Chapter 183
Hagiwara Kenji and Usuha Izuki fell into silence over this challenge letter.
"...That's it?" Hagiwara Kenji was incredulous. "Just to make you come back and see this, that guy specifically sent a fax to the Criminal Investigation Division reporting your nights away from home?"
"This guy has some OCD." Usuha Izuki was also speechless. "Feels like everything must go according to plan, otherwise he feels like ants are crawling all over him... I probably already know who it is."
Must be that bomber who was released after serving his sentence not long ago!
In the original work, this guy made a countdown, sending inexplicable numbers to the Metropolitan Police every year. When Matsuda Jinpei transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division, the countdown just happened to end, and only then did he send codes to make trouble... But with him, the guy was this impatient. Seems like deep resentment.
Hagiwara Kenji sighed: "I probably know too."
Little Shinryu had just mentioned this to him recently. This timing, plus keywords like bombs, and hatred toward Little Shinryu... everything matched up.
Usuha Izuki pondered: "But I can't understand why he hates me so much? I didn't do anything, did I? Just beat him up once?"
He could understand if this guy wanted revenge against police, but why specifically target him? Even without him, that guy was still breaking the law!
He'd dealt with so many criminals, but only this guy was troublesome!
Usuha Izuki automatically ignored the fact that most people were still in prison.
Hagiwara Kenji could only remain silent: "..........."
Ah well, even as Little Shinryu's friend, he had to say this historical revisionism was a bit excessive.
Why don't you mention why you beat him up? Wasn't it because you destroyed his plan, then after beating him, sent him to prison?!
And you intimidated him, scaring him into collapsing in the Metropolitan Police corridor, losing all face...
Although from Little Shinryu's perspective, he might indeed feel he just beat someone up, from that person's perspective, it was simply the darkest moment of his life. Holding a grudge was too normal.
Hagiwara Kenji tactfully skipped this topic to save his friend's face: "Most likely it's this bomber, but we can't be completely certain. After all, there are quite a few people who hate you... Anyway, let's first have someone investigate where this guy has been recently and what he's been doing."
Usuha Izuki nodded in agreement.
The two checked the room once more for any suspicious additions, then searched possible bomb installation locations in the apartment. Finding nothing, they returned to the Criminal Investigation Division with the letter and informed Inspector Megure of their new discovery.
After hearing Hagiwara Kenji's summary, Inspector Megure could only sigh: "...Has this day finally come?"
Usuha Izuki: "Which day are you referring to..."
Inspector Megure coughed and smiled awkwardly.
How could he admit that he'd actually been worrying daily about Samukawa Shinryu being targeted for revenge, and was somewhat puzzled why, after two years, Samukawa Shinryu had only encountered constant reports and complaints but no other problems.
You know, those detectives whose situations were lighter than Samukawa Shinryu's had faced family members being killed or kidnapped, or even the detective being found already dead. But Samukawa Shinryu's methods were far more cruel and excessive than these detectives', yet only now did the first person come for revenge...
He didn't know whether to say the criminals Samukawa Shinryu dealt with had such bad relationships that not one friend or family member was willing to seek revenge, or that Samukawa Shinryu's intimidation was so strong that having someone dare to retaliate was actually rare.
"In any case, this matter deserves attention. Since you have suspected persons, I'll have someone investigate." Inspector Megure said seriously. "But we can't be careless because of this. Any other suspected targets can be reported promptly. And since Samukawa-kun's apartment location is known, isn't it somewhat dangerous? How about Samukawa-kun stays in the Metropolitan Police rest room recently?"
Usuha Izuki refused: "If he dares go to my apartment, that would be better for me, so I'm going home to sleep."
Inspector Megure expressed understanding.
Just another fishing enforcement counter-kill and toying with criminals combo, right?
Although it meant taking some personal risk, for Samukawa Shinryu it was also familiar territory. Really no need to worry too much.
Thinking about how this guy could only stuff letters through door cracks, he probably couldn't do much else either.
Hagiwara Kenji: "Then I'll also..."
"Don't come." Usuha Izuki interrupted him.
Hagiwara Kenji looked at him, then turned to Inspector Megure: "Inspector, I request to work together with him recently to avoid accidents."
Inspector Megure looked guiltily at Usuha Izuki, feeling this went against his wishes, but also thinking this arrangement was better. So he gritted his teeth and agreed: "Fine, you two be careful and contact us immediately if there are problems."
Usuha Izuki sighed in frustration.
Sigh, looks like he'd have to handle that bomber more indirectly.
Soon, everyone in the Criminal Investigation Division knew Samukawa Shinryu was being targeted and might face revenge.
Sato Miwako was shocked: "Who gave him the courage?!"
"Being a police officer," Shiratori Ninzaburo said astutely. "If Samukawa-kun weren't a police officer, he probably wouldn't have this courage. He's just counting on Samukawa-kun now being a police officer who must follow police rules and absolutely can't easily cross the line, so he's this brave..."
The extremely dangerous-looking young man summarized expressionlessly: "Good people just get bullied."
Everyone: "..........."
The logic was sound. This would be normal coming from anyone else, but only you saying it feels completely wrong!!!
"You're all too nice to criminals." Usuha Izuki commented. "They're fearless, knowing they won't die even if caught, so they even dare threaten you... Last time I passed by, I actually saw someone directly say he'd kill the police officer who arrested him when he got out. Really eye-opening."
Shiratori Ninzaburo sighed: "Sigh, there's nothing we can do about such things. Since we're police, we definitely can't arbitrarily use private punishment based on our own thoughts."
Everyone had been pushed around by such criminals for a long time, so when Samukawa Shinryu liked tormenting criminals, everyone would symbolically discourage him a bit. After confirming he wouldn't cross the line, they all tacitly allowed it and even helped write reports... Actually, everyone was secretly pleased.
The dark-haired, red-eyed young man nonchalantly dropped a bombshell: "So sometimes I think it might be better not to be a police officer."
Everyone: "..........."
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes—they knew Samukawa Shinryu had opinions about being a police officer!!!
A sense of crisis instantly weighed on everyone's shoulders.
On one hand, they felt that if Samukawa Shinryu resigned, their Criminal Investigation Division's performance might instantly return to three years ago. On the other hand, everyone worried about what terrible things Samukawa Shinryu might do if he resigned for reasons like "not being able to be harsh enough with criminals"!
More terrifyingly, Samukawa Shinryu definitely knew how to evade legal punishment... If he ever whimsically wanted to do something big, they might not even be able to suspect Samukawa Shinryu.
Just thinking about it was chilling.
Hagiwara Kenji coughed: "Well, being a police officer is about upholding justice and protecting everyone's daily life, not for yourself..."
How could you resign because you're not satisfied with tormenting criminals? Instructor Onizuka, who agreed to let you into the Police Academy, would cry if he knew your reason for resignation!!!
Usuha Izuki harvested some suspicion values and quit while ahead: "I know, so I also think I'm probably not suited to be a police officer."
Sato Miwako quickly said: "Don't doubt yourself, Samukawa-kun! Everyone really respects you! You're very suited to be a police officer!"
Shiratori Ninzaburo also said: "Samukawa-kun, you're too demanding of yourself. Actually, you're doing quite well as a police officer..."
The colleagues who had just heard Samukawa Shinryu's dangerous statement couldn't wait to praise him. Watching Samukawa Shinryu being blown up to become a police model in their mouths.
Good grief, this round of praise was so much that even Usuha Izuki couldn't stand it: "Don't you all have work today?"
Only then did the colleagues sheepishly disperse.
Everyone meant nothing else—they just had the same mentality as Instructor Onizuka, who worried that not accepting Samukawa Shinryu would make him go astray. They feared that if Samukawa Shinryu stopped being a police officer, his bottom line might instantly disappear...
They believed Samukawa Shinryu wouldn't do anything while he was a police officer, but after Samukawa Shinryu's words just now, they suspected that if he stopped being a police officer, he might instantly be capable of anything. They didn't know if this counted as trust or distrust.
At this moment, everyone in the Criminal Investigation Division was filled with hostility toward the guy who wanted revenge against Samukawa Shinryu.
It was because of this guy that Samukawa Shinryu felt being a police officer made him easy to bully, making him want to resign! Really harmful!!!
What if the world lost one police officer but gained an emperor of the criminal world? Could you bear this responsibility?!!!
Hagiwara Kenji was even worried the criminal might "accidentally" die if he fell into Samukawa Shinryu's hands.
After all, even before writing the provocative letter, Samukawa Shinryu already didn't like this guy. When asked if he had any thoughts, he said it wasn't necessary. But now this was truly "heaven has a road but he won't take it, hell has no gate but he barges in"... Wasn't living good?
That evening after work, Hagiwara Kenji drove home with Usuha Izuki. On one hand, if the criminal really came looking, having another person meant extra insurance. On the other hand, it was also to save the criminal's life at the critical moment.
While Hagiwara Kenji was cooking, Usuha Izuki slipped into his room, locked the door, switched to his original body, and used [Universal Navigation] to search keywords.
[People who wrote me letters within one week].
No choice—since this guy already had the guts to make trouble, he was definitely hiding his tracks well. Police wouldn't find anything in a short time. Better to rely on himself.
The trustworthy [Universal Navigation] immediately marked the other party's location.
Indeed still in Tokyo, and looking at the name, it was exactly that bomber from years ago who had shouted that Japanese police were hopeless.
Usuha Izuki pondered thoughtfully.
With Japanese law, if caught again this time and still with no deaths, he might be released again in a few years, then this guy might continue taking revenge on society...
But waiting for more deaths before arresting would mean the dead would be too innocent, though the sentence would be heavier. Most importantly, even so, it probably wouldn't be the death penalty—completely disproportionate.
...Mm, secretly, behind these police officers' backs, he'd find a way to solve this once and for all