Anime, but the Phantom Thieves of Heart

"Crack~"

The two men's fists touched lightly in the air, and everything was said without words.

Afterwards, they did not waste any more time and prepared to return to Emiya Shirou's home together. After all, although purchasing intelligence was very important, confidentiality was equally important. Only the laptop left by Emiya Kiritsugu could ensure that their own information would not be leaked.

At this moment, even Emiya Shirou didn't notice that his steps seemed to be a bit lighter than before.

Just as Shirou Emiya and Lan Ke returned to the Emiya residence together, Josuke Higashikata had already led a team with Toshio Utsumi to Hokkaido.

However, except for the two who traveled together, the other police officers had already gone to Hokkaido in batches in advance.

After all, if they act collectively, their aura alone would probably make ordinary people realize that something is wrong, so going in batches is the most appropriate approach.

As for the reason why Utsumi Toshio and Higashikata Josuke acted together, it was not only because they, as the commander and deputy commander, needed to continue to consult, but also because it was less likely that others would notice anything unusual about the two of them.

Ever since returning from his 'vacation', perhaps because he had married his fiancée, Utsumi Toshio had become a lot gentler, with more of a househusband temperament, no longer as domineering as his other colleagues.

As for Josuke Higashikata, he only needs to cover up his signature 'hairstyle'. He looks more like a yakuza than a policeman, so there is no need to worry.

Toshio Utsumi, who was holding a notebook and writing something down, couldn't help but smile gently when he saw Josuke Higashikata looking a little restless.

Although they both had the same police rank, both were "Inspector General", he was older after all, and he felt that as a senior, he needed to enlighten the other party...

Chapter 72: The Gathering of People (4K)

The Shinkansen, as Japan's iconic express train, is quite good in terms of speed and comfort. In order to allow the two to have enough space to communicate and keep confidential, Nakamori Ginzo specially helped them apply for a business room.

Although in theory all major companies in Japan are obliged to cooperate unconditionally with police actions, this is only in theory. Generally speaking, unless the police rank is high enough, one is not eligible to apply for such a business room.

However, because the 'Heart Thief Countermeasures Headquarters' was established under the leadership of 'Superintendent Hakuba', its level is very high. If necessary, 'Superintendent Hakuba' will even directly endorse it. In this case, applying for a private room is naturally not that difficult.

At this time, Josuke Higashikata and Toshio Utsumi had already discussed the preliminary plan of the action.

As for why it is a preliminary plan, it is because not everything can go as planned in this world, and they still need to make fine adjustments on site based on actual conditions.

Theoretically, both of them can take a break from now on.

But at this moment, Utsumi Toshio suddenly spoke to Higashikata Josuke.

Collar ① Erhaiba Lingjiuba

"Dongfang Jun..."

"Utsumi Police Chief?"

Josuke Higashikata looked at Toshio Utsumi with a puzzled look, as if he was a little confused as to why the other party didn't call him by his title the same way as before.

Unexpectedly, Utsumi Toshio waved at him to indicate that he didn't need to be so nervous.

"Although our operation this time is very important, it hasn't even begun yet. Dongfang-jun, you don't need to be so nervous..."

Looking at Toshio Utsumi who looked calm, Josuke Higashikata showed a rather helpless expression.

"After all, this is a serious matter, and Inspector Nakamori is under tremendous pressure to endorse us..."

Listening to what Josuke Higashikata said, Utsumi Toshio didn't say much, but nodded instead.

Because he can understand the other person's thoughts. After all, he used to be similar to the other person.

"Don't be too nervous. In some ways, you and I are similar. We weren't originally members of 'Investigation Section 2'. Instead, we were more familiar with 'Investigation Section 1'. However, due to the capture of 'Cat's Eye', we often collaborated with 'Investigation Section 2'. I didn't expect that I would be transferred to 'Investigation Section 2' now..."

At this point, Utsumi Toshio sighed, and Higashikata Josuke was also interested in the other party's words.

After all, it had been less than a year since "Cat's Eye" retired. He happened to be studying at the "Police Academy" at the time, and he even went to the scene to observe out of curiosity.

It’s a pity that let alone catching the ‘Cat’s Eye’, he hasn’t even seen them in person.

"Utsumi Inspector..."

"I told you, just call me by my name. After all, we're connected. We both worked together in the Investigation Division 1 and now we're working together in the Phantom Thief Countermeasures Headquarters."

In response to Utsumi Toshio's enthusiasm, the tactful... or rather, more mature Higashikata Josuke nodded appropriately.

"Senior Utsumi, I remember you were in charge of the on-site command of the capture of Cat's Eye. I wonder if you've heard of that 'rumor'?"

Josuke Higashikata was just simply curious, but as he spoke, Utsumi Toshio was stunned for a moment, then he let out a helpless bitter smile.

As the person involved, he naturally knew what Higashikata Josuke was talking about.

There are a large number of "Phantom Thieves" in this world. Some of them have been caught, some are at large, but some of them have "mysteriously disappeared".

For example, "Saint Girl" from ten years ago, "Kaito Kid" from a few years ago, or "Cat's Eye" which disappeared recently.

There have been rumors that these three thieves were secretly arrested by the police and used by the police, which led to the arrest of many copycat criminals later.

But actually?

Utsumi Toshio didn't know about the others, but he was very familiar with 'Cat's Eye'.

It's not just because he has been responsible for catching the other party, but also because one of the "Cat's Eyes" is his fiancée. So he knows very well that the reason why "Cat's Eyes" disappeared is not because he was caught by the police, but simply because all the "targets" have been stolen. And it happened that his fiancée was in a coma and lost her memory due to illness, so "Cat's Eyes" chose to fade out of people's sight temporarily.

But he couldn't say these words to Higashikata Josuke.

So he didn't respond directly, but instead answered the question with a question.

"Dongfang-kun, you're now a member of the 'Heart Phantom Thief Countermeasures Headquarters'. Do you think that 'rumor' could be true?"

Higashikata Josuke, not realizing the problem, chose to continue speaking along with what the other party said.

"It must be fake, right? After all, if it were true, then there's no way the Phantom Thief Countermeasures Headquarters wouldn't have found any clues until now..."

Having said that, Josuke Higashikata couldn't help but reveal a helpless expression.

As a young police officer who has solved several major cases at a young age and is highly regarded by the police top brass, Higashikata Josuke has never encountered such a troublesome "opponent". He really can't find any clues and can only sift through them like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Seeing this, Utsumi Toshio also spoke to comfort him.

"Just get used to it. Those easily caught by the police aren't 'Phantom Thieves', but ordinary petty thieves. Those 'Phantom Thieves' generally have two unique skills. You absolutely can't be too hasty if you want to catch them, because the more impatient you are, the more flaws you'll reveal. If we treat the 'Phantom Thieves' as the ones setting the questions, the only thing we can do is to constantly figure them out until we find a flaw or a clue and 'succeed in one strike'!"

The aunt is the son of the aunt.

Looking at the talking Utsumi Toshio, Josuke Higashikata's expression was a little subtle. After all, based on what he said, he thought that he had already grasped the "cat's eye".

In fact, what Josuke Higashikata didn't know was that Toshio Utsumi had actually almost grasped the "cat's eye".

Because he had already discovered the true identity of "Cat's Eye", if he decided to arrest him at that time, he only needed to notify his colleagues in the "Investigation Section 1", but he ultimately chose to give up.

It was also because of this that he finally chose to resign.

While he didn't regret his choice, he felt he was no longer qualified to wear a police badge.

Later, with the persuasion of his former fiancée, now his wife, he mustered up the courage to return to the police force.

So Toshio Utsumi is really qualified to be Josuke Higashikata's teacher.

Although the two did not find any new clues during the chat, this chat did ease Josuke Higashikata's originally nervous mood a lot.

At this moment, the speed of the Shinkansen gradually slowed down, and Utsumi Toshio also invited Josuke Higashikata to get off.

Although it is still a little chilly in the mornings and evenings in early summer in Tokyo, most people have already changed into T-shirts.

But the temperature in Hokkaido was not too high even at noon, and Utsumi Toshio and Higashikata Josuke, who had already put on their coats, did not waste time looking for teammates to pick them up.

Just as the two of them were leaving the station, a figure was trembling.

1. The old man is so handsome

"D... Narukami, aren't you cold?"

When the wind blew, Shirou Emiya, who was wearing a T-shirt, couldn't help but shiver.

"It's okay. As the 'Personality' absorbs more and more 'cognitive energy' and gives us more and more feedback, this temperature has basically no effect on me anymore. Shirou, if you try harder, it should be fine."

Having said that, Lan Ke still skillfully took out a coat from his backpack and handed it to Shirou Emiya.

The clothes were bought as disguises when he was investigating a case with Kudo Shinichi. Since the two of them had similar figures, they were perfect for Emiya Shirou.

While sighing that the "Phantom Thief" was really exaggerated, Emiya Shirou put on his coat very attentively.

Although it was cool to wear short sleeves in this kind of weather, he felt that health was more important.

At the same time, I couldn't help but marvel at the magic of the 'cognitive world'.

"That's amazing! In the 'Cognitive World,' it's only a short journey of less than five minutes, yet they've actually traveled from 'Tokyo' to 'Hokkaido.' Narukami, you were able to use this ability of the 'Cognitive World' to distribute a large number of 'warning letters' in a short period of time, and then collectively change their hearts in the 'Impression Space,' to create the impression that more than one member of the 'Phantom Thieves of Hearts' could change their hearts almost simultaneously, right?"

Although Shirou Emiya's understanding of the 'cognitive world' was still superficial, it had to be said that as a 'professional', with sufficient intelligence support, he was able to quickly come to reasonable conclusions about some previously puzzling things.

"Yes, 'Cognitive World' is very convenient, isn't it?"

"Rather than saying 'convenience', it's better to say 'subvert imagination', right?"

As Emiya Shirou was sighing, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. His originally casual expression suddenly changed, and Lan Ke also reacted immediately.

"Did the other party send the information?"

After opening his phone and seeing the agreed code, Shirou Emiya nodded seriously.

Seeing this, Lan Ke didn't waste any words and directly signaled the other party to download the information first, and then they would go to the "cognitive world" to chat.

It is obvious that compared with the protagonists in the "original work", Lan Ke and Emiya Shirou are much more vigilant. Even if there is no one around, once the core secrets are involved, they will still choose to communicate in the "cognitive world".

Lan Ke and Shirou Emiya found a secluded and deserted corner, used the "different-dimensional navigation" to enter the cognitive world, and then couldn't wait to huddle together and start reading.

The more he looked at the two of them, the deeper their frowns became.

Even if the actions of the Tachikawa School might be objectionable to those with a healthy outlook, it is still a legally registered sect in Japan.

Then the 'Witch Cult' is also classified as 'xie cult' in the Japanese religious world full of demons.

At first glance, the 'Witch Cult' seems to have nothing special about it. It simply changes the gods they worship from normal gods to so-called 'witches'.

But the real crux of the matter lies in its doctrine.

First of all, normal religions can still "guide people to good", but the "Witch Cult" completely denies these. According to its teachings, these things are rules set by "God" to restrain humans, and they do not need to follow these hypocritical things.

However, these things that are enough to shock ordinary people's worldview obviously have no meaning to Lan Ke and Shirou Emiya.

They are not interested in the 'Witch Cult' at all. All they need is where the enemy is and how we can deal with it.

As for the others?

As long as you know that the other party is an enemy, that's enough!

However, there are some useful things in this information, such as confirming the intelligence they had obtained before.

First of all, the ultimate goal of the 'Witch Cult' is to 'resurrect the witch and obtain the witch's gift', which is obviously different from the so-called 'sacrifice' mentioned by the 'Sakutsuki Mao couple'.

Based on this reasoning, perhaps this generation of the 'Witch Cult' intends to use 'Emiya Miyu' as a sacrifice to resurrect the 'Witch'.

Shirou Emiya's brows twitched as he watched.

Fortunately, they quickly found the information they needed.

"The current leader, 'Roswaal Z. Mezas'?"

The moment they saw this name, Lan Ke and Emiya Shirou looked at each other instinctively!

Yes, this is it!

The name also matches that so-called 'Earl of Metzas'!!

"Where's their home or where the Witch Cult meets? Based on my experience, there's a high chance these places are their palaces!"

Because they found the "clue", Lan Ke and Emiya Shirou were in a good mood and planned to "press the advantage".

But what they probably never dreamed of was that not long after they set off, a pair of people they were very familiar with got off a newly arrived train at the station.

"Shinichi!! Hurry up!! Don't keep Sonoko waiting~!"

"Here it comes~Here it comes~"

Compared to the energetic Ran Mouri, Kudo Shinichi looks very lazy, and even looks like he hasn't woken up yet.

In fact, it's almost the same. He has been "working day and night" recently. The reason he went out today was because he was forcibly dragged out by Mao Lilan.

There is no doubt that Mao Lilan is very dissatisfied with her childhood sweetheart's attitude.

"I heard from Sonoko that the 'Count' was descended from a true Russian aristocracy. They invited the Suzuki family to a banquet, and since Sonoko's parents didn't have time, we were able to snag a seat. What else are you dissatisfied with?"

Mao Lilan, who was full of curiosity and admiration for the "real aristocrats", seemed very excited, but Kudo Shinichi did not hesitate to pour a bucket of cold water on her.

"It's been so many years since the fall of Tsarist Russia, where are the orthodox Tsarist aristocrats from..."

Kudo Shinichi continued to complain mercilessly as usual, but when he saw his childhood sweetheart's increasingly dissatisfied expression, he quickly admitted his mistake and begged for forgiveness.

Fortunately, the two had found Suzuki Sonoko by then.