Hagiwara Kenji slumped on the ground, his cheek burning with pain.
"Little Jinpei..."
Matsuda's punch was like a heavy hammer, not only striking his face but also shattering his layer of self-abandoning cocoon.
After a long while, he finally supported himself on the ground to stand up.
"You're right. If Little Kuno saw me looking this discouraged... he would definitely say I'm lame."
Hagiwara's voice was still hoarse, but at least he recovered a bit of strength.
"So... stop saying that kind of stuff."
Morofushi Hiromitsu stepped forward, gently patted Hagiwara's shoulder, and said in a low voice, "What we need to do is respect his choice."
"And then, live on well."
Perhaps Matsuda's outburst made Hiromitsu realize that being decadent now was already useless. It was better to wipe away the tears and face reality.
Furuya Rei muttered, "Yeah... we can't let him down."
Although he had been mentally prepared to lose companions at any time since becoming a police officer, when this day truly arrived, the pain in his heart was far stronger than imagined. But he also knew that Kuno Nozomu did not want to see them immersed in sadness all the time. He left the hope of living to them. Then, they must carry this hope and keep moving forward.
After the few of them calmed their emotions a bit, Furuya Rei suddenly spoke up, "I want to go look at the video from that bomb culprit."
"You mentioned earlier... after the Ikebukuro building exploded, he stopped the countdown for the Shinjuku bomb. Maybe he will mention Kuno in the video."
He needed an answer. What exactly was that demon who used human lives as chips thinking? Why did he invite the police to play this kind of "game"?
The others forced down the grief in their hearts and nodded. They got into Furuya Rei's car and drove toward the Metropolitan Police Department.
Very soon, Hagiwara found the relevant personnel responsible for handling this matter.
According to the informed police officer, both videos from the bomb culprit were sent directly to the Communications Center of the Criminal Investigation Department via email. Even though the police immediately started the emergency countermeasure procedure after receiving the email, and top technical personnel intervened to track it—conducting multi-faceted investigations like IP attribution tracing, data tracking, and server analysis—they still had not been able to lock onto any effective clues so far.
In addition to the blocked technical tracking of the emails, the police also launched a large-scale surveillance screening in the two crime areas of Ikebukuro Sunshine Building and Shinjuku Kabukicho. However, the public surveillance systems in both areas were hacked and briefly paralyzed 30 minutes before the crowd was evacuated. Including the abandoned factory that exploded in the video, almost all cameras in the involved areas experienced abnormal conditions like "signal interruption," "equipment failure," and "system update" during the same time period.
Such hacking technology was probably not something a single person could achieve... Various doubts showed that there might be some organization standing behind the opponent, providing assistance. After hearing this news, the few people looked at each other, their hearts heavy.
After Furuya Rei showed his ID from the Special Security Planning Division, and confirmed the identities of Hagiwara and Matsuda as EOD squad members, the communications officer appropriately simplified the application process. He led them to a closed meeting room and brought up the videos on a laptop.
"You guys... are Officer Kuno's friends, right?"
Probably having heard about the news of Kuno Nozomu's sacrifice, a look of regret showed on his face, and before leaving, he also left a sentence, "Please accept my condolences."
"..."
Furuya Rei remained silent and did not answer.
At this time, the video screen flashed with a cold-toned blue light, causing everyone's gaze to shift to the computer.
"Happy Halloween, dear police officers."
A figure wearing a crow mask appeared on the screen. He—or she—was sitting calmly on a high-backed chair, greeting the police on the other side of the video. The voice was processed through a voice changer, sounding like a distorted electronic synthesized sound, carrying a sickening playfulness.
The bomb culprit who planned everything behind the scenes... is this guy?
Just seeing the opponent in the video made the few people present want to pull out their handguns and smash that weird crow mask into pieces.
The content of the first video was mostly the same as what Hagiwara had heard, but what truly grabbed people's hearts was the second video.
"I didn't think we would meet again so soon."
His voice was still electronic, but it carried a bit more mockery than the last time, as if deliberately provoking the psychological defense line of the police.
The bomb culprit half-lay on the chair, his tone lazy, "If anyone asks a cute and silly question like 'why does finding the bomb instantly trigger a countdown,' I don't mind answering you."
"It's rare to play a game with the police officers. If I don't add some difficulty, wouldn't I be letting down the stage I carefully built?"
"A thing like a serial bomb is not easy to design."
He tilted his head, as if waiting for the audience to applaud.
"If you failed to find the sensor, then killing your companion is the price of your lack of ability."
"If you found it, but chose to detonate another bomb with your own hands to save yourselves, that would also be a scenery worth appreciating."
"However..."
He paused, his tone suddenly carrying a hint of amusement.
"That black-haired, red-eyed officer was more interesting than I imagined."
"When there were only five seconds left, he made a decision outside of my plan... I originally thought he would be like some pedantic old guys, persisting in dismantling the bomb to protect potential third-party citizens."
"In the end, he chose to protect the companions on the other side." He shrugged, "It seems the officers over in Shinjuku are more important to him than innocent citizens."
"Of course, there is nothing wrong with this decision... after all, from the very beginning, there was no such thing as a third bomb."
Hearing this sentence, Hagiwara's and Matsuda's pupils shrank.
There was no third bomb. That is to say—everyone in the police force was just white mice played with in the palm of the opponent's hand. While they were utterly exhausted, the bomb culprit was laughing in the dark, just like watching mice that thought they were smart turning in circles in a dead end.
"Since the bomb in Ikebukuro has already exploded, the countdown in Shinjuku has no meaning either... at least for me, there is no pleasure to speak of." The mysterious person wearing the crow mask said lightly, "For the sake of that sacrificed officer, let's stop this game here—or should we say, a tie?"
"Don't look at me like this, I am actually a person who values companions too."
Furuya Rei's gaze grew cold.
As expected... stands an organization behind this guy?
As if already seeing the teeth-gritting appearance of the few people through the screen, the opponent laughed happily.
"Do you feel played? Do you feel unwilling? Then find a way to catch me."
"Thanks to the police, although an unexpected thing happened... this Halloween, I played quite happily."
"Maybe next year, the year after, or ten years later, I will visit you again on a sudden whim."
Just as the voice fell, he extended his right hand toward the camera, making an inviting gesture.
"At that time, play another game with me—"
The screen stopped abruptly here.
"Dammit...!"
Matsuda Jinpei's fist slammed hard against the wall, making a muffled sound.
"You bastard—!"
Anger kept rolling in his chest. They used all their strength to dismantle bombs, evacuate crowds, and even did not hesitate to gamble their lives... But in the end, the opponent just smiled and appreciated their struggle like watching a play. Everything was just because it was "interesting."
Furuya Rei stood to one side, his face terrifyingly dark. He stared at the screen that had already gone black, his voice low and dangerous, "It seems... he has been observing everything from behind."
A criminal who took pleasure in human lives like this would very likely appreciate his "art" from a close distance. From the way the opponent knew about Kuno's situation and appearance, it was highly possible that micro-cameras were set up at the scene. If the bomb culprit stood before him right now, he might shoot without any hesitation... No, he should also let the opponent taste the feeling of being played with and tortured.
Furuya Rei lowered his head, trying hard to suppress the killing intent deep in his heart. But the reality was that they didn't even know who the opponent was, what organization he belonged to, or when he would appear next time. Even, there might very well be the opponent's informant inside the police force. They could only wait passively, waiting for this lunatic to have a sudden whim again and use the whole of Tokyo as his amusement park.
Furuya Rei closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, calmness had returned to his eyes.
"Matsuda." He said heavily, "Anger cannot solve problems."
Matsuda Jinpei clenched his teeth, his chest heaving violently. "...I know."
After a long time, Morofushi Hiromitsu spoke up, "Kuno died in the line of duty as a police officer." His voice was hoarse, but carried a firmness that could not be ignored. "Not as a chess piece being toyed with, not as a useless sacrifice, but as a true police officer... to protect his EOD squad colleagues and friends, he chose the cruelest and most heroic way to die."
"...We should feel proud of him."
"Right." Hagiwara took a deep breath, "And... we must pull ourselves together to avenge him."
"We must catch that bastard who hides his head and shows his tail!" Date Wataru clenched his fists until they cracked. "For Kuno, and also for all the people who might become the next victim..."
"Absolutely..."
Matsuda muttered in a low voice, "Absolutely must make him pay the price, we can't let Kuno sacrifice in vain..."
The image of Kuno Nozomu appeared in Furuya Rei's mind—the youth who always looked out the window lazily during class. The genius who was unmatched on the training ground. The guy who would show a happy smile every time he ate food he liked...
The one... who can never come back.
Incredibly sharp pain still wrapped around Furuya Rei's heart like a venomous snake. His nails sank deeply into his palms, yet he didn't feel any pain at all.
"I swear..." Next time. Next time, he would definitely catch this lunatic. No matter where the opponent hid. No matter how many years it would take. "Even if I have to chase you to the end of hell..." Inside Furuya Rei's eyes burned a cold fire of revenge. "I will drag you out with my own hands—"
...
Without noticing, the night grew deep.
Even if the police sealed off parts of the Ikebukuro and Shinjuku areas, the young people participating in the Halloween parade had plenty of places to release their energy that had nowhere to go. The streets of Chiyoda District were clearly not affected by the so-called "safety drill." The streets full of pumpkin lanterns and skull decorations looked exceptionally weird under the reflection of neon lights. Drunken mob members roamed the streets, and the sounds of playing and screaming rose and fell one after another.
No one noticed that at the end of a dim alley, a man in a suit was clutching his throat and slowly falling down.
Gin put away the suppressed handgun, a few drops of uncoagulated blood staining his black leather gloves. He kicked the corpse expressionlessly and picked up the briefcase filled with banknotes.
"This guy really didn't know what's good for him." Vodka, standing at the entrance of the alley, complained, "If he hadn't been so greedy and exceeded the organization's bottom line, he wouldn't have ended up having money but no life to spend it."
"Big brother, the 'cleaner' will arrive soon, let's leave first."
Gin gave an "um," turned around and walked toward the Porsche 356A parked in the dark. Sitting in the passenger seat, he took out a cigarette and lit it. The tongue of fire licked the darkness, and the cold moonlight flowed along his silver hair.
"The side of Ikebukuro seems to have made quite a big fuss." Gin said faintly.
Vodka closed the car door, his tone carrying a bit of gloating, "It seems something happened on the side of the cops, heard that a bomb dismantler died."
Gin sneered, "Only one died? What a pity."
"If only they could blow to death a few more troublesome police..." The cold-faced silver-haired man exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice low, "The air in Tokyo might even be a bit fresher."
"Big brother, you're absolutely right."
Vodka gave a thumb-up while looking at the clothing store across the street. Because of the Halloween theme, the display window was filled with exaggerated ghost and monster outfits. Among them, the most eye-catching was still a brown bear plush suit. That fluffy and cute appearance was completely out of tune with the horror atmosphere of the whole street.
Vodka couldn't help looking a few more times, "That thing is quite interesting..." Wonder what it feels like to wear it.
"You still have this kind of interest?" Gin glanced at him coldly, "If you put it on, don't even think about taking it off."
Vodka froze, then scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "...True, it's too conspicuous."
Gin's mouth twitched, quite speechless at his younger brother who leaked a girlish heart from time to time. He looked through the car window at that bear plush suit, and for some reason, the image of a certain white-haired, blue-eyed youth suddenly flashed across his mind.
That guy Kaiser has been secretive recently, no idea what he's busy with.
Since the brief meeting at the bar last time, he seemed to have vanished into thin air. No other organization member had seen his figure again, and even Gin had not received any messages from him. Even the boss asked him privately whether Kaiser had received some kind of shock to keep staying indoors all the time.
Thinking of the second personality the opponent clamored about before, some weird thoughts popped up in Gin's mind.
Could it be that he is fighting for the dominance of the body with the second personality, so he can't show his face all this time?
The next second, this thought was rejected by him.
How could there be such a thing...
He always felt that he had been too deeply influenced by that guy's character, becoming inexplicable himself.
"Could it be... died somewhere?" Gin muttered to himself in a low voice.
Vodka didn't hear clearly, "Big brother, what did you say?"
"Nothing." Gin withdrew his gaze and was just about to let him start the car when the phone suddenly vibrated.
The caller ID... Kaiser?
Hmph, seems he is still alive and well.
Gin pressed the answer button, and a somewhat listless voice came from the other end of the phone—
"Gin-chan, are you there?"
Gin scented some unusual aura. "What are you doing?"
Gojo Satoru on the other end of the phone seemed to have emptied his head, asking in a melancholy tone, "Say... am I a bit bad as a person?"
Gin: "...Are you on drugs?"
"Oh, having not contacted for so long, Gin-chan is still hurting people as always." Gojo Satoru said softly, "I just suddenly feel like I seem to have done a very terrible thing."
"For example?"
"...In short, it's just very terrible! Even more terrible than you not contacting me for half a year!"
Gin: "..." Exactly who was the one who hadn't stepped out of the door for half a year?
Gojo Satoru said with conviction, "So I am indeed very bad, right."
Gin was too lazy to look into it deeply and just prevaricated directly, "Yeah, you're bad to death, kids can be scared to cry when they see you, happy now?"
Although saying so with his mouth, he knew Kaiser's actions over the years clearly in his heart. Looking notorious, many times he was actually a bit too merciful. He could even let those arrogant FBI agents keep their lives and run away with their tails between their legs. If that guy was said to be bad, then he, Kurosawa Jin, would probably be the number one evil person in the world.
"It's completely a tone to fool a kid..." Gojo Satoru muttered a sentence, then suddenly changed the topic, "By the way, today is Halloween! Trick or treat... ah, Kikufuku is barely acceptable too—"
"Beep—"
Gin hung up the phone cleanly and decisively.
"Hanging up the phone when there's a disagreement... that guy is still the same, not cute at all."
Inside the pure white room, Gojo Satoru let out a sigh. He stood up, walked to the window, and took off the crow mask covering his entire head.
Reflected on the glass was a face that was perfect to the point of being unrealistic. Snow-white hair, frost-like eyelashes, and those pale blue eyes that were completely different from Kuno Nozomu's.
Floating in front of him was a semi-transparent system panel, with a few lines of cold words displayed on it.
Name: Gojo Satoru (Jiang Wu)
Gender: Male
Physical Age: Twenty-one years old
Identity:
Natural Jujutsu Sorcerer (Evaluation: Having achieved the peak, you have almost no opponents)
Kaiser Wine from the Dark Organization (Evaluation: You are Karasuma Renya's adopted son, and also the trump card of the black organization hidden in the shadows)
Supreme Head of the Gojo Family (Evaluation: Your clansmen deeply revere the prestige of the Six Eyes)
Assistant Inspector Kuno Nozomu (Vest card is damaged, unusable) (Evaluation: The group of five will never forget you, who was supposed to stand in the sunlight)