In the end, he stopped on the page for the urban legend "Mary the Doll."
"I choose you, Miss Mary."
Hikari pressed his palm against that page of the Chronicle of Strange Tales.
A flash of brilliant light appeared.
A tiny, adorable girl materialized beside him.
She had waist-length silver hair, exquisitely beautiful features, and wore an elegant Lolita dress over her delicate figure.
This beautiful girl, as perfectly crafted as a living doll, was none other than the legendary urban legend, Mary the Doll.
"Master~"
The moment Mary was summoned, she immediately wrapped herself around Hikari's arm and clung to him affectionately.
Hikari patted her head, "Be good, Mary. I need your help with something."
Ever since the incident at the Richter Hotel, when she'd tried to torment Hikari to avenge her good friend, Hanako of the Toilet, only to end up being caught and thoroughly taught a lesson by him... Miss Mary had become much more well-behaved.
Then, after many days of "deep exchange" together, her affection for Hikari had grown by leaps and bounds. She had even willingly allowed herself to be recorded in the Chronicle of Strange Tales.
After that, Miss Mary never did bad things again, and Hikari would occasionally spend time "deep exchange" with her to recharge.
So when faced with his request now, she naturally agreed without hesitation, "Okay! What do you need me to do, Master?"
Hikari asked first, "You can call anyone, right? Then can you also listen in on other people's phone conversations?"
Hearing that, Miss Mary immediately nodded proudly, "Of course! Whose call do you want to hear? I'll connect it for you right away!"
Hikari wasn't surprised by her answer.
He knew Mary possessed that ability as an urban legend, which was why he hadn't personally tailed Noma Keiji to eavesdrop.
Whether Noma Keiji was secretly calling someone before the operation, or whether this suspicious behavior was meant to warn the drug manufacturing group in advance, it didn't matter.
Hikari could simply have Mary connect the line and openly listen in.
"You're amazing."
Hikari smiled as he rubbed Mary's head, praising her before pointing toward the public restroom across the street.
"There should be a man inside making a phone call. Listen in on his conversation for me."
"Okay. Master, pick me up."
Miss Mary spread her fair little arms.
"Hm? Want a reward before you've even done anything?"
Hikari raised an eyebrow.
"No!", Mary quickly shook her head.
"I have to relay what I hear through my own mouth. If I'm closer to you, it'll be easier for you to hear."
"All right."
Although he knew Mary had her own little selfish motives, you couldn't expect a horse to work without feeding it.
Hikari reached out with both hands, lifted the girl into his arms, and held her against his chest.
Feeling the warmth of his embrace, Mary snuggled against him, satisfaction appearing on her lovely face. She even let out a comfortable little hum.
Still, she didn't forget the task.
Soon, she gently brought her pink lips close to Hikari's ear and relayed Noma Keiji's phone conversation to him.
["Boss!"]
Noma Keiji's voice came through first.
Despite being a police officer, he was addressing someone as "Boss."
["Keiji, why are you calling me all of a sudden? Is there some new situation at the police department?"]
Next came the slightly hoarse voice of a middle-aged man.
["We've recently uncovered a drug manufacturing group at the Metropolitan Police Department. My superior and I are about to investigate them. Does this group have any connection to our organization?"]
Noma Keiji's tone was serious.
["Oh?"]
The middle-aged man immediately became alert.
["What area are they operating in? What's the person in charge's name?"]
["They're in Adachi Ward. One of them seems to be called Oda Kotaro..."]
Noma Keiji shared the information he knew.
After listening, the boss let out a sigh of relief.
["Don't worry. That group has nothing to do with us. I've heard about them before. They're just a small-to-medium-sized operation. They're probably trying to expand recently and accidentally caught the Metropolitan Police Department's attention."]
["Our organization is much bigger than they are. The quality and quantity of what they produce are nowhere near ours."]
["Still, they're technically competition. It wouldn't be good if they really grew stronger. Cooperate with your superior and wipe them out. That'll benefit us too."]
Hearing that, Noma Keiji also relaxed.
["As long as they're unrelated to us."]
The boss chuckled.
["Even if they aren't connected to us, this information is still valuable. I can have people get ready in advance. Once their group is arrested, we can immediately take over their business."]
["Ever since we planted you in the Metropolitan Police Department, you've been feeding me information one piece at a time. You've really been a huge help."]
["Noma, you've worked hard. It wasn't for nothing that I raised you from childhood and treated you like my own son."]
Noma Keiji hurriedly replied, ["It's what I should do. Boss, I'll never be able to repay what you've done for me."]
The boss laughed.
["Well, that's true enough. If I hadn't taken you in back then, you'd have died by the roadside like a stray dog."]
["Keep doing your job undercover in the Metropolitan Police Department. Send me useful intelligence and help our organization continue growing."]
Noma Keiji answered firmly, ["Yes! I won't let you down!"]
After that, Noma Keiji gave his boss more information, and the two chatted for a while.
Outside the cafe, Hikari listened to the entire conversation from afar while holding Mary in his arms.
A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.
"Boss... Undercover..."
"So Noma Keiji really is an undercover mole planted by the yakuza."
Now that Noma Keiji's identity had been confirmed, Hikari was also certain that the information in his memories regarding both Noma Keiji and the beautiful investigator Ikazuchi Rika had been correct.
According to the plot he remembered, Noma Keiji, the undercover agent planted inside the Metropolitan Police Department by the gang boss, was someone who constantly switched sides.
As the original story continued, he would help solve cases from time to time to maintain his cover, but at the same time he would also do plenty of despicable things, such as secretly passing along crucial intelligence to help their drug organization expand.
In the original storyline, Noma Keiji had done quite a few evil deeds.
Now that Hikari had intervened, there was an even greater chance Noma Keiji would stay on that path.
Hikari had absolutely no intention of trusting someone like him.
Even judging from the intercepted phone call, the drug manufacturing group that he and Ikazuchi Rika were about to investigate had nothing to do with Noma Keiji's organization.
Noma Keiji wouldn't interfere or tip them off. Instead, he would genuinely help with the investigation.
Even so, Hikari still didn't want an undercover gangster participating in the operation with him.
Besides, for the sake of his sister-in-name, Ikazuchi Rika, so that she could continue helping him combat NTR in the future and promote true love, Hikari already planned to eliminate Noma Keiji sooner or later.
After all, having a gangster mole lurking beside them was like having a ticking time bomb.
Hikari himself wasn't afraid.
But for an investigator from the hidden world like Ikazuchi Rika, that was another matter.
So for the sake of his future plans, and for Investigator Ikazuchi Rika herself, he wouldn't let Noma Keiji off.
At that moment, through Mary's eavesdropping, Hikari realized that Noma Keiji had finished passing on the information and hung up.
He immediately set Mary's body back down on the ground.
"Master... Mary still wants cuddles..."
After leaving his embrace, Mary's face remained flushed from how comfortable she'd been, and she looked obviously reluctant to let go.
Hikari pinched her cute little cheek and smiled, "I still have things to do. Later tonight, I'll give you your reward."
Mary had helped him today, so he naturally intended to reward her.
Hearing that, Mary's face instantly lit up, "Okay! By the way, Master, have you been into prosecutor types lately? Should I buy a prosecutor's uniform and cosplay for you when you reward me?"
Hikari looked at her eager expression and her body, then shook his head helplessly.
"That outfit doesn't really suit your build. Just stick with the goth dress. And when the time comes, eat a little less so you don't end up saying you're too full again."
Mary stuck out her little tongue playfully, resting a hand on her smooth stomach.
"Mhm. Mary won't be so greedy anymore. After all, every time, Master feeds me until I'm completely full... nice and stuffed~"
Hikari patted her little head. After agreeing on when he'd reward her that evening, he sent her back into the Chronicle of Strange Tales.
After putting the Chronicle of Strange Tales away, before Noma Keiji emerged from the restroom... Hikari returned to the cafe first.
A short while later, Noma Keiji also came back.
"All right, it's about time. Since you're both back, let's head out."
Seeing Hikari and Noma Keiji return, Ikazuchi Rika spoke immediately.
"Okay, Sister Rika."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Hikari and Noma Keiji both responded.
Then, while they were briefly discussing the plan, Noma Keiji suddenly turned toward Hikari and sternly warned him, "Hikari, before we leave, there's something I need to make absolutely clear."
"The mission we're carrying out is extremely dangerous."
"During the operation, you'd better do as you're told and don't become a burden to either of us. Otherwise, you'll have to bear the consequences yourself."
Noma Keiji was obviously unhappy that a high school student had suddenly been inserted into the operation. Seeing how close he was to the beautiful superior officer Ikazuchi Rika only made him more jealous, so he deliberately tried to intimidate Hikari before they set off.
Hearing his blunt warning, Ikazuchi Rika frowned.
But before she could say anything, Hikari smiled first.
"You're right, Inspector Noma. I'll behave and won't cause any trouble for either of you. Don't worry."
Hearing Hikari agree so obediently, Noma Keiji glanced at him in surprise.
He had intended to find fault with him, but seeing Hikari's cooperative attitude, he had nothing more to say and could only snort.
"You'd better."
Hikari showed no sign of anger at Noma Keiji's repeated provocations or his attempts to establish authority.
Because he had no intention of bringing this undercover mole along on today's operation.
So why get angry over the barking of someone who wasn't going to be involved anyway?
Although the person who actually had the authority to decide the investigation team's members was Ikazuchi Rika, their leader and superior.
Hikari had plenty of ways to make sure Noma Keiji couldn't participate.
Ikazuchi Rika glared at Noma Keiji when she saw he was still treating Hikari badly.
Then she gave Hikari, who had quietly endured it, an apologetic look.
Since they were about to begin the operation, she couldn't reprimand Noma Keiji the way she had before.
Seeing that the two hadn't started arguing, Ikazuchi Rika said, "All right. You both understand the basic plan, so let's go."
"Yes!"
Trying to repair the poor impression Ikazuchi Rika had of him after scolding Hikari, Noma Keiji quickly packed up his things and stood up with a thoroughly professional demeanor, following her.
Hikari also set down his coffee and followed the two investigators out of the cafe.
However, neither Ikazuchi Rika nor Noma Keiji himself, who was about to have bad luck, noticed Hikari quietly raising his right hand behind them.
'What should I do to keep Noma from joining this operation...'
As he walked, Hikari considered the many abilities at his disposal. There were countless ways to stop Noma Keiji from participating.
In the end, he decided to use once again the superpower he had just stolen from Takasaki Soichi earlier that day, telekinesis, the ability to control another person's body.
'Let's see... what's the best way to control this guy...'
Walking out of the cafe, Hikari looked thoughtfully at Noma Keiji's back.
He could simply force Noma Keiji, just as Takasaki Soichi had done to others, to open his own mouth and announce that he was withdrawing from the operation.
But that approach was too crude. Forcefully changing someone's thoughts like that would be far too abrupt.
Although with Hikari's immense mental strength, Noma Keiji would never notice anything.
At such a critical moment before the mission, if Noma Keiji suddenly declared he was dropping out, Ikazuchi Rika would definitely find it strange as well.
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