Chapter 107: The Upright Female Police Officer
"Everyone, get down!"
Faced with the sudden command, even the protesters who had been holding signs just moments ago dropped to the ground without resistance.
The tactical assault team immediately charged into the community center, while the officers in the rear secured the perimeter.
They couldn't rule out the possibility that some drug dealers might be mixed in with the civilians. Based on past experience, everyone had to be treated as a potential suspect. There was no room for carelessness.
Although Kogoro didn't fully understand the situation, he remained silent and obediently lay flat on the ground. He knew that special forces units wouldn't appear on Tsukikage Island without a good reason.
The only question in his mind was:
What exactly had happened on Tsukikage Island to warrant deploying a special forces team?
Suddenly—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out from inside the community center, startling the civilians lying outside.
Moments later, people were led out of the building. Among them, several individuals were dragged out with visible gunshot wounds to their arms and legs. Their hands were cuffed behind their backs, rendering them completely subdued.
There was no doubt—these were the targets of the operation.
"The masterminds inside the community center have been apprehended," reported the action team leader.
"Confirmed. All hostiles neutralized and situation under control."
"Understood. If anyone resists further, shoot on sight."
The suspects, having witnessed their comrades get shot without hesitation, abandoned any thoughts of resistance.
These weren't ordinary police officers. The submachine guns these operatives carried could shred a person to pieces in seconds.
"All suspects, hand over your communication devices immediately."
"Don't try to hide anything. If you do, you'll regret it."
Several team members aimed their weapons directly at the detained individuals. The message was clear: any suspicious movement would earn them a bullet to the head.
The ordinary villagers complied without hesitation.
Those with guilty consciences trembled as they handed over their devices. The cold steel of the guns and the dead eyes of the operatives left no room for defiance.
The operation here went surprisingly smoothly. The community center had been relatively unguarded due to the drug traffickers' preoccupation with manipulating the local elections.
The real challenge, however, lay ahead.
The back mountain.
That location was almost certainly the heart of the operation, the drug production base.
Its defenses would be significantly stronger, making the upcoming assault far more dangerous.
---
Metropolitan Police HQ – Command Center
"Mission update: the suspects in the community center have been successfully apprehended."
Upon receiving the report, Sato Miwako, stationed at the hot spring hotel, finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Phew…"
The successful capture of the ringleaders meant the drug traffickers wouldn't dare target innocent villagers in desperation.
"Now it's the back mountain's turn," she muttered.
That was where the assault team was headed next.
Unlike the community center operation, this mission required heavier equipment, high-grade bulletproof vests, submachine guns, and even sniper rifles.
It would be a tough fight, but success was only a matter of time.
The constant pressure of this mission made Sato Miwako feel like she was on the verge of a heart attack.
Now that the initial phase had succeeded, she allowed herself a brief moment of relaxation.
Her gaze shifted toward Ren, the man who had provided the critical intelligence.
"It's honestly impressive how you pieced it all together," she said, her tone sincere. "Without your insight, the traffickers in the back mountain might've gotten away."
Ren shook his head. "It was just a lucky guess."
Truthfully, he was simply waiting for the police's next move.
Now that the mastermind had been captured, the next phase was entirely predictable.
"But to notice the suspicious signs just from a few checkpoints and protest banners, that's more than luck," Sato countered.
Ren smiled faintly. "I was just curious about Tsukikage Island since it's my first time here. So, I paid closer attention."
"That's a good habit," Sato said approvingly. "New environments always require a bit of extra caution."
Her expression softened. "Still, it's pretty unlucky to stumble into a case like this on your weekend."
Ren chuckled. "You're in the same boat, Officer Sato."
"...Yeah, you're right." She sighed deeply.
This incident exposed a major oversight in the police department's investigations.
The islands near Tokyo should've been monitored more closely. Instead, drug traffickers had exploited the police's blind spot to set up operations right under their noses.
What was worse?
They did it boldly, practically flaunting their activities.
Sato shook her head. "The traffickers really pushed their luck this time. Operating so close to Tokyo? That's insane."
"But," she added with a smirk, "I have to admit, it was clever."
No prior investigation had pinpointed Tsukikage Island as the drug network's base. Every lead only suggested an island near Tokyo, but nothing concrete.
The traffickers had played their hand brilliantly.
"But they still lost," Ren said softly.
"Yeah. And we'll make sure they regret ever trying."
---
Sato leaned against the wall, letting out a weary sigh.
"At least this operation exposed their entire network," she said. "Even if we got chewed out by our superiors, catching these guys makes it worth it."
Ren observed her quietly.
Sato Miwako wasn't pretending; her words were genuine.
"You have a great attitude, Officer Sato."
"It's not about attitude," she corrected. "We got scolded because we deserved it. We didn't do our job properly. That's on us."
Her honesty was refreshing.
Ren found himself genuinely impressed.
"In this country, officers like you are rare," he said.
"Ugh… stop talking like you're from my mom's generation," she groaned.
"You're making me feel old."
Ren chuckled at her exasperated expression.