Iska arrives at the crime scene. Kanata greets her, but then…
The Commander asks me, “Kanata, what’s the situation?” while lighting a cigarette with a lighter offered by Lieutenant Colonel Kurando.
“The perpetrators are environmental extremists (Evergreen). There are many hostages, mainly women and children. Their combat proficiency is above average, and their leader seems capable.”
“What are their demands?”
“The release of all their executives currently imprisoned. After issuing their demands, they’ve refused all further negotiation.”
I finish reporting the situation as I walk alongside the Commander.
A small pebble hits the back of my head before I enter the command vehicle.
I turn around and see a familiar face in the crowd outside the caution tape. It’s Kika-chan.
“Kanata, what’s wrong?”
“Commander, please go ahead and start the strategy discussion. I have some personal matters to attend to.”
“What, gotta pee? You’ve got no sense of urgency.”
Lieutenant Colonel (an old geezer), do you mind keeping quiet?
I don’t know who that girl is, but she’s definitely no ordinary person.
“Kika-chan, do you need something from me?”
There’s no point in telling this child to go somewhere safe. Her adorable demeanor from earlier has vanished. …These eyes… they’re the eyes of a soldier.
“…This.”
Kika-chan hands me a Handycom. I take it and answer the call.
“…Kenrou?”
It sounds like a man’s voice, but he’s altered it with a voice changer. Naturally.
“Asking ‘who are you’ would be a foolish question, wouldn’t it?”
“If you know, then don’t ask. It doesn’t matter if I’m Johnson or Smith, does it?”
“Indeed. Then, Mr. Johnson, what is your business?”
“I have useful information to help eliminate those who love sunflowers more than humans. Do you want to hear it?”
I’m tempted to jump at it, but I must resist.
“It depends on the conditions. It’s not free, is it?”
“Secrecy regarding information about us.”
…So, this child… is an enemy.
If so, I wish I had never met her. It makes things difficult.
“Impossible. I won’t show loyalty beyond my pay grade. Won’t you compromise a little?”
“How about ten hours of silence?”
“Okay, ten hours of saying nothing to anyone. But do you trust me?”
“Isn’t the priority for Kenrou the daughter among the hostages? You shouldn’t have the leisure to get involved with us right now.”
Indeed, Mr. Johnson is right.
“Besides, we have insurance. If Kenrou breaks his promise, we’ll inform the terrorists about Asura Unit’s involvement. If the Empress (Iska) learns that Divine Soldier (Kurando) is making an appearance, they might change their approach. I believe it would hinder the resolution of the incident.”
He’s watching the Commander and the Lieutenant Colonel! …Which means Mr. Johnson must be somewhere I can see him from!
I scan my surroundings, looking for anyone suspicious, but find no one.
“Don’t bother, I’m not in a position where I can be found.”
Right, I should at least say something to save face.
“It seems so. But I understand why you’re willing to lend a hand.”
“Oh? And what is this reason?”
“You called them ‘terror vendors’ just now, not ‘terrorists,’ right? That means, Mr. Johnson, you ‘dislike’ terrorists.”
“Coo coo coo… Yes, you’re right. I dislike terror vendors. For reasons similar to Kenrou.”
His voice, made unnatural by the voice changer, chuckles with implication, which irritates me slightly.
“Oh? And what is this reason?”
I mimic his unnatural voice, altered by the voice changer.
“I heard your magnificent speech. ‘Don’t stand before me with the will to fight. If you do, I’ll assume you’re prepared to die.’ The reverse of your words is that Kenrou doesn’t want to kill those who aren’t prepared. Those who involve civilians who lack even the will to fight, let alone be prepared, are the opposite of your values. I don’t think you could like such people.”
“…That’s right. I hate terror vendors too. Well then, a deal between those who hate terror vendors is struck. After providing the information, please withdraw from Ligrit quickly. I swear on my sword, I will keep my promise.”
“I’ll trust you. Have Kika take over. Oh, and your impersonation was quite good. You should really consider a career as an entertainer. Then you wouldn’t have to fight.”
“No, the world of entertainers is more cutthroat than that of soldiers. I’ll switch now.”
My impersonation is reputed to be quite skillful, but even the enemy recognized it.
I hand the Handycom back to Kika-chan, who quickly brings it to her ear.
“Yes, I understand.”
Then Kika-chan hands me a small notebook and disappears into the crowd.
I open the notebook. It’s filled with neat, round handwriting.
…This is! These are the call records between the terror vendors and their outside contacts!
I commit the main points of the notes to memory, organize them, and return to the command vehicle.
“That was a long bathroom break.”
Ignoring the old geezer, I report to the Commander.
“I’ve obtained information on the terror vendors. They are receiving instructions from inside the prison.”
The Commander furrows his thin eyebrows slightly.
“Are you sure? What’s the source?”
“I’ll tell you about the source later. For now, I have to trust it, and I believe I can.”
Shion shakes her head, spreading her arms exaggeratedly.
“Instructions from inside the prison? How? Are they sending carrier pigeons?”
“Through a regular Handycom.”
“Prisoners can’t possibly have Handycoms!” Detective Boyle mutters bitterly.
“It’s a disgrace to our ranks, but we can’t say it’s absolutely impossible. It has happened in the past. It’s just a matter of bribing a prison guard.”
Apparently, Al Capone was giving orders from prison during Prohibition. In an era with low morals, it’s not an unheard-of story.
“If that’s true, we have no choice but to use it. Kanata, tell me more.”
I clear my throat and present the outline from the notes.
“The mastermind of this incident is Simon Finch, a high-ranking executive of Evergreen.”
“Not ‘apparently,’ it’s a fact. I suspected Finch was the target, but he wasn’t the target; he was the mastermind.” Detective Jasper adds.
“Finch is communicating directly with the terror vendors via a Handycom. It’s a special Handycom for VIPs with an scrambling function.”
Detective Boyle mutters bitterly.
“Shit!! We were intercepting radio communications, but with a Handycom equipped with a scrambling function for VIPs, interception is impossible!”
“Why? The scrambling function isn’t foolproof. It should be possible if one tries hard enough, right?”
Shion’s doubt is understandable. Detective Jasper adds again.
“It’s not a technical issue. It’s a legal one. In this city (Ligrit), there are many VIPs who don’t want their private conversations overheard. Intercepting a VIP’s Handycom requires special permission.”
…It’s rotten. Wouldn’t a special exception be granted in the case of a terrorist attack involving human lives?
“They have meticulously planned this. The wife of a city council member is believed to be the biggest VIP, but that’s not the case. The Mayor’s family is among the hostages.”
Detective Jasper immediately denies it.
“If the Mayor’s family were hostages, we would have noticed.”
“…Perhaps an mistress and an illegitimate child?”
The two detectives look up at the heavens. Apparently, it wouldn’t be strange for him to have an illegitimate child.
I’ll pretend I didn’t see the Commander secretly chuckle. He’ll probably write it down in his blackmail ledger later.
“This explains why they refused negotiations. They didn’t need to negotiate at all. They’re waiting for the Mayor to act.”
Perhaps having obtained such excellent blackmail material, the Commander seems somewhat satisfied.
Please worry a little about Lilith too.
“The eight perpetrators are ex-military, but their leader, Olsen, is exceptional. He was a former lieutenant in the Mechanist Army and appears to have been an excellent soldier.”
“Why would someone like that become a terrorist?” The Commander answers Detective Boyle’s question with a touch of sarcasm.
“He was first-class as a soldier, but second-class as a swindler. In other words, he was caught embezzling and expelled from the army.”
Olsen is a soldier on a level the Commander knows. Just as Lilith said, he’s someone to watch out for.
“That’s the situation, I suppose. Now, what do we do?”
Knowing Finch is the mastermind is our trump card, our joker.
But a joker used incorrectly can come back as a dead card. This requires careful consideration.
“You’re proud of your cunning intellect, aren’t you? Think hard, for Lilith’s sake.”
“Lieutenant Colonel, you should think too. It might keep your brain from going senile.”
“What did you say! I’m not nearly senile yet…”
The Commander motions to Lieutenant Colonel Kurando and asks,
“Kanata, when are humans most likely to fall into a trap?”
“When they mistake themselves for the ones setting the trap.”
“That’s right. Finch and Olsen laid their trap meticulously. They’re confident in its craftsmanship. Therein lies the opening. The Commander is telling me that this is a situation where we must lay a trap extending from their own trap.”
I see. Let’s proceed with that line of thinking. The price for ruining my date with Lilith will be high. Prepare yourselves!
I read a book about the American Civil War. It’s in poor taste, but wars do have their own unique dramas, don’t they? Though it’s best if they never happen.
