Zongman I fight weirdness in everyday world

"That ‘Mask’ is really getting more and more arrogant… …"

"To actually do something like this, making such a blatant scene, isn't that the same as slapping the face of our police department?!"

Compared to these venting words of blaming 'Mask' for losing face, among the high-level officials of the police department, there are still people who can maintain rational analysis, with worry in their voices.

"The scariest thing is that the public is almost unanimously supportive. Whether that Sakurakawa Rikka is a criminal or not, without solid evidence, everyone believes the one-sided words of ‘Mask.’ If ‘Mask’ and the assistants around him continue to develop like this… …someday, he will unilaterally define what is evil, without needing to show any evidence, and everyone will believe his words. This is really too terrifying."

Even Sōichirō Yagami, who knew 'Mask's' true identity, had to admit that if he didn't completely trust Yagami Raito and knew his character, he would have the same worries as this high-level police official.

"It's not like that, is it."

Just then, L suddenly spoke.

"Based on ‘Mask's’ past performance, he only takes action when the police department is unable to solve the problem. This time should be the same. Moreover, there is indeed a high probability that Sakurakawa Rikka is the mastermind behind a series of events some time ago. The conclusion reached by ‘Mask’ is the same as mine."

Hearing this, the high-level officials of the police department not only did not calm down, but someone immediately raised a question.

"What do you mean the same as you? You already knew that the mastermind behind this series of events was that woman named Sakurakawa Rikka? Then why are you only saying it now!? We clearly invited you as a foreign aid because of your reputation as the world's greatest detective, but you're only starting to give your opinion after the fact? Is there a problem with your ability, or are you hiding something?"

"Hiding?"

Faced with the intense questioning from this high-level police official, L replied in a flat tone.

"Releasing a small fish in order to track down the clues of a big fish, such methods and ideas, everyone here has experience as criminal investigators, you should be able to understand."

Then, without waiting for the high-level police officials in the screen to reply, L continued to speak on his own.

"Moreover, I have already said before that perhaps among the people attending this meeting, there are people like that Officer Agukoya and Inspector Taniguchi, who are being manipulated by Sakurakawa Rikka. If I directly state my deduction, it is likely to startle the snake."

"This time is not without any gains, at least it let me know one thing."

L paused for a moment, and slowly spoke, saying a shocking statement.

"Within the police department, there is an assistant of ‘Mask,’ and not the kind of ordinary investigation team police officer, but someone with the authority to access most of the information, a very high-ranking person, otherwise, it is impossible for the other party to come to the same conclusion as me that the mastermind is Sakurakawa Rikka. Within the police department, there is a traitor."

As soon as this was said, there was an uproar on the screen.

"We have an assistant of ‘Mask’ inside?"

"This… …is impossible, right?"

"Actually… …what L said… …makes sense… …"

"But among us, apart from L himself, no one has come to the conclusion that Sakurakawa Rikka is the mastermind through the known information. Could it be that ‘Mask’ has an assistant with the same level of reasoning ability as L?"

"It’s very possible. In the video played this time, a new assistant appeared beside the other party… …among them, there may be someone who is good at reasoning."

At this time, Sōichirō Yagami, as the person in charge of the task force, remained unusually silent.

He couldn't help but be silent.

Sōichirō Yagami was already sweating profusely.

This is bad.

The fact that he is an assistant of ‘Mask’ has been discovered by L?

That's impossible.

Because Sōichirō Yagami hasn't contacted Yagami Raito much during this time, let alone passing on the information collected by the police department, he hasn't done such a thing at all!

There is such an outrageous thing?

Speaking of which, the correct answer was guessed by luck?

Or is it that among the high-level police officials, he is not the only assistant of ‘Mask,’ but there are others?

Then Yagami Raito should have told him.

Just then, Sōichirō Yagami suddenly felt a gaze cast on his face.

He raised his head and saw L staring at him with those black eyes hidden under his bangs, devoid of any emotion, and so rational that it made people feel a little scared.

At the moment when their eyes met, an idea sprouted in Sōichirō Yagami's heart.

This is bad.

He's been seen through.

But the next second, L moved his gaze away. In the midst of Sōichirō Yagami's emotions, which were so tense that he even had tinnitus, he said lightly.

"There is no point in suspecting each other here. The best way to restore the reputation of the police department is to catch that Sakurakawa Rikka one step faster than ‘Mask’ and ‘Kira.’ To this end, the things that need to be done are as follows… …"

Looking at L's expressionless face, who didn't even mention his name, and only emphasized how to track down the criminal, Sōichirō Yagami suddenly felt a little dazed.

He could be sure that the other party's gaze just now had clearly noticed his strangeness.

In the eyes of a famous detective of L's level, even the slightest change in expression is enough to become a reason for suspicion.

But… …

He didn't say anything.

Thinking of this, Sōichirō Yagami suddenly recalled the words of a high-level police official just now.

Even if ‘Mask’ has all the information of the police department, if he wants to lock the suspect target on Sakurakawa Rikka, instead of just screening out a rough range, it means that among the assistants around him, there is someone with the same level of reasoning ability as L.

Combining L's performance just now, there is an explanation that is unbelievable, but the simplest and most reasonable.

It's not someone with the same level of reasoning ability.

L is the assistant of ‘Mask.’

Sōichirō Yagami instantly breathed a sigh of relief, took out the tissue on the table, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Good heavens.

So, after all this fuss, we're on the same side.

… …

The next afternoon, in Amagasaki City.

“This city is truly…”

Ogiso Setsuna looked around at the low buildings and took a long time to come up with a suitable descriptive word.

“Hmm… it has a kind of old-fashioned, rustic beauty.”

Although Kyoto can't compare to Tokyo, it's still a large city with towering buildings.

In comparison, Amagasaki City rarely has tall buildings. To be honest… it's a bit like the countryside.

Of course, Ogiso Setsuna doesn't mind where she goes; what matters is who she's with.

She looked at Yozora and Toma Kazusa, who were chatting casually beside her, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips.

This is nice.

After so long, the three of us are together again.

However, when Ogiso Setsuna clearly heard the content of their conversation, her smile froze.

“How to steal?”

“Hey, Kazusa, what are you saying? What do you mean by stealing? It's originally a two-way choice. A famous sword with intelligence is being kept locked away, surrounded by a group of monks every day, and taken out for display from time to time. What is that? That's simply forcing a good sword into prostitution! We're not stealing; we're rescuing a famous sword.”

“I see. So, how do we steal it?”

“I'm wasting my breath on you.”

Seeing Yozora's speechless expression, Toma Kazusa gave a suggestion that seemed very reasonable to her.

“How about… buying it with money? I remember you're very rich.”

“My dear Kazusa, trading antiques is illegal. Even if you dare to buy it, those monks wouldn't dare to sell it.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Let's go and see what the situation is first.”

“Okay.”

Listening to the conversation between the two, Ogiso Setsuna was dumbfounded and hesitated.

“What… are you going to do? What antiques? What famous sword? And monks, are you talking about…?”

“That's right.”

Toma Kazusa nodded very seriously.

“We're going to rescue Juzumaru Tsunetsugu, one of the Five Great Swords of Japan.”

“Uh…”

Ogiso Setsuna originally wanted to say that this is a criminal act, right? But thinking about it carefully…

Toma Kazusa and Yozora aren't just lacking in legal awareness; these two simply have no legal awareness at all!

Chapter 327: Helping Setsuna Put on a Kimono, Abstract Old Monks in the Temple

“Well… thinking about those things is useless.”

Toma Kazusa shook her head, looking calm, and said softly.

“Let's eat first.”

“Huh?”

Noticing Ogiso Setsuna's slightly dazed expression, Toma Kazusa raised her right index finger, looking very serious, and said.

“Setsuna, eating on time is very important.”

Ogiso Setsuna pursed her lips and muttered softly.

“Speaking of which, before you joined the Overload Club and had Mai-senpai's bento to eat every day… you never ate on time. Even when you did eat, you just bought something at the convenience store to settle it. You're the least qualified to say that, right?”

“It's precisely because I didn't eat well before that I now understand the importance of eating well.”

Speaking of this, Toma Kazusa glanced at Ogiso Setsuna's chest, lowered her voice, and said with a smile.

“Besides… if you don't eat, you won't develop, you know.”

Hearing this, Ogiso Setsuna's face instantly turned red, and she lightly patted Toma Kazusa's shoulder, blaming her.

“Don't talk nonsense here. I think you've been infected by Yozora.”

That being said, though…

Ogiso Setsuna is indeed a little insecure about her size.

In fact, at the age of a high school girl, she is already at a medium level. Not big, but not small.

The problem is that among the members of the Overload Club, not to mention the exaggerated levels of Rio Futaba and Hana Yurigawa, let alone Haimu Kitagawa, Yui Yuigahama, and Mai Sakurajima, who are very large.

Even if you put aside these few people, plus Kazusa Toma, who is hiding huge ones, among the remaining members, the only one Ogiso Setsuna is confident in winning in a size comparison is Yukino Yukinoshita.

Under such circumstances, it is indeed difficult for her to be confident.

“Okay, let's go find an inn first, check in, and then talk about what to do next.”

Under Toma Kazusa's arrangement, the three of them booked a room in an inn.

Of course, there was still only one room.

However, this time it was the type of room with paper doors as a screen, specially divided into two parts, with bedding on both sides, which can be regarded as a relief to Ogiso Setsuna. Although she said that she wanted the three of them to be together forever… she couldn't possibly sleep together at night, right?

That would be too outrageous. Although Toma Kazusa's personality is not as cold and serious as before, she is not abstract to this extent.

Just after putting down her luggage, Toma Kazusa suddenly looked mysterious, pulled Ogiso Setsuna into the small compartment, gently closed the paper door, and lowered her voice.

“Setsuna, can you wear a kimono?”

“Eh?”

Ogiso Setsuna couldn't keep up with Toma Kazusa's erratic thinking. Clearly, when she first got off the car, she was talking about how to take the famous sword, then she talked about eating, and now she suddenly asked her this question.

Although she was a little confused, Ogiso Setsuna nodded, because Toma Kazusa lowered her voice, causing her to subconsciously lower her voice as well.

“Yes… Although I haven't gone out wearing a kimono, when my mother sent me this kimono, she taught me how to wear it. Kazusa, you…”

Ogiso Setsuna originally wanted to say, could it be that Toma Kazusa doesn't know how to wear a kimono?

But halfway through her words, she suddenly remembered the other person's family environment. Her mother is abroad all year round, and she rarely sees her a few times a year, let alone teach herself how to wear a kimono like her own mother.

Toma Kazusa didn't care, but stared straight into Ogiso Setsuna's eyes, her expression serious.