Chapter 88: My Heart and Actions Are Utterly Unclouded
"What's wrong, can't lift your head?"
Yoru threw dozens of punches consecutively, knocking Akoya Seishu, who was hiding behind the riot shield, back four or five meters.
"Is your so-called justice merely this?"
Akoya Seishu's wrist trembled slightly. Looking at the several fist imprints protruding from his riot shield, he felt fear for the first time in his life.
This riot shield was made of sturdy metal that could withstand close-range pistol bullets.
Ordinary people couldn't even lift it with one hand.
Yet, it was beaten into this state by the criminal known as "Mask" with his bare hands?
Akoya Seishu had never seen a monster-level powerhouse whose physical fitness exceeded his so much in his life!
His thoughts coincided with Soichiro Yagami's at this moment.
The guy opposite...
Is he really a human body?
Akoya Seishu gritted his teeth, his eyes revealing a cold light.
His justice would never allow anyone to provoke it.
Akoya Seishu stood up abruptly, raised the riot shield with both hands, muscles on his arms bulging, and smashed it fiercely towards Yoru's head with all his strength.
"Justice Exec..."
Snap.
Before Akoya Seishu's shield could fall, Yoru raised his foot and kicked him straight in the chest.
Seeing Akoya Seishu sent flying by this kick and crashing into the front of the riot vehicle, Soichiro Yagami was stunned.
Akoya Seishu weighed 114kg!
Kicking him flying nearly ten meters—what amazing explosive power was this?
Yoru shook his head and smiled.
"Like executing justice? I'll make you fly."
"Ugh..."
The moment he hit the front of the car, Akoya Seishu felt severe pain from his back and heard a distinct cracking sound.
He didn't know how many bones he broke, only that he had no strength left in his body and couldn't even stand up if he tried.
"Oh?"
Seeing Akoya Seishu still had his eyes open, was still breathing, and could even groan in pain, Yoru walked up to him, squatted on one leg, looked at him with interest, and said with a smile.
"My kick didn't kill you directly? As expected of the strongest person in the police force, very impressive."
Listening to Yoru's words that sounded like praise, Akoya Seishu only felt humiliation in his heart.
He raised his head with difficulty, looked straight into Yoru's eyes, his face slightly distorted either from the severe pain in his body or from the paranoia and unwillingness in his heart.
"I, who represent justice... actually lost to evil..."
"Justice, evil?"
Yoru shook his head and said softly.
"Although I don't care about others' opinions on my actions, let me tell you my own thoughts."
He looked straight into Akoya Seishu's eyes and said calmly, word by word.
"My heart and actions are utterly unclouded. They are all those of 'Justice'." (Note: Steel Ball Run / Funny Valentine reference).
"Everything that stands in my way..."
"Is all Evil."
After saying that, without waiting for Akoya Seishu to reply, Yoru stood up, grabbed his head, and smashed it hard against the riot vehicle.
With a muffled sound, Akoya Seishu rolled his eyes and lost consciousness, his body falling limply to the ground.
The entire battle lasted less than a minute.
Soichiro Yagami had only one impression of this.
Crushing.
A completely one-sided crushing.
He never imagined that Akoya Seishu, the strongest combat power of the police force, would lose in a one-on-one fight.
And lose so miserably.
"That's about it."
Looking at Akoya Seishu lying on the ground, Yoru just shook his head nonchalantly.
Unfortunately, the opponent came at the wrong time.
If, like Kure Raian last time, Akoya Seishu came to challenge him when his identity was Yoru, a student of Class 1-A at Sobu High, he might have fought a bit longer.
But this time, Akoya Seishu chose to challenge him when he was "Mask."
This meant Yoru didn't need to hold back or hide his true strength.
Although Akoya Seishu was the strongest in the police force, the outcome of this battle was doomed from the start.
Yoru didn't even use any combat skills, just pure physical domination.
Combat skills were the means he used to win when he didn't want to use full strength.
As "Mask," he had no scruples and could display his power beyond ordinary people's imagination.
"Now..."
Yoru walked to the front of the "Door," turned around to look at Soichiro Yagami. A white pattern like a smiling face appeared on the pure black mask.
"Until we meet again, Bureau Chief Yagami."
Watching Yoru's figure gradually disappear, Soichiro Yagami breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden was lifted.
Leaning against the alley wall, disregarding his neat black suit, he slumped onto the ground covered with dirty sewage. His gaze fell on Akoya Seishu, who had fainted and lost consciousness, murmuring to himself.
"What... have I done..."
...
Half an hour later.
"Back."
Yoru and Miko crossed the "Door" and appeared in the living room of Futaba Rio's home.
Seeing the two return safely, Rio and Yui both breathed a sigh of relief.
Rio looked them over first. Seeing no obvious injuries on Miko and Yoru, the worry between her brows finally dissipated. She pushed her glasses and said calmly.
"Got the item?"
"Of course."
Miko had already changed out of her disguise clothes in the Otherworld to leave no traces for the police to search.
She sat on the soft sofa. Having stayed up all night and undergone a tense and exciting infiltration operation, she was exhausted physically and mentally. She yawned, lay directly on the sofa, and rubbed her eyes lazily.
"Exhausted. I'll sleep for a while."
"Eh, there's a guest room..."
Before Rio could finish, Miko fell into a baby-like sleep.
It could be seen that she was really exhausted.
"Sigh, really."
Rio shook her head helplessly, poured a cup of hot coffee, and pushed it in front of Yoru.
"Tell us, what happened?"
"Sure (Chi Chu)."
For the next ten minutes, Yoru told Yui and Rio about invading the exhibition hall, Onimaru Kunitsuna recognizing its master, reaching a consensus with Soichiro Yagami, defeating Akoya Seishu, and so on.
After listening, both girls looked a bit complicated. They looked at each other and complained in unison.
"You call this a Phantom Thief? More like a robber, right?"
"Same thing, same thing. As long as we got the item."
Rio sighed slightly. A complicated look appeared in her eyes behind the lenses as she murmured.
"Famous sword Onimaru Kunitsuna stolen... This will definitely be news that shocks the entire Sakura Prefecture."
"What are you talking about?"
Yoru shrugged and smiled meaningfully.
"Onimaru Kunitsuna isn't lost at all, understand?"
"Hmm?"
Yui looked confused.
"Didn't you and Miko steal... ah no, return it to its original owner? How can you say it's not lost?"
Rio understood the meaning in Yoru's words. She frowned and asked skeptically.
"You mean, the museum and the police will deliberately conceal the loss of Onimaru Kunitsuna? That's impossible, right?"
Yoru shook his head.
"Futaba, although your IQ is high, you ultimately don't understand the complex human heart."
"Is that so..."
Rio just murmured without refuting.
She knew her strength lay in intelligence gathering and analysis.
When it came to figuring out complex human nature, Yoru sitting opposite her was much better than her.
Rio didn't think this was shameful.
No one is perfect.
Wasn't Yoru's purpose in establishing the Super-Quant Club to gather members with different strengths to complement each other's weaknesses, fight against supernatural events, and protect Kyoto?
Just doing what she was good at was enough.
"By the way."
Curiosity shone in Yui's eyes.
"Can you take out Onimaru Kunitsuna for us to see?"
Hearing this question, although Rio didn't show it as obviously, anticipation also appeared in her eyes behind the frame.
"Of course."
Yoru responded with a smile, summoned the Pale Ghost Hand, took Onimaru Kunitsuna, which was sheathed, from the Ghost Hand's fingers, and placed it horizontally on the table.
"This is it. Look as long as you want. Don't be polite with me."
At this moment, Rio and Yui couldn't care about Yoru's unserious tone.
"This is... Onimaru Kunitsuna..."
The two girls' gazes fell on the simple wooden scabbard, pursing their pink lips, their breathing becoming slightly heavier.
Hojo Tokimasa, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi...
The past owners of Onimaru Kunitsuna were all pivotal figures in the history of Sakura Prefecture.
Calling this famous sword a handed-down treasure witnessing hundreds of years of Sakura Prefecture's history wasn't an exaggeration at all.
Rio extended her fair right hand, seeming to want to touch Onimaru Kunitsuna in front of her, but halfway through, she felt it was a bit disrespectful and paused in mid-air.
Yoru saw her thought and chuckled lightly.
"Unsheathe."
As these two words came out, Onimaru Kunitsuna, which was hidden in the scabbard, popped out on its own.
That deep, pure black blade made the light from the chandelier in the living room seem a bit dimmer.
Seeing Onimaru Kunitsuna unsheathe automatically, Yui and Rio's pupils dilated in shock.
"You really... became the master recognized by Onimaru Kunitsuna?"
This famous sword owned by so many famous historical figures actually bowed its head in submission before Yoru?
Obviously, a powerful spiritual item like Onimaru Kunitsuna, inherited for hundreds of years, had its own intelligence.
Did this mean...
In Onimaru Kunitsuna's eyes, Yoru, like Hojo Tokimasa, Oda Nobunaga, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was a figure who would have a significant impact on history and go down in history?
So the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Investigation and Research Club I belong to is this fierce?
However...
Rio looked at Onimaru Kunitsuna's blade and wondered.
"This sword wasn't originally this color, right?"
Yoru's answer was brief and plain.
"It is now."
Just then, the phone in Yoru's pocket suddenly rang.
He stood up and smiled at Yui and Rio.
"I'm going to answer a call. Look as long as you want. Touching it is fine too. This is the common property of our Super-Quant Club."
Hearing this, Yui nodded excitedly and carefully extended her fair right hand to touch Onimaru Kunitsuna's blade.
Smack.
Yui cried out in pain, withdrew her hand, and looked at Rio aggrievedly.
"Why did you hit me?"
"You really want to touch it?"
Rio shook her head helplessly and lowered her voice.
"This is a handed-down famous sword with intelligence. Aren't you afraid of backlash?"
Yui sucked in a breath of cold air, thinking that's true.
Although Onimaru Kunitsuna recognized Yoru as its master.
It didn't recognize her.
Famous swords capable of slaying evil demons must have a temper, right?
Just as Yui and Rio thought so, they saw Onimaru Kunitsuna float up.
Immediately after, it moved in front of Yui and carefully placed its blade in her palm.
Yui and Rio froze for a moment, having the same thought simultaneously.
Good grief.
Onimaru Kunitsuna is actually a simp sword?
Of course, they didn't think this famous sword was trying to please them.
This was obviously taking the opportunity to please Yoru.
"Eh, wait a minute, where is Hachishaku?"
Rio wondered why, but thinking of the word "please," she remembered Hachishaku.
She scanned the living room and found Hachishaku curling up and shivering in a corner nearly ten meters away.
Rio didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Good thing my living room is big enough; otherwise, Hachishaku would have nowhere to hide.
However...
Being able to scare Hachishaku, who had grown to this state, into such a shape.
It seemed Onimaru Kunitsuna was indeed a precious sword capable of suppressing evil ghosts.
....
On the other side, inside the room.
Yoru took out his phone and saw a familiar number on the screen.
"Hello, Haruno."
Yukinoshita Haruno's voice seemed a bit tired, but she still smiled in that usual frivolous tone.
"Yoru-kun, are we close enough to call each other by given names now?"
"This question is hard to answer."
"What's hard to answer? Yes is yes, no is no."
"Whether it is or not depends on what favor you want me to help you with."
Hearing this sentence, Haruno on the other end was silent for a while before sighing.
"Can't hide anything from you. Are you free tonight? I want to talk to you in person."
"Hmm... I am free."
Yoru replied with a smile.
"But next time, remember to book in advance."
Haruno was both angry and amused.
"Alright, alright, understood. Next time I ask you out, I'll book in advance, okay?"
"Sure (Chi Chu). Send me the address and time."
"Okay, see you tonight."
"Mmhmm, see you tonight."
After hanging up, Yoru stretched lazily without turning around, just chuckled lightly.
"Heard everything?"
Rio's cold voice sounded.
"Going out tonight?"
Yoru turned around, looking at Rio who looked calm but clearly unhappy and awkward, and said with a half-smile.
"What do you mean going out? I don't live here anyway. Could it be a hint?"
Rio's face turned red instantly. She opened her lips and wanted to retort angrily.
However, she paused eventually, pushed her glasses, lowered her head, and said in a voice as tiny as a mosquito's.
"Co... Cohabitation is not allowed, but... if you come to stay at my house for a day or two occasionally as a friend, I... I have no reason to refuse."
"You really inviting?"
Rio frowned and snorted lightly.
"If you don't want to come, pretend I didn't say it."
"That won't do. Since you said so, I really have to come."
Immediately after, Yoru added.
"I'm going to see Yukinoshita Haruno tonight."
"Yukinoshita Haruno?"
Hearing this name, Rio's eyes showed thoughtfulness.
"The Yukinoshita from the Yukinoshita Construction Company on the banner during the airship promotion?"
"Correct."
"Is it also the Yukinoshita of Yukinoshita Yukino in your class?"
"You know Yukinoshita Yukino?"
"Don't know her."
Rio shook her head and said calmly.
"Just discussed with Yui before about suitable candidates if the club wants to recruit new members."
Yoru nodded noncommittally.
"Then do you think Yukinoshita Yukino is suitable to join the Super-Quant Club?"
"No, quite the opposite."
Rio gave her conclusion in that usual rational tone.
"Yukinoshita Yukino is an aloof, antisocial person."
"And according to Yui Yuigahama, Yukinoshita Yukino always speaks bluntly, completely disregarding what impact her words will have."
"To put it nicely, this is called being outspoken and never pretending."
"To put it bluntly, Yukinoshita Yukino clearly has the ability to integrate into the group but chooses not to. This psychological self-restriction is hard to solve."
"As for her specialties, her grades seem good, and her appearance is very outstanding."
"So... my original conclusion was that Yukinoshita Yukino is not suitable to become a member of the Super-Quant Club."
Noticing the word "original," Yoru asked curiously.
"What about now?"
Rio looked up at him and said flatly.
"After seeing the airship promotion, I searched online for the background of the Yukinoshita Construction Company."
"Her mother is the company president, and her father is a Chiba Prefectural Assembly member."
"They have certain connections in both politics and business."
"My current conclusion is."
"If Yukinoshita Yukino is genuinely willing to help, our Super-Quant Club's intelligence sources will no longer be limited to Kyoto."
"Overall, she can provide help."