Zongman I fight weirdness in everyday world

“I don’t quite understand.”

Yagami Light shook his head, stirring the bitter black coffee with a stirrer. The stirrer collided with the cup wall, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

“I can understand your plan, but… I can’t understand why you have to expend energy on such meaningless things and meaningless people.”

“When you assume everyone is meaningless, how can you know if there is any meaning at all?”

Nightstar asked with a smile.

“If it weren’t for the members of the Overlimit Society, could you, me, and Ryuzaki have defeated Izanami and all the enemies we encountered along the way? A person’s strength is ultimately limited.”

L, who was sitting there, couldn't help but retort upon hearing this.

“It’s hard to believe that these words are coming from your mouth.”

“Isn’t that normal?”

Nightstar revealed a smile and slowly said.

“Just like when Light’s thoughts become extreme, I pull him back. When Ryuzaki, your style is too reckless and disregards your own safety, the old man named Watari will dissuade you. The members of the Overlimit Society are also like my last line of defense, my restraints.”

Yagami Light asked curiously, “Didn’t you say that what you pursue is absolute freedom?”

Nightstar shrugged and replied with a smile.

“Isn’t this freedom? I want to be restrained, even if it’s not through coercive means, but through emotional factors. I got what I wanted, isn’t that also a kind of freedom? Freedom is the power to choose according to one’s own will.”

“Your thoughts are really elusive.”

“What you should be pondering now isn’t my thoughts, right?”

After a brief exchange, Nightstar began to talk about the main topic.

“Only one death occurred in Kyoto. The serial killer with special abilities hasn’t committed another crime recently. Since you two are here, why not analyze it from both a psychological and logical perspective? Why is this happening?”

“Hmm…”

Yagami Light stopped stirring his coffee, picked up the bitter black coffee, took a sip, and said thoughtfully.

“Without considering the issue of special abilities, from a criminal psychology perspective, such a criminal cannot easily stop. Even if he feels external threats, he will only find it more stimulating, which will deepen his twisted desire to take lives. The fact that he hasn’t acted recently… combined with what he did before, the continuous crimes in Tokyo and Kyoto, I think the biggest possibility is that the criminal believes that just this level will be covered up by the Metropolitan Police Department, and these murders, which fail to cause any sensation, cannot satisfy his twisted competitiveness, and are not enough to prove that he has defeated ‘Mask’ and ‘Kira’. He should be planning something more terrifying, or rather, a case that the Metropolitan Police Department cannot cover up and can cause a greater social sensation.”

“I agree with Light’s opinion.”

Compared to Yagami Light’s lengthy analysis, L’s words were very concise and refined. After all, he had already figured out how to catch the criminal.

“Although there is no evidence, and no clues that can be analyzed, for a criminal who is so reckless, even arrogant enough to dare to challenge ‘Kira’ and ‘Mask’, if he wants to create a sensation and satisfy his twisted ego, there aren’t many targets to choose from in Kyoto.”

L raised his head, and in his eyes hidden beneath his black, fragmented hair, appeared the confidence of victory.

“Someone connected to ‘Mask’ and has a high degree of fame, that is an excellent bait that the criminal cannot resist.”

Chapter 470: A Fishing Lure's Notice, Aoki Takeshi's Resolve

“That’s true.”

Yagami Light tapped the table gently with his slender fingers, supporting his chin with his other hand, and said softly with a smile.

“But that guy doesn’t even dare to face me when I’m in Tokyo, only daring to harm those powerless ordinary people. Although he’s arrogant, he probably wouldn’t do something so stupid and suicidal, like openly assassinating someone, risking a direct confrontation with ‘Mask’.”

“Hmm… that is indeed a problem.”

L showed a thoughtful expression and slowly said.

“Besides, regarding what I just said, there is more than one person in Kyoto who meets those criteria.”

“Light’s father, Souichiro Yagami, the head of the Kyoto Prefectural Police's Special Investigation Unit, is naturally the first choice, but Ms. Sumeragi Natsumi, the freelance journalist, and Mr. Aoki Takeshi, the chairman of the ‘Mask’ fan club, these three people are important figures who openly support ‘Mask’ and have a certain social influence, without needing too much investigation.”

“From the perspective of influence alone, Mr. Yagami is the most dangerous, but also the least likely to be successfully assassinated. After all, even if he doesn’t have any power, he is still an experienced detective. Although Ms. Sumeragi Natsumi has a high profile, she generally doesn’t appear in public. Even if the assassination is successful, it might not be realistic to make the public directly associate her death with ‘Mask’.”

“Considering everything, only Mr. Aoki is the most suitable target. The remaining question is…”

“How can we create the most appropriate opportunity to make the serial killer behind the scenes believe that he doesn’t need to face ‘Mask’ and ‘Kira’, or even any psychic, and has absolute certainty that he can kill Mr. Aoki, preferably in a public place, so that he will take the initiative to show himself?”

Hearing the question raised by L, Yagami Light didn’t directly propose a plan, but looked at Nightstar sitting across from him.

“If I remember correctly, Mr. Aoki has had contact with both you and ‘Mask’, but he doesn’t know your true identity, right? Is this person trustworthy? Even if we come up with a perfect fishing plan, based on your understanding of him, would he cooperate at the risk of his life without even knowing your true identity?”

“If it’s him…”

Nightstar recalled his several encounters with Aoki Takeshi, and without the slightest hesitation, gave a definite answer.

“He will.”

“Good.”

Yagami Light was better at manipulating people and making targets act according to his plans than L, so he played the main role in today’s discussion.

“Then, the two remaining links in the plan are to have Mr. Aoki make a public appearance. Coincidentally, he is the chairman of the ‘Mask’ fan club. If we can hold an event with the participation of ‘Mask’ supporters and a high degree of publicity, it will inevitably attract the attention of that killer.”

“Finally, and most importantly, is to make that killer think that all of us have left his jurisdiction and, for the time being, don’t have the spare energy to deal with him…”

Hearing this, Nightstar had already come up with a plan.

He looked at L and Yagami Light sitting across from him, and said softly with a smile.

“Coincidentally, I’ve also been pondering something recently. Taking advantage of this opportunity… we can kill two birds with one stone, achieve two things at once, and hit two targets with one arrow.”

After saying this, Nightstar looked at L sitting there and asked.

“Ryuzaki, what you guys said about that organization that is trying to create a god, have you investigated any clues?”

“We have investigated something…”

L replied with a calm expression.

"Calling it an organization isn't entirely accurate. It's more like a collection of fanatical religions that were originally hidden among the populace. After Rikka Sakuragawa's public disclosure of information, they shifted their focus to creating a god, engaging in disgusting acts, including human sacrifices. These groups don't have much connection with each other and can't be considered a complete organization."

"Based on the previous clues, I discovered a religious group in Yokohama that seems to have connections to both Kogane Shimiya and Atsuta Shrine. After further investigation, I obtained evidence of their crimes and plan to resolve the serial killer case this weekend, then have Moon eliminate them."

After explaining the basic situation, L changed the subject.

"Why are you asking about this? Could it be..."

"It seems so."

Without needing Yagami to explain further, Yagami Light understood his meaning. He picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and slowly said with a smile.

"Send a pre-emptive warning to that cult organization."

Yagami glanced at the pure black coffee in Yagami Light's cup, without any milk or sugar, which looked very bitter, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Isn't it bitter?"

Yagami Light put down his cup and showed his signature charming smile.

"It's not bitter, because..."

"If you dare say it's because I'm sitting across from you, I'll physically castrate you."

"Uh..."

Yagami Light looked speechless and couldn't help but retort.

"You actually think I would say something like that? Aren't you thinking too badly of me?"

Yagami furrowed his brow and said seriously.

"It's best if you don't say it. I'm not into that sort of thing."

"I'm not either..."

"Really not?"

"Really not."

After answering, Yagami Light seemed to think of something and suddenly asked.

"By the way, that Totsuka Saika student..."

Before he could finish speaking, just hearing the name Totsuka Saika from his mouth, Yagami immediately stood up, muttering under his breath.

"Crap, a hardcore fan. I have to leave quickly. Ryuzaki, be careful too."

L nodded. Faced with such an abnormal topic, his reaction seemed too normal to be normal.

"Alright, I understand."

...

That evening, at the figure shop in the shopping district.

Aoki Takeshi was tidying up the store, preparing to go home. Hearing footsteps coming from the entrance, he didn't even look up. He carefully lifted a cardboard box containing the latest "Kamen" figure and placed it on the shelf, saying in a deep voice.

"We're closed for today. If you want to buy something, please come early tomorrow. Or, you can donate to the families of the victims affected by the incidents that "Kamen" has been involved in on the "Kamen" fan club website. With proof of donation, you can also come here and randomly draw a free figure."

Aoki Takeshi's ability to become the chairman of the "Kamen" fan club wasn't just based on enthusiasm; his business and public relations skills were also extremely outstanding.

How many incidents has "Kamen" been involved in so far?

Too many to count.

However, "Kamen's" style has always been simple and direct, pursuing ultimate efficiency. Unlike the Metropolitan Police Department, he doesn't consider the mental state of the victims afterward. Moreover, there are often collateral damages during battles, such as the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters building that was damaged during the fight with Aguri Kiyotaka.

Although there haven't been any public opinion problems yet, Aoki Takeshi knows that if a despicable person deliberately guides things, it could easily damage "Kamen's" image.

"Kamen" is righteous, without a doubt.

Aoki Takeshi never thought of advising "Kamen" to be gentler during actions.

People shouldn't have too many constraints and demands on heroes. What he can do is to handle this series of hidden dangers for "Kamen", and raising funds from supporters on the website is what he thinks is the best way.

The use of the donations is naturally not only for donating to the Metropolitan Police Department, but also for the families of the victims, like in the Sunny Doll Killer incident, and those who suffered collateral damage during "Kamen's" actions, such as the crossroads where Yagami fell from the sky and directly smashed a hole, and the street where Yagami opened a crack with a punch to stop the Nagoya Metropolitan Police Department. The repair costs are all paid for by donations from "Kamen" fan club supporters.

This way, no loopholes will be left behind.

At the same time, the series of figures produced by Aoki Takeshi, which originally had no copyright, became the only genuine product in the hearts of every "Kamen" supporter.

They can buy their favorite figures and also make a small but noble contribution to "Kamen's" cause. Why not?

However, after Aoki Takeshi said this, the only response he received was the sound of the shutter door being pulled down and hitting the ground.

"Hmm?"

Aoki Takeshi frowned and immediately turned around. In the darkness, he couldn't see anything at all.

Just as he became vigilant, the lights in the store suddenly turned on.

"Hello, Mr. Aoki."

Seeing the black mask that came into view, and the familiar, teasing tone, although he couldn't identify the voice, Aoki Takeshi was slightly stunned at first, then took two steps back until his back was against the counter before he reacted.

"Ka... Kamen... Mr.?"

"No need to add 'Mr.' and no need to be so polite."

Yagami waved his hand, pulled up a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and chuckled.

"Mr. Aoki, I have something I need to ask of you. It's like this..."

"Wait, you don't need to say anything more."

Aoki Takeshi waved his hand, but the meaning of this action at this time corresponded to the saying.

Waving is not rejection, but no need to say more.

Aoki Takeshi's expression was very sincere, without the slightest hesitation, and he replied directly.

"My wife and daughter's lives were saved by you. I already owe you a lot. There's no need to explain the reason to me. You just need to tell me what you want me to do. As long as it's within my ability, I will definitely agree without any hesitation."

"With those words, I can rest assured."

Yagami had already anticipated that Aoki Takeshi would give such a reply, and didn't waste any words, but went straight to the point.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I need you to hold an event. It doesn't matter what kind of event it is, but it's best to make the publicity as big as possible. You can also invite Miss Suga Natsumi, you should have heard of her, she has written reports about me."

In L and Yagami Light's analysis, besides Yagami Soichiro, whose assassination risk is too high and could potentially involve himself, Suga Natsumi and Aoki Takeshi, these two apparent "Kamen" supporters, both fully meet the selection criteria of that serial killer.

Plus a large-scale "Kamen" support event...

What could be more sensational and exciting for that serial killer than killing so many supporters at the "Kamen" fan club?

"Tomorrow?"

Aoki Takeshi said while thinking.

"The time is a bit tight, but it should still be doable, no problem."