Chapter 11: Sure Enough, It's a Sick Joke!
The Private Office quieted down, with only the occasional click of a mouse.
Mr. Kinehara's expression gradually turned serious.
Numabuchi Kiichiro's Testimony, the Home Delivery investigation, the on-site investigation of Numabuchi Kiichiro's imprisonment, the Surveillance Camera footage outside the Prefectural Police Headquarters, the investigation into the Phone Card, vehicle traffic...
The information provided by the Osaka Prefectural Police was as detailed as it could be.
They had even investigated some unnecessary details, probably because the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters was curious about who had delivered Numabuchi Kiichiro.
Unfortunately, despite all the investigation, they couldn't ascertain the person's age, let alone their appearance or Fingerprint.
Even the 'Home Delivery' Phone Call seemed to have deliberately altered voice.
This was a meticulous and cautious individual!
What puzzled him even more was how this person managed to get Numabuchi Kiichiro to cooperate in concealing their identity.
Were they associates of Numabuchi Kiichiro?
No, the Bounty for the Wanted Criminal was offered so casually. It could easily have been any fugitive criminal instead of Numabuchi Kiichiro.
Or was it just luck that their paths happened to cross?
But no matter how well-acquainted they were, Numabuchi Kiichiro was a Wanted Criminal precisely because he didn't want to be caught. It was unlikely he would cooperate with someone to send himself to Prison for a small Bounty, right?
Doesn't make sense!
The Young Man waited aside, when his Mobile Phone chimed with an Email notification. "Ah, excuse me..."
"It's alright, check it. You're July's contact, it might be him," Mr. Kinehara said, his expression easing slightly, half-jokingly. But then he noticed the Young Man's strange look. "What is it?"
The Young Man cleared his throat. "It's July. He emailed to say the Evidence Search Bounty is complete, and asked where to send the Things..."
Mr. Kinehara fell silent.
Wait, let him get this straight...
The night before last, July registered.
Yesterday at noon, July captured Numabuchi Kiichiro and delivered him to the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters.
This morning, July completed another Evidence Search Bounty in Tokyo.
Leaving aside how he tracked down Numabuchi Kiichiro, just the Evidence Search Task itself was known to be incredibly difficult.
The target was highly vigilant, rarely committing crimes personally in recent years. Even when traveling, their home and office were guarded. No one was allowed in without a Phone Call.
The Bounty request stated 'any Evidence of Crime is acceptable' because forced searches or infiltration were the only ways to find any incriminating evidence.
However, a forced search would break the tacit agreement with the Inagawa-kai, who wouldn't tolerate being 'bullied' and would cause trouble. Infiltration, if discovered, would give the Inagawa-kai leverage.
Using a Bounty Hunter avoided these issues, as they weren't part of the official system...
But this Code Name July Bounty Hunter found Evidence of Crime in less than a day?
You've got to be kidding me!
The Young Man waited silently for his superior's instructions.
Mr. Kinehara snapped out of his thoughts. "Tell him to send it to the National Police Agency. Send him my Phone number and tell him we'd like to meet and talk if he's willing!"
"Yes," the Young Man replied, then after a moment, checked a new Email. "He says he has other Intelligence besides the Evidence of Crime, which he'll send together. He wants us to assess its value and add to the price."
Mr. Kinehara frowned slightly. Was he trying to negotiate the price on the spot?
No, if he was, he wouldn't send the Things for them to inspect first. Whether they added to the price would still be their decision.
Which meant, he was confident in the Intelligence?
"Agree. Change into something inconspicuous and monitor the vicinity of the National Police Agency! If you see July, don't startle him. If he notices you, be sincere and explain we're just trying to understand the Situation, as he's operating in Japan and we have no malicious intent."
The Young Man immediately straightened up. "Yes, sir!"
"Oh, and," Mr. Kinehara added, "Have someone go to the Criminal Investigation Department. Have them cover half of the Bounty for Numabuchi Kiichiro's capture. Although we issued the Bounty, the Criminal Investigation Department is responsible for Numabuchi Kiichiro's three cases, and they also solved another case because of it."
"Cough, yes!" The Young Man's mood was subtly complicated.
Was he worried about their budget?
But considering July's terrifying, money-printing efficiency, he really might drain their funds...
After the Young Man left, Mr. Kinehara returned to his work.
The Bounty was their responsibility, but there hadn't been many high-profile Bounty Hunters active before. The Bounty budget was small, only about ten million Japanese Yen set aside as a formality.
He needed to report this situation and explain it as soon as possible. If Bounties were terminated due to budget issues, or if they couldn't pay after a Bounty was completed, it would be a national embarrassment and a joke within and outside the Bounty Hunter community.
Besides, once could be a coincidence, but twice?
This July was no ordinary person. It was necessary to report to 'Zero Group' proactively!
Busy with work, almost ten minutes later, the Phone rang.
The male voice on the other end was honest with a hint of nervousness. "Hello, your Home Delivery has arrived at the National Police Agency entrance. Please come down to pick it up when you have time."
Home Delivery again?
Mr. Kinehara began to suspect July might have an obsession with Home Delivery, or perhaps he was even working for a Home Delivery service?
...
Half an hour later, the two went upstairs.
This time, it really was Home Delivery!
July seemed to have spotted a Delivery Vehicle parked nearby and, taking advantage of the deliveryman's inattention, secretly placed the Sealed Cardboard Box inside, even filling out the Delivery Slip.
At least, under their investigation, the two deliverymen were just ordinary deliverymen...
"Having him send the Things to the National Police Agency must have alerted him. It's not surprising he guessed we'd go out to wait," Mr. Kinehara said, dismissing his minor annoyance. "Since he's unwilling to show himself, we'll leave it for later. Let's confirm the Things first."
A Sticker was affixed to the Sealed Cardboard Box.
[Inside: Electronic Products and Flammable Materials. Handle with care. Keep away from water and fire. Do not force open.]
The Young Man silently unpacked the box.
Mr. Kinehara also waited in silence.
Working in Home Delivery?
No! What they were sensing was...
This was actually July's sick joke?
Inside the box, on top, was a transparent plastic bag with a Printed Paper attached:
[Us: Blood-stained Clothes, freshly unearthed Skull with Bullet Hole and Soil, Gun with Fingerprint]
Mr. Kinehara's eyelid twitched. "He just sent a Gun via Home Delivery like this?"
The Young Man nodded woodenly.
This guy was bold, not worried about the Gun getting lost during Delivery and being picked up by someone...
"Open it and check," Mr. Kinehara said, regaining his composure for a second, his expression turning strange again. "He got his hands on the other party's Gun?"
The Young Man put on Gloves, opened the package, and took out the contents. "Yes, there are Blood-stained Clothes and a Skull with Bullet Hole and Soil, just as the Printed Paper says. We can use the Skull and Gun for ballistic comparison. The Gun has Fingerprint. Even if it's not enough for a conviction, we can use it to open a case. Illegal possession of Firearms is already a crime, and we can add suspicion of murder. As for the Blood-stained Clothes, it seems to belong to the victim."
Mr. Kinehara rubbed his temples. Whether it matched the Printed Paper wasn't the point. The point was, how did this guy get his hands on the other person's Gun?
Was that Key Member of the Inagawa-kai executive department a fake?
As a Key Member, how could someone have such important Things stolen?
And the Skull and Blood-stained Clothes were dug up for them...
Telling them the location and having them dig it up wasn't impossible either.
Hmm... From this perspective, this July was truly dedicated!
"Mr. Kinehara, there's one more item below." The Young Man took out a smaller plastic bag from underneath, glanced at it, and indeed, another Printed Paper was attached.
[Me: Very, very big Intelligence. Requesting extra payment.]
Sure enough, it's a sick joke!
Mr. Kinehara mentally forced himself to ignore the Printed Paper. "Let's see. Even he says it's... very, very big Intelligence, so it must be important."
An hour later, the two hurried out.
The Young Man took the Evidence of Crime for analysis.
Mr. Kinehara took a Storage Card to report to his superiors, and by the way... to apply for funds!
This Intelligence was indeed very, very big.
With this Intelligence, who needed Evidence of Crime, case files, or investigations?
The location of the goods, the transaction point, the people involved—everything was there. If they wanted to play the long game, they could. If they wanted to strike first, they could.
Coupled with some of the Inagawa-kai's development plans, even though they would surely adjust after this incident, they could still discern some of the Inagawa-kai's intentions and hidden strengths.
Mr. Kinehara began to suspect again: was July perhaps a Key Member within the Inagawa-kai? Otherwise, how could he record their secret meetings?
Had the Inagawa-kai become so lax that they didn't even check for Bugs during important meetings?
Right, the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Department's Fourth Division would use this Intelligence. So it wouldn't be a problem for the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Department to cover part of the Bounty, would it...?
...
Three PM.
After Chi Feichi woke up and washed up in the bathroom, he went to the Living Room and used his Computer to check his Anonymous Account at a foreign bank online.
There was a new Transfer: 7.5 million Japanese Yen.
4.5 million more than the original Bounty.
Considering he only provided News, and the confirmation and specific actions were left to them, the price was fair, even a little generous.
This time, he had earned significant Reputation and made a good impression at the National Police Agency. They had even granted him access to the Bounty Board.
The Bounty Board was essentially a Wanted List, updated in real-time, listing Wanted Criminals with varying Bounties, the lowest being 50,000 Japanese Yen.
Low Bounties also had their advantages. The Goals were less troublesome, and you might just stumble upon a Wanted Criminal while out and about, earning some pocket money.
So, being a Bounty Hunter also tested one's eyesight. People with face blindness need not apply...
"There's still one Protection Bounty Mission left..."
Chi Feichi considered it and decided to pass.
He wasn't good at protecting people, and protection wasn't his 'career inclination'.
Besides...
'Starting May 19th, lasting three days.' What kind of Task description was that!
What day was May 19th?
He wouldn't know until he got there, making advance preparation impossible.
Accepting Bounties was inherently flexible. Declining one didn't require special notification; he simply wouldn't show up.
He took out his Mobile Phone and removed the second Phone Card he had bought in Osaka.
He had intended to keep a Phone Card for 'Delivery' to the National Police Agency, but unexpectedly encountered a Home Delivery Delivery Vehicle on the way, saving him a risky trip. This Phone Card remained unused.
Still, it might come in handy someday.
(End of Chapter)