Three days had passed since the Tokyo Tower bombing, and the entire Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department remained shrouded in a cloud of unspeakable depression.
The bomber had escaped!
They had been one step away from arresting him—and yet he vanished right before their eyes.
It wouldn't have been so bad if he were merely an ordinary criminal.
He was a piece of scum who despised the police, held innocent civilians hostage, and didn't care how many he hurt.
"Sir, we received another fax!"
"All police stations in our jurisdiction received the same fax at the same time. Officers everywhere are in uproar."
Megure Juzo burst into Matsumoto Kiyonaga's office, face grim, and handed him the fax.
Kiyonaga's face twisted as he read:
"This is the real overtime."
"Incompetent policemen, I've already told you—it's a waste of effort to stop me."
"I will eventually win."
"There is still a week until the next opening. By then, I won't give you any more chances."
Matsumoto's knuckles turned white from gripping the paper too tightly.
"He's planning another bombing. This time, I doubt we'll get any hints."
Odagiri Toshiro walked in, and Matsumoto stood up instinctively.
His face was dark as night, and both Megure and Matsumoto fell silent.
Especially Megure—he'd been in command when the bomber escaped. That shame was not easy to bear.
"We've posted a wanted notice based on his image, but he's too well-hidden," Matsumoto muttered.
"We've deployed most of the force to patrol and comb the city—checking suspicious vehicles and persons—but still nothing."
"No matter how deep he's hiding, we must find him. If he succeeds again—"
"I understand! I promise, we won't let it happen again!"
But Odagiri's frown remained deeply etched.
Given how cunning the bomber was, Odagiri had to face a horrifying possibility—
What if the police failed again?
After Megure and Matsumoto left, Odagiri called Hayashi Yoshiki.
"Hello, Minister Odagiri?"
"Advisor, the escaped bomber sent us another fax."
Odagiri's tone was blunt.
"He threatened another bombing in a week. I don't think he'll give us any clues this time."
"And considering the bomber's vengeful personality... I'm worried he might try to retaliate against you."
"That's certainly possible."
Odagiri wanted to assign police protection.
Hayashi asked for time to think it over.
The call ended quickly.
Odagiri couldn't help but feel... guilt.
—Hayashi Yoshiki had risked his life to defuse a bomb, had correctly predicted the bomber's plan...
And the police had still failed to capture the criminal.
Back in the task force's conference room, fewer officers remained.
Most had been reassigned to track the bomber.
After all, the accidental murderer hadn't left any trail for a long time.
"Still no trace of him?"
"He even sent a fax to taunt us after escaping!"
"...If only the accidental murderer would kill him."
"Hey, watch what you're saying."
"But isn't it true? The explosive they found at Teitan High School... it could've destroyed half the campus. Do you know how many children were there!?"
"Still, the accidental murderer has no history of going after wanted criminals... right?"
As soon as they saw Odagiri step in, the officers froze in place.
Toshiro Odagiri was a man who despised evil.
To hear his men whispering about hoping another criminal kills a criminal...
Surely, he would reprimand them—
That was all he said, face cold and unreadable.
The officers didn't breathe a word and turned silently to their assignments.
Expecting the accidental murderer to kill the bomber...?
How dare they even think that.
But Odagiri... understood them.
As someone who had seen true evil—it was only human to want it destroyed.
Still, he was a police officer.
And he would never say it out loud.
Meanwhile, Hayashi Yoshiki stood in front of a steel cell, staring at the captured bomber.
"Tell me, did you make the bomb yourself?"
There was no fear in the bomber's eyes.
"I was the only one who handled the mercury column."
"What about the liquid bomb components?"
"I bought the raw materials on the black market."
Hayashi narrowed his eyes.
The liquid bomb's structure was identical to the ones used by Plamya in The Bride of Halloween.
In that film, Plamya had tried to level Shibuya.
And in the film's climax, she even used this same type of bomber—springing him from jail to use as a decoy, only to kill him herself.
Hayashi had suspected there might be a connection.
But the black market? That trail might be a dead end.
No matter. He'd squeeze out every last drop of value from this man.
Then, his phone buzzed.
"I'm so ashamed that you dared to take such a big risk. I thought our last romantic date place would really become a thing of the past."
She was referring to the recent headlines.
After all, the live broadcast from Tokyo Tower had been seen throughout Beika City.
Even if the police tried to suppress the news afterward—it was too late.