After pushing the door open and entering, Juzo Megure surveyed the room.
Inside the small office, five figures sat around the sofas in the center of the room.
On the sofa to the left sat two men in suits, both past middle age.
The square-faced, mustached man on the left, with a scar over his right eye, was Senior Superintendent Kiyonaga Matsumoto, the superior of Juzo Megure's superior.
Sitting on the right was a man whose hair had long since turned white. He had a full beard, and the right lens of his glasses was entirely black, concealing his burns. This was Superintendent Hyoue Kuroda, Juzo Megure's immediate superior.
Having those two big shots sitting there was already enough to give Juzo Megure a headache. But even more troublesome was the woman sitting opposite them in the middle of the sofa, her blonde hair pinned up, smoking right in front of two senior Metropolitan Police Department officials.
Deputy Commissioner Tachibana Kirika, the head of SdS, was a senior official two ranks above even Kiyonaga Matsumoto.
And she isn't even half my age... Feeling somewhat gloomy, Juzo Megure shifted his gaze away from Tachibana Kirika and looked at the young man on her right, whose greeting had nearly shattered his composure.
No, teenager would be more accurate.
He had neatly cropped black hair and handsome features, the sort of good looks that would have let him debut as an idol without any trouble.
Ever since Juzo Megure had entered, a smile had remained on his face, making him look very friendly.
But... what the hell was that "my dear Megure" just now?
I'm old enough to be your father... At least call me Inspector.
Grumbling inwardly, Juzo Megure entered and saluted Tachibana Kirika, Kiyonaga Matsumoto, and Hyoue Kuroda in order of