Chapter 31: Investigation
“There’s a problem?”
Seeing Hamano Tsukasa’s aura change instantly, Sato Shinichi’s heart sank.
For the usually carefree old man to become so serious, this Fukada Akihiko must have a not-so-small problem.
“He is… from the [Dark] Organization, an Executive!!”
“What?!”
Sato Shinichi, who had been sitting in place, was so surprised that he stood up upon hearing the news slowly revealed by Hamano Tsukasa.
“How is that possible?! The [Dark] Organization! And an Executive! Master, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
“I’m not mistaken. Being able to directly contact that guy and having that disgusting aura on him, only an Executive-level member of the [Dark] Organization would be able to. ”
Hamano Tsukasa shook his head and reached to touch his lower left abdomen. He would never mistake the scent of the person who had severely injured him.
“Let’s go.”
Hamano Tsukasa patted the stunned Sato Shinichi on the head and walked past him, his voice drifting back, “I’ve lost the mood to joke around now.”
…
The Burning Flames Hero Agency welcomed a rather unusual guest today. Their boss, the 29th ranked hero on the Hero Ranking, the flame-type psychic, Crimson Flame, was uncharacteristically present in the agency, seemingly waiting for something at the entrance.
The agency door opened from the outside, and in walked a gaunt old man, followed by a pensive blond young man.
“Master!!! Long time no see!!”
The strongman, whose entire head was engulfed in crimson flames, lunged for a bear hug the moment he saw Hamano Tsukasa.
But with a flash of lightning, Crimson Flame ended up embracing only empty air.
“I say, Crimson Flame senior brother, if you could change this overly enthusiastic habit of yours, Master would probably be happy to visit you.”
Looking at Crimson Flame, who had crouched by the wall and started drawing circles in the corner out of Hamano Tsukasa’s disdain, Sato Shinichi said in a low voice, gesturing with his hand.
So why, upon seeing Crimson Flame senior brother’s state, did he get the illusion that he was seeing his own future?!
Did Master use some strange teaching method?!
“Yo! It’s Junior Brother Sato!! It’s been a while, want to have an exhilarating duel?”
Crimson Flame, who was initially in low spirits, looked up, saw Sato Shinichi, and immediately became spirited, raising his fist to invite Sato Shinichi to a duel.
[I knew it would be like this!!]
Sato Shinichi patted his forehead with a slight headache, regretting that he had tried to comfort this hyped-up senior brother.
Abilities were a reflection of everyone’s mental state. Unlike the notorious hot-tempered flame user “Explosive” in their circle, he, as “Crimson Flame,” had the fire of passion burning on his head!
Although sparring with Crimson Flame senior brother was really enjoyable, and the fist-to-fist combat made his body feel like it was improving every second.
However, he couldn’t withstand it when this guy, full of energy the next day, would run up to him, inviting another passionate duel, when he himself was sore all over and wanted to rest.
Sometimes he suspected that this guy’s ability wasn’t flames, but super strong physical recovery!
“Crimson Flame senior brother, next time, I have other matters to attend to with Master today.”
Sato Shinichi quickly waved his hand to refuse, seeing the flames on Crimson Flame’s head surge again. If he got entangled with him, it would be difficult to break free.
“Hmm. Even Junior Brother Sato dislikes me…”
Rejected by Sato Shinichi, Crimson Flame once again hid in the corner with dark lines all over his face, drawing circles.
“Uh… That, Crimson Flame senior brother, how about I come find you in a few days when I’m free?”
Looking at the dejected Crimson Flame, whose flames on top of his head had dimmed considerably, as if about to extinguish at any moment, Sato Shinichi asked with a bit of soft-heartedness.
“It’s a deal!!!”
Crimson red flames shot up into the sky, and his previously dispirited state was instantly replaced by passion. Seeing Crimson Flame’s excited demeanor, Sato Shinichi realized that he had been tricked…
“Senior brother, when did you, with your honest face, learn to be bad?!”
…
“Crimson Flame, I’ll trouble you,”
Hamano Tsukasa said to his disciple, and then fumbled in his pocket, pulling out two photos with names written on them and handing them to Crimson Flame.
“No trouble at all, and this is something I inherited from you, Master.”
After the initial enthusiasm, Crimson Flame suppressed his excessively burning passion when faced with the matter at hand, becoming serious in an instant.
He respectfully took the photos handed by Hamano Tsukasa and then passed them to his waiting subordinates.
The uniformed staff member took the photos, placed them into a special large instrument, and with a flurry of light and shadow, quickly manipulated things in the air with their fingers.
This intelligence system, named “Skyfire” by Crimson Flame, was inherited from Hamano Tsukasa. At that time, the organization that Hamano Tsukasa controlled, which was exclusively his, could be said to be the most powerful intelligence department in the entire Neon.
Images flashed, and the faces of Fukada Akihiko and Su Jun appeared on the high-tech screen, along with their basic information.
Fukada Akihiko, single, 35 years old, Sales Manager at Maoyou Machinery, cheerful and smooth-talking, serious and diligent in his work.
Kazumi Shimizu, 15 years old, student in Class 1 of Shijie Academy High School, lost her parents eight years ago in an accident, solitary and taciturn.
“Shinichi, you don’t blame me, do you?”
Looking at the personal information of the two individuals on the large screen, which showed no problems, Hamano Tsukasa sighed and turned to look at Sato Shinichi, who stood silently beside him.
“Yes.”
The clean, almost flawless information first brought a smile to Sato Shinichi’s face, but he quickly reacted, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes, yet he still nodded firmly.
As Su Jun’s boyfriend, Sato Shinichi absolutely did not wish for such a thing to happen to his girlfriend, but the responsibility that came with the word “hero” forced him to make such a decision.
“Alright, then Crimson Flame, please open the Skyfire records for the two of them.”
Hamano Tsukasa nodded, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his cloudy eyes. This was why he had chosen Sato Shinichi as his true successor.
This young man possessed the qualities to become a true hero!!
The screen flickered, and dense images appeared on the large screen, which were then quickly filtered by the computer’s intelligence.
After the screen flashing was complete, the final image to appear on the large screen was of Su Jun greeting a staff member, carrying a potted plant, and walking towards home.
