Shiraishi

August 18, 2016, night.

Blue Star, Eastern Island Nation on the Old Continent, aboard a large passenger jet bound for America on the New Continent...

In first class, Shiraishi Kuro was dozing in a spacious lie-flat seat. Though he was nominally on vacation, he was not on this plane to relax or sightsee, but to investigate something important!

Just then, a scream suddenly came from the economy-class restroom. Although the first-class cabin where Shiraishi Kuro sat was some distance away from the economy restroom, his keen hearing and habitual vigilance still made him snap awake from his light doze.

Soon afterward, the lights in business class came on as well, and a request for assistance came over the announcement system...

"Dear passengers, a passenger suffering from a sudden medical emergency has been discovered during this flight. If there are any doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals aboard, please contact a flight attendant nearby..."

A sudden medical emergency? But that scream had been a little too dramatic, hadn't it?

Out of professional instinct, and because the plane carried something he was investigating, Shiraishi sensed that something was wrong. After a brief hesitation, he immediately raised his hand to signal the flight attendant beside him.

"Hello, do you need help?"

"Hello." Shiraishi Kuro lowered his voice and took his identification from his jacket pocket. "I'm a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department. Is there really an emergency patient?"

"Ah! Actually, it's like this..." The flight attendant visibly relaxed upon seeing his ID. She bent closer and quietly explained the situation to him.

Just moments ago, a member of the cabin crew had found... a male corpse in the restroom!

They had not rashly touched the body in accordance with protocol, but they could still tell the man was thoroughly dead—the kind who had died with his eyes wide open.

The announcement looking for a doctor was merely a procedural requirement. No one actually expected the victim to be saved.

"A man... Take me to have a look." Shiraishi Kuro had a bad feeling about this.

He had originally wanted to follow his target in real time from economy class, but unfortunately... the practical conditions simply did not allow it, so he could only sit in first class!

When Shiraishi Kuro reached economy class and headed toward the restroom, he discovered that police officers were already there—and he knew one of them...

Megure Thirteen, Metropolitan Police Department, Criminal Investigation Department, First Investigation Division, head of Violent Crimes Unit Three.

Inspector Megure had not expected to run into a murder case while taking Takagi to America to receive an extradited criminal!

That was right. He had also just sensed that something was off, so he had revealed his identity to the cabin crew before coming over to investigate.

With no local officers available to cooperate at the scene, the investigation conditions were extremely rudimentary, and...

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

Kudo Yusaku had helped Megure out many times, and Megure trusted Kudo's ability to solve cases, but that did not mean he trusted some cocky high school brat... even if that brat was Kudo Yusaku's son.

This was indeed Kudo Shinichi's first chance to encounter a murder case on his own!

"Honestly! Shinichi, this isn't a place to play detective games!" Megure scolded.

And at that moment...

Thud, thud, thud—

Shiraishi Kuro approached without bothering to hide the sound of his footsteps.

Takagi Wataru, who had been standing in the aisle, immediately turned around upon hearing the sound behind him and instinctively said, "Sorry, this restroom is temporarily clo... uh... gulp..."

Takagi had intended to stop an ordinary passenger from approaching the scene, but... the instant he turned and saw the newcomer's build, his scalp went numb, and he swallowed with difficulty.

He had only recently transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department. Before that, he had always worked at a local precinct, so he did not know Shiraishi Kuro. However...

Shiraishi Kuro was the sort of person whose mere presence was oppressive, even if one had never met him before!

Shiraishi Kuro, Metropolitan Police Department, Organized Crime Countermeasures Department, Fourth Unit Chief of Third Division, stood 226 centimeters tall and weighed 159 kilograms.

That was why Shiraishi Kuro could not sit in economy class—he could not fit sitting down, could not fit lying down, and even the cabin height was barely sufficient.

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

"You just joined First Investigation Division, right? Nice to meet you..." Shiraishi Kuro said with a smile, extending his hand.

Shiraishi Kuro knew most of the detectives in First Investigation Division, especially those in Violent Crimes Unit Three, many of whom he had worked with before. But he had never seen this somewhat thin young colleague.

"W-well..." Takagi's thoughts became muddled as he stared at this "wall." Seeing Shiraishi grin fiercely and extend his hand, he instinctively took a step back.

But just then...

"Hm? Isn't that Brother Shiraishi? You're here too? I didn't see you earlier." The moment Megure saw this "wall," he naturally recognized him.

During Shiraishi Kuro's first year after joining the force, he had spent more than half his time in First Investigation Division's Violent Crimes Unit Three, under Megure's command. So even though Shiraishi was already an inspector of the same rank as him, Megure still warmly called him "Brother."

"Brother Takagi, don't be nervous. This is the Fourth Unit Chief of Organized Crime Unit 3, Inspector Shiraishi." Megure shot the pathetic "newcomer" a glare before introducing him.

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

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

I knew the people from Organized Crime generally looked fierce, but... isn't this a little too fierce?

The Third Division of the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department had once belonged to the Criminal Investigation Department alongside the First Investigation Division, and had been called the Organized Crime Countermeasures Division.

Because the Eastern Island Nation had its own particular national conditions, there were many legally recognized violent groups within the country. The nature of these people's crimes differed from ordinary civilian crimes, so the police had a specialized department to deal with criminal acts caused by Violent Organizations: the Organized Crime Countermeasures Division. Later, as control over Violent Organizations grew increasingly stronger, it separated from the Criminal Investigation Department and was reorganized and expanded into the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department!

For convenience, everyone generally called it "Organized Crime." The predecessor of Third Division had been the former Organized Crime Countermeasures Division—the ace division directly responsible for fighting organized crime, much as First Investigation Division was the ace of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Since they were always dealing with violent criminals, the people in Organized Crime all looked fierce. If they did not reveal their identities, ordinary people would find it difficult to distinguish Organized Crime officers from members of Violent Organizations based on appearance, speech, or bearing...

"Hahaha, Officer Takagi, were you thinking, 'Just what I'd expect from someone in Organized Crime'? But look carefully—my face is actually quite friendly, isn't it? I'm not boasting, but in our division, I'm one of the kindest-looking people around."

As Shiraishi Kuro spoke, he bent down and leaned a little closer...

Takagi immediately leaned backward, but he also got a clearer look—honestly, if one looked only at his face... it really was not particularly fierce!

It was just that, with that build of yours right in front of him, it was difficult for anyone to "look only at your face"!

"N-no, not at all! I was surprised that Inspector Shiraishi is so young and accomplished, already serving as a unit chief..." Takagi obviously could not say, You scare me, so he hastily came up with an excuse.

Indeed, after looking at his face, Takagi realized that Inspector Shiraishi... seemed quite young. He did not look more than a couple of years older than Takagi himself!

Takagi Wataru was twenty-five this year. He had previously spent three years at a local precinct, and only transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department because of his excellent performance and promising future. For aspiring field detectives, First Investigation Division was practically a legendary department.

But like most officers who had just transferred into First Investigation Division, he was immediately crushed by the difference in level. Takagi Wataru, an outstanding precinct detective, had instantly become a rookie here.

"Honestly... Brother Takagi, that was far too rude. Brother Shiraishi is one of the elites of the Profe... ahem, Professional Group." Megure rolled his eyes at Takagi again.

It was one thing to cower just because someone looked fierce...

Don't let Inspector Shiraishi's big, burly appearance and developed limbs fool you—his mind was extraordinary as well!