Night deepened.
Yet police cars with flashing lights lined the streets.
"Reporting to Inspector Megure, Block A barricades are up."
"Block B barricades established."
"Blocks C and D are sealed off."
Confirming all roads were prepared, Juzo Megure took a deep breath before speaking into his radio:
"All units, attention. A blue Ferrari, license plate Shinagawa 5999, will soon pass through our cordoned area. No one is to intercept. Repeat, no interception authorised."
He paused, glancing at Miwako Sato beside him before asking quietly:
"Where's the car now?"
Miwako Sato turned her head to look into the nearby police car, glancing at the red signal on the equipment before turning back to say:
"They should be passing by us soon, Inspector Megure."
"I see..." Juzo Megure paused upon hearing this, his face darkening as he spoke to Miwako Sato: "No matter what happens later, don't act impulsively, understand?"
Hearing these words, Miwako Sato and the surrounding officers responsible for blocking the road all fell silent.
Beep beep!
The sound of a car horn blared.
A blue convertible Ferrari with license plate Shinagawa 5999 slowly pulled up beside the police car.
From the driver's seat on the left, a strikingly beautiful blonde woman with curly hair, dressed in blue nun's attire but wearing sunglasses, waved at Juzo Megure and the others:
"Good work, everyone. Keep it up~~"
Seeing this, Wataru Takagi couldn't help muttering: "This is way too brazen..."
"Superintendent, calm down..." Miwako Sato grabbed Megure, who was rolling up his sleeves, and quickly said: "Weren't you the one who said no matter what happens, we shouldn't act impulsively?"
"...I know."
Megure stopped his movements, took a deep breath, and then said to Sharon:
"Just leave quickly, Miss Criminal. Though I don't know how you managed it, please stop provoking us."
"Hmm..." Sharon slightly raised her chin, then smiled and said, "I see. So you're in the know."
Megure was silent for a moment before explaining:
"I was the one previously responsible for sealing off the area around that apartment building to facilitate the operation team's work."
"My, what a coincidence." Sharon showed an expression of realisation, then asked curiously: "Did the operation team members die?"
Hearing this, Megure frowned. As a police officer, he very much wanted to arrest this extremely dangerous terrorist before him. Still, at the same time, he was also curious why there had been no casualties in the special operations team:
"All 54 members of the special operations team involved in the mission indeed survived without casualties."
Sharon made clicking sounds with her tongue upon hearing this:
"Tsk tsk tsk, worth recording! Seems my marksmanship is really quite accurate!"
After saying this, Sharon casually asked Megure, "How about inviting me to be an instructor at your Metropolitan Police Department?"
"That won't be necessary," Megure said through gritted teeth, his face dark.
Inviting a terrorist to be a shooting instructor? Wouldn't that completely ruin the authorities' dignity?
"What a pity..." Sharon said this while waving her hand: "Well then, see you next time, Megure-boy~"
As the sports car started up and drove away, Megure's face turned green.
As someone who always called others "boy", being addressed as "boy" by a woman young enough to be his daughter was utterly humiliating.
"Damn it... Why did those higher-ups have to let her go!!"
"Superintendent, calm down, stay calm!" Though Miwako Sato was also furious, she felt she should still try to calm Megure down - couldn't they see how dark his face had turned?
Nearby, officers from the violent crimes division who were cooperating on the mission came over, cursing:
"Never seen such an arrogant criminal before."
"And she's a nun too. Did her faith lead her straight to hell?"
"Exactly, a woman like her becoming a nun is practically blasphemy."
"Am I the only one who thinks that nun was kinda hot?"
As these words fell, all the officers turned to look at Wataru Takagi, who had spoken.
"Uh..." Takagi's expression froze as he awkwardly scratched his cheek: "Did I say something wrong?"
Beside them, Megure turned his head and said meaningfully: "Takagi-boy!"
"Sir!"
"Write a 10,000-word self-criticism report and hand it in tomorrow morning. Understood?"
"But Superintendent, it's already almost 10 pm..."
"Understood?"
"...Understood, Inspector."
Wataru Takagi was in tears.
...
Driving at 100 mph through the bustling streets of Tokyo, Luo Shu was now experiencing this firsthand.
The speed was exhilarating, the wind too intense, slightly chilly, and the Ferrari seats were truly uncomfortable, straining his back.
Beyond these sensations, having a dedicated police escort did prove remarkably convenient, ensuring an unimpeded journey onto the airport-bound expressway...
'To think they'd actually let us go without being hijacked? That woman?'
Sharon seemed incredulous that Ryōko Yakushiji would honour her word so faithfully.
Understanding Sharon's unspoken question, Luo Shu remarked calmly:
"Normally impossible, of course. But for a woman who's ingested Succubus Blood, this outcome becomes plausible."
'Succubus Blood...' Sharon's expression grew complex at the mention of the name.
"Indeed, Succubus Blood – extracted from a Succubus's heart."
Luo Shu showed no compunction about admitting his misdeeds:
"Diluted, of course. But this serves as an anchor point, allowing the Demon Heart's bearer to influence Miss Yakushiji's thoughts subtly."
Hearing this, Sharon fell silent:
'So that pill she took earlier was diluted Succubus Blood?'
"Correct."
Luo Shu sighed with an almost merciful tone:
"Aside from her sharp tongue, the young mistress hasn't committed any true evils. A wounded arm, some Succubus Blood, occasional hypnosis to facilitate matters – that suffices."
"After all, Sharon is kind-hearted, isn't she?"
'But you're utterly depraved...' Sharon could already envision Ryōko Yakushiji's grim future.
Demon substances, especially Succubus Blood, carried severe corruptive properties. Once contaminated, purification would prove extraordinarily difficult.
Not that Sharon would intervene in Yakushiji's fate – her immediate concern was their own safety.
'So how do you plan to lose our pursuers?'
Since entering the expressway, surveillance vehicles had tailed them – clearly official personnel.
Despite Yakushiji's repeated orders to stand down, certain Metropolitan Police Department factions refused to release such a dangerous element as Sharon.
With roadblocks established, this expressway environment also permitted the deployment of heavier weaponry.
"Let's meet in person."
Luo Shu suddenly declared.
'You think now's appropriate for that?' Sharon's tone betrayed unease.
Yet Luo Shu countered:
"Perfect timing, no?"
As the words faded, Sharon's vision transformed into pure whiteness.