For a moment, everything froze.

  The police officers gathered around them within seconds.

  The room was now crowded, almost suffocating.

  No one spoke.

  Weapons were raised, fingers resting on the triggers, tension carved into every face, darkening the atmosphere.

  Takashi and Kenta stood side by side, scanning the room.

  It felt as if everything would explode with even the slightest movement.

  Kenta’s usually bright, cheerful expression had turned into something unrecognizable, dark and tense.

  Seconds felt like eternity.

  The leader broke the tension with the same relaxed expression as before.

  He raised his hands slowly, almost mockingly.

  “Don’t worry, detectives. My people will cooperate. There’s no need for weapons.”

  He glanced around the room calmly.

  “As you can see, we are not armed and pose no threat to anyone. I can assure you.”

  His eyes returned to Takashi.

  “May I ask the reason for this unpleasant visit?”

  Takashi glanced around the room.

  Something isn’t right here, he thought.

  But his expression didn’t change.

  “Everyone stay where you are” he ordered, glancing back at his team.

  He pulled a folded paper from his pocket and stepped toward the host with determination.

  “We have a warrant to search the premises"

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  The host took the paper from Takashi’s hand.

  He glanced at it briefly, then lifted his head, looking straight into Takashi’s eyes.

  “Then…do what you need to do, Detective.”

  He returned the warrant to Takashi’s hand calmly, deliberate, as if sending a message.

  “Kenta.”

  Takashi glanced at him.

  “You and your team...search the place.”

  Kenta nodded seriously and immediately gestured for his team to move.

  The heavy sound of police boots spreading through the house filled the room.

  Then, once again...silence.

  The people remained seated in the same positions.

  No one moved.

  With every passing second, the tension grew thicker.

  Takashi’s jaw tightened, the vein on his forehead pulsing.

  This isn’t right, he thought.

  It’s too calm.

  Why does it feel like we’re pointing our guns at innocent people?

  Is this a setup?

  His deep black eyes wandered around the room, studying the faces of the people seated at the table.

  Some of them were very young.

  No one looked back at him.

  Their heads were lowered, hands raised, bodies perfectly still.

  For a moment, one of the young men lifted his head slightly.

  Blonde hair partially covered his face.

  He looked straight at Takashi,without fear.

  His eyes were sharp, yet still filled with a quiet softness.

  It seemed as if he wanted to see Takashi clearly, as though he couldn’t escape his curiosity.

  The loud sound of footsteps echoed through the room.

  Sota quickly lowered his head.

  Escaping Takashi’s gaze.

  The sound of footsteps grew louder as Kenta and his team entered the room.

  Takashi turned to face him fully.

  “Did you search the house?”

  “Yes. Every corner.” Kenta answered.

  “And?”

  Kenta hesitated for a moment, as if he didn’t want to reply.

  “And…Nothing.”

  He placed his hands on his hips beneath his jacket and continued in disbelief.

  “We turned the place upside down. It seems everything is clear.”

  The host added in a joyful, mocking voice,

  “You see? I told you. We don’t have anything to hide, Detective.”

  Takashi stood there in disbelief, his face flushing red with anger.

  He’s mocking us, he thought.

  The words wouldn’t come out.

  He simply looked at Kenta.

  “I think we’re done here. There’s nothing more we can do” Kenta said, looking at Takashi.

  He then turned to the host politely.

  “It seems everything is clear. Thank you for your cooperation. We’ll leave you to continue with your activities.”

  Kenta said what Takashi couldn’t.

  Anger seemed to overpower him, as if he might explode at any moment.

  He gestured for the police officers to lower their weapons and slid his gun back into its holster.

  “Let’s go. We’re done here.”

  He swallowed the knot in his throat and said quietly “We’ll be leaving now. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

  The host added with a faint smile,

  “No worries. You’re just doing your job.”

  He paused for a moment, then added, his gaze fixed on Takashi’s back as he began to walk away.

  “And, Detective...”

  Takashi stopped, his back still facing the host.

  “Thank you for making our streets safer.”

  Takashi’s face flushed red with anger again, but he didn’t bother to look at the man behind him.

  He didn’t say anything.

  He simply walked away.

  Deep inside, he knew this had been a setup, but there was nothing he could do.

  At least not now.