IGTL Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – A Shady Lawyer (1)

After helping the rundown inn’s manager and logging out of DW, I woke up in the net cafe, filled a cup at the drink bar, and took a sip of coffee.

“Ahh, as good as ever…”

Why did net cafe coffee taste so good after a job well done? It truly was a mystery.

“Huh… already five in the afternoon.”

Between the police box and the Labor Standards Inspection Office, and a brief login to DW, most of the day had vanished. Why did days off always fly by, when a day at the company dragged on forever? Whatever. I am unemployed now. I had quit, which meant every day was a day off, every day was Sunday.

On a whim, I picked up my phone and checked the screen: a handful of missed calls.

What was that about?

I tapped through to the number.

“Who’s this?”

I pasted it into a search and got “Nishikasai Police Station.” It looked like the police had called. I dialed back.

“Hello, I think you called around three this afternoon…”

“Thank you. May I have your name?”

“Yes. This is Takahashi Kakeru.”

“Mr. Takahashi Kakeru. One moment, please.”

After a short wait, they transferred me to Criminal Affairs.

“Thanks for holding. Connecting you to the Criminal Affairs Division.”

“Okay.”

An officer picked up.

“Nice to meet you. This is Onishi with the Criminal Affairs Division at Nishikasai Police Station. Am I speaking with Mr. Takahashi Kakeru?”

“Yes, that’s me, but…”

Criminal Affairs? Did I do something? I’d only filed the report this morning. Arresting the high-schoolers who assaulted me and took my scratch tickets felt a bit soon.

“Right, regarding your report: this afternoon, we arrested the suspects for a robbery and assault case. I’m calling to inform you.”

“Already? You’ve arrested them?”

Fast! I’d underestimated the police. I didn’t expect them to move this quickly.

“Yes. They’re in custody. We’ll update you as things progress.”

“Understood. Thanks for letting me know.”

I hung up and exhaled.

“Wow. The police are on it.”

They even called to say the suspects had been caught… Hearing those kids were in custody, I finally felt relief. The call was probably to reassure the victim.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t been home in two days. Since they were arrested, maybe I should head back…

I lounged at the net cafe until my time ran out, then went home for the first time in two days.

◇◆◇

“Thank you very much.”

Seeing me off, the staff bowed as I left the net cafe. I started toward my apartment.

As I walked with a light step, I noticed someone I didn’t recognize staking out my door.

“Who… is that?”

A stranger. I didn’t know why he was loitering in front of my place, but it couldn’t be for anything good.

Best not poke the hornet’s nest…

Sensing trouble, I turned on my heel and hid behind a nearby utility pole so he wouldn’t spot me. Why was someone staking out my building?

Weird. Honestly, creepy. A stalker? Or a religious canvasser?

But he wore a suit… glasses… hair slicked back with pomade. Expensive-looking watch and bag, something like a badge glinting on his lapel…

That left one obvious answer.

“Got it. A lawyer…”

I didn’t know how they’d found my address, but the odds were high. One of those kids’ parents must have hired counsel to push for a settlement. I’d already told the police I absolutely wouldn’t settle and asked them not to share my contact info. If they couldn’t get my number from the police, staking out my home was the next move.

“Alright, then I’ll…”

I decided on the spot to hole up at a business hotel. I’d only planned to go home because I figured I was safe now that the kids were under arrest. If a new problem had arisen, I’d avoid it thoroughly until it went away.

I slipped off toward Nishi-Kasai Station, putting distance between me and the lawyer camped at my door. The video of those high-schoolers was already everywhere; even with their eyes obscured, someone could identify me by build and features. Honestly, they probably already had.

So until the heat died down, specifically, until the kids were sentenced and that lawyer stopped haunting my doorstep, I couldn’t go home. Besides, I didn’t like dealing with lawyers. The last thing I wanted was a statutory letter of demand turning up at my door.

Which was how I ended up, after a chain of train transfers from the Tozai Line, at the Candeo Hotel near Shimbashi Station. Candeo Hotel was great: clean interiors, courteous staff, a rooftop “Sky Spa” open-air bath close to the stars, and plenty of amenities. Best of all, the staff didn’t pry.

The law firm I’d booked to sue my former employer, Amazing Corporation, was near Tokyo Station too, it was perfect.

“Now then… I’m getting hungry. I’ll hit Torikizoku.”

Torikizoku is a yakitori* chain where everything costs 327 yen including tax. (TN: A Japanese dish of grilled chicken skewers.)

“Welcome! Party of one?”

“Yes, one.”

“Right this way. One guest!”

They seated me at the counter. Partitions separated the seats, probably a measure for the new virus, COVID-19.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Hmm. A Mega Kinmugi*.” (TN: A large serving of a beer-style alcoholic beverage from the Japanese Kinmugi brand, served in a large mug.)

“Mega Kinmugi, got it!”

“And salted cucumber and chicken thigh skewers with tare sauce, please.”

“Salted cucumber and chicken thigh skewers with tare sauce. One moment!”

In under a minute, the Mega Kinmugi and cucumbers arrived.

“Thanks for waiting, your Mega Kinmugi and salted cucumber.”

“Thanks.”

I took a pull from the Mega Kinmugi.

“Phew…”

Drinks just tasted better in a shop. The mega size had heft, and the cucumbers were seasoned just right. With this combo, I could drink these all night.

Phone in one hand, I sipped and read my favorite web novel, when an unknown number lit up the screen and the phone rang.

Huh? Who’s this?

I ran a quick search on the number: a law office.

Maybe the lawyer I’d booked for tomorrow?

“Hello.”

I kept it terse. A voice answered.

“This is attorney Noume Hachiya from Noume Legal Consultation Office. Is this the number for Mr. Takahashi Kakeru?”

Yikes. Bad vibes just from the name.

It wasn’t the firm I’d booked, so I played dumb.

“No, wrong number. You must have misdialed.”

A beat of confusion.

“R-Really? This truly isn’t Mr. Takahashi Kakeru’s phone?”

“Takahashi Kakeru? Who’s that?”

“M-My mistake. Sorry to bother you.”

He hung up. It looked like I’d slipped that noose.

Right then, the waiter brought my skewers.

“Thanks for waiting, your chicken thigh skewers.”

“Appreciate it.”

I added a Mega Highball*, chicken nanban*, and chicken kama-meshi*. You couldn’t come to Torikizoku and not get the chicken kama-meshi. (TN: Typically refers to a strong and refreshing highball cocktail, often made with Japanese whisky like Toki, soda water, and ice; A dish of deep-fried chicken, typically chicken thigh or breast; A traditional Japanese one-pot rice dish that is slow-cooked in an iron pot or kettle.)

“Alright…”

I picked up a skewer and bit into the chicken and scallion. Solid as ever. Torikizoku didn’t miss. The Mega Kinmugi and the skewers were a match made in heaven.

So the kids had hired a lawyer… They’re desperate. Well, that’s to be expected…

What they did wasn’t just shaking someone down. It was robbery with injury under the guise of “shaking down.” They once stole a thirty-million-yen winning scratch ticket from me. I wouldn’t forget that humiliation. And they beat me.

That hurt, especially when they whacked my back with a bike pump. A blunt-force attack? Seriously? “You think it’s okay because I healed my wounds with a Basic Recovery Potion?,” As if! I was in pain, and I only had that potion by chance.

Without it, I’d have been covered in bruises and bleeding. They’d pay for that. I wasn’t settling, no matter what.

“Thanks for waiting, here are your orders. I’ll clear this empty glass.”

As I was thinking about this, the waiter brought me a Mega Highball, chicken nanban, and chicken kama-meshi. 

He placed them on the table, lit the chicken kama-meshi set, said, “Please wait 30 minutes before eating,” and stood up with the empty glass in hand.

I ate a bite of chicken nanban, and juices flooded my mouth. I chased it with the Mega Highball. It was bliss.

Why was it that chicken nanban, which I hadn’t eaten in a while, tasted so good? As expected of Torikizoku. Great food at prices gentle on a commoner’s wallet.

Anyway, I’d just finished the latest chapter of the web novel I was reading. Time to load up another…

I was swiping one-handed with the Mega Highball in my other hand when the phone rang again. Reflexively, I tapped “Answer” and once more, Attorney Noume came on the line.