"Inspector Megure, what's the situation?"
Inside an ordinary car parked by the street, Kogoro Mouri asked nervously. Anyone who'd been informed that their first-floor tenant was a suspected terrorist would be just as panicked as him.
His daughter was still on the third floor. What if the suspect took her hostage during the police operation?
"Calm down, Mouri. Director Luo has already gone in. With his abilities, Ran will be fine."
At this point, Juzo Megure could offer no more than such reassurance. Though he knew Luo Shu was a special individual with supernatural abilities, he couldn't explain this to Kogoro Mouri—he could only praise Luo Shu's extraordinary capabilities in solving problems.
"I understand, Inspector Megure." Kogoro Mouri looked at the plastic bag in his hand containing cold medicine and sighed.
He knew this situation could only be resolved by relying on the police's capabilities. Though he was a detective, detectives solved cases—they didn't deal with terrorists.
Just then, Miwako Sato in the passenger seat suddenly spoke up:
"Inspector Megure, Director Luo is coming out—and there's an elderly man following him."
Hearing this, everyone, including Wataru Takagi, who was in the driver's seat, turned their attention to the café entrance on the first floor of the Mouri Detective Agency.
At that moment, Luo Shu pushed open the café door and stepped out first, followed by Yoshimura with his hands behind his back, and Kisara bringing up the rear.
Seeing Luo Shu effectively flanking Yoshimura, Juzo Megure exhaled in relief:
"Just as Director Luo said, the suspect is cooperating with him."
"Now, as long as the staff inside don't make any moves, we'll maintain surveillance and wait for Director Luo's results."
Turning to Kogoro Mouri, he smiled: "Mouri, the most dangerous suspect has been taken away by Director Luo. You can go home now and take Ran somewhere safe."
Kogoro Mouri immediately relaxed, though his gaze still held traces of fear as he watched Yoshimura follow Luo Shu into a car.
He never would have imagined that Yoshimura—such a kindly-looking old man—could be a terrorist, or that the café beneath his office was actually a terrorist hideout.
This was far too stressful for his heart.
"I'll go get Ran right away."
Seeing Kogoro Mouri step out of the car, Juzo Megure's expression immediately changed. He picked up the communicator and said gravely:
"Team A continue surveillance. Team B notify the Black Dragon Society support personnel to prepare for entry into the café and monitor the other staff on site."
"Remember, the staff are highly dangerous with extremely lethal weapons. All Metropolitan Police Department members should maintain distance and conduct long-range surveillance. On-site monitoring will be handled by Black Dragon Society members."
"Inspector Megure..."
From the passenger seat, Miwako Sato opened her mouth, wanting to volunteer for on-site surveillance. After all, having gang members handle the most dangerous part of a police operation would be challenging to explain to the public.
Seeing through Miwako Sato's thoughts, Juzo Megure immediately said sternly:
"Professional work should be done by professionals, Assistant Inspector Sato."
"Compared to the martial artists of the Black Dragon Society, ordinary police officers are no match for them. Understood!"
"Yes!" Miwako Sato quickly responded, though her eyes still showed traces of unwillingness.
'Martial artists...' Miwako Sato repeated silently in her mind, already forming some ideas.
Behind the car where Juzo Megure was stationed, on the rooftop of a nearby house.
Noriyuki Izuna, lying prone at the balcony edge, lowered his binoculars and turned to Yomi Isayama standing beside him:
"Yomi, that suspicious man has come out. He's brought an elderly man into the car - likely the Ghoul mentioned in the report. It seems SDS has found a breakthrough in the case."
Yomi Isayama coldly wiped her treasured blade with cotton gauze as she replied:
"Which direction did they go?"
Noriyuki Izuna mentally calculated before replying:
"Most likely towards the suburban forest of Beika City."
At this point, he hesitated slightly:
"Are we really going to pursue them?"
"If we're caught tracking SDS members, Chief Kyouraku could face disciplinary action."
Yomi Isayama sheathed her freshly maintained sword and said calmly:
"But obtaining intelligence on an SDS member's abilities would give the Chief enough leverage to protect us from any repercussions."
"As for the Ghoul situation, that's just a bonus. Though supplementary, it'll serve well enough for official reports."
Having said this, Yomi turned away:
"Enough talk. We should get moving."
With that, she strode towards the stairwell without waiting.
Perched on the balcony ledge, Noriyuki watched Yomi's retreating back with resignation:
'Investigating SDS abilities? Please. This is all because of that eerie man's divination during our meeting at the Metropolitan Police Department!'
Noriyuki wasn't foolish. He knew Yomi's real concern was her childhood friend, Kagura Tsuchimiya. After hearing Luo Shu's prophecy about misfortune befalling those close to Yomi, how could she possibly remain indifferent?
In the dubious world of fortune-telling, those most skilled at altering fate were invariably the diviners themselves. And in Noriyuki's eyes, Luo Shu fit that description perfectly.
'But asking an SDS member to change Yomi's fortune? That's pushing it. Wouldn't it be easier to trouble the Onmyou Agency's people...'
Though he thought this, Noriyuki also knew the Onmyou Agency's diviners didn't come cheap.
"Guess we'll just have to play it by ear."
With a sigh, Noriyuki stood up, brushed off his trousers, and hurried after Yomi.
...
The black sedan wound through the mountain-encircling forest roads of Beika City's outskirts before finally stopping at a clearing halfway up a mountain.
Click.
The rear doors opened simultaneously as Yoshimura, in his waiter's suit, and Luo Shu, carrying a white metal case, emerged from opposite sides.
After both had disembarked, Kisara, in the driver's seat, glanced at Luo Shu before reversing back onto the mountain road, leaving the two men alone in the clearing.
Yoshimura paid no mind to Kisara's departure. Instead, his gaze fell upon the aged railing at the clearing's edge before travelling beyond it to the distant mountain ranges and clear skies beyond.
"Fine scenery," he remarked.
Turning back, he watched Luo Shu carrying the case as the younger man slowly advanced into the clearing, maintaining a 30-metre distance between them. Yoshimura smiled:
"Rather wasted as my burial site, don't you think?"
"The test duration is fifteen minutes."
Luo Shu produced an hourglass from his pocket and placed it atop a nearby rock.
Standing with hands clasped behind his back, Yoshimura chuckled:
"If I last fifteen minutes, I get to live?"
Luo Shu looked up at the death-resigned Yoshimura and stated calmly:
"Yes. And that includes those at the café."
Yoshimura fell silent at this before sighing:
"Even if the Ghouls face extinction?"
"Even if the Ghouls face extinction," Luo Shu confirmed with unflinching composure.
Yoshimura paused for a moment, then silently removed his white gloves.
At the same time, his perpetually narrowed eyes slowly opened, revealing the crimson orbs beneath:
"If that's the case, then this old man has no choice but to go all out!"
As his words fell—
Six black-red tentacles slashed through the air, leaving bloody trails in their wake.
Amidst the sharp howl of wind, they surged towards Luo Shu with terrifying force!!