Otaku Translation: I! Anomaly Cleansing Agent! C91

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What nonsense about believing her confession and taking her to confront the Lion family for further investigation; what rubbish about official vehicles being unavailable so they had to use public municipal transport; what drivel about not having enough space on the vehicle, forcing them to send her off alone with just one policewoman...

It was all a setup—a carefully crafted web of lies designed to lull her into complacency.

And then there was the sudden malfunction of her bindings—the enchanted bandages that refused to respond no matter how hard she tried to activate them. Had she been betrayed? Was her identity exposed from the very beginning?

Thinking back to her interrogation at the hands of the Secret Investigation Bureau, where she’d put on an elaborate act, the woman now felt like nothing more than a clown. The sympathetic expressions those interrogators wore when listening to her fabricated tale—she realized now they were probably smirking behind her back, mocking her performance.

Liars. You’re all liars.

Realizing she’d been duped so thoroughly, fury surged through her veins. Ignoring the sharp pain shooting up her neck and shoulders, she twisted violently in her seat, glaring daggers at the policewoman who held her down.

"You knew, didn’t you?" she spat. "You’ve known from the start, haven’t you?"

Knew… what?

The abrupt accusation left the policewoman utterly baffled. Before she could press for clarification, the carriage lurched forward slightly as it began to slow down, pulling over to the curb. They’d arrived at the next stop.

The moment the carriage came to a halt, nearly every passenger aboard sprang to their feet almost simultaneously, rushing toward the exit in a chaotic scramble.

The earlier exchange between the two women had been quiet, drowned out by the clanking boiler noise of the old carriage. Aside from the young couple sitting in the last row—huddled together, visibly terrified—no one else seemed to have heard anything. But Leon’s earlier display of credentials hadn’t gone unnoticed. His words echoed clearly in the minds of the passengers.

Secret police. And if secret police were involved, then surely the person they were restraining must be part of some rebel faction.

Whether it was the rebels—known for their violent attacks, sabotage, and multiple assassination attempts—or the secret police themselves—with their authority to detain anyone suspected of wrongdoing—both groups inspired fear among ordinary citizens. To find representatives of both onboard this cramped carriage? Well, no sane person would stick around any longer than necessary.

Even the timid young couple, who’d spent most of the ride cowering in the corner, managed to summon the courage to stand up. Clutching each other tightly, eyes wide with terror, the husband stammered hesitantly to the policewoman blocking their path:

"Uh... I think we’ve reached our stop. Could you... could you maybe let us pass?"

…

Understanding immediately that their request wasn’t motivated by reaching their destination but rather by a desperate desire to distance themselves from the situation, the policewoman sighed heavily. With visible effort, she wrestled the seething prisoner back into her seat.

"I apologize," she said curtly. "I’ll move aside. However, I need you two to repot to the Secret Investigation Bureau within thirty minutes."

"Huh?"

"Don’t worry—you won’t be questioned or detained. It’s merely routine protocol for anyone exposed to sensitive information during investigations."

After giving Leon a cautious once-over and seeing that he didn’t appear to have any ulterior motives, the policewoman relaxed slightly. Tilting her head just enough to glance at the terrified young couple out of the corner of her eye, she began to explain:

"The details you overheard are classified. As such, we require everyone present to register at the bureau promptly. There will be minimal training involved, and rest assured, your cooperation will be compensated. All expenses incurred and time lost will be reimbursed. However, any significant gap between your registration and travel records, or excessive interaction with others in the meantime, may complicate the follow-up investigation."

"O-okay" The husband gulped audibly. "We’ll go right away."

With that, the frightened pair bolted out of the carriage as though fleeing for their lives. Once they were gone, the policewoman turned her attention back to the disgruntled prisoner. Shoving her firmly against the wall of the compartment, she pinned her there while casting a puzzled look at Leon across the aisle.

Though confident in her own abilities, the policewoman couldn’t deny the risk posed by Leon’s proximity. If he’d chosen to attack while she subdued the prisoner, he might well have forced her to release her grip, giving the woman a chance to escape. Yet he’d done nothing of the sort. Instead, he’d calmly returned to his seat, pulled his coat tighter around himself, and even shifted inward slightly—as though deliberately avoiding suspicion.

So… what exactly are you planning?

…

"Could you stop staring at me like that?" Leon finally broke the silence. "I’m genuinely on assignment here. Honestly, people clear out fast when they hear 'Secret Investigation Bureau,' huh?"

Preferring not to elaborate on whatever mysterious role he played, Leon deftly changed the subject after surveying the now-empty carriage.

"Just saying ‘Secret Investigation Bureau’ sent everyone running for the hills. Your reputation precedes you, doesn’t it?"

“…”

Leon’s lightly sarcastic remark struck a nerve, leaving the policewoman momentarily speechless. Still, she couldn’t argue with his assessment. Rolling her eyes, she shot back:

"What did you hear earlier?"

"I heard everything," Leon admitted without hesitation. Seeing her attempt to steer the conversation falter, he preemptively shut it down. "But I’m currently engaged in critical fieldwork, so filing my confidentiality report can wait until I’m done."

“…”

Just as the policewoman opened her mouth to retort, the conductor—a middle-aged woman—shuffled hesitantly toward them, stopping five paces away. Her voice trembled as she asked:

"Um… should this carriage continue its route?"

Ah yes, should it?

At the conductor’s question, the policewoman paused, uncertainty flickering across her features. Logically speaking, upon realizing the prisoner wasn’t just some minor operative but likely a high-ranking member of the rebel faction, protocol dictated she terminate the mission and escort her straight back to headquarters.

But given the bureau’s obsession with rooting out insurgents, returning now would mean subjecting the woman to endless interrogation. Every shred of intelligence related to the rebellion would be extracted from her, regardless of collateral concerns—like the unresolved crimes committed by the Lion family or the tragic injustice suffered six years ago by a certain honorable investigator.

If the prisoner were handed over immediately, the truth behind these past atrocities might never see the light of day. Those responsible would evade justice indefinitely.

"Continue onward, and don’t make any stops along the way. Head directly to the Lion residence." Leon figured that if he left the policewoman to escort the prisoner back on her own, there was a good chance she’d end up taken out by that cursed bandage before they even reached their destination. Acting quickly, he seized control of the situation with a firm tone. Then, without missing a beat, he pointed directly at the policewoman and added, "Also, charge her for the missed fares during this detour."

"What?"

"No arguments—you’re officially reassigned. From this point forward, your priority is supporting my mission."

Reaching into his coat, Leon produced a small notebook bearing the insignia of an administrative-level authorization slip—one he’d procured from the red-haired chief during his last visit. Flipping it open, he pulled out a charcoal pencil and began scribbling:

[Reason for Reassignment: Encountered unusual circumstances mid-mission; additional personnel required.]

[Reassigned Personnel: One officer from the Secret Investigation Bureau.]

[Details of Assignment: …]

Here, Leon paused, tapping the pencil thoughtfully against the page. Looking up at the bewildered policewoman, he asked casually:

"So, what do you usually write under 'Details' when someone gets temporarily reassigned?"

"…"

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