The Shogun

Chapter 30 : The Shogun - Side Stories 2

Story 4: Crime Scene

It was another chaotic day in the heart of the city. Villains were causing havoc on every street corner, their crimes escalating in intensity with each passing hour. Heroes swooped in at the last moment, their dramatic rescues the stuff of daily life—each situation more frantic than the last. But today, something different had gripped the city's pulse. A specific street had become a forbidden zone, its edges draped with stark yellow police tape that stretched like an unspoken boundary. Officers were working furiously, redirecting traffic, their movements swift and sharp, an undercurrent of urgency pulsing in the air.

Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa, a seasoned veteran of the force, moved with purpose toward the sealed area. The moment he arrived, he couldn't suppress a long, resigned sigh. It wasn't the noise of villains or the clamor of a city that made his heart heavy. It was the grim familiarity of the scene before him. Heroes were meant to deal with the flashy, the public. But this was different. This was his responsibility now, something no cape could touch.

As Tsukauchi passed under the yellow tape, a junior officer rushed toward him. His eyes widened in a mix of nervousness and authority, preparing to ask him to leave. But before the officer could utter a word, Tsukauchi raised a hand and flashed his badge with effortless confidence. The officer's tension dissolved in an instant, his posture straightening as he snapped a salute, his earlier hesitation replaced with a quiet respect.

Tsukauchi nodded, the weight of his badge heavier than any villainous threat he'd ever encountered. This was no ordinary day. This was a day that would challenge him, one way or another.

"What's the scene?" Tsukauchi asked, his voice a steady baritone that cut through the air as he followed the officer through the empty street. His eyes scanned the surroundings, his mind already running through the possible scenarios, connecting dots before he'd even seen the details.

The officer, his face tight with the strain of the unfolding events, answered in a clipped tone. "A local business owner was about to toss the morning trash into the alley's chute when he found four dead bodies."

Tsukauchi nodded grimly. It was always the mundane things that led to the most horrifying discoveries. As they turned into the alley, the detective's eyes immediately took in the surroundings. The bodies were already gone—of course, the forensics team had already moved them for the autopsy. But the scene was far from empty. The alley was thick with the methodical buzz of forensic experts, their white suits gleaming under the dull light, moving with cold precision as they documented the grim details. Cameras snapped, pens scratched across notepads, and every movement seemed deliberate, designed to preserve even the smallest shred of evidence.

White chalk outlines now marked the area where the bodies had been, stark against the grimy concrete. The usual clamor of an active crime scene had been replaced by a suffocating silence, as though the alley itself was holding its breath. Tsukauchi's gaze lingered on the outlines, his mind already beginning to piece together the puzzle, drawing threads between the cold facts.

"Anything unusual?" he asked, his voice unwavering despite the unsettling nature of the scene. His gaze was sharp, unyielding.

The officer hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. "From what we've gathered so far, they died from bullet wounds. No sign of quirks—at least from our initial sweep. But, of course, it's hard to say for sure. Ballistics experts should be here soon with their full report." The officer glanced over at the forensic team working diligently. "Some of the team think they died around 10 PM last night, judging by the early signs of necrosis. The full autopsy hasn't come in yet, though."

Tsukauchi processed this in silence. "And nobody noticed it?" he asked, his voice barely above a murmur.

The officer shifted, clearly uncomfortable with the question. "Well, sir... nobody really uses this alley. To be blunt, just look at it." He gestured to the narrow space, the walls smothered in grime, strewn with discarded trash and shattered bottles. "It's... unsettling. People tend to avoid it. Doesn't exactly scream 'safe passage.'"