Chapter 71 - The men in white

"Right, normally anything that happens in the town is handled by the military police. Within the organization, many different departments handle different cases. Not everybody is sent out. But you hear complaints about the military police, for being slow or not taking it seriously due to the lack of information. The police are only able to gather information from the surface; they cannot use any shady means to obtain their information. That's why most cases are delayed."

Indeed, what case doesn't involve some back dealings?

"So the mafia side, they can get that information?"

Victor nodded, "The police will work on the surface and the mafia in the underground. It doesn't sound like a bad deal, does it?"

It doesn't, actually thinking about it now. Perhaps a lot of lives could be saved in this manner.

"But this organization, what do they want? It doesn't seem like a simple case of human trafficking."

"Right, actually one of the victims returned in a disturbing state. We couldn't recognize her anymore."

"Couldn't recognize?"

"They did something to her body; it was like she was a mash-up of several of the girls who had gone missing. It took us a long time to determine which person she was."

Her eyes went wide, horrified when she heard those words. That sounds like something a mad scientist would do? Don't tell her those types of things still happen here?

"Did she escape by herself?"

"Using the sewers. But when we asked her to point it out, she doesn't remember. Well, it's common. She must have used whatever chance she got to escape. The poor girl."

"Is Akito working on the case too?"

"Yes. He went to visit the patient; it was somebody we knew before back in our academy days."

"Was Akito popular?"

Victor laughed, "Is that women's instinct? Yes, he was popular, and the girl is somebody who liked him before."

As she thought, it did sound suspicious. But then again, it shouldn't surprise her. It's not like she didn't know that Akito was popular. So many women flock to him even when he is with somebody as pretty as her. Generally, in the modern-day, once you see a pretty girl and handsome guy... You'd leave the couple alone because they would be well-matched with each other.

But it isn't like here; flies would stick to the other party until they got their way. Or rather, the persistent of women in this time is frightening. "What is the purpose… All of this…" it was hard to believe that a random group suddenly desired to kidnap women and conduct such experiments on them.

"If you want to learn more, it's better to go see Akito yourself."

"See Akito?" Setsura repeated.

Victor smiled, "They should be working on the case now. If you go, you should learn something."

…..

Military Police Headquarters - Special Forces -

Setsura visits him at work. Victor accompanied her to the door, so nobody harassed her. But she wondered if this was okay. Many people were looking at her.

Akito rushed to the door, "Setsura?"

"Hello."

He looked at her with a confused look, "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to watch you work."

"Meaning?"

"Tell me more about your current case."

Akito sighed and mumbled something about stupid Victor. He grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her close to him. "I know no matter what happens. I won't be able to persuade you, so stay with me, okay?"

"Alright."

He immediately led her inside. Sure enough, the people inside there kept looking at her. Setsura noticed that there was something unusual about the people here. She gets a different kind of vibe from them.

"You were interested in profiling, right?" Akito asked as he brought her over to his desk.

Setsura nodded, "Yes, the books in your study are very helpful." Lately, Setsura has been going to Akito's study a lot and borrowing more and more books.

He chuckles.

Deep down, Setsura knows that he is still worried about what happened earlier.

"I'm not a professional, but would you like to practice your profiling skills?"

Her eyes brightened at his words, "You would teach me?"

Akito nodded, "I've studied and investigated numerous cases. I also have battle and practical experiences. Those practical experiences help shape our way of thinking. So profiling is more like seeing into the minds of the criminal, why did they take the action they did?"

Setsura was worried that people would overhear their conversation, so she kept looking around. It would look strange if a woman like her is interested in these things, especially during her circ.u.mstances. Women these days are underestimated a great deal. But she supposes it isn't too different from the future. She recalled expressing interest in such work before, and her father reprimanded her. That man seldom spoke to her, but when he did, it was too scold her because she didn't act like the average female.

"Of course, you shouldn't analyze criminal thoughts too deeply. That would do you serious damage. You only have to get a brief understanding of it, scr.a.p.e the first layer. Their reasoning, but don't get into deeply."

"I understand."

Akito brings out a file from the stack of doc.u.ments on his desk. "Let's take a look at this case. What would you do during a simple thievery case? If both parties accuse each other of stealing. But then a third party claims that one of the two were set up by an unknown man. The problem is the third party doesn't know which of the two the man was speaking to. What do we determine first? The man's identity, or the two victims?"

"In this case, we would look at the third party?"

"Correct," Akito nodded. "Rather than find out who the real victim is. It would be better to look at the third party. Out of everyone in the market, why is she the only one who saw it? There were thousands of people there. It's unusual to think that she saw the person unless they are in league with the individual."

"So, why would they report the case?"

"To divert attention away from them."

"This doesn't seem like a simple thievery case anymore," Setsura mumbled. "It's almost as though they are trying to hide something."

Akito nodded, "What do you think that something is?"

Setsura looked down at the case files again and frowned. The one who reported the case was acting oddly. They seemed frantic and was hiding their hands. Most people would claim that they stole something. But the suspect took their hands out, "The one who reported the case was a young lady, around her twenties... The man she mentioned is most likely somebody older than her. He is either threatening her, or they are working together for real."