Chapter 47 Investigation
Niino Suzumi naturally lifted her upper jaw, a faint smile on her lips as she looked at the young girl before her. The girl pursed her lips, a flicker of sadness in her eyes, her gaze somewhat helpless, but she still forced herself to answer.
The equipment beside her showed no reaction, maintaining its original green light from beginning to end, proving that Kazumi’s physical characteristics had been problem-free from the start to the present.
Niino Suzumi felt a bit doubtful. Based on her experience, the girl’s expression definitely hid something. However, since the equipment had not reacted, it should be content unrelated to her problem. As an investigator, she did not have much authority to investigate the privacy of the person involved and cause them further harm.
Not to mention, this seemingly ordinary operation had been elevated to A-rank at the behest of that “Master.” Otherwise, a normal investigation would not have been able to secure the latest lie detector equipment or the accompaniment of Officer Kitahara, one of the top combat forces in District 12.
“Alright, thank you for your cooperation, Miss Shimizu. Sorry to have bothered you.”
After filling in the last column of her notebook with the recording pen, Niino Suzumi stood up and bowed politely to Kazumi. Then, she turned to Officer Kitahara beside her and asked, receiving a slight nod in response.
“If you have any questions regarding this investigation, you can visit our police department’s official website, go to the case appeal section, and enter case number 100082 to inquire about the relevant content.”
Niino Suzumi took out a paper from her bag and handed it to Kazumi. It contained some information about the case and the code of conduct for investigators.
After carefully examining some of the content on the paper, Kazumi picked up the pen beside her and signed her name in the bottom right corner, thus completing the statement with her cooperation.
【Is this a contingency from Uncle Fukada?】
Kazumi frowned, unsure whether Niino Suzumi was speaking the truth or further testing her. After all, the ability to first use ordinary information to lull her into complacency and then suddenly shift to important questions to observe her reaction showed that this investigator had some skill.
But no matter how she thought about it, this was all she could come up with. However, if it were truly Fukada Akihiko’s contingency, he wouldn’t have gone through such preliminary tests; it would have been a normal inquiry.
【Is the machine broken? Impossible, impossible. The police department would absolutely not make such a low-level mistake.】
Although she didn’t know why this so-called latest lie detector hadn’t detected her lies, she had somehow gotten through this, and no longer had to worry about being arrested by the authorities because of Fukada Akihiko.
“Thank you, Officer Sister…”
With a look of tragic sorrow still on her face, Kazumi stood up, bowed slightly, and watched the two police officers leave the office.
The tall Officer Kitahara cast a faint glance at Kazumi, then turned to Niino Suzumi, and walked out first, carrying the equipment in one hand.
However, Niino Suzumi had no intention of following. Instead, she walked up to Kazumi, clasped her hands together, and said apologetically:
“Thank you for your cooperation, little sister Kazumi. Was I too stern? I’m sorry, it’s just my job. Apologies.”
“Here, this is for you, as an apology~”
Then, she took out a few small snacks she carried in her bag and pressed them into Kazumi’s hands.
Looking at the officer with a kindly smile, whose tone had shifted from the initially strong voice to a gentle one, Kazumi awkwardly accepted the gifts and let her comfort her.
…
On the other side, from the corner outside the office door, a tuft of blond hair suddenly appeared, and then a big blond head emerged from behind the wall. His blue eyes looked anxiously towards the office, muttering:
“Why aren’t they out yet?”
The person here was none other than Sato Shinichi, who had pretended to go to the restroom to check the situation. The moment Kazumi was called out by her homeroom teacher, Sato Shinichi had guessed what was about to happen.
He had been comforting himself that Kazumi would be fine, but his mind was solely on his girlfriend, and he couldn’t concentrate on the lecture. So, he had asked for leave to go to the restroom, intending to come here to check on Kazumi’s situation.
“Sato-kun, if I remember correctly, isn’t it still class time?”
A stern, low voice came from behind him, startling Sato Shinichi, who was observing the front. He gulped, turned around with disbelief.
“Ishiryu… Teacher Ishiryu, hello… I… I was coming to the restroom…”
The dark-faced man who appeared behind Sato Shinichi was their homeroom teacher for the Regular Department B-2 class, Ishiryu Daito.
Perhaps due to the natural suppression students felt towards their homeroom teacher, Sato Shinichi cringed but still braced himself and replied.
“The restrooms should be that way.”
Ishiryu Daito stood with a stern expression, walking over from the staircase, his dark face chillingly looking at Sato Shinichi before him.
“Ah… well… I…”
“You’re looking for Kiyomizu Kazumi, aren’t you?”
Ishiryu Daito walked up to Sato Shinichi, gently patted his shoulder, interrupting his attempt to force out an excuse.
“No… Teacher Ishiryu, I was just…”
“If not, I will give you a demerit for skipping class.”
“Yes!!!”
Seeing Sato Shinichi immediately become compliant, Ishiryu Daito nodded with satisfaction and then asked.
“Do you know what happened at Kiyomizu Kazumi’s home?”
Seeing his homeroom teacher’s demeanor, Sato Shinichi knew he couldn’t bluff his way through today. Thinking about how Kiyomizu-san seemed to be undergoing a brutal interrogation inside, he hardened his heart and replied.
“Yes, Kiyomizu-san told me everything.”
“Alright then, the police’s investigation must be quite a blow to a young girl her age, especially when something like this has happened to her family. I was planning to talk to her, but since you’re here, you’d be a better candidate…”
Ishiryu Daito nodded, his stern face showing no change in expression, and said to Sato Shinichi.
“Teacher Ishiryu, what do you mean?”
Ishiryu Daito’s words made Sato Shinichi doubt his ears. He thought he was doomed for skipping class and being caught by his homeroom teacher, but now, Teacher Ishiryu seemed to be asking him to console Kazumi?
“Go quickly! Otherwise, I’ll tell Teacher Murakami you were wandering around pretending to go to the restroom!”
Ishiryu Daito lightly patted Sato Shinichi on the back impatiently and scolded the dense student, glaring at him.
“Oh, okay, I’ll go right away!”
Finally understanding Ishiryu Daito’s meaning, Sato Shinichi hurried forward a couple of steps.
Watching the blond boy run off with a hint of amusement, a trace of recollection flashed in Ishiryu Daito’s eyes. His rigid face wore a faint smile, and he finally called out to the retreating figure.
“Also, if your rank drops in this month’s test, I’ll have to contact your parents!”
“Yes, thank you, Teacher Ishiryu!”
