"Jinba-san, what are you still doing up? It’s late; you should get some sleep."
"Hm? Oh... sorry. Just a little longer..."
Later that night, Yugo and Marcos—having secured permission to stay at the Security Force Station—spotted Jinba hunched over his desk. They approached and called out to him.
As they drew closer, they saw a sea of photographs spread across the desk. The faces of men and women with cold, hardened expressions stared back at them. Jinba was methodically scanning each one.
"Who are all these people?" Yugo asked.
"Security Force records. These are people who’ve been picked up for petty crimes over the last few years. I have a hunch some of them might have been recruited as Regen’s lackeys."
Jinba answered Yugo’s question without taking his eyes off the photographs.
Yugo and Marcos exchanged a silent look, wondering why he was going to such lengths. As if sensing their confusion, Jinba continued.
"Regen and his crew are holed up inside the Birdcage, which means someone on the outside has to be carrying the thing while they move. You can't see out from the inside. Regen isn't the kind of idiot who’d leave the fate of his hideout in the hands of a complete stranger. He’d pick a courier he can actually trust."
"So you think someone in these photos is the one moving the Birdcage around?"
"It’s a strong possibility. Petty criminals like these are easily swallowed up by a larger evil. To someone like Regen, low-life thugs are convenient tools; they’re easy to brainwash and manipulate into total devotion."
If Regen were to threaten ordinary civilians or bribe them for cooperation, he would always face the risk of betrayal. Jinba was certain that Regen would prefer a courier who was loyal to him, even if that person stood out more to the authorities.
Jinba spoke with a certainty that could only come from someone who had spent over a decade hunting his partner’s killer. Yugo and Marcos nodded, acknowledging the investigator's insight. Jinba set the photo he was holding back onto the desk.
"Ideally, we destroy the Birdcage before they can even make a move. That would free the children trapped inside and strip Regen of his greatest asset."
"As long as he has hostages, he holds all the cards..." Yugo muttered.
"That's exactly why I can't overlook even the slightest possibility. I need to hammer every one of these faces into my memory before tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Is something happening?"
"The Water Thanksgiving. It’s an annual festival held this time of year—a major event that draws huge crowds. With everything going on, I thought they might cancel it, but..."
"...The higher-ups see this as the perfect opportunity to lure Regen out. They’ve decided to let the festival proceed as planned. They’re bringing in reinforcements to ensure he doesn't slip away this time."
It was a high-stakes operation. However, for a Security Force desperate for a swift resolution, it was a golden opportunity.
Regen wanted a grand stage to announce his return and showcase the power of his Magic Armor Beasts. A crowded festival was exactly the kind of theater he craved.
In a situation where the goals of both sides happened to align, it was best not to move carelessly. Yugo picked up a document from the desk and looked at Jinba, who was prepared to end their long-standing feud on the festival's battlefield.
"If you're going to focus on catching the culprit, Jinba-san, then I’ll take responsibility for this."
"What’s that? Some kind of list?"
"The list of children Regen kidnapped," Yugo said, looking at Marcos. "I need to get them out of there as soon as possible and get them home to their families."
Yugo scanned the names on the list; there were more than ten children in total. Jinba allowed a small smile to touch his lips at the boy's words. It was so like Yugo to prioritize protection over the glory of the kill.
"To protect rather than to defeat... That’s just like you, Yugo."
"That's why a hero fights. 'For the Angels Who Forgot How to Smile,' right?"
"Haha! You certainly have a poetic way of putting things. Maybe you should take up writing."
Teasing Yugo, Jinba finally looked away from the criminal mugshots. He took a long look at the list in Yugo’s hands and gave a small, firm nod.
"If we can just destroy the Birdcage first, we can force Regen into a direct fight without worrying about the hostages. For the sake of those kids, I’m going to find the courier."
"Right. To save the children and put the perpetrator behind bars, we have to strike before they do. That’s our best shot."
Taking the initiative was the only way to minimize the damage. Given the current situation, destroying the Birdcage before the enemy could act was their only viable strategy. If they succeeded, they would regain the hostages and catch the enemy completely off guard.
Jinba was pushing himself to the limit to ensure a successful rescue. Yet, even as he labored, there were others in the world who wished for the Security Force to fail—who actively hoped the children would never be safe.
And who might that be...?