"That's definitely her!"

"That was close! We almost let that cunning Celestial get away!"

"......"

Amid the noisy chatter, hurried footsteps approached from afar, then suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

As expected, the Third Investigation Unit had arrived at the scene immediately.

Although the Third Investigation Unit was affiliated with the Metropolitan Police Department, in reality, it operated independently and reported directly to the Prime Minister's Cabinet. Their efficiency and speed were astonishing, completely different from the police, who only showed up late to clean up after the fact.

Beneath a navy windbreaker, the bespectacled leader of the Thirteenth Squad of the Third Investigation Unit, Samuel Bennett, glanced at the thief who had been "subdued" on the marble floor of the station. However, his brows remained tightly furrowed as he said:

"Notify everyone to stay alert! Check the surrounding area to prevent any accomplices from hiding. Send someone to stall the Celestial involved in the Dark Night Judgement negotiations—I still have a few questions to clarify."

"Yes, Captain Bennett!"

A young intern girl with a long ponytail, Mary Bennett, responded crisply, quickly relaying the orders through the wireless channel. She looked at Samuel Bennett with a hint of admiration and envy in her eyes.

A prodigy who graduated early from the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Academy for Espers, one of the four major academies in New Tokyo, he became a fifth-rank esper at just 26 years old with a green-ranked ability, [Wailing Ghost], which was only ranked 51 in the sequence. He was also a powerful swordsman, with the potential to earn the [Swordmaster] honor. After joining the Third Investigation Unit, he was rapidly promoted to squad leader in less than two years.

His life seemed untouched by setbacks or failure.

By comparison, she herself had barely graduated from Takehara South Private Academy and only got into the Third Investigation Unit thanks to her father's connections—she felt utterly inferior. But after relaying the orders, Mary Bennett's gaze swept across the station and suddenly fixed in surprise on the boy pinning down the girl.

Why does this guy look... kind of familiar?

Sensing Mary Bennett's gaze, Samuel Bennett also looked over and, after a moment's thought, asked, "Is he one of ours?"

Mary Bennett was momentarily stunned, then quickly shook her head.

"Reporting, Captain, no!"

"Then who is he?" Samuel Bennett pressed.

The leader of the Special Assault Team from the Metropolitan Police Department glanced at the locator on his device, then leaned in and whispered, "Captain Bennett, he seems to be... the enthusiastic citizen who provided the tip about the suspect."

"An enthusiastic citizen?"

At that, not only Samuel Bennett, but everyone else in the Thirteenth Squad was taken aback. Because this theft case involved a Celestial, the higher-ups had specifically assigned it to the elite Thirteenth Squad.

They had thought this would be an easy case, but it had taken them nearly a week. Every time they were about to find a clue, the suspect would vanish right under their noses, as if an invisible hand was silently wiping away their leads.

After receiving the tip today, everyone in the Thirteenth Squad had sprung into action, afraid they'd come up empty-handed again.

But none of them expected that, this time, not only did they not miss the suspect, but the suspect had actually been subdued on the spot by a "helpful citizen" who looked like a high school student...

This feeling...

Why does it sting a little?!

......

Edward Harris also noticed the Third Investigation Unit at this point.

He glanced down at the silver-haired, cat-eared girl, Charlotte, whom he had forcibly knocked down with a bug exploit—she was biting her lip, glaring at him with her little tiger teeth, but it seemed she had no intention of resisting with her eye technique anymore.

Clearly, she had resigned herself to her fate.

At that moment, two uniformed members of the Thirteenth Squad approached, weapons in hand, passing through the ticket gate.

Edward Harris slowly stood up as they came over to ask for his identification.

He simply pulled out the armband of the City Disciplinary Committee from his pocket—three white stripes on a blue background, with a sword and shield emblem in the center. The people around immediately recognized it.

But no one thought it was normal.

Instead, they were a bit stunned.

Disciplinary Committee?

Isn't that basically the same as those volunteers who stand at street corners with flags to help direct traffic? And yet, here was a Disciplinary Committee member personally taking the lead in fighting crime on the front lines?

This... is really rare!

As soon as Edward Harris stood up, Mary Bennett outside also reacted.

She stared straight at Edward Harris, her mouth unconsciously forming an "O"—wait, isn't this the Hokkaido high schooler who rents the attic at my house and always looks like he's starving and freezing?

He's the one who caught this catgirl?!

......

Edward Harris worked part-time as a Disciplinary Committee member in New Tokyo, and he was also enrolled at Takehara South High School, so his student records could be checked... Uh, although he was at risk of being expelled, his identity was quickly verified.

The Third Investigation Unit's attention soon shifted from him to the female thief on the ground. They cautiously pulled Charlotte up, and someone immediately stepped forward and, with a swift "click," fastened a dark gold collar around her neck.