"…There's no problem at all?"
Superintendent General Hakuba frowned as he read the report Toshiro Otagiri handed him.
"Yes.
Although I also find this dispatch situation very strange, there really isn't any problem with the dispatch itself.
From the start, the dispatch was sudden, so our Police arranged emergency missions based on the nearest available resources."
When Otagiri had first confirmed this through his investigation, he too had been doubtful. But after reviewing the entire process, he verified that the dispatch was not the result of human manipulation, but simply proximity.
He even conducted a thorough review, confirming there were no issues at all.
Most emergency missions were dispatched based on location.
As for the one who dispatched the unit, it had been Matsumoto Kiyonaga, who received intelligence from Officer Sato. The dispatch was issued while Matsumoto was returning to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department after contacting her.
The entire process showed no signs of external interference.
"Hmm…"
Even after hearing that, Hakuba still looked unconvinced.
"So, the reason for such heavy losses in our action unit was… an accident?"
"No."
Otagiri shook his head, his expression grave.
"The root cause of our severe personnel losses this time is the series of frequent incidents.
The Metropolitan Police Department's action units are already operating at full capacity. That is why this hastily assembled temporary unit suffered so greatly."
The implication was clear: the Police were understaffed.
And indeed, for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, this was a major problem.
"The bombing case a while ago, and yesterday's 60th anniversary of the Suzuki conglomerate, both required large-scale Police deployments. That created a vacuum in our forces."
The shortage of manpower was obvious, leaving Hakuba with a pounding headache.
Especially after breaking down the cause, he could only sigh helplessly.
"Indeed, far too many things have happened lately.
We are tasked with keeping Tokyo safe.
Drug traffickers, the bombing case, and just yesterday, Kaito Kid. Too many incidents have stretched us thin."
"All officers below Inspector rank in the Metropolitan Police have been sent out on patrols, yet even that is not enough."
"The ten action units are already tasked with patrols and maintaining order in different districts. Some areas are too complex to reassign units from. That has left too few Police available for emergencies."
Hakuba leaned back in his chair as he spoke.
"This temporary unit suffered such severe losses because their mobility was poor. Their lack of experience working together slowed them down, leading to heavy casualties.
They weren't really an action unit, just a group of scattered individuals with no cohesion."
The shortage of elite Police was indeed severe.
But rapidly cultivating elites was no simple matter.
What the Police lacked was not ordinary patrol officers, but properly trained and experienced specialists. That was not something solved by simply expanding the headcount.
"What we need are elites."
Otagiri agreed completely.
He knew well that action unit members required long training, plus shared operational experience to develop the necessary teamwork.
Meeting such strict standards would take time. It was impossible to achieve overnight.
Hakuba shook his head slightly, dropping the unpleasant topic and moving to the next.
"Have those detained researchers been questioned?"
"Yes.
Questioning was completed last night.
They are all scientific researchers recruited by the Organization, and the ones in this stronghold were all recruited from Japan.
Their job was drug research. However, one researcher is missing."
Hakuba wasn't surprised. The third party that had caused such chaos yesterday clearly hadn't acted just for revenge. They must have had an objective.
"So, the third party did have a target. Who is missing?"
"She is an 18-year-old girl named Shiho Miyano.
Reportedly a genius in biology and pharmaceuticals, she completed her university studies abroad at a very young age and even holds a doctorate.
Her codename is Sherry. She is one of the Organization's core members."
"An 18-year-old genius, already a core member with a codename, and responsible for the research of that miracle drug.
Have we identified possible third party members?"
"Yes.
Through this girl, we found a close relative, her elder sister, Akemi Miyano."
Otagiri placed both files on the desk.
Hakuba opened them. On the first pages were their photos, followed by detailed records.
"Unlike her younger sister, who has extraordinary talent, the elder sister has no aptitude for scientific research.
Because of her sister, she was kept only on the Organization's periphery, serving as an ordinary member.
But according to the confessions of those researchers, and our own deductions…"
"The reason the elder sister joined the Organization was because they used her younger sister to threaten her. And for the younger sister, they used the elder sister as leverage."
Such methods were hardly surprising.
To control a talented younger sister, of course additional pressure was required.
Hakuba could easily see why the elder sister had become the instigator of the third party. The reason was clear.
She wanted to rescue her sister from the Organization.
"In addition, money boxes stolen from a bank were found in the stronghold."
Hakuba instantly pieced it together.
"That must have been a mission assigned by the Organization to the elder sister.
But she was clever enough to see through the mission, which pushed her to reach out to the third party. That eventually led to yesterday's incident."
As he said this, Hakuba's lips curved slightly.
"Our Metropolitan Police have been busy enough already. We can't spend all our attention on them.
Otagiri, our good neighbors should also take some responsibility. It can't always be us doing the dirty work while others only know how to take credit."
Otagiri nodded, instantly understanding.
"I understand."
(To be continued.)
***
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