Something to prove his identity?
His Quinque had been destroyed before and was later completely decomposed into various documents in the 'Holy Grail.' Moreover, if he took out a damaged Quinque, it might make the situation more complicated. What about his previous personal belongings? They all had similar issues. So...
"Amon, that letter... have you read it?"
Lancer sudden question made Koutarou Amon freeze, and Akira Mado, who was standing beside him, was also stunned. Amon froze because only he and Lancer knew about the letter Lancer had given him before he 'went missing.' Even their superior, Kureo Mado, didn't know about it. Furthermore, after Lancer 'went missing,' Amon felt that there was something unusual about the letter Lancer had given him, but he still held back and didn't open it because he didn't feel it was the right time. Since this man knew about it, it should be him, more or less.
As for Akira Mado on the other side, she was surprised by the 'letter' Lancer mentioned. Could it be that her current teammate actually knew about Lancer 'disappearance' from the beginning?
Instantly, Akira Mado's gaze towards Koutarou Amon became dangerous. She knew that her father had been depressed for a long time because of Lancer disappearance, as Lancer was the successor he was most optimistic about, and Akira Mado had also been depressed for a while. However, in her own view, all of this was because of her father. As for the truth? Perhaps only she herself knew.
"I haven't read it, but since you know about it... then it looks like it's you, Lancer!"
At this moment, Koutarou Amon did not notice the strangeness of his companion beside him. He was genuinely happy because of the long-awaited reunion with his friend.
Seeing Koutarou Amon put down his Quinque and walk towards him, Lancer also breathed a sigh of relief. This was not only because his identity was recognized but also because the opponent had not opened the letter. He knew that he had written all the known information in that letter because he was unsure if he could return. It could be said that the letter was a 'bomb' powerful enough to cause an earthquake throughout Tokyo. Since he was back, there was no need to detonate it all at once. Detonating it in stages could reduce its impact on the innocent.
Akira Mado used gestures to instruct the task force members to spread out and investigate the scene, and then she also walked towards Lancer. Naturally, Lancer let go of Koutarou Amon and opened his arms with a smile, intending to give the other person a reunion hug as well, and then—
"Snap~!"
Accompanied by the sound of something cutting through the air, the crimson whip lashed fiercely onto the shattered stones beneath Lancer feet.
"You were gone for over two years, and you think a simple 'I'm back' is enough to gloss over it?!"
"Do you know how much everyone worried about you during these two years?! Do you know how sad Father... Special Class Mado was?! Do you know how hard we all tried to find clues about you?! Do you know?!"
With Akira Mado's barrage of questions, she walked up to Lancer step by step. Although she was a head shorter than Lancer, she stood there, holding the whip in one hand and her other hand on her hip, like a queen, raising her head and glaring straight at Lancer.
Lancer, with his tall figure, had an extremely awkward expression in the face of Akira Mado's accusations. After all, he had no idea if he would ever have the chance to return, and if he had directly submitted a report saying that he would be leaving the CCG for a long time, the matter would probably have become even more complicated. He might even have been monitored, and things could have become much worse.
There was no doubt that he had done what he did out of necessity, but his actions had indeed caused others to worry about him for a long time. It could even be said that they might still be worrying about him even now.
"I'm sorry..."
If Lancer had offered a couple of excuses, Akira Mado might have continued to 'lecture' him, but Lancer chose to apologize and then remained silent, which made Akira Mado momentarily speechless. Finally, she just turned her head away.
"Hmph! You tell Father yourself!"
After saying that, she turned and walked downstairs, but after she completely left Lancer line of sight, she couldn't help but wipe her eyes...
Lancer, with a bitter smile, turned to look at Koutarou Amon behind him, who patted him on the shoulder.
"After you 'went missing,' Mr. Mado was depressed for a long time. After all, an Investigator 'going missing' usually means they've tragically died. Akira was also very sad for a long time. Now that you've suddenly appeared, she's probably quite emotional, right? So don't blame her."
Lancer just shook his head at Koutarou Amon's explanation.
"How could I blame her? After all, I can distinguish whether she truly cares about me, but Amon, didn't you worry about me?"
"Yes, I believed you were still alive!"
"It seems I didn't disappoint you."
"Yes, you didn't disappoint me."
As he spoke, he held out his right fist towards Lancer, and Lancer smiled and gently bumped his fist with the other person's.
"Welcome back."
"I'm back."
The investigation of the scene was naturally completed by the ordinary Investigators, and after confirming that there was no danger, Koutarou Amon naturally took Lancer back to the Ward 20 branch. However, the atmosphere became awkward again when they got into the car.
Whether Koutarou Amon did it intentionally or not, he sat directly in the passenger seat, and when Lancer opened the back door, he saw Akira Mado leaning on one hand and looking out the window. The atmosphere in the car became somewhat stagnant, and perhaps because he had matured quite a bit over the past two years, Koutarou Amon actually learned to use his eyes to signal Lancer to comfort Akira Mado properly. However, before Lancer could react, Akira Mado glared at him fiercely, which made Amon turn his head awkwardly.
"Drive."
After saying this to the Third-Class Investigator responsible for driving, he simply crossed his arms and pretended not to know anything, but one could tell that he was still very concerned about what was happening behind him from the way he occasionally peeked into the rearview mirror.
The car drove through the dark night, and Akira Mado maintained her original posture the entire time, which made Lancer, who was not very good at talking, at a loss for how to start a conversation, so he simply looked out the window.
Although he had been away for more than two years, the city hadn't changed much, but just as Lancer was comparing the scenery outside the window with his memories, Akira Mado's voice, devoid of any emotion, suddenly came from beside him.
"Where did you go during these two years?"
"I went to train with my 'master'."
"Then your strength should be stronger than two years ago, right?"
"Yes."
"After we get to the branch, let me have a good look to see if your skills are really as you say, and if you wasted these two years."
"No problem, I definitely won't disappoint you."
"I won't be disappointed..."
After mumbling quietly, Akira Mado finally asked her last question.
"Then... will you leave again?"
Perhaps Akira Mado didn't even notice it herself, but her voice carried a slight tremor when she asked this question.
"Not for now. I won't leave until the Ghoul problem is resolved."
"Is that so..."
This time, Akira Mado did not directly respond to Lancer, and even stopped talking altogether, but Lancer secretly peeked at the reflection on the car window and saw a slight smile on Akira Mado's lips...
And Koutarou Amon, who had been a little nervous, couldn't help but relax his somewhat tense expression after seeing the expressions of the two through the rearview mirror.
When the car stopped in front of the Ward 20 branch, quite a few people were already standing at the door of the branch.
There was no doubt that Kureo Mado was a standard pragmatist. He disliked boring formalities, so the Investigators under him were also the practical type. However, Kureo Mado suddenly coming to the front of the branch late at night undoubtedly aroused their curiosity, so many Investigators simply stopped to see what was happening.
'Could it be that a Special Class Investigator from the headquarters is coming to the branch?'
But when the branch car stopped and a man in a black bodysuit stepped out of the car, many of the 'veterans' of the Ward 20 branch widened their eyes, because they did not expect the person who got out of the car with Koutarou Amon and Akira Mado to be Lancer?!
Lancer was once called the rising star of the CCG because of the terrifying number of Ghouls he had suppressed, but who would have thought that he would suddenly 'go missing.' However, hundreds of Investigators have died suddenly over the years, and although it caused a ripple, everyone, except those familiar with him, didn't pay too much attention. But when he 'resurrected' again, everyone couldn't help but feel curious.
However, neither Lancer nor Kureo Mado paid attention to the others.
Kureo Mado at this time looked thinner than he did two years ago, and he also had a few more wrinkles on his face, but the smile on his face was still as strange and familiar to Lancer as ever...
"Mr. Mado, it's been a long time since we last met."
"It's good that you're back."
However, after the simple greetings, Kureo Mado's face returned to its usual seriousness.
"Since you're back, there are quite a few things I'd like to ask you about. Let's go to my office."
"Yes!"
After nodding, Kureo Mado stopped talking nonsense and turned to leave, and Lancer also followed behind him without looking sideways.
In terms of strength, even Kureo Mado in his prime would not be able to fight Lancer at this time, but for Lancer, this slightly hunched middle-aged man was his very first teacher. He was the one who taught him what it meant to be an Investigator, taught him how to fight the enemy, and was also his first mentor.
Therefore, Lancer respect for him came from the heart. No matter how much time passed or how much his strength changed, this could not change.