radicalducati Page 69
Page 69
“The organization’s style…” O repeated, a hint of sarcasm in his electronic voice, “The organization’s style is efficiency and results. You provide me with results, and I provide you with shelter and a ladder to advance. That’s enough. As for who I am…”
O paused, then slowly said, "Perhaps I am an 'observer' who is very interested in you. Observing your struggle between the police force and the organization, observing how you use the 'little help' I provide."
“The Observer?” Yuki Takada’s heart sank. The answer was vague and oppressive.
"As for how I know..."
O said softly, "The organization's database is not monolithic; there are always certain special permissions that allow access to some interesting files."
"If it weren't for the recent uproar at White Dove Pharmaceutical Company, Miss Shirley's defection, the people she came into contact with, and the traces she left behind, it would naturally be a key focus for some people."
"Unfortunately, or rather coincidentally, I noticed that faint connecting line, which eventually pointed slightly and subtly to you."
"This is just a simple logical deduction, and combined with some of your recent... subtle movements, it's not hard to confirm."
This explanation sounds reasonable, yet it's incredibly vague.
"Special privileges", "certain individuals", "simple logical deductions"...
O perfectly evaded the core issues using ambiguity common within organizations.
But Yuki Takada caught a word—"a faint connection".
Before leaving the organization, Shiho Miyano was extremely careful and erased almost all traces.
How did O discover that connecting line?
Unless... he was nearby at the time?
However, this is probably impossible, unless later someone mentioned to him that it was the third person, Hennessy, who went to the airport to pick up Shirley.
"It seems your methods within the organization are far more sophisticated than I imagined," Yuuki Takada probed.
“The methods used are not important; what matters is whether the goal can be achieved.” O avoided answering directly, saying, “Do your job, Officer Takada. Remember, tomorrow at 10 a.m., wait for my signal. Make sure your devices are connected to the network and secure.”
O's tone carried an undeniable sense of finality: "If this collaboration goes well, you may learn more in the future."
"After all, we might... be the same kind of people."
"The same kind...?" Yuuki Takada frowned.
"Wandering on the edge, belonging neither to pure light nor succumbing to complete darkness. Isn't it about finding one's own path and value in the cracks?"
O's voice seemed to carry a very subtle hint of emotion, but it vanished in an instant, returning to its cold tone, "Good luck. For your fellow police officers, and for yourself."
The call was hung up again.
Yuki Takada slowly put down his phone, his palms sweaty.
O's last words were like a pebble thrown into his heart, stirring up ripples.
similar?
The meaning of this word is too complex.
Is O implying that he is also an undercover agent who has infiltrated the organization?
Or does it refer to someone who, like himself, has a dual identity and is navigating the power struggles between various factions?
Or is this just a rhetoric designed to lower his defenses?
Yuki Takada was completely clueless.
O is like a fog, seemingly revealing some information, but actually hiding the true core even deeper.
But at this moment, he had no way out.
Yuuki Takada took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his chaotic thoughts.
The most important thing now is to complete tomorrow's tasks.
He reviewed the prepared evidence clippings again, confirmed the sending process, tested the network connection, and fully charged the organization's phone, setting it to silent but with the highest priority.
By the time I finished doing all this, the sky outside the window was already beginning to lighten.
A new day is about to begin, a day that will determine the fate of many.
He barely slept a wink all night. When he closed his eyes, images of Sawai Yasunari's face, O's cold electronic voice, Matsumoto Section Chief's resolute gaze, Inspector Megure's trusting eyes, and... Miyano Shiho's sad yet resolute eyes when she left.
At 9:30 a.m. sharp, Yuki Takada appeared at the Metropolitan Police Department.
He was dressed in a crisp police uniform, his expression as calm and composed as ever, even more taciturn than usual, with only the barely perceptible bloodshot eyes revealing a hint of fatigue.
He greeted his colleagues as usual and handled some simple desk work, but most of his attention was on the organization phone in his pocket and the upcoming meeting.
At 9:50, he received a notification that an emergency meeting was about to begin, to be attended by all personnel at the department head level and above.
As an inspector in the Special Crimes Division of the First Investigation Division, he was naturally included.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy.
Deputy Director Sawai sat in the main seat, his face serious and dignified.
Section Chief Matsumoto Kiyoshi sat to one side, his brows furrowed.
Megure and a group of other senior police officers sat on either side.
Yuki Takada chose a seat near a corner, one that would be inconspicuous but would allow him to have a clear view of the entire room.
The meeting began with a briefing on the attack on the technical department the previous day, which resulted in the death of technician Yamamoto, as well as the recent setbacks in the investigation of the Mishima Group.
Deputy Director Sawai's voice was somber and stern as he condemned the murderer's audacity and demanded that the investigation be intensified.
But soon, just as O had predicted, Yasunari Sawai's tone began to shift.
"...However, we must also reflect on our internal problems!"
Sawai Yasunari tapped the table, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling on Matsumoto Kiyonaga.
"The series of incidents, including the previous data breach, indicate that our internal security has major vulnerabilities!"
"We can't even rule out the possibility that some internal personnel have been corrupted! Section Chief Matsumoto, your department is responsible for internal audits, what explanation do you have for this? Why is the investigation progressing so slowly?"
Matsumoto Kiyonaga's face was grim, and he said in a deep voice, "Deputy Director, the internal investigation has been conducted in secret, but it requires time and technical support."
"There is currently no conclusive evidence pointing to any colleague..."
"No evidence? Or just not trying hard enough?" Deputy Director Sawai interrupted him, his tone becoming increasingly stern. "I think your approach is flawed!"
"Perhaps some personal feelings influenced his judgment?"
"I heard that Inspector Takada under your command had some private contact with Yoshihiro Nakamura before?"
Instantly, everyone in the conference room turned their gaze, whether overtly or covertly, to Yuuki Takada in the corner!
Yuki Takada was shocked, but he maintained absolute composure on his face, even revealing a perfectly appropriate look of surprise and grievance.
Sawai Yasunori had clearly noticed him long ago, and might even have already seen him as a threat, preparing to launch an attack at this moment, throwing him out as a scapegoat to both divert attention and strike at Section Chief Matsumoto!
Just as tensions were rising, the organization's cell phone in Yuki Takada's pocket vibrated very slightly, paused, and then vibrated again.
This is a signal from the O convention!
Suddenly, everyone's eyes turned to Takada Yuuki in front of them.
Seeing this, Yuuki Takada stood up and bowed deeply to Deputy Director Sawai: "I'm sorry, I apologize. Deputy Director Sawai, I was impulsive. I will write a letter of apology after the meeting."
Seeing Takada Yuuki's sincere demeanor, Deputy Director Sawai nodded in satisfaction, gestured for Takada Yuuki to sit down, and continued to recount the matters discussed in the meeting.
After sitting down, Yuuki Takada's fingers flew across the table, and the portable device he had prepared beforehand connected to the mobile network. In a split second, he sent out the encrypted code and some of the extracted evidence—mainly records of financial transactions and an audio recording of a conversation between Sawai and Nakamura.
Almost simultaneously, the huge projection screen at the front of the conference room suddenly flashed, and the PPT that was playing was forcibly cut off!
After a burst of jarring electrical static, a clear audio message resonated throughout the silent conference room:
[“…Deputy Director Sawai, this is this month’s ‘spare’. Team Leader Mishima hopes that the seizure of that shipment last time can be resolved as soon as possible…” (This is Yoshihiro Nakamura’s voice)]
Hearing the voice, everyone felt a sense of familiarity, especially Inspector Megure, who immediately recognized it as the voice of the deceased, Yoshihiro Nakamura, the financial director of Mishima Corporation.
["Hmph, you guys are too careless! If you get caught again, I'll be in a tough spot too! ...I've taken the money, I'll handle things, just remember to keep an eye on your people!" (This is Yasunari Sawai's cold and impatient voice)]
Then, the screen began to scroll frantically through pages of complex bank transaction screenshots, with the final remittance clearly marked as originating from "Yasunari Sawai Fan Club" and its associated private accounts!
"what happened?!"
"Shut it down now! Technician!!"
"Who did it?!"
Deputy Director Sawai immediately shouted at the police inspector in the technical department.
The meeting room erupted in chaos!
Many exclamations and shouts arose!
Sawai Yasunari's face turned ashen at that moment. He stood up abruptly, trying to shout something, but due to extreme shock and fear, his lips trembled and he couldn't utter a single word.
He stared at the screen in disbelief, then looked around abruptly, his eyes filled with madness and despair, as if trying to find the person who had put him to death.
The technician rushed forward to try to cut off the power or signal, but to no avail. The projector continued to play the deadly evidence uncontrollably until the preset 15-second window ended, at which point the screen went black and returned to normal standby mode.
But it was too late.
The highest-ranking officers in the entire Metropolitan Police Department witnessed and heard firsthand the crimes committed by their deputy commissioner.
A deathly silence enveloped the conference room.
Section Chief Matsumoto Kiyoshi was the first to react. He stood up abruptly, his face ashen, and his gaze, sharp as knives, shot towards the deathly pale-faced Sawai Yasunari. He shouted, "Deputy Director Sawai! Please explain what's going on?!"
Inspector Megure also stood up in shock, and together with several other upright officers, they subtly formed a circle around Sawai.
Yuki Takada remained seated in the corner, letting out a slow, almost imperceptible sigh of relief; the back of his shirt was soaked with cold sweat.
He succeeded, under O's precise control.
Looking at the devastated and desperate state of Deputy Director Sawai, Yuuki Takada felt no joy, only a heavy and complicated feeling.
Chapter 92 Getting started
In the conference room, you could hear a pin drop.
The silence lasted less than three seconds before it was broken by Yasunari Sawai's almost manic roar.
"slander!"
"This is a complete and utter slander! It's fabricated!" Sawai Yasunari's face went from white to red, then turned ashen. He slammed his hand on the table, his trembling finger pointing at the now-normal projection screen.