Tokyo: Let the wicked women pay the price!

"Fujino-san..."

Yamagami Ukyo glanced at Fujino, a complex expression on his face.

It wasn't that he looked down on Fujino or resented him suddenly becoming his boss.

The main thing is... it's like that brother who sat next to you in the last row of your senior year of high school, joking around, eating snacks, and sleeping, suddenly stops pretending and comes clean. He tells you he's actually qualified for Tsinghua or Peking University—it's just as hard to accept.

While I hope my brother is doing well, you're being too nice!

Ukyo found it difficult to accept this situation.

After all, he would be more at ease reporting to important figures like his secretary or Mr. Hatoyama.

But looking at Fujino's face, he kept thinking about how they drank together, and he couldn't bring himself to be serious.

After coughing lightly a few times, Ukyo pursed his lips, looked at Fujino, and hesitated several times before speaking.

An eerie silence filled the conference room.

Fujino was actually very uncomfortable.

He knows absolutely nothing about investigating cases.

Even if Mr. Hatoyama doesn't come, his secretary can make a note of it and take a look when he has time.

Why put yourself on the fire to roast?

He didn't believe that such an important figure would easily consider him a confidant and entrust him with the entire responsibility for the matter.

It was most likely a test.

Himegami Ayame... This girl is clearly a serious psychopath. Mr. Hatoyama wants to see just how confident he is in her abilities, and whether it matches the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation.

Only in this way can one prove their worth.

Since that's the case, there's not much time to waste.

The so-called "temporary matter" may not actually be temporary.

Being made to stand in the meeting room as punishment has most likely already earned him points deducted from Mr. Hatoyama's record.

Without further hesitation, he spoke first: "Inspector Ukyo, how's the progress? List out the leads first."

Yamagami Ukyo quickly got into work mode, standing in front of the map and explaining his recent discovery to Fujino.

Fujino frowned.

This doesn't look like a mental patient at all; he's practically a top-tier international fugitive.

The only place where she gave herself away was through the forum account that Kitano Megumi exposed when she instigated her.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation, this IP address had actually logged in at Shimokitazawa in Setagaya Ward and Minato Ward, with only a 10-minute difference between the two locations.

Keep in mind that these two places are almost across the entire Tokyo metropolitan area, and even by Shinkansen, it takes 40 minutes to get there.

"...We believe that this is more likely a case of IP spoofing, after all, the physical distance is a factor that is not so easy to overcome."

Hearing Ukyo's words, Fujino nodded slightly, which aligned with his assessment: "Anything else?"

"That's all..."

"That's it?"

Fujino's expression was rather unpleasant.

What does "gone" mean?

I'm not Henry Lee, how could I possibly deduce the killer's appearance based on this limited information?

Fujino is just a doctor; how could he possibly help them solve the case?

Hearing Ukyo's helpless sigh, Fujino fell into deep thought.

I must have been useful to Mr. Hatoyama to have been recruited.

His only unique feature... is probably his identity as a psychiatrist.

Some of his patients knew about Acorus gramineus.

Saki, Hanako, Lemon, and Yui all claimed to have been in contact with Himegami Ayame, didn't they?

I understand, this is the entry point!

That's right. Finding evidence and investigating cases is the job of the Metropolitan Police Department; I just need to use my network of connections to provide information!

"My patients involve privacy issues, so I will speak with them personally and ask them to provide as much information as possible..."

Fujino suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention to him.

He cleared his throat and continued, "Furthermore, it's not surprising that Setagaya Ward, as a rock music paradise, has traces of Himegami Ayame's activities. After all, most people who play rock music have some obsessions, and they can easily be exploited to induce mental illness."

"You have to understand that Shimokitazawa is a gathering place for a large number of young musicians who have failed in their pursuit of dreams and are on the verge of mental collapse. It is a natural hunting ground for people like Himemiya Ayame."

"I suggest we continue investigating the clues in Setagaya Ward and not let her escape so easily."

These words made everyone in the Metropolitan Police Department fall into deep thought.

It's not that what Fujino said was unreasonable, but rather that he spoke in such a logical and organized manner.

Kaoru Hanayama lowered her voice and asked her senior, "Senior, is it true that Fujino-san has never been a police officer?"

Yamagami Ukyo kept his eyes straight ahead, but as his lips twitched, his voice returned to Hanayama's ear without batting an eye: "I told you a long time ago that Fujino-san helped us solve a lot of cases."

Seeing the police officers nod in agreement, the secretary pressed a button on his Bluetooth headset, seemingly listening intently before suddenly asking, "Then how do you explain the IP issue?"

The question caused the air to remain still.

Until Fujino chuckled:

"Does it really matter? Whether it's a virtual IP address or someone following Himegami Ayame's instructions to log on on her behalf..."

"...More importantly, let's find the crazy woman to target next in Setagaya Ward or Minato Ward."

Upon hearing this, the secretary nodded and said nothing more.

These words stirred up a ripple in Ukyo's heart... Indeed, they had considered accomplices or outcasts.

However, the police's habitual thinking led them to investigate suspicious individuals...

In Tokyo, where there is no large-scale surveillance network, it's like finding a needle in a haystack.

Especially looking for "psychotic criminals".

"As long as they don't have an episode, they won't look out of place on the street..." Fujino took a sip of water and continued to describe the characteristics of mental patients to them. "Even those patients who take mood suppressants like sertraline look like lifeless office workers."

"People like this could kill three or five unlucky guys jumping off Tokyo Tower; they have no special characteristics whatsoever."

"I still suggest that we shift our focus to Setagaya Ward a bit. As soon as I get new information from the patients, I will definitely keep you informed."

With the secretary's approval, Fujino took his leave first and drove back to the hospital in his Passat.

Only the members of the First Investigation Division remained in the conference room, pondering Fujino's words.

The secretary removed her Bluetooth headset, placed her phone on the table, and, turning on speakerphone, asked, "Inspector Ukyo, do you think Dr. Fujino's analysis is problematic?"

After considering it for a long time, Ukyo shook his head: "From a purely technical point of view, Fujino-san's reasoning is perfectly sound."

"Even his observations about the patients' condition after taking the medication are very valuable to us."

"But I doubt that Himegami Ayame could possibly have taken any medicine."

That's right, how could a madwoman like Himegami Ayame possibly take medication?

This logic clearly aligns with the secretary's expectations.

He wholeheartedly agreed: "And what else? Provide information to his patients..."

"I personally don't have high hopes..." Ukyo shrugged. "Himemiya Ayame is like she's veiled in a mist, there's always some distance between her and us. Her counter-surveillance awareness is excellent, I'm afraid we won't get any useful information from those patients."

"After all, one of the patients, whom both Huashan and I have met... didn't seem very bright."

Upon hearing this, the secretary glanced at Kaoru Hanayama questioningly.

Kaoru Hanayama's expression was strange... Hesitantly, he pursed his lips and nodded slightly: "He is a little... not very smart."

Mr. Hatoyama's voice came from his secretary's phone:

I roughly understand the situation.

"This matter has a very bad impact! I hope you can solve the case as soon as possible with Fujino's help, understand?"

Upon hearing this, the entire First Investigation Division immediately stood at attention, and regardless of whether the other party could see them, they answered in unison:

"Hi!"