After Satake finished speaking, he closed the door and left.
It was unclear what he intended to do, leaving the two of them locked in here with no one paying them any mind.
"I'm sorry, Itsuki, it's all my fault you got involved."
With no outsiders present, Higashimatsuyama Yone spoke to Kobayashi Itsuki with great guilt.
In her opinion, everything that happened was because of her. If it weren't for her, Kobayashi Itsuki would never have encountered these things.
Now he was even captured here, and she didn't know what the outcome would be.
Thinking of this, Higashimatsuyama Yone was filled with regret.
"There's no need for apologies or anything like that right now."
"More than that, I'm curious how you were captured by them. Are they bold enough to directly retaliate against a police officer like you?"
Facing Kobayashi Itsuki's inquiry, Higashimatsuyama Yone shook her head.
"No, it's because..."
Higashimatsuyama Yone began to recount her experience.
It turned out that after the last incident, since no one was caught and no clues were found afterward, the matter was pretty much closed.
Higashimatsuyama Yone didn't think much of it.
However!
Just as she was being implicitly "confined" to the police station's evidence room, a quiet place, due to the previous shooting incident,
She unexpectedly discovered one day while organizing evidence that the handbag confiscated during the last time she caught a thief with Kobayashi Itsuki was missing.
More precisely, a receipt from inside the handbag.
Because this mission left a deep impression on her, her memory of it was very vivid.
Realizing something was wrong, she quickly checked the surveillance footage and clearly saw that someone, with their face covered, had secretly snuck into the police station after work one night and stolen the receipt from the handbag.
Facing the surveillance footage, Higashimatsuyama Yone immediately recognized the woman who had ambushed Kobayashi Itsuki with a ribbon that night.
Higashimatsuyama Yone reported this discovery immediately, but the other party had handled the aftermath very cleanly, leaving no clues for tracking.
Moreover, it was rumored that only a receipt or something similar was lost, which didn't seem to be anything important.
The police station didn't pay much attention to it either.
Higashimatsuyama Yone felt particularly indignant about this.
Last time, she had already caught the person, but they were rescued, and not only that, this time they even came to the police station to steal something. Such an outrageous act, yet her leader remained indifferent.
Hearing Higashimatsuyama Yone say this, Kobayashi Itsuki deeply agreed.
In works with a main theme of everyday warmth, the police are generally not very useful.
For instance, when facing international criminals like Hecson, and the Tamayomi clan who dared to fight at the airport.
If it were Kobayashi Itsuki's previous life, a large number of police forces would have been dispatched immediately to apprehend them.
As for stealing things from the police station, that was an overt provocation and absolutely intolerable.
And now, Higashimatsuyama Yone's situation perfectly matched the tone of such works, where the police often arrive late to clean up.
Faced with the lack of support from her superiors, Higashimatsuyama Yone had no choice but to investigate on her own after work.
This was also why she hadn't contacted Kobayashi Itsuki much recently.
Because most of her time was spent investigating the Tamayomi clan.
Through this continuous investigation, Higashimatsuyama Yone indeed uncovered many clues.
The reason Higashimatsuyama Yone was caught today was because she investigated Tokyo, investigated the Tamoyami clan's club in Ginza, and was then discovered.
As for this Policewoman who had once ruined their plans and was now investigating them.
The Tamoyami clan naturally wouldn't let her off easily.
If such a Policewoman kept investigating them, it would be troublesome for them, so they had to find a way to resolve this matter once and for all.
Thus, today's events occurred, which is also why Kobayashi Itsuki saw Higashimatsuyama Yone here.
"Itsuki, what about you? Did they come to Kasukabe to arrest you?"
"These scoundrels, if I can escape, I will absolutely not let them off!"
Facing Higashimatsuyama Yone's question, Kobayashi Itsuki couldn't possibly say he was here for a bubble bath, could he?
So, with a slightly helpless expression, he said, "I came to Tokyo today to sign a contract. My novel won an award and got a contract."
"I just finished dinner with my Editor and separated not long ago, and then I was caught."
"So don't blame yourself, this has nothing to do with you, it's just my bad luck."
Even so.
However, looking at Higashimatsuyama Yone's expression, it was clear she probably hadn't taken it in.
"Let's not talk about that for now, we should find a chance to escape first."
The harvest from two blue treasure chests today was already big enough; if they could escape without using a Elixir of Iron, that would be even better.
"I'll untie your ropes first."
Higashimatsuyama Yone's hands were tied, rendering her unable to move, but as a Policewoman, she had undergone much training.
Saying this, Higashimatsuyama Yone wiggled her way behind Kobayashi Itsuki, pressed against him, and began to pull at the knotted ribbon on Kobayashi Itsuki's body with her teeth.
Feeling the warm breath from Higashimatsuyama Yone's mouth and her soft body.
Even though they were imprisoned, the atmosphere in the private room became subtly alluring.
In a moment, Kobayashi Itsuki felt the ribbon binding him loosen.
Then he was finally able to move.
Untying the restraints on his body, Kobayashi Itsuki quickly got up, helped Higashimatsuyama Yone sit down, and then began to untie her.
"Did you bring your gun?"
"If you had your gun, it's not certain who would win or lose today."
"After the last incident, I'm temporarily not allowed to carry a gun."
Higashimatsuyama Yone said, her tone carrying a hint of resentment, clearly dissatisfied with her leader.
However, Kobayashi Itsuki truly couldn't agree with her statement about the uncertain outcome.
After all, he knew her marksmanship.
But, it was good that she didn't have a gun on her.
If she had a gun, it would definitely be confiscated. Then, if they wanted to escape, they would have to get the gun back, otherwise, a police officer losing their service weapon would not be a small issue.
Successfully breaking free from her restraints, Higashimatsuyama Yone began to look around, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon.
"Do you remember the route you took to get in?"
"I should remember some of it, but it's not very clear."
Higashimatsuyama Yone said very honestly.
Kobayashi Itsuki thought for a moment and pointed to the restroom nearby.
"I'm going to the restroom first, I'll be right out."
Opening treasure chests was Kobayashi Itsuki's biggest secret, and he definitely couldn't tell anyone casually.
Not even his closest people in the future.
If he opened a blue treasure chest later and got something big, even the excuse of magic wouldn't be able to cover it up.