Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 123, Section 121: Direction of Investigation

The Superintendent of Police's office.

Yesterday, Director Takahashi was so busy he didn't have a moment to rest and didn't sleep all night. He specially took half an hour to listen to Tatsumi Taira explain how he identified the supernatural event in the Komagome Academy case.

"Therefore, although it is hard to believe, the existing evidence suggests that the intervention of supernatural forces is the most logically consistent explanation."

During Ping Shenglong's explanation, he positioned Kurosaki Chimei's role as a occult consultant, intentionally or unintentionally downplaying his role in the case.

"Um"

Director Takahashi nodded slightly. He had already reviewed the case details several times yesterday, and he asked Heisei Ryu to repeat them to see if his thinking was still clear and complete.

He glanced at the time; he had a press conference to attend later.

“Shenglong, we haven’t met many times. The last time we had a formal conversation was at the dinner after the Special Investigation Medal, wasn’t it? I’ve always had a high opinion of your investigative abilities. What happened a few days ago was Iwaki’s fault. He will receive the punishment he deserves. I hope you don’t mind and that you can continue to stay in the Metropolitan Police Department.”

Chief Inspector Takahashi's attitude was remarkably humble, a stark contrast to his reprimand of a group of high-ranking officials in the Metropolitan Police Department the day before.

"You flatter me, Commissioner. As long as the Metropolitan Police Department needs me, I have no intention of leaving." Heisei Ryu then revealed a nervous and apprehensive expression.

Takahashi nodded in satisfaction and continued.

"I think you know what happened yesterday. Time is of the essence, so I won't stand on ceremony with you."

“The supernatural phenomena have already bare their fangs to us without any attempt to conceal them. For the safety of Tokyo and all of Japan, even if the road ahead is fraught with difficulties, we must continue our investigation to gain sufficient initiative in the face of more supernatural phenomena that may occur in the future. We must not remain in a state of complete passivity and ignorance as we are today.”

"The Prime Minister has decided to establish the [Comprehensive Countermeasures Headquarters for Extraordinary Situations]. I am prepared to recommend you to join it in my name and lead an investigation team. Use your extraordinary and keen detective skills and experience to unravel the secrets of the supernatural."

"This is a task that cannot be refused, but you can make a request to me. As long as I can do it, even if it is difficult, I will do my best to do it without asking you for reasons or whether it is reasonable." Director Takahashi said meaningfully.

Ping Shenglong stood up solemnly and saluted Director Takahashi.

"Please grant me two requests, Director."

"Just say it. You don't need to be so polite in the future. You can call me anytime. Show me the same determination you had when you submitted the report to me that day." Takahashi wasn't afraid that Taira no Ryu had the conditions; he was afraid that Taira no Ryu didn't have the conditions and wouldn't be willing to put in his full effort.

"First, I need to transfer a few colleagues from the First Investigation Division to join us."

"Okay, give me the name and I'll arrange it."

"Secondly, I hope to have a position as a consultant in the field of mysticism, with the same salary and access to the database as me."

"Okay, that can be arranged."

Takahashi smiled, stood up, and patted Heisei Ryu on the shoulder forcefully: "I hope you can shine in the investigation team and live up to the country's expectations."

A few minutes later, Ping Shenglong left the director's office with a stack of paper documents.

After greeting his hurried colleagues along the way, he returned to his office to find Kurosaki Chimei slumped over his desk, engrossed in writing something. "How did it go? Did you qualify to join the investigation?" This was Kurosaki's biggest concern.

"Have."

Ping Shenglong briefly explained the situation regarding the newly established department to him.

"What about the structure? Such departments are directly led by the cabinet, right? But who is responsible for the direction?" Kurosaki pressed.

Ping Shenglong pointed to the documents in his hand: "For now, we are divided into the headquarters investigation team and nine subordinate investigation teams. Each subordinate investigation team needs to submit a reasonable investigation direction and plan to the headquarters, and then carry out its own investigation. They will not interfere with each other, but they can cooperate with each other. The investigation data must also be shared with the headquarters."

"The most basic information, such as the situation of the victims, the situation of the survivors, and the situation at the scene, will be fully shared after the headquarters investigation team completes the investigation. If the subordinate investigation teams find any doubts, they can request an investigation."

"Oh, a saturation survey? Well, that makes sense. If you want to find some useful information in a short time, this method is quite good." Kurosaki didn't have much to say about this method of throwing bricks with great force. "It seems that not all the higher-ups are idiots who can only bow their heads in obeisance."

The headquarters investigation team serves as the brain, but it does not forcibly intervene; it only plays a coordinating and integrating role, giving full play to the initiative of each investigation team.

"What did you find in the data?" Heisei Ryu glanced at Kurosaki's full notebook.

Kurosaki snapped his fingers and turned the notebook around: "Two directions, namely the Centipede Train and the Knight."

Kurosaki's plan was to split his forces into two groups: he would investigate the origins of the Centipede Train, while Taira no Ryu would investigate the identity of the Knight.

“No.” Heisei Ryu rejected the idea outright. “Investigate only the Knights, abandon the Centipede Train.”

Kurosaki was not satisfied: "This is a monster! Judging from the situation, the knight is unlikely to be the kind of villain who kills indiscriminately. He's more like a vigilante superhero, posing very little threat to society. But through the Centipede Train, we might be able to find traces of other monsters, and those things are the real scourge to human society!"

Heisei Ryu listened calmly as he finished speaking: "I've been assigned to lead an investigation team. I need to produce results first to gain a voice, and only with a voice can I reduce future obstacles. Believe me, monsters aren't easy to find, but this knight... if I'm not mistaken, he should be from Tokyo."

"And based on his behavioral model, the scope can be further narrowed down."

Kurosaki frowned: "Isn't this a bit too calculating?"

"Our goal isn't to find out where the other monsters are as quickly as possible, but to make initial contact with these extraordinary beings as soon as possible. Among them, the knights are the most promising, aren't they? If we can recruit them into the investigation team, wouldn't that be a great help in finding the monsters?"

Ping Shenglong's words seem to be reasonable and well-founded no matter how you look at them.

After a moment's thought, Kurosaki realized that it was indeed true.

But his inability to investigate the monsters made him restless and uneasy.

“It’s not that we’re completely giving up on the Centipede Train. We still need to see the site at Hibiya Station. You can work around with it within a reasonable scope. Also, I’ve applied for an advisory position for you on the investigation team, with the same compensation as me.” After waiting for him to hesitate for a while, Taira no Ryu pulled out his trump card.

Kurosaki immediately became solemn and nodded earnestly.

"I think you're absolutely right! We'll proceed according to your plan. I'll do my job as an advisor. By the way, how much is your monthly salary?"

(End of this chapter)