The young Dragon settled into a small apartment. It was a simple but quite cozy room on the second floor of a new building. The room had room for a bed, a closet, a desk, and a small kitchen with a stove, but the Japanese mentality didn't allow for overly spacious rooms. Every square meter had to be put to good use!
After completing the recruitment process at headquarters, signing the relevant transfer and confidentiality documents, Ryuushiro officially joined the HPSC, albeit only for a probationary period. There were many other people in Internal Security besides him, many whom he wouldn't be able to remember, but a few important ones are worth mentioning.
Doran turned out to be the head of this department, and he'd hidden it well until the last moment. Ryuushiro was once again amazed by the Major's cunning; he'd managed to lure him into his own department, even though he'd let him choose the departments.
The first thing he was introduced to was Madam President.
Sitting across from this woman in a beautiful office with a view of Tokyo and Mount Fuji, it was as if she'd deliberately designed the office so that visitors could gaze out over all of Japan. Even though the visitors included media personalities, celebrities, politicians, and investors, that didn't detract from the impression she made.
Ryuushiro sat quietly and modestly, enjoying the views,
— Tokyo is truly beautiful, but only from a bird's eye view. Down below, however, a whole stew of life... and death... simmers. -The woman smiled slyly. — I've long wanted to meet you, Ryuushiro Genba. An officer now. Welcome to our team. If you perform perfectly, the HPSC will be your career ladder. Believe me, I have the connections to elevate you.
Ryuushiro didn't understand why she clung to him so tightly, immediately playing her trump card and choosing the carrot over the stick. Madam President clearly sees him as a valuable asset she wants to invest in.
— I am flattered by your attention to my person, -the dragon bowed his head.
Madam President looked at him doubtfully. She'd expected a spirited, untamable individual, difficult to control. Was this a subservient dragon or not? She found it difficult to discern the truth behind his mask of benevolence and compliance, but she knew the boy had learned to watch his tongue.
She continued, — So, I have a lot to tell you. Since you signed the non-disclosure agreement, that absolves me of responsibility. And you're a junior officer, so you have access to Level 4 classified information in our archives. Tell Ryushiro, you know I'm not a police officer, right? I have no rank or shoulder straps, and the minister appointed me to this position.
Understanding was evident on Ryuushiro's face. He knew the structure of the HPSC.
— My position is essentially that of chief representative of the entire body. I'm not the leader, but merely represent your interests and those of Japan, although I bear responsibility for the heroic organization as a whole.
— But if you are not a police officer and do not have a rank, then, in fact, the Internal Security Department, where only police officers are located, does not report to you.
— Correct. They are formally part of the HPSC, but I have no authority over them. However, that's no reason to work separately, as we share the same interests and goals: maintaining public order and security. Formally, you've joined the Internal Security Department, which is functionally independent of the HPSC, but legally falls under its control. This decision was made long ago, with the formation of the new government and the Heroes' Association."
- That's it...This won't be a problem between us.
— Excellent. Now I'll tell you which area of activity requires your attention, based on Doran's reports. Since you're still inexperienced, which doesn't prevent me from knowing about your successes at the academy, your first assignment is to go to Nagoya and interrogate the guy we found this new suspicious substance on." Madame President placed a folder with documents related to the case on the desk. "Our scientists are trying to determine its effects, but you understand, you can't do that on people, and animals show signs of severe rejection, violence, and irritation to the drug. You need to find out what it is, and most importantly, where the 'activist' got it from. I repeat. Do EVERYTHING to find out. According to our information, he is currently in temporary custody at the Nagoya Detention Facility.
Madam President's hint was understood, and Ryuushiro left the office with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the elderly woman demonstrated composure and composure in her work, but on the other, she gave no reason to suspect her of incompetence. This drug was obviously quite serious, since they were so eager to seize on it. The origins of this hydra were still unclear.
It was clear the woman wanted to see how far Ryuushiro would go. How dirty he would get his hands, for the sake of everyone's goals. "She wants blood? She'll get it on a silver platter."
Ryuushiro studied the arrested boy's file even before arriving in Nagoya.
«20 years old, single, likes to drink. Violent temper. Nationalist because of bad company. Who's his family? His sick grandmother. Excellent leverage. The following are the most important charges—the ones he's going to be tried for. Vandalism, property damage, littering, resisting arrest, assaulting an officer, drinking alcohol in public. There's a whole bunch of them. He'll definitely get ten years in prison. That's a good one to use.»
The dossier wasn't particularly helpful, but it was worthwhile. Threaten a prison sentence for drug possession? Legally, this substance isn't yet recognized as a narcotic, so it's impossible to charge someone under any specific article. Such an article simply doesn't exist in the criminal code yet. This is a flaw in the legal and legislative systems.
The most curious thing is why they forced Ryuushiro to go to another city if there will be their own police there, who have 100% already questioned him. Maybe the guy is keeping quiet because he was given a lawyer, and he thinks he'll be jailed? Or is it the police's incompetence?
East Nagoya. Not the best part of town. On the way to the station, he spotted a few prostitutes on the highway. A perfect indicator of the crime rate and the incompetence of the local police. Ryuushiro wasn't sure what he expected to see at the local police station. Fat cops with tons of donuts? What an American-style cliché. Surely, in Japanese style, it would look like a cop with ramen noodles hanging over his ears, unable to fit into his kimono, unable to draw his katana.
A police station. As he entered, he'd already noticed numerous violations. They hadn't checked him for weapons, even though he was carrying his service pistol. At the counter, an elderly policeman, swaying lazily in his chair while reading a newspaper, didn't even deign to make eye contact.
Ryuushiro cleared his throat and barked so loudly throughout the police station that the cop fell out of his chair.
— Officer Ryuushiro Genba. Internal Security Department!!!
The policeman's face twisted in confusion and fear as Ryuushiro stood over him, his serious expression and dragon-like pupils staring into his. The other officers noticed and approached. Ryuushiro presented his identification, while the cops glanced warily at his holstered pistol. Having confirmed his identity, they no longer glanced suspiciously and greeted him lazily.
Having stated the purpose of the visit, one of the officers took him to the pretrial detention center. While the others whispered.
— Have you interrogated the suspect? -Ryuushiro asked the police officers clearly.
— Naturally, but he refused to cooperate, citing his lawyer. Then a police officer arrived with the name Doran on his ID. To our surprise, instead of speaking to the lawyer, he confiscated the substance found on the suspect as evidence and then left the station."
Ryuushiro could only sigh with tension and disappointment. It couldn't serve as evidence yet, as the substance wasn't classified as a narcotic by law. It hadn't even undergone forensic testing! Okay, so it had undergone even more testing, but there was no need to know that yet. The local forensic expert hadn't found anything strange or forbidden, or anything that would fall under the category of prohibited substances. Nevertheless, Doran had learned of it and had deliberately confiscated the substance.
— They definitely know something more and aren't saying it, -Ryuushiro thought.
— Call a lawyer, I'll talk to him.
Standing in the gray room across from the desk where the lawyer and the suspect sat, Ryuushiro realized he'd recently sat in that same spot. "Time flies."
— Please introduce yourself, officer, -the assertive lawyer began, surprised by the young officer. He grew confident, beginning to think he could outmaneuver him. Such disdain only played into Ryuushiro's hands.
— Ryuushiro Genba. Internal Security Department. -Now Ryuushiro was entering a cunning game in which it didn't matter whether he won or lost. He had to complete the task and obtain the information. Let the lawyer think he holds all the cards. "You probably already know that a suspicious substance was found on the suspect..."
— As far as I know, forensic experts have not yet sent the results of the study of the suspected substance.
— True. The forensic examination results are mandatory. Therefore, the court cannot yet render a verdict on the other charges. However, on the other charges, the evidence is irrefutable. His conclusion is only a matter of time. A year more, a year less. Therefore, I offer the "suspected activist" a unique opportunity to assist the investigation, plus repentance, and most likely, in a month you will be released on probation, posting bail. The judge and prosecutor will certainly view your cooperation with the investigation positively.
Of course Ryuushiro was bluffing. He doesn't even have the prosecutor's contact information.
The trial hadn't yet taken place, so it was crucial for the lawyer to secure the best outcome for the defendant before it began. The forensic examination results were also crucial, since, as the defendant claimed, there was a chance it wasn't drugs and a loophole in the law could be exploited. And this was a unique opportunity to assist the investigation. The lawyer understood that the longer the forensic examination results were delayed, the worse things would get. Any opportunity was crucial.
— Your proposal, officer, sounds attractive to us.
— But... -the nationalist began to object, having previously silently observed the dialogue.
— Let me decide your future. Now is neither the time nor the place to interfere and give in to your pride.
The defendant cooled down and quietly spat out something like, "Fucking cop."
Though his gaze into Ryuushiro's eyes betrayed a certain awe and respect. He understood and sensed that behind the mask of benevolence lay something deeper and wilder.
In short, the defense attorney managed to coax the defendant into revealing the source of the substance. The name of the substance, Trigger, was mentioned, and rumor had it that it made the user of a Quirk stronger. He'd gotten it completely free from a typical-looking Japanese guy in an office suit, who also carried a briefcase with him at all times. The transaction had taken place last Thursday. According to the defendant, the only reason he refrained from using the substance was because he wasn't a drug addict and was afraid to use unknown substances, and he supposedly wanted to get rid of it.
Ryuushiro didn't even have to resort to traditional methods . Bargaining with the lawyer was a brilliant idea, a win-win for everyone, and Ryuushiro saved time and was now returning to the office with his report. The defendant's fate didn't concern him.
...
Immediately upon returning, he wrote a detailed report, complete with all the details, and that was the end of his workday. Returning home, he was greeted by a quiet apartment. It seemed a little empty and gray. The dragon went to the shower, where he immediately noticed several imperfections. He needed to attach a couple of shelves, tighten the closet door, and so on. So Ryuushiro headed to the mall.
Now that his salary was 500,000 yen a month, not including bonuses, he could afford a lot, but, as was his habit during his frugal life in the orphanage, he took only the bare necessities and always cooked for himself. Cooking magazines, flowers, cozy dark blue sheets, an orthopedic mattress, kitchenware, curtains, and, of course, a Japanese flag on the wall—he considered himself a patriot.
The apartment immediately became more vibrant. Flowers in clay pots filled the room with their scent. His favorites were chrysanthemums and carnations. It's surprisingly rare when guys like flowers so much that they plant and care for them at home. A pleasant habit from the academy. He had a cactus there, which now took pride of place on a shelf in his new apartment. Ryuushiro loved wildlife, especially flowers, and at least this way he would have a little piece of nature in his apartment, since Tokyo is too urbanized and has no room for it.
Leafing through a cooking magazine and taking out ingredients, he spotted a random recipe and began finely chopping vegetables before putting water on the stove. People usually looked up recipes online, but he'd just bought himself a good smartphone. They didn't have those in shelters, and he wasn't used to using phones for anything other than making calls. His old push-button phone had always served him well, and it would continue to do so now. The phone rang, distracting Ryuushiro from his cooking. Wearing an apron, he wiped his hands on a white towel and answered. It was Doran.
— Hello. I just read your report and passed it on to Madam President. You did great for a first timer. I was betting you'd punch the defendant in the face, and the lawyer to boot." The man laughed.
— Communication and cooperation," Ryuushiro turned it on loud and continued cooking.
— A trigger, then. I have a bad feeling about this. We've already assigned the information department to track the target in the jacket. I wonder where his trail will lead..."
— The office clerk's disguise is very strong. We need to send out a profile. Keep me posted. I'm curious too."
— Okay, I'm in touch. Get settled in for now, explore the area, and keep a low profile," he said goodbye.
...
Not even a day had passed when a new summons landed on Ryuushiro's desk. The same nationalist he'd recently interrogated had suddenly "opened up." Whatever the meaning, it seemed Ryuushiro's presence during their previous meeting had had a positive effect on him. Apparently, he was trying to curry favor and attract attention by exposing shady characters. His tongue loosened—and in addition to the source of the substance, he ratted out several other individuals active in eastern Nagoya. Among them, a particularly shady character stood out: rumor had it he was storing, and possibly even producing, a substance officially banned not only in Japan. This was too serious a matter to ignore.
In the morning, at the office, Doran personally handed him an arrest warrant, accompanied by a stern look:
— You'll be working alongside the locals. The situation is messy, but your interrogation experience shows you can handle it. Take control of the search and detention.
Evening. East Nagoya.
The small apartment in the high-rise building looked ordinary, but the atmosphere inside, after the lock had been forced, was visibly oppressive. The air was thick with the stifling smell of cheap tobacco and stale food. Under the dim yellow light of the lamps, cameras on tripods stood by the double bed, cables running to a computer.
— As if they weren't just storing it here,— muttered one of the officers, pulling his mask down over his face. — They were filming it too...
The words rang unpleasantly in Ryuushiro's head. He adjusted the sleeve of his suit. His throat felt dry, and a wave of anger rose in his chest. But he suppressed it, inhaled, and regained his cool control. He was an officer now, not a beast. At that moment, he caught the faint creaking of floorboards in the next room. Instinct told him there was movement there. Instantly drawing his pistol, he gestured to his colleagues and stepped forward.
The door creaked, revealing a wide-open window. Cables were torn out on the floor, and the hard drives were missing from the system unit.
— That disgusting slug...— Ryuushiro hissed.
Without thinking, he rushed to the window and jumped down. Behind him, he heard shouts:
— Are you crazy?! This is the third floor!
For a moment, Ryuushiro was confused by the height of the fall, but the dragon landed softly, as if for its body the fall was merely a short jump. He was momentarily surprised, but there was no time to think. A man in a gray hoodie was running down the street in a panic, clutching a bag to his chest. He turned for a moment and met the eyes of the Internal Security officer. That predatory gaze followed him, reading his every movement, abruptly switching on the fleeing man's survival mode. His heart was pounding so hard it wanted to burst out. The victim sensed the predator's gaze and knew perfectly well that it was prey. Panic gave him speed, but it wasn't enough. Ryuushiro took off after him. His steps were jerky and rhythmic, quickly closing the distance, vaulting over obstacles. Moments later, he fell upon the fugitive, slamming him face-first into the hood of a parked car.
The metal crunched and a scream was heard.
— Even their appearance is disgusting,— Ryuushiro muttered, wringing his hands and snapping the handcuffs shut. — They're all perverts, like carbon copies of each other.
— D-don't kill!!! They're killing me!!!!— he squealed like a pig, loud enough for the whole street to hear. His eyes frantically searched for a way out of the situation, while his subconscious was sounding the alarm about the dragon.
— Shut up,— people turned their attention as Ryuushiro dragged the detainee by the collar into the patrol car.
Later, in the holding cell, the investigators removed the very same set of hard drives from the bag. After connecting them to the computer, Ryushiro asked the question he'd been wondering:
— Isn't it a problem to read the data from the hard drive?
— Of course not. Even if a hard drive has been submerged, the contents are easily recovered. The only way to completely destroy the contents is probably a powerful electric shock or grinding the drives to dust. Hammering usually doesn't achieve complete destruction, only partial destruction. If at least one of the drives remains intact, some of the information will be preserved.
Confirmation of my worst suspicions flashed across the computer screen. Prohibited material. Involving minors, even juveniles.
One of the officers angrily slammed the lid of his laptop:
— Fuck! I hate this. I have a daughter, and can`t image how people do that! She's only twelve years old!
— Excuse me, but it wouldn't be a sin to shoot guys like that.
Ryuushiro stood at a distance, his fist clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His draconic rage was bursting forth, demanding he tear the bastard apart on the spot. But he took a deep breath and held it in.
— I'm an officer. The law must come before the wrath of my predatory side. But if such deviants continue to appear, then we'll have to get tougher.
He left the room, leaving the criminal to the investigators. The fire was still seething inside, but his expression remained stony. It was time to hand in his report. He still had a lot of dirty work ahead of him.
...
A night patrol at the request of the local prosecutor in East Nagoya always promised trouble. Narrow alleys, the smell of damp and garbage, the flickering of the few streetlights—all of it hid danger. Ryuushiro was about to turn back to the street when he caught a strange movement in the shadows. A silhouette. The stranger lingered for a moment, as if waiting, and then slipped into the alley.
The officer's instinct overrode caution. Ryuushiro followed—and at that very moment, a sharp blow to the back of the head plunged darkness upon him.
He woke up in a damp basement. A dim lightbulb flickered overhead, highlighting the dusty walls. His suit was soaked in dirt and blood, his head ached, and his back ached from the awkward position. His hands were cuffed with police handcuffs.
— Have you come to your senses?— a muffled voice brought him out of his reverie.
The door creaked, and a man in an expensive but wrinkled jacket entered the room. His features were sharp, his eyes cold. This was the man behind the kidnapping.
— You shouldn't have messed with Mamori, that asshole spilled too much.— His words fell like hammer blows. — He sold me out, and now my whole business is ruined. Now the whole town's whispering about me.
He stepped closer, and a sudden punch to the face brought Ryuushiro back to his senses. Blood flowed warmly from his cut lip.
— There's no point in yelling, cop,— he continued. — I think we'll start with Granny Mamori. Let the rat know everything has a price.
Another man flashed in the shadows behind him—young, with a knife in his hand. His sadistic smile left no doubt as to his intentions.
— You shouldn't have worn your masks,— Ryuushiro croaked, licking his bleeding lips. — I'll remember your faces.
The boss chuckled.
— We don't need masks. You'll only leave here feet first.
He snatched the ID from Ryuushiro's pocket, read it aloud, and frowned. The yakuza around him began to buzz.
— So, HPSC... Especially since we can't let you go. But you know, it'll be funny: we'll kill the old woman with your own weapon and blame it on you. Ha!
— It doesn't work like that, idiots...— Ryuushiro hissed through his teeth, almost mockingly.
— Shut up!" The officer was hit a couple of times in the face and stomach.
With these words he left, leaving the officer alone with the "executioner".
The metal of the knife touched his skin. Ice and fire in a single touch. The first cut on his cheek. The second across his chest, barely slicing through his shirt. Pain shot through his body, but with it came focus.
Ryuushiro gritted his teeth, not allowing himself to cry out.
— I will cut you up slowly, like a pig,— the executioner hissed. — In the morning, your body will be found in the pigsty. That's where you belong.😊
The blade sank into the flesh again. Thin lines of red began to play across the arms and chest. Each drop of blood fell to the floor like a countdown.
— You cut like a girl, — Ryuushiro said through clenched teeth. — I beat up people like you when I was a kid.
The bandit roared, slamming the knife handle into his face. The chair flipped over. A kick to the stomach shook his body, knocking his breath out of him. He leaned closer, preparing to strike again.
And then the dragon woke up.
Ryuushiro leaned forward as quickly as his current position allowed and sank his fangs into the man's neck. There was a crunch, and a warm stream of arterial blood splashed across his face and shirt. The man wheezed, trying to push him away, but his strength was quickly ebbing. His eyes, filled with terror, darted around, searching for salvation as the life drained out of him along with the blood. The knife in his hand tried to find its mark, but to no avail. A moment later, he went limp, choking on his own death.
Ryuushiro pushed the body away and raised his head, gasping for breath. The taste of iron in his mouth mingled with adrenaline and cold determination.
— You can't turn on your quirk in these conditions,— he croaked, — but this is enough.
He tugged at the chain between the handcuffs, tensing the muscles of his back and biceps. The metal stung, digging into his skin, but the chain gave way with a crack. Release came with a new wave of pain. Rising, he staggered to his feet, finding his ID card, looking askance at the dead man. He wiped the blood from his face and, barely able to stand, dialed the police number on the dead man's phone as he walked outside.
— This is Officer Ryuushiro Genba, code: U455061J. There is a murder here. Address XXX
He sank to the cold concrete, breathing heavily. The bandit had a pack of Sipokk cigarettes in his pocket, and Ryuushiro lit one to calm his nerves. The bleeding didn't seem to be progressing much, which was surprising. He had dozens of cuts, but the blood had clotted quickly and easily. His head was spinning from the nicotine. But his gaze remained steady.
— They're not bad cigarettes. Too bad they suppress your sense of smell.— He finished smoking and tossed the butt away just as the blue and red lights arrived.
Later, doctors examined him at the hospital, noting multiple wounds and slight blood loss. The case was handed over to local police, along with a detailed report of the incident.
And the same image kept flashing through Ryuushiro's mind: the face of a bandit choking on blood. The nationalist Mamori's grandmother was saved. The criminals hadn't had time to commit anything terrible. Later, all the participants were imprisoned, and Ryuushiro identified several of them, including their boss. Furthermore, the boss had handed over the drug stash to reduce the judge's sentence. Ryuushiro also testified as a witness and a victim.
While in the hospital for a couple of days, Ryuushiro visited the elderly woman to make sure she was safe. As he stood in the doorway to enter the room, he saw Mamori, guarded by two police officers. He was apparently visiting his grandmother. The woman had escaped with a minor injury. After watching Mamori for about a minute, the handcuffed man finally noticed Agent Ryuushiro, dressed in hospital whites, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed.
Not a single word was spoken, but something like respect and gratitude could be seen in Mamori's eyes.
«This guy's not much of a talker. He probably doesn't trust the cops,» Ryuushiro chuckled and headed for the hospital cafeteria. They were serving delicious jelly there.