“Look here! I’m telling you, I’m a detective!”
The man was persistent.
However, Professor Tophus shook his head without even looking at the business card the man held out.
“Claiming to be a detective isn’t exactly a difficult feat. It’s not like there’s a qualification exam. But how can someone who hasn’t even placed their name on the Detective Ranking be called a detective?”
‘Ah, so that’s how it is.’
Only then did Lure understand the situation.
Her peers seemed to have caught on as well, as they began to snicker while looking at one another.
“Looks like another idiot showed up.”
“Seriously, any Tom, Dick, or Harry calls themselves a detective these days.”
It was truly the era of detectives.
An age where being a detective was the most popular profession.
There were many who aspired to be detectives, and no special qualifications were required.
If you set up a barbershop, you were a barber; if you opened a fruit stall, you were a fruit seller.
Similarly, if you hung a sign that said “Detective Agency” in a decent spot and printed some business cards, you were a detective.
Thus, the world had entered the Great Detective Era, and countless people claimed the title…
‘The world wouldn’t function properly if everyone just claimed to be a detective.’
Because of this, various compensatory measures had been established.
Representative examples included the State-Certified Great Detective system, the Detective Association, and the Detective Ranking.
Among them, the most universal was the Detective Ranking.
A famous detective magazine assigned contribution points to detectives across the entire Empire and ranked them accordingly.
The Detective Ranking went up to 5,000, and the list was updated every three months.
While it carried no official legal authority, its reliability was high.
Every officially recognized “Great Detective” to date had a history of ranking within the top thirty before receiving their title.
But his name wasn’t even within the top 5,000.
That meant the man standing before them was either a half-wit who had started working only two days ago or a complete fraud.
Professor Tophus let out a deep sigh, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes.
“It is true that I posted an announcement to recruit a detective to help with my thesis, but that was because I wanted advice from a detective with field experience. It does not mean I need a novice like you.”
“If you ignore me just because I started recently, you’ll regret it! Haven’t you heard that the new wave pushes out the old? Once you experience it, you’ll see just what a capable detective I am. Just give me a chance. I’m incredibly confident when it comes to catching culprits!”
Did he not realize that his desperate sales pitch made him look a hundred times less trustworthy?
‘And what is with that outfit?’
Lure was a cultured enough person not to criticize others’ clothing, but she couldn’t help but have something to say about that bizarre attire.
Shouldn’t a detective at least have a neat suit, a fedora, and a cane?
He was wearing nothing more than a shirt and trousers.
Even a simple factory worker wouldn’t dress that plainly.
‘Is he actually a beggar instead of a detective?’
Just as Lure was harboring reasonable doubts, the professor turned toward their group.
“Oh, I was so distracted that I didn’t even realize you all were here. Yes, what brings you?”
It seemed the professor had decided to ignore the man who was either an annoying swindler or a beggar.
“Ah, that is…”
As Lure hesitated, Shelman stepped forward.
“Professor. Is it true that the exam papers were stolen from the lab?”
“Yes.”
The professor let out another deep sigh.
“It’s a disaster. Since we can’t use leaked exam papers, I’ll have to write new ones. We have no choice but to postpone the exam schedule.”
“That’s crazy! Then what about our vacation? Vacation is supposed to start right after finals!”
“Inevitably, that will be pushed back as well.”
Groans filled the lab.
The vacation was being postponed!
Anyone would hate the news, but for students like Lure who covered their tuition and living expenses through part-time jobs, it was particularly devastating news.
“Instead of doing that, why don’t we just catch the culprit? If we just ban the culprit from the exam, can’t everyone else proceed without any issues?”
“Well. Even if we catch the culprit, there’s no guarantee the papers haven’t already been leaked…”
In the end, it meant the vacation delay was set in stone.
“I won’t forgive them…”
“If they get caught, they’re dead.”
Lure’s friends were all gritting their teeth.
“Shouldn’t the culprit be expelled if they’re caught?”
“Is that even a question? Of course!”
“A person like that is a disgrace to the department! Isn’t that right, Professor?”
Professor Tophus frowned as if contemplating it, but soon nodded readily.
“It is truly unfortunate, but… it is unavoidable. Yes. If the thief is caught, they will be expelled.”
It was then.
A voice cut in, not missing the opportunity.
“Wait a moment. Did a theft occur at this school just now? An exam paper theft?”
It was that swindler-like detective.
His name was… Hayes, was it?
‘He still hasn’t left?’
Hayes scanned the surroundings. Lure quickly lowered her gaze to avoid eye contact.
Consequently, Lure did not see what kind of expression Hayes made the moment he saw their group.
However, even if she didn’t see it, she could still hear him.
“Aha! So it really is an exam paper theft. I think I know who the culprit is.”
The amateur detective spoke with total confidence.
‘What? He already found the culprit?’
Lure was startled.
How could someone who just heard about the theft moments ago already know who the culprit was?
“Hmph! What nonsense!”
Shelman snorted, find it absurd.
“Stop with the delusions. Don’t you know the saying that a hack detective gets people killed? Instead of catching the wrong person, why don’t you go home and play detective there?”
However, Hayes completely ignored Shelman and looked straight at Professor Tophus.
“How about it, Professor? If you find me untrustworthy because I’m a rookie, I will prove my ability by catching the culprit of this case. A detective’s job is to catch the culprit. What better way to prove I am a detective than this?”
It was strange.
It was clearly the same kind of bluff as before, and she should have just snorted and ignored it like Shelman had…
‘I can feel his confidence…’
That self-assured expression was completely different from before.
His eyes were filled with an arrogant certainty that seemed to overwhelm the room.
It felt as though he might raise his index finger and point out the culprit at any moment.
Exactly… like a real detective.
Did the professor feel the same way she did?
“Hmm… That makes sense.”
The professor showed a positive reaction.
“Very well. I will give you a chance to prove your ability.”
“Professor?!”
Shelman and the other classmates looked utterly bewildered. Of course, Lure was no exception.
Regardless, Hayes grinned brightly.
“I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with the results. I’m incredibly confident when it comes to catching culprits.”
“I look forward to seeing results that match that confidence.”
“Ah, I have one request.”
“A request?”
“I’d like you to assign a student to me. Someone who… knows this school well and can help me solve the case.”
The professor narrowed his eyes, appearing displeased.
“Are you asking for an assistant?”
“You could put it that way. Yes, I need an assistant. Hmm…”
After scanning Lure’s group, Hayes spoke with a smile.
“Could you lend me the student standing in the middle?”
Lure looked around.
Ursula was standing to her left, and Shelman was to her right.
In other words, she was the student in the middle.
“Lending a student isn’t difficult, but…”
The professor spoke with a furrowed brow.
“Didn’t you say you think you know the culprit?”
“Of course, I know the culprit. I simply wish to find additional evidence to be certain.”
The detective smiled confidently.
“No need to worry. I promise the case will be over within one hour.”
‘Hmph, he’s a smooth talker.’
Lure scoffed inwardly.
A moment ago, she thought there might actually be something to this hack, but as expected, she had been mistaken.
If he really knew the culprit, he would have accused them already; there would be no reason to ask for an assistant.
He had simply drawn the professor’s attention with provocative words, and it seemed obvious that this hack intended to start investigating the case from scratch to find the culprit.
“…Sigh, I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.”
Professor Tophus already looked as if he regretted giving the commission to this clumsy detective, but he didn’t go back on his word.
Furthermore, he even granted the detective’s request.
“Lure. You help that man.”
“Yes, Professor,” Lure replied gloomily.
Since it was the professor’s command, she had no choice.
Glancing around, her classmates were clearly relieved that they hadn’t been caught up in it.
When Professor Tophus dismissed them, the classmates hurried away, leaving only Lure behind.
Even Ursula, whom she trusted, abandoned her.
They were undoubtedly planning to look for the culprit themselves while leaving the fake detective to Lure.
‘Those heartless jerks…’
Lure let out a small sigh and approached the clumsy detective.
“I’m Lure Poiren. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I am Detective Hayes.”
“So, what do you want me to do?” Lure asked point-blank.
“I may be a student in the Department of Criminal Investigation, but I’ve never once thought about being someone’s assistant. So I have no idea what an assistant is supposed to do.”
She wasn’t saying this because she disliked this hack detective.
This was a genuine sentiment Lure had held for a long time.
‘I’d rather open my own detective agency than work under someone else.’
“I don’t intend to ask for anything difficult. I’d just like a tour of the school.”
“A tour? Are you looking for places where the culprit might have left traces? Or a place where they might have hidden the exam papers?”
“I just want to take a general look around this area. You can decide where we go and in what order, Miss Lure.”
It was a strange suggestion in Lure’s opinion.
Asking for a tour of the whole school?
And the order was up to her?
‘Instead of following the culprit’s trail?’
It was strange, but he was the detective.
It wasn’t a particularly difficult request, either.
“…Fine, okay.”
Lure nodded readily and started walking.
She didn’t want to get into an argument about whether his method was wrong or if he wouldn’t be able to catch the culprit this way.
She didn’t have a reason to actively help this person who was either a swindler or a hack detective, anyway…
Above all, Lure was a pacifist.
‘I’ll just humor him for a bit.’
And so, only ten minutes later.
“How could you say that! That statement is an insult to the entire Department of Criminal Investigation!”
“Was I wrong?”
Getting into a massive fight with a detective she had just met was, quite frankly, not part of Lure’s plan at all.