(Kuchiba Hiro walked down the stairs expressionlessly, crossing the empty hotel lobby. The Front Desk Miss was looking down, organizing the register book, when she subconsciously looked up upon hearing footsteps. She immediately recognized the unforgettable, stern face.
She froze for a moment, then suddenly realized—wasn't this the young man those two Police Officers were looking for just now? Why was he coming down alone? Where were those two officers?
A strong sense of unease instantly seized her. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She could only watch as the Black-Haired Youth pushed open the door without looking sideways, his figure quickly melting into the darkness outside.
The chilling fear spurred her into immediate action. Her limbs almost weak, she rushed out from behind the front desk and took the elevator straight to the room. Every second the elevator ascended felt unbearably long.
"Ding—"
The elevator door opened, revealing a dimly lit corridor. She quickly walked toward the room door, but just a few steps away from the entrance, her footsteps abruptly halted.
On the floor, a trail of distinct and glaring dark red bloody footprints extended from beneath the door, stamped onto the light-colored carpet, like some kind of wicked curse.
The Front Desk Miss's breathing instantly stopped, and her lips began to tremble uncontrollably. The immense fear made her feel ice cold all over. She shakily took out the Master Key, fumbling several times before finally aiming it at the keyhole.
"Click."
The door opened.
The thick, nauseating smell of blood rushed out like a physical entity, instantly engulfing her. The room was pitch black and terrifyingly silent. She trembled as she fumbled for the switch on the wall.
"Click."
The light came on, instantly dispelling the darkness, but also clearly illuminating the room's hellish scene.
"Ah—!!!!!"
A shrill, distorted scream pierced the silence of the hotel, but it lasted only a brief moment before cutting off abruptly—the extreme fear instantly drained all her strength and consciousness. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed directly onto the floor, unconscious.)
The image on the light screen suddenly went black, then switched.
(The piercing sound of police sirens approached from a distance, quickly surrounding the cheap hotel located on the edge of the Commercial District. The flashing red and blue lights cast a grim, severe atmosphere over the night sky.
The entire floor was completely sealed off by yellow Police Tape. Uniformed Police Officers looked grave, moving quickly, and the air was filled with a sense of oppression and grief.
Inspector Megure Juzo stood at the door of the room, his stout body seeming to slump slightly. He stared at the two corpses on the floor, covered by white sheets but whose miserable shapes were still discernible, clenching his fists tightly. He took off his hat and remained silent for a long time.
Beside him, Shiratori Ninzaburo could no longer maintain his usual composure and elite demeanor. He violently slammed his fist against the nearby wall, producing a dull thud. Tears mixed with extreme anger and grief streamed down his face.
"What kind of joke is this... What kind of joke!!" His voice was squeezed out between his teeth, trembling violently and cracking due to his intense emotions. "Unforgivable... Absolutely unforgivable!!"
Colleagues around them were also teary-eyed, either looking down in silence or turning their faces away, unable to bear the sight. The emotion of sorrowful indignation silently spread among everyone.
Megure Juzo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the roar that was threatening to burst from his chest. He was the commander here; he had to remain calm. But he secretly swore in his heart that no matter the cost, he would capture that cold-blooded killer and bring him to justice, thus comforting the souls of his subordinates.
At this moment, an officer responsible for retrieving surveillance footage quickly approached, reporting with a heavy expression to Megure: "Inspector! Surveillance shows the suspect, Kuchiba Hiro, left the hotel alone about 25 minutes ago, driving a black chevrolet camaro westward. We have locked onto his approximate route!"
A cold light flashed in Megure Juzo's eyes, and he was about to issue an order for a full-scale pursuit: "Notify all units! Spare no effort, use all..."
"Inspector Megure."
A calm, even somewhat stern voice interrupted him. Everyone turned and saw a man in a suit with a serious expression who had, unnoticed, already crossed the Police Tape and approached. He flashed an ID, and the badge and title on it caused Megure Juzo's pupils to contract — Public Security Police.
"I am Kazami Yuya of the Public Security Bureau." The man's tone was unquestionable. "From now on, this case will be fully taken over by our Public Security Bureau. The suspect, Kuchiba Hiro, is extremely dangerous, and the case may involve higher-level national security issues, placing it outside the jurisdiction of your Criminal Investigation Division. Please hand over all currently obtained information to us."
Being unable to personally bring the murderer of his subordinates to justice filled Megure Juzo's heart with resentment and anger, but he knew that the intervention of Public Security meant the complexity of the matter far exceeded imagination. He forcibly suppressed his emotions and said in a deep voice, "...I understand. We will cooperate fully."
Shiratori Ninzaburo, standing nearby, suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes burning with the flame of revenge. He stepped forward, his voice hoarse as he pleaded: "Mr. Kazami! Please allow me to join your operation! I am familiar with the situation, and I must..."
"No." Kazami Yuya sternly refused without hesitation, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Public Security operations do not require outside participation. Please control your emotions, Officer, and do not obstruct Official Duties."
Shiratori's words were forcefully choked back. He stopped arguing, merely staring intensely at Kazami Yuya, then glanced at the two white-sheeted corpses again, before slowly, extremely slowly, taking a step back and lowering his head.
However, beneath his lowered eyelids, the deep-seated hatred and determination for revenge surged like molten lava, refusing to be extinguished in the slightest.
He mused to himself that if The Authorities' path was blocked, he would use his own methods. He absolutely had to find that guy called Kuchiba Hiro, and he absolutely had to make him... pay the price.)