Driving his Ford GT40 at full speed, Ritsu raced toward Beika Central Hospital.
After reanalyzing the situation, Beika Central Hospital was the conclusion he reached. By studying the culprit's personality and psychological tendencies, he judged that this type of offender sought nothing more than to satisfy their twisted desires and sense of pleasure.
How would someone like that appreciate their own "masterpiece"?
They'd have to witness it with their own eyes, that's the only way to feed their pathetic ego.
Which meant the second bomb had to be placed in a hospital visible from Beika Shopping Plaza. And to showcase their "power," the culprit would definitely choose the largest hospital possible.
Only one hospital met both conditions, Beika Central Hospital.
Ritsu trusted his judgment and believed the culprit was smugly basking in their own cleverness at this very moment.
He couldn't wait to see what kind of ridiculous expression they'd have once the truth came out.
----
Inside Beika Central Hospital, Hiro, disguised in a white lab coat as a doctor, was leading a team to search the building for the bomb.
"Morofushi-san, the second floor of the inpatient ward has been checked, no bomb found."
"The third floor is also clear, no abnormalities!"
"Good. Continue searching upward. Be thorough, but keep your movements subtle. Don't alert anyone. The bomber may have planted listening devices here."
"Understood."
Hiro studied the hospital layout for a long moment. If the goal was to cause maximum chaos, it had to be somewhere with heavy foot traffic. There were quite a few such places.
But the bomb wouldn't be somewhere obvious.
'High traffic… yet hidden… Could it be...?'
Hiro quickly headed for the elevator.
If his reasoning was correct, the bomb was likely placed on top of an elevator car. Most elevators in Tokyo don't have surveillance cameras installed for privacy reasons, so the bomber could easily disguise themselves as maintenance staff and plant it there.
"Hiro, have you found the bomb location yet?"
"Not yet. I'm checking the elevators on the fifth floor of the inpatient ward. You've arrived already?"
"Elevators?"
Ritsu paused mid-step, his mind racing, before giving a quick instruction, "Stop checking the fifth floor, go straight to the first floor. If the bomb is in an elevator, it'll definitely be on a lower level."
An explosion at a higher floor would only cause partial panic but one at ground level, triggering a fire, could engulf the entire building.
"I understand. I'm on my way."
Ritsu rushed to the outpatient building's elevators, but after checking, found nothing unusual. Just as he was about to head to the surgical wing, a tapping sound came through his earpiece, Morse code.
Of course… their favorite way to communicate.
Pressing his earpiece firmly, he listened carefully before sprinting toward the inpatient ward.
[The bomb's with me. Get here now.]
----
50 seconds until detonation.
Below the Ferris wheel, Miwako struggled against Shiratori and Megure's restraint. She wanted to believe in them but at the same time, she couldn't stop worrying about what would happen if Jinpei failed to disarm the bomb within three seconds.
40 seconds remaining.
In a dim alley, Wataru, wearing a dark green stand-collar coat, pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his back pocket. At his feet lay a criminal he had just knocked out with two punches, a toothpick still clenched in his mouth.
30 seconds remaining.
At a crime scene, Kenji found a strand of bloodstained hair wedged between the floorboards. It didn't match the victim's hair color, this could be the key piece of evidence. Today was turning out pretty lucky.
20 seconds remaining.
At the departure hall of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, Rei, dressed in a black shirt, held a recorder to his ear, listening to the captured conversation. After confirming everything was in order, he smiled in satisfaction.
10 seconds remaining.
Inside gondola No. 72 of the Beika Ferris wheel, Jinpei clenched his cutting pliers, a cigarette between his lips. Fully focused, he prepared to cut the final red and black wires. Three seconds was more than enough.
1 second remaining.
At Beika Central Hospital, inside an elevator on the first floor of the inpatient ward, Ritsu grabbed the hand Hiro extended to him and used it to pull himself up onto the top of the elevator.
Spotting the bomb placed in the corner, he signaled for Hiro to shine a light, he was about to begin.
Back at the police academy, they had trained in bomb disposal together. Ritsu and Hiro had been partners then too, just like during that nighttime exercise. Hiro held the flashlight steady in one hand, illuminating the work, while using the other to gently wipe the sweat from Ritsu's brow with a handkerchief.
Bomb disposal required absolute concentration and a steady heartbeat.
Just like Jinpei had once said,
"Ritsu, remember this when you're defusing a bomb… impatience is the biggest trap."
'Impatience is the biggest trap… you were right.'
Taking a deep breath, Ritsu began his work. He couldn't afford a single mistake or everything would be for nothing.
0 seconds remaining.
Standing among the crowd, the culprit stared at the Ferris wheel with excitement, even mimicking the sound of an explosion under their breath.
But soon, their smile froze.
The Ferris wheel didn't explode.
'Why? How could this be?!'
Frantically, they pulled out their phone and repeatedly pressed the detonation button but nothing happened.
'Ah… that police officer chickened out. He actually disarmed the bomb?!'
'Hahaha! So cunning, Officer. Saving your own life at the cost of others, huh?! I'll expose your ugly truth! With a grand explosion, I'll show all of Japan your incompetence and cowardice!!!'
Seeing that the Ferris wheel hadn't exploded, Megure stood stunned for two seconds before slapping Shiratori on the back.
"Get moving! Check all major hospitals, there's still two hours before the next bomb goes off!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Miwako, go have them restart the Ferris wheel!"
"Understood!"
Having successfully cut both wires within three seconds, Jinpei wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. Standing up, he looked down at the massive crowd gathered below.
At the one-second mark, he had seen most of the hint and it was exactly as Ritsu had deduced, Beika Central Hospital.
They had destroyed the culprit's plan.
"…You saved me again."
"When are we going to get the chance to help you and Zero for once, you idiot do-gooder?"
He admired him and at the same time, felt for him.
People like him had to shoulder more in this world… and it was exhausting.
----
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