At Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital.
In the intensive care unit.
A square-jawed man in a black business suit, with a vertical scar running down his right eye, stood solemnly by the glass window observing the still-sleeping patient inside.
The ICU patient had a full, grizzled beard and an ugly scar marring his right cheek. His head had been shaved bald during emergency treatment.
On the blue-and-white hospital bed, the patient breathed laboriously, each breath weak and hollow.
"Kuroda..."
Gazing at his unconscious subordinate lying on the hospital bed through the glass window, Kiyonaga Matsumoto couldn't help but murmur to himself.
The doctors and nurses passing by barely dared to breathe when they saw Director Matsumoto standing there.
Normally, ordinary family members weren't permitted in this intensive care unit. Unfortunately, the visitor wasn't an ordinary relative but a high-ranking official from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Even the hospital director didn't dare suggest the visitor should leave, let alone ordinary doctors and nurses.
Medical staff hurried past as if burdened with endless tasks.
"Begin recording patient status."
"Vital signs normal, respiration normal..."
Matsumoto watched the doctors and nurses work in silence, simply observing quietly.
As Matsumoto observed his severely injured old subordinate, a portly man in a brown suit with a matching trench coat approached swiftly and quietly, then saluted:
"Director Matsumoto, Juzo Megure reporting."
Seeing this veteran officer promoted by Hyoue Kuroda arrive, Matsumoto merely glanced at Megure before asking:
"What's the situation?"
Megure's expression shifted several times before he gritted his teeth and replied:
"Following intelligence provided by Director Luo Shu, we've apprehended a group of Phenex cult members. Interrogations are being expedited."
Matsumoto's grim expression remained unchanged:
"How soon can we expect results?"
Megure hesitated, then lowered his head: "...Apologies. I can't guarantee anything."
Without looking at Megure, Matsumoto said calmly:
"Megure, do you know why you've remained stuck at inspector rank all these years?"
Megure replied somewhat awkwardly: "Perhaps because I wasn't a University of Tokyo graduate, but promoted from frontline duty?"
"That is indeed one reason."
Matsumoto didn't deny University of Tokyo graduates' privileged status within the department, but this wasn't his main point:
"The other reason is you're too honest."
"Over the years, to solve cases, you've relied heavily on detectives - Yusaku Kudo initially, then Shinichi Kudo, plus that Asuka family child. I've heard you've even received help from that Toudaiji family kid and Hakuba Saguru."
"Setting aside our own personnel's children, you've reported every detail of these detectives' case solutions. True, you never actively informed the media, but what was the result?"
"Thanks to media efforts, the Metropolitan Police Department's authority eroded while detectives' reputations soared. That Kudo boy was even called the department's saviour?"
"Don't you bear some responsibility for this?"
"Do you know how displeased senior officials are with you?"
"They'd rather see criminals go free than have you solve cases this way using outsiders."
"If not for Kuroda, you'd have been transferred to traffic duty long ago. It's Kuroda who protected you. Understand?"
Megure immediately bowed his head and said urgently:
"Yes, sir! I remain deeply grateful to Manager Kuroda!"
"I remember, good that you remember."
Kiyonaga Matsumoto calmly glanced at Juzo Megure before saying:
"When can we expect intelligence on those cultists?"
Hearing this, Juzo Megure gritted his teeth and replied:
"I believe obtaining absolutely detailed intelligence may require Minister Luo Shu's assistance."
Having just been told by his superior's superior not to rely on external forces, only to pull this move immediately after, Juzo Megure was well aware of the risks.
There was a high probability he'd be seen as an incompetent subordinate. But if absolute efficiency was the goal, Juzo Megure could guarantee that Minister Luo Shu from the special division would possess extensive intelligence about this attack.
Upon hearing this, Kiyonaga Matsumoto gave Juzo Megure a long, penetrating look that made the latter break out in cold sweat.
Finally, Matsumoto chuckled:
"It seems you've grasped the meaning behind my earlier words."
Matsumoto raised his hand and patted Juzo Megure's shoulder, revealing what could almost be called a ferocious smile:
"Megure, remember this – there's nothing wrong with relying on others' strength, but that strength must come from within the Metropolitan Police Department."
"At the very least, it must appear to the outside world as the Metropolitan Police Department's strength."
Juzo Megure looked thoughtful at these words. So that was why Director Matsumoto hadn't objected to Hakuba Saguru, Asuka Daiki and that Miss Toudaiji assisting with the case earlier? Because they were all children of Metropolitan Police Department personnel?
Just as Juzo Megure was coming to this realisation, Matsumoto's expression gradually calmed:
"The attempted assassination of a Metropolitan Police Department superintendent, with the perpetrators remaining at large for nearly eight hours – the higher-ups are extremely displeased."
"Regardless, the masterminds behind this attack must be apprehended and punished to the fullest extent of the law!"
"In such circumstances, all resources of the Metropolitan Police Department may be mobilised."
Matsumoto emphasised "all resources" before fixing Juzo Megure with a stare:
"Megure, since Minister Luo values you, I'm entrusting this matter to you. You'll temporarily assume Kuroda's duties to resolve this incident."
"The Bujin-shū will assist your investigation to drag those criminals out of their hiding places and bring them to justice!"
As he spoke, Matsumoto patted Juzo Megure's shoulder meaningfully:
"Show the directors what you're made of!"
Hearing this, Juzo Megure immediately bowed solemnly:
"I will spare no effort!!"
Several minutes later, Juzo Megure walked out of the hospital entrance with a complicated expression, glancing back at the pristine white building as he muttered:
"Shinichi, Shinichi... It's not that old man Megure won't look after you anymore, but Minister Luo offers better value for money..."
With that, he glanced at Wataru Takagi and Miwako Sato standing by the patrol car in the parking lot, exhaled deeply, adjusted his hat with one hand, and strode forward.
...
LycoReco Café.
Luo Shu looked at the notebook placed before him, then raised his head to address Kurumi beside him:
"So this is the intelligence extracted from that cultist's severed head?"
"His entire 35 years of life are compiled here. Oh, plus this thing the Silver Princess gave us earlier..."
Kurumi spoke as she placed a golden, feather-like object in front of Luo Shu, then said:
"According to the princess's analysis, this should be a feather from a juvenile phoenix."
Upon hearing this, Luo Shu raised his eyebrows with an intrigued expression:
"A juvenile phoenix?"
"Now that's interesting."