Righteous to a Fault

"That's right."

Fujino nodded slightly. "That was a man named Hachimaki Ichiro, about twenty-five years old. He moved out of his rented apartment three months ago, and it seems that he started planning the bomb attack around that time."

"Brother Fujino, how exactly did you find these clues?"

Although Juzo Megure knew that Fujino usually managed to uncover unexpected results when investigating alone, he was still surprised and couldn't help but ask a question.

"I have a hacker friend."

Fujino also brought up his 'friend' to explain, "I asked him to keep an eye on people who claim to make bombs on online forums. Following the address, I found a friend of Hachimaki Ichiro's who used to work for me."

"I got the other person's name, phone number, and former address from that friend, and I also confirmed the other person's existence with the administrator."

"So that's how it is..."

Juzo Megure to process the relationships between his friends, Inspector Megure couldn't help but exclaim, "As expected of you, Fujino- kun, you've done another great service this time."

"However, I have a problem that I need Inspector Megure's help with."

"What trouble?"

"I questioned Hachimaki Ichiro's friend a little."

"That's no trouble at all, just treat it as a summons."

Without thinking too much, Juzo Megure brought it up. "By the way, Fujino, we've found another corpse with a note attached. If the person you found is correct, then it must be Hachimaki Ichiro has committed another crime."

"Where?"

"The track and field stadium of Kawashima Women's University of Physical Education".

"Has a bomb been found?"

Not yet.

Juzo Megure continued, "Where are you now, brother? I'll come pick you up right away."

"Okay, then I'll trouble you to come pick me up, and also take that friend of Hachimaki Ichiro with you."

"Oh, that friend is with you too?"

Ten minutes later.

Juzo Megure and Sato Miwako arrived at the apartment entrance.

Upon seeing Fujino dragging someone who appeared to be unconscious, disheveled and seemingly having just been beaten, the two fell silent.

Wasn't the plan to just ask a little questioning?

This is a kidnapping, isn't it?

"Brother Fujino, didn't you say it was just questioning?"

After regaining his Juzo Megure's expression turned strange. "Your... injuries are hard to explain."

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Fujino shrugged helplessly. "After all, he claimed to be a criminal online and said things that only we police officers would know. He even said he would blow me up next time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have suspected that he was the real criminal who killed two of my colleagues, and I wouldn't have gone to such lengths..."

"Ahem, I see."

Juzo Megure coughed lightly. "So, when you knocked him out, he didn't see your face, did he?"

"No."

"That's good."

Juzo Megure breathed a sigh of relief. "In that case, brother, you went to investigate after discovering that the person claimed to be a criminal, and the suspect passed out after being questioned. You even kindly rescued him and brought him to us to ask for backup... Brother, there's absolutely nothing wrong with what you did!"

"Brother is right."

"Yes, if the report is written like this, even the higher-ups should be able to understand it."

"..."

Sato Miwako stood aside, watching her two brothers singing in unison, and couldn't help but feel speechless.

She had a strange feeling that Inspector Megure had been corrupted by Fujino and was becoming increasingly adept at lying through his teeth and playing dumb.

They clearly let the hacker obtain the other party's address through illegal means, then went to the door, beat the person up, forced them to reveal the identity of the thug, and then knocked the person unconscious and took them away.

Now, by going around in circles, it's become a story of a young man bravely subduing a suspected bomber, and then kindly requesting backup to take the suspect away for treatment.

It's quite absurd to call black white.

However, she felt that it was nothing serious, at least they had found out the identity of the criminals. If it were them, the progress would definitely not have been so fast.

As for that guy who bragged online that he was a thug who got beaten up and even knocked unconscious and kidnapped...

She felt she deserved it.

Suddenly, Sato Miwako realized that her thoughts were a little wicked.

She shook her head, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

Fortunately, Fujino is on the right path now. If he had gone astray even a little, he would probably have become a notorious criminal gangster long ago.

Yes, it's a case of good turning evil.

Kawashima Women's University of Physical Education

As night fell, the area around the track and field stadium was filled with police officers maintaining order.

Although it's summer vacation, some students at the Women's Sports University don't seem to have gone home.

They all crowded around the cordon, peering inside.

This fully reflects the stereotype that the masses love to gossip.

They weren't afraid of being killed by bombs.

Led by Megure and Sato Miwako, Fujino entered the crime scene.

The surrounding searchlights were bright, illuminating the entire track and field.

In the very center lay the body of a homeless man, whose features were identical to the previous two.

Juzo Megure entered the scene and approached Takagi, asking, "So, did you find the bomb?"

Not yet.

Takagi turned around and said, "Since we don't know exactly where the bomb was buried, we're now conducting a thorough search."

"That guy said before that he wouldn't be using the pull-triggered detonation method this time..."

Fujino pondered for a moment and deduced, "I'm afraid this guy will hide the bomb in a more concealed place this time, and the way it's triggered will also be different."

"In that case..."

Sato Miwako exclaimed in surprise, "Has this entire crime scene turned into a minefield?!"

"That's right, that's his goal."

Fujino nodded slightly. "Although I don't know why, it seems that Hachimaki Ichiro harbors a deep hatred for the police, and even feels that the police ruined his life."

"Hachimaki Ichiro?"

Upon hearing the name, Takagi asked with some doubt, "Could this guy be the real culprit behind the serial murders and bombings?"

"That's right."

Sato Miwako said seriously, "Fujino has found the real culprit in this series of murders and bombings. It's a man named Hachimaki Ichiro."

"Looks like this guy wants to terrify us by searching the crime scene."

Upon Juzo Megure immediately understood the other party's purpose. He looked at the corpse in the middle of the track and field, his expression slightly grim. "Detonate the bomb at the end to prove the police's incompetence."

"I found out about Hachimaki Ichiro's appearance from his friend. He has an ordinary appearance, freckles on his face, a mole on his right chin, and most importantly, a scar on his right hand."

Fujino picked up the conversation, then glanced around and said in a deep voice, "Judging by that guy's habits, I think he's probably nearby watching right now..."

"Okay, now that we know his characteristics, finding him will be much easier!"

Juzo Megure ordered, "Takagi, take some men and search the vicinity for people with the characteristics Fujino described. Once you find them, don't alert them!"

"Clear!"