I Was Just Taking Her Home!

"A prank? Miss Sonoko? This..." Kanzaki looked at Sonoko and then questioned his new partner.

Kanzaki reported to Beika Police Station early in the morning and was assigned to partner with Kuroki. Detectives usually work in pairs, both for safety and to avoid suspicion.

However, Kuroki, the "veteran," was unreliably late and didn't answer his phone. So Kanzaki's first task of the day was to "find his partner."

When he finally found Kuroki, he discovered that his partner was not only injured and unconscious but also claimed that "Suzuki Sonoko has been kidnapped!"

So the two disguised themselves and went to Suzuki Sonoko's residence.

Kuroki was also stunned when he saw Sonoko. He then quickly took out a student ID from Teitan High School and asked, "Miss Sonoko, this student ID..."

"Hmm?" Sonoko took it and looked at it, also puzzled. "I did lose a student ID before, but this photo..."

The photo on the student ID was clearly of someone else!

Hearing this, Kuroki's expression turned even more grim.

"What's going on?" Officer Shiraishi asked sternly.

"Chief, the situation is bad... Someone has indeed been kidnapped right in front of me... but it seems the kidnapper also got the identity of the kidnapped person wrong!" Kuroki said with difficulty.

Indeed, Officer Shiraishi also noticed that Kuroki had some external injuries, suggesting he had recently been in a combat.

So...

Someone had used Sonoko's student ID to forge their identity and... was kidnapped, mistaken for "Suzuki Sonoko"!

Ring ring ring--

The mobile phone that arrived with the kidnapping letter began to ring.

As the four people at the Suzuki family's home looked at each other, Officer Shiraishi gave Ayako a look. "Answer it. If it's the kidnapper, don't reveal us, and don't reveal that they kidnapped the wrong person!"

Seeing him order her daughter around, Suzuki Tomoko crossed her arms, tapping her fingers on her elbows, clearly displeased. However, the situation was urgent, so she didn't lash out.

Seeing this, Kuroki quickly attached a listening device to the mobile phone.

"Hello, this is the Suzuki family..."

"Heh heh, you've received Miss Sonoko's safe return letter, haven't you? What's your name?"

A voice, clearly disguised, came from the receiver.

Hearing this, Ayako quickly looked at Kuro. Under Kuro's encouraging gaze, Ayako forced herself to remain calm and said, "I'm Sonoko's older sister! How is... my younger sister?"

Mmmph-- Mmmph--

The other party only let her hear muffled sounds as if her mouth was covered...

"Don't hurt my younger sister! What... do you want?" Ayako asked cooperatively.

"Prepare 300 million in cash immediately. I'll contact you again in half an hour. If you call the police... heh heh, you should know your sister's fate."

After speaking, the other party faintly transmitted muffled cries for help from someone with their mouth covered, and then hung up before Ayako could react.

"Send the recording to the Technical Unit for voice analysis... Ayako, about the 300 million..." Officer Shiraishi asked somewhat awkwardly.

After all, it wasn't a member of the Suzuki family who was kidnapped!

For the sake of the hostage's safety, it would be best if the Suzuki family could pay the ransom first. There were clear regulations in the Eastern Island Nation that the police could not pay ransom for any reason in a kidnapping case.

If there were no such regulations, the moral pressure on the police officers on the scene would be too great if the victim asked for help with money.

"I'll raise the money now!" Ayako said immediately.

"Officer Shiraishi..." Tomoko said haughtily. Is that how you ask for help?

But seeing her daughter's pleading look and her husband's expression of "Just say a few less words," Tomoko sighed and said, "What do you think the Suzuki family is? A mere 300 million..." As Tomoko spoke, she made a phone call directly.

Soon after, 300 million in cash was personally delivered by bank personnel.

During this time, Officer Shiraishi also asked Kuroki about the kidnapping case. Because the clumsy thieves had kidnapped the wrong person, the Suzuki family knew nothing about the situation.

Kuroki was considered a strong pillar of the Criminal Affairs Division.

[Kuroki Kenji (Beika Police Station Detective):
Age: 30.
Overall Rating: R.
Mind: Justice (68), Principle (43), Gentleness (40), Subjectivity (68), Passion (61), Resilience (67).
Body: Health, minor injuries...
Skills: Deduction (R), Interrogation (R), Driving (R)...
Potential: Medium, tendency towards frontline detective.]

Additionally, Officer Shiraishi was quite satisfied with the newcomer. Although he looked young, even a bit too well-groomed, his abilities were good in all aspects, and most importantly... his potential was promising!

[Kanzaki Ryuichi (Beika Police Station Detective):
Age: 23.]

Overall Rating: R

Mind: Justice (72), Principle (82), Gentleness (70), Subjectivity (61), Passion (62), Resilience (51).

Body: Enhanced hearing, Health, Mild myopia...

Skills: Evidence Collection (R), Interrogation (R), Fighting (N), Grappling (N)...

Potential: Immense, Forensic Science Section inclination.]

Kanzaki is a "newcomer," but all aspects of his abilities are... solid. And as a newcomer, his Principle is naturally very high, and his personality leans towards "warm."

It's just that the direction of his potential seems to be something he hasn't discovered himself. Shiraishi plans to transfer him to the Forensic Science Section when the opportunity arises!

But of course, he's not mentioning that now...

"What's the situation on your end? This girl was kidnapped right in front of you? Do you know her?" Shiraishi asked Kuroki.

Hearing the Chief ask, Kuroki became somewhat... flustered.

"Actually... I didn't know her identity before, I mean... I didn't even know she was a high school student..." Kuroki started with a flimsy excuse.

"Get to the point!" Shiraishi said irritably.

"Ahem, I met this girl at a bar. Because she was drunk, I was worried and wanted to escort her back to her place... As soon as we left the bar and passed through a small alley, we were attacked. It was too dark around there, and I didn't get a clear look at the attackers' faces, but there were at least three of them. I subdued two of them, and then... I was hit from behind and passed out until this morning. This student ID is what I found at the scene," Kuroki said somewhat awkwardly.

Seeing Shiraishi remain silent, Kuroki specifically emphasized, "I was really just taking her home!"

Kanzaki beside them was already looking at him with disdain...

"I just saw she was young and feared she might run into trouble, so I..." Kuroki tried to continue explaining.

"Did the attackers say anything? Were they prepared?" Shiraishi interrupted.

"Yes, they didn't say a word and went straight for the girl," Kuroki quickly replied, then added, "But they didn't expect me to be a police officer. When I showed my badge, they panicked a bit... but they still attacked afterward."

Shiraishi then showed a thoughtful expression, but immediately said, "The wardrobe should be finished soon. You can go... Go to that bar and investigate this girl's matter further to confirm her true identity!"

"What about the kidnapping case..." Kuroki felt that the girl's identity wasn't the immediate priority, but rather the kidnapping itself.

"I'll personally command this side," Shiraishi said directly.

"Yes!" Kuroki finally felt relieved.

"Oh, right, Kuroki." Shiraishi suddenly called out to him. After Kuroki stopped, Shiraishi muttered, "You just finished your house arrest today, right? During your house arrest, you went to a bar to escort a girl home... You'll need to submit a written explanation and self-criticism for this matter later!"

"Yes..."

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