Zongman I fight weirdness in everyday world

Although it was a video conference, only the Osaka Prefectural Police were using their cameras.

When a strange voice came from the speakers, the high-ranking officials and elite detectives from various prefectural police departments couldn't help but pause, but they didn't interrupt, waiting quietly for what would come next.

L wore a thoughtful expression, and after a few seconds, he slowly spoke.

"Kyoto Prefectural Police, check your firearms inventory records."

"We've already checked, there are no issues…"

"I'm not asking you to search on the computer system. I'm asking you to go directly to the place where the firearms are stored and check them one by one. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, the officers from the Kyoto Prefectural Police were somewhat angry, and their words became more intense.

"Hey, although I don't know who you are, the victim is Inspector Taniguchi of our Kyoto Prefectural Police, and you're specifically asking us to check the firearms inventory. Do you know how much time it takes to check the inventory once…"

L interrupted directly.

"Then start as soon as possible."

Seeing the atmosphere become tense, Soichiro Yagami sighed helplessly and said in a deep voice.

"I hope the Kyoto Prefectural Police can cooperate with this request."

Hearing Soichiro Yagami say this, even though the officers and high-ranking officials of the Kyoto Prefectural Police felt uncomfortable, they agreed.

"Alright, since Chief Yagami has said so, we'll send someone to check. It will take about an hour."

"Sigh, really, I'm not the chief anymore…"

After ending the remote connection, Soichiro Yagami looked at L and said with a complex expression.

"With your help, the case should be solved quickly."

Although Soichiro Yagami didn't like L's ideals, he was certain that once the other party agreed to help with the investigation, he wouldn't deliberately slack off, but would go all out.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to work with him in the first place. Moreover, L's mind and his keen sense of smell for case investigation were something that Soichiro Yagami, who had many years of criminal investigation experience, could only admit defeat to.

"I'm afraid things won't be that simple."

L folded his hands, resting his chin on the back of his hand, and said meaningfully.

"Let's wait and see."

… …

An hour later, the Kyoto Prefectural Police reconnected.

"Yagami… Chief Yagami… our firearms… are missing…"

Soichiro Yagami's expression changed upon hearing this.

"Which ones are missing?"

"A sniper rifle… model… same as the murder weapon."

"Hmm?"

Soichiro Yagami's heart sank, and his face instantly darkened.

Putting aside the fact that the Kyoto Prefectural Police had actually lost a sniper rifle and had to bear a great responsibility, the fact that the sniper rifle that killed Inspector Taniguchi, a high-ranking official of the Kyoto Prefectural Police, actually came from the Kyoto Prefectural Police armory was already confusing enough.

"Have you checked the surveillance cameras at the scene? Who skipped the procedures and directly took the firearms in storage?"

"We're… we're investigating…"

At this moment, L suddenly spoke, looking as if he had expected this, his tone unusually calm.

"You can waste time investigating, but if you want to find out the truth as soon as possible, I suggest that you start now and investigate based on the known fact that Inspector Taniguchi himself abused his power and took the sniper rifle in storage without going through any procedures."

"You said… what?"

Including Soichiro Yagami, all the high-ranking officials of the prefectural police participating in this online meeting had an unbelievable attitude.

Inspector Taniguchi committed an act of abusing his power, violating the regulations of the Prefectural Police, and privately took a heavy sniper rifle, and then died under the sniper rifle he took himself when he visited the Osaka Prefectural Police?

Isn't this a bit too outrageous?

"Chief Yagami."

L ignored those high-ranking officials and just looked at Soichiro Yagami, slowly opening his mouth.

"From your resignation from the Kyoto Prefectural Police until now… it's been almost a month, right?"

Soichiro Yagami guessed the intention of this question and nodded with a heavy expression.

"Yes… almost."

"Good."

L turned his head to look at the screen and slowly opened his mouth.

"Everyone, based on this, it can be confirmed that the time when Inspector Taniguchi took the sniper rifle was within this past month."

"I personally suggest that Group Leader Soichiro Yagami be appointed as the person in charge of this investigation. Everyone should have no objections, right?"

Hearing this, although most of the high-ranking officials of the prefectural police remained silent, there were obviously still some who were unconvinced.

"Hey, why are you deciding this directly? Although I don't know who you are, you should also be from the Tokyo Prefectural Police, right? Why should we listen to your opinion?"

"You don't have to listen."

L said in a calm tone.

"However, after the successive incidents involving Agutaya Kiyoteru and Inspector Taniguchi, two high-ranking officials of the prefectural police, I believe that it is not only the Kyoto Prefectural Police that should be suspected, but there may be extremely serious problems within the entire Sakura Province's prefectural police."

"And as the only former Criminal Investigations Bureau Chief, Soichiro Yagami, who suffered a loss of interest and resigned publicly in the Agutaya Kiyoteru incident, apart from the few deceased police officers, I wouldn't say that he is definitely innocent, but he is definitely the least suspicious."

"In addition, with Mr. Soichiro Yagami's experience in handling cases and the many successful results of handling such major events, if any of you think you can do better than him, you can now volunteer to be the chief commander of this investigation."

Faced with L's words, the high-ranking officials of the prefectural police in the meeting chose to remain silent.

To be honest, the small group that had previously expressed opposition didn't really want to be the chief commander of this investigation.

This investigation is a hot potato, very likely… no, almost guaranteed to offend other regional police departments during the investigation process. After all, this case is truly unbelievable.

Apart from Sōichirō Yagami of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, who possesses extremely high prestige and extensive criminal investigation experience, there really isn't anyone else who could shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

Furthermore, there's that person of unknown identity who could guess that the sniper rifle came from the Kyoto Prefectural Police, and even deduce that Inspector Taniguchi himself took it, leaving no traces and narrowing down the timeframe for taking the gun, based solely on intuition.

Such a fellow is also from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Adding to that suspicious remark…

Anyone who continues to object at this time would be asking for trouble, increasing the suspicion on themselves and their affiliated police department, wouldn't they?

…

After Sōichirō Yagami and the high-ranking officials of the Sakura Province Police Department discussed the investigation and the self-examination process for each local police department, the online meeting finally ended.

He first sighed deeply, then looked at L, who had been silent throughout, sitting quietly as if contemplating something, and said in a deep voice.

“Just now… thank you for speaking up for me.”

“I was merely making a rational analysis.”

L shook his head calmly, then slowly spoke a sentence that made Sōichirō Yagami's heart sink.

“You can forget what you discussed with those people just now. They are not to be trusted. What we need to investigate most is not the police departments of various regions.”

Sōichirō Yagami frowned upon hearing this.

“Hmm? Then what should we investigate?”

L replied softly.

“The places Inspector Taniguchi went to before his death, the people he came into contact with, and… Osaka.”

Before Sōichirō Yagami could ask questions, L continued to speak on his own.

“A Kyoto Prefectural Police inspector was killed with a gun from the Kyoto Prefectural Police, but the location is in Osaka. This is very strange. Since the killer did this, there must be a reason.”

“According to my conjecture, there are three possibilities in total, and the first and second do not conflict with the third.”

“The killer's identity is either 'Mask' himself, or an ally of 'Mask'.”

“As for being a coward who is afraid of 'Mask' and only dares to assassinate after Inspector Taniguchi leaves Kyoto… frankly, this conflicts logically with the criminal style displayed by the killer, and I will not consider this point.”

“Why assassinate in broad daylight? Because it's to attract people's attention and prevent the Osaka Prefectural Police from suppressing this incident. Why would they think the Osaka Prefectural Police might suppress this case? Because there's a problem with the Osaka Prefectural Police, or even the city of Osaka.”

“Why leave the sniper rifle behind? Because the killer wants to use this method, making it seem like the murder weapon came from the victim's hand, to arouse my interest in this case.”

Speaking of this, L paused slightly before slowly saying.

“The killer knows things that the police don't, but needs the power of the police and me to find the truth as soon as possible.”

“He's using this method… to send me a message.”

Chapter 316: Saki Kawasaki's Guilt, Yukino's Persecution

“Yozora, Yozora, come here, come here, look at this, look at this!”

Saki Kawasaki grabbed Yozora's hand and pulled him to a claw machine, leaning against the transparent glass window, her eyes gleaming as she looked at a Q version of a small doll inside.

“This, this, if I remember correctly, is a anime character that Haimu likes, what's it called… what's it called, a succubus.”

“From that everyday heartwarming four-panel comic?”

“Yes, that's the one.”

Saki Kawasaki nodded first, then looked at Yozora beside her, with a somewhat meaningful expression.

“Hmm? How would you know? You don't seem like the type to read everyday heartwarming gag manga, could it be…?”

Yozora smiled and replied nonchalantly.

“As the founder and president of the Supernatural Research Society, understanding the preferences of each member is a responsibility I cannot shirk.”

Saki Kawasaki snorted softly, her tone inevitably tinged with a hint of jealousy.

“Then tell me, what are my preferences?”

“You like being a mom to kids.”

“Huh?”

Seeing Saki Kawasaki's surprised look, Yozora chuckled.

“That's not what I said, that's what Kyoka said.”

“That girl… sigh, really…”

Saki Kawasaki shook her head and sighed helplessly.

“What do you mean by liking to be a mom, I'm just doing what an older sister should do, after all, my family situation is quite special.”

“Yeah.”

Yozora nodded noncommittally first, then added.

“Kyoka also said that you like to run out of the bathroom naked after taking a shower, saying you're an exhibitionist, and told me to ask you to shower together when I have the chance.”

Upon hearing this, Saki Kawasaki's fair face flushed red instantly, and she gritted her teeth in embarrassment and anger.

“That little brat… I'll deal with her when I get home…”

“Are you really going to punish her? I don't think so.”

Yozora clearly didn't believe that Saki Kawasaki would do anything out of line to her younger sister, Kyoka Kawasaki.

From childhood to adulthood, Saki Kawasaki had never even said a harsh word to her sister, let alone beat her.

She's all about being obedient.

“You're such a hopeless sis-con.”

“Mind your own business? Insert coins, I want to play the claw machine.”

“Okay.”

…

Ten minutes later.

“No… this is impossible…”

Saki Kawasaki looked at the Q version doll in the glass cabinet, which, although she had grabbed it crookedly, was still standing there stubbornly, with a look of unwillingness on her face, her two fair hands clenched into fists.