"If even one person comes out of the apartment building, you'll detonate the bomb?" Still troubled, the high school student pointed at the terrified crowd around them. "But right now, a lot of people have already come out."
Inspector Megure's old face flushed. "It's embarrassing to admit, but we've already paid the ransom, so the bomb's countdown has stopped, and the civilians can be evacuated... Don't worry, no one will be blown up. We police won't just leave those two bombs alone, either."
Inspector Megure: "..."
Wait, why on earth am I telling all this to some high school student passing by?!
On the other side, beneath the building at the first scene.
Matsuda Jinpei, fresh from successfully defusing the bomb, returned in triumph to the explosive ordnance disposal vehicle.
Once the compartment door closed, the police officer in the driver's seat floored the gas pedal and drove toward another building, speaking into the walkie-talkie as he went. "We are escorting Captain Matsuda to the second scene."
In the rear compartment, inside the fairly spacious area, three police officers surrounded Matsuda Jinpei and were helping him take off the protective suit he was wearing.
In order to minimize the damage an explosion could do to the human body, this protective clothing was completely airtight, with reinforced metal protective plates tucked into every part of it. The protective helmet also had heavy goggles—of course, because of that, the helmet also came with anti-fog and breathing-cooling functions, to prevent exhaled breath from blurring the field of vision and interfering with bomb disposal work.
Even with others helping, putting on this outfit still took quite a bit of time. Taking it off was easier than putting it on, but it still took more than five minutes before he finally had it all