Chapter 220 The Third Player

The only thing that can comfort Saikai Haruto right now is that not only does he need to work overtime, but the members of the Special Powers Department and Sakaguchi Binggo are also likely to work overtime with him.

...No, now "Yuyuan Chiaki" just received a call from "Mochizuki Kaoru" and also has to work overtime to check the information about "X" - so now both of his aliases are working overtime?

Yes, the person who just called "Mochizuki Kaoru" was "Yuen Chiaki", another alias of Saikai Haruto.

Although these two aliases are actually Saikai Haruto himself, on the surface their relationship is just friends who have known each other for ten years.

A few months ago, he used the alias of "Yuyuan Chiaki" to lead a team of undercover agents from the winery to break into Yokohama. When they encountered some "difficulties", the temporary "safe house" was a villa owned by "Mochizuki Kaoru" where he had lived. This also led to "Yuyuan Chiaki" openly owing "Mochizuki Kaoru" a favor.

This matter is neither big nor small. In a small sense, he just lent his vacant villa to someone for a day or two; but in a big sense, it can become a big matter - after all, at that time, "Habuchi Chiaki" brought people from the Black Organization to Yokohama, but he killed the leader of the Takase-kai, and reached a cooperation with the current leader of the Port Mafia to kill the previous leader, and pushed the current leader on his way to taking office... Once these things are discovered, it will be a big trouble no matter who finds out.

Therefore, today, Saikai Haruto took advantage of the situation and asked "Mochizuki Kaoru" to entrust "Yuen Chiaki" to investigate and search for information on "X", which was also a natural way to "repay" this "favor".

After all, "X" knew Kaoru Mochizuki in the past, so that must not be a good thing. There is a 99% chance that he is in the dark. It is naturally more convenient to let "Cointreau", which is currently in the dark realm, investigate than for Kaoru Mochizuki, who seems to be in the sun, to investigate by herself.

…But then again, he still suffered a loss in terms of overtime—after all, he was the only one doing the checking. And he was the only one working double overtime, unpaid overtime.

…a huge loss.

Don't let him find out who that guy is.

Under the sky covered with dark clouds, Xi Haiqing Dou walked silently and expressionlessly in the cold north wind as he took bigger steps.

According to the data of the Special Forces Division, three cases were recorded in three different locations, but the third case happened to an official of the Ministry of Justice. In order to avoid some trouble, Xi Haiqing Dou can only investigate the locations of the first two cases.

And judging by the time that has passed, the traces left at the scene, and the distance, the first place he should go to should be——

"The crime scene of the second case."

Saikai Haruto's voice was faint, and he asked, but there was no trace of politeness or pleading in his words: "Please help me, Sakaguchi-kun."

Inside the secret base of the Special Powers Division, behind a desk piled high with countless piles of documents, Sakaguchi Binggo was talking on the phone in his left hand while reviewing a document with his right hand. He seemed to have expected this and agreed to his request in a good-natured manner.

"What a coincidence! Our colleague is right there right now. Mochizuki-kun can just go over there."

Saikai Haruto seemed to be surprised by his good temper. After two seconds of hesitation, he decisively and unceremoniously chose to press the issue: "In that case, can you give me the crime scene investigation permit for the third case as well, Sakaguchi-kun?"

Sakaguchi Binggo responded as usual very readily.

This time it was Xi Haiqing Dou's turn to hang up the phone without saying a word.

...The response was so quick that it was easy for him to wonder if there was a trap waiting for him to step into.

"... Mochizuki-kun's personality really hasn't changed at all."

On the other side, Sakaguchi Binggo looked at the screen on his mobile phone showing that the call had been hung up with a dumb smile and shook his head.

He turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket. He turned to look at the man in a black suit standing in front of him, smiling knowingly but helplessly: "Sakurai-kun, is there anything you want to say? Just ask."

The handsome black-haired man named "Sakurai" raised his head. He was still the young man who had been following Saikai Haruto outside for the past two days. Today, the member of the Special Powers Special Agent Department who was following Saikai Haruto had been replaced by another one.

The young man smiled shyly, looking a little nervous: "Sorry, Sakaguchi-senpai, I'm just a little curious..."

Under Sakaguchi Bingwu's calm gaze, Sakurai expressed his doubts: "Sakaguchi-senpai, why don't you just let Mr. Mochizuki cooperate with our Special Ability Division, but do the other way around? And you gave him so many conveniences. Also, how did you know... Mr. Mochizuki would go to investigate the crime scene of the second case at this time today?"

Sakaguchi Bingwu put the cap on the pen that he had just used to correct a document, tapped the desk, glanced at Sakurai, who had a frown on his face and a hint of discontent that he himself did not notice, and asked instead, "Before answering these questions, let me ask you, Sakurai, how much do you know about Mochizuki Kaoru?"

"Oh, yes!" Unexpectedly, his boss started to test him. Sakurai straightened his back and began to recite the information that had already been engraved in his mind in a serious manner.

"Mochizuki Kaoru, original name unknown, age unknown, has been living in Yokohama since returning from England seven years ago, but her whereabouts before that are all unknown. From seven years ago to now, she has always claimed to be in her 20s, and her age registered in official information is currently 27 years old. She is an active mystery novelist. Her pen name since her debut has always been Mochizuki Kurumi - 'Kurumi' is taken from a pot of hyacinths that she has been raising at home. She claims to be an ordinary Yokohama citizen and a non-psychic. According to herself, she is introverted and withdrawn, does not like to communicate with the outside world, and does not like to deal with people, so the outside world has not revealed any information about 'Mochizuki Kurumi'."

"...However, according to the investigation and speculation of the Special Powers Division, he was most likely a killer and intelligence dealer nicknamed 'Dead Soul' who roamed Europe several years ago.

It is said that no one has ever seen him kill someone, but those who oppose him always die in the end, or they inexplicably fight and kill each other. He is also a man of bad character, extremely cruel, good at playing with people's hearts, and is said to have a terrifying mind and powerful supernatural powers that can see through the opponent with just one glance. He doesn't even look like a human being, but a dead soul from hell, so he got this nickname. "

"…Although there have been rumors that the 'Dead Soul' disappeared seven years ago and was strangled by many people with special abilities, there has also been a rumor that he is not dead yet, but just faked his death and escaped with a new identity due to insufficient evidence. According to the information from our spy Matsui who went to Europe seven years ago and met the 'Dead Soul' himself, the appearance and figure of 'Mochizuki Kaoru' are very similar to those of 'Dead Soul', and the last country where 'Dead Soul' was found before he disappeared was the United Kingdom, which also coincides with the place where 'Mochizuki Kaoru' first appeared in his current identity. Therefore, the Special Powers Division has always suspected that 'Mochizuki Kaoru' is the 'Dead Soul' seven years ago."

Sakurai finished memorizing the information about "Mochizuki Kaoru" in one breath, just like memorizing a textbook. His expression suddenly became a little tangled. He paused and continued, "But based on my tracking of his whereabouts in the past two days, his various behaviors seem very normal, without any abnormal behavior. No matter how you look at it, he doesn't look like a psychic with special abilities..."

He raised his head and looked at Sakaguchi Bingwu with a puzzled look in his eyes: "Senior Sakaguchi, is Mochizuki Kaoru really a dead soul?"

Although it sounds speechless that his former angel summoned their supernatural special forces to help keep an eye on passers-by and robbers who voluntarily surrendered to the Metropolitan Police Department...but this behavior can barely be said to be "worthy of being an enthusiastic citizen of Yokohama". After all, the "Devil's City" Yokohama is full of demons and weirdos everywhere.

But in other places... Forgive his poor eyesight, he really didn't see any similarities between Mochizuki Kaoru and other esper users. Compared to most other esper users in Yokohama, he was indeed infinitely closer to an ordinary citizen who just lived in Yokohama.

Sakaguchi Bingwu kept tapping the pen on the table. "Spy Matsui once had the same question as you."

"Six years ago."

"Matsui said that he suspected that Mochizuki Kaoru might just be a pawn set by the dead soul, and not the real person. The dead soul might just happen to look like Mochizuki Kaoru, and maybe he came to him for this reason."

"This... doesn't this make this matter even more suspicious?"

Sakurai was puzzled: "After all, Mr. Matsui is a person who has actually seen the appearance of a dead soul."

Six years ago, the Special Forces had been tracking and investigating Mochizuki Kaoru for about a year, right? After a year, the Special Forces hadn't found anything wrong with him, which meant that he wasn't a dead soul, right?

"That's why I felt that something was wrong with him."

Sakaguchi Bingwu said: "Apart from the existence of the dead souls themselves, I don't think that a person as smart and sharp as Mochizuki Kaoru would be so easily tricked by the dead souls."

"The same goes for Mr. Natsume."

You know, the first time Matsui happened to see Mochizuki Kaoru was next to Natsume Soseki.

Wanting to plot against two smart people, Natsume Soseki and Mochizuki Kaoru, at the same time without them noticing the clues and the aberrations... This is not an easy task.

Of course, it is possible that it was the influence of the dead soul's supernatural power, which is said to be so mysterious that no one knows what it is, but if it was really the dead soul's calculation, then what benefits could he get?

If he wanted to use this opportunity to "escape from the shell" and pass his identity to Mochizuki Kaoru, then Matsui would not be the only one who knew about it - the whole world would know about it.

And if it was out of personal grudge, then with Mochizuki Kaoru's personality, she would not be like this and not do anything to fight back against the dead souls in seven years.

Sakaguchi Bing stopped at five points: "Moreover, no matter what the reason is, considering the dead souls and Mochizuki Kaoru's status, there has been no movement in the past seven years, which is the biggest unreasonable thing."

The expression on his face was full of inexplicable meaning: "What you have seen so far is only the tip of the iceberg above the surface of the sea. Do you really think that someone who can see through the position of an elite intelligence agent of the Special Ability Department at a glance, and whose past seven years has never been discovered by anyone, is an ordinary citizen? Perhaps what you can see is just what he wants you to see."

Sakurai nodded as if he understood something.

"So it is more likely that Mochizuki Kaoru is really the dead soul himself?" He frowned seriously, feeling a little numb.

——If he really is, then how terrifying would it be for a guy like this to have gone unnoticed by the Special Powers Special Agents for seven years?

"Relax, Sakurai. This is not the point." Sakaguchi Binggo shook his head helplessly.

"Whether he is a dead soul or not, as long as he does not cause any major impact on Yokohama, it doesn't matter... or rather, it's not that important."

This is also the reason why the Special Powers Department chose to give up monitoring and observing Mochizuki Kaoru after the war was declared over six years ago.

After all, their Special Ability Department never interferes in the world of ordinary people, nor does it exist to "punish" people with special abilities.

"And even if he is not a dead soul, Mochizuki Kaoru himself is someone who should not be underestimated."

He changed the subject: "Sakurai, do you think it's true that he said he is not a person with special abilities?"

Sakurai's mind was in a mess at this point: "... is this also fake?"

Sakaguchi Bingwu pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, and a hint of smile flashed in his brown eyes: "I don't know the answer to this either."

Sakurai involuntarily said "Huh?"

Sakaguchi Binggo nodded naturally to show that he was not wrong.

"And the reason why he chose to go to the second crime scene today..."

Sakaguchi Bingwu's voice was tinged with a faint smile: "You can probably understand it as an intuition of knowing each other for many years?"

——Just like delaying the completion of a novel, when faced with troublesome matters like this, Mochizuki Kaoru has always been a bit of a procrastinator, but she won't delay for long, a day is enough.

"...Huh?" This time Sakurai was confused again.

"cough."

"But regardless of whether he is a psychic or not, he must have a good understanding of psychics and psychics. And Mochizuki Kaoru herself is already able to surpass many psychics."

Sakaguchi Bingwu coughed lightly and said seriously, then tapped his head with his fingers and gave him an example: "Like the little detective from the Armed Detective Agency, and the kid who recently emerged from the Port Mafia and was rumored to be the 'new leader's sword'... Sometimes supernatural powers are secondary."

At the end, his eyes flickered slightly.

"…So, Sakurai, please be careful when recording the information about Mochizuki-sensei during your shifts in the future. Please help me record it down."

"Yes! Don't worry, Commander Sakaguchi. I will do my best to get everything done!"

Sakurai immediately put on an expression that was ten times more serious than usual, and responded solemnly - he looked as if he was about to rush to some major battlefield.

"...There's no need to be so serious. Relax. Mochizuki-kun isn't a cannibal. Just be like usual."

Did he accidentally exaggerate the matter by saying too much? Sakaguchi Bingwu was simply at a loss for words.

However, at this moment, on the other side, Haruto Nishimi, who has already arrived at the scene of the second case, feels that he really wants to "eat people".

The expression on the graceful face of the young man in kimono was now cold and almost indifferent, and his eyes were as sharp as a sword. Just one glance was enough to make people feel more stressed, and it was obvious that he must be in a bad mood at the moment.

To put it more exaggeratedly, it would be to the extent that even a timid person would kneel down in front of him.

If Sakaguchi Binggo was standing in front of him at this moment, he would definitely not be able to say such words to Sakurai.

However, Saikai Haruto himself has no such awareness at all.

He narrowed his eyes tactically and pushed up his glasses, pursed his lips, and stared at the young man dressed in black standing not far away for three full seconds before shifting his gaze.

Black inner wear, black suit and trousers, black tie, and black coat.

No, there were actually a few areas that weren't black—white bandages wrapped around his face and hands, with some parts of them showing a hint of red.

The white bandage wrapped around his face covered part of his facial features, and his long black bangs and the high collar of his coat, plus the angle at which he was standing only allowed people to see half of his profile, made it difficult for Xihai Haruto to see his appearance clearly.

But he still recognized who the boy was at a glance.

Even without the "name display above his head", he would never mistake someone. In other words, almost everyone who knew him would never mistake him.

——Dazai Osamu.

The first thing that came to Haruto Nishimi's mind was not the joy of "meeting the main characters and having the chance to participate in comics and forums", but an unknown chill that suddenly rose from his spine, like a conditioned reflex.

How come he is here now?