Track 8

(I was suddenly called onto the scene...)

Chinatown is bustling as usual. However, this amount of people should still be manageable for our investigation.

(But to suddenly be asked to guard Kamina Yukikaze of all people—)

Huh, is that Kamina Yukikaze...? No way…! And he's even wearing dog ears! How cute–!

Maybe they're filming something? Otherwise, this has gotta be a dream! Let's leave him be.

Yeah. We're proper Yukikaze fans. We know the basic rules of etiquette…!

(Uegh… Their gazes are piercing my soul... This guy doesn't seem like he minds at all, though.)

This is Yukikaze. We've made it to Chinatown. We're about to play the music, start the pretend-parade, and begin the search for the targeted dogs.

"Wha?! T-the audio is so clear! I can even hear everything around you…"

"Indeed. These intercoms have excellent auditory capabilities. Looks like I have successfully replicated the hearing of a dog."

"Let's go over the plan one more time. This will also serve as a test for the intercoms."

"We are proceeding based on eye-witness accounts from today. Renga and I are currently pursuing the dogs around the brick warehouse. Meanwhile Liguang, Yukikaze, and Ten will be cornering the ones in Chinatown—"

…It'd be more efficient for us to be assigned to areas we're familiar with. Liguang, I'll be asking you to cover Chinatown.

Understood.

That means I'm going to the brick warehouse, right? Leave it to me. I can get there even with my eyes closed!

…As for Yukikaze and Ten—

Leave them to me. Chinatown is a larger area than the warehouse, so it would be better to have more people there.

'Kaykay. As you wish.

No problem here. Liguang, Ten. Let's do our best.

The dogs that were trained to attack people have been spotted in Chinatown, right?

Liguang, can we request some assistance from the police? Even one officer would be fine.

Roger that. Hm… Perhaps we should assign them to Kamina.

Eh? Liguang-san, what about me? I'm just an ordinary university student.

Listen up. As soon as you find one of the dogs, try and lure it to where the police will be waiting. If they try to run away, chase after them.

Dogs that approach you head-on are likely to attack. In that case, do not give pursuit, and contact us as soon as you can.

Roger that.

Got it.

Murakumo. If you can charge it, then charge it.

Liguang, you're being unfair to Ten!

…Haha. It's too much trouble to go against this guy, so I'll just do it.

"If anyone gets injured, this will all be for naught. Remember, this is just a performance."

I understand. You should be careful there too, Kafka.

(...The thing is...)

There are so many smells coming from all the stalls here, Shingen. It might be difficult for you to track a specific one.

This glove apparently belongs to one of the perpetrators that were apprehended. Can you use it to find them?

Woof! *panting*

…I see. You always confront problems with a smile on your face. I'll try to learn from your courage.

(H-he started moving…! The dog-friendly ice prince, the national treasure, Kamina Yukikaze... I'll make sure to protect you…!)

…Woof!

Did you catch something?

You're truly amazing… Alright, lead the way.

This is … an abandoned building, yes?

Indeed. There are only some luggages left here, no sign of anyone—

*Growling…!!*

W-we found one…! Please stand back, Kamina-san! I'll neutralize it with a tranquilizer gun…

*bark…!*

It broke through the window and ran away…! What a dangerous thing to do—

Ten, Liguang. The target has fled towards the main street.

"'Kaykaaay. Totomaru's started reacting, so we'll head over to the source of the smell."

"I've captured two of the targets."

"Before I say "as expected~", looks like we've found the dog Yukikaze-san was talking about. Pursuing it nooow."

Roger that. I'll head over there as well.

Woa?

"Murakumo. The dogs I've captured aren't the ones who attack people, but I am not sure about the one over there."

You contacted me just to show your concern, how kind. Or is it Yukikaze-san you're worried 'bout?

"Take this seriously. You should be able to handle this without any problems."

There's no pay for this. So it kinda depends on my mood.

"…Tch."

Can you pay for this outta pocket? After all, I'm the favorite of the Lurong family's eldest son.

"...That depends on your results."

I've got your word then, 'kay?

(Well, I don't think the house will be that happy 'bout all these additional requests. Guess I'll just do this as a bonus.)

*bark, bark bark…!*

…Found ya.

Ten!

As expected of an athlete, you run fast.

I couldn't just leave you here alone. So I ran as fast as I could. I'm glad that you're alright.

And, that dog I found…

How 'bout we chase 'em down that alleyway?

Grrrrrr…!

U-uwa, stop! Don't come any closer—!

…That dog, is he trying to attack someone?

What should we do… we aren't supposed to subdue the dogs that can attack people, but someone is in danger…

*Bark!!*

P-please save me!! Hurry, hurry…!

(I feel like I've seen this guy before… Ah, I see. I checked his info a few days ago.)

Totomaru, stay here first 'kay?

……..

(Mmm… oh well, guess this empty bottle will have to do.)

Raising your voice will only agitate the dog further. You over there, please try and calm down. Slowly make your way here.

T-that's easier said than done…!

*growl!*

Hup.

GUAH?!

Ooh. Nice hit.

Ten…?!

What on earth did you…!

Calm down and take a look. See?

…! A knife, and some jewelry came out of his pocket…?! And the dog is… rubbing up against him…

*whine…*

What happened earlier was just a set up. And this was a trap. He probably came to retrieve the jewelry, and tried to cover it up when he saw us.

I-I see. I'll call for back up and take this guy into custody. But uhm… good eye…?

Ahaha. It was a hunch. Yea, just a hunch. Wooow, I was right on the dot. Luckyyy.

Ten has great intuition. He's my very smart younger brother.

Eh? Brother?! B-but, you don't look alike at all?!

……..

Woof!

……

"And that's how we captured a dog and one of the org members. You'll gimme some pocket money, right?"

…I'll think about it.

"The dog didn't seem particularly aggressive or likely to cause harm. I think it was just agitated from being chased."

…That man must have been the one assigned to retrieve the jewelry from the dog. Good work.

(According to the information given, there were four members spotted in the Chinatown area. There must be one more around here somewhere…)

Lu-san, we have a problem…! According to the information I've just received—

Apparently, a large dog was just spotted running from Chinatown and towards the brick warehouse…!

(Did I misread their movements? No, this is still within my expectations. Most of the organization's members were moving as anticipated.)

(However… I suppose I was unable to read the dog's movement.) 

(Those ones closest to that dog right now are... Oguro and that idiot.)

…Understood. I'll head over there right away.

The dogs were spotted around here, right?

Y-yeah. They said it was a fast and skinny dog.

Good thing they aren't holding an event here today! Now there's not a lot of tourists here—

Mhm. Even if something happens, the damage will be kept to a minimum.

Looks like the violent dogs are over where Liguang is, but we should be careful too.

That's right. Since the dogs ran away with the jewelry, they're probably meeting with members of the organization.

…So they're having the dogs carry those?!

Most likely. They've been using dogs like pawns to carry out their crimes. They're absolutely despicable people. Dogs that cause injuries to people are eligible to face the worst consequences after all.

….No way.

Let's capture them before that happens. If we don't, we won't be able to save those dogs.

Y-you're right!

(...I'm glad that Kafka and I are talking again! I was worried about what'd happen when he paired us together…)

('Cuz we're fighting right now… will we end up fighting again?)

(I didn't think things would turn out like this when we were first talking around here… Wait, huh?)

(Now that I think about it… After I told him about the time I was attacked by a dog… Kafka started acting pretty strange.)

Yeah. A long time ago, I… got caught up in a crime that involved a dog.

A dog attacked me and I suffered pretty bad injuries… it brought me to the brink of death for a while.

….!?

Did that turn out okay? Someone saved you, right?

(...He was pretty deep in thought at the time. Actually, his face went pale too….)

(Huh? Was everything that Kafka did up to now, because he—)

Woof! Woof!

Mile? What's wro...

Grrrrr...

That dog's got the jewelry in his mouth!!

He ran into the alleyway… We're going after him!