"Wait, we’re the ones guarding the women’s bath!?"
"That is correct."
At that very moment, Yugo let out a startled cry that echoed through the hotel conference room.
Standing before him was Shepherd, currently masquerading as a hotel staff member, who gave a composed nod in response.
A short while ago, after receiving Yugo’s report, Shepherd hadn't arrived in his official capacity as a member of the Security Force. Instead, he had slipped in under cover to conduct a quiet investigation.
Though Yugo found the secrecy suspicious, he and his companions had accepted the clandestine summons. However, having barely stepped into the room before being told this, they were currently in a state of utter shock.
"How does that make any sense?! This is exactly the kind of thing you should leave to the professionals in the Security Force!"
"No, an overt investigation would be a mistake. If the intruder who infiltrated the women's bath realizes the Security Force is involved, he won't strike the same place twice. If that happens, we'll lose all track of this invisible Clear Plate possessor."
"...From the sounds of it, Mr. Shepherd, you're convinced the peeper will be back as long as the Security Force stays out of sight," Ryuga observed.
"Exactly. Nine times out of ten, he’ll be back."
Shepherd answered Ryuga’s question without hesitation. When the others pressed him for an explanation with their silent stares, he laid out his reasoning.
"Needless to say, this culprit is a small-fry. The fact that he isn't committing large-scale crimes like the other Clear Plate possessors you’ve fought, but is instead sticking to petty voyeurism, proves it. Men like that often possess an arrogance born from obtaining power they didn't earn."
"...I think I get what you mean. Because he’s actually weak, having all that power goes straight to his head, right?" Yugo asked.
"Precisely. Furthermore, that type of person is prone to obsession. Because they are small-minded, they often cannot accept their own failures and become desperate for a 'revenge' success."
"Ah... I see. I knew someone just like that..."
As Shepherd spoke, the same name flashed through everyone’s mind: Cyan, the student who had been expelled just before the school trip.
He had failed time and again, and though he’d been warned that one more mistake would mean expulsion, he hadn't stayed quiet. He had chosen to seek revenge on Yugo and Neries instead.
Because he was a petty man, he couldn't take responsibility for his own blunders. Instead, he’d obsessed over shifting the blame onto others until it destroyed him. Considering their former classmate’s fate, the group quickly understood Shepherd's point: this peeper was likely trapped in the exact same mindset.
"Right now, the culprit is itching for a comeback. He may have been spotted this time, but he’s likely psyching himself up, convinced that he’ll pull it off perfectly the next time around."
"In all honesty, that is the most wretched sort of determination I have ever heard," Sakura remarked.
"Sakura, just be quiet for a second," Yugo muttered.
Shepherd continued, "However, if such a culprit learns the Security Force has intervened and is guarding the bath or the hotel, he’ll likely abandon his revenge for the sake of risk management. If that happens, we’ll have no idea where he’ll strike next. We would lose the trail of an invisible criminal entirely."
"So you want to secure the Clear Plate possessor here before that happens... is that it?"
"I understand the logic, but why does it have to be us guarding the women’s bath?" Yugo asked.
He understood why the Security Force didn't want to show their hand and why Shepherd was in disguise, but he still didn't see how that led to his group taking over guard duty. He figured they could just use undercover agents, but Shepherd addressed that concern as well.
"The culprit may be a small-fry, but he is still a Clear Plate possessor. However, we cannot afford to flood the area with personnel if we want to catch him. The more undercover agents we deploy, the higher the risk that the opponent will realize the Security Force is here. We need people who are as skilled as possible while remaining few in number—people who wouldn't arouse suspicion even if they were seen standing guard. In that regard, you all are perfect."
"Well, I suppose that’s true..."
Even if the culprit were cornered and turned violent, Yugo and his friends could handle it. Moreover, if they were seen near the women’s bath, it was far less likely to tip the culprit off to a police sting.
Yugo conceded that they were indeed the best fit for the role. Seeing him relenting, Shepherd pressed on.
"Of course, we aren't going to just dump the entire capture on your shoulders. Just as we are already managing the information control for this incident, we intend to provide as much backup as possible. However, we need you to be the final piece of the puzzle. Will you lend us your strength?"
"...Understood. We'll do what we can to catch this peeper!"
Yugo nodded firmly at Shepherd’s request. If this was their only chance to secure an enemy whose identity and appearance were a total mystery, he was willing to give it his all. His companions seemed to agree, as no one raised an objection.
With their cooperation secured, Yugo and the others began discussing the specifics of the operation with Shepherd.
"So, what's the plan? Even if you say 'guarding the women’s bath,' I'm not exactly sure what that looks like in practice."
"Indeed. Even though the culprit wants revenge, he likely won't be bold enough to sneak back into the Large Public Bath immediately. The much higher probability is that he targets... the open-air bath."
The culprit was a petty coward. Even as he sought revenge, he would still be looking for a way to minimize his own risk. Shepherd's team reasoned that rather than returning to the indoor bath where he had already failed, he would target the outdoor bath, which offered an easier escape route.
"Therefore, we will set a trap there. We shall use that trap to secure the invisible peeper. We’ve dubbed it 'Operation Clear Rainbow.' Listen closely, and I’ll walk you through the details."