SCIAW: Chapter 106/108

Chapter 106: Teach the Drug Dealers a Lesson

Upon receiving the intel, the tactical team immediately split into two groups.

One team advanced toward the center of Tsukikage Island, while the other headed for the back mountain.

However, these two teams couldn't act independently, they needed to move in perfect sync to avoid alerting the enemy.

As a result, both teams launched their operations simultaneously.

The police presence targeting the community center was scaled down; their main task was to secure the area.

In contrast, the back mountain required more manpower due to its larger size and potential dangers.

Thus, the sweep operation officially commenced.

At that exact moment, back at Metropolitan Police Headquarters, many high-ranking officers finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good… we made it just in time."

Seated in the center of the room, Superintendent Shiratori wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

This entire ordeal had been nothing short of a nightmare.

"This situation… has been far too close for comfort."

He glanced around the room and addressed the gathered officers.

"Everyone, today's incident is a failure on our part."

"For two months, we've been investigating this massive drug trafficking network and yet we let them establish operations on an island so close to Tokyo."

"This is our responsibility."

The superintendent ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated.

"If we don't handle this properly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Cabinet calls me in for questioning."

The identities of the targeted young women were anything but ordinary.

If these girls had been harmed by drug dealers, the entire Metropolitan Police Department would have become the public face of incompetence.

Their names would've been etched into history on a plaque of shame.

"Those young women represent the future of this country's economy."

"And we must not forget the Saginomiya shrine maiden and the Sanzenin family's young heir."

"If anything happens to them, this country will suffer severe consequences."

His gaze darkened.

"Especially the Sanzenin family."

The Sanzenin conglomerate was heavily involved in international trade.

If their operations were disrupted or damaged by this incident, the economic fallout could destabilize not just Tokyo, but the entire nation.

"And let's not forget the Saginomiya shrine maiden."

He shuddered.

"The Saginomiya family has been solving supernatural incidents for generations."

"And their current shrine maiden is considered the strongest in history despite her young age."

"If she ends up as collateral damage…"

He trailed off, his face growing pale.

If that shrine maiden died here, the public backlash alone would be enough to sink his career.

He might even become the scapegoat, sacrificed to appease the Saginomiya family.

Just imagining it sent a cold chill down his spine.

"If that happens, I might as well resign and become a watermelon farmer in Egypt."

He cleared his throat and turned to the officers.

"From today onward, cracking down on drug trafficking is our top priority."

"We cannot allow these criminals to continue operating in Tokyo."

"We will never let this situation repeat itself."

He slammed his fist onto the table for emphasis.

"If—and I mean if—I hear about another major drug operation slipping past us…"

"I will personally hold the responsible officer accountable."

"Is that clear?"

The officers immediately responded:

"Yes, sir!"

The warning wasn't just for show.

The officers knew that Superintendent Shiratori was dead serious.

The drug dealers had nearly sent the entire police command structure into panic mode.

And there was no next time.

As for the drug dealers themselves?

Their fate was already sealed.

Anyone caught participating in this operation would be treated as an example, a lesson for the underworld.

The island's fate was already determined:

Swift justice.

And for those drug dealers?

Life imprisonment, if they were lucky.

But considering the high-profile nature of their crime…

A few "unfortunate incidents" might occur during transport.

Community Center - Tsukikage Island

Meanwhile, at the community center, dozens of villagers had gathered, many of them holding protest signs.

The messages on the signs all referenced environmental pollution.

Kogoro and Conan who had come to the island as private investigators also arrived, accompanied by the local doctor, Asai Narumi.

"There are quite a few protesters here," Mouri Kogoro noted.

"Yeah…" Conan's eyes narrowed behind his glasses.

The signs all mentioned pollution, specifically issues affecting the local marine environment.

Curious, Kogoro turned to Asai Narumi.

"Ms. Asai, are there any factories or facilities here that might cause pollution?"

The doctor shook her head, equally puzzled.

"I only come back to Tsukikage Island on weekends, but I can confidently say there's no such facility here."

"The island is too remote for that."

"It's an archipelago, far from Tokyo. The power supply is unreliable, and the water supply has to be transported in from the mainland."

"No company would invest here."

The economic stagnation of Tsukikage Island was well-known.

Its only asset was its pristine environment, the very thing these protesters were worried about.

"But if there's no factory here, where's the pollution coming from?" Conan muttered to himself.

Before anyone could respond—

Click-clack.

The rhythmic sound of heavy boots echoed through the square.

A group of heavily armed men marched into view.

They wore tactical gear, thick body armor, and carried submachine guns.

S.W.A.T.

The Metropolitan Police Department's Special Assault Team.

"...!?"

Asai Narumi froze.

Her mind went blank for a second, struggling to process the sight.

"Th-The… police? Special forces?"

Kogoro immediately recognized the unit.

"That's the Special Investigation Unit from the Metropolitan Police."

"I didn't think they'd deploy them here…"

Conan adjusted his glasses, his mind racing.

"What exactly are they preparing for?"

__________
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.

_________

Chapter 108: The Revenge of the Protagonist "He"

Upright police officers don't tend to live long.

Ren couldn't help but mutter this to himself.

Sato Miwako—the Metropolitan Police Department's well-known heroine in more ways than one.

She was a deeply principled policewoman, though her emotions ran high whenever she faced the murderer of her late father.

But that was understandable.

Revenge was a natural human instinct.

The more righteous a police officer was, the more likely they were to act impulsively.

Because the more they understood the depth of darkness, the more powerless they felt when trying to combat it.

They saw how integrity alone wasn't enough.

The higher they climbed within the system, the more they had to navigate the greasy poles of politics.

And once their hands became slick with that grease, many simply stopped resisting.

Sato Miwako's father had met the same fate, an unappreciated, forgotten officer.

And unfortunately, her own career trajectory seemed eerily similar.

She wasn't suited for desk work.

Her future would likely mirror her father's: a frontline inspector, never promoted beyond a certain point.

Ren wouldn't say these things out loud, of course.

A person's nature couldn't be changed with a few passing comments.

Sometimes, silence was the best approach.

"Officer Sato, I won't take up any more of your time. I'll let you get back to work."

"…Ah, wait a second."

Just as he was about to leave, Sato Miwako called out to him.

She dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out a business card.

"If you come across anything like this again, give me a call."

"I work with Inspector Megure, so if it involves Tokyo, I'll handle it."

Ren took the card and examined it.

Her name, department, and work number were printed neatly on the front.

A private cellphone number was written on the back.

"Officer Sato, you're surprisingly similar to Inspector Megure."

"…?"

"Your way of handling things, it feels very familiar."

He left it at that.

"Anyway, if I find anything suspicious, I'll let you know."

"But fair warning, I might end up calling you a lot."

"But if you want my help… I need one promise from you."

Sato Miwako tilted her head slightly.

"What promise?"

"I want a life that isn't constantly interrupted by cops asking me for help."

"If you can guarantee that, I'll contact you whenever I discover something important."

The straightforwardness of the request surprised her.

But she smiled and nodded.

"Of course. I promise, no one will disturb you."

Her words were genuine, without a trace of official pretense.

It was in moments like these that her righteous nature shone through.

"Good."

"Then if I stumble upon anything strange, I'll reach out."

"But you'll need to keep my name off the reports."

He extended his hand toward her.

Sato Miwako paused for a second, then shook it firmly.

"It's a deal."

"Yeah. Deal."

After that brief handshake, they released each other's hands and parted ways.

As Ren walked away, Sato Miwako couldn't help but feel that this high school boy was anything but ordinary.

"Now that I think about it… the club he's in is mostly made up of elite young ladies."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Mr. Mouri's daughter and that Suzuki girl are childhood friends, sure…"

"But Amamiya Ren?"

"A random boy with no visible background… in a club with some of the wealthiest and most influential high schoolers in Tokyo?"

The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

"And Ms. Suzuki seems pretty fond of him…"

Her intuition as a detective kicked in.

Something doesn't add up.


---

Back in the Hotel

Ren returned to the living room where everyone was gathered.

Upon entering, all eyes immediately shifted to him.

"The situation is stable."

"The police have captured the mastermind, and they're sweeping the back mountain for the remaining drug dealers."

"Even if the drug dealers have illegal weapons, the police are better trained and equipped."

"The outcome won't change."

He retrieved his tarot deck from Sefirah Castle and began shuffling the cards.

After a moment, he drew three cards:

The Star (Upright)

Death (Upright)

The World (Upright)


The meanings were clear:

Hope would prevail.

An inevitable ending awaited the drug dealers.

The situation would resolve in the police's favor.


Everything was proceeding as fate intended.

The drug dealers' defeat was a foregone conclusion.

Ren sighed softly.

"I'm sorry, everyone."

"I didn't expect something like this to happen during our first club activity."

"Amamiya! Amamiya!"

Before anyone could respond, Fujiwara shot up from her seat, her eyes sparkling.

"Did you remember all of this?!"

Amamiya blinked, taken aback.

"…Remember?"

"Yeah! This entire story!"

He thought about it for a moment.

"Well… I do remember it pretty clearly."

"So you didn't remember it before?"

"Ren shook his head. "No. Not until now."

Fujiwara clapped her hands together excitedly.

"Wait—so this story is different from what you knew?"

"It is."

"The story has… changed."

"But honestly, it feels more realistic now."

Fujiwara's curiosity piqued.

"What was the original story?"

Ren leaned back slightly and thought.

"The story I know went like this: the village chief of Tsukikage Island partnered with some drug traffickers."

"They used a middleman to handle the transactions."

"But eventually, that middleman grew a conscience and wanted out."

"But… he knew too much."

Fujiwara frowned.

"So the village chief killed him?"

Ren nodded.

"Yeah. They burned down his house with him and his wife and children inside."

"But… one child survived."

"The kid was sick and had been sent away for treatment."

Fujiwara gasped.

"So now that kid is back for revenge, right?"

"Exactly."

"Ugh! I knew it!"

Fujiwara stomped her foot playfully.

"This is classic revenge-story material!"

"That's just how these plots always go!"

"But wait… what happened to that surviving child?"

Ren hesitated.

"One sec."

He focused his spiritual energy, forming an image in the air.

A ghostly, holographic figure appeared, depicting a mature woman with a calm but cold expression.

Fujiwara's eyes widened.

"Wow… she's beautiful."

But then she froze.

Her mind replayed Amamiya's exact words:

"The protagonist is 'he'… but the image is of a 'woman'?"

She pointed at the floating image, her mouth falling open.

"Wait… you said he was the one seeking revenge."

Ren nodded.

"Yeah."

"But… that's a woman!"

Her voice rose with disbelief.

"Is that boy actually a… girl?!"