Thrill!: The Red Chapter (Aka no Sho～Keishicho Shomugakari Hitomi no Jikenbo)

Rise, Bow, At ease!

MPD General Affairs Clerk Hitomi's First Case

Hereby the murder case investigation meeting begins.

First victim, Nagasawa Megumi, 32 years old...

...Fine Insurance canvasser.

On February 15th at around 7 o'clock...

...she was found strangled to death with a rope around her neck...

...on a road near Shinjuku West Park.

On the next day...

...the police received a letter from an unknown sender.

Nagasawa Megumi

Two days letter there's a second victim.

Miura Shingo, 35, salesman for Fukuda Motor.

He was killed with a blow to the right side of his head with a wrench-like object.

On the next day, we once again received a letter from the killer.

Nagasawa Megumi

Miura Shingo

He is evidently announcing a third murder.

So far we haven't found...

... any common features between the two first victims.

Who keeps doing those meaningless murders and for what reason?

Understand? That is a challenge to us, the police.

Ringo (Apple)

Ringo (Apple)

Ringo -> Gorira (Gorilla)

Hello, am I speaking to Murakami from 1st Division?

Nakano from General Affairs here.

On your receipt from January 27th, I can't tell whether that's a two or a seven.

Are you stupid!? I can't deal with that now!

Don't call me for such trivial stuff!

The thing is though, I can't just...

Nakano-kun, the detectives...

...are all busy with their investigations, so you have to use a more gentle tone.

Nakano-kun, some tea, please.

Yes, Sir.

Ringo -> Gorira -> Rakko (Sea Otter)

Koinobori (carp streamer).

Li... Limbo Dance.

Su... Suriru (Thrill).

There are many different approaches. So, let's have a look.

Waiting at a pedestrian light. Now the pickpocket approaches from behind.

The light.. turned! You see, that's how...

The biggest problem of the police is the fact that they have to crack down crimes...

...yet not having a single person who has experienced such crimes.

But the thing is that if you've never played baseball...

...there is no way you can become a pro baseball coach.

Well, of course the police became aware of that too...

...thus they sometimes invite real criminals...

...to hold short courses.

But from my point of view...

...their "techniques" are nothing but childish tricks.

By aiming for that chance, the pickpocket determines his prey.

These days there aren't that many cases, but...

Rolling the apples...

Rose Apple Tea, yes!

My father was a swindler.

My mother, right after giving birth to me...

...become tired of him and left.

When I was a child, my father often brought me along to his workplace.

My role was to secretly read the opponents hands...

...and giving him a signal.

Bet.

Call.

Showdown.

Three of a kind.

Straight.

We get exposed, they kill us.

I was young, but that I understood.

One day, when I was in my 2nd year of junior high...

...my father suddenly disappeared without a trace.

I'm home!

Maybe his fraud got exposed and he had to run off...

...or maybe he got himself killed.

He left a notebook in my hands.

It included all of his tricks...

...meticulously put down on paper.

Maybe he couldn't think of a better way to express his love towards his daughter.

Watch where you're going! You gotta be careful!

Come on Togawa, we're in a hurry.

Yes, Sir.

TOGAWA!

General Affairs

Alright.

Togawa Takeru, First Division.

All I need is one suspicious receipt.

From Kasumigaseki to Nishi-Nippori...

3,880 Yen!?

Where did you really go?

Do you know this person?

He is a regular customer. Please look closely.

- Do you know him? - Never seen him.

I'm telling you, I don't know him! We done?

Yes, Togawa here.

MPD, General Affairs Department, Accounting, Nakano Hitomi speaking.

There is a problem with one of your previous receipts.

Please come here immediately.

That's impossible right now.

I'm busy too, you know!

Thank you very much.

It's pointless.

Just one sec. Yes, Togawa here.

Chief Detective, Takakura speaking.

Chief Detective!?

Togawa-kun, was it? What's the meaning of this?

Sir?

It appears you have dismissed an appeal from General Affairs.

You get your ass over there right now! If you keep this up...

...you'll be fired!!

You... I've nothing to do with it. - Right.

Excuse me, I...

I've been expecting you.

- Please, have a seat. - Okay.

A swindler never forgets a face.

Yet, this guy...

...met me less than five hours ago and doesn't remember my face at all.

What?

Nothing.

It's about your receipts, there are several issues.

- First, this one. - Excuse me.

Are you somehow acquainted with the Chief Detective?

No, I'm not.

Then why did he get a direct call...

...from the Chief Detective?

- So, the first issue is this one. - Ignored...

On January 10th, your superior Kuroiwa-san...

...held a preparatory meeting in Shin-Okubo...

...together with you and a collaborator.

However, at the exact same time...

...Togawa-san was in Nishi-Nippori.

Hello! What? Your water broke?

Yes, okay, I'll be there right away.

January 10th?

Can't say I remember. Right now...

...there is a terrible serial murder case keeping us busy.

- A serial murder? What kind? - I can't just tell you.

Serial murders are confidential.

It would be terrible if something got leaked.

Listen, I don't have the time to talk with you.

Hey, I think you have something on your back.

I'm so sorry, there were apples on the back of the chair.

Let me have a look.

You gotta be kidding!

It's fine.

Don't mess with me!

Got that? Don't call me again!

Nagasawa Megumi...

Miura Shingo...

That's it!

- Next, information gathering, Kuroiwa squad. - Yes, Sir!

- Huh? - Hey, what's wrong?

Hold on a sec, I lost my notebook.

The one containing all the classified information?

No, well, that's... wait...

So, we... have some information.

Enough! Next!

The hell is wrong with you, seriously...

- Hold on a sec... - Don't pick your phone now.

Yes!

MPD, General Affairs Department...

...Accounting, Nakano Hitomi speaking.

I told you not to call me again!

- I'm holding onto your notebook. - What!?

Pardon me.

You dropped it over there.

Then why didn't you contact me immediately?

You did tell me not to call you again.

And first of all, I didn't know who it belonged to.

It's written down right here.

I started reading from the first page...

...and only noticed your name on the bottom of the very last page.

Don't tell me you saw its contents!?

I did. I just told you, didn't I?

Listen, you cannot tell anybody about what you read!

You know...

It's likely that a Goto-san will be killed next.

- How'd you know that? - You wouldn't believe me even if I told you.

Just a shot in the dark, huh?

Excuse me.

Yes?

A third victim?

Kuroiwa-chan

Good morning

I want to see you again

- I'm sorry I'm late. - Too slow! The heck were you?!

The victim is a woman named Goto Akiko.

Goto Akiko?

It's likely that a Goto-san will be killed next.

She was found unconscious under a cliff yesterday.

First it looked like a simple accident, but...

...a short time ago we received the following.

Nagasawa Megumi -> Miura Shingo -> Goto Akiko -> ?

If that isn't a written challenge, what is? In short, it's ours to deal with now.

What about the victim?

A broken arm, but no life-threatening injuries.

There is... the heck?

...another strange thing.

They found this up on the cliff she was pushed off from.

Fukuda Motor?

Miura Shingo, 35, salesman for Fukuda Motor.

If I'm not mistaken, the second victim, Miura Shingo was a salesman for Fukuda Motor.