Brother Shiraishi

August 18, 2016, night.

On a large passenger jet flying from the Eastern Island Nation, on the old continent, to the New Continent's United States, on Earth...

In first class, Shiraishi Kuro was dozing on a spacious, reclining seat. Although he was nominally on leave of absence, the reason he was on a plane was not for leisure or entertainment, but to investigate something important!

Just then, a scream suddenly erupted from the restroom in economy class. Although Shiraishi Kuro's first-class cabin was some distance from the economy class restroom, his keen hearing and habit of staying alert allowed him to instantly awaken from his pretense of sleep.

Immediately afterward, the lights in the business class cabin also turned on, and a plea for help was broadcast over the intercom...

"Distinguished passengers, during this flight, a passenger has developed a sudden, acute medical condition. If there are any passengers who are doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals, we ask that you please contact a flight attendant nearby..."

A sudden acute medical condition? But that scream was a bit too exaggerated, wasn't it?

Shiraishi, due to his professional intuition and the fact that he was investigating something on this plane, sensed that something was amiss! After a moment's hesitation, he immediately raised his hand to signal the flight attendant beside him.

"Hello, do you need assistance?"

"Hello." Shiraishi Kuro lowered his voice and pulled out his identification from his breast pocket. "I'm a Detective with the Metropolitan Police Department. Is there really a patient with an emergency?"

"Ah! Actually, it's like this..." The flight attendant breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his ID and leaned in slightly to whisper an explanation to Shiraishi Kuro.

Just a moment ago, a flight attendant had discovered a male corpse in the restroom!

Although they hadn't touched the body according to regulations, it was clear that the person was thoroughly dead, dying with eyes wide open.

Broadcasting for a doctor was merely a procedural step, not a genuine hope of saving anyone.

"A man... Please take me to see him." Shiraishi Kuro felt a sense of foreboding.

He had originally planned to monitor his target in economy class in real-time, but unfortunately... the current conditions simply didn't allow for it, so he had to sit in first class!

As Shiraishi Kuro arrived in economy class and headed towards the restroom, he noticed that police officers were already present, and he recognized one of them...

Megure Thirteen, Metropolitan Police Department, Criminal Investigation Department, First Investigation Division, Violent Crimes Unit Three Section Chief.

Inspector Megure hadn't expected that while he was escorting Takagi to the United States to pick up an extradited criminal, he would coincidentally encounter a murder case!

That's right, he had also realized something was wrong just moments ago, so he revealed his identity to the flight attendants and came to investigate.

Since there were no local police officers to assist at the scene, the investigation conditions were very basic, and...

He also discovered that the son of his "old friend" was causing trouble at the scene!

Although Kudo Yusaku had helped Megure a lot, and Megure trusted him when it came to solving cases, that didn't mean he would trust a cocky high school brat... even if that brat was Kudo Yusaku's son.

This was indeed Kudo Shinichi's first opportunity to encounter a murder case alone!

"Honestly! Shinichi, this is no place for a detective game!" Megure reprimanded him.

Just then...

Knock, knock, knock--

Shiraishi Kuro, who hadn't bothered to mask his footsteps, approached.

Takagi Wataru, who was in the aisle, heard the sound behind him and immediately turned around, instinctively saying, "Sorry, the restroom here is temporarily clos... uh... gulp..."

Takagi had intended to politely stop the civilian approaching the scene, but... upon turning and seeing the approaching figure's physique, his scalp immediately tingled, and he swallowed hard.

He had only recently transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department, having previously worked at a local police station, so he didn't recognize Shiraishi Kuro. However...

Shiraishi Kuro was the type of person who exuded an oppressive aura even without being recognized!

Shiraishi Kuro, Metropolitan Police Department, Organized Crime Countermeasures Department, Third Division Unit 4 Section Chief. Height: 226cm, Weight: 159kg (His height in reality is comparable to Yao Ming's, with a build slightly sturdier than Kyogoku Makoto's [Kyogoku Makoto: 184cm, 79kg]. Refer to the novel's cover for a visual comparison.)

This was precisely why Shiraishi Kuro couldn't sit in economy class – he wouldn't fit, nor could he recline, and even the cabin height wasn't sufficient.

Shiraishi Kuro looked down at the police officer, who seemed to be a "newcomer," and then displayed a "friendly colleague" smile.

"Are you new to the First Investigation Division? Nice to meet you..." Shiraishi smiled and extended his hand.

Shiraishi Kuro knew most of the detectives in the First Investigation Division, especially those in Violent Crimes Unit Three, as he had worked with many of them. However, he hadn't seen this somewhat slender young colleague before.

"Uh... um..." Takagi's mind became jumbled as he looked at this "wall." Seeing him grin and extend his hand, he instinctively took a step back.

But just then...

"Hm? Isn't this Brother Shiraishi? You're here too? I didn't see you earlier?" Megure immediately recognized the "wall" and spoke.

Because Shiraishi Kuro had spent most of his first year on the job in Violent Crimes Unit Three of the First Investigation Division, meaning under Megure's command, Megure still warmly called him "Brother," even though Shiraishi was now an Inspector of the same rank as himself.

"Don't be nervous, Brother Takagi. This is Inspector Shiraishi, Section Chief of Organized Crime Unit 3, Unit 4," Megure said, giving the pathetic "newcomer" a glare, and then made the introduction.

"Ah... Ah! Inspector Shiraishi! My apologies," Takagi immediately apologized.

At the same time, Takagi thought to himself...

He had always known that people from "Organized Crime Countermeasures" generally looked fierce, but... this was too fierce!

The Third Division of the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department, like the "First Investigation Division," was once part of the "Criminal Investigation Department" and was known as the "Organized Crime Countermeasures Division."

Due to the unique circumstances in the Eastern Island Nation, there were a large number of legal yakuza groups. The nature of their crimes differed from ordinary public offenses, so the police had a specialized department to deal with criminal acts caused by violent organizations, namely the "Organized Crime Countermeasures Division." Later, as control over violent organizations strengthened, it became independent from the Criminal Investigation Department and was reorganized and expanded into the "Organized Crime Countermeasures Department"!

For the sake of convenience, people generally referred to it as "Organized Crime Countermeasures" or "O.C.C." The predecessor of the "Third Division" was the former "Organized Crime Countermeasures Division," which was the ace division directly responsible for dealing with organized crime, just as the ace of the "Criminal Investigation Department" was the "First Investigation Division."

Because they always deal with violent criminals, the people in "Organized Crime Countermeasures" also look fierce. If they don't reveal their identities, it's difficult for ordinary people to distinguish between "members of violent organizations" and "police officers from Organized Crime Countermeasures" based on their appearance, speech, or aura.

"Hahaha, Officer Takagi, are you thinking, 'As expected of the Organized Crime Countermeasures guys,' aren't you? Actually, if you look closely, my face is quite kind, right? It's not bragging, but in our department, I'm one of the kindest-looking people."

Shiraishi Kuro said this while bending down and leaning closer.

As Takagi immediately leaned back, he also saw more clearly—to be honest, just looking at his face... it wasn't very fierce!

It's just that with your physique here, it's hard for people to "just look at your face"!

"Wh-where, where! I was just surprised that Inspector Shiraishi is so accomplished at such a young age, already a Section Chief..." Takagi certainly couldn't say "I'm scared of you," so he quickly came up with an excuse.

Indeed, Takagi realized when he looked at Inspector Shiraishi's face that he seemed very young, not much older than himself!

Takagi Wataru was twenty-five this year. He had previously spent three years at a local police station. Because of his excellent performance, he was considered very promising and was transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department—for an ambitious detective working in the field, the "First Investigation Division" was a legendary department.

However, just like most police officers newly transferred to the "First Investigation Division," he was immediately overwhelmed. The excellent detective Takagi Wataru instantly became a rookie here as well.

"Really... Brother Takagi, what you said is too rude. Brother Shiraishi is a gold... cough, an elite from the Professional Group." Megure shot Takagi another look.

It's one thing to be intimidated by someone who looks fierce...

Don't let Inspector Shiraishi's rough appearance and well-developed limbs fool you; his mind is also extraordinary!