79: Chapter 79 The Arrogant Investigation Team

Three days later in Tokyo, autumn was deepening, and the air carried a hint of desolate chill.

Outside the Public Security Command Headquarters building, several black sedans with special license plates pulled up silently, the sound of tires rolling over the ground sounding jarringly loud in the quiet street.

The car doors opened, and a group of blonde, blue-eyed Americans stepped out.

They wore uniform black tactical gear with pistols tucked at their waists, their postures upright, and their eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny and arrogance.

Leading them was a tall blonde woman, around thirty years old, wearing a form-fitting tactical vest that outlined her toned physique, a faint, mocking smirk on her lips as if she held everything before her in contempt.

Kazami Yuya straightened his police uniform and hurried forward to meet them. With a formulaic smile on his face, he extended his hand: "Welcome to the Public Security Command Headquarters. I am the person in charge, Kazami Yuya."

However, the blonde woman merely glanced dismissively at his extended hand and walked straight past him, not bothering to even give him a second look.

The dozen or so American soldiers behind her followed closely, their steps uniform, the sound of their leather shoes striking the ground like a declaration of sovereignty.

Kazami Yuya’s hand remained frozen in mid-air, the smile on his face instantly solidified, and a wave of humiliation surged from the depths of his heart.

But he suppressed his anger, withdrew his hand, and followed them. The surrounding Public Security Officers also looked grim, their hands tightening around their guns, their eyes filled with rage.

Walking into the command hall, the blonde woman stopped, turned around, and swept her gaze over every Public Security Officer present like a scanner.

Her gaze paused on Kazami Yuya’s face for two seconds before finally landing on the operational map in the center of the command center. Her tone was unmistakably arrogant: "I am Catherine, team leader of the U.S. High-Level Military Investigation Team. From now on, this office, the entire command center, and all of you are under our command. I hope we can 'cooperate happily'."

She specifically emphasized the words "cooperate happily," the arrogance in her tone practically overflowing.

"What did you say?!" "This is too much!"

The Public Security Officers immediately erupted, glaring at Catherine.

They were the elite of the Japanese Public Security, the force guarding the nation's order; when had they ever suffered such humiliation?

Kazami Yuya took a deep breath, stepped forward, and looked directly into Catherine's eyes. His voice was calm but firm: "Ms. Catherine, I think there might be a misunderstanding. We invited you here to assist us in investigating the recent terrorist attacks, not for you to command us. The Public Security has its own command structure, and I'm afraid we cannot accept your demands."

Catherine raised an eyebrow as if she had heard a joke.

She stepped forward, looking down at Kazami Yuya: "Misunderstanding? My orders are to help you catch the culprit as quickly as possible. In my opinion, to complete the mission efficiently, we must be the ones in command. Your efficiency is not something I would dare to compliment."

"You!"

Kazami Yuya’s face flushed with anger, and the surrounding Public Security Officers were even more furious, stepping forward with their hands on their holsters, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense and ready for a fight.

"Click—" The American soldiers behind Catherine reacted even faster, pulling back their bolts almost simultaneously, their dark gun barrels aimed at the Public Security Officers.

Their movements were uniform, their eyes cold; they were clearly elites who had experienced real combat and didn't hold these Public Security Officers in the slightest regard.

"Enough!" Kazami Yuya shouted sharply, stopping his men. He knew that a conflict must not happen now.

If a firefight broke out, the consequences would be unimaginable; not only would it trigger a diplomatic crisis, but they wouldn't come out unscathed either.

He let out a long breath, trying to calm the anger in his heart, and looked at Catherine again: "Fine. This office, this command center, can be used by you for the time being. However, regarding the issue of command authority, I need to report it truthfully to our superiors and let them decide."

After saying this, he turned and said to the Public Security Officers behind him: "Let's go."

"Officer Kazami!" one officer shouted, unwilling to give in.

"Carry out the order!" Kazami Yuya’s voice carried a hint of exhaustion.

Just as they were about to walk out the door, Catherine's voice sounded again, with a hint of mockery: "Wait."

Kazami Yuya stopped but did not turn back.

"Leave all the materials you have regarding the terrorist attacks."

Catherine walked to the command console, picked up a file, flipped through it, and said nonchalantly, "I need these."

Kazami Yuya turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot with rage, staring fixedly at Catherine: "These materials are key to our investigation, and we need them too! If we hand them over to you, what will happen to our follow-up investigation?"

"That's not my concern." Catherine shrugged, looking indifferent. "We need these materials to advance the investigation. Once we have progress, I'll tell you occasionally."

"Impossible!" Kazami Yuya almost roared. "These materials are the culmination of the hard work of countless officers, some even traded with their lives! We will never hand them over to you!"

His voice echoed in the hall, filled with determination and anger. The surrounding Public Security Officers also clenched their fists; even facing the gun barrels, they did not retreat in the slightest.

The smile on Catherine's face vanished, and her eyes turned cold: "Mr. Kazami, I advise you not to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. We are going to have these materials."

"Then try it!" Kazami Yuya did not yield an inch.

The air seemed to freeze, the gazes of both sides clashing in the air, sparks flying.

The American soldiers' fingers were on the triggers, ready to fire at any moment; the Public Security Officers were also prepared for combat, and a conflict seemed unavoidable.

Just then, Kazami Yuya’s phone suddenly rang urgently.

He took a deep breath, took out his phone, and when he saw the name displayed on the screen, his pupils constricted slightly—it was the number of the Chief Cabinet Secretary.

Kazami Yuya pressed the answer button, trying his best to keep his voice calm: "Sir."

The tired and helpless voice of the Chief Cabinet Secretary came from the other end of the line: "Kazami, give them the materials."

"Sir! Do you know how important these materials are? If we give them to them, our investigation will..."

"I know!" The Chief Cabinet Secretary interrupted him, his voice slightly hoarse. "But this is a decision from above. The U.S. side has already applied pressure through diplomatic channels. If we don't cooperate, they will withdraw all 'assistance,' and it might even... affect the subsequent security treaty negotiations."

Kazami Yuya’s heart sank to the bottom. He understood; this was another compromise, a helpless compromise in the face of power.

"But..."

"No buts!" The Chief Cabinet Secretary’s voice carried an unquestionable command. "Hand over the materials immediately, no mistakes! We will figure out a way for the rest."

After saying that, the call was ruthlessly hung up.

Kazami Yuya gripped the phone, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He could feel the expectant gazes of his officers behind him, could feel Catherine's mocking stare, and even more, could feel the humiliation and rage in his heart that was about to explode.

But he had no choice.

"Leave the materials." Kazami Yuya’s voice was low and hoarse, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Officer Kazami!" The officers looked at him in disbelief.

"Carry out the order!" Kazami Yuya closed his eyes, unable to bear seeing the disappointed expressions of his officers.

Several officers gritted their teeth and placed the thick stacks of materials on the table; every time they put one down, it felt like a knife cutting into their hearts.

These materials contained their investigation records on the Black Organization, analysis reports on the "Joker," and even some on-site records of fallen comrades... Now, they had to personally hand them over to this group of arrogant Americans.

Catherine looked at the materials on the table, a satisfied smile finally appearing on her lips.

She signaled for the soldiers behind her to come forward and organize them, her eyes filled with the demeanor of a victor.

Kazami Yuya didn't look at her again, turned around, and led his officers, walking out of the command center step by step.

Every step felt like walking on the tips of knives, heavy and painful.

Walking out of the building, the sunlight was blinding, but Kazami Yuya felt cold all over.

He looked up at the azure sky, his heart filled with a sense of helplessness.

Is this the sorrow of the weak? In the face of power, one doesn't even have the right to protect their own achievements?

"Officer Kazami, are we just going to let it go like this?" one officer asked, his eyes red.

Kazami Yuya took a deep breath, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles white: "No. We will not let it go like this."

He looked toward the ruins of Tokyo Tower in the distance, his eyes gradually becoming firm: "We still have Mr. Toru Amuro. As long as he is here, one day, we will take back what we have lost, bit by bit."

Inside the command center, Catherine looked at the materials in her hands, the smile on her lips becoming increasingly smug.

She picked up an analysis report on the "Joker," flipped through it carelessly, a flash of disdain in her eyes.

"A bunch of losers," she whispered. "It's been so long, and they haven't even touched the shadow of a terrorist."

A soldier behind her stepped forward: "Team leader, are we really going to help them catch the culprit? Or..."

Catherine put down the report, a sharp glint in her eyes: "Catch the culprit? That's just an excuse. Our mission is to find clues about the Black Organization, and that Joker. It is said that they have something we are interested in."

She walked to the window, looking at the Tokyo streetscape outside, a cold curve appearing on her lips: "This country will soon become interesting."

The figures of Kazami Yuya and the Public Security Officers disappeared around the street corner, while inside the command center, the laughter of the Americans could be faintly heard, like a poisonous thorn, deeply piercing the hearts of every Public Security Officer.

The humiliating compromise was only temporary.