Outlaw

##Chapter 47: Outlaw

Almost immediately after the killer confessed, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrived.

Their timing was perfect this time; they didn't even need to be background props for the detective. They could just handle the cleanup.

Leading the team was still everyone's old friend, Inspector Megure.

Lin Xinyi had actually looked up Inspector Megure's rank online that morning while clearing mines, only to realize that "Inspector" was quite a significant position:

The rank of Inspector is roughly equivalent to a Class 3 or Class 2 Police Superintendent in China, functionally equivalent to a district or county-level Public Security Bureau Chief, a branch chief, or a Criminal Investigation Brigade Captain.

Since Lin Xinyi hadn't even managed to become the head of a forensic lab before, Inspector Megure, a dignified Inspector, was naturally a high-ranking official in his eyes.

For such a high-ranking leader to consistently be on the front lines, personally appearing at crime scenes, was truly a testament to his dedication and professionalism.

And he always seemed to be the one responding to every report, as if he were the only police officer in all of Tokyo responsible for leading teams at crime scenes.

"It's you again."

When they met, both Lin Xinyi and Inspector Megure had very subtle expressions.

Yes, Inspector Megure's expression was equally interesting, though for a different reason:

"This is the third time. Are all people named 'Shinichi' from the underworld?"

"Oh, so Kudo's here too?"

"Well, then it's fine!"

Noticing Kudo Shinichi was also present, Inspector Megure immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

His expression relaxed, and a kind smile appeared on his plump face.

But that smile was directed at Lin Xinyi:

"Mr. Lin, it's great to see you!"

"Thanks to you again, we were able to catch the killer so quickly this time!"

"Oh, that's right..."

Like a micro-business owner who just added a new friend, Inspector Megure started his pitch the moment he had an opening:

"Have you reconsidered our job offer from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department?"

"Actually, we can negotiate the terms further."

He didn't actually have the authority to decide on the terms.

However, seeing Lin Xinyi once again demonstrate his exceptional crime-solving ability today, Inspector Megure was confident he could persuade the head of the Criminal Investigation Department to offer a better deal.

After all, even if Lin Xinyi's salary was raised to be on par with an Inspector's, it would only be an additional 6 or 7 million yen per year.

If that money could restore the reputation of the Japanese police, it would be an incredibly profitable investment.

Inspector Megure's invitation was sincere.

But Lin Xinyi refused without hesitation:

"I don't have that intention at the moment."

"However, if you encounter any cases you can't solve in the future, you can try contacting me."

"As long as I have time, I'll do my best to help."

He refused the request to work part-time as a forensic consultant but offered to assist.

This was actually the initial deployment of the undercover plan that GIN, his boss, had devised for him:

It was like a 'green tea' girl who expertly lures men, constantly showcasing her charm to the target while playing hard to get to whet their appetite, enticing them to pay a greater price to pursue her.

During this process, The Organization would also secretly use the power of the news media to build Lin Xinyi's reputation.

As long as he could solve a few more cases, The Organization was confident they could turn him into a celebrity, a popular idol even more famous than Kudo.

By then, Lin Xinyi would become the renowned Zhuge Liang, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department would become the eager-to-recruit Liu Bei.

And when Zhuge Liang was invited out of seclusion after three visits, he directly became the second-in-command of the Liu Group.

"Ah, let's not talk about that for now."

Lin Xinyi said with a complicated expression.

He temporarily forgot the annoying matter of being coerced into being an undercover agent and focused his attention on the case itself: "Inspector Megure, the culprit is in your hands."

"Remember to do it quickly, preferably have him confess where he hid the money right now—Kudo was right, those banknotes are the most direct physical evidence."

The killer had already been bluffed into confessing. It was the perfect time to have him publicly admit the location where he hid the victim's belongings. That way, the case would have no chance of being overturned.

"Alright," Inspector Megure said, following instructions.

Lin Xinyi then specifically cautioned:

"Be very careful; this guy isn't simple."

"There were no resistance injuries or restraint marks on the victim's body, which means the killer didn't hesitate at all when killing, but decisively stabbed the victim to death with one blow."

"This kind of criminal is very dangerous."

They commit robbery in public places, kill without hesitation if obstructed, calmly clear the scene after a murder, and firmly defend themselves during investigations. Even if they're ultimately exposed, their first reaction is still to flee.

These are pure Outlaws; they have no inhibitions whatsoever.

"Understood." Inspector Megure dutifully nodded again.

"Oh, right."

Having finished giving instructions about the case, Lin Xinyi began to think about the highly anticipated competition that afternoon:

"We have something to do this afternoon, so about the statement…"

"Don't worry about the statement." Inspector Megure smiled accommodatingly. "Anyway, you're all witnesses. Kudo Shinichi can just take the statement."

Kudo Shinichi: "…"

"Kudo Shinichi doesn't have time this afternoon either," Lin Xinyi said on Kudo Shinichi's behalf.

"That's fine," Inspector Megure said unhurriedly. "As for Kudo Shinichi, well, murder cases seem to follow him wherever he goes. Just let him accumulate a few more cases, and he can do all the statements at once then."

"…" This time, it was Lin Xinyi's turn to fall silent.

He became even more determined to stay far away from Kudo Shinichi in the future.

After a brief handover, the already confessed murderer was handcuffed.

He was escorted back to the underground platform by Inspector Megure and other police officers, partly to have him identify the scene and partly to get him to confess the location where he had hidden the victim's belongings.

Lin Xinyi and the others also returned to the underground platform.

They needed to catch the subway they had missed earlier due to the murder case, to rush to the Karate tournament venue.

And so, Lin Xinyi and his group stood on the platform, waiting for the train.

Meanwhile, Inspector Megure and the other police officers, along with the murderer, searched the trash cans on the platform for the stolen goods the murderer had hidden.

Soon, the train arrived. As soon as the doors opened, Lin Xinyi and the others could finally leave the murder scene.

It seemed that the case was completely closed.

But just then…

"Don't move! Nobody move!"

The murderer's hysterical roar suddenly exploded from behind them.

Lin Xinyi and the others instinctively turned around, only to discover in shock:

The murderer was holding a police handgun!

This guy didn't dare to move a muscle when Mouri Ran, a high school girl, was watching him. Yet, within minutes of being at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, he'd managed to even snatch a gun.

"Calm down!"

"Put down the gun immediately, don't make things worse."

Inspector Megure's face was grim. He hadn't expected Lin Xinyi's warning to become reality so quickly.

A young police officer nearby looked ashen.

He had never imagined that a criminal who had honestly confessed and was already handcuffed would dare to snatch a police officer's weapon. Because he was too close and unprepared, the murderer had taken the gun from his waist.

Losing a service weapon was a major offense; his career was over.

"Hahaha, make things worse?"

"I've already fallen so low that I have to rely on robbery to survive. What else is there to fear?"

The young murderer laughed wildly.

As he spoke, he disengaged the safety of the handgun—the safety is usually located where the right thumb can reach it in a normal grip—whether it's a casual enthusiast or a first-time shooter, anyone can easily find the safety.

"All you cops, get far away!"

"Otherwise, I'll start shooting people!"

The murderer casually pointed the gun at the waiting passengers nearby, eliciting a cacophony of piercing screams.

"Don't get agitated, we'll move away."

Inspector Megure led the police officers to carefully disperse.

The murderer then glared fiercely at Lin Xinyi and the others standing in the distance:

"None of you come any closer either—"

"Especially that violent girl with the horn on her head!"

Mouri Ran's expression changed, and her body, which had instinctively begun to move, immediately stopped.

"H-how could this happen?"

Suzuki Sonoko couldn't believe that the murderer who had attacked her would even have a chance to turn things around.

She instinctively clutched Ran's arm, as if seeking protection from Ran, and also as if instinctively protecting Ran.

"Calm down," Lin Xinyi said.

With his many years of martial arts experience, the best tactic against an armed assailant was:

"Fall back."

"Keep falling back until you're out of his sight."

"At this point, we can't handle this."

"But…" Mouri Ran instinctively wanted to stay.

Lin Xinyi hadn't had a chance to say anything more to persuade her when the culprit began to act.

He threatened the police present with his gun while quickly retreating to the edge of the platform, in front of the train that had just stopped.

At that moment, the train doors opened.

The passengers inside the train also saw the tense standoff between the armed assailant and the police.

The culprit, gun raised, moved step by step into the train car.

It was clear he intended to use this opportunity to escape on the train, then find another chance to flee at the next station.

"Don't come any closer!"

"None of you are allowed to follow me onto this train!"

"And, when I get off, if I see any police on the platform… Heh heh, you know the consequences."

The culprit threatened the police present like this, then backed halfway into the train car.

Inspector Megure's forehead immediately broke out in even more cold sweat:

The train car the culprit had just entered was full of high school students in uniforms!

A solved robbery and murder case had actually escalated into a train hostage situation involving students—the consequences were simply unimaginable.

The police were incredibly tense, but at this moment…

Miss Mouri Ran's expression, however, became relaxed and peculiar.

"What's wrong?" Lin Xinyi asked in a low voice, puzzled.

"He shouldn't have gotten on this train," Mouri Ran said meaningfully. "In two more stops, this train will reach the venue for the Karate Tournament."

"What do you mean?" Lin Xinyi still didn't understand.

"I know the people in that train car."

Watching the culprit stepping into the car from a distance, and the group of high school students in uniforms carrying sports bags inside the car, Mouri Ran's expression was quite intriguing:

"They're here for this Karate Tournament…"

"Beido High School, Karate Club."