Chapter 14: Missing

"I've heard that you successfully completed your last mission," he remarked, glancing down at the papers in his hand. "However, you really went all out on those gangsters. They were left half-dead, a bunch of tough guys. There were a hundred of them, and you beat them until their bones were shattered," he said sternly, his gaze fixed on Hitono.

"I was just ensuring justice, sir!" Hitono replied cheerfully, her hands firmly behind her back and her chest held high.

"Hitono, you really need to put an end to this. You could end up facing lawsuits for physical abuse and lose your badge," the chief officer advised, his eyes locked on her.

"Sir, those individuals brutally killed numerous innocent people for their own pleasure. They subjected them to unimaginable torture, including women and children. They deserved more than just a few punches," Hitono protested, her expression contorted in anger.

"I understand your anger, Hitono, but you can't keep taking the law into your own hands. Maybe consider using a taser instead. If not, you'll either lose your badge or become a prison officer," the chief officer suggested, offering a piece of paper to Hitono as he looked at her intently.

With a sigh of resignation, he noticed that her eyes still sparkled, indicating her indifference to his concerns.

"Well, this is your next mission, and I believe you and Ken are the perfect fit for the job," he said. Hitono skimmed through the paper, her expression turning dark. Sensing her change in demeanor, Ken also took a glance at the document, his face growing grim as well.

"Missing people?" Hitono muttered, and the Chief Officer nodded in affirmation.

"But wasn't the case of human trafficking shut down a few years ago?" Ken inquired, seeking clarification, and the Chief Officer nodded once again.

"Interestingly enough, it's not related to human trafficking. These individuals simply vanished without a trace. The only thing left behind was a VR headset," the chief officer chuckled, leaving Ken and Hitono perplexed.

"A VR headset, sir?" Hitono asked nervously, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I know it sounds unreasonable, almost unreal, but that's precisely why I'm assigning this mission to you both. You have a track record of solving even the most unconventional cases, including those with superstitious undertones. I don't believe this has anything to do with the supernatural; it's probably just a new group of criminals," the chief officer explained, crossing his arms confidently.