Maijo Kyousuke and Eryumei agreed to meet four hours later, that is, at four o'clock in the afternoon, and hung up the phone.
Logically speaking, Maijo Kyousuke should take a nap at this time to relieve his brain that has been corroded by alcohol.
But his long hair, which almost reached his chin, forced Maijo Kyousuke to re-examine his image.
Although powerful people don't care about their appearance and rely entirely on hard power to speak for themselves.
But after all, I am going to participate. It may be the most important invitation since time travel. It can even be said that this invitation may determine my future and development in the next two to three years.
Considering this aspect, Maijo Keisuke felt that he could not go there with disheveled hair like he did last time when he went to Edogawa to receive the dragon award.
Even if you don't care at all what others think, you still have to respect the other person's feelings.
After all, first impressions are important.
If you make a bad first impression on President Noma, it will be difficult to negotiate subsequent contract matters if you fail to secure them.
Thinking of this, Maijo Kyousuke put on the handsome suit given to him by Eryumi Meili, and stepped out of the "Yonder of Longevity" for the first time in a long time.
——
Since barbers in Japan need to obtain a hairdresser certificate, barber shops in Japan are generally quite expensive, but their reputations are uneven...
In particular, the three most popular male idols in Japan in the 1970s, Hideki Saijo, Hiromi Go, and Goro Noguchi all have the style of men with long hair, which makes most fashion trends move towards that style. .
Maijo Kyousuke originally wanted to get rid of the gloomy image of long hair and transform himself into the style of Saijo Hideki, but he really couldn't accept it.
So, Maijo Kyousuke changed to five barber shops in a row before finally getting his hair trimmed into a look he was satisfied with.
After all, only refreshing short hair can better reflect his relatively clean and sunny face.
He glanced at the time and saw that there were still two hours left before the time he and Jiang Liumeili agreed upon.
Maijo Kyousuke took advantage of the rare opportunity to go out and planned to relax.
Of course, this relaxation does not mean going to a romantic place like Kabukicho.
Instead, go to the bookworm’s favorite place, Jimbocho, which is also known as the “Ancient Book Resort”!
Maijo Keisuke took a taxi to Tokyo, Chiyoda District, Jimbocho.
As soon as he got off the car, Maijo Kyousuke smelled the unique aroma of ink on paper books.
This is not the first time that Maijo Kyousuke has come here. In his previous life, he also visited here when he was shopping for out-of-print books.
Although Jimbocho at that time had given Maijo Kyousuke enough shock.
But the Jimbocho Antique Bookstore Street in front of us is completely different from the Jimbocho Antique Bookstore Street forty-three years later!
With just a quick glance, you can see many stores posting labels such as "out of print and rare", "authenticated" and "unique" on the streets.
To ordinary people, these words don't mean much.
But for the ultimate bookworm like Maijo Keisuke, it is as exciting as a starving man seeing a meal, a homeless person seeing a bed, and a person dying of thirst in the desert seeing an oasis!
"Excuse me! Are there any books here signed by Edogawa Ranpo?"
"It would be even better if there were "Human Chair", "Yin Beast" and "Two Copper Coins"!"
Maijo Kyousuke broke into an ancient bookstore with the sign "Mystery Novels Out of Print and Autographed" and asked the owner who was counting the books.
When the shop owner heard what Kesuke Maijo said, he didn't stop what he was doing. He just pointed to the bookcase aside and said:
"Edogawa Rampan, right? There are a bunch of them over there, as well as those from Yokomori Masashi and Matsumoto Seicho. Each one costs 100,000 yen. If you want Koga Saburo, Kiki Kotaro, or Oshita Utaro It costs 300,000 yen if you sign it personally.”
Hearing what the shopkeeper said, Maijo Kyousuke rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
One hundred thousand yen? so cheap? You must know that forty years later, an autographed copy of Edogawa Ranpo will cost at least one million yen!
Thinking of this, Maijo Kyousuke continued to ask excitedly:
"Shopkeeper, do you have autographed copies of the Big Three of the Golden Age, Agatha, Quinn, and Carl?"
The shopkeeper was still unmoved after hearing Maijo Keisuke's words. While counting the goods, he pointed nonchalantly at the back of the maze-like bookstore:
"Go in from here. When you encounter a fork in the road, turn left. Make about three turns, and then turn right twice. You will see a whole wall of bookcases."
"On the wall are autographed editions of European and American writers from the classical era, let alone the three golden giants. Even if you want autographs from Van Dyne, William Collins, or Conan Doyle, they are all there! "
Before the shop owner finished speaking, Maijo Kyousuke had already plunged into the bookstore like a cigarette.
Although the store owner gave very clear instructions, Maijo Kyousuke still underestimated the heritage of Jimbocho Ancient Bookstore.
Many ancient bookstores here probably started operating in the 1880s and have been passed down from generation to generation. They contain countless books. There is even the ultimate bookworm Maijo Kyousuke, who has never been seen before. version of.
Maijo Kyousuke was fascinated by the aroma of ink around him, and he "lost his way" here while walking.
The reason for this is not that Maijo Keisuke is a road crazy, because there seems to be endless treasures here waiting to be excavated by Maijo Keisuke.
You know, the autographed copies of the three golden giants of classical reasoning have been sold to sky-high prices forty years later, but here, there is actually an autographed copy of Conan Doyle!
And the condition is very well preserved!
Looking at these autographs, Maijo Kyousuke vowed to bring back all the famous works signed by the writers!
——
An hour and a half later, Maijo Kyousuke walked out of the maze-like bookstore.
In his hand, he also held twenty or thirty autographed books.
Among them, there are many famous novels such as Conan Doyle's "The Red-Headed Society", Quinn's famous novel "The Tragedy of X", Agatha's famous novel "The Mystery of Roger", Carl's famous novel "The Three Coffins"... …
Keisuke Maijo even found a copy of "The Maltese Falcon" signed by Dashiell Hammett!
Being able to get so many autographed copies that even the richest people could not buy in his previous life, Maijo Kyousuke's smile almost broke at the corners of his mouth!
He even looked at the shop owner who was still counting books and asked the answer he wanted to know most:
"Shop owner, may I ask, do you have any treasures in your bookstore?"
"Is it the most precious autographed copy, or an ancient book that cannot be bought anywhere else?"
The shop owner, who had always ignored Maijo Keisuke, reacted for the first time when he heard Maijo Keisuke's words.
He raised his eyebrows, looked at Maijo Kyousuke up and down, and said with a smile:
"As for the treasure of the store, I do have one."
"It's just the price. It's not that I look down on you, I'm just afraid that you won't be able to afford it."
Hearing the shopkeeper's words, Maijo Kyousuke's eyes lit up: "What is it?"
The shopkeeper smiled proudly and walked towards the counter of the bookstore:
"Sir, have you ever heard of Mr. Ottermore's Hands by Mr. Thomas Burke?"
When Kyousuke Maishiro heard the shopkeeper's words, he felt as if his temple had been hit by a bullet!
"The Hands of Mr. Ultramore?"
"You mean? It's the one that was voted by twelve first-class mystery novelists and critics, including Quinn, Carr, and Hayclough, as the best short story in the history of mystery fiction?"
When the shop owner heard what Maijo Kyousuke said, a proud smile appeared on his face:
"Yes, sir, you are quite knowledgeable. You beat Edgar Allan Poe's "The Purloined Letter" and Conan Doyle's "The Red-Headed Society". Mr. Quinn rated it as "there is no more wonderful crime story". 's "Mr. Ultramore's Hands"!"
"I have the manuscript of "The Hands of Mr. Ultramore" here!"
