"Dam this suit is tight." Senior detective Takeshi complained, pulling at the collar of his formal police uniform. The navy-blue uniform was a sharp contrast to the usual casual business attire they so often wore.
"Stop fidgeting then; It will make your tie crooked." Detective Mori tried to swat a way his senior's hands. Both would rather spend the morning in the office, looking over evidence and piecing together cases. Instead, it was this farce.
"Captain Shimada, is everything ready?" Mai asked with concern in her voice.
"All the evidence is here, now it's up to the panel to make their decision."
The four sat in a quiet waiting room. A stuffy room with cream-coloured walls, beige carpet, and brown furniture; all designed in a way that was meant to be calming. Yet it did little to calm the four officers. Instead, it only made them more tense, not helped by the suffocation that was formality.
"Sorry I'm late sir." Akiko burst into the room, panting heavily.
"Aki, where have you been?" Captain Shimada would normally bark at someone who was late to an event as important as this, yet these past two weeks had been hard on them. No voice left for chastising anyone. The man simply patted the girl on the shoulder, giving her a kind smile.
"Sorry... I was... I was..." Akiko struggled to find the words. She didn't want to explain that she was had in fact gone behind her captain's back.
Told to not mention the Reaper in this hearing; the young detective had decided to disobey a direct order. She had prepared a weapon that would surely end their careers. Yet she would at least go out as she wanted; fighting the good fight.
Akiko gave no explanation. The other detectives simply nodded their heads. Each of them, except the captain knew exactly where she had been.
"Where's Luca?" Akiko asked, noticing the missing face of the RCU's newest recruit.
"I gave him the day. Your man Eren gave him quite the verbal lashing whilst undercover. He is still shaken up." Takeshi explained with a hand wave.
"What did he say?"
"Called him a fucking pig." Mai, who was Luca's direct senior; spoke with venom in her voice.
"I would have gone down to the Silvermane base itself and taught that prick a lesson. But we've got this hearing." The captain spoke with shared sentiment to Mai. No one should be able to disrespect the RCU or the police for that matter.
"Excuse me? Detectives. Their ready for you now." A woman poked her head through the door; calling for the group.
"Right. Everyone, stick together in there. We have our plan; we will execute it. Good luck everyone." The captain tried to boost morale before they entered.
A room that really wasn't that special. White walls, white ceiling, white floor, black chairs. It was as if someone had decided to make a room out of paper, a little dull and lifeless. It was as sterile as an operating theatre; yet there was no smell of disinfectant in the air, no comforting warmth of a doctor's smile. It had none of those qualities, it was just a boxy space filled with rows and rows of empty seats.
One long table at the far end, four men and a women in similar navy police uniforms sat. They looked like a panel of judges; all of them seemed to be in their late fifties or early sixties. All had a serious, almost judgmental gaze on their faces as the RCU entered.
"Thank you for seeing us. We hope to bring this matter to a close swiftly." Captain Shimada spoke first; bowing heavily. Followed by his subordinates doing the same.
"Captain Shimada, thank you for joining us today. Please, take your seats." One of the older men waved to the RCU. His voice slightly raspy, years of cigarette smoke had left their mark on this man's lungs.
'Yeah right, you forced us to come you old prick.' Aki thought, but wouldn't dare say out loud.
"Let's begin." A woman who was centre stage spoke. Years of experience evident in her stern features and piercing blue eyes.
"Officers of the ranker crimes department. You have failed to stop the destruction of the Crimson bandits guild as well as the mass execution of many other guilds in a single night. Why should we give you the opportunity to speak?" On the far right sat another man, Chief Kiyoshi, a harsh and frugal man. Many departments have fallen into the pit of 'budgetary constraints' under his watchful eyes.
"Sir, we have a full debrief of our findings during that night. It would explain why-" Captain Shimada began, only to be cut off.
"I have read your debrief, and I see nothing but excuses." The voice of Chief Miyamoto spoke with an edge of frustration. If Chief Kiyoshi was the biggest threat then Miyamoto was the second biggest. He had been on many panels like this; known for being ruthless when it came to 'ineffective' policing.
"The RCU is and was built to monitor any guild activity. Yet as we sit here today... Over 300 people; Crimson bandits among other civilians guilds wiped out in one night. Not to mention the fact that this last quater guild related fatalities has increased tenfold in ward 4. A further 250 have been missing since the start of this quarter. Can you explain that, Captain Shimada?" Miyamoto finished.
The RCU wanted to speak up, complain about the lack of resources, or the lack of support from the higher ups. Even knowing that ward 4 was a particularly problematic area to police. However, they could not. They just sat there, waiting for Captain Shimada to answer.
"Yes, Chief Miyamoto." The captain began. He took a deep breath before continuing.
"We've seen a drastic rise in violent crime amongst the smaller, more aggressive guilds. We suspect this is a result an internal combustion of leadership and power. All our data points to-"
"An internal combustion?!" Kiyoshi exclaimed.
"So, you sit here this afternoon and tell us that all the deaths, all the missing persons, all the crime, all the misery. Is simply because these guilds are not well managed?" Miyamoto spoke again, looking at the RCU with frustration.
Already the RCU was held at gunpoint, stripped off all amour and defence before even a word was said.
The final silent Chief. Chief Inaba was a former member of the RCU, as young as Shimada. Although not as affected by the stress of the job. His eyes pleaded for his former team members to give more evidence.
"Well then, it seems that the RCU haven't taken this hearing seriously. Their careers on the line and all they have brought is 'an internal combustion.'" Miyamoto laughed with derision.
"Well despite the inauspicious beginning; they are entitled to at least present their case." Inaba finally spoke.
"Yes. Indeed, and this committe will judge accordingly." The women backed Inaba. Chief Aoi was known as a fair and impartial judge in these matters. However, she was still known to be rather brutal on police corruption and inaction.
"Please, Captain Shimada."
"Thank you Chief Aoi. If you open your reports to page..."
Captain Shimada seemed to speak for hours about his team's work. He gave detailed reports of their investigations, showed pictures of the scene and even played recordings from that day.
The panel listened intently, taking notes when necessary. Even Miyamoto, who was so dismissive initially had become interested in what was said.
The detectives even received a chance to speak. Mori to Mai, even Takeshi; managed to find some polite words to explain what they were doing for the past few weeks. Despite all his wit and jokes, the senior detective knew when to be mature.
All the while Aki stayed silent. Her plan, a last-ditch effort to save her squad would only be used if the captain's diplomatic method failed.
"Thank you, captain. That has been most illuminating." Chief Aoi spoke. She was a thin, almost frail woman who seemed to be on the verge of collapse at any moment. Yet her eyes burned with an intensity that could not be denied.
"Yes, we will discuss your report. It will only be a moment." With that, the face of Shimada dropped. Their goal was to sway at least Chief Aoi and Chief Mido, with Inaba; would have voted for them as well. No way would they sway either Kiyoshi nor Miyamoto.
Yet by Miyamoto's words. They failed to make that goal. It seemed that the RCU was about to be disbanded.
Kenji gave Aki a nod. The girl nodded back.
'Go get em girl.' He thought to himself.
The captains all returned. With sombre faces. Save for Kiyoshi and Miyamoto. Chief Aoi was the one to speak.
"Captain Shimada... We have discussed your case."
"And?" The captain asked. Trying to not let the anxiousness show on his face.
"I'm sorry, but with the current state of affairs we simply cannot allow the RCU to continue operating in its current capacity." Aoi spoke again, her voice filled with sadness. She truly was apologetic. However, it was a decision that had already been made by most before they had even entered this room.
"No." Akiko spoke
"No?" Chief Miyamoto raised an eyebrow at the girl.
"I refuse to accept this decision." She said firmly. Her voice carrying an air of defiance.
"Aki-" Captain Shimada pleaded.
"No sir, they need to know." She pulled 5 more reports, each far smaller in size compared to the thick ones provided by the RCU.
"You dare speak out of line!" Chief Kiyoshi complained. He slammed a hand on the desk before standing up with indignation at this young detective.
"I do dare. Now shut up and listen you old prick." Aki dropped all formalities; this was it, all, or nothing.
"Akiko!" Captain Shimada yelled; Kenji placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Let her go, she will save us all." He whispered. "She has to."
"Detective Akiko Bennett; you would put your squads and your own career on the line for this?" Aoi asked with interest.
"This is an abhorrent breach of decorum! We should be locking up this detective for insubordination." Kiyoshi yelled.
"I agree with Kiyoshi, this flagrant attempt to-"
Miyamoto cut himself off. Eyes locked onto an image within Akiko's file. 'The Reaper.'
"Who is this Detective Akiko?" Inaba gave her the opening.
"This... is the being known as the Reaper. He is the one solely responsible for the mass murder of the Crimson bandits and numerous other criminal guilds."
"The Reaper?" Aoi asked with confusion.
"And why was this not brought up before." Miyamoto added.
"Because... Aside from that image; he is a ghost, whispers of his crimes, witness statements, yet no solid evidence. Not even bodies we can link to this being." Akiko explained.
"By your own admission this nothing more than ghost tales." Chief Kiyoshi was quick with words.
"And we are here to judge the RCU based on evidence. Detective Akiko has brought forward evidence of this 'ghost'. As such it would be unfair to proceed without hearing this out." Inaba was quick to retort.
"Agreed. Akiko continue." Aoi was next to speak.
"Yes. Thank you Chief Aoi."
Aki took in a deep breath, her hands shaking slightly with every deep breath. She hadn't planned what she would say. Perhaps a mistake; but this was it. It was now or never.
"The Reaper...Terrifies me." She began.
"Not because of his violence or his abilities. But rather... Please turn to the next page."
Shock and horror across the panel. Aoi nearly fell over, Inaba's eyes widened in surprise, even Miyamoto who had seen repulsive images on the job before was taken aback. It wasn't the Reaper. Merely the why of his actions.
The photos showed crimes so monstrous, they went beyond anything the panel had encountered in their long careers. The crimson bandits really were the bane of that ward.
"...It's because his right. I do not wish to work with or have any sympathy for this being. However, crimes that the crimson bandits had committed years before and had gone unnoticed."
"What he has done in 3 months is more than we could do in a lifetime. We would be shackled down by law and ethics. He is bound only to himself... I lie awake every night thinking. 'What if his justice is the only true justice?'"
Akiko looked at the panellists. Their faces were all as pale as the room they sat in.
"That's why it scares me. If that's true justice then what are we?" Akiko's eyes were filled with a mix of sadness and anger.
"Then, every night I can sleep peacefully. If I repeat my old guild master's mantra on justice. 'Justice is the office coffee. Poorly made, taste like ass and everyone hates it. But it's the only coffee we got and it keeps us all sane.'" Her words would make her former master laugh with pride.
"I refuse to live in a world where that is true justice."
The panellists listened attentively; no one dared to interrupt her passionate speech about justice, crime, and punishment. They were held captive by her words, her passion and determination resonating with them.
"So, if you're asking me why the RCU couldn't stop him... Maybe because the world is broken. Crimes go unpunished and people suffer every day because we are bound by laws. The Reaper isn't a vigilante. He's a mirror to the society we have failed."
"Please. Help us." Her final words. Aki's voice was barely above a whisper as she finished. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she held them back with sheer willpower.
The panel was quiet. None of them spoke, they all seemed to be deep in thought.
"Detective Akiko. Your words have..."
*Bang*
"I'm so sorry to interrupt." The secretary burst into the room with a look of panic on her face.
"What is it?" Aoi asked.
"The ward 4 police station has gone dark." The words fell like a bomb within the room.
"That's captain Matsuo's station... Reaper territory." Kenji spoke with concern.
"You 5. Get into the armoured cars. We are all going to investigate this." Chief Kiyoshi ordered the RCU. Each member of the room quickly got up; heading out the door.
What ever the outcome may have been needed to wait.