The two parties agreed on the remuneration, and Kujo Mutsumi turned the topic back to the wrapping up of the case.

"Tamako, after all, you are an active-duty criminal police officer at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. If you conclude the case, the Sapporo Police Station might have opinions;"

"As for Fushimi, there's no need to say more. You don't even share the Kujo surname yet, and your unclear connections with the dock fishermen make the local police's view on you indescribable..."

"So, it's better to leave this case to the Sapporo Police Station to conclude." Kujo Mutsumi stood up, shaking hands with Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako in turn: "Thank you both for your hard work."

Minamoto Tamako felt she could understand her grandfather's dilemma.

Everyone wants credit for solving a case! As an outsider, not only did she occupy someone else's role, but also solved it in Sapporo, leaving no face for the local criminal police.

Besides, the merits achieved in Hokkaido wouldn't be recognized in Tokyo... Even the case's filing is within Hokkaido's independent system, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department wouldn't even know she solved a case.

In that case, it would be better to keep a low profile and let someone else take the credit.

"It wasn't hard at all, it was all part of the job." Minamoto Tamako said, holding her grandfather's hand.

Fushimi Roku didn't know how Tamako understood it, but he was sure she understood it wrong. He coughed and asked, "How does the Sapporo Police Station plan to handle Kujo Hikari?"

"Of course, he will be dealt with according to the law," Kujo Mutsumi said.

Fushimi Roku nodded and said, "In that case, I can rest assured."

Kujo Mutsumi thought he had compromised and had a few more smiles on his face. He amicably called the butler in to prepare dinner, asking Fushimi Roku and the others to stay for the afternoon and leave after dinner.

Fushimi Roku had no objection, as he came to Hokkaido mainly to see the family head; Minamoto Tamako also agreed happily, thinking the romance was now a sure thing, and her grandfather would probably not oppose her dating Fushimi anymore.

As for Taira Sakurako, her opinion didn't matter, and she hardly ever gave her opinion in public.

The butler and several maids set up the dining room.

After indicating everyone to take a seat, Kujo Mutsumi personally opened a refrigerated cabinet in the corner of the dining room and took out an exquisite wooden box.

"These are sea urchins just sent from Hakodate yesterday," he said as he opened the lid, revealing the golden, plump sea urchin meat inside: "It's the peak season now."

Fushimi Roku noticed that the vessel holding the sea urchins was a glass cup with a cracked ice pattern, lined with crushed ice at the bottom, each cup paired with a specially made shell spoon.

The maids gradually served other dishes: the steaming Ishikari hotpot used freshly caught salmon, and the broth exuded a faint miso aroma; charcoal-grilled emperor crab legs were neatly arranged on a woven bamboo tray, with the crab shells presenting an enticing orange-red color.

"Try this."

Kujo Mutsumi indicated for the butler to pour a bit of amber-colored liquid into small dishes in front of everyone: "It's a seasoning sauce extracted from Rishiri kelp, perfect with seafood."

Minamoto Tamako curiously sniffed it, discovering that the sauce carried a salty freshness like the sea breeze, with a hint of spicy wasabi.

A bowl of milky white soup was specially placed in front of Taira Sakurako, and the butler explained in a low voice: "This is a corn chowder made with fresh milk from a ranch near Sapporo."

Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako exchanged pleasantries, and according to the etiquette, put their hands together, saying in unison: "Let's eat!"

Just as the three of them picked up their chopsticks, ready to indulge, a noise suddenly came from outside the door, with someone faintly shouting: "Let me see my father!"

Following were disordered footsteps, and someone said through the sliding door: "The Family Head is seeing guests, take the young master back to his room."

The shouting turned into vague 'mm mm' sounds, as if something heavy was being dragged away, struggling and flopping all the way.

Minamoto Tamako held her chopsticks with her small hand, looking at the sliding door, listened for a while, seeming to be in a daze. When there was no more noise outside, she snapped out of it and asked in confusion: "Eh? Was that Kujo Hikari?"

Fushimi Roku recognized it too; that was indeed Kujo Hikari's voice.

"Of course not," Kujo Mutsumi smiled as he served her some food: "That's another unfilial son of mine, equally mischievous. He probably heard about Hikari's situation and came to plead with me."

"I see!" Minamoto Tamako put on a serious face: "That's unacceptable! The law cannot be lenient; how could he have such an idea? Legal education needs strengthening!"

"Yes, yes."

Kujo Mutsumi nodded while serving food, much like accompanying a leader with drinks.

This minor episode quickly passed, and besides Fushimi Roku, no one paid it much mind.

When the three of them finished the main course, the maids pushed in a trolley, with three wooden barrels of different sizes on it.

The butler uncovered the smallest one, revealing a chilly white solid inside, and introduced: "Cream from the Tokachi Plain, served with Yubari melon and a secret sweet sauce."

Having said that, he cut off a piece.

Minamoto Tamako licked her lips; she loved desserts, extending her neck to look, noticing the cross-section of the white block revealed slices of melon cut as thin as cicada wings, glowing a translucent orange under the light.

The butler helped serve the desserts, and Fushimi Roku smacked his lips while eating, doing it on purpose, trying to discern the recipe to recreate it himself later.

Outside the window, the Sapporo landscape darkened into dusk, and this meal was enjoyed by all, completely free of the previous unfamiliarity and formality.

When the sun set and the moon rose, Minamoto Tamako gracefully declined her grandfather's invitation to stay overnight, leading Fushimi Roku and Taira Sakurako to bid farewell together.

She still preferred sleeping at her grandfather's old house, where she could hear the sound of the waves every night.

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