For Kuroko Shirai, she has been very busy recently.

After finding out about the "Fantasy Hand" incident, Shirai Kuroko has been following Fang Zheng's suggestion to capture those who sell the "Fantasy Hand". She has arrested several people in a row and also obtained intelligence, but no one can explain where the "Fantasy Hand" came from. Everyone bought it from someone else, as if this "Fantasy Hand" just popped out from between the rocks.

When Shirai Kuroko returned to the Discipline Committee Branch again, it was already evening.

"Thank you for your hard work, Shirai-san."

Seeing Shirai Kuroko coming back, Hatsuharu, who was sitting in front of the computer, hurriedly greeted her.

"Nothing, today is really tiring..."

As he spoke, Shirai Kuroko stretched his arms.

"I never thought that there would be so many people who use the Fantasy Hand and do whatever they want. Really, there are so many people who think they are great just because they have power."

"But Shirai-san, you caught them all, didn't you?"

"It's all thanks to Mr. Fang Zheng's audio."

Having said that, Shirai Kuroko also glanced at the phone in her hand.

"As soon as this audio is played, the abilities those guys have gained will basically disappear. Even if there are a few Lv1 and Lv2 opponents next time, it will be much easier to deal with them. Oh, right..."

As she spoke, Shirai Kuroko seemed to have thought of something, and took out a stack of documents from her arms and handed them to Aria who was sitting next to her.

"Ms. Kanzaki, this is the recent shipment information you requested."

"Thanks."

Aria took the information and read it page by page, while Shirai Kuroko complained unhappily.

"To be honest, I don't know what this has to do with Phantom Thieves or something. Many products in Academy City are sold outside. And why do you have to come to Academy City to look for it?"

"My intuition."

"Intuition... I think your intuition is not very accurate."

Kuroko muttered something and turned away. Although she didn't like this foreign detective, he did help her and others do a lot of things. Although Kuroko was currently mainly investigating the matter of "Fantasy Hand", as a member of the Discipline Committee, she naturally had other work to do.

In fact, the tracking and investigation of the dealers who sold the "Fantasy Hand" was basically done by Aria. After all, the martial arts detectives often tracked down the circulation of stolen goods, drugs and other contraband in the outside world, which was naturally a small matter for Aria, an S-rank martial arts detective.

Therefore, even if Heizi didn't get along well with her, he wouldn't chase her away at this time.

Of course, it would be better if she could change her habit of threatening to shoot holes in other people's bodies with a gun. Kuroko still remembers several times when she was being tracked, and the other party mocked Aria as an elementary school student, which made her so angry that she shot directly. Kuroko was frightened at that time. You know, although there are many people with special abilities in Academy City, only the security guards have weapons, and ordinary people can't touch guns at all.

As a result, Aria came up without saying a word, took out his gun and started to shoot at the human body, which scared the thugs to the ground.

"Ding-ling-ling..."

At this moment, the phone suddenly rang, and then Hatsuharu picked up the phone and nodded.

"Yes, I'm Uiharu... Oh, eh? Together again? Okay, I'll inform Shirai-san."

"Is it the same explosive demon from before?"

Hearing this, Shirai Kuroko couldn't help but frown, and Hatsuharu, who had put down the phone, nodded.

"Yes, this is the fourth time."

“It’s such a headache…”

Shirai Kuroko shook his head. Ever since the appearance of the Fantasy Hand, various public security incidents have increased. There have been small pranks like Shigefuku Shoho's, and bank robberies like the previous rage ability user. Now even the Explosion Demon has appeared...

"This time, the other party stuffed an aluminum can into the doll, causing the explosion..."

"This is really troublesome..."

"doll?"

Hearing this, Aria, who was originally reading the information, immediately jumped up, while Shirai Kuroko looked at her helplessly.

"Ms. Kanzaki, this is a case committed by a person with special abilities. It is completely different from your so-called bomb maniac. Please don't be so excited."

"But if you use a doll, it's hard to tell if it's a copycat, right?"

"That's what I mean, but as for people with special abilities, we, the Discipline Committee, will be in charge. There's no need for you, the Butei, to take action."

Although that was the case, Shirai Kuroko was also having a headache. The influence of the Fantasy Hand was far more troublesome than she had imagined, especially the previous library searches, which had become almost unreliable at this moment. After all, if she searched with her current abilities, she would definitely not find the criminal. However, many abilities that were originally at level 1 or 2 would undergo considerable changes once they were raised to level 3 or above.

Therefore, even if you search the library for people with similar abilities, it is difficult to pinpoint the culprit.

Although the report was made to the security guards as per the regulations, for some reason, there was no response from the security guards. Kuroko also asked the security guards he knew, and the answer he got was that although they also thought the situation was serious, the higher-ups had not issued an order to thoroughly investigate the matter, so they could not focus their work on investigating the "Fantasy Hand".

Unlike part-time discipline committee members, security guards are paid to make a living after all.

So with no other options, Shirai Kuroko had to investigate on her own.

But then again…

"Hasn't that Phantom Thief already committed several crimes out there? It's no use keeping an eye on Academy City."

After glancing at the TV next to him, Kuroko asked boredly.

During this period, Lupin IV has been gradually appearing in major media outlets. The reason is very simple, because they are stealing cultural relics from major museums in Japan!

This was also the suggestion given by Fang Zheng. According to Riko, Lupin was a chivalrous thief and should do good deeds. But now it is the information age after all, and it is obviously impossible to follow the example of his ancestors to rob the rich and give to the poor. So Fang Zheng gave Riko an idea - that is, let them go to major museums, steal the cultural relics that were looted during the war, and then return them to their original owners.

Naturally, Riko agreed with this, so she took Flanda with her and started their journey of being a thief.

Currently the victims of their "poisonous hands" are the Tokyo National Museum and the Miho Art Museum. All the cultural relics from China in them were stolen by Riko, and then returned to their original owners. Riko didn't care about this. After all, she was French, and she had nothing to do with the Japanese's thoughts.

As Flanda was of Nordic origin, she didn't care even more.

This was obviously a huge humiliation for Japan. They certainly couldn't fight another world war to get back the cultural relics that Riko had sent back, so they offered a reward for the capture of Lupin IV... Naturally, Academy City also heard of this news.

However, as a technological city, there are not many antiques and cultural relics here, so there is no need to worry about being targeted by Lupin IV. Therefore, Academy City basically watches the show as a spectator.

"My intuition tells me that Lupin IV is definitely related to this place!"

However, Aria obviously won't give up.

"A person with special abilities becomes a thief? This joke is not funny at all."

Kuroko obviously didn't agree with this.

"To be able to escape so easily, no matter what ability it is, it must be above Level 4. But a Level 4 ability user would never do such a boring thing. And didn't the news say that there was no suspicious trace left at the scene? Even I can't do such a thing."

"Well, in that case, your spatial movement does indeed meet the criteria for committing the crime..."

"Wait, are you serious? If that's the case, then that woman Shokuhou Misaki is also suspicious! She's an expert in mind manipulation, and if it's her, she can just let the master hand over the treasure himself."

"But Shirai-san, if it was that person, they wouldn't let them keep their memories, right?"

At this time, Hatsuharu next to him also interrupted with a smile.

“That’s true…”

"So what about Misaka-san?"

"What a joke! How could onee-sama do such a shameless thing? Although she is indeed a little childish, always liking to watch some childish programs, wearing Kuatai's underwear, and even stuffing a killer bear doll under the bed, onee-sama would never do such a shameless crime!"

If Riko were here, she might just throw down her gloves and challenge Kuroko to a duel.

Of course, this is just a joke. The procedures for Lv4 and Lv5 users to leave Academy City are extremely complicated, almost no easier than going abroad. This is why Shirai Kuroko disagrees with Aria's reasoning. Given the range and frequency of Lupin IV's activities, if there really is a user with a Lv4 or higher ability among them, then just entering and leaving Academy City would be very troublesome. It is impossible that there is no clue at all.

"Oh, in that case, why not ask Mr. Fang Zheng for advice? Maybe he has some good ideas?"

At this time, Hatsuharu smiled and put forward his own suggestions.

In Chuchun's opinion, Fang Zheng was a very capable person. After all, they had encountered difficulties in the past few times, and as long as they went to Fang Zheng, they could get some guidance. And now that Aria was in trouble, in Chuchun's opinion, as long as they went to Fang Zheng, they should be able to get a solution.

However, for Fang Zheng...

You guys want me to die...

Looking at Aria in front of him, Fang Zheng had a smile on his face but was actually thinking MMP in his heart.

But it was better this way. Aria staying in Academy City all the time was not a good thing for Fang Zheng. He had originally planned to find an opportunity to fight Aria as "Professor Moriarty" after Aria left Academy City, and then directly take away the substance 312 in her body.

But Aria refused to leave, and there was nothing he could do. After all, the other party was a butei, and if he took the initiative to deliver himself to the door, he would inevitably be suspected.

But now that it was Shirai Kuroko who brought her here...

Is there any need to ask? If you can fool someone, then everything will be fine.

"My opinion is similar to Shirai's."

After listening to Shirai Kuroko's introduction, Fang Zheng "pretended" to think for a while, and then gave an answer.

"I don't know much about criminal investigations, but science is about evidence. We need more than just intuition, but sufficient evidence and confirmation to make a judgment. If you want to track down Lupin IV, then staying in Academy City... Frankly speaking, I don't think this is a good choice. In my opinion, you should collect more evidence, then combine the evidence, and then come to an answer."

"I also think what Mr. Fang Zheng said makes sense."

Kuroko nodded beside him, while Aria remained silent. Finally, she seemed to have made a decision.

"I understand, but I'm not going to give up this clue."

"Take your time. Don't rush. The biggest difference between the police and criminals is that if the police can't catch them this time, they can wait for the next time. But if the criminals fail once, there will be no next time."

As he spoke, Fang Zheng silently glared at Feng Lizi and Flanda who were sitting not far away and pretending to be good children. The two of them also sat there without saying a word.

"What you said makes sense."

Perhaps Fang Zheng's words worked, Aria seemed to relax a lot, and then her eyes lit up and she looked at Fang Zheng.

"By the way, why don't you be my assistant? I need a partner right now, so how about you do it?"

“…”

Huh?

Hearing this, Fang Zheng was stunned.

What is this, am I catching myself?