Chapter 413

Just as the Tokyo police were waiting for intelligence as usual, the Ikebukuro police were dumbfounded and dared not voice their thoughts, remaining silent, when suddenly someone knocked on the conference room door.

"Inspector, Officer Morofushi from Nagano Prefecture has arrived."

Inspector Megure was just wondering how to ease the tension this time when someone arrived. He immediately said, "Please come in!"

When the atmosphere is awkward, the arrival of a new person can instantly liven things up. Everyone can exchange pleasantries, even if it's just small talk!

Then Morofushi Komei entered.

As soon as he entered the conference room, even with Inspector Megure there to greet him, he immediately sensed the subtle tension in the atmosphere.

While exchanging pleasantries with Inspector Megure, Morofushi Takaaki subtly scanned the conference room, noticing the last person to stand up among the many who politely greeted him.

His dark blue short hair resembled the deep night sky, and his dark red eyes were like the blood moon that had appeared in his nightmares. A bloody pressure suddenly came from his gaze.

Zhu Fu Gaoming frowned slightly, subconsciously using the opportunity of greeting everyone to avoid that person's gaze.

At this moment, he was thinking something similar to the police officers at the Ikebukuro Police Station. He guessed that in order to investigate the events of 22 years ago, besides the known suspect, there might be other people who might seek revenge for the death of the victim 22 years ago. So he brought in yakuza... or people from the gray area to assist in the investigation.

After all, yakuza are legal in Japan, and as long as it doesn't harm the interests of their organization, assisting in investigations is not unusual; the police will definitely offer plenty of benefits.

The problem is that, despite only catching a glimpse, Morofushi Takaaki doesn't know what kind of personality that young man, whose temperament is so out of place with the Metropolitan Police Department, has. Yet, he still subconsciously feels that it would be difficult for the Metropolitan Police Department to offer him satisfactory terms... He doesn't know why the young man would cooperate and come here.

Inspector Megure was also very decisive, repeating what he had said to the Ikebukuro police earlier: "This is our Metropolitan Police Department's advisor, Fukari Kanakawa, who was also an elite member of the First Investigation Division."

Zhu Fugaoming: "...Truly, heroes emerge from among the young."

For people their age, Hanchuan Shenliu is indeed considered a young person; it wouldn't be wrong to simply call him a teenager.

After exchanging pleasantries, Morofushi Takaaki sat down and asked, "How is the progress? What aspect of the investigation do you need my assistance with?"

Before going to Osaka, he had already investigated everything that Kanzaki-senpai, who was a suspect, had done before and after going to Tokyo. He even went to Osaka specifically to investigate the situation of the second victim. He was well prepared. There was nothing else he could do to help. He just hoped to prove that Kanzaki-senpai was indeed innocent.

“Uh…” Inspector Megure hesitated for a moment, “The current progress is probably in finding people from 22 years ago to ask about the details of that hostage case.”

Morofushi Takaaki was also a policeman, and he knew immediately that this matter was a bit troublesome.

That happened 22 years ago, and it involved the Yakuza. Those people are probably all living under assumed names and doing other things back then. It's already difficult to find them, let alone get any information from them...

As Morofushi Takaaki was thinking, he suddenly heard his cell phone ring, and then the dangerous young man whom Inspector Megure had introduced as Kanakawa Shinryu answered the call.

“Advisor! I’ve found out! Ihara—the one who was shot dead by the police in the restaurant 22 years ago, right? Didn’t he kill several members of the Renrui Association? It started when his selling information to the police was exposed, and the Renrui Association, in retaliation, had his lover raped. So he went to settle scores with the Renrui Association… But he didn’t strike first; the Renrui Association fired first, and he retaliated…”

The person on the other end kept rambling on: "Oh right, according to what I've heard, it seems that Ihara's marksmanship isn't from a self-taught background. I think this information should be very useful. I wonder if it has been of any help to the advisor."

Han Chuan Shenliu said calmly, "It's useful, thank you."

The other person instantly became excited: "It's great that you're helpful! Consultant, come visit our Chuanzhong group sometime! Our boss has been wanting to treat you to dinner for a long time!"

"Let's turn back."

"Thank you, consultant!"

Zhu Fu Gaoming: "…………"

No, the person on the other end is responsible for researching, right? Why are they thanking them instead...?

Furthermore, why is the leader of the Kawakaka group so eager to invite a Metropolitan Police Department consultant to dinner? Is it really okay to say this in front of so many police officers?

Morofushi Takaaki felt that he had actually done a pretty good job managing his expression, but for some reason, Hanakawa Shinryu seemed to have sensed his doubts and turned to him.

"Don't worry, if anyone has any objections, I can resign from this position as an advisor to the Metropolitan Police Department."

Zhu Fu Gaoming: "...?"

This person doesn't seem to have much affection for the Metropolitan Police Department...

Inspector Megure started coughing: "Ah, how could anyone have a problem with that? Impossible, nobody has a problem with that. Samikawa-kun has helped us a lot, right? — Alright, this new information is very useful, let's discuss it!"

Kenji Hagiwara chimed in, "Indeed, if the new information is correct, there's a lot of inconsistency in it. For example, even if someone betrayed the information, it wouldn't warrant such a murderous act. The things he did to his lover also seem like he deliberately provoked Ihara, and Ihara's shooting skills don't seem like those of an amateur..."

"Ihara is an undercover agent sent by the Ikebukuro Police Department to the Jinrui Association. The so-called familiar policeman, Kanzaki-senpai, should be his contact."

When Morofushi Takaaki heard the information from the Kawanaka group, he had already made this guess, but when it came from the mouth of Kanakawa Shinryu, it seemed to have a certainty that made him gasp.

He remembered someone else.

On the Shinkansen today, someone, despite extremely limited intelligence, concluded that Ihara, who died 22 years ago, was an undercover police officer…

He had previously thought that Usakabe Saiki might be thinking in that direction because he was an undercover agent, but now it seems that the probability of him being right is actually quite high.

What a smart person. With such a reliable colleague going undercover together, Jingguang...

Zhu Fugaoming recalled the words "please accept my condolences," and his heart clenched again.

Inspector Megure was still pondering: "So, Jinrui went to such lengths back then to retaliate against the police? And if that's the case, Mr. Kanzaki is even more suspicious. He killed his way through the group of people who fired the shots back then to avenge his colleague who died unjustly... But why now, 22 years later?"

I've endured this for 22 years... Wasn't the time when I most wanted revenge the first few years?

Hanchuan Shenliu tapped the table with his index finger: "I think this policeman in Ikebukuro should be able to answer your question."

Inspector Megure looked up in confusion and saw the police officer in Ikebukuro sweating profusely, which made him nervous as well: "What's wrong? Do you know something?"

The police officer in Ikebukuro wiped his sweat: "Actually, it's probably because... I asked Inspector Ueda about what happened 22 years ago... I didn't expect him to promise to tell me when he had the chance, and then he was killed..."

Why are you asking about a case from 22 years ago?

“That’s not important.” Hanchuan Shenliu pulled out a photo of Ihara’s death and pointed to the location of the chest wound. “Although I enjoy shooting, if I remember correctly, 99% of Japanese police officers never even used the safety on their gun before retirement, let alone injured anyone…”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the police officers in Ikebukuro and Morofushi Takaaki became somewhat strange.

What do you mean by "although I really enjoy shooting"...? You little brat! How many times have you actually fired?!

Seeing the expressions on the two men's faces, Inspector Megure quickly explained, "No innocent people were harmed, and the guns were obtained through legal channels! He didn't use a police-issued gun! He confessed that he had turned everything in!"

Police officers in Ikebukuro & Takaaki Morofushi: "…………"

The fact that they weren't using police-issue guns makes things even worse! Where did they get the guns?!

And this wording... after writing so many self-criticisms, he still can't shake his habit of liking to shoot?!

I feel that police academies nowadays not only need to conduct interviews, but also need to add more professional psychological tests and the like.

Kenji Hagiwara, seeing Inspector Megure's explanation only making things worse, couldn't help but facepalm: "Actually, it was just some necessary deterrence... and it proved to be very effective, and no innocent people were injured... physically."

He corrected a minor mistake with principle, then steered the conversation back on track: "At times like these, let's not worry about the details. Let's continue discussing the case, Shen... cough, Hanchuan-kun, please continue."

Zhu Fugaoming: "..."

Shooting has become a necessary deterrent; the Metropolitan Police Department's standards have dropped far too quickly... Is this Mr. Hanchuan really not some undercover agent sent to corrupt the Metropolitan Police Department?!

He hesitated and looked at Hanchuan Shenliu, but from his angle, unless Hanchuan Shenliu also turned to look at him, he could not really see the other's expression clearly. He could only sense that the other was very calm and did not think that he had done anything wrong.

Even after everyone quieted down, Hanchuan Shenliu continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

"To save time, let's get to the conclusion first. Of the police officers who were at the scene that year, after removing the two who have passed away and the missing Kanzaki-senpai, the remaining one should be the murderer."

Everyone: "…………"

You're being way too economical! You've completely skipped the important parts!

Inspector Megure asked tactfully, "Why? Could you explain what happened?"

Han Chuan Shenliu: "...The clues and answers are already laid out before us. Explaining them is complicated, so please try to understand them yourselves."

I don't understand!

Especially the policeman from Ikebukuro, he just couldn't understand how the Ikebukuro police station's investigation over so many days could be less successful than the other guy's progress in less than 20 minutes...

"This is too fast..." he couldn't help but murmur.

Kanakawa Shinryu turned to look at him: "You guys were too slow. But it's not your fault, after all, the criminal is the deputy chief of your Ikebukuro Police Station."

Others: "…………"

That was a good way to comfort her; don't try that next time...

Although Zhu Fu Gaoming had some ideas, he didn't jump to this point. He pressed his temples and calculated the time.

...If what Hanchuan Shenliu said is true...did he actually not need to come here?

He hasn't even gotten comfortable sitting down yet!

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Gao Ming: If I had known you were coming, I wouldn't have come. (x)

He was still wondering whether Bo Ye had guessed or deduced...

.

Gao Ming rarely comes to Tokyo, so of course we should let him see Zero!