No one understands the laws of Collider better than me.

The group of more than twenty people immediately split into three groups, and Kitahara Masaki handed the little girl over to Sato.

"Big brother, are you going to save my mother?"

"Yes, this big sister will take you to the hospital later. I will save your mother soon and go to the hospital with her to see you. Remember to listen to this big sister."

"Yes, I will be good."

Previously, when Kitahara Maki was handling a case, Sato Miwako was busy with other cases, so this was their first meeting during a case-handling session.

"Please leave her to me, Inspector Kitahara. I will take good care of her."

With the tape in hand, Kitahara Masaki, Takagi, and Hattori drove back to the Metropolitan Police Department to analyze the case.

Ah!

Kitahara Masaki, who was sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly cried out.

"What's wrong, Kitahara-senpai?"

Takagi asked curiously.

"It's nothing. I just suddenly realized that I haven't even asked the child what his name is yet."

Kitahara Masaki rubbed his temples, realizing that he really wasn't suited to taking care of children.

Chapter 25 A Bloodbath Triggered by a Tape

"I don't know if you realize it, but you're asking for too much."

"Hehe, I don't know if I realize it or not, this is not a request."

“Tearing up our agreement is not a wise choice. Unless what’s in that bag satisfies me.”

"Of course."

What kind of collaborative project?

"It's a win-win situation. We hope your people can stop selling the old products, and that the new products can reduce costs to almost zero while keeping profits the same."

"So you're saying you not only want us to switch to the new product, but you also want to drive away those people online."

“Business is business, my friend. We have a lot of manpower and equipment. As long as we spread this around the city, we’ll make a fortune.”

On one side are gangsters speaking fluent Kanto-accented Japanese, and on the other side are the Ross gang speaking broken Japanese. This tape recorder contains their conversation during a transaction, providing ample reason to investigate them.

"By the way, I really like the woman working here. I wonder if Yoshioka-kun would be willing to part with her?"

"Haha, no problem, no problem, Mr. Alexander. These are just part of the cargo."

Upon hearing this, Kitahara Masaki confirmed the roles of the two parties in the transaction: on one side was a Japanese organization that wanted to spread the new goods in Ross territory, and on the other side were the Ross people responsible for selling them.

"Inspector Kitahara, should we immediately notify the Fourth Investigation Division to conduct a search of their organization?"

"No, the drug manufacturing site couldn't possibly be in one of their buildings. Searching it now would only alert them and expose our target."

After questioning the little girl, it turned out that the Ross gang wasn't after the tape recorder; they wanted to arrest her because she had reported her mother's abduction to the police, which alerted the Ross gang. So, they decided to go all the way and arrest both mother and daughter. After all, disappearing in that kind of place would hardly be noticed.

"Alright, now let's sort out the sequence of events in the case."

Kitahara Masaki pulled over the small blackboard and wrote on it with an oil-based pen:

"First, a local Japanese yakuza contacted the Ross yakuza in Tokyo, wanting to buy and sell new drugs on their territory. This is the main thread of the story. Then, during their negotiations, a Ross member took advantage of the girl's appearance and tried to take her away. The girl escaped and went to report the incident to the police. Finally, the Ross members, realizing that the girl was trying to report the incident, dispatched a team to hunt her down. I happened to run into them, which led to the subsequent developments."

After saying that, Kitahara Masaki picked up the cassette tape and continued:

"This tape was a pleasant surprise for us. Neither the Japanese mafia nor the Ross mafia knew that we had a tape in our hands. They probably thought that they had just been caught by the police by chance. Little did they know that we had already learned about the drugs they wanted to sell."

Heiji Hattori seemed to have something to say, but after looking around, he said nothing more.

It seems that only Heiji Hattori realizes the seriousness of the problem.

Having observed everyone's performance, Kitahara Masaki, though having anticipated it, still felt somewhat disappointed.

"Hattori and Takagi, you stay here. The rest of you, use the pretext of investigating the missing citizens to go to the bars frequented by Rossi and see if any new faces appear, especially to see if these people belong to any local Japanese gangs. Go!"

After everyone had left, Kitahara Masaki led the two of them out as well.

"Brother Kitahara, something's not right."

Once they were on the road, Hattori Heiji finally dared to speak his mind.

"I know there's a high probability of corrupt cops in the Fourth Investigation Division."

"what!"

Takagi, belatedly realizing what was happening, couldn't help but exclaim.

"why is that?"

"It's very simple. In modern times, calling the police is not difficult. After receiving the report, since it was a case related to the mafia, it was naturally handed over to the Fourth Investigation Division for investigation. However, in the end, the little girl, as the person who reported the case, not only did not receive protection, but her location was even found by the Ross people."

If Kitahara Masaki hadn't happened to witness the crime, no one would have reported it to the police in Toriya Town.

"So what should we do?"

This was the first time Takagi had encountered such a situation; in his mind, the police force should not have any traitors.

"Senior Kitahara, how could the police force allow someone who would collude with gangsters to join them?"

Kitahara Masaki found those words a bit jarring, but he was too lazy to give him a life lesson at that moment.

"We'll go to the Fourth Investigation Division now and find out who's in charge of the little girl's case."

"But that's no use. At most, it just tells us who's in charge..."

Kitahara Masaki chuckled. Hattori Heiji, watching Kitahara Masaki waving the cassette tape in his hand, suddenly realized what was going on and said:

"Brother Kitahara, you need to deliberately bluff him, make him think we've already obtained evidence that can convict the yakuza."

"Ruzi can be taught."

Sitting in the driver's seat, Takagi looked ashamed; he still didn't quite understand what Kitahara Maki was trying to do.

"Takagi, if you don't understand, then listen more and learn more. One day you will also become a police inspector. Consider this preparation for you to take charge on your own."

Takagi was deeply moved, thinking that Kitahara-senpai valued him so much.

However, Kitahara Masaki was only certain that Takagi, being on the red side, would never betray him under the laws of detective fiction, which is why he sent him on errands. After all, both he and Hattori Heiji were well-known figures in the Metropolitan Police Department, and their appearances often attracted a lot of attention.

Upon arriving at the headquarters of the Fourth Investigation Division in Toriya Town, Kitahara Masaki immediately and loudly approached the division's supervising officer, publicizing the kidnapping of the little girl and asserting that the local yakuza were so rampant that it was necessary to unite the elites from both sides to launch a swift and decisive crackdown on the gangsters.

In a way, Kitahara Masaki was right. With the help of the superintendent, the police officer in charge of investigating the little girl's case was quickly located.

"Hello, Officer Yoshiaki Ono, I've called you here for no other reason than to inquire about the case you're in charge of."

"Inspector Kitahara, are you referring to the case where the little girl reported that her mother had been kidnapped by gangsters?"

"Yes. The computer records indicate that this is a closed case, but now this heinous kidnapping in the street has occurred. I find it hard to believe that you handled that case properly."

The square-faced man was filled with trepidation. Even though he was more than twenty years older than Kitahara Masaki, he still felt a rather terrifying aura emanating from Kitahara Masaki.

“I’m so sorry! At the time, I thought it was just a case of a runaway. You know that place is a mixed bag, and people often go missing. Plus, the little girl’s mother was that kind of person, so I didn’t expect things to develop like this.”

"The computer records say you found her mother? Then why didn't you bring her home?"

“Inspector Kitahara, that woman claimed to be friends with those gang members in order to curry favor with them, and I couldn’t force her to go home. There’s a record of this case in the police file, and it says that’s exactly what she said.”

However, the police station's surveillance system malfunctioned that day, making it impossible to retrieve the footage from that interview.

Kitahara Masaki tapped the table. This Fourth Investigation Division wasn't just home to one corrupt cop; it was definitely an organized group. Further questioning would only backfire.

What Kitahara Maki wants to do is use that tape to capture them all.

Chapter 26 It's on Fire

Continuing to browse the computer records, there was a guarantee signed and fingerprinted by the little girl's mother.

Apart from the lack of video recording, all the necessary procedures have been completed. Kitahara Masaki's accusation is merely that Yoshiaki Ono was not subject to further investigation.

However, Kitahara Masaki's visit to the Fourth Investigation Division in Toriya Town was not for such a simple matter. He summoned the division's supervisor and asked him and Ono Yoshiaki to listen to the contents of the tape.

After both of them listened to the recording once, Kitahara Masaki stated that the tape was evidence of the Joker card. Only then did the two realize that Kitahara Masaki's real intention was not what it seemed, but rather that he wanted to pull off a big heist.

"I'm not very clear about the situation in Toriya Town either, so I'll need everyone's help. Once we get evidence of these people's drug trafficking and manufacturing as soon as possible, we can not only dismantle the entire supply chain, but also completely eradicate two gangs."

At this moment, Kitahara Masaki smiled and said to Ono Yoshiaki:

"Having made such a contribution, I doubt anyone will pay attention to Officer Ono's previous cases anymore."

"This case will require a lot of help from Inspector Kitahara. I will issue the order as soon as possible to find enough people who can keep their mouths shut. I will personally lead the team to investigate the location of the drug manufacturing site. What are you waiting for! Hurry up and thank Inspector Kitahara!"

"Ah! Yes, you're right. Thanks to Inspector Kitahara, I will definitely make amends and catch all those gangsters."

Yoshiaki Ono, a beat behind, forced a smile and bowed respectfully.

"This tape will be kept by you. We hope you can confirm the identities of the people on the tape and the transaction location as soon as possible. As far as the gang is concerned, they still think we are investigating a missing persons case. Take advantage of this time difference, and we will definitely be able to wipe out this group of criminals in one fell swoop!"

After leaving behind the recording, Kitahara Masaki left with Takagi and Hattori, leaving them absolutely no room to refuse.

"How was your apprenticeship, Hattori?"

"No problem, Kitahara-kun. I've already identified myself to many officers in Section 4. That should add fuel to the fire. By the way, wouldn't you say this is abusing power?"

"Criminals are not human, let alone corrupt cops."

Hattori and Takagi exchanged a wry smile. Kitahara Masaki's determination when truly focused on solving a case made no distinction between friend and foe. His mission to have Hattori Heiji 'demonstrate' his identity as the son of the Osaka Prefectural Police Chief was to make it clear to these people that any further delays would lead to consequences beyond what could be concealed.

"So what do we do next?"

"Takagi, go to the car rental shop and rent a vehicle that we can use for long-term surveillance. Then the three of us will take turns listening to the Fourth Investigation Division."

"This, this isn't a good idea, is it? Besides, the content of the eavesdropping can't be used as evidence."

"It's alright. We just need to confirm which police officers are connected to the gangs, and it would be even better if we could find out where their drug manufacturing site is. The key is to observe Ono Yoshiaki and see if he'll feel guilty and steal the tape to give to his boss."

Having long been accustomed to running errands, Takagi quickly rented an inconspicuous van and parked it on the side of the road. Kitahara Masaki, already wearing listening headphones, asked Hattori:

"Hattori, what do you think we'll need during surveillance and wiretapping? A few extra loaves of bread, a few bottles of water, a flashlight, and batteries. And—Takagi, do you have pillows and blankets prepared?"

"Yes, yes, Kitahara-senpai."

"Yes, Hattori trainee, you'll be spending the next period of time here listening in."

Heiji Hattori had always been looking forward to participating in the investigation, so he dismissed Kitahara Masaki's well-intentioned reminder, thinking that it was just a matter of spending a few days in the car, and he would certainly be fine.