I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

“Sensei, it’s getting late. Let’s rest at the camp tonight.”

"It's dangerous to walk alone at night... so let's all sleep together tonight."

Amamiya: ...

Hey.

Tonight is destined to be an extraordinary night...

Chapter Thirteen: Conceding defeat is never an option.

The hazy morning air, shrouded in rosy dawn and morning mist, was just before daybreak, and the east was turning white.

Amamiya, who had been tormented by the four little rabbits all night, yawned early in the morning and quietly left the rabbit park.

There was one last thing to do before officially launching "Operation Clover" against the Valkyrie Police Department.

That is, first, settle the accounts with the bureau chief.

The subsequent actions dealt a severe blow to the Valkyrie Police Department.

If the accounts aren't settled with the bureau chief first, the subsequent "ruse" won't be able to proceed.

Composing his thoughts, Amamiya drove to the headquarters of the Valkyrie Police Department.

The early morning hours when dawn is about to break may be a bit distant for a considerable number of students.

For a small number of students who need to be alert during this time, it is also a rare and precious moment to relax and be lazy for a little while.

The Valkyrie students were the same... most of them hadn't woken up yet, but a few were waiting for their 'shift change'.

Some students even have to prepare for a whole day of troubles early in the morning.

Unfortunately... Police Chief Yoshino Ojima is one of the few students who have to endure such hardship and bitterness.

As Amamiya parked his car in front of the Valkyrie Police Station, he happened to see a blonde girl whose figure was bathed in the soft morning light. She had dark circles under her eyes and a rare, languid expression that exuded a sense of life.

She yawned, her body leaning to the side, looking tired from lack of rest. Standing in front of the door, she first tidied her bangs that were covering one eye, then stretched her body, and then bent down with some effort to pick up the plastic bag that she had placed on the steps.

Noticing the gaze, she paused as she searched for her keys to open the door, then looked back in the direction of the gaze.

"Sensei...?"

After observing the expression of the person in front of him with Liu Haiwai's light and unfocused eyes, Ye Zhu was somewhat surprised, and also felt a bit of 'shared misery': "So tired so early in the morning?"

"I should have been the one teasing Ye Zhu when I said that."

Thinking about the torment and suffering those four 'little rabbits' had inflicted on her last night, Amamiya's gentle smile seemed somewhat powerless.

"Judging from the director's condition... he's been very busy lately?"

【~??~】(Ye Zhu)

"Yeah... I am very busy."

"Find the corresponding key to open the door," Ye Zhu replied casually.

Amamiya didn't say much and followed Ye Zhu.

After arriving in Kivotos, Amamiya gradually discovered a rather interesting 'law'.

Judging the mood and state of students with 'beast ears' and 'beast tails' is much simpler than judging students without these characteristics.

You can judge their general mood and personal state by the degree to which their ears droop or stick up, or the frequency and amplitude of their tail wagging.

The animal ears of Ye Zhu, which were tilted at a 70-degree angle and barely kept from drooping, were not very active... clearly expressing a personal state of "barely keeping up with the spirit, but not in the mood".

'It seems... the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau has been under a lot of pressure lately.'

Ye Zhu's situation reminded Amamiya of another "special" member of the Phantom Thieves he met during his RV trip with the Phantom Thieves, when they were solving "prison" problems all over Japan.

—【Zenkichi Hasegawa】.

He is a police inspector under the Metropolitan Police Department, and also an investigator.

Because of the significant age gap between him and the other members of the Phantom Thieves, he is called "Uncle" by all of them. However, he resents being called "Uncle" and will respond to them with a rude and sarcastic remark like "a bunch of kids."

He is usually easy-going, helpful, and has a strong sense of justice.

Because of the trouble caused by the Phantom Thieves, he was ordered to get close to them... but in the end, because of the "reality that he could not protect anything", and seeing the Phantom Thieves' activities in another world... he ended up becoming "a part of a conspiracy" because even his own daughter became part of the conspiracy.

He vowed, "I will not let any of the real villains get away with it!" and awakened the "Jean Valjean" persona, temporarily joining the Phantom Thieves under the codename "Wolf".

Speaking of which... that should be the most "special" member recruited by the Phantom Thieves.

Compared to the Phantom Thieves' makeshift operation, the uncle is not only an "insider," but also arguably the oldest Persona user.

Before his Persona awakened, Uncle Zenji, like Ye Zhu now, clearly showed a sense of helplessness towards the current situation and a slight sense of despondency as a result.

Following Ye Zhu, Amamiya hurried to the director's office of the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau.

'Ye Zhu didn't take me to the reception room...it seems she's aware of the seriousness of the situation.'

The old-fashioned elevator opened with a 'ding', and Ye Zhu then pushed open the half-closed door to the director's office and placed the plastic bag he had brought on the desk.

"Sensei, please make yourself at home. Wait a moment."

After saying that, Ye Zhu quickly left.

During the short time Ye Zhu was away, Amamiya took a look at the contents of the plastic bag Ye Zhu had brought—a 'Valkyrie Special Pork Cutlet Rice' wrapped in plastic wrap and still slightly warm.

It must have been Ye Zhu's 'breakfast,' and he must have gotten up even earlier and heated it up himself.

Eating large amounts of meat and fish first thing in the morning is really not a good habit.

But considering the intense physical and mental work Ye Zhu is about to face, and the fact that he might not even have time to eat lunch... choosing a 'filling' high-calorie food first thing in the morning is quite in line with Ye Zhu's personal style.

Soon, she changed into the police chief's summer coat, with the sleeves pulled up and the coat half off, and returned to her office looking almost 'brand new'.

The long, narrow, golden animal ears, glistening with morning dew, seemed to glow warmly.

'Hmm... from seventy to eighty degrees... that should be a sign that they've almost recovered their energy and are returning to normal?'

Noticing the unusual direction where Amamiya's gaze lingered, Ye Zhu shook the beast ears on his head, instinctively looking away somewhat unnaturally.

【~??~】(Ye Zhu)

“Sensei… I think you should tone down your gaze a little.”

Holding a mug in each hand, carefully maintaining the liquid level, she used her hard-soled high heels to open the door and came to the coffee table. She first put down a steaming hot coffee cup with a cat paw pattern on it.

Afterwards, Ye Zhu put his coffee cup down on the table and returned to his seat to quickly eat the pork chop rice.

Amamiya didn't disturb him, leisurely sipping the coffee Ye Zhu had brewed for him, watching the dawn light gradually spread across the entire sky outside the window, and the hazy morning mist slowly dissipating.

In order to ensure the efficiency of timely action, Ye Zhu does not adhere to the dining table culture of "not speaking while eating or sleeping".

If we can get food, then efficiency and practicality come first.

Amamiya didn't interrupt Ye Zhu's breakfast, because if she said what she was about to say now, Ye Zhu might not be in the mood to eat.

As for Ye Zhu... as the director of the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau and also the student council president of Valkyrie Academy, although he had never heard of famous sayings from the Classic of Mountains and Seas such as "one does not visit the temple without a reason," he understood similar principles.

Xia Lai's Sensei came to see her early in the morning, and then silently waited for her to finish breakfast and get into work mode...

Remembering the pattern that Hua Ye never had a nice word to say whenever she came to Linliu Siwei, Ye Zhu was already prepared for a 'major event'.

After finishing her coffee, Amamiya was about to put down her mug when a tray was handed to her.

Amamiya paused for a moment, then looked up at the blonde girl standing in front of the table, handing over a tray of cutlery.

After a pause, Amamiya naturally placed the mug next to the other mug.

After tidying up the tableware and tea set, Ye Zhu left again and returned even faster.

"The main reason I came to see the bureau chief this time is to find out his attitude."

"Let's speak frankly and openly, let's have a frank talk..."

Sitting on the sofa, Amamiya leaned forward slightly and asked bluntly, "Director, what 'special' opinion do you have of Hikari Shiranui, the head of the Defense Office of the Federation Student Council?"

'As expected... something's about to happen.'

Instead of returning to his office, Ye Zhu dragged a chair to the side and sat down, which immediately made him more energetic.

Before answering, she asked herself "why" several times.

Why would Sensei ask such a question?

Why me of all people?

Why are you asking for my opinion on Hanaya?

'...'

Her thoughts raced through a hundred ideas in an instant. Ye Zhu sighed wearily and answered while organizing her words: "My impression of Shiranui Hanaya is... very simple: she never brings any good news whenever she comes."

"Being affiliated with the Defense Office means having to follow their orders... but the Defense Office is a one-man show led by Hanaya. They have the desire to do something... but they lack the ability."

With his animal ears standing up almost at a 90-degree angle, Ye Zhu eagerly awaited the next 'main topic'.

"Has Ye Zhu never thought about changing the status quo?"

Amamiya clasped his hands together, interlacing his fingers: "Lock onto a criminal target, then relentlessly pursue them until the truth is uncovered... Because of this persistent pursuit and tenacious attitude, they are known as 'mad dogs' by those active in the gray area..."

"This is what I saw in Ye Zhu, based on information from the outside world—his sense of 'justice'."

Although he knew that Amamiya was obviously praising him, Nagisa still felt a little embarrassed.

—Because, to be honest, in Ye Zhu's opinion, the title "rabid dog" is not a title that sounds very powerful or positive.

"That... it's pretty embarrassing, that title."

Ye Zhu unconsciously twirled her fingers: "If possible... please don't call me that in front of others."

Amamiya readily agreed and immediately changed his mind, asking Ye Zhu again.

"Ye Zhu...haven't you thought about changing the status quo?"

Ye Zhu remained silent, then sighed again.

Yes, I've thought about it. Of course I've thought about it.

But individual strength is limited... Turning the tide and saving a collapsing building is something only a mature and truly capable adult like Sensei can do.

Struggling in a massive vortex... Instead of pushing your luck when it's beyond your capabilities, you compromise... This is something most people have no choice but to do.

Seeing through Ye Zhu's thoughts, Amamiya's eyes were clear and bright: "...Is there nothing that can be done about the corruption of 'justice' to this extent?"

Ye Zhu thought for a moment and quickly understood.

"Sensei, you're planning to do something to the flowers..."

Having said all that, Ye Zhu said.

"Ah."

【~???~】(Ye Zhu)

With his mind racing, Ye Zhu seemed to see an approaching storm.

Although this storm was directed at Huaye... it was destined to affect herself and the entire Valkyrie Public Security Bureau.

'A major overhaul... or something else...?'

As he pondered, Ye Zhu gradually understood.

"Sensei... is there anything I can do for you?"

She asked.

Amamiya didn't say it directly, but instead used the metaphor of the Major Arcana to create a subtle allusion.

"Chief, you are now... not far from your own 'justice'."

"But to cross that crucial step, one must be prepared to face 'judgment.'"

Facing trial...

In other words, Sensei might launch an attack on itself and the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau, thereby expanding its influence... Is its ultimate target the flower on its head?