I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"I am Hanazawa Ojiba, the chief of the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau. I have long admired your unique method of 'making wrongdoers repent.'"

Amamiya: "..."

Amamiya never expected that one day he would be treated like a fan to a celebrity by the 'police chief'.

Although the other party 'admired' him because of troublesome and headache-inducing matters such as handling his case and providing psychological counseling, it was still a form of admiration after all.

Amamiya couldn't help but recall the anonymous comment on the "Phantom Thief Channel": "If this world truly degenerates into a situation where 'when anything happens, people trust the phantom thief before the police,' then this world is doomed."

Given the current situation... it left him with mixed feelings.

However, the reality is that... no one understands the true value of 'repentance' better than Ye Zhu, which is described as "the culprit confesses and repents in an unprecedented way."

"This might be a bit abrupt, but I still have to say it..." Ye Zhu continued to ignore Hua Ye and looked sincerely at Amamiya, "Could you please listen to my reasons?"

Chapter Five: She's practically a superhero!

"Sensei...could you perhaps listen to my troubles a little?"

In the police chief's office, which was nearing the end of the night, the blonde girl, half tired and half expectant, made her 'request'.

Amamiya opened her mouth, but before she could reply, Hanaya jumped up and down.

"Cough cough...! Tail blade."

After deliberately coughing loudly, she called out Ye Zhu's surname in a 'majestic' manner. Then, she raised her index finger, paused, and emphasized again, "You and Sensei haven't known each other for very long, have you? Asking someone to solve your problems as soon as you meet is a bit too informal, isn't it?"

“Yes…Sensei is indeed the ‘phantom thief who helps students without reason or reward, solving their problems,’ but your actions are truly…”

After pausing briefly to consider the adjectives, Huaye continued, "...disregarding the law and violating discipline!"

Ye Zhu chuckled—he was laughing because he was angry.

“Chief Shiranui,” she addressed Hanaya by her surname, “even if you haven’t studied the text ‘On Horses’ that even children in the Plum Garden of the Classic of Mountains and Seas must read, memorize, and understand, you should still know a very basic and simple principle—”

"Wanting a horse to run without feeding it is utterly impossible."

She patted the chief's desk and pointed to the mountain of documents piled on it: "Chief Huaye, my request to Sensei was based on 'solving various problems more efficiently,' a long-term consideration aimed at reducing the crime rate in Kiwatos!"

"But you say that my behavior is too 'unapproachable'?"

Ye Zhu's tone and aura, which were not at all inferior to Hua Ye's, made Amamiya feel that if it weren't for the fact that if they really broke off relations, the entire Valkyrie Public Security Bureau would suffer as a result, Ye Zhu would probably have grabbed Hua Ye by the collar and questioned her right now.

Amamiya sighed and walked between Hanaya and Hagisa, blocking their view.

"Ye Zhu... Director."

For no apparent reason, the famous saying "When working, you should use your job title" came to mind, and Amamiya unconsciously added the title "Director".

"The trouble you're talking about... is it about the recent events at SRT Academy, and also about the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau itself, right?"

"Hmm." Ye Zhu nodded wearily. "Due to the closure of SRT Academy and the recent student transfers, the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau is currently working non-stop."

Seemingly hesitant, Ye Zhu simply explained the current situation the Public Security Bureau was facing, then glanced subtly at Hua Ye before continuing with the second matter: "As for the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau's own affairs..."

"If Sensei can spare the time recently, I strongly suggest you make contact with the Bureau of Life Safety..."

Similarly, it only touched on the point briefly, explaining the situation without intending to continue.

Ye Zhu's meaning was quite clear: 'Sensei, some things are better discussed privately.'

Amamiya nodded knowingly: "I've heard about Valkyrie's hardships and how busy they are... a long time ago."

"I will try to find a way to ease Valkyrie's current situation."

【~???~】(from Ye Zhu)

I sensed Ye Zhu's ease.

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Oojima Haguru (Emperor) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Ye Zhu's slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. Without saying much, he simply let out a calm sigh and sat back down at the director's desk.

“If Sensei wants to learn more about the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau, I have a recommendation.” Ye Zhu said, picking up a document and starting to process it. “As for the recommender’s information… I’ll send it to you when I’m done.”

Ye Zhu didn't hesitate to process the documents, and without even looking up, calmly said, "If Sensei has other things to do, then I won't see you out."

As for Hua Ye on the side... she simply ignored her, saying "it doesn't matter whether you're here or not."

'...'

Hana, who seemed to still be sulking, puffed out her cheeks slightly and hummed a couple of lines in a girlish manner.

Thanks to the phantom thief's exceptional hearing, Amamiya caught Hana's complaint.

'Hmph... Just you wait...'

'I'll definitely find it next time...'

Amamiya also caught the way Hanaya gave him a scrutinizing look after she put on that 'pretentious' act.

As the saying goes, a person can be bad, stupid, or both bad and stupid.

But if someone who is both wicked and stupid can actually hold a high position, then they must have some unique talent or ability in some way.

—Take Junya Kinjo, for example, he's a typical example of someone who's both wicked and stupid.

Despite being both wicked and foolish, he managed to become a "gang boss".

It wasn't because he was rich, but because he had great "observational skills".

The same applies to Shido Justice.

From Amamiya's own perspective, you could say he was bad, you could say he was stupid, or that he overestimated his abilities...

But when it comes to keen observation skills, Shido is absolutely in a class of his own.

Amamiya believed that Hanaya also possessed a similar talent for 'observation'.

So he cooperated by showing a "can't bear" expression that was touched by the cuteness.

"We've learned pretty much everything we needed to know..."

As if to 'exonerate' Hanaya, Amamiya deliberately raised her voice slightly and 'asked' Hanaya's opinion: "Isn't it about time we went back, Chief Hanaya?"

【~???~】(From Huaye)

“Hmm…Sensei is right…”

Hua Ye, displaying the demeanor of a good boss who was annoyed by her impolite subordinates but didn't intend to pursue the matter further, sighed sullenly and took out her car keys.

“Sensei is going back to Xialai next, right? Let me take you back.”

With just a few words, Hanaya was overjoyed and offered to take her home. Amamiya smiled politely and said, "Thank you very much, Director Hanaya."

Hana's seemingly unchanging squinting smile gradually transformed into an ethereal and blissful state, as if floating on clouds, thanks to Amamiya's praise.

On the drive to Xialai, Hua Ye's upturned lips never left her mouth.

After driving Amamiya all the way to the bottom of the Xia Lai Building, parking the car, and getting out to open the passenger door to 'welcome' Amamiya out, Hanaya confirmed again in a slightly smug tone.

"Sensei, what are your thoughts on that guy with the tail blade?"

"view……"

Amamiya knew that what Hanaya actually wanted as a "reference answer" was not simply "her opinion on Hagisa".

After a moment's hesitation, Amamiya shook her head 'sympathetically': "It was just a brief encounter, a simple meeting. I can't say for sure what Ye Zhu is like..."

"But Chief Hanaya, your performance today really opened my eyes..."

"To be able to tolerate even a subordinate like that, he's practically a superman."

【~???~】

Hanaya was slightly taken aback by Amamiya's words, and then her green eyes, fluttering in the night wind, suddenly shone with a bright light.

"...Superman?!"

After repeating Amamiya's praise in an 'unbelievable' tone, Hanaya immediately realized that she had a problem maintaining her emotions.

She coughed several times to cover up her momentarily over-excited emotions, and the pink-haired girl calmed the ahoge (cowlick) on her head that seemed to be turning into a lightning bolt shape. She stammered out a sentence, "...Thank you for the compliment, Sensei."

Amamiya: '...'

I never intended to address her specifically; I just casually used a phrase like "she's practically a superhero"... Why did she react so strongly?

Amamiya really couldn't understand it.

I guess... Huaye has never been called that by anyone else before?

—Not even such a 'perfunctory' compliment.

If even such a perfunctory, casual compliment could elicit such shock and surprise from Huaye...

Amamiya couldn't even imagine what would happen to Hanaya if she maxed out her bond skill and said some sweet words to her.

Can the corners of her mouth really turn up to the sky?

The absurd idea flashed through Amamiya's mind, and he immediately shook his head with a chill.

It's quite amusing that praising Hana like that made her react in this strange way...

But the thought of having to 'sweet-talk' a 'low-quality female version of Goro Akechi' sent a chill down Amamiya's spine.

It's like hurting the enemy a thousand while losing eight hundred of your own.

Leaving aside Amamiya, who was shivering from thinking about terrible things... Hanaya was in an exceptionally good mood.

Hana, who seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, escorted Amamiya all the way to the entrance of Xia Lai's building.

Seeing that Amamiya was about to swipe her ID card to unlock it, she stood under the cool-toned lighting, one hand behind her back as usual, and waved to Amamiya with the other.

"Well then... goodbye, Sensei~"

Kirino finally makes an appearance in Chapter Six.

Socializing can sometimes be a very troublesome thing.

Interacting with some 'indescribable humanoid creatures' can easily leave one feeling physically and mentally exhausted.

The 'interaction' with Hanaya allowed Amamiya to experience this feeling of 'being socially exhausted' for the first time in a long time.

Looking out the window at the already taking shape "street" atmosphere of the "Xia Lai Residential Area," and feeling the lingering weariness, Amamiya threw off the covers, got out of bed, and sighed softly.

After reflecting on her emotions in front of the mirror, Amamiya decided it was best not to dwell on those upsetting things—they might ruin her hard-won good mood.

'The weather's nice today. It's time to fulfill the promise I made to the two students from the Classic of Mountains and Seas group not long ago, when the "Paradise Lost Resort" incident happened...'

Having changed into a clean and crisp summer uniform, Amamiya stood at the door, looking up at the clear blue sky, the rising sun, and the gentle breeze outside – a truly beautiful sunny day.

'First, we need to find Saya to test the medicine, then we need to go check out the plum garden...'

Thinking about today's itinerary, Amamiya first went to Xia Lai's place as usual, intending to ask Xiao Kong if Xia Lai had any special visitors in the past few days.

However, this just proves the saying that "the better the weather, the more turbulent it is." Just as Amamiya was about to head to the office building, he saw a white-haired girl wandering around near the residential area.

She wore a Valkyrie Police Department uniform suitable for both spring and summer, and her silver-shaded hair was meticulously braided into two adorable double braids at the back. Her steps were measured and brisk, her movements seemingly imbued with an overabundance of energetic, powerful energy—

The girl's upright figure, though not particularly strong due to her physique, exuded a charming and energetic energy that stood out vividly against the backdrop of the colorful glass reflecting the morning light.

'This is……'

Upon noticing this peculiar 'outlier,' Amamiya immediately felt a slight premonition that 'today will probably not be peaceful.'

The white-haired girl was clearly waiting for someone.

So who are they waiting for?

The answer is obvious.

Amamiya sighed, his gaze lingering briefly on the girl's Valkyrie police uniform and the numerous equipment vendors hanging on it, before he took out his phone and opened Ye Zhu's MomoTalk page.

On the momotalk page, there is an unread message sent by Ye Zhu in the middle of the night.

[Ye Zhu: Regarding the 'candidate' recommended to Sensei...]

[Ye Zhu: "File" Sensei, please take a look at this.]

[Ye Zhu: She's a member of the Life Safety Bureau...]