Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner-Chapter 824 - 498: Day Five_2

At present, he disguised himself as a reporter and sneaked into the police station to inquire about the Heavenly Punishment case-related information. Naturally, he was mistaken by the police as Horie Kei’s accomplice, and without a word, he was arrested, intending to extort a confession by torture.

"Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding! We’re investigating the Hokkaido Heavenly Punishment case... haven’t you heard? The auditorium shooting case at the Hokkaido Police Station... and the apartment massacre in Sugamo..."

Sakakita Taro didn’t even finish his sentence when Kinosaki Shoujin landed an elbow blow to his chest, then tore off a phone book, soaked it in water, and pressed it page by page against his face.

"Not going to tell the truth, huh? I’ve got plenty of time to spend with you!" Kinosaki Shoujin said coldly.

Just two days ago, he received a call from Fushimi Roku, who warned that in the next few days, Horie Kei’s accomplices might not be able to sit tight and would be probing around for information related to the Heavenly Punishment case, gathering public opinions, and trying to incite riots using the public dissatisfaction.

Just like the initial Sugamo riot.

Yes, Fushimi Roku played dirty tricks. He’s not an idiot. How could he just stand there and let the detectives investigate?

Upon hearing this, Kinosaki Shoujin became extremely nervous and sensitive.

The tragic scenes of the last Sugamo riot were still vivid in his mind. Back then, the Police Department didn’t have such a bad reputation; now, with the Cat Island videotape leak, the public’s emotions are boiling, and he didn’t dare to imagine how serious it could become if a riot broke out.

Now that there are indeed two people sneaking around investigating the Heavenly Punishment case, Kinosaki Shoujin couldn’t help but take it seriously.

Sakakita Taro didn’t even have time to plead before he was subjected to water torture.

After four or five rounds of near-drowning, he vomited on the table, his mind couldn’t think straight, and he could only beg for mercy instinctively: "I confess... I confess... I’ll say everything..."

Kinosaki Shoujin felt a surge of happiness in his heart, thinking he had done an excellent job. He glanced back at the head of the Criminal Department, who looked at him with eyes full of appreciation.

Great, if he could really get results from the interrogation, he would definitely be credited for his achievements!

Kinosaki Shoujin didn’t bother to clean up the vomit, hurriedly pressing the suspect with more questions.

Sakakita Taro told about attending a wedding, describing everything in full detail without leaving out a word, including the clues he had discovered and his suspicion that the groom was the true culprit behind the Heavenly Punishment events before.

After listening, Kinosaki Shoujin felt this guy didn’t seem to be lying. He calmed down, thought it over carefully, and finally realized he had been used as a pawn by Fushimi Roku.

What wedding, what auditorium shooting case, he simply didn’t care. In the face of social public opinion, these were nothing.

Since Sakakita Taro wasn’t Horie Kei’s accomplice and couldn’t provide any useful clues, his interest immediately waned, not even bothering to look again. He left the interrogation room with his superior to report on the next stage of the investigation.

As for what to do with Sakakita Taro and Mori Na... it’s simple, keep them for a week, and once Sakakita Taro’s wounds have healed, just release them.

Afterward, they would say it was to cooperate with the citizen’s investigation, even if Sakakita Taro and the others sued the police station, they would have no evidence, and it would be a favor to Fushimi Roku, killing two birds with one stone.

The criminal police escorted Sakakita Taro back to the detention room, and soon Kinosaki Shoujin put the matter behind him.

Sakakita Taro lay on the hard wooden bed, and after two or three hours managed to recover his strength.

Mori Na, who was detained next door, saw Sakakita Taro being dragged in and kept calling out to her partner.

"Stop calling... I’m not dead..." Sakakita Taro said weakly.

"That’s great, Mr. Kensaka, as long as you’re alright..." Mori Na sighed in relief.

Then, she immediately perked up, discussing with Sakakita Taro on how to find a lawyer and how to focus on solving the case as soon as possible.

"It’s no use; the police will use the ’secrecy principle for investigating major cases’ to refuse suspects meeting with lawyers... Detained for a week or so, once the injuries heal, they’ll let us go... it’s the usual tactic these past few years..."

Sakakita Taro let out a deep sigh: "Being stuck here for a week, forget about solving the case, there’s no chance for the reward..."

He covered his eyes with the back of his hand, unable to resist hammering the wall with the other: "Damn it! We were so close..."

Mori Na loudly encouraged: "Don’t give up! There must be a way!"

In reality, there wasn’t any.

They spent two days in the detention center, already missing out on two cases, with hopes of solving them nearly gone.

Sakakita Taro felt utterly despondent, but fortunately, on the third day, a newcomer joined them — Aoshima Harano, who was also caught while probing for Heavenly Punishment information.

The two coincidentally stayed in the same detention room, having plenty of time to chat idly.

Aoshima Harano wasn’t planning to give up, believing he still had a chance to win the prize money:

"My partner is still in Hokkaido; I had it all figured out from the start. In case the third case also occurs in Tokyo, handling it in two places would save a lot of time. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket..."

"So what’s the result? Where’s the third case?" Sakakita Taro asked.

"The remaining two cases are both in Tokyo. I’ve investigated; the Snowy Heavenly Punishment case is most likely a copycat, closely linked to Kazama Tatsuya’s daughter, but unrelated to the original perpetrator of the auditorium shooting case." Aoshima Harano sat by the bars, tinkering with something in his hands, making a faint creaking sound.

"What’s the situation with the fourth case?" Sakakita Taro was very curious.

"Desolate mountain female corpse, bones not even complete, without clothing or traces, the only clue is ’Heavenly Punishment’ carved on a stone, absolutely a dead end case." Aoshima Harano spoke the truth, such a case was certainly a cold case.

"Do you have a conclusion? Have you told your partner?"

Sakakita Taro was very upset, watching the 25 million prize being taken away, more painful than the water torture.

"I did tell. Even if I’m not there, it doesn’t matter. He will announce the answer for me on the wedding’s last day."

Aoshima Harano paused, turning back to say: "Actually, missing these two cases isn’t a big deal; there’s nothing to check, and it could even disrupt your judgement." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"You think the same as I do?" Sakakita Taro’s heart ached even more: "Do you have any evidence?"

"Yes, I’m thinking the same as you." Aoshima Harano nodded: "No evidence, but didn’t the bride say at the beginning? [Logically consistent inference], equally effective."

Sakakita Taro felt even breathing was painful. According to this, he could have won the 25 million prize money...

If only he hadn’t brought Mori Na, eggs should not have been all in one basket.

Sakakita Taro, with sunk hopes, lay on the hard bed like a dead pig, feeling life was bleak and the future a pile of dung.

At this moment, from next door, came Mori Na’s pleading voice. Since the first day of entering the detention center, she had been constantly pestering the duty criminal police, pleading with them to let them go and promising not to sue the police station.

Until today, no one paid attention to her.

Sakakita Taro was about to tell her to shut up so he could have peace. Now, no matter what is done, it’s all useless efforts; he might as well lie on the bed and suffer...

"Hey, is that Teacher Mori? Why are you here?" A familiar voice sounded.

Sakakita Taro was taken aback, sitting up carefully to eavesdrop. He realized today’s duty officer was the fan they had encountered earlier, who not only asked Mori Na for an autograph but had personally escorted them to Kazama Tatsuya’s doorstep.

Mori Na quickly explained the whole story and pleaded with the officer to help let them go.

The officer hesitated for a moment, feeling the section chief might not care about such a small matter. After Mori Na repeatedly promised not to prosecute, he surprisingly agreed to release them — but only if the next novel came with a signed copy and a collector’s edition.

"No problem! Thank you!" Mori Na cheered loudly.

The officer released Mori Ran, preparing to let Sakakita Taro and others go, but noticed marks on the bars which had been filed down.

His heart skipped a beat and after a careful search, he found a file on Aoshima Harano.

This guy was actually attempting a ’prison break’!

The officer’s face turned solemn, pushing Aoshima Harano back inside: "Sorry, the two of them can go, but you can’t."

"Ah, this..." Aoshima Harano was stunned.

Sakakita Taro bolted out, fearing he might be a step too late. With his strongest competitor held back, he would not let this chance slip by!