Hikari explained, "Just like Investigator Ikazuchi said before, I was going to be involved in the follow-up investigation anyway. Otherwise, some of the information I provide might be misunderstood. In that regard, it's necessary for me to take part."
"And then there's another reason. For certain reasons, I hate these drug-related criminals with a passion. I even want to personally bring them to justice."
Hearing Hikari's words, Ikazuchi Rika had already imagined a whole tragic story of his parents being killed by drug criminals and a young boy living alone. She immediately looked at him with some sympathy.
Hikari didn't explain further. As long as he achieved his goal, that was enough.
Even so, Ikazuchi Rika still shook her head and refused.
"Sorry, Hikari-kun. Although I understand why you want to be involved now, I still can't let you join the investigation and surveillance of the suspects."
"Why?", Hikari's expression barely changed. He simply looked at Ikazuchi Rika in confusion.
"Because of safety," Ikazuchi Rika said.
"Safety?", Hikari raised an eyebrow slightly.
"That's right. As an investigator with the Metropolitan Police Department, I have a responsibility to ensure the safety of innocent civilians like you."
"Those drug manufacturers are often vicious and extremely dangerous. Some of them may already have several murders on their records."
"Dealing with people like that is very, very dangerous. That's why I can't let you get involved. It would simply be too risky for you."
Since he had provided her with so much information, Ikazuchi Rika carefully explained everything to him.
Hearing her words, Hikari was speechless for a moment.
Because her concern really was reasonable.
Judging by appearances alone, he was just a high school student.
And he obviously couldn't go around telling people how many Minotaurs he had killed and use it as a record of achievements.
So Ikazuchi Rika's concern, care, and refusal were completely understandable.
However, for the sake of some plans later on, he still needed to get involved.
After thinking for a moment, Hikari looked directly into Ikazuchi Rika's bright eyes and said seriously, "So Investigator Ikazuchi is worried about my safety. In that case, I don't think you need to worry. I can protect myself."
Hearing that, Ikazuchi Rika couldn't help frowning slightly.
Because unlike the mature and sensible impression he had given her before, what he just said sounded exactly like one of those foolish young men who didn't know their limits and only had passion.
To be honest, she found that type of young men rather annoying.
After all, this was something that could get someone killed.
Seeing her continue staring at him in silence, Hikari could guess what she was thinking.
He immediately said, "Let's have a match."
Ikazuchi Rika looked at him in surprise, "A match? Between you and me?"
"Yeah. I can prove that I have the ability to protect myself and won't become unnecessary trouble during the investigation," Hikari said.
"Hikari-kun, investigating and monitoring drug criminals is very dangerous. I'm not joking with you!", Ikazuchi Rika said with a serious expression.
"I'm not joking with Investigator Ikazuchi either. If you won't let me join the investigation, then I won't participate in any later plans either."
Hikari also put on a stern face and looked straight at her.
"You!"
Hearing that, Ikazuchi Rika got a headache.
She was very grateful for the information he had provided.
That was exactly why she cared even more about his safety and didn't want him involved in surveillance work.
But if he refused to cooperate with the follow-up investigation, then they really did need him to clarify some of the vague information.
So now she couldn't decide whether to agree or refuse.
After hesitating for a while, Ikazuchi Rika said with some dissatisfaction, "A match is fine. But I should tell you that as an investigator, I've received systematic training."
"I've trained too," Hikari replied seriously.
"You..."
Hearing that, the somewhat irritated Ikazuchi Rika suddenly laughed.
"What have you trained in?", she asked with amusement.
"Um..."
Faced with her doubtful gaze, Hikari actually hesitated.
Not because he lacked confidence.
It was just that he had learned too many combat skills through self-study and system rewards. He genuinely didn't know which one to mention.
In the end, he casually said, "Judo. I'm a black belt in judo."
"Pfft!"
Seeing his hesitant appearance, Ikazuchi Rika couldn't help laughing again. She felt he had probably made it up.
If one of her colleagues or subordinates lied to her like this, she might get angry.
But the person in front of her only looked like a high school student. He was also rather handsome and gave off the feeling of a puppy.
So she only found him cute and funny.
Besides, even if he really had learned judo and really was a black belt, compared to professionals like them, he was still an amateur. There was no way he could beat her.
After laughing for a while, Ikazuchi Rika finally said, "Alright then. Let's have this match. If you lose, you can't make any more dangerous requests about joining the investigation and surveillance of suspects."
"Okay. If I win, then Investigator Ikazuchi agrees to my proposal," Hikari said.,
"Deal!"
Ikazuchi Rika finally agreed.
Of course, her real intention was to use the match to show him the gap between himself, professional investigators, and actual criminals so that he would back down on his own.
The two then left the cafe.
But they didn't go anywhere formal like a martial arts gym.
Instead, they found a sandbox in a children's park and decided to use it as their fighting area.
The reason they chose such a casual location was simple.
Both Hikari and Ikazuchi Rika felt they could easily defeat the other.
The two stood facing each other on the soft sand.
Hikari took off his jacket, revealing his well-defined arms.
Ikazuchi Rika also removed her gray suit jacket, revealing the short-sleeved white shirt underneath.
Her pale arms and delicate collarbones were exposed to the air. The full curves beneath the fitted shirt pushed it outward, making it seem as though the buttons on her chest were about to pop open at any moment.
After stretching her limbs and paying no attention to her chest, Ikazuchi Rika raised her right arm and crooked a finger at him.
"Come on, little brother. I'll let you make the first move."
Hikari's insistence on joining the operation despite her objections had actually made her a little angry.
So she planned to teach him a small lesson during this match.
However, Hikari shook his head, "Investigator Ikazuchi, you go first."
Hearing that, Ikazuchi Rika raised an eyebrow.
Originally, she planned to teach him a lesson after countering his attack.
But if she moved first and knocked him down in a single move, the result would probably be just as effective. He should realize the difference and give up.
"Alright!"
Ikazuchi Rika agreed immediately.
The moment she finished speaking, she dashed forward.
Her left leg swept toward the back of Hikari's heel while her arms moved to wrap around his torso. She intended to use a shoulder throw to end the match instantly.
But what completely caught her off guard was that things did not go the way she expected at all.
When her leg made contact with his ankle, she couldn't move his foot in the slightest.
Hikari's stance was as steady as an old tree rooted to the ground.
Before Ikazuchi Rika could recover from her surprise, Hikari grabbed her shoulder and used her force against her, easily throwing her onto the soft sand of the playground.
"I... I lost?"
Even after her back hit the sand, Ikazuchi Rika was still stunned.
Taking the hand Hikari offered, she got back to her feet.
After brushing the sand from the skirt of her uniform, she looked at him with surprise and reluctance.
"I was careless just now."
"I can tell you've trained."
"But I really was careless. I underestimated you because of your age."
"How about this? It's not that I'm going back on my word. It's for your safety. Let's have another match," Ikazuchi Rika said to him.
"Okay."
Hikari didn't complain about her changing the terms. Instead, he agreed immediately.
Ikazuchi Rika let out a sigh of relief and took up her fighting stance again.
"This time, I'll attack first," Hikari said.
"Okay."
Ikazuchi Rika focused completely on his movements, planning to use the professional grappling techniques she had learned at the academy to subdue him.
Whoosh!
Her vision blurred.
The next moment, Hikari had already appeared at her side.
Her heel was suddenly hooked.
An arm reached toward her chest.
Hikari was actually trying to use the same move she had used earlier to throw her to the ground.
At the critical moment, Ikazuchi Rika steadied herself and blocked his arm.
But Hikari's strength was unexpectedly great.
In short, after several rounds of fighting, her arms, legs, and torso had all been entangled by his limbs. He had even nearly put her in an armbar.
After personally experiencing just how high his level of judo was, Ikazuchi Rika was ultimately defeated.
Her back once again landed fully against the soft sand.
Most of the hair that had originally been tied into a bun had come loose.
One button on her shirt had popped open, revealing a deep line of white skin.
Her fitted uniform skirt was also in disarray.
Looking every bit like a defeated investigator, Ikazuchi Rika had no choice but to admit that she had lost.
"Hikari-kun, you won again..."
Taking the hand he offered her once more, Ikazuchi Rika stood up.
As she fastened the button on her chest, she spoke to him with surprise and helplessness.
"It was a close win. Investigator Ikazuchi's skills really are impressive."
Hikari wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled.
At this moment, strands of hair were stuck to Ikazuchi Rika's forehead with sweat.
She was breathing heavily and her clothes were messy, making her look quite disheveled.
The match with Hikari had put a lot of pressure on her.
Hikari also looked as though he had gone through an intense fight and was exhausted.
But with his physical abilities, he could have put Ikazuchi Rika on the ground in less than a second.
He simply didn't want to appear too outrageous, so he pretended the fight was difficult and made it look like they had struggled intensely.
Still, he wasn't completely lying.
During the match, he had discovered that Ikazuchi Rika's combat skills were genuinely good.
Though compared to her skills, this investigator's body was even more flexible.
Since he had claimed to know judo, there had been plenty of physical contact during the match.
Ikazuchi Rika had been under too much pressure to notice anything.
But Hikari could clearly tell that her figure was far more impressive than it looked to the naked eye. Pulling back his surprised gaze from her body, Ikazuchi Rika remained silent.
Hikari then took the initiative to ask, "Investigator Ikazuchi, what you said earlier still stands, right?"
Although she was still somewhat unwilling, she remembered how he had locked all four of her limbs in place with that near armbar and how she couldn't even bring her legs together while being restrained.
In the end, she nodded, "Yeah. A promise is a promise. I'll take you with me on the surveillance mission."
Since she had lost, Ikazuchi Rika couldn't exactly break her word.
After all, much of the information had come from Hikari, and some places required him to personally lead the way.
Without his cooperation, the investigation would be difficult to continue.
After settling the matter, Ikazuchi Rika put away her serious expression and returned to her usual easygoing self.
Rubbing her thighs, arms, stomach, and other places that still ached from the judo match, she asked curiously, "Hikari-kun, who taught you judo? How are you this good?"
Hikari answered casually, "I learned it in a club. A senior taught me."
Ikazuchi Rika was speechless.
"Wait, are clubs at your school really this strong?"
Stronger than the professional combat training at their police academy?
Hikari replied, "Maybe I'm just naturally gifted."
Ikazuchi Rika had nothing to say to that.
After a moment of silence, she nodded.
"Yeah, you really are talented. For example, you're incredibly strong. Earlier you had me pinned down so hard that I could barely move."
"By the way, with talent like yours, have you thought about becoming a police officer in the future? I could mentor you when the time comes."
[T/N: If you are liking the novel so far, considering leaving a review, power stone and comment below the chapter. You can also join the p@treon to support if you want. Enjoy~ Have a great day.]