Chapter 165: The Chief's Esteem, The Professional Exorcist's Torture
"Suspicious figures?"
Facing Yagami Soichiro's question, Yoru just shook his head and chuckled.
"At that time, I was doing some things lovers do with my girlfriend, so I didn't have time to pay attention."
Yagami Soichiro froze for a moment.
"There was an explosion, and you didn't hear any noise?"
"Look at what you're saying."
Yoru smiled.
"What is pure love? It is when doing intimate physical contact, devoting one's heart and everything into it, fully concentrated. Ignoring the outside world exactly proves the gold content of my pure love."
Yagami Soichiro was full of speechlessness.
He thought to himself, If I had half of this kid's sweet talk, maybe my wife would have agreed to move to Kyoto city with me back then. I wouldn't be a lonely Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau now, not having had a vacation for more than half a year, not having returned to Tokyo to see my wife, son, and daughter.
Yoru pretended to be very curious and asked.
"Chief Yagami, may I ask what exactly happened?"
"This..."
Yagami Soichiro hesitated for a moment. According to principles, cases under investigation cannot be disclosed to others.
However...
The opponent was also considered a victim of this incident; wanting to know the ins and outs was understandable.
"Don't post it on the internet or tell others."
Yagami Soichiro emphasized first, then looked at the charred traces left by the explosion at the scene, and those few truck drivers' bodies scattered on the ground, burned into charred lumps. This mess made his face extremely heavy, sighing deeply.
"Although it's hard to say now, through the Police Department's investigation, these drivers are all ex-convicts recently released after serving their sentences. They weren't professional truck drivers originally. For some unknown reason, they stole these trucks and launched this suicide terrorist attack."
Speaking of this, Yagami Soichiro took out a cigarette from his bosom, put it in his mouth, lit it, took a deep drag, his thick eyebrows knitted together.
In his career as a detective, he had never seen such a bizarre thing.
Several ex-convicts were not released in the same batch, but separated by several months.
According to the Police Department's understanding, they didn't know each other before and had absolutely no connection.
Was it a sabotage operation planned by foreign terrorists?
Then the target to hit should be places like the Police Department or City Hall.
Why choose an amusement park?
Moreover, if it really was a terrorist attack, why hasn't any declaration been made until now?
Haven't they had time to confirm the situation at the scene, or is it that this wasn't a terrorist attack at all?
Then what should it be called?
Sudden collective mental derangement?
"What about the casualties?"
Hearing Yoru's question, Yagami Soichiro sighed.
"A blessing in disguise, it was lunchtime when the incident happened."
"There weren't that many people on the road from the Ferris wheel to the amusement park entrance, and the initial speed of those trucks wasn't that fast."
"Plus the alarm was sounded in time, just dozens of tourists injured in the chaos. Except for these ex-convicts, no one died."
"It's simply a miracle."
As an experienced Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau, Yagami Soichiro deeply knew a truth.
Cases with deaths and ordinary cases have completely different natures.
Moreover, the public opinion pressure borne is also worlds apart.
At this crucial moment when the Teru Teru Bozu Killer hadn't been caught yet, what the Police Department needed to avoid most was another drop in its credibility in the eyes of the public.
Thinking of this, Yagami Soichiro couldn't help sighing with emotion subconsciously.
"Fortunately... there is 'Mask'."
"Mask?"
Yoru had a puzzled look.
"Isn't that an urban legend?"
Hearing this, Yagami Soichiro frowned, saying in a deep voice.
"You guy, don't you even know who saved you? Anyway, having one more witness doesn't matter, let me tell you, 'Mask' is real."
Yoru seemed completely unconcerned, waving his hand.
"Just an ordinary criminal, no need to pay special attention."
Hearing this, Yagami Soichiro frowned tightly, saying unpleasantly.
"You guy, is this your attitude towards your savior?"
Immediately after, Yagami Soichiro spoke with a serious face.
"As the Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Police Department, I indeed consider 'Mask' a criminal wandering outside the law."
"But from a personal perspective, I think no matter what his true identity is, he is the hero of Kyoto city."
"Do you know how many innocent lives were saved because of the existence of 'Mask'? How many families were prevented from being torn apart?"
"The mysterious person secretly protecting Kyoto city, even though he has never revealed his true identity, but..."
Speaking of this, Yagami Soichiro's face became very serious and solemn, speaking slowly.
"As a member of Kyoto city, I respect 'Mask'."
Yoru seemed shocked by what Yagami Soichiro said, looking skeptical.
"Really that amazing?"
"Of course."
A few traces of pride suddenly appeared on Yagami Soichiro's face.
He thought to himself, Although I don't know the true identity of that "Mask" either, but in the end, I am an excellent Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau personally acknowledged by the opponent, and also an assistant recognized by the opponent.
Fighting side by side with the hero secretly protecting Kyoto city.
This made Yagami Soichiro rediscover the passionate excitement and sense of mission carrying responsibility from when he first became a detective back then.
"So..."
Yagami Soichiro patted Yoru's shoulder, his face easing slightly, smiling.
"Some things, although not conforming to legal procedures, but if you think about those saved people, including the female classmate beside you and her sister, don't you feel that 'Mask' is a true hero?"
Yoru seemed persuaded by Yagami Soichiro, nodding very sincerely.
"Yeah, a hero secretly protecting Kyoto is truly too cool. Even if he builds a harem, he will surely get everyone's understanding."
"You kid, don't talk nonsense."
....
After Yoru left, Yagami Soichiro looked at his back, shook his head dumbfoundedly and smiled, thinking this kid is about the same age as my son, also a first-year high school student, but gives people a completely different feeling.
Yagami Soichiro had a feeling.
His son Light Yagami, although perfect in every aspect, but as a father, he always had an intuition that his son seemed to be hiding something.
What kind of thing is it that he has to hide even from me, the Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Police Department, the father he admires and wants to chase after the most in his eyes?
Yagami Soichiro shook his head. Just as he wanted to continue investigating the scene, the faces of the sisters Kawasaki Saki and Keika suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Wait a minute... those sisters are..."
Yagami Soichiro frowned slightly, beckoning to a subordinate not far away.
"Show me the list of passengers trapped on the Ferris wheel."
"Oh, okay."
After the list was brought over, Yagami Soichiro scanned it, and sure enough, saw a very familiar name.
"Kawasaki Saki..."
Seeing this familiar name, combined with Kawasaki Saki's light blue high ponytail and outstanding appearance, Yagami Soichiro finally remembered where he had seen the opponent.
When the Kyoto train failed back then, this girl and her sister were among the passengers trapped on it.
This time, they appeared in the amusement park attack incident again?
Moreover, both times had the participation of "Mask"?
Is this really just a coincidence?
Or is it...
Do these sisters have some private connection with that "Mask"?
Even...
Kawasaki Saki is "Mask"?
Thinking of this, Yagami Soichiro forcibly interrupted his thoughts, unwilling to continue thinking about it.
At first, he really wanted to catch "Mask".
After all, the opponent was the most difficult to deal with and most unpredictable criminal in his career as a detective.
But now, Yagami Soichiro's attitude was different.
Compared to a criminal, he was more willing to believe that "Mask" was a person possessing special abilities, unwilling to be bound by the existing legal system, so choosing to use this way to secretly protect Kyoto city, a person pursuing justice with a maverick style of doing things.
Moreover, he himself was also an assistant of "Mask".
In this situation, still tracking down what true identity?
Sacrificing righteousness to destroy oneself?
Although Yagami Soichiro's personality was relatively rigid and stubborn, he wasn't the kind of person who didn't know how to adapt.
Since everything "Mask" did was good, even if his acting style was radical, as the Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau, he still had to superficially condemn the opponent as a criminal.
As for in private?
Just say can't track him down. Whoever thinks they can track him down, go ahead and track him down, just don't come finding me.
.....
On the other side, after leaving the amusement park, Yoru didn't go straight home.
In the eyes of Yagami Soichiro and the Police Department members, the explosion scene was a piece of scorched black, bloody mess, corpses and blood roasted under high temperature emitting a disgusting smell, without leaving many clues worth investigating.
But in Yoru's eyes, it was completely different.
From the death locations of those ex-convicts driving the large trucks, all the way to the entrance of the amusement park, there was a very obvious black viscous trace.
Sudden collective mental derangement?
This was completely caused by the guidance of an evil spirit.
Like an experienced hunter, Yoru hid his aura, followed the viscous black trace on the ground, and walked all the way in a certain direction outside the amusement park.
Amusement parks with a relatively large area like this are usually built in relatively remote, sparsely populated places due to land prices.
After walking for about ten minutes, Yoru could see that the black trace on the ground not only didn't fade but became even more viscous, even wriggling constantly.
"So it's here..."
He looked up and saw a small building in front of him that was originally unknown what it was used for, but was now abandoned, similar to a school teaching building.
Judging from the peeling wall paint, the length of the weeds on the ground, and the iron gate casually open in front, this place had been abandoned for at least over ten years.
At this time, the sky was no longer clear as before, but piled up with dark clouds, carrying a bit of chill in the air, as if a heavy rain was about to fall at any moment.
The weather in Sakura Prefecture these past few months had always been so capricious, having not much to do with this evil spirit.
Rumble!
The rain hadn't fallen yet, a dazzling bright light suddenly flashed in the dark clouds.
Accompanied by the deafening sound of thunder, the bright light illuminated this dilapidated building.
Catching Yoru's eye was a terrifying face pressed against a window on the third floor of this building, facial features twisted together, eyes carrying a resentful look, staring deadly at him.
Facing this sudden gaze, Yoru froze for a moment first, then shook his head with a chuckle.
"Psycho, made me laugh for a second."
Immediately after, his figure instantly disappeared from the spot.
The evil spirit behind the third-floor window was stunned seeing this scene.
No...
Where is the person?
Where did that human go?
This evil spirit was now arguably at its most twisted and most malicious stage.
It finally managed to select a few guys possessing twisted desires who could be manipulated by itself, and came up with the perfect method of driving large trucks into densely populated places to cause massive human deaths, in order to satisfy its malice and killing desire.
Unexpectedly...
It actually failed.
Of course, although the evil spirit had strong resentment in its heart, giving it ten thousand guts, it wouldn't dare to go looking for that "Mask" for any revenge.
Whether the opponent or that black and white headless monster, in its perception, were both powerful evil spirits it absolutely couldn't contend with.
After fleeing all the way here, it had already accumulated strong resentment and killing desire. Finally encountering an ignorant human who actually dared to step actively into this area, and seemed to be able to see it, it was already preparing to feast.
First appeared in the opponent's vision.
Then in the next second, directly appeared behind that male human, and asked in a terrifying hoarse voice, word by word.
"Can... you... see me?"
This was the evil spirit's original plan.
But it really didn't expect, just executing the first step, that human actually disappeared.
What's the situation?
Just then.
The evil spirit's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a touch of pitch-black appearing beside it.
Immediately after came a chuckling inquiry.
"Can... you... see me?"
The evil spirit turned its head stiffly, only to see a mysterious person wearing a pitch-black mask, exuding an aura that made it feel extremely terrified, standing quietly there.
On the mask, there was also a white smiley face pattern, looking even more eerie in the dim corridor.
"You... you..."
"Oho?"
Hearing the words muttered from this evil spirit's mouth, Yoru was somewhat surprised.
"You can also speak? Little thing, quite interesting."
Facing Yoru's question, the evil spirit didn't hesitate at all, directly making a choice driven by survival instinct without hesitation.
Turn around and run.
Until then, Yoru finally saw the whole picture of this evil spirit clearly.
Body similar to a normal human, height around 1.7 meters.
Gray-white hair was very long, wearing pitch-black shackles on its wrists and ankles.
"Shackles... an evil spirit generated from negative impressions of prisons..."
According to Rio and Miko's summary, the impact evil spirits can cause on humans represents the power of the evil spirit itself to a certain extent.
The first tier is naturally the powerful evil spirits capable of pulling humans into the Otherworld, having "Doors" fused in their bodies, and causing direct harm to humans.
For example, "Train", the "Flying Head (Nukekubi)" in the unfinished building, and that ten-meter-tall Titan Evil Spirit all belong to this tier.
And excluding special circumstances like possession and fusion, the second tier is the category to which the shackled evil spirit in front belongs.
Although unable to harm humans directly, for certain humans with twisted desires and fragile spirits, it can achieve nearly 100% control, able to command controlled humans to do things contrary to survival instinct.
For instance.
Launching a suicide terrorist attack.
Watching that evil spirit moving further and further away, fleeing rapidly, Yoru just shook his head with a chuckle.
"Really, what is there to run from?"
"Come out."
At the same time, that evil spirit had already run to the top of the stairs, feeling that it was about to escape from this sure-death situation.
But what appeared before its eyes wasn't any dawn of hope.
But two huge ghost hands.
The evil spirit paused its figure, immediately stopping in place.
It could feel the heart-palpitating terrifying aura transmitting from those two ghost hands.
One more step forward...
Will definitely be crushed.
"What is there to run from?"
Yoru's smiling voice came from behind the evil spirit, and while speaking, was getting closer and closer.
"I don't eat people anyway."
The evil spirit turned around, saw unknown when, a pitch-black as ink long sword had already appeared in the opponent's hand, approaching it step by step.
"Oh right, I forgot..."
His footsteps seemed to step on the depths of the evil spirit's soul. Every step taken could make this evil spirit feel stronger fear and trembling.
Yoru stared straight at the evil spirit's ferocious and twisted face, the smiley face pattern on the black mask disappearing.
"You are not a person."
When speaking to here, Yoru had already walked in front of the evil spirit. Although his voice carried a smile, there was no mercy in his eyes.
"Although devouring an evil spirit of your level won't bring much improvement to the current me, but..."
"Enjoying more pleasure is also not bad."
Just as his voice fell, the two ghost hands, one black and one white, originally behind the evil spirit instantly reached out, grabbed its limbs, and along with the shackles on them, forcibly tore them off together.
Listening to the miserable howl from the evil spirit's mouth, seeing the opponent missing limbs, only the body left lying on the floor, twisting and wriggling, the madness and excitement in Yoru's eyes became even stronger, saying softly.
"The night is still young."