Chapter 4 - Makima III
After several more minutes of meaningless chatter, Makima arrived at a building that reminded her of the Devil Hunter Public Safety Bureau. Even at this early hour, men dressed in suits and uniforms moved frantically with an urgent air in and out of the NPA.
"Did something happen?" Wondered Matsuda as he stared worriedly at his co-workers.
"Is it normally not like this?" Asked Makima out of curiosity.
"No… I mean, yes. Well… The NPA is always busy, but it was never to this extent
"I'm sure our colleagues will fill us in on anything we need to know."
"Yeah... But I wouldn't be surprised if they forgot to notify me," said Matsuda sadly but perked up immediately. "Anyways, let's go! Are you excited to be at your first job!"
Makima gave a small chuckle as she left the car and walked to the entrance of the NPA. "More like nervous."
"Aww, it'll be fine. You'll love it here! Just watch out for Ide and Aizawa when they're in a bad mood or you'll get an earful," said Matsuda cheerfully as he followed behind Makima.
Upon entering the NPA, Makima was greeted with the sight of a stern-looking man rushing past the halls without giving them a single glance.
His face was twisted somewhere between a scowl and displeasure. Combined with his lack of eyebrows, he presented an intimidating sight.
Makima wondered if there was an accident or if he had shaved them off for interrogation tactics.
"Ide-san! Good Morning!" Cried out Matsuda.
The man, now identified as Ide halted to a stop with a quietly muttered curse. For a moment, Makima thought he would ignore them and continue on his way.
In the end however, Japanese-bred etiquette won out. Ide turned and returned the greetings as demanded by social rules.
"Hello Matsuda. I'm sorry, but I can't stay and chat. Talk to me after work if you need something," said Ide brusquely.
"Wait Ide-san. I just wanted to introduce you to Makima-san. She'll be our colleague from now on," said Matsuda hurriedly before Ide could leave. "Makima-san, this is Hideki Ide. He's one of the senior investigators here."
Ide looked at Makima as if seeing her for the first time. His scowl changed to one of shock before it again switched to that of immense irritation.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Ide-san. I hope we can work together in the future," greeted Mkaima as she held out her dominant hand.
Ide ignored it, refusing to accept her handshake. He instead seemed to prefer glaring at her.
Makima silently noted how expressive his face was even without eyebrows. He had not spoken a single word to her, yet he had made his hostility clear based on expressions alone.
The longer the silence went, the more nervous Matsuda became. Even those who were busily navigating the halls stopped to watch the drama unfold. "Uh, Ide-san? I think you're supposed to shake her hand," tipped Matsuda nervously.
Despite his junior's excellent advice, Ide didn't seem to hear anything. "Matsuda, are you telling me this is the new recruit?" Every word was ground out as Ide asked in almost apocalyptic anger.
"Uhh… Yes?"
"Fuck…" Cursed the senior investigator before storming off.
"Is there a problem Ide-san?" Asked Makima. Her voice was soft, yet the steel behind her words was unmistakable.
Stopping mid-step, Hideki Ide turned around, leveling a glare at the speaker. "I was told the recruit would be young… But I didn't imagine she would be this young."
"I assure you my age will not be a factor," assured Makima.
And it wouldn't be. Makima had risen to the top of the hierarchy in the past with her skills alone. While she was entering a different line of work, she had confidence in being able to adapt with little difficulty.
Furthermore, when it came to age, Makima was most likely older than him. Although divulging that bit of information would require explanations that she would rather withhold.
Somehow, Makima's reassurances only seemed to add to the man's already impressive rage. "Shuichi Aizawa, nine years. Kanzo Mogi, seven years. Ira Takamuchi, fifteen years. Miwata Asaka, twelve years."
"Is there a point to this list Ide-san?" Asked Makima.
"The list is the number of years each person has served in the police force before joining the NPA," answered Ide.
"Ah… I can see your point."
"Do you?" Questioned Ide. "Then tell me, what qualifications do you have to be here? What right do either of you? Even the least experienced NPA officer has served half a decade in the force before joining. Everyone in this building has had years of duty behind their belt. Every single one of them, except you two."
"You do not have to worry. I will not embarrass this organization nor will I hold it back," promised Makima.
"That's what we were told about him," spat out Ide, thrusting his finger at Matsuda with scorn. "Look at him. He can't even put two and two together, much less have any real use."
Matsuda suddenly found the floor tiles very interesting as he scratched the back of his head in a mix of embarrassment and shame.
"I wouldn't be so harsh Ide-san. You cannot judge a fish for its ability to climb after all. Matsuda-san simply has not found a place where he can shine."
He would definitely have some use if he were as astute as she thought.
Ide scoffed as if he had heard something ridiculous. "And that's the root of this problem, isn't it? This is not a place of learning for recruits that are green as they can get. It's dangerous, not just for them but also for the people we are supposed to serve and protect. Mistakes in this place come with much greater consequences."
Makima sighed. "While you could have been more polite, I cannot say you are wrong. As a matter of fact, everything you said was true."
Ide's scowl wavered briefly, taken off guard by her easy admittance.
Meeting her colleague's gaze with her own, Makima asked. "But Ide-san, what are you going to do about it?"
"What?" Baffled, Ide answered the question with a question of his own.
"You claimed Matsuda-san was useless, but have you ever tried to make him useful, or did you always just whine like a beaten dog."
Ide's face darkened. "Have some respect."
"With all due respect, sir, if you find my presence here so disagreeable then you can complain to our superiors rather than to me. Oh… Or have you already done that? Seeing I am still here, it looks like your complaints were not heeded."
Taking a step forward, Makima brought her eyes closer to his. "If you are unable to remove us then you have two options. You can continue wasting time by complaining about our lack of qualifications, or you can help bring us to your acceptable level of ability."
"What will it be Ide-san," said Makima with a cold smile.
As the introduction turned into a standoff, Matsuda nervously stared around, searching for help among those who had paused to watch. Unfortunately for him, the rest of his co-workers seemed to have concluded that this was not their business and quickly fled down the hallway.
Ide was a seasoned policeman and an experienced officer. He had seen the worst among humans and had dedicated himself to his duty without flinching. However, only one among them had stared down literal Devils. Only one was feared by man and monster alike. In a clash of wills, Ide was not her match.
Eyes softening, Ide turned his gaze away as his anger faded. "It seems that we have started on the wrong foot. It was not my intention to be so confrontational. I hope you do not take it personally."
"As long as we have an understanding, I am sure everything will be fine," answered Makima.
Ide slightly tilted his head, as if nodding in acceptance. "As Matsuda said, I am Hideki Ide, senior investigator of the NPA. It will be a pleasure to work with you Makima-san."
Before she could return the pleasantries, Ide turned and left, leaving Matsuda to gawk at the sudden turn of events.
For several seconds, as if unable to believe what he had just seen, Matsuda remained still and gawked. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, but what he saw did not change. "That was amazing Makima-san! I can't believe that just happened!"
"Getting into a fight with a colleague on my first day of work was probably not a good idea," said Makima with a small laugh.
"Yeah maybe, but it felt great to see him on the other side of the earful. But I hope you don't think of Ide-san too harshly," advised Matsuda. "He's strict, but that's because he's really dedicated to his job. He's a great person, and I did learn a lot from watching him."
"You don't need to worry Matsuda-san. I am not petty enough to hold onto something so trivial," reassured Makima.
"Great! I'll take you to your workplace and introduce you to the others; follow me," said Matsuda as he beckoned Makima to follow.
After a minute of traveling, Matsuda led her to a large room interconnected with smaller offices.
Her workplace turned out to be a quaint little area at the corner of a long conference desk.
Makima sighed internally. Back in the Bureau, she had her own office the size of this entire room but now, she was reduced to this…
"Where is everyone? It's too early for lunch…." Wondered Matsuda.
"Ide-san and the others seemed to be heading somewhere in a hurry. Maybe the rest of our team is there as well."
Matsuda wore a frown that did not suit a face so accustomed to laughter. "I guess… Whatever happened, it must be big. I hope nobody got hurt."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure the NPA will deal with it. There is a reason why the Japanese police force is famed worldwide after all," said Makima as if to alleviate Matsuda's worries.
"You're right. No point in worrying about it now," said Matsuda, his smile returning. "Hey, I think Chief Yagami is in his office. Let's go see him."
"How do you know?"
"His lights are on and he always turns them off when he leaves. He's super studious like that," said Matsuda with a hint of admiration.
Makima could admit that she was rather curious about the man. While Kanichi Takimura was the head of the NPA, Souichirou Yagami was her direct superior.
Even as the Control Devil and the highest-ranking personnel in the Devil Hunter Public Safety Bureau, she was no stranger to having superiors.
Some she had disliked, others she had wanted to kill, and a few she had killed.
Perhaps it was her nature as the Control Devil to strife against anything or anyone who sought to control her.
Matsuda led her to one of the many doors surrounding the room. Despite belonging to the Chief of the NPA, it carried no additional furnishings and was identical to the rest.
Standing in front of the door, Matsuda quietly cleared his throat and fixed his suit. While he tried to seem as respectful as possible, Makima could tell there was an ease in his gaze that she had not seen in the man before. After a short pause, he gently knocked three times.
"Enter," answered a mature voice.
Matsuda obeyed, entering the office with Makima behind him.
With a smile and a respectful bow, Matsuda greeted his superior officer. "Good morning sir."'
The older man was almost buried in a pile of documents. Something that Makima had the misfortune of experiencing.
Looking up from his paperwork, Souichirou Yagami returned the greeting with a tired but gentle smile. "Ah, Matsuda-san. Good morning to you too. And you must be Makima I presume."
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Chief Yagami," like Matsuda, Makima paid her respects to her superior. However, she did not bow.
Matsuda raised an eyebrow at the breach of social protocol, but Yagami did not seem to notice or just did not care.
The office aesthetics were spartan and purely utilitarian. While Yagami's desk was filled with paperwork, it was not without organization. A person's character could be seen in his place of work and from what Makima saw, it was workable.
As for Souichriou Yagami himself, the man gave a seasoned air that came from long years of experience. Something she was so familiar with that she had learned to recognize with nothing but a glance.
While looking fatigued, his posture remained straight and conveyed an aura of authority. His hair and beard had streaks of white showing his age but was well-groomed and without a single hair out of place.
This was all something she was familiar with. The Bureau had a serious dedication to professionalism. After all, every active personnel was required to wear a suit and a tie both in and out of combat. While a Devil Hunter's suit was less restrictive and tailored to give its wearer complete freedom of movement, many had grumbled about the Bureau's obsessive dress code.
But what differentiated the Chief of Police from the elites of the Bureau was that despite the same level of professionalism, Yagami's eyes were human and carried a human's warmth.
Devil Hunters were human only in the biological sense, although sometimes, even that was debatable. The longer a Hunter served, the less human they became in mind. In less polite terms, they went crazy.
A common saying among the Bureau was that only those with a few screws loose could survive in their line of work. But Makima often wondered if they survived because they were crazy or if they went crazy because they survived for so long.
Whether it was the veterans or her direct superiors, their lack of humanity was reflected in the eyes.
Thus, seeing something so familiar yet different was slightly disorienting. But while it was strange, it wasn't necessarily unpleasant.
It was almost a shame that he would have to die.
Almost…
"Please, have a seat Makima-san. Matsuda, on Mogi's desk is a file detailing the remains of a Toyota Hiace van currently in our custody after an accident. Preliminary investigations showed that it was stolen several years ago. Check and seek if any of the traffic cameras caught an image of that vehicle in the past year."
Matsuda's face lit up in anticipation.
"Yessir!" Answered Matsuda, far more loudly than necessary. His excitement was evident as he immediately turned and practically ran out the door.
Makima could almost see a wagging tail behind him.
"I'm sorry for the mess, I was planning on meeting you at the door, but something urgent came up. Would you like anything to drink? Tea? Coffee?"
"It's nothing to apologize about Chief Yagami; duty comes first after all. And no thank you."
Yagami winced. "Yes, unfortunately… Anyways, when I heard that someone so young would joining our ranks, I had my doubts and am ashamed to say that I went through your background."
Makima nodded in acceptance. If the confession discomforted her she did not show it. "I understand. Neither Matsuda nor I are your typical recruits. Understandably, you would wish to know more about someone coming in under such unclear circumstances."
"Understandable or not, it wasn't something I should have done as a superior officer, and for that, I apologize. As for Matsuda, his inexperience shows but he is dedicated and honest. Those two qualities alone make him an outstanding officer," praised Yagami.
"And as for you Makima-san, I am quite impressed. One of your professors is an old friend of mine. We enlisted in the force around the same time and served together until he retired from police work to teach. He had nothing but the highest commendation for you. I would have insisted on bringing you here for just that alone even without your exceptional grades and performance. I've known the man for decades, but I never once heard him give a compliment, much less shower praise on one of his students. It was so out of character that I thought he was on drugs," said Yagami with a chuckle that brought a small laugh from Makima.
"Professor Takamuchi was a good teacher. He was always strict, but as long as his expectations were met, he wasn't so bad," said Makima almost fondly before switching topics. "Anyways, what was that about the van you mentioned earlier? I didn't think that NPA concerned itself with traffic violations."
Frustrated, Yagami rubbed his temple as if he was massaging a headache. "Only if it were that simple. This morning, local residents reported the wreckage of a stolen van off the road. Aizawa estimated that the incident happened between one and five a.m. but it is hard to verify. The road the van was found on is isolated and rarely used because it leads to some luxury apartment for the ultra-wealthy. The name was La-… It sounded like something in French."
"La Grande Masion?"'
"Yes! How did you know?"
"That's where I live. There is only one road to and from the building, but I did not see any wreckage when Matsuda and I drove here. If there was something so suspicious about the accident that the NPA had to get involved, isn't it standard procedure to close it off to prevent loss of forensic evidence?" Asked Makima.
"Yes," said Yagami, severe irritation coloring his otherwise grandfatherly tone. "As you probably know, that apartment is filled with people with more money than sense."
"We were forced to comply when they demanded that the road be opened and the wreckage cleared because it was an eyesore to the scenery," said Yagami, before pausing for a brief second. "No offense to you Makima-san."
"None taken sir. I do not know if this will be helpful, but I was on the road last night to get some very late dinner around 3:30 am, but I did not see anything abnormal."
"Is that so?" Said Yagami, interest obviously piqued. "So that must mean that the incident occurred between 3 to 5 am."
"Not necessarily sir. I was forced to turn back because of the weather, so it is possible that I never managed to reach the area of the accident. Even if it happened near me, there is a good chance I did not hear it over the rain and thunder. Furthermore, the area was not that well-lit and the entire road looks the same so I cannot definitively differentiate one segment from another or say for certain how far along I was."
Makima's warnings did little to disappoint Yagami. "Even then, this is still the biggest tip we've received. Even if you cannot tell us exactly where you were, we can approximate it based on the time you left and the time you returned along with your rate of movement."
Makima frowned, "That does not seem like an accurate method of discernment. A person's walking speed is dependent on the environment, mood, and even the incline of the road. Even if I were to walk the same road again, I could not say for certain it would produce identical results. Even the slightest error would result in a standard deviation of several hundred meters."
"Yes, and if you consider that you most likely returned home faster than you left due to the rain, it will add in more variables which further complicates the equation. Under normal circumstances, we would not even dream of using such an imprecise method of measurement, but we have almost nothing to work off of. We even requested satellite footage, but the cameras couldn't get past the rain clouds. At this point, any new information will be a substantial gain regardless of the level of accuracy."
"What exactly is so strange about this accident that has you and the entire NPA so stressed? This doesn't seem like your average car accident," asked Makima.
"That is certainly the understatement of the day. The van looked like something rammed into it at full speed. The entire car side was caved in from the windshield to the trunk. What is more worrying is that the driver's seat was completely stained in blood. The forensics scraped up what turned out to be brain matter off the windshield, but there was no body to be found anywhere in the area."
Makima grasped her chin, pondering. "Hmm, you said the car was found off the road? The entire length of the road is linear so if the vehicle was found on the grass, then whatever hit the van must have come from a direction perpendicular to the road itself. But the road is barely wide enough for two cars to drive side by side. It would be impossible for anyone to maneuver a vehicle well enough to strike the side of the van in a space that narrow."
"Exactly. Furthermore, the road is surrounded by static barriers so the assailants couldn't have rammed the van from the side either."
"Could the barriers have been tampered with?"
"Possibly, but even if they were, the road is surrounded by plant life. Even if we were to discount the barriers, the positions of the trees make the spacings too narrow for any vehicle to get through."
"Hmm… I can see why this would give you so much trouble. You mentioned assailants, are you suspecting this was an organized hit?"
"That does seem like the only possibility. The NPA and the local police are losing their collective minds over a possible gang war. The current consensus is that some kind of rocket-propelled high explosive was used, but even that doesn't check out. Any explosive should have oxidized the car to the point that it is scorched black but there is not a single taint. Some have even started to throw out the possibility of a compressed air cannon even though the technology required to create that level of impact with pressurized air does not yet exist."
"That… is quite the conundrum. The possibility that someone or some group in the private sector possesses military-grade weaponry is worrying as well."
Yagami chuckled tiredly. "Yes… As of now, the Ministry is enforcing strict censorship on all events related to this incident under the guise of preventing public panic. However, if there are no breakthroughs in this case, the Secretary may decide to enlist the help of L."
"L? Who is he?"
"You don't know who L is?" Asked Yagami in confusion and slight shock. "That's a surprise, many detectives your age consider him an idol. L… is a bit of a legend in our line of work. His exploits are so grand that he was dubbed the World's Greatest Detective."
"The World's Greatest Detective? How flamboyant," said Makima, doubt apparent in her voice.
Yagami laughed while nodding. "That is a good way to put it and you wouldn't be wrong. However, L's title is well deserved. He has solved over 3,000 recorded cases worldwide and arrested over 10,000 criminals in a span of five years. If you consider that L only takes only the most difficult or interesting cases, his performance vastly outstrips any law enforcement agency in the world."
"If that is the case, why hasn't the NPA requested his assistance?" Asked Makima.
"Because of public perception and authority. When L becomes involved, he takes control of the entire investigation. While I do not mind, many within the government are appalled by the idea of a foreigner taking control of their police. Also, any signs of weakness can affect some of the diet members who are going for re-election, so they wish to avoid bringing him in unless it becomes absolutely necessary. But if this happens again and we fail to bring in any answers, it is very likely that the NPA will be held accountable, so everyone is under pressure. It is a stressful time so please try to understand if someone does something… unprofessional."
"No worries sir, I am sure everything will end up fine. If it doesn't, well… We'll think about that when the time comes," said Makima with confidence
With a laugh, Yagami agreed with his subordinate's optimism. "Right. No point in worrying about possibilities when we have things to do at this moment." Standing from his desk, he beckoned for Makima to follow. "But for now, I will give you a tour of the NPA and introduce you to the others."
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