Chapter 30 (2/2)

s.h.i.+zuru answered while smiling troublingly to Ludmilla's question, who was eating slowly with her fork. If he had a good plan, he would have executed it a long time ago. But because he didn't have any good plans, he gathered everyone to do a brainstorming session.

”How troublesome…… How about we beat up all guys around here 'til we get the right one?”

”That's really foolish, Casca. What if they thought that the random attacker was us? You know that security is stricter now.”

”In the first place, rather than helping, what you do is always hinder us…… ”

Lady and Ludmilla each gave a retort to Casca's words, who tilted her chair with amazing balance while eating her meal. She did not have a shred of dignity as commanding officer.

”…… I have been wondering, Why is Casca our captain and not s.h.i.+zuru?”

”Oiya Ludmilla, 'ya wanna pick a fight with me huh?”

”―― Ha. If it was Boss, even with your hand and feet restrained you would still win anyway. Acting with that savage outlaw pride, how r.e.t.a.r.ded.”

”Ya're dead to me! I will really beat ya all. Kneel right now to me with money in your hand!”

Casca spoke so loudly that her blood was boiling. She was angry at no one and was just throwing a tantrum as two people hung their heads and continued rhythmically eating as an apologetic gesture. Just like that they were forgiven, she was really a simple woman.

”Really, I'm the Captain ya know…… Yosh, if it like this, beating the town's people is the best right? Let's torment them one by one!”

”You're more dangerous than Chopper!!”

They just ignored Casca's idea. s.h.i.+zuru tried to ask the others again, but they had really ran out of ideas.

”Maybe requesting help from the other squad is a good idea. But since there are less requests at the Eastern district, I don't want to add more strain to Black Maria's management. Also, adding more personnel when the security is reinforced is already a big risk itself.”

”Well…… But, It's impossible to cover all the back alleys in Eastern district with just 3 people. My 'Demon eyes' cannot see the temperature behind a wall, so in complex back alleys it will be less effective.”

”In short, it is useless right?”

”…… Can you be quiet for a sec, Captain?”

Casca casually b.u.t.ted in- she never helped, but she always disturbed the search. Ludmilla was so p.i.s.sed at Casca's blatant remark, yet somehow she able to reply calmly. She used formal words that she usually wouldn't use while her mouth was twitching.

”Hm…… It seems we only could search for him directly huh. If their belongings were left at the scene, Lady could follow them with a scent…… but since there were only corpses left at the scene. The smell of blood was so strong that it erased other smells.”

”I'm sorry dear…… I couldn't do anything”

”What, so the dog is also useless huh?”

The bell of the fight rang when Casca fired another remark. While sparks were flying between the person and the beast, s.h.i.+zuru cleared the table and spread a huge paper. Their fights were everyday occurrence, so no one batted an eye.

”Isn't that…… the Eastern district map? What's up with that s.h.i.+zuru-kun?”

”I think we can predict where Chopper would act somewhat. I was gathering intel until this morning, and can point out accurate locations of the crime scenes until now.”

s.h.i.+zuru took out a notebook from from his pocket, compared it and mark x's on the map. When he finished, the number of x marks were over 40. Despite the large number, it had only been 2 months since Chopper had appeared. That was why night curfew was issued.

” …… If you draw it out like this, they are really scattered huh,” murmured Ludmilla

There was no connection between the places or the order. Sometimes it took place at the same place for 3 consecutive days, sometimes he moves from end to end of the district. There's also nothing common with the victims, it was truly an indiscriminate ma.s.sacre.

With this, predicting the next place would be impossible. Ludmilla could only give up, while Beth smacked her lips.

They were considering accepting Casca's proposal seriously. Being in a stalemate, a weird thought began appearing in the air.

” …… Well it can't be helped.”

s.h.i.+zuru whispered suddenly. Ludmilla looking at s.h.i.+zuru as if he really gonna do the hunt… of course he wasn't.

”I will try to set a trap. I don't know if it will work, so don't have too much hope in it.”

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