Demotion

"It's you. Nakai Hayato."

The current investigation team fell under the Criminal Investigation Department, so as its chief, he naturally needed to stay informed about the case's progress at all times. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to brief the higher-ups or provide them with a summary.

And Nakai Hayato was, without a doubt, one of their prime targets.

Nakai Hayato was pleased that Odagiri knew his name, but not with the faint fear in his eyes.

"You shouldn't have tried to go after the Society. A mortal's arrogance will only invite calamities beyond his ability to handle." Nakai Hayato finally understood why villains sometimes talked so much. There was something intoxicating about having everything under control, especially when people he'd once considered powerful and untouchable could now be crushed like bugs with a single thought. It was truly wonderful.

Of course, he considered himself the Holy Infant Lord's representative. How could he possibly be a villain?

The ones delaying the spread of the Holy Infant Lord's mercy throughout the world were the true sinners.

Odagiri tugged at his tie, as if trying to breathe more easily. "Before I die, can you tell me who's behind you?"

"Even now, you still refuse to acknowledge the Holy Infant's existence? How ignorant and arrogant." Nakai Hayato glanced at the detective struggling beneath him, picked up the gun on the ground, and held it out. "If I told you I'd let you go as long as you shot him dead, would you believe me?"

Odagiri forced himself to stay calm as he took the gun. He glanced at his subordinate, who was writhing in pain. "How about we do this another way? You don't kill him, and I kill myself. How does that sound?"

Nakai Hayato paused, then slowly nodded. "Fine. You believe me."

"Thank you." Odagiri sighed. He took the family photo from his wallet and looked at it in silence. Then he clenched it tightly in his palm, put the gun in his mouth, and watched a jumble of images flash through his mind.

Bang.

Blood sprayed as he slumped backward, powerless.

Staring at the body, Nakai Hayato's expression darkened. He hadn't seen the scene he wanted: people killing each other for the sake of their own lives.

It seemed not every high-ranking official was a useless drunk.

He glanced at the detective beneath his feet, who was either weeping or wailing in pain, and suddenly found it all boring. He stepped past him, ignored the onlookers who didn't dare approach, and vanished from the highway in a few leaps.

At that moment, Odagiri's phone rang beside his body.

Bang!

The Metropolitan Police Department Commissioner General slammed his thermos onto the floor.

His face twisted with rage, and even his voice came out distorted.

"The head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police Department was forced to kill himself in front of a crowd! Is this what you call doing your job?! Noguchi Yuji, are you even capable of doing this job?! How can you face the trust Department Chief Odagiri placed in you?!"

Noguchi Yuji lowered his head without answering, his back hunched as well.

The office was terrifyingly quiet.

A few seconds later, Major William cleared his throat. "Commissioner Kojima, Division Chief Noguchi's judgment and conduct were both reasonable and within the rules. We're all deeply saddened by Department Chief Odagiri's sacrifice, but this also shows that the enemy isn't fearless. On the contrary, they need to target us to buy themselves breathing room. If we remove Division Chief Noguchi, who has been following the case from the beginning, from the investigation team now, we'd be playing right into their hands."

Kojima Yushitsu glared at Noguchi Yuji with bloodshot eyes. "Since Major William is pleading your case, you can stay on the investigation team. But Kuroki Niizumi will take over as team leader, and the General Affairs Division will take control. Noguchi Yuji, do you have any objections?"

"Commissioner, I have none," Noguchi Yuji replied with a shake of his head.

Knock, knock, knock. Someone rapped on the door.

Kojima Yushitsu frowned and steadied his breathing. "Come in."

"Commissioner, the surviving detective has woken up. He says he has extremely important information to report."

"Good. I understand." Kojima Yushitsu waved, and the assistant left.

"Now, organize a team immediately to interrogate the members of the Holy Infant Society. You can turn off the cameras and handle things as you see fit. As for Nakai Hayato, if you get a solid lead, I can request Self-Defense Force support. Don't disappoint me—or Odagiri—again." With that, Kojima Yushitsu sent them away.

Once they were outside, Kuroki Niizumi finally let out a breath. She looked at the two men beside her. William no longer wore his usual smile; instead, he seemed lost in thought. Noguchi Yuji looked like a plum blossom drooping beneath a blanket of snow, but she could sense the fighting spirit he kept hidden.

She was relieved. She'd genuinely been worried that Department Chief Odagiri's death would leave Noguchi Yuji utterly demoralized.

"Shall we hear what the survivor has to say first, then arrange the interrogations?" Kuroki Niizumi asked them.

"Sounds good."

"Agreed."

After the attack that killed Department Chief Odagiri, they had to bring a pile of guards and heavy weapons with them whenever they went out.

At the hospital, the survivor in the intensive care unit struggled to tell them an important detail.

Without realizing it, Nakai Hayato had been marked with tracking pheromone by Department Chief Odagiri.

Tracking pheromone was a special, odorless substance that could nevertheless be "seen."

It was generally used to protect high-ranking officials and wealthy people. If they were kidnapped, they could press an item containing an intact supply of tracking pheromone against their skin. Within a certain range, it would evaporate and adhere to the target, leaving behind a pheromone that could be detected with special equipment, making it possible to track them.

Odagiri had hidden the tracking pheromone in the family photo. Before killing himself, he'd rubbed the photo, transferring the pheromone onto Nakai Hayato.

The news lifted all three of their spirits. The situation had now turned into one where the enemy was in the open, and they were hidden.

"Major William, I'll track Nakai Hayato's movements. You and Division Chief Noguchi can interrogate the members of the Holy Infant Society. Let each other know immediately when we make progress."

"Yes, sir."

The three split up to handle their tasks. The members of the Holy Infant Society who'd been arrested had actually begun their interrogations as soon as they were taken in.

Especially once the team had been given permission to use torture, hardly anyone could hold out.

"That's all I know! I've told you everything!"

"I only joined the Society less than two months ago. I don't know anything, I swear."

"Only a few of the core members are familiar with the president. He's barely ever spoken to me."

"I was just hired to play a part! I'm not a real member!"

"..."

But there were two exceptions. The investigation team hadn't tortured them: the two housewives who were core members.

They had gained the ability [Steel Body], rendering ordinary restraints completely ineffective.

Although Bai Shihang could take their abilities back whenever he wanted, or even make the parasites dissolve right away, he wanted to see whether the investigation team could detect the parasites without harming the human body.

After all, his parasites came with built-in disguises inside their hosts.