The next morning, the atmosphere in Morioh was distinctly different.
Kira Yoshikage woke up on time, as usual. He habitually reached out to caress his "girlfriend" in the velvet box. More than Kira Yoshikage, he treated his "girlfriend" like a pet he could chat with.
After completing his morning ritual, he walked to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He turned on the radio, expecting to hear soothing music, but instead, a serious news report came on:
"...Repeating, in light of the series of malicious incidents that have occurred in Morioh recently, after assessment by higher authorities, it has been determined that there is an extremely high public safety risk, and the possibility of a terrorist attack cannot be ruled out!
Effective immediately, Morioh will implement temporary martial law measures, with additional checkpoints to strictly screen vehicles and personnel entering and exiting.
The army will be stationed on the outskirts of Morioh. All citizens are requested to actively cooperate, reduce unnecessary outings, and immediately report any suspicious circumstances..."
"...The police will conduct door-to-door investigations. Citizens are requested to understand and cooperate..."
Kira Yoshikage's hand, which was slicing toast, paused slightly.
Martial law? A terrorist attack? It seems yesterday's explosion and fire had a huge impact, forcing the authorities to take more extreme measures.
He snorted inwardly but had no regrets. Compared to these, Higashikata Josuke was more dangerous to him.
"However, Father, you shouldn't go out for now. Just pretend to be a normal photo first."
Kira Yoshikage looked back at Kira Yoshihiro. Kira Yoshihiro's surveillance was still very useful against a few Stand Users. Just like in the original work, for these Stand Users, Kira Yoshihiro's photo was very difficult to detect.
But dealing with official departments? Forget it. Heaven knows how many people they would have, and there would be no shortage of various cameras and surveillance. It might even expose him instead.
Sure enough, today, when he drove to work as usual, he clearly felt the difference.
A temporary checkpoint had been set up at the main intersection leading to Kameyu Department Store. Uniformed police officers were randomly inspecting vehicles, and the process was slow, with a long queue of cars.
The police officers on both sides were armed and from out of Town. They had no qualms about taking action, and under the watchful eyes of these outsiders, the car owners were all very quiet and stable.
"Hey, who do you think you are?! Just because I drank, you want to arrest me?!"
"I'm not leaving. Try and arrest me, huh, huh?!"
A red-faced fat man opened his car door and looked at the two burly police officers outside, his expression very angry. He had only had one drink this morning, and who would have thought it would count as drunk driving?!
Normal police would never check for these things. Their sudden inspection was making life impossible!
Stopping him from going to work, and not letting him die? If he didn't go to work, where would his wages come from today?! He had a wife and children to support!
But in the face of his tantrum and resistance to law enforcement, the two police officers in front of him just exchanged glances, then directly raised their guns... Two gun butts, one to the head, one to the cervical spine, and the fat man was directly knocked to the ground, his eyes rolling back, falling into a coma.
Then, the police car towed away the vehicle and also took away the fat man. It was unknown whether he was being taken to the Hospital or the detention center.
The crowd became even quieter, but some people secretly filmed videos, preparing to report them for violent law enforcement when they got back.
Kira Yoshikage waited patiently. His expression remained calm throughout, and his fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, a steady rhythm.
'Sure enough, when faced with an unknown danger comparable to a terrorist attack, even departments that usually prohibit violent law enforcement act decisively?'
After about 20 minutes, it was Kira Yoshikage's turn for inspection. He rolled down the window, revealing the slightly confused and perfectly worried expression of an ordinary office worker.
"Sir, please show your driver's license and identification." A police officer stepped forward with a pen and paper to inquire, while another police officer held his gun tightly.
"Alright, thank you for your hard work." Kira Yoshikage responded gently, handing over his documents. His documents were flawless, and the photo matched him perfectly.
The police officer carefully compared them, then looked inside his car. "Mr. Kira, do you work at Kameyu Department Store?"
"Yes, Sales Department."
"Have you noticed anything unusual recently? Or have any strangers been loitering near the company?"
The police officer asked routinely, his gaze constantly sweeping over Kira Yoshikage's face, as if trying to remember him firmly, while the armed police officer's pupils also widened slightly, and he gripped his gun tighter.
"Unusual? I don't think so... Everyone has been quite nervous lately, especially after hearing the broadcast yesterday."
Kira Yoshikage showed a thoughtful expression, then shook his head. "The area around the company is also normal. I haven't seen anyone suspicious."
The police officer nodded, wrote something in his notebook, then returned his documents. "Alright, thank you for your cooperation. Please be careful recently and reduce nighttime outings."
"Thank you, I will."
The checkpoint cleared. Kira Yoshikage slowly drove away. Through the rearview mirror, he saw the police officer saying something into his walkie-talkie.
This caused a tiny flicker of unease in his heart. 'No, the police officers' reactions just now were off. Their expressions changed when they mentioned Kira. Do they have some information?'
'Damn it, it seems the information I destroyed with fire wasn't complete. Is it the information Rohan had on him?'
Kira Yoshikage's expression grew darker. It seemed luck wasn't on his side this time, but the fact that they didn't directly arrest him or come to his house meant they hadn't identified him specifically.
They must have only obtained fragmented information, 'Is it Kira?'
'Damn it, I should go find cinderella...'
'Also, Kosaku Kawajiri, where are you? I'm really looking forward to your face... And Mrs. Shinobu, I'm very curious about you too. Indeed, only hands are not enough to satisfy me...'
'I am a normal man after all, tsk. I just don't know if cinderella can replace the entire skin, and replace that thing too, otherwise, it might also expose me...'
Kira Yoshikage, in a foul mood and under a dark cloud, thought this as he continued to drive. Time always passed quickly when he was lost in thought, and he soon arrived at the company.
Upon arriving at Kameyu Department Store, the atmosphere in the company was also somewhat subdued. Due to today's martial law, the company's business was very poor, with hardly any customers. Colleagues were chatting desultorily.
Colleagues were all discussing the martial law and the so-called "terrorist attack," with widespread panic—a true reflection of ordinary people in times of disaster.
The Section Chief even held a short meeting, asking everyone to be careful with their words and actions recently, cooperate with the police investigation, and stated that police officers might come to the company for questioning.
All day, Kira Yoshikage could see police cars patrolling outside the window from time to time. During his lunch break, he even saw two police officers questioning a convenience store owner across the street. The owner, merely nervous and stammering, was directly dragged away.
It was unknown where he would be taken.
This pervasive sense of surveillance began to slowly erode his "peaceful" life. He hated this feeling of being disturbed.
This feeling meant his nails were starting to grow again, their growth rate visibly accelerating, forcing him to cut his nails multiple times in quick succession.
'Why not just blow up the entire police station? I can't take it anymore. No, no, no, that would only lead to bigger trouble. They have no evidence now, at most only suspicion. I've already disposed of the hand.
Now I just have to wait. Once they search the entire Town, this matter will naturally pass. I can't be impulsive. I'll just endure for a few days.'
In the afternoon, a colleague from the HR department quietly approached him.
"Kira-kun, some police officers were here just now, asking about employee backgrounds... They specifically asked about you." The colleague whispered.
Kira Yoshikage's heart skipped a beat, but his face still maintained an expression of surprise and confusion as he looked at the colleague who came to find him. She was a pretty female colleague.
With short brown hair, a fair face, and large eyes, coupled with her employee uniform, she exuded beauty.
According to Kira Yoshikage's memory, this female colleague might have had feelings for him, but due to Kira Yoshikage's personality... it never developed.
"Me? Why did they ask about me?"
"I don't know. They just asked about your start date, usual performance, if you've been absent or behaved unusually... The questions were very strange. I told them you're a model employee in our department, always punctual, with good performance, and popular, and very handsome..." The colleague chattered on, her gaze flickering when it landed on Kira Yoshikage. "It's really strange, why would they suspect you?"
"Maybe it's a random check, given the special circumstances now." Kira Yoshikage forced a smile, but an alarm was blaring in his mind.
His "ordinary office worker" image served as camouflage, but it also placed him within the scope of those who needed to be "screened." The police probably really found some information, perhaps they were cooperating with Jotaro and his group. This feeling was terrible.
"Um, Kira-kun, are you free this afternoon?"
"Uh, well, it's martial law now, so it's not convenient to go out."
"Alright, Kira-kun, can we go on a date after martial law ends?"
"We'll see then. I'll consider it."
At closing time, the checkpoint was still there. The return inspection seemed even stricter than in the morning. The police even opened his trunk and looked inside.
After multiple checks and confirming there was nothing, they reluctantly let him go. This also confirmed to Kira Yoshikage that they definitely had information.
When he finally returned to his villa, the feeling of being watched had still not completely dissipated.
He drew the curtains. No abnormalities were found in the house for the time being, and Kira Yoshihiro confirmed this, but currently, the police had installed several more cameras outside Kira Yoshikage's house.
It was impossible for him to move around secretly anymore.
He could only sit idly on the sofa, but unlike usual, he didn't immediately turn on the TV or radio. The room was unusually quiet.
"My dear," he whispered to the empty velvet box, a hint of imperceptible irritation in his tone, "Those police... they're starting to notice me.
Although it's just routine, this feeling of being repeatedly scrutinized... it's truly unpleasant."
His perfect, regular life had an uncontrollable variable! This was intolerable to him!
The intervention of official forces was like a crude but giant comb, raking through Morioh again and again. Even if the probability of him being screened out was high, the process itself was full of uncontrollable and repulsive risks. Any tiny mistake could be noticed.
For example, he absolutely could not go looking for a new "girlfriend" again, at least not until the fuss died down.
Outside the window, night fell. Morioh under martial law was brightly lit, yet permeated with an unprecedented tension and silence. The flashing lights of patrol cars occasionally swept across the streets.
Now, this place wasn't under 24-hour surveillance, but it would at least be checked for 23 hours first.