Meanwhile, Ye Xing was enjoying the rare leisure time of the study trip.
To quell public opinion, the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department naturally couldn't take measures like martial law that would be as obvious as proclaiming one's own guilt. If they actually locked down the entire city without explaining the specific reasons, that would be the most troublesome scenario.
Human imagination is boundless.
Rumours about zombies, biochemical viruses, Cthulhu evil gods breaking seals, and mysterious terrorist organisations infiltrating Osaka would spread within half a day.
By then, even if the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department told the truth, no one would probably believe it.
Therefore, the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department made the wise choice to increase police presence and inspection efforts at key transportation points, striving not to let any suspicious person leave, but that was all.
Ye Xing had no intention of conducting investigations within the city.
As the saying goes, every man to his trade.
When it came to criminal investigation, L was undoubtedly the world's best. The reason he hadn't caught Light Yagami's trail after all this time was simply that Soul Materialisation was much more powerful and convenient than the Death Note in the original storyline.
In other words.
L was still the same L, but Light Yagami was a supremely enhanced version - willful, rational, clear-thinking, and not relying on tools like the Death Note but possessing power within himself.
If he could be caught like this, that would be truly supernatural.
One could only say this version of Light Yagami was too formidable, not that L was incompetent.
With L's near-supernatural intellect, plus the support of the entire Japan Metropolitan Police Department, as long as he entered the game as Light Yagami anticipated, catching the so-called Izanami God's true form was only a matter of time.
Leave specialised tasks to the specialists.
And what the Harem God specialised in was...
"Saki, still angry?"
Hearing Ye Xing's slightly amused, relaxed tone, Saki Kawasaki in casual wear deliberately turned her face away from him, letting out a light hum that clearly conveyed her displeasure.
"You... are really infuriating. It's been so long since we confirmed our relationship, yet this is the first time you've asked me out alone. Hmph, I thought you'd forgotten about me."
"Hey, don't say such things."
Ye Xing slightly furrowed his brow, shifting the dynamic.
"Last time I asked you to go to the comic convention alone with me, but you insisted on inviting Kitagawa too. You can't blame me for that, can you?"
Saki Kawasaki froze for a moment upon hearing this, her face initially showing hints of guilt and confusion before suddenly realising something was wrong. She was so angry she nearly laughed aloud.
"You're trying to twist the facts here, aren't you? It was clearly you who invited Marin first, and then Marin invited me. Do you think I'm some forgetful old granny?"
"Oh, my mistake."
Ye Xing's attitude shifted remarkably quickly as he spoke with sincerity.
"I thought I could get away with it. I underestimated you."
"You..."
Saki Kawasaki lightly bit her teeth, her fair cheeks flushing red with anger. She snorted coldly and strode forward on her own, though Ye Xing naturally kept pace beside her.
After wandering the streets for a while, Saki suddenly stopped. Her eyes revealed a trace of dejection as she lowered her head, her previously angry demeanour shifting to one of sorrow.
"Is it because... I don't have abilities like Miko and the others... that you saying you like me... Was it just casual and perfunctory?"
The Harem God faced another test.
Typically, this question had two possible answers.
The first: directly admit that's exactly right.
Generally speaking, this option existed solely to lead directly to a BAD END, unlocking one CG before prompting a reload. No sane person would actually choose it.
The second: explain.
However, this wasn't a single-route dating sim but a genuine harem situation.
When Saki Kawasaki mentioned "Miko and the others", the second option became unworkable. The more explanations given, the more likely she'd feel inadequate, believing that without awakened spiritual power, she couldn't compare to Miko and the others - just like Yui Yuigahama once did.
Fortunately, this wasn't a fixed-route galgame, and Ye Xing was no ordinary protagonist.
In this moment, he provided a perfect answer that exceeded full marks.
"No, precisely because you don't have abilities like Miko and the others, yet I still fell for you, it actually proves the genuine quality of these feelings."
Saki Kawasaki stared blankly upon hearing this, raising her head with tears welling in her eyes. She wiped the corner of her eye timidly.
"Really? You're not just teasing me, are you?"
Saki Kawasaki originally had the cold, somewhat aggressive appearance of an icy beauty that made people hesitant to approach, combined with her tall, model-like height of about 175cm that gave her a mature impression. Yet now, making this tearful, wronged expression...
It created an unexpected contrast.
Ye Xing nodded with utmost seriousness.
"Of course it's true."
"I don't believe you. Unless you kiss me."
Seeing Saki Kawasaki's adorable appearance, Ye Xing leaned in and gently kissed her pink lips before chuckling softly.
"Satisfied now?"
"Mmm, satisfied."
Saki Kawasaki's tears turned to smiles as she affectionately linked arms with Ye Xing.
If you asked if she was angry, she certainly had been genuinely upset.
However, based on Saki Kawasaki's understanding of Ye Xing, would someone like him pretend to like her despite actually disliking her, all for the sake of maintaining harmony within the club?
Absolutely impossible.
The Captain of the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Research Society had been so genuine that he openly declared his harem ambitions. The words 'pretence' and 'reluctance' didn't apply to him.
Just as Ye Xing had said, compared to the other members of the Supernatural Society, Saki Kawasaki didn't have anything particularly special about her aside from her appearance.
Even so, Ye Xing still said he liked her...
Wasn't that precisely proof of genuine value?
Moreover, although Saki Kawasaki could be somewhat wilful at times, she wasn't an unreasonable person. She knew that Ye Xing had indeed been very busy lately.
"So today, you don't have anything else to do, right?"
Seeing Saki's cautious expression mixed with a hint of hope, Ye Xing replied without hesitation.
"Of course, I'm here specifically to accompany you today."
Saki couldn't help but show a slight smile, then muttered quietly as if feeling embarrassed by her own reaction.
"Don't go back on your word, or I'll really get angry with you."
...
Later that evening, while Ye Xing was rarely relaxing on his date with Saki Kawasaki, video conferences were being held in operation rooms of Metropolitan Police Departments across Japan.
"The situation is exactly as I just explained. Only a sniper rifle was left at the scene, with no other traceable evidence."
"A sniper rifle, huh..."
Soichiro Yagami frowned slightly as he looked at the black heavy sniper rifle in the evidence bag shown on the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department's screen. Just as he was about to say something, the door behind him suddenly swung open.
Turning around, he found L yawning, looking utterly lazy as he slowly walked in from outside.
After entering the operation room, L didn't say a single word but directly crouched on a chair. Staring at the black sniper rifle on the screen, he slowly remarked.
"No clues were left at the scene, yet they specifically left behind the most important piece of evidence - the murder weapon. This really doesn't make sense."
Although it was a video conference, only the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department had their cameras activated.
When an unfamiliar voice came through the speakers, senior officials and elite detectives from various Metropolitan Police Departments couldn't help but pause momentarily, yet none interrupted, quietly waiting for what would follow.
L showed a thoughtful expression, and after several seconds, finally spoke slowly.
"Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, check your firearms inventory records."
"We've already checked them, there are no iss..."
"I'm not asking you to search through computer systems. I want you to go directly to where the firearms are stored and inspect them item by item. Understood?"
Hearing this, the officers from the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department grew somewhat angry, their words becoming more heated.
"Hey, we don't know who you are, but the victim was our Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department's Inspector Taniguchi, and you're specifically asking only our department to check the firearms inventory. Do you have any idea how much time it takes to conduct a full firearms inventory..."
L interrupted directly.
"Then start as soon as possible."
Seeing the atmosphere had reached an impasse, Soichiro Yagami sighed helplessly and spoke in a deep voice.
"I hope the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department will cooperate with this request."
Hearing Soichiro Yagami speak like this, even though the officers and senior officials from the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department felt uncomfortable, they still agreed.
"Alright, since Chief Yagami says so, we'll send people to conduct the check. It should take about an hour."
"Sigh, really... I'm not the chief anymore..."
After ending the remote connection, Soichiro Yagami looked at L with a complicated expression.
"With your help, the case should be resolved quickly."
Although Soichiro Yagami didn't like L's philosophy, he was certain that once the other agreed to assist with the investigation, he wouldn't deliberately perform poorly but would give his full effort.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to work with him in the first place. Moreover, L's intellect and sharp investigative instincts made even Soichiro Yagami, with his years of criminal investigation experience, acknowledge his superiority.
"Things probably won't be that simple."
L folded his hands, resting his chin on his knuckles, and said meaningfully.
"Let's wait and see."
...
An hour later, the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department reconnected.
"Ch...Chief Yagami...our firearms...are missing..."
Soichiro Yagami's expression changed upon hearing this.
"What's missing?"
"A sniper rifle...the model...matches the murder weapon."
"Huh?"
Soichiro Yagami's heart sank, his face instantly darkening.
Setting aside the significant responsibility Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department would bear for losing a sniper rifle, the fact that the weapon used to kill their senior official, Inspector Taniguchi, actually came from their own firearms storage was perplexing in itself.
"Have you checked the surveillance footage? Who bypassed procedures and directly took the stored firearm?"
"We're...currently investigating..."
At that moment, L suddenly spoke, looking completely unsurprised, his tone exceptionally calm.
"You can waste time investigating, but if you want to uncover the truth quickly, I suggest you proceed from this moment onward by treating it as established fact that Inspector Taniguchi himself abused his authority to remove a sniper rifle from storage without following any procedures."
"You... what?"
Including Soichiro Yagami, all senior Metropolitan Police Department officials participating in this online meeting wore expressions of disbelief.
Inspector Taniguchi had abused his authority, violated Metropolitan Police Department regulations, privately taken a heavy sniper rifle, and then died by that same sniper rifle while visiting the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department?
Wasn't this somewhat too far-fetched?
"Chief Yagami."
Ignoring the other officials, L looked toward Soichiro Yagami and spoke slowly.
"It's been nearly a month since you resigned from Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department to take responsibility... correct?"
Soichiro Yagami guessed the purpose of this question and nodded with a grave expression.
"Yes... approximately."
"Good."
L turned to face the screen and spoke deliberately.
"Everyone, based on this, we can confirm Inspector Taniguchi took the sniper rifle within this approximate one-month period."
"I personally recommend assigning Group Leader Soichiro Yagami as the lead investigator for this case. I assume no one has objections?"
Upon hearing this, though most Metropolitan Police Department officials remained silent, some clearly disagreed.
"Hey, why should this be decided so directly? Though we don't know who you are, you must be from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, right? Why should we follow your suggestion?"
"You don't have to."
L spoke in a flat tone.
"However, after successive incidents involving both Seishu Akoya and Inspector Taniguchi - two senior Metropolitan Police Department officials - I believe suspicion shouldn't only fall on the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department. The entire Japanese police system may harbour extremely serious problems."
"And as the former Criminal Affairs Director who, aside from several deceased officers, was the only one who suffered damage during the Seishu Akoya incident, publicly resigning to take responsibility - while I can't declare Soichiro Yagami completely innocent, he certainly carries the least suspicion."
"Combined with Mr Soichiro Yagami's investigative experience and multiple successes handling major cases, if any of you believe you can perform better than him, you're welcome to volunteer now to lead this investigation."
Faced with L's words, the various Metropolitan Police Department officials in the meeting chose to remain silent.
Truthfully, those few who had voiced opposition weren't actually eager to lead this investigation.
This investigation could be described as a hot potato - it would easily... no, almost certainly... offend other regional police departments during the investigation process, given the case's extraordinary nature.
Aside from Soichiro Yagami, who belonged to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters and possessed high prestige with extensive investigative experience, there truly was no one else who could shoulder such heavy responsibility.
Moreover, that individual whose identity remains unknown had managed to deduce through sheer intuition that the sniper rifle originated from the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, even speculating that Inspector Taniguchi himself had retrieved it, thus leaving no traces behind. He had even narrowed down the timeframe for when the weapon was taken.
Such a person was also from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
Coupled with those suspicious remarks...
Anyone who continued to oppose at this point would only be inviting trouble upon themselves, increasing suspicion towards both their own person and the police department they belonged to.
...
After Soichiro Yagami and the various high-ranking officials of Japan's Metropolitan Police Department had finalised the investigation procedures and the self-inspection protocols for all regional police departments, the online meeting was finally concluded.
He let out a heavy sigh before turning to L, who had remained silent throughout, simply sitting there quietly as if deep in thought, and spoke in a grave tone.
"Just now... thank you for speaking up for me."
"I was merely analysing things rationally."
L shook his head impassively before slowly uttering words that made Soichiro Yagami's heart sink.
"You can forget everything you discussed with those people just now. They aren't trustworthy. What we need to investigate most isn't the various regional police departments."
Soichiro Yagami frowned slightly at this.
"Oh? Then what should we investigate?"
L replied softly.
"The places Inspector Taniguchi visited before his death, the people he came into contact with, and... Osaka."
Before Soichiro Yagami could voice his confusion, L continued on his own.
"A Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department inspector was killed with a weapon from the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, yet the location was in Osaka. This is strange. The perpetrator must have had their reasons for doing this."
"Based on my conjecture, there are three possibilities. The first and second don't conflict with the third."
"The perpetrator's identity is either Mask themselves or an ally of Mask."
"As for the theory that they were simply a coward who only dared to assassinate after Inspector Taniguchi left Kyoto because they feared Mask... to be honest, this creates a logical conflict with the criminal style the perpetrator has displayed. I won't consider that possibility."
"Why carry out the assassination in broad daylight? To attract public attention, making it impossible for the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department to suppress the incident. Why would they think the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department might suppress this case? Because the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department, and even the city of Osaka itself, have problems."
"Why leave the sniper rifle behind? Because the perpetrator wanted to pique my interest in this case by showing that the murder weapon came from the victim's own hands."
Here, L paused slightly before continuing slowly.
"The perpetrator knows things the police don't, but needs the help of the Metropolitan Police Department and myself to quickly uncover the truth."
"They're using this method... to send me a message."