Fuchu Prison was located roughly five kilometers from the Metropolitan Police Academy.
Driving his beloved car, Ritsu sped toward his destination.
After casually parking in the temporary parking area outside the entrance, he took his police identification out of his pocket.
"I'm Onizawa Takashi from the MPD's First Investigative Division, Unit Three. I'd like to meet an inmate who was imprisoned here seven years ago."
The officer on duty at the entrance immediately bowed.
"Inspector Onizawa, welcome. May I ask the inmate's name?"
The young officer clearly hadn't expected to run into the MPD's legendary detective here.
If he hadn't been on duty, he would have begged Onizawa for an autograph.
Rumor had it that detectives who obtained Onizawa's signature would suddenly experience breakthroughs while solving cases. It was said to be even more effective than the career success charms from Senso-ji Temple.
"Tonomori Ichi."
"Please wait a moment. I'll look him up in the system."
The officer walked into the duty office, logged into the prison database, and searched for the record.
A moment later, he returned.
"Inspector, the inmate you're looking for is in Cell 27 of the solitary block in Building Four."
Ritsu knew Fuchu Prison had fairly decent facilities, but this was his first time visiting. Following the officer's directions, he soon arrived at Building Four.
The corridor was surprisingly well decorated. There were even light green noren curtains hanging outside each cell.
'Didn't expect these inmates to enjoy this much privacy.'
After explaining his purpose to the prison guard, he accepted the key and walked to Cell 27.
He was about to lift the curtain when he noticed the meal board hanging beside the entrance.
-
Today's Menu:
> Boiled peas
> Stir-fried shredded chicken with miso
> Tofu miso soup
-
Ritsu lifted the curtain and looked inside.
Seated neatly at a desk, Tonomori was quietly writing in a notebook. Compared to seven years ago, he actually looked healthier in prison.
Perhaps after finally resolving the knot in his heart, he had found the peace to sincerely atone for everything he had done.
But as an outsider, Ritsu had never forgiven him.
He still couldn't accept the twisted, obsessive fatherly love that had destroyed what was once a happy family of four.
"The prison food looks pretty good."
Ritsu knocked lightly against the iron bars.
"Tonomori-san, mind sparing me a few minutes before lunch?"
Tonomori closed his diary and looked toward the silver-haired young man standing outside. Having lost his entire family, he seemed puzzled, but he politely stood up and walked to the door.
"May I ask who you are?"
"I'm Onizawa Takashi from the MPD. I have a few questions for you. Would you mind coming with me?"
'Why would the Metropolitan Police suddenly want to see me?'
Though confused, Tonomori nodded.
After the cell door was opened, he silently followed Ritsu without another word, showing little interest in why the police had come.
The two eventually arrived at an interrogation room that wasn't normally used.
A prison guard cuffed Tonomori's hands before he sat down. However, after waiting for quite some time without being questioned, he finally spoke first.
"Officer... I'm rather hungry. If you're..."
"What do you think of the police officers who arrested you back then?"
The unexpected question left Tonomori momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, he answered honestly.
"I feel grateful toward them."
"Even after committing such unforgivable crimes, they still chose to save me instead of abandoning me... They gave me the chance to atone for my sins in prison."
Ritsu narrowed his eyes, carefully observing every subtle expression.
He wasn't lying.
So Tonomori wasn't involved in this incident.
Among all the cases Ritsu had solved during his Police Academy days, the one that had left the deepest impression on him was the horrific crime this man had committed twenty-two years earlier.
If it wasn't Tonomori, then who was behind this?
"Officer Onizawa..."
Tonomori's cuffed hands trembled slightly.
His aged face was filled with concern.
"Did something happen to the Morofushi family?"
"No."
Ritsu shook his head.
"But this incident is indeed connected to the people who sent you to prison."
He stood up.
"I don't have any more questions. You should go have your lunch."
"Wait."
As though remembering something, Tonomori hesitated before speaking.
"A week ago... I believe it was the morning of February 1st... someone came to visit me. He said some very strange things."
'February 1st? That's the day of the wedding?'
Ritsu immediately sat back down.
"Who was it?"
Tonomori carefully recalled the visitor's appearance.
"He had medium-length hair, looked a little unkempt, wore glasses... I'd guess he was somewhere between thirty-five and forty years old."
"Anything else? Any distinguishing features? A mole somewhere on his body, perhaps?"
"Now that you mention it..."
Tonomori frowned as he searched his memory.
"I remember he carried a smell that was strangely familiar. It smelled like sulfur dioxide."
'Sulfur dioxide? The smell produced when pure sulfur burns. Gunpowder...?'
Ritsu frowned.
The youthful face from his Police Academy days flashed through his mind. It clearly didn't match Tonomori's description.
Rather than believing the culprit had mastered disguise techniques as well. It was far more likely that someone else had been sent to deliver the message on the culprit's behalf.
"What exactly did he say?"
Ritsu's voice grew serious.
"I need every word. This is very important."
Tonomori nodded.
"He said... he would help fulfill my dream. And he also said that, on this special day, he would present them with a generous gift."
As soon as he finished speaking, realization struck him.
"The target... is it those police officers?"
He immediately leaned forward anxiously.
"Inspector Onizawa, can I still help? Please... you have to protect them."
"I don't need you to ask."
Ritsu stood up.
"I'll protect them regardless."
Leaving those words behind, he walked out of the interrogation room. After thanking the prison guards, he quickly left Fuchu Prison.
By now, he had a rough idea where to investigate next. But before that, he needed to remove the bomb collar around his neck.
If the culprit became enraged and detonated it prematurely, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Instead of returning to his apartment, Ritsu drove straight to Agasa's house.
After all, if anyone could dismantle a bizarre device like this, it would be the inventor capable of creating things like the Wristwatch Stun Gun and the Voice-Changing Bowtie.
"Eh? Inspector Onizawa? Why are you here?"
Agasa's eyes widened.
"And... what's around your neck?"
"Hello, Professor Agasa."
Ritsu smiled.
"May I come inside? I'd like to discuss something."
"Of course! Come in."
After entering the house, Ritsu briefly explained the bomb collar. Agasa immediately wheeled out several instruments and began examining it.
The liquid bomb itself was highly unusual. Fortunately, the metal collar's locking mechanism was still something he could analyze.
After roughly twenty minutes of painstaking work...
Click.
The collar finally came off.
Relieved, Ritsu immediately took out his phone and sent a text message to Wataru, the officer he was most familiar with.
He asked Wataru to relay the information to Hiro, so that Rei could come to Agasa and have his own bomb collar removed.
"Professor."
Ritsu put away his phone.
"Someone else will be coming later to ask for your help removing another collar bomb."
"No problem."
Professor Agasa smiled warmly.
"You've always looked after Shinichi. I should be the one thanking you."
Ritsu didn't mind that Shinichi had shared some of his secrets with the professor. Smiling faintly, he got back into his car.
His next task was to investigate everyone connected to Tonomori.
Who would still be willing to seek revenge on his behalf after he'd been imprisoned?
His gaze shifted to the missed calls and unread messages displayed on his phone.
'...I should probably let them know I'm safe. There's no point in making everyone keep worrying.'
With one hand on the steering wheel, his long fingers tapped the call button. He switched the phone to speaker mode and tossed it onto the passenger seat.
"...Is... is that you, Onizawa?"
Hearing Hayasaka's cautious voice, Ritsu couldn't help smiling.
"It's me. I'm safe now. Can you tell me how the investigation at the MPD is going?"
"Where on earth have you been?!"
Hayasaka sounded on the verge of losing her temper before taking a deep breath.
"Forget that for now. The officer leading the investigation into your disappearance, Detective Hagiwara, has been kidnapped."
"The culprit also left behind a coded letter that nobody can make sense of!"
"What?!"