Track 8

(I got called to mobilize out of nowhere…)

Chinatown is as crowded as ever. Still, I think we can manage the investigation even with a crowd this size.

(And got assigned to serve as Yukikaze Kamina’s bodyguard…)

Wait… is that… Yukikaze Kamina…? No way...! And he’s wearing dog ears, too! So cute-!

Maybe they’re filming something? Otherwise, this is like a dream come true! We should leave them alone.

Yeah. We’re well-behaved Yukikaze fans. We know how to mind our manners…!

(Ugh… Everyone’s starting right at us. The man in question doesn’t seem bothered by it at all, though…)

Yukikaze here. We’ve arrived at Chinatown. We’ll now proceed to use the street parade as a cover while we search for the target dog.

[Whoa!? You’re coming through loud and clear. I can even hear what’s going on around you...]

[Why of course. The intercom unit comes complete with top notch sound collection abilities in order to replicate the acute hearing of a canine.]

[Let’s quickly go over the plan again. We can test the intercom while we’re at it.]

[Based on witness reports, Renga and I are tracking the dog headed toward the brick warehouse area. Liguang’s team is after the one in Chinatown—]

… It’ll be more efficient if everyone covers the area they know best. I’d like you to handle Chinatown, Liguang.

Understood.

Then I’ll take the brick warehouse area, right? Leave it to me! I could run there with my eyes closed!

… Then Yukikaze and Ten—

They can come with me. Since we’ll be covering a wider area than the brick warehouse, we’ll need additional manpower.

Whatever floats your boat~

I’m fine with that. Liguang, Ten—I’m counting on you.

Still, we've already received reports of dogs attacking people in Chinatown, right?

Could we request for the police to provide bodyguards, Liguang? Even one officer would suffice.

Alright. …I’ll assign them to guard Kamina.

Huh? What about me, Liguang-san? I’m just your average college kid, y’know?

Listen up. As soon as you spot a dog, lure it to the police if you can. If it tries to run away, corner it.

Assume any dog approaching you is hostile. Don’t pursue it too far—just report in immediately when you spot one.

Roger.

Got it.

Murakumo. If you see an opening, charge in.

Just Ten!? Don’t bully him, Liguang!

… Haha. Yeah, this is way too much of a hassle. I’m just gonna wing it.

[Don’t forget we’re only pretending that this is for show. You better not actually go and get yourself hurt.]

I know. You stay safe too Kafka.

(Even so…)

There are all sorts of smells coming from the street stalls, Shingen. Picking out the right scent won’t be easy.

These gloves were worn by the culprits who have already been arrested. Can you pick up  anything from their scent?

Huff! *Pant, pant*…

 … I see. You always face every challenge with a smile. I ought to learn from your courage.

(T-They’re moving! The Ice Prince who’s kind even to dogs… Our national treasure, Yukikaze Kamina…! I-I’ll protect him with my life!)

Huff…!

Noticed something already?

You’re such a good boy… Alright, lead the way.

This place… looks like an abandoned building…?

Yeah. Some personal belongings have been left behind, but there’s no sign of anyone―

Grrrr…!

T-There it is...! Kamina-san, get back! We’ll subdue it with a tranquilizer gun…

 Awooo!!!

He smashed through the window and ran away…! That was reckless—

Ten. Liguang. The target’s fleeing toward the main street.

[Roger~ Totomaru’s picked something up. We’re heading toward the scent now—]

[We’ve already secured two of the target dogs.]

[Just as expected~ Hey, I found the dog Yukikaze-san mentioned. I’ll stay on its tail.]

Understood. I’m on my way.

Oh?

[Murakumo. The dogs I caught weren't the type to attack people. But I can't say the same for the one you’re after.]

You contacted me separately just to check on me? That's so sweet~ Or maybe Yukikaze-san’s the one you’re worried about.

[Quit fooling around. You’ll handle it just fine.]

Depends on my mood~ I’m not getting paid for this, after all.

[... Tch.]

Then how about you pay me out of your own pocket, Liguang-san? I’m the Lurong family's eldest son's favorite, aren’t I?

[… Depends on how well you do.]

Gotcha, I’ll be holding you to that, y’know.

(Well… Considering the family won’t be too thrilled about this request, anyway… I’ll just treat this as a bonus gig.)

*pants heavily*

… Found you.

Ten!

That’s an athlete for you~ Quick on your feet.

I couldn’t just leave you to handle this alone, so I ran here as fast as I could. I’m glad you’re not hurt.

What about the dog…?

He went down this back alley. Let's go after him.

 Grrrrrrrrr…!

N-No! S-stay back! Don’t come any closer—!

…! He’s trying to attack someone.

What should we do? Liguang said not to chase hostile dogs, but I can’t just turn a blind eye when someone’s in danger…

Huff!!

S-Somebody help! Please! Hurry…!

(Where have I seen that guy before…? Oh, right. He was connected to something I looked into a few days ago.)

Totomaru, stay put, okay?

......

(Hmm… This empty bottle should do.)

Loud noises will only agitate the dog. Sir, please stay calm. I need you to make your way over here… slowly now.

E-EASIER SAID THAN DONE...!!!

Grrrrr…!

Hup.

URGHH!?

Hah, bullseye.

Ten...!?

Hey! What are you doing…!

Take a closer look. See?

…! There’s a knife and… jewelry in his pocket!? And the dog’s… nuzzling up to him…?

 *whimpers*...

That whole thing earlier was staged. It was all an act. They probably came here to retrieve the jewels, but since we got here first, they tried to bluff their way out.

I-I see…! I’ll call for back up right away and take him into custody. But… how did you figure that out so quickly…?

Haha, just a hunch. Pure intuition. Guess I got lucky.

Ten’s clever, and he’s got good instincts. I’m proud to call him my little brother.

Huh? Your little brother!? You don't look anything alike, though!?

......

Huff!

......

[Anyway, I caught one dog and one of the organization’s guys. That earns me some pocket money, right?]

 … I’ll consider it.

[As for the dog, he didn’t appear to be aggressive toward people. He was likely just on edge after being chased down.]

… So that man’s role was to retrieve the jewelry from the dog. Good work.

(According to our intel, there should be four dogs in Chinatown. Which means there's still one more out there…)

Lu-san! We’ve got a problem. We just received a report—

A large dog was seen running from Chinatown toward the brick warehouse!

(Did I misread their movements? No. Most of the organization moved just as I’d predicted.)

(But… I couldn’t account for the dogs’ movements.)

(Closest to the dog’s location is Oguro… and that idiot.)

... Understood. I’m heading there now.

If I remember correctly, this is roughly where he was last spotted.

Y-Yeah. They said he was a lean dog that runs fast.

Good thing there's no event today! There aren't many tourists around, so—

Yeah. Even if the worst happens, we should be able to keep the damage to a minimum.

I heard the aggressive ones were with Liguang’s group, but we still can't let our guard down.

Right. If he's carrying the jewelry, he may be on his way to meet someone from the organization.

Wait… You mean they’re using dogs as using them like delivery dogs!?

Most likely. They’re using the dogs as nothing more than disposable pawns in their crimes. They’re truly despicable.

If one of those dogs ends up hurting someone because of their actions… It’s the animal that faces the consequences on their behalf.

That’s awful…

Let's catch them first. Otherwise, we won’t be able to save the dogs that still have a chance.

R-Right!

(I’m glad we’re actually talking again. When they said we’d be working together, I was worried about how it’d go…)

(... I mean, we’re in the middle of a fight… aren’t we?)

(The last time Kafka and I talked around here… I never imagined things would end up like this… Huh?)

(... Come to think of it, when I told him that dog attacked me… Kafka started acting strange.) 

Yeah… A long time ago, I got dragged into a crime involving dogs.

Back then, I got bitten by a dog and ended up getting badly hurt. I was on the brink of death for several days.

…!?

But… Did you end up being okay? Someone must’ve saved you, right?

(… He looked like he was lost in thought… And thinking back on it, he looked kinda pale, too.)

(Huh...? Could everything Kafka's been doing up until now actually be because of—)

Arf! Arfff!!!

Mile? What’s wro—

Grrrrrrr…

He’s got a piece of jewelry in his mouth!!

He ran into the back alley... Let's go after him!