rest, and on the other that she could handle the matter herself and would definitely catch the true culprit!

"Leave it to you? Isn't that inappropriate..." Kujo Mutsumi looked hesitant.

"Even so, I'm a member of the Kujo Family. Please, let me contribute to this family!" Minamoto Tamako slightly bowed and said, "Think of it as my apology on behalf of Mr. Deer, and I only hope you can acknowledge him!"

Kujo Mutsumi patted his knee, looking up and sighing, "Family matters shouldn't be aired publicly..."

This statement was beyond Minamoto Tamako's emotional intelligence range, and she looked at her grandfather with a baffled expression.

Kujo Mutsumi had to clear his throat and added something she'd understand, "After all, Mr. Deer is an outsider. I've heard from Little Wei about his temperament; he's always fearing the world may not be chaotic enough, so some matters are still inconvenient to discuss with him."

Minamoto Tamako still wanted to defend Fushimi Roku, but Kujo Mutsumi preemptively interrupted, "You haven't even married yet, and already your elbow is leaning out? Once you're officially engaged, he won't count as an outsider... But for now, you must understand your grandfather's concerns."

Mentioning engagement, Minamoto Tamako's cheeks turned a bit red. She felt as though her grandfather was hinting at something, but she couldn't place it.

Hmm, it seems Grandfather is more reasonable than Mother described...

"I understand, as long as Mr. Deer doesn't find out about it. I can investigate the case on my own."

Minamoto Tamako sat up straight, determined that to gain her family's support for this relationship, she must give it her all. If she could accept this case, she'd be even happier: "Please rest assured, I will not disappoint your expectations!"

"This is no simple homicide case; it concerns the life and death of the Kujo Family!"

Kujo Mutsumi deliberately exaggerated the severity of the situation, patting her shoulder and sincerely said, "Frankly speaking, I should be the one asking you. Tamako, can I entrust this matter to you? If you're able to resolve it smoothly, I believe you'll be capable of controlling your own life, and I won't object to your free love anymore."

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