17 Blight Part 1

A wooden door opens and a police man wearing heavy gears (mask, helmet, and vest) enters a room.

He stood near a table where three similarly geared police men are standing on the side and he stand in the side between.

"A manhunt is requested for a reckless murder tonight. We are tasked to provide aid for the lead investigator Naomasa Tsukauchi. We will tail their car from behind and await further instructions. In the meantime, prepare a single hand pistol, a flash, and a smoke to carry. We will leave after exactly 5 minutes. Now gear up!" He said

The scheduled time passes and the group marches towards the back entrance of an armored police vehicle

The van gases up and the hippie looking driver placed the police lights on top through the window. he pressed a button and the siren wails loudly.

A sliding metal window from the backseat opens and the lead police officer pops his head to address the driver, "Turn the lights and sounds off, we agreed to follow the detective's request that we need speed and stealth for this operation"

"My bad, I'll turn it off now" the driver said as he places his lit up cigarette on the flat surface near the mini fan and turns the sirens off.

The officer lets the window open as he waits to spot Naomasa's passing vehicle.

A black car passes, and inside are Naomasa and Tamakawa the cat head.

"There, follow that car's lead" the officer said

Naomasa's car stopped on the side near a children's playground.

The night becomes more cold as a drizzling rain starts pouring.

With the van on stationed, the armed units ditches off the vehicle.

They marches off infront of Naomasa's door vehicle.

Naomasa lowers the window to let the leading officer speak.

"My name is Tomu Azaki and we are the team asked to assist you" Azaki said in a muffled voice due to his mask and rain

"I thought there would be more numbers needed for this operation" Naomasa asked

"Many police departments got their hands full on criminal and villain cases lately. And the police chief ordered the operations to be quiet and clean as possible" Azaki replied

"I remembered him saying that he will run as a senator next elections, but don't you think this is a little too reckless" Naomasa said

"I have complete trust in my team and with your expertice, the perpetrator should be handled with no problem" Azaki assured

Tamakawa on the other side opens the car's door. He flicks his black umbrella and went to open Naomasa's door.

"Thank you" Naomasa said after walking out the car under the shelter of Tamakawa's umbrella

Tamakawa whips up a device that indicates a red dot flicking on the middle of its screen.

He shows it to officer Azaki and said, "according to our intel, this place right here is where the last signal the tracking device last indicated 15 minutes ago. We could possibly keep up since the suspect is on foot"

"First, lets look around alleys where garbages are bound to be found" Azaki recommended

Due to lack of numbers, the unit individually splits up to find for the suspect.

The rains keeps mildly pouring and one of the officers wander in an area where a big blue trash bin is placed.

The officer opens its mask and eyewares to clearly see---a tan woman with lime green eyes, plus small amount of curls of her red hair bulges on her helmet gear.

She opens the trash lid and see the late officer's clothes and equipments. She grabs her radio and calls for backup, "all units report in my desired location immediately, I found the suspect's stolen gear"

Upon picking up the radio, Naomasa immediately head to the location running with an umbrella.

The police woman shows the gear and Azaki thoroughly inspected.

"Everything is ditched, including guns and shoes" Azaki exclaimed

"Let me check" Naomasa said.

"All part from vest, uniform, hats, and shoes are soaked in rain. We can't find any human prints because of this" Naomasa added

"Don't lose hope, the criminal can't walk that far barefoot. Especially when its raining" Azaki tries to motivate the team

"The best the suspect could do is hide on these buildings" Naomasa added

While they are investigating, the female officer finds herself walking out through the other side of the alley. She slowly walks across the street minding the empty road of night.

After crossing the road, she enters on a new dimly lit alley with only a flickering lamp light installed.

Naomasa noticed the girl and follows her. He walks behind her and asked, "What is it?"

"I was scouting the area a little bit" She said

"Oh, carry on then" Naomasa replied

Azaki followed as well and calls the officer, "Hey, get over here quick!"

She mildy brisk walks as she heeds the call.

"Here sir!" She replied after standing infront

"I need you to radio a search chopper for-" Azaki abruptly said after noticing the lamp lights flashing to a manhole on the ground.

He quickly walks and kneel to confirm what he notices.

"The lid is slightly open" Azaki claims

The officer and Naomasa follows after the other officers regroup along with them.

Naomasa examined the hole and said, "It's a bait"

"Say again! the suspect could be down there running and heading for its emergency exit as we are currently speaking" Azaki determined to say

"Before working for the department, I had a construction job for the creation of this sewage system. I was one of many who were playing parts on designing its structure. And after quite some time of examination and budget proposals, me, along with other officials decided to cease the ongoing construction. There is no possibility of the supect to have any exit to find" Naomasa narrated

"How can you tell the killer did not know that?" Azaki asked

Naomasa pointed to the side and said, "this is the left glove of the police officer correct"

The red haired officer validates and said, "Affirmative, that belongs to him"

"Its a diversion for us to think that the suspect went inside to hide" Naomasa said

"We can't take any chances" Azaki replied and commanded the female officer to search inside

She hops down with her flashlight and scans the area.

Azaki pops his headed through the opening to check on the officer.

"Is there anything suspicious inside?" Azaki asked

"There is currently none, just a bunch of road tar barrels" She replied.

Meanwhile, the lookout officer notices a black figure facing towards him from a distance away---similar to the shadow that Naomasa saw in the building.

"Hold on, I'll follow you inside" Azaki said and enters the hole using the built metal ladder.

"Put your hands on the air and stay on your position" he said to the figure

The figure did not comply and stayed its arms in place.

"I repeat, put your hands where I can see them now!" he clearly chanted

He slowly walks to approach the figure with a gun facing towards it.

"Hey-" he abruptly said as the figure walks away through the building on the side.

"Suspect on pursuit!!" he shouted loudly enough so the team can hear as he started sprinting to chase the suspected criminal.