“Whew...”
Minutes later, the news reached the Metropolitan Police Department, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Shirahama Shotaro sat in his chair, feeling like he had just been on a roller coaster, his emotions going through several ups and downs in a short period of time.
“I'm getting old.”
He sighed inwardly and said to his old partner:
“Juroku, it seems your theory is right. Forming our own supernatural department is the only way to effectively avoid losses and casualties.”
“There's no point in saying that now.”
Juroku Tojiko shook his head and said, “Our operation failed this time. The Yasakani no Magatama has been taken by the Black Organization.”
“But we can still get it back.”
Shirahama Shotaro mustered his courage and looked at Kuroda Hyoe, “Kuroda, if I remember correctly, you guys in the Public Security Department have an undercover agent in the Black Organization, right?”
“Yes.”
Kuroda Hyoe replied solemnly, “This transnational criminal organization has always been a key target for the Public Security Department. We have sent undercover agents to infiltrate it many times, but…”
Kuroda Hyoe paused here, his eyes filled with a hint of grief.
“So far, most of our undercover police officers have been exposed and killed, only one has successfully infiltrated.”
“Then contact him.”
Shirahama Shotaro pondered and said, “Let him find a way to transmit intelligence about the Black Organization. We must get the Yasakani no Magatama back.”
“...Yes!”
Kuroda Hyoe hesitated for a moment before nodding.
...
“Ran, I missed you so much!!”
At the Pororo Cafe downstairs from the Mouri Detective Agency, Sonoko rushed in with boundless energy, grabbed Ran in a hug, and rubbed against her several times.
“Alright, alright.”
Ran pushed her away helplessly, whispering, “The customers in the cafe are all looking at us, you know.”
“What's the big deal.”
Sonoko grabbed Ran's arm and said confidently, “We're best friends, aren't we?!”
“Yeah, I think Miss Sonoko is so adorable like this.”
The waitress, Enomoto Azusa, came over with a tray, a bright smile on her face.
“Right?”
Sonoko immediately puffed up her chest, with a slightly smug expression.
“...”
Alright, Ran was speechless and rubbed her forehead, picking up the pineapple bun on the tray and taking small bites.
“Ran, the way you eat now is completely different from before.”
Sonoko looked at her curiously, with an inquisitive expression.
“Because this is the way of the shrine maiden.”
Talking about this, Ran was also a little downcast. She whispered, “Grandma Miyamoto is really strict. Even when eating and walking, she requires me to strictly follow the shrine maiden's etiquette.”
“Nani?!” Sonoko's eyes widened, then she giggled with mischief, “If that's the case, can you still find a boyfriend?”
“No!”
Ran deflated, “Grandma Miyamoto said that shrine maidens must devote themselves to the gods, and they must never be involved in love affairs.”
“So old-fashioned?”
Sonoko widened her eyes, then chuckled with glee, “Good, that way I won't be single by myself.”
“You're such a jerk.”
Ran was so angry that she rubbed her face hard.
“Two.”
At this time, a male waiter with light golden hair and a tanned complexion came to their table with a tray, smiling brightly:
“This is our cafe's new offering. Would you like to try it?”
(⊙x⊙;)
As expected, Sonoko went starry-eyed again, her eyes sparkling as she said, “Ran, I think I'm in love.”
Here we go again.
Ran rolled her eyes helplessly and held back Sonoko, who was about to rush over.
“I'm Akai Shuichi, a new waiter at the Pororo Cafe. Please feel free to call me if you need anything.”
Akai Shuichi smiled and nodded, then returned to the counter.
“How is it, Akai, your sandwiches are super popular, right…”
Hearing the cheerful voice of her female colleague, Akai Shuichi smiled and nodded, but his peripheral vision was observing Ran in the cafe.
So this is the shrine maiden favored by the gods - Mouri Ran?
Akai Shuichi pondered in his heart the purpose of the mission the Black Organization entrusted to him, and how he should complete it.
Buzz!
At this moment, the pager at Akai Shuichi's waist lit up, displaying a string of numbers.
“Azusa, someone's looking for me. I'll go answer a call.”
Akai Shuichi's face changed slightly, and he hurried out the back door, finding a public pay phone.
In the early 1990s, pagers were still prevalent, but wealthy people had already been equipped with mobile phones, or Nokia phones.
With Akai Shuichi's current disguise as a waiter, he couldn't afford a mobile phone, so he didn't normally carry one.
This way, it also reduces the possibility of being discovered by the Black Organization.
“Bourbon.”
Kuroda Hyoe's somewhat low voice came from the other end of the phone.
Akai Shuichi paused for a moment before saying, “Is it about the Yasakani no Magatama intelligence? I haven't gained the full trust of the organization yet, and I haven't been involved in this operation.”
“I know.”
Kuroda Hyoe sighed on the other end of the line, “But the pressure on the Metropolitan Police Department is huge. The Cabinet and the Emperor both demand that we find the sacred relic as soon as possible.”
“...”
Akai Shuichi fell silent again. After a moment, he said, “You can investigate Masuyama Kenji. He's the chairman of Mitsubishi Motors. I suspect that he has something to do with the Black Organization's ability to transport so much military equipment into the country recently.”
“Understood. Be careful.”
At the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, Kuroda Hyoe hung up the phone and told the Public Security officers, “Go to Mitsubishi Motors and secretly arrest Masuyama Kenji.”
“Yes.”
The Public Security officers in black suits responded solemnly.
...