Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 293 - 214

Chapter 293: Chapter 214

How could a perfectly healthy person just vanish into thin air in front of so many eyes?

Earlier, Minamoto Tamako and Fushimi Roku were approached by a Dancing Girl who was selling "Fate Bells". She claimed that the bells, tied with red and white strings, held a special meaning: by intertwining one’s red string with another’s white string and silently chanting the other’s name, it could forge bonds or maintain lasting friendships...

The bell wasn’t expensive, just a thousand yen.

Fushimi Roku immediately realized that they were being seen as an easy couple to exploit. He was about to refuse, but Minamoto Tamako bought the Fate Bell before he could say anything, to symbolize their ’everlasting friendship’.

It was in just this momentary distraction that Taira Sakurako disappeared.

Initially, Fushimi Roku wasn’t concerned, as there were many people around, it was unlikely she’d get lost; it was only after he and Minamoto Tamako searched for a while without finding her that he sensed something was wrong. He immediately took out his phone and called Taira Sakurako, but no one answered, and there was no ringing sound around them.

Upon seeing this, Minamoto Tamako decisively stopped some reporters and photographers, asking if they had seen Taira Sakurako.

"You are...?"

Mizutani Hiroshi didn’t respond, instead, he scrutinized them with suspicious eyes.

Anyone would suspect unknown strangers, let alone when Minamoto Tamako asked where Taira Sakurako went, suggesting she might have been followed all along...

It was a bit frightening.

Fushimi Roku, unwilling to argue, pulled out his police badge and thrust it in front of Mizutani Hiroshi: "Criminal police department detective, I am the child’s guardian, and now suspect that you have abducted a girl, please cooperate with the investigation."

Mizutani Hiroshi was instantly flustered. Even just being suspected of abducting a child could ruin him socially. He exchanged a glance with Mori Hajime, and both hurriedly explained the situation like spilling beans from a bamboo tube.

After listening, Minamoto Tamako looked doubtful and turned to Fushimi Roku: "What’s going on? Didn’t you say your parents..."

"It’s finally come to this."

Fushimi Roku feigned a sigh, interrupting Minamoto Tamako’s questioning, and began to spout nonsense with a straight face: "Actually, Sakurako and I are half-siblings. She has always wanted to meet her biological mother, which is why she came to Shizuoka Prefecture to look for her..."

Minamoto Tamako, not as gullible as before, wasn’t easily fooled: "But that’s not what you said before."

"That was because Sakurako asked me to keep it from you," Fushimi Roku shook his head, showing an expression of ’having hidden difficulties’: "She was worried you’d be upset, fearing that her search for her mother would create a rift between you."

Minamoto Tamako thought, what kind of reason is that? Why would Sakurako think like that?

But then she thought, if Sakurako found her mother and chose to live with her, she indeed would feel lonely... Besides the comfort, she might also feel a bit jealous, that despite their close bond, it couldn’t compete with the intimacy of blood relations.

Unexpectedly, Sakurako had kept this thought buried inside.

Minamoto Tamako was deeply touched for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions and didn’t know what to say.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a commotion arose from the crowd, the bonfire leaped to its fiercest, and the night sky turned blood orange. The Dancing Girl flicked gold powder from her sleeve, dancing with the sparks as the sharp strings of the shamisen were accompanied by the crowd’s cheers reaching the sky.

Suddenly, with a "twang", a string of the musician’s instrument broke, and the bonfire collapsed as if reacting, the burning pinewood rolled toward the screaming crowd, and the people scattered. Amidst the cries, someone pointed at the bonfire and shouted:

"There’s... someone!!"

Minamoto Tamako was shocked, and Fushimi Roku also raised his head. They looked against the flow of people and saw a faint silhouette in the bonfire, fiercely engulfed in flames.

"Put out the fire! Quickly, put out the fire!"

The locals reacted swiftly; if the pinewood rolled into the forest, it could trigger a forest fire. They called for water, pouring bucket after bucket onto the bonfire.

Fortunately, the small town was close to the coast, so water was plentiful, and the fire was quickly extinguished.

All that remained on the cliff was a pile of charcoal remnants, and those around could clearly see a charred corpse curled up in the bonfire, the air filled with the nauseating smell of roasted flesh.

The tourism manager soothed the shocked tourists and sent someone to report to the police station.

Minamoto Tamako looked horrified; she ignored the crowd’s obstructions, went up to the bonfire, and observed for a while. Confirming it was the corpse of an adult, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Manager Ohura, overwhelmed with responsibility, was busy dispersing the crowd. Seeing Minamoto Tamako and the others causing trouble, he couldn’t help but scold them.

"I’m a criminal police officer, from now on, we’ll take over here."

Fushimi Roku once again showed his police badge, instructed the manager to organize manpower to secure the scene, and issued an announcement for tourists to return to their rooms and not go out temporarily, awaiting police investigation and questioning.

Hearing this, the manager finally had someone to rely on.

He was about to comply when Minamoto Tamako suddenly stopped him, gesturing in front of her chest, and asked: "Have you seen a little girl about this tall? She’s wearing a Noh mask, blue denim overalls, with a white long-sleeve shirt underneath..."

Seeing the manager’s puzzled shake of his head, Fushimi Roku added another instruction: "Now have all innkeepers count their numbers and help ask tourists if they have seen the girl... A seven-year-old girl is missing, and we hope everyone can provide relevant clues."

The manager nodded and hurriedly left with his staff.

Mizutani Hiroshi and Mori Hajime were stunned for a while before realizing that this was big news, fresh off the press!

"Quick, quick, quick! Get ready!" Mizutani Hiroshi took out hair wax, began styling his hair, making every strand distinct and smooth.

Mori Hajime took out the microphone to test it, looked down at the camera, and froze for a moment, saying: "Uh... I, I think I forgot to turn it off earlier..."

"What?!"

Mizutani Hiroshi was furious. In this day and age, HD tapes aren’t cheap, charged by the second.

Even if we set aside the cost, if there’s not enough tape to cover the event, he’d rip this guy apart.

"How much is left?" Mizutani Hiroshi leaned over, saying, "Check it quickly..."

Before they could open the camera, Fushimi Roku suddenly took it and fiddled with it for a while, asking: "How do you rewind this camera?"

Mizutani Hiroshi was about to dissuade him. The camera was very valuable, how could they let outsiders handle it casually? However, Minamoto Tamako also reacted at this time; she hurriedly said: "The camera might have captured Sakurako’s disappearance, we need to find her quickly, please let us check it first!"

Hearing this, Mizutani Hiroshi and Mori Hajime exchanged glances, also realizing the camera might have filmed the whole fire incident. Mori Hajime stepped forward to help operate the machine, everyone gathered around, looking down at the screen.