In the aftermath of chaos across the city, one could only imagine what the news headlines in Beika Town would look like the next morning. Reports of explosions and gunfire on the streets spread through newspapers and public gossip like wildfire.
Under immense pressure, the Metropolitan Police Department held a press conference to take responsibility. At the same time, officers frantically launched a citywide manhunt. As a result, several killers and organization members were caught overnight.
Hayashi Yoshiki had been taken to the task force's office.
"Did you see that?!"
"Just like that time… he used a fully loaded logging truck to cause a crash and save his companions!"
"Only kills the bad guys?!"
"This bastard's companions exchanged fire in the city and detonated bombs, putting civilians at extreme risk and causing inestimable property damage. And yet, he didn't punish them?!"
Odagiri Toshiro slammed his fist on the table in anger.
Following the Osaka incident, there had now been another firefight with a mysterious organization. To maintain public stability—and, above all, face—the higher-ups kept piling pressure on the Metropolitan Police. Watching his subordinates, MegureJuzo and Kiyonaga Matsumoto, bowing and apologizing on television only deepened Odagiri's simmering fury.
Hayashi Yoshiki silently flipped through the data gathered by the task force.
There had been a large-scale chain accident on an urban expressway—caused by a log transport truck—resulting in many deaths and massive traffic disruption.
Although those killed were all assassins whose names Hayashi had written in the Death Note, to the public, it was a tragic accident. But to the task force, it was yet another appearance of the infamous killer who made death seem like a coincidence.
"Where was Thomas Schindler at the time of the incident?" Hayashi asked calmly.
"…According to our tracking, Thomas Schindler was near the scene when it happened," a police officer answered quietly, glancing nervously at the minister's grim expression.
Done.
Thomas Schindler had now fulfilled his final role.
Even without hard evidence, the timing and location made him suspicious. Anyone in the task force would begin to wonder if he knew the accident would occur.
Odagiri Toshiro's face darkened. He'd made up his mind.
"Bring Thomas Schindler in for questioning."
"But Minister, we don't have any direct evidence!"
"Then use the names of the deceased journalists and say we need his cooperation. If the higher-ups come after us, I'll take full responsibility."
His tone left no room for debate.
The current pressure on the department made it easier for Odagiri to issue such an order. After all, he truly was trying to solve the case…
And right now, Thomas Schindler was infamous. Whether his reputation had been manipulated by outside forces or not, public opinion had clearly turned against him.
"Minister Odagiri…" someone tried to intervene.
"I know. No need to talk me out of it, Advisor."
Odagiri sat stiffly, the shadows on his face deeper than ever.
Seeing his determination, Hayashi Yoshiki said nothing more.
The air in the task force office remained tense—until suddenly, a bombshell dropped.
"Minister! Thomas Schindler is dead!"
"W-What?!"
Several officers stood up in shock.
"When he was found, there was a gunshot wound to the forehead. We suspect homicide… but only his fingerprints were found on the weapon."
Odagiri stared blankly for a moment.
When Hayashi Yoshiki left the Metropolitan Police Department, it was already late into the night.
It meant that, quietly, another problem had been resolved.
Thomas Schindler's death was something the police could never have predicted.
In their minds, this foreign CEO—allegedly using artificial intelligence to commit murder—was a criminal mastermind. They had no idea that by the time they knocked on his door, he'd already been found stiff, lying in a pool of blood.
The trail to the so-called accidental murderer had been severed. The task force was left bewildered.
"Yoshiki-kun, you've worked hard~"
A warm, familiar embrace wrapped around him.
On the sofa, Yoko Okino gently pulled Hayashi's head into her chest, holding him close.
She didn't know the full details of the task force's situation—but she knew he had been working late to help the police. Her heart ached to comfort him.
"Ah… things should be over for now," Hayashi said with a calm smile.
The series of "accidental" killings would pause for now with Thomas Schindler's death—at least until the police encountered the next similar case. When that time came, they would shift focus… to the now-vanished Noah's Ark.
He hadn't needed to fabricate anything dramatic about Thomas's death.
All he had to do was make the police suspect the man and reinforce the idea that the accidents were caused by artificial intelligence. Once such a notion takes root in the human mind, it is not easily overturned.
"That's wonderful. Now Yoshiki-kun can finally rest."
She smiled brightly and began massaging his temples with gentle fingers, her eyes full of concern.
"Thank you, Yoko."
"Of course! You need rest to recharge… Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"If I eat a midnight snack now, doesn't Yoko need to consider her figure?"
"It's just one night. I'll survive," she replied with a playful grin.
"…Well, in that case, we should make sure to exercise after eating."
Yoko's face flushed crimson.
She glanced into Hayashi's smiling eyes, heart fluttering. "Y-Yoshiki… you're saying weird things again."
"Of course."
"…!"
"Yoko gives me so much energy… it's hard to hold back."
As he spoke, his hand around her back slowly slid downward.
Yoko's heart pounded louder. She didn't resist.
But just as the tension rose—
Hayashi suddenly pulled back and smiled.
"But first, we should have that midnight snack."
"…!"
Yoko puffed out her cheeks in mock frustration. "Yoshiki-kun, really…"