Chapter 52: Bureau Chief of Criminal Investigation, Soichiro Yagami
The evil spirit transformed into a mass of thick black aura and was swallowed into Yoru's stomach.
"Mmhmm, not bad."
Yoru nodded with satisfaction.
His main purpose for coming here was to devour this evil spirit.
Don't be fooled by how it was devoured before it even had a chance to attack.
In reality, this guy was very strong.
Not only could it simultaneously manipulate the actions and thoughts of more than twenty humans, but it could also disguise itself as a human without any flaws.
As for why this evil spirit did such a thing?
The reason was simple: to become stronger.
If things had really gone according to this evil spirit's plan, detonating the bombs hidden in the building when the police forces rushed in...
Hundreds of children, school staff, and police officers.
What terrifying resentment would arise from the deaths of so many people?
There was only this one evil spirit in this area.
It wanted to create a disaster and devour human souls and resentment to become stronger.
But the mantis stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Its plan failed, and it became Yoru's meal instead.
....
Meanwhile, outside the gate of the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
Hearing the gunshots, Soichiro Yagami's expression changed, and he immediately ordered the Self-Defense Force and police units to launch an attack.
But before they could enter the teaching building, the teachers and students who had escaped from the kidnappers ran out.
"Prioritize protecting the evacuation of the innocent!"
Between rushing into the scene to kill the targets and protecting the lives of hostages, Soichiro Yagami, as the on-site commander-in-chief, chose the latter without hesitation.
The kindergarten students were all under six years old, mostly crying and unable to speak coherently.
Soichiro Yagami only obtained intelligence about what happened inside from the adult staff members.
"It was that mysterious person?"
Listening to his subordinate's report, Soichiro Yagami frowned, his face heavy.
Just one person could kill over twenty armed kidnappers?
How is that possible!?
Looking at the teaching building in front of him, Soichiro Yagami gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice.
"All of you, retreat to a safe distance. I'm going in alone."
Hearing this, the police officers looked alarmed and hurriedly tried to dissuade him.
"You can't do that, Commander Yagami! There are bombs inside..."
Before he could finish, Soichiro Yagami waved his hand, his face resolute.
"That is exactly why I ordered you to retreat."
Soichiro Yagami had made up his mind.
He had to meet that unidentified person.
At the very least, he had to exchange a few words with them. Even if he only gleaned a little intelligence, it would not disgrace his position as the Bureau Chief of Criminal Investigation.
As a police officer with years of experience, Soichiro Yagami had already noticed the abnormalities in Kyoto over the past month.
The crime rate was continuously rising, and the scale of crimes was becoming increasingly horrifying.
Armed thugs openly hijacking all the teachers and students of a kindergarten—this was simply unbelievable.
It was almost as if...
Someone was manipulating the behavior of these people, making them commit crimes completely devoid of logic.
Soichiro Yagami suspected that this unidentified person, who appeared out of nowhere and rescued all the hostages, likely knew the truth of the matter.
He absolutely could not miss this opportunity.
Furthermore, due to the large number of hostages in this hijacking incident, mostly children, Soichiro Yagami worried that there might be children left inside the teaching building.
There were bombs planted by the kidnappers inside, posing a risk of explosion at any moment.
To ensure all hostages had escaped and to negotiate with the unidentified person, Soichiro Yagami was willing to gamble.
"Snipers, all in position!"
A police officer shouted into the walkie-talkie. Hearing the order, snipers immediately took positions on high-rise buildings from all directions, covering all exits of the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
"Commander Yagami..."
"Say no more."
Soichiro Yagami patted his subordinate on the shoulder and said gravely.
"Don't worry."
....
Meanwhile, in the clubroom at Sobu High.
"Hostages rescued! Hostages rescued!"
"Repeating again, all hostages inside the kindergarten have been rescued!"
Listening to the reporter's broadcast on the screen, watching the students running out of the kindergarten and the parents who had been waiting outside the cordon rushing to reunite with their children...
Yui and Miko, watching the live stream, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's great, that's really great."
Seeing Yui and Miko looking relieved, with tears shimmering in their eyes, Futaba Rio's expression seemed calm, but she was very puzzled inside.
No matter what, isn't this reaction a bit exaggerated?
If they had close relatives inside, it would make sense.
Normally, would anyone get this emotional over a hijacking case unrelated to them?
Something's wrong. Something is definitely wrong.
"Um... Futaba-san, we're leaving first."
Miko put away her phone, tugged at Yui's sleeve, and gave her a hinting look.
The latter understood immediately.
Although the hostages had been rescued, Yoru hadn't left the scene yet.
The two of them couldn't help with anything, but the least they could do was wait for his return in front of the "Door."
After the two girls left, Rio took a sip of coffee. Looking at the photo of the unidentified person taken by the reporter on her phone screen, she muttered to herself.
"These eyes... why do I feel they look familiar?"
.....
On the other side, inside the corridor of the teaching building at Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
"Stop right there!"
Wearing a heavy bulletproof vest, Soichiro Yagami saw Yoru walking out of the activity room and immediately raised his gun without hesitation, shouting loudly.
"In the name of the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, I hereby formally arrest you. Do not resist, or I will shoot!"
Yoru turned around. The eyes under the pure black mask revealed a smiling look.
"Commander-in-Chief Yagami, do you think that after I single-handedly disposed of over twenty kidnappers armed with firearms, including semi-automatic rifles... threatening me with a pistol now will be useful?"
Although Yoru made the motions of speaking, the voice emitted was a strange sound disguised by Hachishaku, making even the gender indistinguishable.
This question made Soichiro Yagami's heart sink.
Indeed, as the other party said.
Someone who could kill over twenty armed kidnappers with bare hands... although the method was unknown, obviously, the pistol in his hand posed no threat whatsoever.
In the silent corridor, only the soft sound of blood dripping from Yoru's gloves onto the floor could be heard.
Soichiro Yagami gritted his teeth, looked straight into Yoru's eyes, and asked in a deep voice.
"Who exactly... are you?"