Chapter 70
[Um, Hagiwara Kenji is alive and well, even saved by you. Don't casually curse people dead, okay?]
The system couldn't help speaking up for Hagiwara Kenji.
Being Usuha Izuki's friend was really too difficult—not only did blood pressure and heart have to endure intense training, but at the drop of a hat you'd become a dead person...
Usuha Izuki was puzzled: [When did I curse Kenji dead?]
[Then what did you just say about wanting to understand a police officer... Among police officers with good relationships with you, there are only a few. If it's the first choice, it must be Hagiwara Kenji, right? If not him, who else could it be?]
The system racked its brains and suddenly thought of something: [Oh—I get it, you're writing a script, talking about that background board foster father Arak Wine, right? He really was Japanese Public Security... your acting has improved!]
[It has nothing to do with him either. I just had a sudden inspiration.]
[...]The system fell silent for a moment. [Sudden inspiration... wait, is it from your previous life? You actually knew police officers in your previous life? Had such a good relationship you wanted to understand them?]
Usuha Izuki was puzzled: [What exactly do you think of me? Is it so strange that I know police officers I have good relationships with?]
The system laughed awkwardly: [Ha ha ha, not strange. But how did this police officer die?]
It couldn't admit that for a moment, it thought the police officer Usuha Izuki wanted to understand was the one who arrested him...
Usuha Izuki responded absentmindedly: [Heroic sacrifice.]
[...Hm?] The system suddenly felt something was off. [I remember you seemed to say before that you also died from heroic sacrifice... this police officer you mentioned, it couldn't be yourself, could it?]
Usuha Izuki was speechless: [I don't have a split personality. Why would I go through such trouble to understand myself? Maybe you should upgrade your system—I always feel like your memory isn't enough.]
The system cursed internally.
Wasn't it because this guy had too many mysteries! What's wrong with guessing a bit off target?!
However, given Usuha Izuki's personality, he really didn't seem like someone who would make heroic sacrifices, especially dying from heroic sacrifice—such self-sacrificing behavior would be much more normal if influenced by someone else.
The system accessed memory to replay Usuha Izuki's answer when he mentioned dying from heroic sacrifice.
"It's a death that anyone would find faultless, right?"
...Looking at it now, this answer was indeed very strange. It seemed Usuha Izuki cared more about "certain people's opinions" than about his own death.
Strange host.
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After Usuha Izuki displayed his excellent explanatory abilities, Officer Shima and Ibuki Ai successfully fell into silence.
Both simultaneously entered brainstorming mode. At this moment, countless TV drama plots they'd watched flashed through their minds.
A youth walking the edge of crime, helped by police officers, then turning back to the right path...
Such classic plots—they could easily think of several dramas.
But the two turned to look at the person involved beside them.
That cold attitude, indifferent expression, dangerous aura, mercilessly destroying criminals' psychological defenses, matter-of-factly claiming to have no sense of justice...
Ah, this.
This guy seemed more like a Moriarty who'd infiltrated police ranks, possibly having personal hobbies like "I became a police officer not for justice, but simply to watch people commit crimes, then crush their illusions when criminals think they can escape"...
Officer Shima's mouth was twitching: "I hope you understand that I have to write reports about everything you do and submit them."
Usuha Izuki nodded steadily: "I trust senior won't fabricate nonsense."
"...Are you threatening me, kid?"
Ibuki Ai quickly interjected: "No way! Doesn't this express great trust in you? Today's Shima-shima is so irritable."
Usuha Izuki watched their reactions, thinking: [You can really see at a glance who the [Black Screen Aura] works better on...]
[That's why I told you not to rely too much on [Black Screen Aura]. But your acting is so bad, relying entirely on being stone-faced—can't demand too much from you...]
Usuha Izuki was confident: [Don't worry. Even though [Black Screen Aura] has such poor effects on Ibuki Ai, look how after my performance, he still contributed suspicion values, right?]
System: [...]
This was true. The suspicion values Usuha Izuki earned from that performance were twice what he'd gotten in the previous week.
It might be because everyone at Police Academy had gotten quite used to the [Black Screen Aura], while these active police officers had no relationship with Usuha Izuki. Seeing him act so suspiciously, contributing more suspicion values was normal.
Sigh, fortunately Police Academy training time was short—staying there really had no future!
Communication from Mobile Investigation headquarters interrupted this awkward atmosphere, tired of watching them slack off on the job.
"First Mobile Investigation calling Fourth Mobile Investigation, incident in XXX district..."
Officer Shima sighed and started the melon bread van: "Anyway, this case ends here. Don't take matters into your own hands next time. Not every detective is as good-tempered as Inspector Megure. With more troublesome ones, cold mockery would be the least of it—making you take the blame would be the real problem. Plus you don't just represent yourself—the entire Mobile Investigation Unit could be implicated. I hope you think clearly before acting."
"I won't speak up without confidence."
Officer Shima's veins bulged: "You brat, really stubborn! Even with confidence, don't speak up! Don't be so overconfident, okay?!"
Though Officer Shima said the case was over, he knew clearly in his heart that this wasn't finished.
Sure enough, when returning to the Fourth Mobile Investigation base midway, Captain Kikyo came to inquire: "Investigation Division One said there was a case solved by your 404 group?"
"Yes." Officer Shima said expressionlessly. "The intern newcomer solved it."
"Not bad!" Captain Kikyo, who hadn't met the newcomer and only seen photos, didn't realize the seriousness and said cheerfully, "I heard Investigation Division One had just arrived when the case was solved—this counts as Mobile Investigation Unit achievement! Hurry up and write a report!"
Though both in the Criminal Investigation Department, Mobile Investigation Unit's nature meant they could only handle preliminary investigations. As long as cases weren't solved, investigation results would be handled by specialized departments, and when cases were solved, credit naturally went to other departments.
Many detectives even looked down on Mobile Investigation Unit, thinking it had no technical content—when it came to solving cases, they were the real deal.
Now that the Mobile Investigation Unit had just reorganized, Captain Kikyo as the proposer faced enormous pressure. Suddenly having such outstanding achievement appear, she was overjoyed, even feeling she could boast to Investigation Division One's section chief for at least a month.
They say our Mobile Investigation Unit people are useless, but this case was solved by our people!
But then Investigation Division One people might say, you're so happy just solving one case, blah blah blah...
Sigh, if only Samukawa-kun could solve a few more cases—everyone still doesn't take Mobile Investigation Unit seriously enough!
Seeing through Captain Kikyo's thoughts, Officer Shima rubbed his forehead painfully: "I'll write the report, but you better not show this attitude in front of Samukawa-kun. I had a hard time convincing him not to show off so much."
"How is this showing off?"
Captain Kikyo's personality also tended toward seeing things through to the end. She could understand the frustration newcomers to Mobile Investigation Unit would encounter, and their eagerness to solve cases in 24 hours.
"Young people having some drive is good. If he has the ability, we can't make him do nothing. Instructor Onizuka told me Samukawa-kun is an honor student among honor students who helped solve several cases while at Police Academy. As long as he speaks up, he definitely has confidence. We might not be able to keep him long—Investigation Division One might snatch him away. So when he has ideas, you should discuss them together..."
"What if he makes mistakes?"
"That's why I said we will discuss it together." Captain Kikyo said calmly. "You were also an Investigation Division One elite before. Whether what he says is right, you definitely know. You two compare thoughts—wouldn't that give more confidence? Of course, I'm not saying to force you to solve cases. Not all cases can be solved in 24 hours. Information gathering is indeed troublesome. Just sometimes, give young people opportunities..."
Officer Shima's mouth twitched: "I think it's better if I don't keep up with his thought process... You should read the report before saying these things."
Saying this, he handed over the report he'd been holding.
Captain Kikyo started reading quickly, but obviously slowed down when reaching the part recounting Samukawa Shinryu's words. When she saw he'd actually improved the criminal's methods and expressed regret...
She slowly put down the report and looked at Officer Shima.
Officer Shima nodded, indicating she hadn't read wrong—Samukawa Shinryu really said that.
Captain Kikyo was very conflicted: "Have him write a self-reflection. These words were indeed inappropriate—it would be troublesome if reporters found out. This can be changed by having him talk less... The main thing is Samukawa-kun's mind really works fast..."
Officer Shima could see Captain Kikyo still seemed reluctant to give up.
He could understand—after all, when subordinates produced results, supervisors had more authority and could better fight for subordinates' interests. But this Samukawa Shinryu guy, despite all his warnings, still pulled this stunt. If he learned the captain actually wanted to encourage him to actively solve cases, wouldn't he go completely overboard?
So Officer Shima deployed his trump card.
"Ibuki, help me call Samukawa-kun over."
"Roger!" Ibuki Ai, who happened to be passing the break room, leisurely responded and turned to leave the corner.
After a while, Samukawa Shinryu walked over.
The black figure approached with each step, as if bringing darkness.
His handsome pale face showed dark, cold meaning in the shadows. His eyes were ominous, dangerous blood red, casting an indifferent glance at Captain Kikyo through gaps in his dark blue bangs.
Like deep night, like an abyss.
No stars or moon existed here; light was completely devoured.
Just standing there, he seemed like mockery of justice itself.
"Captain, senior, you wanted me?"
"The captain has something to say to you."
Officer Shima looked at Captain Kikyo, waiting to see if she'd continue encouraging Samukawa Shinryu.
Captain Kikyo was silent for a long time, then completely changed her previous stance.
"Young people should be more steady. Solving cases is other departments' work..."
She needed to settle accounts with Instructor Onizuka. This guy was totally using deceptive photos—the photo was already dangerous enough, but she could barely accept it. However, the real person was a hundred times more outrageous than the photo!
—When this guy solved cases, people would suspect whether he planned the incidents himself!