[This is the Criminal Investigation Department, part of the Public Safety Bureau. Access to this block is currently restricted to ensure safety.]
-Excuse me! Are you Inspector Tsunemori?
-Yes. What bad luck that you have to deal with an incident right after you got posted.
-I'm Shimotsuki Mika. I've been assigned to the Criminal Investigation Department as of today! Pleased to meet you!
-Sorry, but the CID is very short on manpower. So I'll help you out, but I can't treat you like a newbie.
-I'm aware of that. I am looking forward to the work.
-Good response.
-That's….
-The guys you are about to meet are humans just like us, but they'll deal with crime using criteria for judgment different from yours. Their actions may sometimes be beyond your comprehension. Trust them, but at the same time be cautious of them. If you underestimate them you'll get seriously hurt. They're what we call "Enforcers". They'll be your subordinates.
[Dominator Portable Psychological Diagnosis and Suppression System has been activated.]
With the death of one who wants change,
Comes a heavy rain and new agent again.
The Lower ones are now higher,
and higher now lower.
With the Sybll System stilling controlling society, latent criminals are still being caught and killed or thrown into rehabilitation facilities.
Makishima Shogo, the Sybll System's worst enemy, was now dead, but his ideals were still alive. Called the Ragnarok, they seek to overthrow the Sybll System, and start a new system where everyone is free, where they are not trapped in cage and bound to the laws of the System.
Kougami's whereabouts remained unknown. As Akane sat in the office, even though three new enforcers filled in Masaoka, Kagari, and Kougami's spots, the office felt empty like something was missing from it.
As her watch beeped signaling that a new incident has occurred, she stood up with empty feeling in her heart. Even though she worked well with the new Enforcers, they weren't the same. No one could imitate Kougami's way of doing things, he was his own kind, and there was on one else of his species.
Akane began to resent dealing with all the crimes. But what choice did she have? It was the CIDs duty to deal with daily criminals. From the minute she was posted as a first division inspector, it became her responsibility to protect everyone from latent criminals.
She also had another secret responsibility. Division one needed Kogami, but most of all, she needed Kougami. Before he left, she had not gotten a chance to talk to him or confess her love to him. Akane would give anything to be able to talk to him again, but she knew he didn't want to talk her, to harm her.
"Let's go." She said rather apprehensively as she rushed out of the office followed by two enforcers on duty.
There was an unusual amount of commotion around the area. As Akane ran over, she noticed at once that something was off. Heart still pounding from running, she walked into the restricted area to get a better few of scene.
A woman was lying on the ground with a terrified look on her face. All of the items in her bag were scattered around her. Her eyes had lost their usual glimmer, and her face was pale and heatless. There was no sign that a hair had been harmed on her body but she was clearly mentally broke. Detective drones scattered around to collect any evidence. Akane pointed her dominator at the women:
[Criminal Coefficient: 97, not a target for elimination, Safety Mode On.]
She put the dominator back down and dialed in a number on her communication watch.
"Karanomori, put on the video from the security camera at the time of the crime."
"Hai, Hai. Here it is." She shifted her cigarette in her mouth as she sent over the video. The video showed the women walking down street. Then she stopped halfway through taking another step, appearing to have seen something. Her eyes widened as she remained frozen in position. Her bag fell to the ground, scattering everything in it.
Akane paused the video and took a closer look. There didn't seem to be anything in front of the woman. Whatever the woman had seen, it seemed that she was the only who'd seen it as all the other people on the street had exhibited no signs of seeing anything unusual.
She restarted the video. The woman's eyes still focused on what she was looking at, she crumbled like a tower of dominos or building blocks after you took out a piece at the bottom. Then she stopped moving. She did not quiver. She did not scream or yell. She did not twitch. She was absolutely motionless. The video ended with people crowding around her.
Akane continued to stare at the screen. Her watch began ringing.
"I just looked through the scan records during the time of the crime. There was no record of anyone's criminal coefficient ever rising above the normal numbers. Also, I've identified the woman. She's Nanao Ise. Ise is a high ranking official in the agricultural bureau, which means if she were to be gone; the agricultural department would face problems."
"It seems like we may have another Makishima."
"Indeed."
The call ended on that note.
She turned back to the Enforcers
"Without the slightest clue about the killer, there's nothing more we can do here. Let's go." As Akane turned to leave, there was another beep on her watch from an unknown caller.
"Yes?"
"You're next."
The voice sounded awfully familiar.
"It can't be…..."
It couldn't be…..it had to be…only one person had a voice like that…
"Kougami-san?"