Chapter 65
Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Faltering Great Detective Line (9)
“Iwamoto Serika.”
When I arrived after being summoned to the facility, I was greeted by Dennis's sharp gaze. She sat in the reception room chair, legs crossed, looking at me with a crooked stare. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on her own arm, a beat that mixed anxiety and anger, making my shoulders shrink involuntarily.
Unlike usual, there was an edge to her demeanor. Something felt off.
What is it? Had they finally figured out that I'm not the villain, just a good girl?
If things go south, I might have to grab a chair and bolt.
“Why did you call me here?”
I asked in a meek voice, and Dennis snapped her fingers lightly. A photo fluttered through the air and landed with a thud on the table.
“Do you know who this boy is?”
“Uh...”
Of course I do. Brown hair. Annoying face. Golden eyes. Shiratori Makoto. Son of the Metropolitan Police Special Affairs Division Chief.
He's currently attending our class at school, and for some reason, he's investigating me. I thought they wouldn't catch on to using an elementary schooler for undercover work, but the Prophets' intelligence network is not to be underestimated.
“Miss Serika. Do you know who he is?”
Dennis asked again. Suspicion lingered in her eyes. What should I say here? I racked my brain for a moment before giving a casual reply.
“A classmate of mine.”
“Miss Serika. That's not what I'm asking. Don't make me angry, okay?”
My offhand answer was met with a sharp retort. Dennis stared at me with the most serious expression imaginable. It didn't seem like she'd let it slide easily. And pretending not to know was a bit late for that.
“...Iguchi Makoto-kun?”
Dennis furrowed her brow.
Yeah, she doesn't buy it.
“...Shiratori Makoto-kun. The son of the Metropolitan Police Special Affairs Division Chief.”
But if she asks how I know, what do I say? I never imagined getting caught this quickly, so I hadn't prepared any excuses.
“...So you did know. Well, that's understandable.”
But Dennis nodded as if convinced.
Why is she convinced?
Guess my evaluation in the organization is higher than I thought.
No wonder the top brass came to see me personally. At this rate, I might get promoted to executive soon.
Dennis tapped the table with her finger and asked.
“Our investigation shows you've been hanging around him a lot lately. Do you have a reason for sticking close to the Special Affairs Division Chief's son, knowing who he is? And why has the Chief's son come all the way here in the first place? Our checks reveal he's thoroughly disguised as living in an ordinary household. Why would a kid who should be at a top private school in central Tokyo transfer here under a fake name and alias?”
The situation was tangled.
I didn't know exactly where it went wrong, but Makoto transferring here too early had thoroughly irritated the organization's sensitive nerves.
Fortunately, though, the Prophets seemed merely uncomfortable with the fact that the Chief's son had transferred nearby—they hadn't grasped his purpose yet.
In other words...
Makoto's life and death were hanging on my words right now.
What should I say?
What could I tell this heartless villain to keep Makoto alive?
Tell the truth?
[“Actually, Shiratori Makoto is conducting an undercover investigation into the Prophets centered around me! Ohohohoho!”
“Oh my, thank you for being honest, Miss Serika. We'll handle Makoto-kun as an unfortunate accident.”]
Hmm.
That would get him killed.
It might pave a smooth path for my villain career, but killing off an original regular member like this would definitely cause problems later.
“Miss Serika. Have you heard anything?”
Dennis was pressing me. I needed to come up with some excuse, anything. What should I say?
What would sound plausible?
“Miss Serika?”
Dennis eyed me suspiciously. Time was up. I had to say something believable. What could it be? What reason would make someone erase their name, change their family, and transfer to another region besides undercover work?
“If you really don't want to say...”
Dennis uncrossed her arms.
My mind went blank.
And then, like a dot on paper...
A small idea popped up with a click.
A reason to erase your name, change your family, and transfer to another region?
Doesn't that show up in manga sometimes?
To make new friends at a new school.
“...He needed a friend?”
Dennis blinked at my words.
“...A friend?”
Is this not working?
Too lame?
But words once spoken can't be taken back.
I had to salvage it somehow.
“Uh, I mean... Kids need friends they can really talk to as they grow up, right? So, friends on the same level... uh, friends who can help each other... That's why he came here?”
“...Friends who can help each other...”
Dennis put on a grave expression. She nodded as if pondering my words like a professor's lecture, then looked back at me and asked.
“Is that your father's thinking?”
“Pardon?”
“No, no. I just asked something obvious. Of course. Thinking about it, it's natural. Everyone needs friends in life.”
Dennis shook her head as if convincing herself. For whatever reason, she'd bought it.
“Thank you for telling me, Miss Serika. Would you like some tea before you go?”
“No, I have homework today.”
Sticking around might lead to another slip-up, so while the mood was good, I should slip out. I made an excuse and left the room. I had no idea exactly how Dennis interpreted it, but at least she'd accepted that Makoto and I were purely friends.
Coming up with such a perfect excuse on the fly—I'm a genius, after all.
******
In a dark room, the woman beyond the screen tilted her head and spoke.
“Heh, so basically, this Iwamoto guy seems to be using his daughter to cozy up to the Metropolitan Police Special Affairs Division?”
Dennis nodded gravely at the screen.
“Less 'using his daughter' and more like they've already built some trust, and to maintain a long-term connection, they're having their kids form friendships. According to Serika, she described it as a mutually helpful friendship.”
“Heh-.”
The woman on the screen touched her lips with a finger. Her purple lips stood out starkly against her pale skin, even through the screen.
“Luna's a bit hurt, you know? Luna thought she and Mr. Iwamoto were deep friends. And here he is, making separate connections with the police.”
“Shouldn't we give Iwamoto Yoshio a warning?”
Laughter echoed at Dennis's question—a light, mocking sound that filled the room. She took a breath, then tilted her head and replied.
“Hm? A warning? He's not the type to listen to that. Luna can't stand watching our organization get jerked around by a guy like that anymore. Another warning, get ignored, back off out of fear of bigger damage. Come on, Dennis. We gathered to usher in a new era, not to grovel under Iwamoto.”
Dennis bowed her head.
“Ah, yes... You're right.”
“Yeah, exactly. What was that kid's name again? The Special Affairs Division Chief's son.”
“Shiratori Makoto.”
The woman leaned back in her chair, stretching out her legs. Long black boots came into view, gleaming with a glossy leather shine.
“Let's kill him.”
“Pardon?”
Dennis's eyes widened in shock. Amused by her reaction, the woman laughed.
“Ahahaha! Your face is priceless. Why so surprised? It's not like it's our first time killing someone. Don't make that face; it's no fun. We're just gonna ruin this alliance that Iwamoto's put so much effort into.”
Cold sweat trickled down Dennis's face.
This isn't right, a thought flashed through her mind.
“B-but... He's just a kid, and interfering like this could seriously disrupt our ongoing research. Maybe discuss it with the other higher-ups first...”
The woman glared at Dennis's rambling and cut her off with a rough voice.
“That's whyyy—! Luna didn't join this organization to bow to Iwamoto! Should Luna go there herself?”
“N-no, that's not it.”
Dennis's face flushed with embarrassment. Seeing her shake her head, the woman smiled satisfactorily and changed her expression.
“Good, fine. Kitano Sanma's around there, right? I'll have him handle it discreetly. Dennis, send Luna some on-site photos later? Got it? Make sure you do. With Makoto-kun's face in them, please?”
Unlike the woman's bright smile, Dennis nodded but felt a wave of dismay wash over her face.